Murphy's Multiverse

Category: What To Expect

  • Nova

    Nova

    Premiere: TBD

    Kevin Feige himself teased the development of a Nova project over at Marvel Studios, in early 2021. Later in the year, reports came out that Fantastic Four was eyeing a 2023 production start, but also that Nova would follow a similar schedule, perhaps in preparation for a 2024 premiere.

    In March 2022 the project was seemingly in development with Moon Knight‘s Sabir Pirzada set to pen a script. In early 2023, it was reported that development on Nova was paused while Marvel Studios took stock of their upcoming projects.

    In May 2024, Marvel Studios reportedly decided to move ahead with Nova as a streaming series for Disney Plus. Production on the series was rumored to be slated to kick off in 2025.

  • ‘The Midnight Angels’

    ‘The Midnight Angels’

    Premiere: TBD

    In late May 2021, in the unlikeliest of places (a trade report focusing on Hollywood’s Top 100 Attorneys for 2021), there was a reference to an Okoye-centered series being developed over at Marvel Studios, supposedly focusing on her origin story. Since its (proper) introduction in 2018’s Black Panther, Wakanda always felt like it had the appeal to allow for further exploration be in through movies or tv series. Chadwick Boseman‘s passing might have fast-tracked a few spin-offs and so it comes with little surprise that Okoye, one of the most beloved characters emerging from the world of the Black Panther, has been chosen as one of the faces Marvel will be focusing on.

    Cast

    • Danai Gurira as Okoye
  • ‘I Am Groot’

    ‘I Am Groot’

    Premiere: August 10, 2022

    It was revealed during The Walt Disney Company’s 2020 Investor Day presentation that Baby Groot would be featured in a number of shorts, alongside several new and unusual characters. Kristen Lepore will serve as Executive Producer and director of the series which will focus on Baby Groot’s adventures while “growing up, and getting into trouble, among the stars.”

    After a period of little news regarding this project, in late 2021 Disney+ announced it would be a part of their 2022 programming.

    With the release of the show’s first poster on June 5, 2022, fans got confirmation that I Am Groot would be premiering on August 10, only on Disney+. The following month there was confirmation that Bradley Cooper would be returning to voice Rocket in the show.

    During the Marvel Animation panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, there was official confirmation that I Am Groot had been renewed for a second season ahead of its Disney+ premiere.

    Cast

    • Vin Diesel as Groot
    • Bradley Cooper as Rocket

    Promotional Material

  • ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    Premiere: July 26, 2024

    In late November 2020, Deadline reported that Deadpool 3 had found its writing team in Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin, meaning the project was finally kicking into gear. Ryan Reynolds will obviously be returning as Deadpool himself, as his name has become almost synonymous with the character ever since it got successfully rebooted in 2016’s Deadpool, after an atrocious first appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

    With Ryan Reynolds announcing ‘a little sabbatical from movie making’ in October 2021, the project seemed to have been indefinitely postponed. It wouldn’t be until March 2022 that news regarding the project would finally surface. Following the streaming debut of The Adam Project, the second collaboration between Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy, it was confirmed that the latter would be directing the Merc with a Mouth‘s upcoming threequel. He’ll be the franchise’s third director following Tim Miller and David Leicht. The same day it was also learned that both Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who wrote the first two Deadpool installments, would be returning to the writers’ table.

    In late September 2022, Reynolds confirmed that the project not only had a September 2024 release date set but that none other than Hugh Jackman would be joining the project playing his most iconic role ever: Wolverine.

    Deadpool 3 ended up being of the few Marvel feature films affected by an October 2022 shift in release dates. It moved two months from its initial September 2024 slot to November 8, 2024. Following the WGA and SAG strikes, Deadpool 3‘s release date was moved again–this time to July 26, 2024, amid a major overhaul of Marvel Studios theatrical release slate.

    On February 11th, 2024, the film’s first trailer revealed the title to be Deadpool & Wolverine.

