Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Doom Patrol’ and ‘Titans’ to End on HBO Max

    ‘Doom Patrol’ and ‘Titans’ to End on HBO Max

    It’s official, after months of speculation, it has been confirmed that Doom Patrol and Titans will end their runs on HBO Max. Originally designed as DC Universe exclusives, the shows were moved to HBO Max after DC Universe shifted its focus to comics. The current fourth seasons of both series will be their last. Luckily, for fans of the series, though, the producers on both shows expected the decision and were able to give the shows a proper ending for fans.

    “While these will be the final seasons of Titans and Doom Patrol, we are very proud of these series and excited for fans to see their climactic endings,” an HBO Max spokesperson said in a press release to The Hollywood Reporter.

    “We are grateful to Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for making such thrilling, action-packed, heartfelt series. We thank Titans showrunner Greg Walker, executive producers Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Richard Hatem, and the team at Weed Road Pictures. For Doom Patrol, we celebrate showrunner Jeremy Carver and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Chris Dingess and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson. For four seasons, fans have fallen in love with the Titans and Doom Patrol, investing in their trials and tribulations, and in their legendary battles saving the world time and time again.”

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Barbarian’ Director Zach Cregger Sets Next Project At New Line

    ‘Barbarian’ Director Zach Cregger Sets Next Project At New Line

    Barbarian was, apparently, only the beginning for newfound thriller maestro Zach Cregger. The filmmaker, whose aforementioned horror project became a surprise hit in late 2022, has officially set his next movie at New Line with a whopping, unprecedented eight-figure deal. Titled Weapons, the film is being described by The Hollywood Reporter as “an interrelated, multistory horror epic that tonally is in the vein of [Paul Thomas Anderson’s] Magnolia“. No other plot details are currently known, though Cregger is confirmed to be producing the project alongside Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment and J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of Boulderlight Productions, his former creative partners on Barbarian.

    According to THR, the deal with New Line came less than 24 hours after Cregger pitched the Weapons script for the first time. Multiple major Hollywood studios were heavily interested in being part of the film, with some producers even calling the director’s representatives before his script was ready to be shared, and making offers sight unseen. On top of a staggering payday, Cregger‘s deal with New Line gives him a guaranteed greenlight, a guaranteed theatrical release, controlling interest in a backend pot, and total control over the film’s final cut. An agreement of this nature in today’s market is truly remarkable, considering Cregger has only made a single film prior.

    New Line, which reportedly beat out Universal in a heated battle over Weapons‘ rights, released the following statement from President and CCO Richard Brener regarding the deal:

    Zach proved with Barbarian that he can create a visceral theatrical experience for audiences and that he commands every tool in the filmmaker toolbelt. We couldn’t be happier that he, Roy [Lee] and Miri [Yoon], and J.D. [Lifshitz]and Rafi [Margules] chose New Line to be the home of his next film, and hope it is the first of many to come.

    Richard Brener

    As stated by Brener, the studio hopes Weapons will be the first of many collaborations between New Line and Cregger, who has the potential to become a major new player in the cinematic horror scene in years to come.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Station 19’ Spinoff Showrunner Stepping Down

    ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Station 19’ Spinoff Showrunner Stepping Down

    It looks like something big is happening over at ABC, as Krista Vernoff has officially stepped down as the showrunner of the long-running Grey’s Anatomy and its spinoff Station 19. While responsible for both series, she’s spearheaded the medical drama for six years and its spinoff for another four. Vernoff has shared the following statement in regard to her leaving the two series behind for someone new to take over.

    It has been the privilege of a lifetime to be entrusted to run Grey’s Anatomy for the past six years and Station 19 for the last four. The passion of the dedicated fandoms and the impact that these shows have on hearts and minds cannot be overstated. The amount of talent in these two extraordinary casts and these two brilliant writers rooms is beyond measure — and these crews work magic week after week.

    Krista Vernoff

    Vernoff has been involved with Grey’s Anatomy since its first seven seasons, where she went on to rise the ranks and then return once again in 2017 for its 14th season. It’s also no small task that she was responsible for a second series on the side, and it seems that she’s definitely not leaving ABC, as her production company Trip the Light Productions has several projects already in development, one even eyeing a streaming release on Hulu.

    There is currently no one set to take over the next seasons but it seems like a deal is currently being finalized. Currently, veteran Meg Marinis is the favorite to take over with Station 19 to be supervised by executive producer Zoanne Clack who’ll act as a co-showrunner with Peter Paige of Good Trouble and The Fosters fame. So, we might get an announcement sooner rather than later.

    Source: Deadline

  • John Cena and Awkwafina Lead New Paul Feig Film at Amazon (Exclusive)

    John Cena and Awkwafina Lead New Paul Feig Film at Amazon (Exclusive)

    Director Paul Feig‘s next film is ramping up for a March production and has landed a pair of stars to take the lead. John Cena and Awkwafina have signed on for Feig’s new film, which will be produced by Amazon.

    The untitled production is set to follow the adventures of Awkwafina’s character who after winning the lottery becomes the target of the desperate population of a near future where her winnings could be claimed by anyone who kills her before the end of the day. As she seeks to survive until sundown, Katie finds herself under the protection of Cena’s character, who works for a professional protection agency.

