Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Black Adam’ Currently Tracking for $70M-$75M Opening

    ‘Black Adam’ Currently Tracking for $70M-$75M Opening

    Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s Black Adam is flying high in current projections. The New Line and Warner Bros. Discovery film is currently eyeing an opening between $70 million and $75 million. Should those numbers hold, Johnson will easily score his biggest opening as a leading man – not including the Fast & Furious films, of course.

    Black Adam is set to debut on October 21st and is reportedly on track with Sony’s Venom flick, which went on to earn $80 million in October 2018. As is always the case, projections are not concrete and countless things could alter a film’s box office release including word of mouth. With the pandemic still ongoing and theaters struggling to recover, Black Adam‘s estimates are thought to be on the lower end but an $80 million opening isn’t entirely out of question.

    The road to get to this point was a rather long and bumpy one for the actor. Johnson was initially cast as Black Adam in November 2007 and finally got to suit up as the character when Black Adam entered production last year. Now, with Warner Bros. Discovery looking to revamp its DC output and Black Adam being one of only two films released by the studio in the fourth quarter, Johnson’s Black Adam has a chance to chance to help build the DC Universe going forward. The actor has been heavily promoting the film, having made an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July, where Discovery treated fans to a sneak peek at the film. He also introduced a new trailer for Black Adam at the Los Angeles Rams-Buffalo Bills game which helped to kick off the 2022 NFL regular season.

    Starring alongside Johnson in Black Adam are Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher and Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate. Black Adam is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a script by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Dahmer’ Becomes One of Netflix’s Most Watched Original Projects Ever

    ‘Dahmer’ Becomes One of Netflix’s Most Watched Original Projects Ever

    A new massive success story for Netflix is Dahmer: Monster – The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. In its second week on the streaming service, it has been viewed a total of 299.84 million hours. This follows the 196.2 million hours viewed in the debut week for the limited series. This puts Dahmer: Monster only behind Stranger Things 4 as the second most watched English-language series in a week. For reference, the two separate batches of Stranger Things 4 episodes released were initially viewed for 301 million and 335 million hours, respectively.

    Based on the momentum the series currently has, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Dahmer: Monster to be viewed more than the likes of Lucifer and Bridgerton and end up being a top five all-time viewed series for the streaming stalwart. It has already surpassed the ninth place ranking based on its statistics and has passed the likes of Ozark and 13 Reasons Why. All in all, Dahmer: Monster has the potential to join Stranger Things and Squid Games as one of the largest success stories for Netflix.

    The series was created by Ryan Murphy, best known for his work on American Horror Story and American Crime Story, alongside Ian Brennan. It stars Evan Peters as the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and follows a dramatized account of ten separate murders conducted by him and how the ineptitude of police establishments allowed Dahmer to get away with them for so long.

    Source: Deadline

  • 20th Century Studios Options ‘Night of the Ghoul’

    20th Century Studios Options ‘Night of the Ghoul’

    20th Century Studios has optioned the rights to Night of the Ghoul, the comic series hailing from author Scott Snyder and illustrator Francesco Francavilla. The six-issue series was initially released as a Comixology original, with the first five issues available now through Amazon and Comixology, but will soon be available in print courtesy of Darkhorse Comics. Rob Savage, who directed Host, is on board to direct with 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen set to produce.

    Night of the Ghoul centers on a father and son as they seek to learn the true story behind a long-lost horror film that was made during the golden era of monster movies. However, as they dive deeper into their search, they’ll soon find themselves unleashing the very thing the long-thought-to-be-destroyed film was trying to keep hidden. While the film currently does not have a writer attached, Snyder and Francavilla are set to executive produce the film.

    Snyder, an Eisner & Harvey winning author, is one of the biggest names in comics today. Night of the Ghoul is just one of many projects Snyder has in development. Earlier this year, it was revealed HBO Max was developing Dark Spaces: Wildfire, based on his IDW comic of the same name. While last year, it was announced that Netflix was developing Nocterra for the small screen.

    It’s currently unclear whether or not the film is being developed for a streaming service or theaters, however, there is currently no release date attached.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Adria Arjona Seemingly Confirms Season Two Return for ‘Andor’

    Adria Arjona Seemingly Confirms Season Two Return for ‘Andor’

    Andor is currently in the midst of its first season on Disney+, however, fans of the franchise are already eagerly looking ahead to the show’s second season. While production on Season 2 isn’t slated to begin until November, thanks to a recent interview with the folks over at Collider, we might have a better idea of what’s to come when Season 2 hits in 2024.

    Adria Arjona, who plays Bix Caleen in Andor, talked about her future involvement in the series, as well as the collaborative process with showrunner Tony Gilroy. As she explains, he is open to conversations about the show and the characters and has already updated her on Bix’s storyline going forward.

