Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tim Blake Nelson Set For Boxing Movie ‘Bang Bang’

    EXCLUSIVE: Tim Blake Nelson Set For Boxing Movie ‘Bang Bang’

    Welcome to the Tim Blake Nelsonaissance. The actor, who recently reentered the spotlight when Marvel Studios announced he’d be returning as The Leader for 2024’s Captain America: New World Order, has booked another starring film role. Nelson is attached to play the title character in the upcoming boxing flick Bang Bang, which is set to begin production at the end of October. The film revolves around Nelson‘s Bernard ‘Bang Bang’ Rozyski, a fictional former featherweight boxer who was once considered among the greatest punchers of his time. Bang Bang’s life escalates when his grandson comes to stay with him, and he sees the boy as a chance to relive his glory days and get back at his old boxing nemesis, Darnell Washington, played by Glenn Plummer.

    Bang Bang will be directed by Vincent Grashaw, who is best known for his work on films like What Josiah Saw and Coldwater. The filmmaker will direct from a script by Will Janowitz, an actor-turned-writer who previously held a recurring role on HBO’s hit series The Sopranos. Executive producers include Jesse Ozeri and Dane Eckerle, with Ran Namerode, Angelia Adzic, and Cole Payne also on board in a producing capacity. Bang Bang is only the latest project added to Nelson‘s busy schedule. The popular character actor can next be seen in Guillermo del Toro‘s stop-motion Pinocchio adaptation, before going on to star in the aforementioned fourth Captain America and Dexter Fletcher‘s action pic Ghosted, alongside Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.

  • Finn Jones Confirms Plot of ‘Iron Fist’ Season 3 Would Have Featured Orson Randall

    Finn Jones Confirms Plot of ‘Iron Fist’ Season 3 Would Have Featured Orson Randall

    Of all the Marvel shows produced by Netflix, Iron Fist stands out as the one least loved by fans. The series was noted for its many departures from the source material, with viewers and critics both agreeing the project was far too light on the magic that made the comics so much fun. After a few behind-the-scenes changes, Iron Fist’s second season improved the show by leaps and bounds, but the alterations came too late and weren’t enough to save the series from an early cancellation. This meant that several plotlines, including a massive cliffhanger hinting at a major comic book story for the show’s third season, were left unfinished and untold by showrunner Raven Metzner and his creative team.

    Speaking exclusively with Comic Book, series star Finn Jones discussed the potential surrounding Iron Fist Season 3 and the conscious efforts made to fix the show after its poorly received debut outing:

    The second season was really all about course correction. Y’know, it’s like, how do we just change the course and the conversation around the show and just bring it up to a place that we can feel proud of, and then we can take the show in the direction that we really want to take it.

    Finn Jones

    The direction they wanted to take Iron Fist, it seems, was toward writers Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction’s acclaimed run from the late 2000s. That series featured Danny Rand learning more about the former owners of the Iron Fist mantle, and teaming up with his immediate predecessor, Orson Randall. Iron Fist Season 2 ended with Jones’ take on Rand traveling to Asia with his new pal Ward, channeling his chi into two pistols and bringing himself closer to Randall than ever. Meanwhile, in New York, Jessica Henwick’s Colleen Wing took over as the next official Iron Fist.

    When asked directly if this meant Metzner and Jones planned on adapting The Immortal Iron Fist and using Orson Randall in the third season, the British actor confirmed this was the case:

    Oh, yeah, we definitely were. I love Danny Rand. I love Danny Rand. I love that character, I love everything about him. I think he’s such a joy. And so did Raven, as well. And we really would just vibe out and geek out together about the prospects of what we could create with that character.

    Finn Jones

    He elaborated, breaking down the unmade season’s potential structure:

    Raven, especially, wanted to see Danny and Ward off in distant lands, like, fighting crime and having the guns and stuff. And Orson Randall, like taking on that kind of persona. And then Colleen would be in New York with the Iron Fist, kind of coming to terms with that responsibility. Then eventually, over the course of that season, they would find each other again and become whole. Yeah, there were a lot of interesting ways we could have moved forward with that show.