    Awkwafina pictured with John Cena during the premiere of Crazy Rich Asians.
    Getty Images

    Feig, the director of Bridesmaids and 2016’s Ghostbusters, will also serve as an executive producer on the film along with Laura Fischer, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Zack Roth, all of whom worked with Feig on Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil. No release date or platform has been announced for the film.

  • Roiland Dropped from ‘Solar Opposites,’ Loses Overall Deal at 20th Century Animation

    Roiland Dropped from ‘Solar Opposites,’ Loses Overall Deal at 20th Century Animation

    A day after it was announced that Adult Swim has cut ties with Rick & Morty co-creator Justin Roiland, Hulu has decided to follow suit. Roiland, who voiced Rick & Morty on the Adult Swim series, also helped to co-create Solar Opposites for Hulu. Solar Opposites, renewed for a fourth season, will continue, but Roiland will no longer be attached due to his domestic assault charge.

    The news was announced on Wednesday with The Hollywood Reporter confirming that Roiland’s overall deal with 20th Century Animation is also no more. “We have ended our association with Justin Roiland,” Hulu and 20th TV Animation revealed in a statement to the press.

    With 20th Century Animation and Hulu cutting ties with Roiland, he will also no longer be involved in Koala Man. That series recently launched on Hulu and hails from creator Michael Cusack and showrunners Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez. Roiland has also willingly resigned from Squanch Games, the video game developer he helped to co-found.

    While Rick & Morty is set to recast the titular characters for the remaining 40 episodes left from the show’s renewal back in 2018*, Hulu hasn’t officially announced its plans regarding who will voice Korvo in future episodes of Solar Opposites. (The renewal for Rick & Morty at the time was for 70 episodes overall.)

    Source: THR.

  • Welcome Back, Quake! Actress Chloe Bennet Seemingly Confirms Return to Her ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Role in the MCU

    Welcome Back, Quake! Actress Chloe Bennet Seemingly Confirms Return to Her ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Role in the MCU

    Since Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was canceled in 2020 after a seven-season run, fans of the ABC melodrama have pined for a number of the show’s stars to reprise their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Leading the pack of those that fans wish to see return is Chloe Bennet, who played the role of Inhuman Daisy Johnson/Quake. Now it seems like they might get their wish.

    Rumors have swirled recently that Bennet, who recently voiced Yi on the Hulu streaming animated series Abominable and the Invisible City, was tapped to join the MCU in an unnamed future project. While responding to online criticism of her performance in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bennet seemed to confirm those rumors and indicate that she’d be reprising the role of Quake in the MCU.

    Bennet’s response stemmed from a response to a question that evolved into a nearly day-long conversation about her role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The conversation began when Charles Murphy was asked the following question “So I get that you’re trolling. But if they were to reintroduce Quake as a mutant like what they did with Kamala, do you (with your expertise) think would she still be played by Chloe Bennett or a new actress?” Murphy responded by saying, “I’ve said this before and will say until I see something to change my mind: I can’t imagine Bennet sharing the screen with talent like Florence Pugh, Hailee Steinfeld or Samuel L. Jackson (could keep going). Just not the same caliber of actress.” The responses to those tweets and other parts of the online dialogue ultimately reached Bennet who responded to Murphy in a Quote Tweet.

    hey man, you seem like a…mean loser?also, i have a strong feeling your tweets aren’t going to age well

    Chloe Bennet

    It’s a fascinating way for Bennet to seemingly reveal her return to the role. Marvel Studios is renowned for keeping a lid on castings; for talent to reveal their role as part of an online dispute is unprecedented. In the Fall of 2022, an Instagram post by Bennet had fans fired up about a potential appearance in Marvel Studios Secret Invasion, a possibility the actress put to rest by saying “I am in no way attached or involved, even at all or a little bit, in the Secret Invasion Marvel thing.  I honestly don’t even know really what that is.” If that statement is to be taken at face value, something that can’t always be done with talent working on Marvel Studios’ projects, then Bennet’s return to the MCU might be a bit further out yet.

  • RUMOR: ‘Loki’ Season 2 May Introduce a New Inventor Variant of Kang

    RUMOR: ‘Loki’ Season 2 May Introduce a New Inventor Variant of Kang

    It looks like the number of times we’ll see Jonathan Majors‘ Kang is finally ramping up. After a brief tease in Loki‘s first season with He Who Remains, a new rumor is making the rounds that we’ll perhaps see another variation of the character appear in its upcoming second season. This would mark the third Variant we’ll meet as it’ll release after February’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

    According to insider Daniel Richtman, it seems that the upcoming second season of Loki will offer a new Variant that is “an inventor in the past.” It seems he buys things that’ll affect the future and it’s Loki’s job to stop him. Given we see a version of Kang the Conqueror in command of the Time Variance Authority, he might be using them to hunt down other versions of himself that are affecting the multiverse.

    Richtman also goes on to highlight that he’s unsure if this is Victor Timely, a version of Nathaniel Richards from the comics and also known as “Prime Kang” but that “it is likely him.” The character is known as the one who ends up forming the town of Timely which would eventually blossom into Chronopolis, which is theorized to be the city we visit in Quantumania.

