Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Echo’ Producer Teases Marvel Studios “Grounded” Streaming Series

    ‘Echo’ Producer Teases Marvel Studios “Grounded” Streaming Series

    Despite plenty of rumors to the contrary, Marvel Studios’ streaming series Echo is coming to Disney Plus sooner or later. While based on comments by showrunner Marion Dayre it seems that the series won’t make its initial release window, Echo isn’t in the dire straits many rumors seemed to indicate it might be. In fact, according to Marvel Studios Parliament member and producer Stephen Broussard, things are progressing nicely on the show.

    “[Production] is going well,” Broussard told Collider. “It’s very different. Like, talking about Werewolf by Night to this. It’s a very different tonal sort of thing. I don’t want to say too much because there’s not a whole lot out there in the world, but it feels very grounded, it feels very spiritual in ways that feel fresh for us.“

    Echo will tell the next chapter in Alaqua Cox‘s Maya Lopez’s MCU story following her introduction in Hawkeye. Cox will be the first Native American female to lead her own MCU series and Broussard says both she and the series are setting up as special. “Alaqua as the lead is incredibly compelling,” said Broussard of the star. “I’m sort of hard-pressed to think of something that it feels like outside in the broader realm of the MCU,” he said of Echo, “let alone within what we’ve done here. So stay tuned on that really cool stuff. It’s always about embracing whatever it is, right? Like embracing a Universal Hammer Horror film, kind of leaning into that and, I think leaning into what’s unique about any viewing property. What’s unique about this property is that it’s much more grounded, and it’s in rural Oklahoma, which is where it takes place. So it’s fun, and it’s been an amazing teamwork, and working with that team behind the scenes.”

    Footage from Echo was screened exclusively at D23 and got quite a reaction from the crowd and not only for the scene featuring Maya’s reunion with Wilson Fisk. It’s good to hear a positive update about the series following months of negative rumors and speculation. Echo will likely stream sometime in late 2023 or early 2024 on Disney Plus.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Werewolf By Night’ Was Just the Beginning of Marvel Studios’ Foray into Horror

    ‘Werewolf By Night’ Was Just the Beginning of Marvel Studios’ Foray into Horror

    Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation, Werewolf By Night, was largely successful with critics and audiences alike when it debuted in late 2022. The self-contained story didn’t explicitly set the table for another Marvel Studios horror romp, but it did make it clear that monsters have and continue to exist in the MCU. The studio’s long-awaited Blade film is gearing up for a late May start of production and will introduce audiences to another dark corner of the universe but according to Marvel Studios Parliament member Stephen Broussard, these two projects are just the beginning of Marvel’s foray into horror.

    “Well, I will say that we’re starting to introduce some cool characters that are in the darker side, the more monster side and the supernatural and the occult, in a very organic way as you’re seeing these characters pop up,” said Broussard. “I think in very organic ways, it feels like there could be ways to continue those stories in ways that feel very fresh and new and keeping our toe in that horror side of things.“

    Marvel Comics has a long and distinguished stable of monsters, ghouls, ghosts and demons that would make for thrilling streaming series or films. Werewolf By Night only skimmed the surface of a giant pool of possibilities and gave fans the itch for more. Keeping the talented Gael García Bernal‘s Jack Russell at the center of their efforts would be a wise choice and telling more stories involving the surprisingly wonderful relationship between Russell and Man-Thing while they meet and introduce new monsters to the MCU might just be the surest path to success.

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘Constantine’ Sequel Still Moving Ahead at Warner Bros.

    ‘Constantine’ Sequel Still Moving Ahead at Warner Bros.

    DC Studios officially unveiled its official slate earlier this month and noticeably absent was the previously announced Constantine sequel with Keanu Reeves. The film’s absence led many to believe the film was no longer in development, however, that does not look to be the case.

