Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • A New Rumor Points to Kingpin Running for Mayor of NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    A New Rumor Points to Kingpin Running for Mayor of NYC in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    As Daredevil: Born Again begins casting ahead of a 2023 start of production, new information seems to corroborate an old rumor. According to insider Daniel RPK, casting has begun for a group of characters associated with Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk as he runs for Mayor.

    Mayor Fisk may sound far-fetched, but it’s pulled directly from a recent run of Daredevil comics. In 2017, Charles Soule crafted a storyline that saw, Fisk,  the longtime crime boss and thorn in Daredevil’s side, run for Mayor of New York City. Running on a platform that promised to take on the multitude of street-level vigilantes in the area, Fisk won with the help of some illegal handiwork.

    In an effort to make Fisk’s undertaking more difficult, Matt Murdock joined the Mayor’s staff as Deputy Mayor. Several rounds of comic book hijinks later, including a visit from The Hand, Murdock became the Mayor. After saving NYC from The Hand with the help of the very same vigilantes Fisk had hoped to eliminate, Murdock stepped down and Fisk continued to serve as Mayor until he was replaced by Luke Cage in 2022’s Devil’s Reign.

    Rumors have persisted for some time now that Soule’s run would serve as inspiration for Daredevil: Born Again. Soule’s run introduced some great new characters, including Blindspot, who served as a kind of Robin to Daredevil’s Batman, and the creepy villain Muse. Undoubtedly the biggest game changer from Soule’s run, however, was Matt Murdock taking a case before the Supreme Court over the right for costumed heroes to serve as witnesses to the crimes they often stop from happening. Soule’s run was heavy on lawyering because Soule is a lawyer. With Daredevil: Born Again set for an 18-episode run, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some more courtroom action, maybe even something as ambitious as taking on the Supreme Court.

    Fans have quite a wait ahead of them before figuring out exactly what they can expect from Daredevil: Born Again as the streaming series is currently slated to release in the Spring of 2024 on Disney Plus.

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’ Concept Art Reveals Monster in Color

    ‘Werewolf by Night’ Concept Art Reveals Monster in Color

    Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation, Werewolf by Night, was unique for quite a few reasons. Chief among them, however, was the short film’s commitment to displaying its dark new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost entirely in black and white. The spooky aesthetic helped cement the monsters of the world as memorable figures in the MCU’s character roster, but the visual filter wasn’t always going to be a part of the project. It took director Michael Giacchino a few tries to convince Marvel boss Kevin Feige to make the switch away from their traditional look, and in that time, it seems a few passes were made at designing the titular werewolf for a story told in full color.

    Concept artist Billy Christian recently took to his Twitter account to unveil the final approved design for Gael García Bernal‘s Werewolf by Night. In the post, he confirms that he was unaware the special would eventually be done in black and white and says his art was intended to be used as a style guide for the rest of production. It was clearly still influential, as the practical look of the monster was essential to the overall vibe of the hour-long short.

    The art is perhaps the best idea fans will get as to what Marvel’s werewolf may look like when he ultimately crosses paths with other heroes in their own colorful projects. A similar appearance can currently be seen in costume form at Disney Parks’ Avengers Campus, as an actor roams the lot dressed in full Werewolf by Night regalia.

    Source: Twitter, Variety

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Tracking for Massive Debut

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Tracking for Massive Debut

    With less than a month until release, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever, is tracking for a massive debut. Box Office Pro has unveiled the latest tracking for the film, and as it stands, Wakanda Forever could potentially set a new November record.

    Box Office Pro believes Wakanda Forever could open between $180 million and $225 million. Working in the film’s favor, of course, is that Black Panther was a phenomenon and demolished records with its $202 million domestic debut. The character later went on to become a big part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and later in an episode of What If…? on Disney+. With a huge gap between films, fans have been eagerly awaiting Wakanda Forever‘s release, helping to push the film’s trailer views past those of its predecessor.

    Of course, given that we are still very much in a pandemic, it’s possible the film could open lower than expected. The box office has struggled since COVID first hit in 2019, and it’s still struggling to return to normal. Moviegoers don’t seem as ready to head to theaters like they once did. It doesn’t help either that Thor: Love and Thunder had such a mixed reception, or that many feel as though there’s too much content hailing from Marvel Studios thanks to Disney+.

    Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters on Nov. 11th. Tickets are on sale now.

    Source: Box Office Pro.

  • RUMOR: Tom Ellis in the Running for Reed Richards

    RUMOR: Tom Ellis in the Running for Reed Richards

    With a director set in place and a set of writers tackling the script, it shouldn’t be too surprising then that stories regarding the film’s cast have begun to circulate. A new rumor from the folks at Deux Moi suggests that Marvel Studios is already looking at actors for its first family, including actors from Lucifer and Hamilton.