    Finn Jones

    While Metzner was never able to make this plot a reality, it’s not impossible that fans see it play out on screen in the future. Marvel Studios has been steadily returning its Netflix characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it may be only a matter of time before Danny Rand makes his second grand debut. Whether or not Jones is still in the role when that happens remains to be seen.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Disney Developing ‘Figment’ Movie

    Disney Developing ‘Figment’ Movie

    Disney is developing a movie based on the character Figment. The news comes courtesy of Deadline, with the outlet noting that Seth Rogen will produce the project through his Point Grey banner. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu writers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit are on board to pen the screenplay for the movie. As of now, no director is attached to the project.

    Created in 1983 by Walt Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk, and other collaborators, Figment has long been a fan favorite thanks to the character’s Epcot ride, Journey Into Imagination. The character, while not as popular as others, has quite the devoted fanbase – not only have Figment fans prevented the ride from being removed, but they’ve willingly stood in line for hours to sell out merchandise featuring the character at theme parks. (Back in January, a limited-release Figment popcorn bucket was released and quickly sold out at Walt Disney Parks.) Disney has previously included the character as an easter egg in 2015’s Inside Out and 2019’s Toy Story 4.

    Along with penning 2019’s Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, Hernandez and Samit also wrote The Addams Family 2 and helped to create the forthcoming Hulu series, Koala Man. The duo also worked on the TV series One Day at a Time, as well as the Apple TV+ series, Central Park.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Iron Fist’ Star Open to Return in a ‘Heroes for Hire’ Series

    ‘Iron Fist’ Star Open to Return in a ‘Heroes for Hire’ Series

    There have been many theories on what the future has in store for the Netflix Marvel characters. Not only did Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returned to play their iconic characters from Daredevil, but they also got their very own series heading to Disney+ in 2024. With theories abound about others returning, it seems former Danny Rand, Finn Jones, is also down to return.

    In an interview with ComicBook.com, the actor revealed that he’s definitely down to play the character from Iron Fist again. He even has an idea how he’d like to see him return and that would be in a TV series based around the Heroes for Hire, especially to get another chance to work alongside Mike Colter.

    I would love to continue playing that character. I think there’s a lot of room for growth. Personally, where I would like to see the reintroduction of the character would be something like a Heroes for Hire TV series. I think that would be the most dynamic and fun way to reintroduce those characters. I loved working with Mike and I loved the on-screen chemistry between Danny and Luke. I think it’s a really interesting creative place that show can be taken in. I’d love to pick up that mantle again and keep moving this character forward and make the best possible Iron Fist there could be.

    Finn Jones

    Of all the Netflix series, it’s easy to say that Iron Fist was definitely the most controversial. Outside of the initial reactions to the casting, there were also a lot of discussions surrounding its quality, at least in its first season. Scott Buck infamously has a bad track record and concerns grew when he was set to showrun the first season; which he’d continue to prove with Inhumans.

    It wasn’t until Raven Metzner took over in its second season that the project was given any momentum. It wasn’t able to give us a shot at more due to Netflix ending its deal with Marvel but it did leave the character in an interesting direction.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • Anthony Mackie on Potential Captain America Appearance in ‘Thunderbolts’

    Anthony Mackie on Potential Captain America Appearance in ‘Thunderbolts’

    D23 gave us quite the surprise showcase of its roster for its first villain-focused team-up film, Thunderbolts. While it is surprisingly dominated by Black Widow characters and super soldiers, there still was something interesting about what direction they might be taking in this project. There also was the question of why this team assembled, and it seems Variety thought they’d use the chance to see if perhaps Anthony Mackie has a role in the film.