    According to Entertainment Weekly, Warner Bros. has confirmed that despite rumors suggesting otherwise, the sequel has not been scrapped. The news comes after reports stated that because the film wasn’t listed as part of DC Studios’ Chapter One slate, it was no longer in development. Many were quick to believe this to be the case as the sequel was ordered before James Gunn and Peter Safran, the heads of the newly formed DC Studios, took over DC’s future for Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s unclear how the film will fit in with DC Studios’ current plans, although DC will also offer the Elseworlds banners for films that fall outside the DCU continuity.

    Reeves, who starred in the first film, will return to reprise the titular role with director Francis Lawrence returning to direct the sequel. As of now, the film does not yet have a release date.

    Source: EW.

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman on Casting Rumors, What He Learned from ‘WandaVision’

    ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman on Casting Rumors, What He Learned from ‘WandaVision’

    Though it won’t go into production until early in 2024, Marvel Studios Fantastic Four might lead the country in rumored castings. The roles of Ben Grimm, Reed Richards, Sue Storm and Johnny Storm are certainly among the most coveted in all of Hollywood and will provide the respective talents that fill them with at least a decade’s worth of security. The constant spinning of the rumor mill and theorizing about the upcoming film are nothing new to director Matt Shakman, who boarded the project after original director Jon Watts departed it to work on his Star Wars series Skeleton Crew.

    Shakman’s time on WandaVision, Marvel Studios’s first streaming series and certainly the most “water cooler” one to date, allows him some unique perspective on the ongoing social media craze that surrounds the casting for Fantastic Four, as he explained to Comic Book.

    “There are a lot out there, man,” said Shakman of the casting rumors. “They really are. It’s pretty crazy. As I learned from WandaVision, too, it is so lovely to see the level of engagement that fans have with this material, because I’m a fan too, and I have been reading Fantastic Four since I was a kid,” the director explained.

    WandaVision‘s mysterious nature in concert with its weekly release schedule led to some wild fan theories that kept the series front and center on social media from week to week. Fans often conflated theories and rumors with facts and ended up disappointed more often than not as the Grim Reaper, Reed Richards and Doctor Strange never showed up. However frustrating it was, the experience did show the enormous amount of passion MCU fans have for certain projects, something Shakman hopes will carry over to Fantastic Four.

    “I love these characters,” said Shakman of Marvel’s First Family. “I love the chance that we have to bring them to the MCU and I really want to get it right and I know that everybody out there is really excited and feels passionate in the same way wanting to get it right. And so I encourage it. I think it’s great,” he continued before adding, “but yeah, I have no early answers for anyone today about casting.”

    While there’s nothing to be gleaned about the potential cast of Fantastic Four from Shakman’s comments, at least we can all rest well knowing someone learned something from WandaVision.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Marvel Studios Exec Officially Confirms ‘Wonder Man’, Teases a “Unique” Story

    Marvel Studios Exec Officially Confirms ‘Wonder Man’, Teases a “Unique” Story

    Marvel Studios’ production machine will be dialed up to do some major work soon. Agatha: Coven of Chaos is currently in production in Atlanta and six other projects are set to kick off principal photography by June. Among those is Wonder Man, a streaming series created by Destin Daniel Cretton and starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II but that has never been acknowledged by Marvel Studios…until now.

    In an interview with Comic Book, Marvel Studios producer Stephen Broussard finally made it official, confirming the series is happening and teasing the tone of the project.

    “Destin is doing a television show for us called Wonder Man,” said Broussard, joking that, “I think that’s out there in the world.” Not only was Broussard feeling kind enough to confirm Wonder Man is in the works, but he also gave some details about what to expect from the series, including a heavy dose of influence from the comics.

    [Wonder Man will] be definitely influenced by the comics. One of the things that we’re excited about it is that it’s going to feel very unique. It’s not going to feel like anything you’ve quite seen in the MCU before. And the kind of stories we can tell on Disney+, which has been fun. Like streaming, serialized storytelling is a totally different muscle. So, we’re having a blast making that one.

