Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3’ En Route to $110M+ Opening Weekend

    It looks like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has pulled in a strong $48.2M on Friday including its Thursday previews. That would currently put it on a path to making around $110M over the weekend, which is currently on the low end of expectations but it’s unclear how word-of-mouth might affect its Saturday and Sunday gross. This has been adding to some concern of superhero fatigue but it does have a strong A CinemaScore and strong PostTrak showcasing a potential long-run at the box office that may push against the recent developments.

    Deadline has pointed out that while CinemaCon snarked about superhero fatigue (ironically given The Flash was the “highlight” showcased by Warner Bros.), the film is Marvel’s eleventh time topping $100M in May, which is still something no other brand can really compare to at the moment. The film also remains quite male-dominated at 62%, whose positive reaction could keep it going for weeks until Fast X releases in June. The question remains if positive word-of-mouth and a strong hold for a few weeks could actually help push The Marvels later in the year rather than continue a downward trend (or perhaps it’s less a genre fatigue but more a reflection of its marketing as well).

    As of now, it’s new for a Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel to be behind previous entries but also not entirely something new. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avengers: Age of Ultron was behind the previous entry and could also hint at Vol. 2 getting quite a big boost from releasing in 2017 during the Phase 3 boom after momentum built out of Captain America: Civil War. As of now, the film will likely open slightly ahead of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania which had a powerful opening but lost momentum quickly highlighting the film’s okay word-of-mouth and the Disney+ release strategy from previous years showing its fangs.

    Still, the film is continuing the trend of Marvel opening beyond $100M which isn’t a terrible thing to showcase. There was tracking towards $130M and if momentum suddenly spikes going into its Saturday, there’s a chance but things are a bit calmer for now. What should be noted is that the film has a much stronger international box office at around $71.5M, which would put it at $119.7M worldwide as of Friday.

    There’s a lot that can be said about recent developments, as 2022 still looked strong for Marvel Studios but this year had some surprise hits. The four-quadrant market has been quite focused on Super Mario Bros. Movie by pushing that beyond a billion making up for the missing families in theaters the last few years. That film is finally dethroned but still drops to a strong $18.5M while new release Love Again is dead on arrival with a $2.6M opening weekend.

    There is a good chance that the current development simply reflects a stuffed Summer market and it’s uncertain if other projects won’t face similar developments. With that many films on the horizon and a recession still at play, people might just be a bit pickier this year as seen in the first few months as well. Only a select few managed to hold with a strong male-driven audience but outside of Mario, nothing is really breaking records. What is playing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s favor is that the international market is seemingly doing quite a bit better now.

    It’s currently still projected for a $260M+ global opening, which is higher than the initially expected worldwide gross for the film. Social is pushing the film quite a bit, especially in Korea which has been a rather rough market as of late. Ironically, if Guardians mends any expectations with Marvel releases, they could be balancing out the domestic slowdown that has occurred this year. While some want to blame Ant-Man 3 for this current development, the Guardians are still some of the more obscure characters in the franchise that haven’t had a new entry since 2017.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter, Deadline, Deadline

  • Cinemascore Reveals ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hit the Mark with Audiences

    Cinemascore Reveals ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Hit the Mark with Audiences

    As early reviews of MCU films continue to feel increasingly unbiased, word of mouth from opening weekend screenings has seemed to become more valuable than ever. Simply put, folks who are unsure if they’ll see a film or not are waiting for audience reactions before heading to a theater. In the case of Marvel Studios first Phase 5 release, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, less than enthusiastic word of mouth quickly diminished the film’s opening weekend momentum leading to a precipitous second weekend drop. After early reviews for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the latest installment of the studio’s Multiverse Saga, added to some pre-existing doubt about the film’s opening weekend performance it seems even more people were waiting to hear what audiences had to say about the film before deciding to take in a showing. Now they have the answer they’ve been waiting for.

    More than one review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (including our own) has indicated that the film is a return to form for Marvel Studios and it would seem opening night audiences agreed. Cinemascore, which polls opening night audiences as they exit the theater, has revealed that the Guardians farewell flick resonated strongly with fans and scored an A.

    With an “A”, Vol. 3 joins the two previous Guardians of the Galaxy films in earning the high rating. It also joins Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the only films in the Multiverse Saga to be scored an “A” (Spider-Man: No Way Home earned the elite “A+” Cinemascore).

