Category: News

  • HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Eyeing a January Premiere

    HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Eyeing a January Premiere

    The Last of Us video game was released in 2013 to unbelievably good reviews. Taking place in 2033, 20 years after a highly contagious fungus almost wipes out the entire population of the United States, it follows Joel, a man that lost his daughter when the outbreak first began, living his life with no real purpose until faced with the possibility of a cure. He then has to lead a young girl, Ellie, said to be immune, across the country in hopes of finding someone who can develop a vaccine from her unique set of antibodies.

    In March 2020, it was announced that HBO was planning a TV show based on the events of the first and possibly second game of the series, and later that same year it was announced that the project had been officially picked up for a full season. A year later, we are getting confirmation of the series’ premiere date, which, according to the official HBO Max website/app, will take place on January 15, 2023.

    The Last of Us will feature Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian), Bella Ramsay (Game of Thrones), Gabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Terminator: Dark Fate), Nico Parker (Dumbo), Ana Torv (Fringe, Mindhunter), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, Devs) among others. Argentinian composer Gustavo Santaolalla is set to compose the score of the series, after being the one to score both the original game and its sequel. Neil Druckman, who directed both games, will also return to The Last of Us‘ world to write the entirety of the first season, alongside Craig Mazin, which will consist of ten episodes.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    With the confirmation that the legendary Harrison Ford was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Thunderbolt Ross, replacing the late William Hurt, came speculation that Marvel Studios must have plans to have Ross finally become the Red Hulk and take on the Hulk. As it turns out, the studio has plans Ross to end up at odds with another hero: Captain America.

    In an interview with Collider, Marvel Studios’ Parliament member Nate Moore confirmed Ford’s casting and gave some insight into what fans can expect from him when he turns up in Captain America: New World Order.

    Well, look, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, he is going to bring his own team to play. It’s no secret that Samuel Sterns is making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is fantastic because Tim Blake Nelson’s the best. Harrison Ford is taking on the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and to see Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross, which if you remember actually threw him in prison at the end of Civil War because he violated the Sokovia Accords. There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun.

    Nate Moore

    With the project not expected to start filming until February or March, Moore’s comments stand as some of the best insight into the plot of the film to date. Director Julius Onah has gone on record in sharing his excitement about Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader serving as the villain of the piece, saying he’ll “put Sam through the wringer” in what he’s calling a paranoid thriller. And now it sounds like Sam might have more than just The Leader standing in his way in his first big screen outing as Captain America.

    Captain America: New World Order is currently set to hit theaters on May 3, 2024.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Friday the 13th’ Prequel Series in Works at Peacock

    ‘Friday the 13th’ Prequel Series in Works at Peacock

    Peacock is looking to revisit Camp Crystal Lake. It was announced on Monday that the streaming service is developing a prequel to Friday the 13th. The series hails from Bryan Fuller, the man behind Pushing Daisies and Hannibal. He’ll serve as the showrunner, writer and executive producer on the prequel. He’ll develop the project along with A24, the studio behind hits like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Pearl.

    Crystal Lake, which was given a straight-to-series order, is a prequel to the 1980s horror film, Friday the 13th. The move comes after rights to the franchise were tied up after the rights moved from Paramount to New Line. The original movie’s director and producer Sean S. Cunningham and original screenwriter Victor Miller were stuck in a copyright dispute, with the long battle finally coming to an end back in May. Miller ended up securing the rights over the script and original characters but not over the Friday the 13th title or the concept of an adult Jason and/or the character’s now iconic hockey mask. Because of this, the prequel series, could not be called Friday the 13th.

    “I discovered Friday the 13th in the pages of Famous Monsters magazine when I was 10 years old and I have been thinking about this story ever since. When it comes to horror, A24 raises the bar and pushes the envelope and I’m thrilled to be exploring the camp grounds of Crystal Lake under their banner. And [NBCUniversal’s] Susan Rovner is simply the best at what she does. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be working with her again.”  

    Fuller

    Miller and his copyright attorney, Marc Toberoff, will also serve as executive producers on the project alongside Fuller and Rob Barsamian. The series is being likened to the A&E series, Bates Motel, and is described as a drama. As of now, no release date has been set.

    Source: THR.

  • Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Talks for ‘Wonder Man’

    Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Talks for ‘Wonder Man’

    Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in talks to star in the Wonder Man series for Disney+ and Marvel Studios. The news was revealed on Monday by Deadline with the outlet reporting that the actor is officially in talks for the titular role. News of the actor’s casting comes after he was reported as being up for the role in the past few weeks.