    Cast

    • Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool
    • Hugh Jackman as James Howlett / Wolverine
    • Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova
    • Matthew Macfadyen as Paradox
    • Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlyle
    • Stefan Kapicic as Colossus
    • Leslie Uggams as Blind Al
    • Karan Soni as Dopinder
    • Rob Delany as Peter
    • Aaron Stanford as John Allerdyce/Pyro
  • ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

    ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

    Premiere: February 17, 2023

    As you first heard on my Murphy’s Law podcast, Ant-Man 3 is a go! The film hasn’t been given an official release date at this point, but it is already in the early stages of set design and, prior to the COVID pandemic, was supposed to enter pre-production early in 2020 (no, that is not a typo) suggesting that it might be a much larger film than what people are expecting. Not too long ago I shared the rumor I heard that this may be the film in which Marvel Studios assembled the Young Avengers, a rumor which seems to have gained support among the fan base. If that’s the case, Ant-Man 3, directed by Peyton Reed, could close out the franchise with a large-scale universe altering film when it debuts.

    Originally set to begin production in early 2021 for a February 2022 release, production on Ant-Man 3 has apparently been rescheduled for June of 2021. As of September, new wirter Jeff Loveness was still working on finishing the script and the film is still scheduled to film in the UK.

    In September 2020 Deadline confirmed Jonathan Majors (Da 5 Bloods; Lovecraft Country) was to join the MCU as a lead in Ant-Man 3, being likely that he’ll be portraying none other than Kang the Conqueror.

    During the Disney Investor Day on December 10, 2020, it was confirmed that the role of Cassie Lang would be recast, with Kathryn Newton stepping in to play the role.

    Following what is expected to be the final post-pandemic reschedule of the Marvel Studios slate, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has seen its premiere shifted to July 28, 2023. Six months afterward the project saw its release date changed once again. This time, trading premiere slots with The Marvels meant it would now be coming to theaters in February 2023.

    After initial reports hinting at his return in the summer of 2021, later that year it was rumored that Corey Stoll would indeed be returning to the Ant-Man franchise as none other than M.O.D.O.K.. Samuel L. Jackson seemingly confirmed he would be making an appearance in the Ant-Man threequel in a March 2022 interview. It was also confirmed that William Jackson Harper would be joining the MCU in an, as of yet, undisclosed role.

    Cast

    • Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man
    • Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne / The Wasp
    • Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror
    • Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang / Stature
    • Corey Stoll as M.O.D.O.K.
    • Randall Park as Jimmy Woo
    • Michael Douglas as Hank Pym
    • Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne
    • William Jackson Harper in an unknown role
    • Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
    • Bill Murray in an unknown role

    Promotional Material

  • ‘What If…?’ Season 3

    ‘What If…?’ Season 3

    Premiere: December 22, 2024

    Announced at the Marvel Animation panel at Comic-Con 2022, season 3 of Marvel Studios’ What It…? is confirmed to be in development as of July 2022. As of then, no release date had been disclosed.

    Following Season 2’s finale on Disney Plus, a sneak peak at Season 3 was made available that teased it would be “streaming soon.” Executive producer Bryan Andrews indicated that the earliest the new season would stream would be “late 2024” but cautioned that could easily change as Marvel Studios is “moving things on the board.”

    On October 30th, 2024, Disney announced that Season 3 was set to premiere on December 22nd and, like Season 2, release new episodes daily.

    Cast

    • Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher
    • Sebastian Stan as James “Bucky” Barnes
    • David Harbor as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
    • America Ferrera as Ranger Morales
  • Ironheart

    Ironheart

    Premiere: June 24, 2025

    In 2023, Marvel Studios Ironheart will stream on Disney Plus and tell the story of genius inventor Riri Williams. Williams will be played by Dominique Thorne and it is expected her story will spin out of one of Marvel Studios’ feature films and also likely tie into Armor Wars.

    In late April 2021 THR confirmed that Chinaka Hodge would be joining the Ironheart production as its head writer, with the writers’ room for the show set to begin working the following month. It was also reported that the show would have six episodes, with a still undisclosed expected runtime.

    With news that the series would start production around April 2022, Marvel seemed to be eyeing an early 2023 release date; however, despite having completed production on time, the series will not be released until Fall 2025.

    On October 30, 2024 it was announced that Ironheart was scheduled to debut on Disney Plus on June 24, 2025.

    Charming teenage super genius Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) returns from MIT to her hometown of Chicago in her iron suit and begins to unravel threads that bring danger and adventure to her doorstep.

