Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Black Adam’ Sequel Unlikely to Happen

    ‘Black Adam’ Sequel Unlikely to Happen

    As the internet continues to debate whether Black Adam will be profitable for DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery, a new report suggests a sequel is off the cards. Earlier in the week, Variety reported that Black Adam was set to lose $100 million for Warner Bros. Discovery, after only pulling in $387 million worldwide. Leading man, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would later refute that report, suggesting the film would make a profit of $52 million-$75 million. Despite Johnson’s claims, though, it appears a sequel to the film is off the table.

    In a new piece exploring the future of DC Studios, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that it is unlikely a sequel to Black Adam will be given a greenlight. The decision is based on the film’s overall performance. As THR notes, much like Variety did, the film had a hefty price tag – a reported $190 million, but some suggest it’s more like $230 million – and that’s without the cost of marketing. With those numbers, a worldwide haul of $387 million is unlikely to make the film profitable. It could break even with ancillary revenue, but the costs to produce a sequel even at that point seems too high.

    Also unlikely is a sequel to Black Adam. Despite the hype surrounding the movie of launching a new corner of DC, a lot of it led by star Dwayne Johnson, the movie has only grossed $385 million worldwide and insiders at the studio say the movie, which cost more than $190 million to produce (two sources peg the actual cost at $230 million, not including marketing), will be lucky to break even, even considering ancillary revenue. Even if the movie does eke out a minimal profit, any follow-up’s inherent rising costs dim the prospect of a sequel.

    The Hollywood Reporter

    Black Adam is currently playing in theaters and will hit Blu-Ray and DVD at the end of the month.

    Source: THR.

  • Jason Momoa Might Be Done as Aquaman After ‘The Lost Kingdom’

    Jason Momoa Might Be Done as Aquaman After ‘The Lost Kingdom’

    Nothing quite like another Warner Bros. shocker to end a quiet night. The Hollywood Reporter’s latest news drop has revealed an absolute bombshell – Patty Jenkins‘ Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, and the DC Cinematic Universe established by Zack Snyder with 2013’s Man of Steel is likely over. If this wasn’t enough, THR also confirmed there are good odds the films released by the newly formed DC Studios over the next couple years will also be the last time fans see many of their favorite actors in their most iconic roles. This, according to the trade, would be true of even the heaviest DC hitters, including Jason Momoa as the undersea hero Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman.

    Momoa has portrayed Aquaman in live action since 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, reprising the role in both versions of Justice League, the 2018 solo project Aquaman, and its upcoming sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He also appeared as the character in a brief cameo for HBO Max’s series Peacemaker, alongside Ezra Miller‘s Flash. THR states Momoa is currently set to make another cameo in the long-gestating film The Flash next year, but that the inclusion of his scene -as well as the other DCEU cameos present in the movie – is in flux as the studio decides on the theatrical future of his fan-favorite superhero. There is reportedly a very real chance that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom marks Momoa‘s final time playing the titular protagonist, with an unexpected exit making room for a fresh take on the DC universe on film.

    Curiously, however, THR makes the claim that a departure from playing Aquaman would not necessarily mean an end for Momoa‘s relationship with Warner Bros. and DC Studios. Many inside sources have tipped the trade off to the idea that Momoa may return to DC as a pivotal figure in the new regime, only this time, he’d be playing the intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo instead. A surprise turn as the foul-mouthed antihero has been teased by both new DC Studios co-head James Gunn and Momoa in the past, so in a way, it would be a long thought abandoned dream come true. Unfortunately, there are no solid answers at the moment. Only time will tell how the next DC Cinematic Universe pans out.

    Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters December 25th.