    Abdul-Mateen, who currently portrays DC’s Black Manta in the Aquaman films has also starred in HBO’s Watchmen, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nia DaCosta‘s Candyman, and The Matrix Resurrections where he played Morpheus. He’s currently coming off the Suzan Lori Parks play Topdog/Underdog where he’s earned rave reviews for his performance. He’ll join the previously announced Ben Kingsley in Wonder Man, who is set to reprise his role as Trevor Slattery.

    Wonder Man hails from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton, who is executive producing the project, and Andrew Guest (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), who will serve as the head writer on the series. While not yet set in stone, Cretton, who is also on board Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, could potentially direct an episode or more, too.

    As of note, Wonder Man does not have a release date on Disney+.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Marvel and EA Teaming-Up on 2 More Games in Addition to ‘Iron Man’

    Marvel and EA Teaming-Up on 2 More Games in Addition to ‘Iron Man’

    Just last month, we learned that EA developer Motive is busy working on an Iron Man-focused game. Olivier Proulx returns to the world of Marvel after having worked on the game adaptation of Guardians of the Galaxy when there still was a deal with Square-Enix to actively develop games. That deal included multiple titles which so far only ended up with the previously mentioned game and the controversial Marvel’s Avengers. They are seemingly hoping to accomplish the same with Electronic Arts, as they have announced they are working on a multi-title collaboration

    Taking to Twitter, Marvel Games has announced a bigger deal with EA which currently means they are working on three games actively for consoles and PC. Iron Man counts as part of that trio of new Marvel titles. There’s no word what the other projects might end up being, but there have also been rumors of a potential Black Panther open-world game that could potentially be part of this deal.

    It’s definitely interesting seeing just how many projects Marvel has been actively working on when it comes to gaming titles Insomniac is still busy working on the sequel to Spider-Man after wrapping up with a midquel focused on Miles Morales. They also surprised many when we got a teaser for a Wolverine-focused game that seems to promise a lot of snikt action. Skydance also has a game that sees Captain America team up with Wakanda’s ruler during World War 2. Marvel Snap has also just recently released online, there seems to be a lot more Marvel heading our way.

    Source: Twitter, ComicBook.com

  • Cristin Milioti Cast as Sofia Falcone in ‘The Penguin’

    Cristin Milioti Cast as Sofia Falcone in ‘The Penguin’

    Cristin Milioti, who starred as Hazel Green in the HBO Max series Made for Love, has been cast as Sofia Falcone in the upcoming streaming series The Penguin. The series, which will also head to HBO Max, is part of The Batman director Matt Reeves’ growing Gotham-based universe of DC characters.

    In the comics, Sofia is the daughter of crime boss Carmine Falcone, who was played by John Turturro in The Batman. The character was first introduced in Batman: The Long Halloween and went on to become a serial killer known as The Hangman who targeted members of Gotham PD.

    According to Variety, Milioti’s character will be in a power struggle with Colin Farrell’s Penquin in the HBO Max series. Reeves is serving as an executive producer on the series while he continues to develop both a sequel to The Batman and other series, such as one based in Arkham Asylum. The Penguin will be written by showrunner Lauren LeFranc with Craig Zobel helming the first two episodes of the series which, according to Farrell, will consist of either 6 or 8 episodes.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    ‘DC’s Stargirl’ to End with Season 3

    DC’s Stargirl will not be renewed for a fourth season on the CW. According to a report by Deadline, the series will conclude following the Season 3 finale on December 7th, joining Nancy Drew, The Flash and Riverdale as CW network series that have been canceled since Nextstar Media Group assumed control following an acquisition in early October that saw them take ownership of 75% of the company.

    The trade report indicated that the writing team of the series was tipped off at the potential for the cancellation of the series, allowing for them to craft a fitting ending for the series rather than leaving it in limbo. Geoff Johns, who created the character in 1999 and has served as the showrunner of the CW series, gave the following statement:

    Stargirl has always held a special place in my heart for many reasons. With all the brewing changes at the network, we were aware this was possibly the last season, so we wrote with that in mind and have delivered what I believe to be the best season of Stargirl yet, with complete creative closure. The cast and crew are extraordinary, and I’d like to thank them for helping me bring this series to life. Brec embodied Courtney in every way possible — with grace, strength and humor — exceeding my wildest expectations. I am grateful to WBTV and The CW for giving us a home to tell this story and to honor my beloved late sister, and I’m beyond thankful to the press and fans who have always championed us for three amazing seasons. Most series never get this far. We couldn’t be more proud of our show and the fan community it’s built!

