Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Bob Chapek Teases More Adult-Oriented Content for Disney

    Bob Chapek Teases More Adult-Oriented Content for Disney

    As Disney further continues into the era of Bob Chapek serving as their CEO, more changes to the creative structure of the company appear to be on the way. It looks like one change that the head of Disney would like to see further discussed is for the company to broaden its programming into more adult-oriented content. Chapek went on record on the topic in relation to the company’s history of leaning more toward family-friendly content while talking with The Wall Street Journal.

    I want to respect what this brand is. But at the same time, I know that we may be even more precious about what is ‘Disney’ than the consumer base is. If the consumer base has more elasticity, we probably ought to listen to our audience, which means we have more degrees of freedom than we probably thought.

    Bob Chapek

    This new direction from Chapek flies in the face of the old mentality of Bob Iger, his immediate predecessor. Ultimately, a shift to including more mature content would be a relatively rare concept in the history of Disney as a company. In terms of whether this will be an effective creative business strategy, it will of course come down to the quality of the projects themselves. The concept of making R or TV-MA-rated content has often been a false equivalence to “high quality” to some fans. For instance, a project like Andor has successfully been covering many serious themes in a mature way without pushing the needle toward a more explicit rating.

    It will be interesting to follow if this loose edict will have any effect on future Marvel Studios projects. As of now, the only true “adult-oriented” content on the way from them includes Deadpool 3’s theatrical release in 2024 and the Marvel Zombies animated series heading to Disney+.

    Source: Wall Street Journal

  • ‘Black Adam’ to Top Box Office for Second Weekend

    ‘Black Adam’ to Top Box Office for Second Weekend

    With a quiet Halloween weekend ahead, Black Adam looks set to top the box office for a second weekend. Only one other film will be released wide this weekend as Lionsgate is set to release Prey for the Devil, giving the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson film room to dominate at the box office.

    The movie opened to an okay $67 million last weekend. In its second weekend, the film is expected to earn another $28 million to $31 million, which will help it to surpass $100 million at the domestic box office. Should those numbers hold, that would put its decline in line with Shazam!‘s. While Prey for the Devil is projected to debut to $7 million or $8 million. The movie is set to play in 2,900 North American locations over the weekend. With the exception of Halloween Ends, horror films have been overperforming at the box office. Depending on word of mouth, it is possible Prey for the Devil overperforms – much like Barbarian and Smile.

    Of course, Prey for the Devil will also need to beat out the Julia Roberts and George Clooney-led Ticket for Paradise. As of now, that movie is projected to take in another $8 million to $9 million over the weekend.

    Source: Variety.

  • Feige on Gunn Joining DC Studios

    Feige on Gunn Joining DC Studios

    On Wednesday, Marvel Studios held the world premiere of the hotly anticipated Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakana Forever. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was on hand to celebrate the film and walk the purple carpet. Unsurprisingly, Feige was asked about Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn‘s new position at DC Studios. Feige, of course, was incredibly supportive of Gunn and his future endeavors for DC Studios.

    “I speak to James almost every day. We have a wonderful thing called the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special coming out. We have a wonderful thing called Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 coming out in May. How he’ll have any time to work on DC until May I don’t know, but once he does have the time I’ll be very excited. I’ll be first in line.”

    Feige

    Gunn’s new job at DC Studios begins on Nov. 1st, however, while he’ll be exclusively working for DC and Warner Bros. Discovery for the next four years, he still has a ton of work ahead of him for Marvel Studios. Next month, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will be released, and next summer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will finally hit theaters. Gunn will still be making the promotional rounds for Marvel Studios while helping to headline DC Studios.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will hit Disney+ on Nov. 25th.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Ironheart:’ Cree Summer Joins, More on Sacha Baron Cohen

    ‘Ironheart:’ Cree Summer Joins, More on Sacha Baron Cohen

    As production on Ironheart looks to move production from Georgia to Chicago, the Disney+ series has added yet another cast member. Deadline has announced that Cree Summer has joined the series in an unspecified role.