    Per Deux Moi, Maddie Hasson and Tom Ellis are reportedly in the running for the roles of Sue Storm and Reed Richards. The site also claims that Daveed Diggs has auditioned, although it’s not specified as to which part that might have been for. It’s also rumored that Michael Provost is the favorite for Johnny Storm, while Jason Biggs is thought to have auditioned for The Thing. It’s of note that this is all merely a rumor. In fact, Deux Moi previously reported that Alexandra Daddario and her brother, Matthew Daddario, were being considered for the movie.

    These names, however, are an interesting mix of up-and-coming actors and established actors. Hasson has worked on a lot of television shows, such as ABC Family’s Twisted and Peacock’s Mr. Mercedes adaptation. While Ellis is perhaps best known for his starring role in Lucifer. Diggs, of course, got his big breakout with Hamilton and has since built a rather impressive resume that includes the Snowpiercer television series and the forthcoming Little Mermaid film. As for Provost, like Hasson, he’s perhaps best known for his work on the small screen, including Netflix’s Insatiable and Fear Street: Part Two – 1978. Biggs, of course, is best known for the American Pie films, but he’s also appeared in Orange Is the New Black and recently appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

    Production on Fantastic Four is expected to kick off next year. The film is slated to hit theaters on Feb. 14th, 2025.

    Source: Deux Moi, via Reddit

  • Kevin Feige Refused To Voice K.E.V.I.N. in ‘She-Hulk’

    Kevin Feige Refused To Voice K.E.V.I.N. in ‘She-Hulk’

    Fans were enraptured by the lengthy fourth-wall-breaking sequence in this week’s She-Hulk finale where Jennifer Walters stormed the offices of Marvel Studios to confront the mastermind behind all the wackiness happening in the episode. Turns out, it was Kevin behind it all. Not the Kevin Feige, per se, but an AI robot named K.E.V.I.N., an obvious reference to the big boss himself.

    In an interview with She-Hulk head writer Jessica Gao, the team lobbied hard for Feige to voice his MCU robotic counterpart and to sign off on the robot’s own hat.

    We campaigned very hard for Kevin to do the voice and he refused. Yes, we did get in a fight over the hat because in the script it says that SHe-Hulk enters the inner sanctum. There is this big Akira-like Hal-9000 type machine. The pre-vis team, had already started mocking up all types of versions of Kevin. They all had a little black baseball cap on top. Real Kevin says, ‘You can’t have the… It doesn’t make any sense for a machine to wear this baseball hat.’ I was like, ‘Kevin, this is the problem you have with all of this?

    The scene was a fun nod to the machinations of the MCU, poking fun at its own shortcomings through its tenure while acknowledging the franchise’s criticisms. Had Kevin Feige voiced K.E.V.I.N., the scene would come across way better. Nonetheless, it’s a bold sequence to end the season with.

  • ‘Red Sonja:’ Rhona Mitra Joins, Oliver Trevena Exits

    ‘Red Sonja:’ Rhona Mitra Joins, Oliver Trevena Exits

    As production continues on Red Sonja, the film looks to be experiencing a bit of a shake-up with its cast. Deadline reports that Rhona Mitra is joining the production, as Oliver Trevena has been forced to exit the project. Details regarding who Mitra is playing are unavailable, but Trevena is said to have left the project over scheduling conflicts. The news comes just days after Millennium Media revealed the first official look at Matilda Lutz as the titular character.

    Mitra has appeared in films such as Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Game Over, Man!, and Skylines. While on the television side, she’s starred in shows like Supergirl, where she played Mercy Graves, and The Strain.

    Starring alongside Lutz in the film are Wallis Day, Robert Sheehan as Draygan, Michael Bisping as Hawk, Martyn Ford as General Karlak, Eliza Matengu as Amarak, Manal El-Feitury and Katrina Durden. M.J. Bassett (Solomon Kane) is directing the film from a screenplay penned by Joey Soloway (Transparent) and Tasha Huo (Netflix’s Tomb Raider).

    As of now, the film does not have a set release date.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Marvel Zombies’ Episode Count Confirmed

    ‘Marvel Zombies’ Episode Count Confirmed

    In 2021, Marvel Studios announced that Marvel Zombies would be coming exclusively to Disney+. Since then, however, details regarding the animated series have been sparse. Now, thanks to an interview with Comicbook, it looks like we at least know the episode count for the series and it’s on the shorter side.