    With Vol. 3 currently tracking for somewhere in the ballpark of a $120M opening weekend, it’ll be worth following how the positive word of mouth impacts the second weekend. There’s no immediate box office challenger to Guardians and while there’s always a second weekend drop off, the studio will hope to avoid the massive 69% drop suffered by Quantumania.

    Source: Twitter

  • Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    Blade Production Delayed Indefinitely Due to Writers Strike

    The WGA strike is ongoing and an essential milestone to ensure the industry’s future. It naturally was going to hit quite a few productions, especially going by how the TV landscape was shaped the last time it happened. Marvel Studios is famous for experimenting and trying out different elements while filming, which relies heavily on the writer being present on set and working alongside the creatives to bring the project to life. So, it’s no surprise that Marvel Studios’ Blade which was set to start production next month is put on hold indefinitely.

    As of now, this is likely the first tentpole release affected by the strike and it’s good to see Marvel Studios hold back rather than force a production. Cast and crew members have seemingly been notified this afternoon and the pre-production will be shut down. Nic Pizzolatto of True Detective fame joined but an insider stated “time simply ran out” before they could get the camera rolling. They also highlight that production will not start until the strike is over, which could take months and once again postpone the release.

    There’s no word if the other productions will be hit in the same way, but for now, it does seem likely they’ll be gearing down some of the projects due to the writer’s strike. Marvel Studios is likely not going to say anything about it but the Disney+ releases might slow down productions as they also require a writer on set, but there’s no word as of now. The only film production likely to finish is Captain America: New World Order. Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four are seemingly going to get pushed back as a result.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opens with Franchise Record Thursday

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Opens with Franchise Record Thursday

    Marvel Studios next big thing kicked off its theatrical run with the same Thursday previews box office take as its last big thing. According to THR, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opened to $17.5M on Thursday, matching the preview night take of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Quantumania went on to a franchise-best opening weekend before quickly losing momentum, something Marvel Studios is hoping not to see happen with Vol. 3.

    Early forecasts for Vol. 3‘s opening weekend box office have it trending at or below the opening of its 2017 predecessor, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and the $17.5M previews number would seem to indicate that might be the case. Not only does the $17.5 match Quantumania, but it also outdoes the $17M Thursday previews take Vol. 2 had 6 years ago. And while that number is on par with Avatar: The Way of Water‘s Thursday and a top 40 all-time Thursday value, it seems to indicate some hesitancy on the part of audiences to head out to see another Marvel Studios film.

    All three of Marvel Studios’ 2022 theatrical releases opened far stronger than Quantumania and now Vol. 3. Sam Raimi‘s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness took in more than double on its first Thursday with $36M, Thor: Love and Thunder saw $29M in receipts on its opening Thursday and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever too in $28M. Unlike Quantumania, those three films held a strong at the box office for weeks, something Disney is hopeful will happen with Vol. 3. The new film won’t see much competition at the box office and it does seem that it’s generating a little more positive word of mouth than Quantumania which means while it might not open to a huge number, it could have legs and ultimately end up with a satisfactory cumulative box office take.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing.

    Source: THR

  • New Promo Art for ‘The Marvels’ Showcases Zawe Ashton’s Villain, Flerken Army

    New Promo Art for ‘The Marvels’ Showcases Zawe Ashton’s Villain, Flerken Army

    Marvel Studios Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels, was originally slated for a July release before moving to November but the Marvel marketing machine was already hard at work behind the scenes before the move. As such, fans have already been treated to a teaser trailer for the Phase 5 film and now, some brand-new promo materials have made their way online.

    The promo art, which was first shared on Instagram by Ironman.TW and then on Twitter through the Captain Marvel News account, not only shows off the film’s three leads but also gives a great look at Zawe Ashton‘s villainous Kree leader Dar-Benn.

    Also of note, is the confirmation of something that fans have been buzzing about since the teaser trailer first aired. During a scene set on the planet Aldana, several cats can be seen running around and the new concept art seems to confirm that they are all indeed Flerkens, just like Goose!