    Summer is perhaps known for her voice work. She has voiced characters in shows like The Proud Family, Rugrats, Danny Phantom, Friday: The Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Teen Titans Go! She’s next set to appear in Star Wars: Detours and The Magician’s Elephant.

    The outlet also commented more on Sacha Baron Cohen‘s role in the series. Per Deadline, Cohen is thought to be appearing later in the series. The outlet believes Cohen’s mysterious character, thought to be Mephisto, will appear in episodes five and six, specifically. They also revealed the actor has shot in-person scenes and undergone CGI scans for his role.

    Ironheart, which consists of six-episodes, hails from head writer Chinaka Hodge and stars Dominique Thorne as Marvel character Riri Williams. Olayiwola joins a cast that includes Anthony Ramos, Shakira Barrera, Manny Montana, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Shea Couleé, and Zoe Terakes. Sam Bailey (Dear White People) and Angela Barnes (Atlanta) are directing the forthcoming Disney+ series. As of now, the series has no release date.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Nancy Drew:’ The CW Series to End with Season 4

    ‘Nancy Drew:’ The CW Series to End with Season 4

    On Wednesday, The CW announced that Nancy Drew would end with its fourth season. The series, which stars Kennedy McMann in the titular role, will end following its upcoming fourth season. The news, of course, isn’t entirely surprising as the network was recently purchased by Nexstar. Production on Season 4 is currently underway, and the cast and crew were informed of the cancellation on Wednesday.

    In a statement to the press, showrunners Noga Landau and Melinda Hsu commented on the show’s cancellation. The duo explains that they’re glad to have brought this story to life, and to be given the chance to end it intentionally and with kindness. “We are so honored and proud to have brought Nancy Drew’s iconic determination, individuality and resilience to life in a years-long collaboration with incredible creative talents in front of the camera, behind the scenes and among our studio and network partners,” they said. “Our hearts are full of gratitude, knowing that we are able to bring this chapter to a close with intentionality, inclusivity and kindness — and of course with plenty of sleuthing twists, supernatural scares and star-crossed romance along the way. We are especially indebted to our wonderful fan community, whose connection with our themes and stories has meant the world to us. Season four will be a worthy and resonant payoff for their continued love and support.”

    The show’s cancellation comes after The CW canceled its spinoff series, Tom Swift, over the summer. That series ended its run with a single season after failing to draw in viewers. Reports suggested the first five episodes of that series had pulled in a measly 0.1 in the all-important 18-49 demographic. While the season 3 finale of Nancy Drew pulled in 0.08 in the same demographic. Neither are impressive, but Nancy Drew was pretty inline with most other CW titles.

    Leading lady McMann thanked the fans for their support, expressing her thankfulness at bringing a character like Nancy Drew to life. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for every ounce of passion and kindness you have shared with me and with each other.”

    As of right now, Nancy Drew does not yet have a release date for Season 4.

    Source: THR.

  • First Reactions to ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Hit Social Media

    First Reactions to ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Hit Social Media

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to premiere worldwide earlier next month but select members of the press have now been able to experience the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel and are making their thoughts known. With the social media embargo lifted, here are some of the early reactions to, what seems to be, another Ryan Coogler masterpiece:

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuts in theaters November 11th.

  • Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Marvel Studios Phase 4 has seen the introduction of Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Elijah Bradley, Kate Bishop and America Chavez. Those characters join Cassie Lang as members of the comic book team knowns as the Young Avengers who are currently making their respective ways through the MCU. With fans now familiar with the members of the core team, it seems just a matter of time before they find themselves assembling and avenging. At last night’s premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige was asked what he could say about the potential future for the Young Avengers.

    I think people pick up what we’re putting down, sometimes, and we take our cues from the comics. And yes, introducing as many characters as we can from the comics is what I’ve spent the last 22 years doing and those are among the many that we’ve introduced.

    Kevin Feige

    It’s no secret that Marvel Studios was looking to develop a Young Avengers project not too long ago. As the Multiverse Saga goes on, it’s not clear if that project will be part of Phase 6, which now looks to begin in 2025 with Fantastic Four, or if their first team-up might take place in another live-action project. But given Feige’s response, it feels like fans should feel good about the chances of seeing them together sooner rather than later.