    Stephen Broussard

    A recent rumor compared the tone of the show to that of HBO’s Barry, a comparison that fans of that show and the MCU should be very excited about if it’s accurate. Wonder Man is set to kick off production in late March/early April and run through August meaning it should end up somewhere on Marvel Studios’ 2024 streaming slate.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Marvel Studios and Peyton Reed Have Already Begun Conversations about ‘Ant-Man 4’

    Marvel Studios and Peyton Reed Have Already Begun Conversations about ‘Ant-Man 4’

    The notion that Marvel heroes would disappear after a trilogy of films went out the door when the studio greenlit Thor: Love and Thunder, and began development on Spider-Man 4. Now, it seems the MCU’s tiniest hero may be next in line for a fourth film.

    According to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania producer Stephan Broussard, a fourth installment in the Ant-Man franchise is more than just a possibility; it’s already being discussed.

    “We’re already thinking about it,” Broussard told Comic Book. “It’s like, every movie’s its own battle and you bear the scars of making it and wanting to make it great. But hope springs eternal and you start to put yourself back together after the journey of making the movie. You’re like, ‘Yeah, what if we did X and what if we did Y?’ Like the wheels start turning, you can’t help yourself,” explained the producer.

    Of note, Broussard also revealed that director Peyton Reed has been involved in the early discussions about the fourth film. “I don’t want to say anything about specifically what those are,” said Broussard, ” but yeah, you can’t help yourself. Those conversations, those whispers have already started to happen between myself and Peyton and Kevin.”

    After replacing Edgar Wright at the last minute on 2015’s Ant-Man, Reed has become a favorite of Kevin Feige. He played a major role in the push to make Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania the big event films it became and has no shortage of big ideas. Should Reed end up helming the fourth film, he would be the first director to lead four MCU films in the same franchise and join the Russo Brothers in the four-timer squad!

    Source: Comic Book

  • Director Matt Shakman Updates ‘Fantastic Four’ Production Schedule

    Director Matt Shakman Updates ‘Fantastic Four’ Production Schedule

    The road to Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four draws closer to reality. In an interview with The Wrap, director Matt Shakman confirmed that production for the film adaptation of Marvel’s First Family is scheduled to begin in early 2024. This period would be a logical production window as the film is currently set to release on February 14, 2025. Though with release date delays that have become commonplace for Marvel Studios, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for audiences to expect the film to have at least one more delay in release.

    Matt Shakman being hired to helm Fantastic Four comes after previously directing the entirety of the acclaimed WandaVision series for Disney+. His work on the inaugural Marvel Cinematic Universe streaming project got him hired to work on a Star Trek feature film sequel for Paramount. But the offer of the Fantastic Four forced him to relinquish his role on Star Trek. Shakman spoke about this decision and his motivations with Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four.

    Movies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, and so when the ‘Fantastic Four’ opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up, and to go back home to Marvel, a place that I worked on ‘WandaVision’ at, with those people who are wonderful collaborators. It’s really a family there and to be able to go back and tackle something that I truly love, and they’re very similar in some ways: they both were launched in the ’60s at the same time, they’re both about optimism and looking to the stars and technology can solve everything and they’re about family too — the family you have, the family you make. So they’re aligned in many ways and speak to my heart and equally, so I’m excited to be working on ‘Fantastic Four’.

    Matt Shakman

    This quote should pique the interest of fans of the Fantastic Four. Matt Shakman’s excitement about the themes of family and exploration is key to successfully adapting Marvel’s First Family. They’re also concepts that weren’t adeptly explored in the previous film adaptations of the team. If Shakman’s creative vision for the team can be capitalized on, fans should have a lot to be excited about in 2025 with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Then in terms of the 2024 production start, it should further confirm the notion that audiences won’t learn of an official cast till the second half of 2023. A big reveal at San Diego Comic-Con seems to be an ideal time for the pageantry of such an occasion.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Vincent D’Onofrio Has News for Fans of Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’

    Vincent D’Onofrio Has News for Fans of Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’

    Marvel Studios’ ambitious Daredevil: Born Again begins production in New York City at the end of the month and the stars of the show have been in The Big Apple prepping for the series for some time. The 18-episode event will reunite Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, the stars of the beloved Netflix Daredevil series, for a brand new adventure following their introductions into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans of the Netflix series are hoping for more of the violent tone they grew accustomed to over three seasons but given that the series will stream on Disney Plus, that seems unlikely. Just what should be expected is still unknown, but some insight from D’Onofrio may help prepare fans of the somber, blood-soaked Netflix series.