    Source: THR

  • James Cameron Says ‘Avatar 4’ Is So Nuts It Made the Studio Say the F-Word

    James Cameron Says ‘Avatar 4’ Is So Nuts It Made the Studio Say the F-Word

    Avatar: The Way of Water is so close to theatrical release, audiences can almost taste it. When it finally drops, it will only be the second film in the Avatar franchise, but director James Cameron has much bigger plans than just two movies. The Hollywood legend has infamously spent the last decade of his career developing multiple sequels to his 2009 megahit, with the third entry reportedly already done with the filming process. Not to be contained, Cameron has stated he has outlines for an overall Avatar story that lasts up to seven or eight films, though whether or not he winds up helming all of them remains to be seen. Either way, in a recent interview with Collider, the creative made a big promise that each sequel will only be more insane than the last.

    Cameron has a long history of not holding back in his work, as evidenced by his gutsy bet to fully film sequels to a project that has yet to even release. However, according to his conversation with Collider, the currently-untitled Avatar 4 may be his most “nuts” achievement yet. The Titanic filmmaker explained a hilarious behind-the-scenes scenario during the interview:

    I can’t tell you the details, but all I can say is that when I turned in the script for 2, the studio gave me three pages of notes. And when I turned in the script for 3, they gave me a page of notes, so I was getting better. When I turned in the script for 4, the studio executive, creative executive over the films wrote me an email that said, ‘Holy f-ck.’ And I said, ‘Well, where are the notes?’ And she said, ‘Those are the notes.’ Because it kind of goes nuts in a good way, right?

    James Cameron

    There’s no telling what audiences might be in store for when Avatar 4 hits cinemas on December 18th, 2026, but they can get a better idea when Avatar: The Way of Water drops on December 16th (of this year).

    Source: Collider

  • REPORT: Willem Dafoe Will Not Appear in ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

    REPORT: Willem Dafoe Will Not Appear in ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

    Willem Dafoe has left the ocean, or something like that. According to a new report from industry insider KC Walsh, the fan-favorite actor will not appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, despite playing a major role in the previous film and cameoing alongside Jason Momoa‘s Arthur Curry in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Dafoe portrayed Aquaman’s mentor Nuidis Vulko, a chief Atlantean scientist and one of the hero’s foremost supporting characters from the comics. The former Spider-Man star was widely expected to reprise the Vulko role in the sequel, but Walsh states the story has other plans.

    ***POTENTIAL SPOILERS***

    In response to an inquisitive fan on Twitter, Walsh made the claim that the friendly father figure will not only be absent from the film but will be snuffed out of the franchise altogether. Vulko will, supposedly, be killed offscreen at some point during the movie, ending Dafoe‘s time in the DC cinematic universe and stripping Aquaman of his most-trusted confidant.

    Dafoe‘s journey as Vulko has been a bit strange from the start. He was originally cast in the role by Snyder for Justice League but saw all his scenes cut from the theatrical release. He eventually debuted in Aquaman before having his initial Justice League restored in the highly-demanded Director’s Cut.

    Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is set to be directed by James Wan, returning from the first film. Momoa will be back in the title role, with Patrick Wilson also returning as his formerly villainous half-brother Orm Marius. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park, and Amber Heard are all expected to make a comeback as part of the cast.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Superman:’ Henry Cavill Likely Out as the Man of Steel

    ‘Superman:’ Henry Cavill Likely Out as the Man of Steel

    DC Studios is looking to revamp the DC universe. Following the news that Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, it was revealed that Henry Cavill‘s return as Superman is already over. After making a cameo in Black Adam, the actor took to social media to proudly announce his return to DC as the Man of Steel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, however, that no longer appears to be the case.

    New DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are said to be in the final stages of drafting the future of DC Studios, and Cavill’s Superman doesn’t appear to be a part of those plans. Plans for a sequel to Man of Steel 2 are reportedly shut down, as is the return of Cavill as Superman. It’s said that the move comes as the new heads seek to close the curtain of the Snyderverse, including saying goodbye to the heroes previously cast by Zack Snyder — Cavill being one of them.