  • Kevin Feige Responds to Questions About the X-Men’s MCU Debut

    Kevin Feige Responds to Questions About the X-Men’s MCU Debut

    The mutants are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe…in fact, some are already here. Ms. Marvel made a major change to Kamala Khan’s origins and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which premiered last night in Hollywood, introduced Namor, often known in the comics as The First Mutant, even though that’s a wildly misleading misnomer. But the question that everyone wants answered, including She-Hulk, is when are the X-Men going to join the fray.

    Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige was asked that very question at the Purple Carpet Premiere of Wakanda Forever and gave an answer all too familiar to this reporter: “No answer.“

    Feige did go on to give a little more information about the potential future of mutants in the MCU saying, “Deadpool and Wolverine…we’re getting close” in reference to the news that Hugh Jackman joined the cast of Deadpool 3, if that’s what it ends up being titled, after years of being pursued by co-star Ryan Reynolds.

    Even with that little bit of information, Marvel Studios’ plans for the X-Men remain a tightly-guarded secret. Three years after the merger between Disney and Fox that allowed for the characters to be used in the MCU, no live-action X-Men projects have been announced and it’s unclear whether or not the X-Men are expected to play any role at all in Marvel Studios’ ongoing Multiverse Saga. The studio is, however, working on a revival of the classic X-Men: The Animated Series titled X-Men ’97, which is expected to stream on Disney Plus in 2023.

  • Fool’s Theory Developing a Remake of ‘The Witcher’

    Fool’s Theory Developing a Remake of ‘The Witcher’

    The Witcher is back, literally. While work has begun on a fourth entry of the iconic gaming franchise by CD Project Red, developer Fools Theory is actively working on a remake of the first entry. It is the project that was hinted at with the codename Canis Majoris and will be developed in Unreal Engine 5 according to the new announcement. they also unveiled the logo for the Remake, which teases the firey return of the game that started it all.

    If you’re wondering if the game will release anytime soon, it is only in its early stages of development. Veteran Witcher staff are working on the project under the banner of the Polish studio Fool’s Theory with CD Projekt Red still having full creative supervision of the project. Studio head Adam Badowski had the following to say about the game’s development:

    The Witcher is where it all started for us, for CD PROJEKT RED. It was the first game we made, ever, and it was a big moment for us then. Going back to this place and remaking the game for the next generation of gamers to experience it feels just as big, if not bigger. Collaborating with Fool’s Theory on the project is just as exciting, as some of the people there have been previously involved in The Witcher games. They know the source material well, they know how much gamers have been looking forward to seeing the remake happen, and they know how to make incredible and ambitious games. And although it will take some time before we’re ready to share more about and from the game, I know it’ll be worth the wait

    Adam Badowski

    Given that the first Witcher game was released in 2007 and was a far cry from what the series would develop into, it’s also a great chance fo those that didn’t get a chance to play it. Plus, with the hype surrounding the Netflix series, it’s a perfect time for the franchise’s return.

    Source: The Witcher

  • Charlize Theron Teases Clea’s Return to the MCU

    Charlize Theron Teases Clea’s Return to the MCU

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow with many new iconic characters from the comics making their debut throughout the Phase 4 entries. While there are still quite a few questions on what the future has in store for them, there are a few that seemingly may have a bigger connection to the overarching plot of the Multiverse Saga. One of those characters is the recently introduced Clea, who appeared as a surprise cameo in the post-credit sequence of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Charlize Theron is taking on the role, but there hasn’t been any announcement or hint on when we might expect her in a future project. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she didn’t give away any details but did play around teasing that she is definitely going to return to the MCU at some point in the future.

    Let’s just say I have some work to do… I don’t quite know who she is yet, but I will.

    Charlize Theron

    Her introduction in the MCU was certainly a random addition that many might not have quite understood, especially with how fast the post-credit followed up the events that finished the film. It’ll be interesting to see how they explore her ties to Dormammu or even if we get a sequel to Doctor Strange that leads into the new Avengers films. The Multiverse Saga has only just begun and there are many possible routes where she could return.

    Source: Jimmy Kimmel via The Direct