    “It’s going to be very very cool,” said D’Onfrio in response to a fan’s hopes that Daredevil: Born Again would be “more badass” than the Netflix series. “Very different than the Netflix show which was as we know was amazing. Yet this is brand new and really smart,” claimed D’Onofrio before sharing that “we are going to surprise everyone with it. And yes it’s going to be really cool.”

    Cool, different and surprising might not be what fans of Daredevil want to hear but to some extent, the writing has been on the wall. Cox has called Born Again a “whole new deal” and expressed his wishes to potentially retell some stories that were already told over the course of the Netflix series. While everyone continues to debate the canonicity of Daredevil, including Cox, D’Onofrio‘s words speak volumes about what’s coming for the MCU versions of Daredevil and Kingpin.

  • Evangeline Lilly Makes Her Pitch for ‘The Wasp’ Solo Film

    Evangeline Lilly Makes Her Pitch for ‘The Wasp’ Solo Film

    Evangeline Lilly‘s Hope van Dyne/Hope Pym/The Wasp became the first MCU hero to have her name in the title of a film in 2018’s Ant-Man and The Wasp. Now the star is ready to see her character take the next step and take center stage in her own solo film.

    During the premiere of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Lilly, who suited up as the character for the fourth time, was asked by a Variety reporter how much longer she would like to portray the character. At least one more time, as it turns out. “I’m gonna make a pitch,” said Lilly, “that I think it might be time for a Hope spinoff…for a Wasp standalone film.“

    While there’s no guarantee Hope, or any of the Ant-Family, will survive their run-in with Kang the Conqueror in Quantumania much less the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, the character has proven to be savvy and resourceful. Given that Hope is largely a character created for the MCU, there’s no telling where he path may lead in the future, making that The Wasp solo film a distinct possibility down the road.

  • ‘Quantumania’ & ‘The Kang Dynasty’ Writer on Developing the Multiverse Saga’s Big Bad

    ‘Quantumania’ & ‘The Kang Dynasty’ Writer on Developing the Multiverse Saga’s Big Bad

    Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror seems to be everything he’s been made out to be. The first reactions to the premiere of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania have revealed that Majors blew audiences away and that Kang is truly a threat unlike anything the MCU has seen before. Of course, Majors‘ first Variant of the character, He Who Remains, warned of the coming of someone such as Kang and now that he’s arrived, it’s hard to say just what it will take to defeat him.

    He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror are just two of the many Variants of Kang that Majors is likely to play in the Multiverse Saga and it’ll take more than different costumes to truly set the characters apart. To that end, Quantumania and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty writer Jeff Loveness had (and still has) his work cut out for him in creating the unique twists on the Variants that Majors will bring to life. During an interview at the Quantumania premiere, Loveness described how he developed the Conqueror for the film.

    “Jumping off of Loki, where he’s more of a whimsical, kind of like an unexpected character, we just wanted to break expectations with this third movie,” said Loveness. “I think everyone kind of maybe expected a funny or a goofier Ant-Man villain,” he continued, “and so Peyton [Reed] and I said, ‘No, let’s put Ant-Man up against the most dangerous villain in the Multiverse and let’s do the opposite of what you saw in Loki. Let’s make this the worst of the worst.’”

    Of course, all the written development in the world doesn’t matter if the talent bringing the character to life doesn’t stick the landing. As he’s done with every role in his career, Majors turned in a special performance and Loveness joined in on the praise for the talented actor. “And there’s a reason he’s here and I think Jonathan is incredible. I don’t think I’ve seen a screen actor like him in quite some time. The guy nailed every line and I’ve never had such a thrill writing like an actor like him before.“

    Fans don’t have too much longer to see for themselves just what all the fuss is about Kang as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17th.