    Geoff Johns

    Star Brec Bassinger, who portrayed lead character Courtney Whittmore/Stargirl for three seasons also shared her thoughts on the series coming to an end.

    Getting to play Stargirl and be a part of the DC Universe has been the greatest honor, and I am so grateful for every moment of it. I would like to thank our fearless leader Geoff Johns, along with WBTV, The CW, the cast and crew of Stargirl, and of course, the fans. Thank you. This show will forever live in my heart.

    Brec Bassinger

    With DC’s Stargirl and The Flash coming to an end, only Superman & Lois remains alive as DC content on the CW, though its future is reportedly up in the air as well. Johns already has his next project in line with an adaptation of his Image Comics’ series Geiger in the works at Paramount.

    Source: Deadline

  • Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios held the purple carpet World Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever last week in Hollywood and early word is that the film is not only action-packed but serves as a touching emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman. To continue to honor the star, who passed away from cancer in 2020, director Ryan Coogler and several members of the cast were in Washington D.C. on Sunday, October 30th for a special screening of the film at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts.

    WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright and Kevin Youngattend the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Red Carpet Screening at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on October 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Disney)

    Director Ryan Coogler and stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta and Angela Bassett attended the red-carpet event last tonight hosted by Walt Disney Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

    Disney

    Founded in 2020, The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit organization with the mission “to encourage, support, and promote the intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth of young people of the African Diaspora.”

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be in theaters beginning November 11th.

  • Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    The news of Hugh Jackman’s return to the role of Wolverine for Marvel Studios 2024 Deadpool 3 is still generating buzz even a few weeks after the news broke. Jackman is so beloved in the role and so well-associated with the character that the news was well-received by most all fans, something that seems almost impossible most of the time. While talking with the Associated Press, Jackman made it clear that it’s not only the fans who are excited.

    I can tell you I’m gonna have the time of my life. I can tell you that I’ve started back at the gym and I’m eating a lot and I feel bad for the cast of Music Men, the amount of protein shakes I’m having. But it’s a lot of fun. It’s been five years and I really never thought I’d come back and I’m really, really excited about it. Actually, I do know a bit about the script, but I’m not gonna tell you.

    Hugh Jackman

    While Jackman didn’t want to let any plot info out of the bag just yet, he was willing to answer one of the AP’s questions about whether or not his return to the role was going to bring with it a kinder, gentler characterization.

    There’s no choice. He’s definitely the angry and acerbic, grumpy…and he’s gonna take a lot of free shots at Ryan Reynolds, let me tell you. Physically, that is.

    Hugh Jackman

    Deadpool 3 is set to begin filming next year ahead of a 2024 release.

  • The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    Welcome to the first edition of the Murphy’s Multiverse Sunday Paper, where the biggest news of the past week is brought to you all in one place. Sit back, relax, and catch up before you have to deal with whatever the upcoming week has to offer. This past week had some pretty big news across the board, so let’s break it down by subject.

    Marvel Studios

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe had an active news week with multiple trailer drops and marketing for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in full swing. First, plenty of new footage and promos for Wakanda Forever have been released (check some out here and here), and critic reactions came out after press premieres this week (check out MM’s Hunter Radesi’s reaction here.) While the film does not hit theaters for another couple of weeks, you can listen to Rihanna’s first song in six years made for the film

    Marvel Studios

    The first teaser trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania also dropped this week, and William Jackson Harper has joined the cast. (Read more here). Marvel also released the film’s official synopsis: 

    “In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang. Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the film; Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard produce.”

    Marvel Studios

    That didn’t stop Marvel Studios from releasing a trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, set to hit Disney+ on November 25, 2022. It looks like Kevin Bacon will appear as himself, Cosmo the Space Dog will make her first appearance since the original Guardians of the Galaxy, and Michael Rooker will even likely make an appearance of some sort. 

    Marvel Studios

    It was also confirmed this week that Marvel Studios is developing a WandaVision spinoff titled Vision Quest, in which we will follow Vision on his path to regaining his memories and humanity, and it’s possible the Scarlet Witch makes an appearance. (Read more here.) Speaking of WandaVision spinoffs, Agatha: Coven of Chaos has a bit of news of its own. WandaVision staff writer Megan McDonnell is among the team of writers working on the upcoming Disney+ streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, (read more here) and a recent rumor suggests that the series may be adapting the Scarlet Witch-related Children’s Crusade comic book arc. (Read more here.)