    He doesn’t outright deny anything but mostly because he has “no idea” and jokingly states that they could call him at any time to join the production. It looks like planning around these projects isn’t as simple as one might think but he’s likely also going to be quite busy on Captain America: New World Order soon as well.

    I have no idea. You know how it works. They call you the week before and are like, “We own your ass. Come get in the movie.”

    Anthony Mackie

    In some ways, his potential inclusion would mostly be due to Bucky. They had a close relationship in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and it highlighted just how well they work off of each other. So, it would be a shame not to continue that dynamic but it does make sense if they are trying to move away and give each their own story before they are forced to work together again. There’s no confirmation yet if Bucky will join the Captain America sequel. So, we’ll have to wait and see once more information becomes clear.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Sequel Adds Kevin Bacon

    ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Sequel Adds Kevin Bacon

    It looks like the cast of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley is continuing to grow. Now set to join the returning Eddie Murphy, Taylor Paige, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Kevin Bacon. They are also joined by original cast members Judge Reinhold, Paul Reiser, John Ashton, and Bronson Pinchot, who all appeared in the initial Beverly Hills Cop films. It’s unclear currently who Bacon will be playing though, as they remain under wraps.

    The film will be the third sequel in the franchise and marks the fourth entry after Beverly Hills Cop III released in 1994. As of now, it’s unclear just how they will tackle this storyline and follow up on the original. They may pick up with Axel Foley looking back at his career with a new generation taking over, but with Eddie Murphy, you never know if he’ll go in a completely unexpected direction.

    Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman are set to produce the film alongside executive producers Charisse Hewitt-Webster and Ray Angelic. Mark Molloy, known for his work on Apple At Work – The Underdogs is taking over directing duties based on a script by Will Beall, who some might know as the writer of Aquaman and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Lisa Kudrow to Lead Taika Waititi’s Upcoming ‘Time Bandit’ Series

    Lisa Kudrow to Lead Taika Waititi’s Upcoming ‘Time Bandit’ Series

    It looks like Taika Waititi has found his time bandit in Lisa Kudrow, as the Friends star is set to lead his upcoming adaptation of the 1981 Terry Gilliam film. The series is currently in production for Apple TV+ and has also cast seven actors that include Charlyne Yi, Tadhg Murphy, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Rune Temte, Rachel House, Kiera Thompson, and Kal-El Tuck.

    The series has been in development since 2019 and was given the description of “a comedic journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history nerd.” Tuck will take on the role of the young nerd by the name of Kevin.

    Waititi is a co-writer and signed on to direct the first two episodes of the Apple TV+ series. He’s been quite busy with his TV ventures, as he’s seen quite the success with the FX series What We Do in the Shadows as well as Reservation Dogs. There’s also his HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death where he also plays the character of Blackbeard.

    Kudrow has been quite busy, as she appeared in Disney+’s Better Nate Than Ever, Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, and more. While she’s still famously remembered for her role on Friends, she’s gone to have quite the extensive TV and film career. So, it’ll be interesting to see what she brings to this new series.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • REPORT: First ‘Blue Beetle’ Screening Reveals Film’s Rough Runtime

    REPORT: First ‘Blue Beetle’ Screening Reveals Film’s Rough Runtime

    When Warner Bros. Discovery pulled the plug on Batgirl back in August, fans rightfully wondered what this meant for other DC films, including Blue Beetle. Despite the studio seeking to revamp its DC line-up, Blue Beetle director Angel Manuel Soto has been adamant that his film is safe. While it is said the film had issues throughout production, Blue Beetle looks to be taking one step closer to being finished as it held a screening last night.

    A new report, courtesy of Big Screen Leaks, suggests that Blue Beetle is currently clocking in at 165 minutes. This information is based on the cut that was screened last night. As always, things can and often do change closer to a film’s release date.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1575145854486413313

    Should this runtime hold, that’ll put Blue Beetle around the same length as Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and right under fellow DC movie, The Batman. Of course, given that this is an early screening, it’s more than likely the film will be cut down further leading up to its release next year.