    He [Tony Gilroy] was very open to conversations and is constantly telling me what is, what her journey is going to be like and, ‘Oh, I changed this a little bit’. He really kept me in the loop even before the scripts were done and the second he had a script out, we’d [the cast] would all get it first. Even now with the second part [of the series] he’s already told me what’s going to happen and that’s not the usual. He just really wants you to get into that mindset and start preparing your gears to sort of embark on this new journey and he wants you to think on your own as Bix so I can sort of have my own ideas and opinions.

    Adria Arjona

    Going off of her quote here, it can be gleaned that Caleen is fairly guaranteed to be surviving the events of the first season. This comes as Gilory has teased that the body count for Andor will be high with a tangible risk of any notable characters (besides of course the titular one) being killed off. As it currently stands, Bix is dealing with the death of her romantic partner Timm after a showdown between Cassian Andor and the Preox-Morlana Authority. With a total of 12 episodes for both Season 1 and Season 2, it remains to be seen where Caleen’s story goes from here.

    Andor is currently airing on Disney+ with the fifth episode set to release on Wednesday, October 5.

    Source: Collider

  • Emily Watson & Shirley Henderson Join ‘Dune: The Sisterhood’

    Emily Watson & Shirley Henderson Join ‘Dune: The Sisterhood’

    HBO Max has set Emily Watson (Chernobyl) and Shirley Henderson (Bridget Jones’s Baby) to lead its Dune series, Dune: The Sisterhood. The news was revealed by the streamer on Tuesday afternoon. Watson and Henderson will portray the formidable Harkonnen sisters, Valya Harkonnen and Tula Harkonnen, respectively. The Harkonnen sisters are part of the Sisterhood, a secret organization of women who will eventually go on to become the Bene Gesserit.

    Like the film by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: The Sisterhood is inspired by the books by Frank Herbert. The Sisterhood takes place 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides and focuses on the Harkonnen sisters as they “combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit.”

    Along with starring in Chernobyl, Watson has starred in the Little Women TV mini-series, Punch-Drunk Love, and Tim Burton‘s Corpse Bride. As for Henderson, along with starring in the Bridget Jones films, Henderson has appeared in Happy Valley, Marie Antoinette and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – she also voiced Babu Frik in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

    Diane Ademu-John (The Haunting of Bly Manor) serves as the creator, writer, co-showrunner and executive producer on the project. She’ll work with Alison Schapker (Lost) who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer. Johan Renck (Chernobyl) is set to direct the pilot episode and will also serve as an executive producer. Denis Villeneuve (Dune) is also executive producing with Jon Spaihts, Scott Z. Burns, Matthew King, John Cameron, Cait Collins and author Brian Herbert.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Bad Bunny’s Marvel Film Lands Director and Writer

    Bad Bunny’s Marvel Film Lands Director and Writer

    El Muerto is the latest in a long line of Spidey-less Spider-Man movies Sony threatens to unleash upon cinemas. Music superstar Bad Bunny is slated to lead the film, a story about a luchador who gains mystical powers. According to the Wrap, the film has found its director and writer, Jonas Cuaron and Gareth-Dunnet Alcocer, respectively. Cuaron is best known for his acclaimed film Desierto and being the son of legendary director Alfonso Cuaron while Alcocer recently penned DC’s Blue Beetle film.

    As unexciting as a Spidey-less Spider-Man cinematic universe sounds, El Muerto does have the tremendous distinction of being the first Marvel film led by a Latino character. Having huge names such as Bad Bunny, Cuaron, and the burgeoning Alcocer behind the film gives the project legitimacy and prestige. It’s hard to imagine how this film will tie in to Sony’s other Marvel properties but the pedigree attached to the project should keep fans hopeful that the studio gets a superhero movie correct after Morbius and Venom.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Nabs the Top Film Premiere on Disney+

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Nabs the Top Film Premiere on Disney+

    It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus.

    After being officially announced in 2019, Hocus Pocus 2 finally hit Disney+ on Friday, and fans were quick to devour the long-gestating sequel. And, unsurprisingly, the follow-up to Hocus Pocus proved to be a smash. Disney announced on Tuesday morning that Hocus Pocus 2 has earned the #1 film premiere on Disney+ within the United States to date. This was calculated based on the hours watched domestically within the film’s first 3 days of release.

    The film’s success shouldn’t be too surprising, of course. Back in June, it was revealed that the trailer views for Hocus Pocus 2 managed to surpass those of another Disney+ favorite — The Mandalorian. Within 24 hours of release, the Hocus Pocus 2 trailer had amassed an impressive 43.6 million views. A sequel to the 1993 classic, Hocus Pocus, was rumored to be in development for some time but hit plenty of speed bumps along the way. After finally securing a green light in 2019, Disney set the return of the Sanderson sisters in a film that would be exclusive to Disney+ — a move that is (so far) proving to be a smart one.