    -Synopsis for Ironheart

    A trade report in early February 2022 announced that Anthony Ramos, of Hamilton and In The Heights fame, would be making his MCU debut in Ironheart. Soon after Lyric Ross was added to the cast, as was Harper Anthony, both in undisclosed roles. Directors Sam Beiley and Angela Barnes became attached to the series in April 2022 with Manny Montana (Good Girls) joining the cast as a series regular in June.

    The series would reportedly start filming in the Chicago area in June 2022, something somewhat confirmed with the release of on-set photos in July.

    Alden Ehrenreich (Solo) was announced as being part of the cast in July 2022, with Shea Couleé soon following. Both are playing unknown roles in the series. Despite several leaks, it wasn’t until September 2022, at D23, that there was official confirmation that Ramos would be playing Parker Robbins AKA The Hood.

    Regan Aliyah, who joined the cast at the end of August, was rumored to be playing Zelma Stanton, something that would certainly play into the magical approach that the project seems to be getting. Another character that seems to be making its MCU debut, following years of speculation as to in what project it would turn up first, is none other than Mephisto. Sacha Baron Cohen is bringing the extra-dimensional Demon to life, in what should be a multi-year, multi-project type of role for the British actor. A few days later it would be Paul Calderón‘s and Cree Summer‘s turn to be confirmed as part of the cast for the Disney+ series.

    Cast

    • Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart
    • Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins/The Hood
    • Shakira Barrera in an unknown role
    • Saha Baron Cohen as Mephisto
    • Alden Ehrenreich as “Joe McGillicuddy” (likely Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane)
    • Anji White as Ronnie Williams
    • Matthew James Elam as Xavier Washington
    • Lyric Ross as Natalie Washington
    • Regan Aliyah in an unknown role
    • Harper Anthony in an unknown role
    • Manny Montana as Cousin John
    • Shea Couleé as Slug
    • Paul Calderón an unknown role
  • ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    Premiere: February 14, 2025

    Following the tremendous success of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier it didn’t take long for Sam Wilson to get his very own movie where he’ll get to suit up with the Captain America suit he debuted in the streaming series. On the very same day of the season finale in April 2021 we learned, through a trade report, that a new Cap feature film was in development. Malcolm Spellman, who was the series’ showrunner will be returning to write the script. We will continue to experience the story of Sam Wilson as Captain America, as he defines his own legacy in the shadow of Steve Rogers and Isaiah Bradley.

    The project found its director in Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) as reported in July 2022.

    A 2022 San Diego Comic-Con poster hints at a possible return for Emily VanCamp‘s Sharon Carter, a character first introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and that gained relevance within the MCU in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier alongside Sam Wilson. Later that same weekend the subtitle New World Order was announced during the Marvel Studios Hall H panel.

    In September 2022, at D23, Marvel Studios announced that Tim Blake Nelson would be returning to the MCU as the Leader (last teased in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk) with Shira Haas also joining the cast playing Israeli superheroine Ruth Bat-Seraph AKA Sabra. As a response to some online backlash focusing on Sabra’s comic book history, Marvel Studios announced that the filmmakers’ approach would differ from the comics‘.

    A somewhat shocking piece of news was confirmed in October 2022 when it was announced that none other than Harrison Ford would be taking over the role of Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross from the great late William Hurt.

    When Bob Iger returned to Disney,the film was retitled Captain America: Brave New World in July 2024. Following the WGA and SAG strikes of Summer 2023, Marvel Studios decided to go back to work on Brave New World, hiring writer Matthew Orton to rework the script for the film which had already completed production.

    Cast

    • Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Captain America
    • Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns / The Leader
    • Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres / Falcon
    • Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley
    • Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
    • Shira Haas as Ruth
    • Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder
    • Xosha Roquemore in an unknown role
    • Liv Tyler as Betty Ross
    • Takehiro Hira as Prime Minister Ozaki
    • Sebastian Stan as James “Bucky” Barnes
  • ‘Armor Wars’

    ‘Armor Wars’

    Premiere: TBD

    Based on a 7-issue Iron Man arc that ran from 1987-1988, Armor Wars will see Don Cheadle‘s James Rhodes step into the spotlight and lead his own Disney Plus series! As teased by Kevin Feige, Armor Wars will find himself scrambling to save his friend Tony Stark’s tech when it falls into the wrong hands.