    We’ve also gotten a better look at Ironheart this week as set photos offer a look at Anthony Ramos’ villain the Hood (see it here), and a wrap gift teases Ironheart’s new armor’s faceplate (see it here). After not appearing in the Thunderboltspromotion at D23, Baron Zemo actor Daniel Brühl teased the return of his character (read more here), and Charlize Theron also teased Clea’s return to the MCU. (Read more here). Speaking of teases, Hugh Jackman discussed his return as Wolverine and a likely title change for Deadpool 3. (Read more here.)

    Lastly, there are a few more rumors making the rounds. Blade may have found its new director in Elegance Bratton, a relatively new director. (Read more here.) Believe it or not (it is a rumor after all), Dr. Doom may not be the main villain of the upcoming Fantastic Four film (read it here), and an official Disney site listed Emilia Clarke’s character in Secret Invasion as Abigail Brand, though the Skrull possibilities are endless. (Read more here.)

    Star Wars

    If a new rumor proves true, Ezra Bridger, the beloved protagonist of Disney XD’s animated Star Wars: Rebels, may receive a solo live-action series after the character’s appearance in the upcoming Disney+ series Ashoka. It is unclear clear if the rumored solo series, led by actor Eman Esfandi will be a direct sequel to Rebels or not. (Read more here.)

    Oscar Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who recently directed a couple of episodes of Ms. Marvel, has been chosen to direct what’s being described as a “secret” Star Wars film based on a script from Damon Lindelof and an as yet unnamed co-writer. Though the film is still in the early stages of development, the report indicates that it has gained steam at Lucasfilm and is among its top priorities on its theatrical slate (Read more here.) The Star Wars film is also apparently set to take place after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and could possibly bring back some of the sequel trilogy’s characters. (Read more here.)

    Last but not least, a teaser trailer for Tales of the Jedi dropped. (Watch it here.)

    DC

    While Black Adam flew through its first full week in theaters with strong box office numbers, DC has a much bigger week in the news than anyone would have predicted. Of course, the Superman cameo in the film was turning heads before it was even released. However, Henry Cavill himself on Monday took to social media to confirm his return as Superman. He posted a video for his fans along with the caption, “A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded. #Superman.” (Read more and check out his full Instagram post here).

    In fact, this week seemed to signal a new era for DC Entertainment on an even bigger scale, as it looks like Warner Bros. has finally found its Kevin Feige(s). In a surprising announcement, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been tapped to lead the DC’s future film, TV, and animation slates. They will act as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, which was recently led by Walter Hamada under the title of DC Films. (Read more here.)

    dc studios

    DC also left bits and pieces of news floating around throughout the week, though perhaps less exciting than the big hitters above. Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s Joker, is reportedly set to start production soon. According to cinematographer Lawrence Sher, the film will begin filming “in five- or six-weeks’ time.” Additionally, the film will “largely be shot in sound stages in Los Angeles, as well as on location in New York, where the project is set.” (Read more here.) On the other hand, The Batman 2 won’t be headed to theaters until 2025 at the earliest. (Read more here.) However, it looks like the film will not be associated with the new DC Studios, and it is unclear if The Batman franchise will be either. (Read more here.) In other words, DC’s universe will still remain, to some extent, in its oddly organized, splintered form we all know and love.

    Speaking of the Wild West of DC, there is more. The Batman universe untitled Arkham Asylum spin-off series is finally moving forward. Variety has shared that the creator of The StaircaseAntonio Campos, has joined the production as its showrunner. (Read more here.) Set photos from the filming of The Flash’s ninth and final season have seemingly confirmed that actress Javicia Leslie—who previously played an original character on Batwoman–will return to The CW as the multiversal villain Red Death, (read more here), and actor Elijah Rashad is set to join Doom Patrol’s fourth season. (Read more here.)

    HBO Max is looking to redevelop its previously announced Green Lantern series. The show, which hailed from producer Greg Berlanti and writer Seth Grahame-Smith, was originally set to star Finn Wittrock (Ratched) and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) as the respective Green Lanterns. Reportedly, the new series will instead turn the focus over to John Stewart, one of DC’s first black superheroes. (Read more here.)

    In Other News

    Some other news worth noting—Henry Cavill is departing The Witcher, with Liam Hemsworth to take on the role. (Read more here.) Andy Serkis apparently will not be back to direct Venom 3 and writer Kelly Marcel will helm the film instead. (Read more here.) Avatar: The Way of the Water might have a whopping 3 hours and 10 minutes run time, and House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condol discussed the season finale and about the direction the series will take in the future. (Read more here.)