    The presence of what’s essentially a Flerken army should provide Carol, Monica and Kamala with some formidable allies in their fight against Dar-Benn and the Kree. The release of The Marvels is just a little over six months away which means fans can expect another trailer and a lot more promotional material to make its way online ahead of November 10th.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Karen Gillan Reflects on Her Time as Nebula

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’: Karen Gillan Reflects on Her Time as Nebula

    James Gunn‘s original Guardians of the Galaxy were all unlikely heroes. A thief. An assassin. A tree. A talking raccoon. Whatever Drax is. Over a decade in the MCU, the team has evolved and brought on new members but there may be no more unlikely hero on the team than Nebula. After originally teaming with the Kree extremist Ronin to take on the new team in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Nebula went on a journey unlike anything else we’ve seen in the MCU. After reconciling with Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, she was tortured at the hands of her father, Thanos, killed a past version of herself and joined the Avengers in saving the galaxy. Now, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she finds herself a full-fledged member of the team as they go on what Gunn has said will be their final tour. That’s a lot of growth for a villain who was supposed to be a one-off.

    Of course, the reason Nebula was provided with the opportunity to grow was the wonderful work of the actress who brings her to life, Karen Gillan. Gillan went all in on her performance in Guardians of the Galaxy, shaving her head and working with Gunn on finding a way to make Nebula more than the one-note character she’s often been portrayed as in the pages of Marvel Comics. Gillan‘s work was so good that Gunn carved out a bigger role for her in the 2017 sequel and the Russo brothers took it from there. While talking with host Nathan Fillion during the global press junket for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gillan reflected on her time as Nebula.

    (L-R): Karen Gillan, James Gunn, and Chris Pratt on the set of Marvel Studios’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.

    “She’s had quite the arc,” said Gillan of her character. After describing the character as “misunderstood” and “bitter” in Guardians of the Galaxy, the actress explained where Nebula stands in Vol. 3. “I think, you know, post-Thanos being eliminated from her life, she’s starting to flourish a little bit more and she’s starting to have a lighter personality and she’s a little more willing to show vulnerability.” It’s always good to see someone overcome their personal monsters.

    Interestingly enough, Gillan explained that it wasn’t only Nebula who has grown. After playing the character for nearly a decade, the actress explained how the experience has changed her as well. “What’s changed for me? Definitely my understanding of what it’s like to be a scapegoat sibling,” she said. “I’m an only child,” explained Gillan, “because Nebula was definitely that. She was never the golden child. And so, I never understood that because I’m an only child. And so, that was a really sort of interesting exploration for me. So, now I just have so much respect for people that have gone through that.”

    Gillan’s time as Nebula may or may not have run its course but she’s certainly established the character as an MCU powerhouse and one of Marvel Studios’ most interesting and complex.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is in theaters now!

  • Yoda’s Age in ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Revealed

    Yoda’s Age in ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Revealed

    Though Lucasfilm’s new animated series, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, is set during the High Republic Era, a period of time that spans 500 BBY-82 BBY and is set well before the prequel films, it does include a familiar face. At the center of the series are three Jedi Younglings, Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and the adorable Poob, Nubs, who are learning the ways of the Force and the core values of the Jedi Order. While the trio of Younglings are assigned a Jedi Master at their Jedi Temple on the planet Tenoo, they are frequently visited throughout the seven-episode series by one of the most iconic Jedi: Master Yoda.

    Including Yoda gives the show a sense of familiarity while exploring the High Republic era, a time period which to date has only been developed through comic books and novels; additionally, it fills in the gaps of the Jedi Master’s long life. Fans of the original trilogy remember that Yoda was 900 years old at the time of his death in The Empire Strikes Back. Given that the events of that film took place four years after the Battle of Yavin, that places Yoda’s birth in the year 896 BBY…well before the beginning of the High Republic Era. So how old is Yoda in Young Jedi Adventures?

    Though he’s already walking with a cane, Yoda is a bit sprier than he’s shown to be during the prequel era…as to be expected from a youngster only in his 600s! According to an official synopsis of the show, the events of Young Jedi Adventures are set 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. That film was set in the year 32 BBY, so following that canonically established timeline, Young Jedi Adventures is set in the year 232 BBY meaning Yoda would be 664 years old during the time period explored in the animated series.