    If that proves to be the case, it’s likely Jason Momoa will be out as Aquaman, too, although rumors suggest Momoa might have a different future at DC. Gunn and Safran are expected to make a presentation to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO, David Zaslav, which should help to make the plans for DC and DC Studios a bit clearer in the coming months.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Avatar’ Producer Teases ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Sequel

    ‘Avatar’ Producer Teases ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Sequel

    James Cameron has spent the last decade of his career working on Avatar: The Way of Water and its many follow-ups, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing a film or two along the way. Most famously, the director was a driving force behind the creation of Alita: Battle Angel, a 2019 movie based on the acclaimed Japanese sci-fi manga Battle Angel Alita. Cameron had originally been attached to direct the project, which he started developing as far back as the year 2000, but ultimately relinquished the job to Robert Rodriguez so he could better focus on expanding the Avatar franchise. After a middling box office run in theaters, Rodriguez’s final product became a huge sleeper hit on streaming and home video, earning a cult following online with high demand for a sequel.

    It would seem now that fans might get their wish, with Cameron’s longtime production partner Jon Landau hinting at progress being made at the Avatar: The Way of Water red carpet premiere. Speaking with Deadline, Landau was asked if he had any films in the pipeline aside from the remaining Avatar projects, and his answer was surprising:

    There’s a little film called Alita: Battle Angel that we’d love to circle back and do a sequel to. Been talking to Robert about that, and hopefully that comes to fruition.

    Jon Landau

    Alita was always crafted with sequels in mind. The film was full of high-profile cameos intended to set up the future, and built an expansive world with plenty of loose threads to play with. Rodriguez has been open about wanting to make another installment in the past, citing his work on Lucasfilm’s The Book of Boba Fett as a trial run for how much people wanted to see a return. With the fanfare that series received upon release, it’s probably safe to say Landau and company are excited at the prospect of doing more business.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Dead at Newly Formed DC Studios

    ‘Wonder Woman 3’ Dead at Newly Formed DC Studios

    In a shocking turn, Gal Gadot’s third Wonder Woman film is no longer a part of the future slate at DC Studios. According to a report by THR, director Patty Jenkins recently turned in a script treatment for the third film, co-written by longtime DC Comics guru Geoff Johns, and it was determined that the script did not fit with the new vision at DC Studios.

    The newly formed DC Studios is being co-piloted by James Gunn and Peter Safran who are said to be meeting with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Walter Zaslav soon to pitch their plan for the direction of the studio. Wonder Woman 3, as it exists, does not fall in line with whatever that vision is. There is currently no word on what the future might hold for Gadot or Wonder Woman.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Black Adam:’ Trades Say It’ll Cost Warner Bros., Johnson Argues It’ll Profit

    ‘Black Adam:’ Trades Say It’ll Cost Warner Bros., Johnson Argues It’ll Profit

    Even the prowess of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is not enough to stop Black Adam from sliding into the abyss of failing movies. Far from the hype of announcing the film in 2019, the movie never seemed to find its footing at the box office when it hit theaters in October. Recent reports from the trades have suggested Black Adam will lose $100 million for Warner Bros. Discovery, a report Johnson himself has since refuted.

    On Monday, Variety revealed that Black Adam was looking to lose $10 million from Warner Bros. Discovery. The report came after the film, which has only earned $387 million worldwide, hit streaming at the end of November. Per Variety, the Warner Bros. DC Universe film took $195 million to produce with an $80 global advertising budget. Unfortunately, the film has only generated $387 million worldwide, well below the projected break-even point of $600 million. Experts believe Black Adam will stall at around $400 million, severely impacted by the shifting home entertainment landscape. Industry experts say these ancillary revenue streams are growing more profitable when paired with a shorter theatrical release. For example, films hit platforms in 33 days versus the standard 75, reducing the money needed to revive campaigns. At any rate, “Black Adam” could be on the losing end for the foreseeable future.