    In July 2021, Don Cheadle mentioned the show should begin production in 2022, perhaps as early as March. The following month the series found its head writer in Yassir Lester.

    Following a period with little to no news regarding the show, in September 2022, at Marvel Studios D23 panel, it was announced that the series would serve as a follow-up to Secret Invasion and would be comprised of 6-episodes. Production on the show was confirmed to begin in 2023.

    Just a few weeks afterward, in a stunning move, it was reported that Armor Wars would be developed as a movie instead of a streaming series. After going quite some time without an update, it was reported early in 2024 that Marvel Studios was on the search for a director with hopes of kicking off production on Armor Wars in late 2024 or early 2025. If things stay on track, it’s possible that the film could take one of three dates set aside in 2026 for Marvel Studios films.

    Cast

    • Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / War Machine
  • Blade

    Blade

    Premiere:TBD

    Probably the biggest surprise of SDCC 2019 was the unveiling of a new Blade film starring Mahershala Ali. Unfortunately, we still know nothing more about the project and while an October release date sounds right for a vampire film, it’s nothing more than a guess at this point. Overseen by Marvel Studios EP Eric Carroll, this reboot should do a thorough job of expanding the world of the Daywalker, introducing horror elements never before seen in the MCU. In August of 2020, Murphy’s Multiverse discovered a new production company, Grass-Fed Productions, had been created which could well mean things are getting started on this reboot!

    The project found its writer in Stacey Osei-Koffour, who worked on HBO’s highly acclaimed Watchmen series, and that will become the first Black woman to write a Marvel Studios screenplay. In order to give Osei-Koffour a bit more time to polish the script, production on the project moved from late 2021 to July 2022. In July of 2021, Marvel Studios brought Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq on to direct the film.

    Following a few months where the project kept being developed behind closed doors without much news being released, the end of 2021 saw it gain a bit more traction. Blade himself made his first MCU appearance on an Eternals post-credit scene, even if off-camera and the cast reportedly doubled as Delroy Lindo was said to be in final negotiations to join the project. Lindo’s role is still undisclosed, but it would seem like he might fit the Jamal Afari part, the comic character Whistler (from the Wesley Snipes series, played by Kris Kristofferson) was based on. On the same report, it was stated that the feature it was eyeing a late Summer 2022 production start which would put it on schedule for a potential Halloween of 2023 release.

    Actress Milan Ray (The Wonder Years reboot) was cast as a key character in June 2022, lending credence to the rumor that the movie could focus on Blade’s daughter, Fallon Grey. In early 2023, it was reported that Ray had to leave the project due to scheduling conflicts. In April 2023, horror star Mia Goth joined the cast.

    In what can only be seen as a major setback regarding the project, director Bassam Tariq left the feature’s director’s chair in late September 2022, roughly a year before the project’s determined release date. This would mean that Blade‘s premiere would unsurprisingly be delayed to an, as of yet, undisclosed date. Following Tariq’s departure, and the rumors that the available 90-page script was a bit lackluster, X-Men ’97 head writer Beau DeMayo was called in to rewrite the entire movie from scratch. A few weeks later the movie got a new release date as part of a significant shift in the Marvel Studios movie slate, and was scheduled to premiere on September 6th, 2024. Following the WGA and SAG strikes, the date was moved to November 7, 2025.

    Rumors that Elegance Bratton would be taking over the director’s chair surfaced in October 2022, showing that Marvel was indeed moving forward with the project ahead of its new late 2024 release date. Finally, in November of 2022, director Yann Demage joined the project along with writer Michael Starrbury. The script underwent several major revisions with Michael Green taking the most recent shot following Nic Pizzolato‘s work on it. With all the revisions, it’s unclear which talent is still attached to the film.

    As of SDCC ’24, Blade was no longer expected to meet its 2025 release date and is currently an undated release.

    Cast

    • Mahershala Ali as Eric Brooks / Blade
    • Mia Goth in an unknown role
    • Delroy Lindo in an unknown role