    It’ll definitely be interesting to see how this develops, and if we might see even more versions of the character appear throughout the next few phases. Majors highlighted that the joy of Kang was that he can play different variations that allow him to explore different perspectives on the character. So, he’ll definitely jump at the opportunity to bring Victor Timely to life.

    Source: Patron via The Direct

  • Adult Swim Severs Ties with ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland

    Adult Swim Severs Ties with ‘Rick and Morty’ Co-Creator Justin Roiland

    Rick and Morty will be looking for a new Rick and Morty. Co-Creator and the voice behind the show’s two main characters– and all their variants–Justin Roiland has been cut loose by Adult Swim. The series will continue without Roiland, who was recently charged with felony domestic abuse.

    Rick and Morty was created by Roiland alongside Dan Harmon. It become so popular that Adult Swim made an ambitious 70-episode order back in 2018. At this point, that deal hasn’t even hit its halfway mark and the controversy surrounding Roiland had many wondering how exactly they’ll move forward.

    It seems that the series order is not going to get dropped anytime soon and rather they’ll simply recast the voices of the maniac genius Rick and his grandson Morty. There’s no statement if they already started the process of finding the successor, but they’ll likely try to move forward as fast as possible.

    We also don’t know if they’ll keep some existing recordings from Roiland or completely replace any work he may have done for the next season of the series. The last episode of Season 6 released in December and we’ll have to see how far along the next season already is.

    Of course, Rick and Morty isn’t the only project that Roiland is involved with, such as his work on a variety of characters in High on Life. There’s also his other spinoff series Solar Opposites, where he voices Korvo and the recently released Koala Man. For now, we’ll have to wait for more information to arrive on the other projects.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Warrior Nun’ Showrunner Reveals Netflix Wide Mandate for 8 Episode Seasons

    ‘Warrior Nun’ Showrunner Reveals Netflix Wide Mandate for 8 Episode Seasons

    Netflix is no stranger to shorter season episode counts, as they reshaped the way drama and comedy series would be structured. The once 22-episode runs from broadcasts started to go down to the famous 13-episode era that kicked off when Daredevil was released. Yet, we’ve seen that episode count continue to decline with more ten-episode seasons and as of late, a focus on eight episodes.

    As it turns out though, this isn’t something that a group of creatives indirectly decided together but rather a new mandate set by Netflix. Warrior Nun showrunner Simon Barry revealed it in an interview with Be More Super Podcast that around the time they were writing their second season, that mandate was introduced and allowed them to adapt their scripts.

    We knew it was going to be eight in the writing room because the Netflix mandate wasn’t a budget thing. It was Netflix shifting all their shows to eight-episode seasons, their studio shows I should say, not the shows they acquire and broadbust but the ones they make inhouse as a studio. So, we knew that Netflix decided to make this shift across the board but it wasn’t something Warrior Nun was being punished for anything, we existed long enough to see it go from 10 to 8 for everyone.

    Simon Barry

    The first season of Warrior Nun was still part of the ten-episode era and many worried that perhaps the episode reduction was due to some criticism of that first entry. Yet, it seems they merely swiftly adjusted before entering production and had to rewrite the entire show; even if that sadly didn’t help them from getting canceled after the second season was released back in November.

    Given the timing, this news also matches with our exclusive a year ago that the live-action One Piece series has also reduced its episode count to eight. It was initially announced with ten episodes all the way back in 2020 but the timing would match with the new mandate. The Witcher also was quite a success with that same episode count back in 2019 and may have inspired the new standard.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Secret Invasion’s Emilia Clarke Praises Marvel Studios, Calls Them “Absolutely Brilliant”

    ‘Secret Invasion’s Emilia Clarke Praises Marvel Studios, Calls Them “Absolutely Brilliant”

    Marvel Studios has been in the focus for a variety of reasons. No matter where one lands, the discussion may never truly end especially on the wide vast internet. Still, there are many sides to any production company, and it seems that the former Game of Thrones star has some kind words for Marvel Studios.

    In a new interview with IndieWire, Emilia Clarke got a chance to look back at her past with Disney’s other major franchise Star Wars while also sharing some excitement about her time with Secret Invasion. It seems that she’d a “wicked time” working with them and calls them “absolutely brilliant.”

    I’m genuinely having a wicked time on Marvel, though, they’re absolutely brilliant.

    Emilia Clarke

    It’s certainly high praise for Marvel Studios, which has tended to be under flack from Social Media and some industry experts. Some veteran directors even take shots at the modern blockbuster style that these comic book film adaptations offer. Ethan Hawke did point out that the studio “loves actors“ and their studio approach gives the various directors that work on their films more flexibility in adapting elements by normalizing reshoots.

    The biggest issue facing Marvel Studios has been the growing demand for CG work on their projects and with last-minute changes happening frequently, it adds more pressure to an industry that has a difficult model similar to marketing agencies. Not everything is as black and white but it always remains interesting to see just how varied experiences are on any project in Hollywood.

    Source: IndieWire