    Johnson, however, took to Twitter on Wednesday to say the film will see a profit between $52 million and $72 million, according to financiers he spoke with. He then compared Black Adam‘s box office with what Captain America: The First Avenger did back in 2011.

    The actor also shared an analysis from Deadline, where the outlet reports the film should break even. The analysis, unsurprisingly, seems to match Johnson’s tweet word-for-word, with Deadline even citing The First Avenger‘s box office, stating Black Adam could still prove to be a franchise starter.

    The movie industry is still struggling to reclaim its glory despite the growing pivot to normalcy as the pandemic shifts. Relying on outsized attendance isn’t enough anymore. Admittedly, Johnson has been open about creating a sequel to Black Adam, but the question remains: will audiences share his same passion? And is the film’s box office performance enough for the new folks in charge of DC to want to revisit this story?

    Source: Variety and Deadline.

  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw Says Ravonna is a “Powerful Presence” in Season 2 of ‘Loki’

    Gugu Mbatha-Raw Says Ravonna is a “Powerful Presence” in Season 2 of ‘Loki’

    In the Season 1 finale of Loki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw‘s Ravonna Renslayer made the decision to leave the TVA after learning of her nature as a Variant who had been taken from her timeline by He Who Remains. When Season 2 of the streaming series hits Disney Plus next Summer, that thread won’t be left hanging loose, according to Mbatha-Raw.

    While talking with Entertainment Tonight, Mbatha-Raw said that her character, who left in search of free will and the power to truly “be in charge” of the Time Variance Authority, teased the return of her character in Season 2. “In Loki, Ravonna is a powerful presence,” hinted the actress, saying “selfishly, Renslayer makes it out of the TVA, which I’m really excited about.“

    In the comics, Ravonna has deep ties to Jonathan Majors‘ Kang, for whom the stage has been set to become the overarching villain of Marvel Studios’ ongoing Multiverse Saga. While it’s unclear if Mbatha-Raw’s character will play a role outside of Loki, it’s very likely she’ll come across one Variant or another of Kang at some point. Perhaps that’ll happen in Season 2 which, according to Mbatha-Raw, is shaping up to be another wild ride.

    It’s been amazing to shoot the second season of Loki. [Fans] are gonna be in for a real treat because the show is bolder and more surreal. And in many ways, goes to some bigger, bolder places than season 1, which is really exciting.

    Gugu Mbatha-Raw

    Unfortunately, fans are still in for a bit of wait to get that treat as Season 2 of Loki isn’t set to hit Disney Plus until next Summer.

    Source: ET

  • Snyderverse Fans Won’t Love the News Out of the Latest ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Test Screening

    Snyderverse Fans Won’t Love the News Out of the Latest ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Test Screening

    Earlier this year, Aquaman star Jason Momoa posted a shot of him alongside Ben Affleck teasing the latter’s inclusion in the upcoming DC release Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Fans of Affleck’s Batman believed that this meant Affleck was back as the Bat, booting Michael Keaton’s version of the character and signaling a return to the Snyderverse continuity. According to one insider, a recent test screening of the film might not be the best Christmas present for those hoping to see Affleck return to the role.

    Following a test screening of Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, KC Walsh shared the news that Affleck was nowhere to be seen in the cut shown to a test audience.

    In fact, according to Walsh, neither Affleck nor Keaton’s version of Batman showed up in the cut.

    So what happened between Momoa’s tease and the test screening? Perhaps Affleck was just visiting? Maybe he did shoot scenes and throughout the chaotic front office upheaval at DC, which has found James Gunn in charge of storytelling, the decision was made to pull any Batman-related scenes from the film. At the moment, wild speculation is the only recourse for fans as they ponder what this means for the future of Batman outside of the Matt Reeves-led Gothamverse as many online rumors have led them to believe that Affleck was going to return to the role long-term. Again, a lot has changed since this Summer and until Gunn and DC co-chair Peter Safran present their long-term vision for DC Studios, fans are going to be left in the dark.