    By the time Luke Skywalker came to him on Dagobah, Yoda had been training Jedi for over 800 years and that’s exactly what he’s up to in Young Jedi Adventures. Given his incredibly long life, Yoda’s inclusion in the High Republic Era was always a given and this is hardly the first time he’s appeared in a project set during that time. Since the conception of the High Republic Era’s rollout, Yoda has always been a part of the plan to introduce the new time period and has been featured in multiple comic books already. According to Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for the High Republic Era publications, Yoda is “already a respected member of the Jedi Council at this point,” and is “doing what he loves best: looking out for the young folks.” Given the expansion of Yoda’s story currently ongoing in a solo comic, it’s safe to say the wise, old Jedi Master will continue to show up across Lucasfilm’s line of media.

    Source: Star Wars

  • ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    ‘One Piece’ Creator Offers First Tease of Netflix’s Live-Action Designs

    The latest news for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece has finally arrived with an official statemenr by series creator Eichiiro Oda. Yet, after a close inspection and tease by the cast, it seems there’s a lot more here than just an episode count confirmation.

    Emily Rudd, who plays Nami in the live-action adaptation, shared a piece on Instagram that Oda drew Nami with her blue-eyes instead of her usual design. Taking a closer look, there are quite a few changes that actually highlight this is the series creator drawing the live-action cast as the characters.

    Taz Skylar’s Sanji also is missing his curly eyebrows, which confirm he will have regular ones throughout the first season. Of course, they could just be to simplify the design for these chibi art style but it is part of his design. They could use the curly eyebrows when he reaches a certain story point to have that original design bleed into live-action.

    The other major change is Jacob Gibson’s Usopp has a short nose rather than the elongated one from the manga. It was the one change many expected at the time but there’s always a chance it is slightly longer than normal or they bring it back for comedic bits like a running gag of stuff getting stuck on his nose.

    Still, it may just be a tease for now but it’s certainly highlighting that the show’s release is just on the horizon. Here’s hoping that the actual first look isn’t too far off to confirm what they look like in the costumes that already seemed quite close to the original.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ Synopsis Clarifies Canonicity of the Animated Adventure

    As part of Star Wars Day 2023, Lucasfilm rolled out new a seven-episode animated series set in the High Republic Era, Young Jedi Adventures. Though it’s aimed at younger audiences, the question of whether or not the events in the series are considered canon has been raised as the series introduces new characters–and even a brand new species–during an era that’s yet to be explored outside of publication. In a press release, Lucasfilm has addressed the issue of the canonicity of the new series.

    Set 200 years before “The Phantom Menace,” during the High Republic era, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer. “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda. 

    The reference to the events of The Phantom Menace would certainly seem to cement the series as canon in the Star Wars universe despite the show not really targeting the type of audience who cares about such things. As executive producer and Lucasfilm Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy James Waugh explained “Star Wars transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters.”

    Fans of the Marvel animated series, Spidey and His Amazing Friends, will find it shares a lot in common with Young Jedi Adventures. Not only does the new Star Wars series share the animated style of the Spidey show, it’s also similarly formatted and each pair of episodes is packed with opportunities for young viewers to learn core values through brand new characters. “When developing Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a “youngling’s” first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the Star Wars galaxy,” explained Waugh. “The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.“

    You can read our full review of the new animated series right here before checking out the series which is now streaming on Disney Plus.

    Updating…

  • CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    CONFIRMED: Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Will Consist of 8 Episodes

    It’s been a long road but after a long bit of silence, we finally get an official update for Netflix’s ambitious adaptation of One Piece. Surprisingly, the news drops is an official statement from series creator Eiichiro Oda to celebrate Monkey D. Luffy’s birthday.

    In an official statement, Oda shared the trials he underwent early on trying yo find a compromise between him and Tomorrow Studios, as the cultural differences make such an adaptation quite challenging for everyone involved.

    He also goes on to highlight that while a 2023 release is confirmed with the posters earlier this year, they promised to not release the series until it has his final stamp of approval, which further highlights just how involved he is with the series.

    That is not all, as it also confirms that One Piece won’t consist of ten episodes as previously announced back in 2017. As we shared in January of last year, the series will not consist of eight episodes overall. It’s been a long ride since the news initially broke with mang hints along the way until the final confirmation.

    Overall, it’s great to get an update on the series and see the passion Oda has for this franchise. There’s a lot riding on getting this adaptation right for himself, fans, and those involved in production. Showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens have proven their love for the series many times, which adds to the hope even more of finally seeing the first footage.