    While at New York Comic Con, the folks at Comicbook were able to speak with writer Zeb Wells who revealed some brief information regarding Marvel Zombies. Wells noted that, while he didn’t work on the zombie episode of What If…?, he did work on its spinoff series, Marvel Zombies, which he says will consist of four episodes. Unfortunately, like the rest of us, he’s unsure when the series will actually hit Disney+. Well did, however, state that it’s “looking really cool.”

    In July, it was revealed that the forthcoming series would be rated TV-MA for mature audiences. As of now, a release date has not yet been announced, but it’s expected to be released sometime next year.

    Source: Comicbook.

  • Ryan Reynolds, Qui Nguyen Developing Film Based on ‘Society of Explorers and Adventurers’

    Ryan Reynolds, Qui Nguyen Developing Film Based on ‘Society of Explorers and Adventurers’

    Another theme park attraction is getting the movie treatment. On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Ryan Reynolds was teaming up with Strange World co-director Qui Nguyen to develop a movie based on Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Nguyen will pen the screenplay for the film, which will be a live action take, while Reynolds will produce through his Maximum Effort banner.

    This marks the second project centered around the Society of Explorers and Adventurers attraction. A Disney+ series is also in the works from executive producer and writer Ron Moore (For All Mankind). It’s said that Moore’s project will exist within the Magic Kingdom Universe, while Nguyen’s film will add “alternative angles to SEA mythology in present day by adding a new supernatural element to the history and following new characters not present in the original SEA lore.”

    The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, or the SEA, first launched in Tokyo Disneyland before expanding to Hong Kong Disneyland. The attraction has a rich mythology to it that “sees its founding in 1538 in Italy and expanding around the globe as an organization that consists of not only explorers and adventurers but also scientists, artists, and travelers.” Disney is hopeful to launch a new franchise with the film.

    Reynolds, of course, is prepping for Deadpool 3, the first Deadpool movie to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Production is expected to kick off sometime next year. While Nguyen has Strange World up next with Disney in November. He penned the screenplay and co-directed the film starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Prior to that, Nguyen also wrote the screenplay for Raya and the Last Dragon.

    Source: THR.

  • RUMOR: Harrison Ford Joins ‘Captain America: New World Order’ as Red Hulk

    RUMOR: Harrison Ford Joins ‘Captain America: New World Order’ as Red Hulk

    Just as She-Hulk: Attorney At Law wrapped up with no Red Hulk in sight, an updated rumor suggests that one might not be too far off. According to the Hot Mic Podcast, living legend Harrison Ford has joined the cast of Captain America: New World Order.

    The report indicates that Ford, who will star in the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise in 2023, has joined the cast of Cap 4 as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a role that had been filled by William Hurt since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Hurt passed away in March of 2022 after reprising the role once more in Black Widow.

    Fans have been hoping to see the Red Hulk appear in the MCU for years, with rumors of his appearance in Captain America: Civil War and the upcoming Thunderbolts film among the most well-known. While Marvel won’t comment on casting, fans might not have too long to wait to find out as filming on Cap 4 is slated to begin early next year.

    Much speculation about just how much longer the 80-year old Ford planned to remain active in film, but if this rumor pans out, it’s possible he might be looking at a recurring role in the MCU over the next several years.

    Source: Hot Mic Podcast

  • ‘Percy Jackson’ Disney+ Series Adds to Impressive Cast

    ‘Percy Jackson’ Disney+ Series Adds to Impressive Cast

    The cast of the live-action Disney Plus adaptation of the Percy Jackson novels has grown once again. Adam Copeland, Suzanne Cryer, and Jessica Parker Kennedy have all been announced as guest stars to the already impressive cast. They join Walker Scobell, in the titular role, alongside Aryan Simhadri and Leah Sava Jeffries as Grover and Annabeth, respectively.

    Copeland, best known for his work as Edge in the WWE, will be playing Ares, the Greek god of war. He is described as being a handsomely arrogant god that loves to be an agent of chaos. Suzanne Cryer, likely best known for her leading role in Silicon Valley, will guest star as Echidna, the Mother of Monsters. She is described as a maternal, yet dangerous figure that will serve as a major challenge to the protagonists, both physically and spiritually. Jessica Parker Kennedy, likely best known for her supporting role on CW’s The Flash, will be portraying the infamous Medusa. She is described as an embittered wild card that the core characters are unsure if they can trust.

    Percy Jackson and the Olympians tells the story of a 12-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia who must come to terms with being the son of Poseidon and adapting to his new home at Camp Half-Blood. The first season will adapt the first novel of the Rick Riordan series,The Lightning Thief, in which Percy must clear his name and solve the mystery of who stole Zeus’ master lightning bolt.

    Source: Variety