    Blue Beetle is directed by Soto from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. It is set to hit theaters on Aug. 18th, 2023 and stars Xolo Maridueña in the titular role alongside Susan Sarandon, Harvey Guillén, Raoul Max Trujillo, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza, and Damián Alcázar.

    Source: Twitter.

  • AMC Orders Second Season of ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Ahead of Series Debut

    AMC Orders Second Season of ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Ahead of Series Debut

    For over forty years, author Anne Rice created a rich world of characters, settings and mythology around Lestat de Lioncourt. Beginning with Interview with the Vampire in 1976 and concluding with Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat in 2018, jut three years before her death, Rice’s Vampire Chronicles were hugely popular, selling over 80 million copies. Interview with the Vampire was adapted into a feature film in 1994, but despite a couple of failed attempts to adapt The Vampire Chronicles into live-action projects, Rice’s books never materialized into finished products despite the growing desire by fans to immerse themselves in shared universes.

    All that changed when AMC acquired the rights to Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches, in May of 2020. AMC immediately began developing Interview with the Vampire as a series and the project’s first season is set to debut on October 2nd, 2022. Apparently, the wait must have been worth it, as AMC has now ordered a second season of Interview with the Vampire ahead of the series’ debut. Dan McDermott, President of Original Programming for AMC shared the news in an official release.

    The scope and breadth of this show, and what Mark and Rolin have delivered, is just stupendous. They have rendered the rich and vibrant world of Anne Rice’s Interview in a wonderful way, and we’re incredibly proud.  From the set build, to production design, costumes and more — no detail was overlooked. This stellar cast deliver powerful performances that emotionally connect us to these characters and their humanity,. We look forward to sharing the final product of this extraordinary effort with audiences in just a few short days and are thrilled that this story will continue. This is only the beginning of an entire Universe featuring enthralling stories and characters that capture the spirit of Anne Rice’s amazing work.

    Dan McDermott

    Rice’s Vampire Chronicles provide AMC with an opportunity to find their next long-term hit series just as their current one, The Walking Dead, completes its 11th and final season. The wealth of source material accumulated in the 13 Vampire Chronicle novels could generate a decade or more worth of TV. AMC’s other series based on Rice’s novels, The Lives of the Mayfair Witches, is set to debut in January of 2023.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Blade’ Delayed Indefinitely Following Bassam Tariq’s Departure

    ‘Blade’ Delayed Indefinitely Following Bassam Tariq’s Departure

    Following director Bassam Tariq’s departure from the project, it now seems that production on Marvel Studios’ Blade is unsurprisingly going to be delayed. Tariq’s departure leaves the project, which has already faced several delays, without either of the members of the original creative team now that Beau DeMayo has taken over script duties from Stacy Osei-Kuffour. With so many major shifts occurring in such a short span of time, Marvel Studios has made the wise choice to delay the start of the project but will continue pre-production work on the script.

    Just when principal photography on Blade may get underway is still in question and will likely remain that way for some time until Marvel can lock down a director. Following news of Tariq’s exit, several outlets and individuals, including Big Screen Leaks, shared news of the expected delay with a target date of early 2023.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1574973513743863808

    Later, Angela Boehm Casting in Ohio, an agency that had been working to find extra for Blade’s shoot in Cleveland, announced that the agency was halting its search for actors until the Spring.

    While these reports certainly don’t conflict with one another, they both indicate that the reality is nobody knows exactly when Blade will begin filming. It’s already very likely that the film will be moved from its November 3rd, 2023 slot. Now the focus becomes how soon it will be ready for theaters. With the studio recently moving its February 2024 film, which was just announced yesterday to be Deadpool 3, to September of 2024, a spot has opened up for Blade to land somewhere in the first quarter of 2024. Certainly, none of these things are linked together and are all just a series of unrelated, happy coincidences.