    While the original film wasn’t a critical success when first released, earning 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, it has since gone on to become a Halloween classic. And now, it would seem Hocus Pocus 2 is on track to do the same.

    Check out our review of Hocus Pocus 2 by heading here!

  • Emma Caulfield’s Dottie to Return for ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Emma Caulfield’s Dottie to Return for ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    After being one of the more mysterious upcoming projects for Marvel Studios, new information is beginning to arrive for Agatha: Coven of Chaos. After playing Sarah Proctor (aka Dottie in the sitcom-based pocket dimension) in WandaVision, Emma Caulfield will be reprising the role for the upcoming Disney+ series. Caulfield’s return seems to indicate at least a partial focus on the sitcom aspects of WandaVision.

    Ever since it was revealed in late 2021 that Kathryn Hahn’s fan-favorite would be the focus her own series, much has been asked in terms of what might transpire. This is especially of note with Agatha Harkness not having a wealth of comic-source material. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to build its Multiverse Saga, it will be interesting to follow what could be gleaned from Agatha: Coven of Chaos and this corner of magic into the larger overarching narrative of Phase Five and beyond.

    Agatha: Coven of Chaos is being written by Jac Schaffer, of WandaVision fame, as part of her overall deal with Disney Television Studios. Announced at SDCC ’22, production is expected to begin on the series in early 2023 with a late-2023/early-2024 streaming window.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Sam Reid Describes Bringing Lestat to Life in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ as “A Gift”

    Sam Reid Describes Bringing Lestat to Life in ‘Interview with the Vampire’ as “A Gift”

    AMC’s Interview with the Vampire debuted to high praise from critics, getting the studio’s Immortal Universe adaptation of Anne Rice’s works off to a great start. A common thread among the show’s supporters has been the work of Australian Sam Reid in bringing Lestat de Lioncourt, Rice’s primary protagonist throughout her Vampire Chronicles, to life. Though Reid is sharing the stage with Jacob Anderson’s Louis, who is equally brilliant, the actor has captured the enormity of Lestat’s personality, making it hard to ignore him on screen.

    In an interview with ComicBook.com, Reid discussed bringing the popular vampire to life. “It really is the most fun thing to do. I can’t tell you,” said Reid. “It’s so much fun because he’s so complicated a character.” The actor continued, pointing out how pleased he’s been being able to deliver dialogue lifted straight from Rice’s novels.

    And it’s like a gift, the dialogue that we get to say is extraordinary. And it is so gratifying playing this character and, in this world, saying direct Anne Rice lines. It’s incredible, because when you read it, it’s very different to how it sounds in your mouth, I mean how it sounds in your head when you have to put the words in your mouth and you actually go, ‘Holy sh-t, these people speak like this.’ Because there’s a lot of exclamation points and there’s a lot of love. There’s a lot of very extreme emotions in the book that when you translate it, they remain extreme, but you also have to put them in a sense of reality as well, which is a bit of a minefield to navigate.

    Sam Reid

    Of course, Reid adds that portraying a vampire means looking the part, which he’s apparently enjoying as well saying, “So, it’s really, really fun. And the fangs are fun, and the contact lenses are fun, and everything is great.“

    If AMC’s plans for their Immortal Universe are as bold as expected, Reid will have the opportunity to have much more fun over the coming years and fans much more time to enjoy him.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    Barry Keoghan’s ‘The Batman’ Audition Tape Is Now Public

    When Matt Reeves’ The Batman was released earlier this year, one of its most hotly debated features was the surprise casting of Barry Keoghan as yet another live-action Joker. As it turns out, however, the iconic arch-nemesis was not the member of Bruce Wayne’s rogues’ gallery Keoghan originally auditioned for. According to an audition tape, which has just been made public, the Irish actor had actually been trying out for the role of Edward Nashton, better known as the film’s main baddie – The Riddler.

    The footage shows Keoghan waltzing around an empty hallway with a cane and an outfit inspired by the character’s comic book appearance. According to the Eternals star, via a report by GQ UK, he sent his tape unsolicited to Reeves’ team before being told that the production had already filled the role. Of course, Paul Dano eventually landed the part after Jonah Hill passed, playing a version of the Riddler that felt far more original than most fans were expecting. Luckily for Keoghan, the film wasn’t done casting, and he received news from his agent four months later that The Batman wanted him for The Joker instead.

    The tease that Joker does exist in Reeves’ universe seemed like a set-up for the sequel, but the director has gone on record to say that isn’t exactly the case. Whether or not the villain appears in The Batman 2 is still up in the air, but Keoghan says he’ll be ready if the call does come in:

    As soon as that call comes I’m there, man, I’m there.

    Barry Keoghan

    Source: Variety