Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Giancarlo Esposito Reveals ‘Professor X’ Fan Casting Led Him to Approach Marvel About a Movie Role

    Giancarlo Esposito Reveals ‘Professor X’ Fan Casting Led Him to Approach Marvel About a Movie Role

    With so many iconic Marvel properties seemingly on the horizon for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fan casting and speculation seems to be at an all-time high. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is one of the beloved talents that fans want to see cast in huge roles. There are, of course, rumors swirling now that Esposito is already in talks with Marvel Studios to play Charles Xavier, or Professor X, in the future of the MCU. But the actor recently explained how fan casting has affected his relationship with Marvel Studios.

    During a panel at Rose City Comic Con, Esposito was asked by an audience member about the Marvel rumors. The actor comedically described how fans create all of the rumors themselves:

    I love how all this happens…[t]he fans come to me when I’m in line, a lot of comic cons, and it started with Dr. Doom maybe over a year ago. And then fans came and said [that I should do Freeze]…then it was Magneto. And these are fans suggesting to me what might be appropriate for me to do.

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Still, the actor detailed how the Professor X fan casting may have changed his outlook on the situation. Specifically, he suggests that the overwhelming fan support over time, and specifically for Professor X, got him to contact Marvel Studios directly. He detailed:

    And then, right, so the last year…people are coming and saying it’s [Professor] X. And they asked me, would you like to do that? I said I’d love to be in the Marvel Universe. And so all that got translated when the fan casting started to blow up that they’d like to see me play Professor X. It got so huge, I finally had to have my people call Marvel and explain that, you know, that this is a fan want and we would love to work with you. And [Marvel Studios isn’t] quite ready to get into that conversation. But when they are, I am here.

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Interestingly, Esposito notes that Marvel isn’t ready to have that casting conversation with him. Of course, all types of casting news for Marvel should be taken with a grain of salt due to its notorious secret. In any event, Esposito has made it clear he is ready to be a part of the MCU.

    Source: Rose City Comic Con

  • Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Did Not Turn Down ‘Loki’ Role: “I Wasn’t the One Who Was Chosen”

    Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Did Not Turn Down ‘Loki’ Role: “I Wasn’t the One Who Was Chosen”

    Last month, a report circulated that beloved actor Giancarlo Esposito—known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian, and more—turned down a role in Marvel Studios’ Loki series. It was speculated that perhaps Esposito sought a film role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than on television. After all, rumors spread last month that the actor was in talks with Marvel Studios to play the iconic character Professor X in the MCU. However, Esposito himself revealed that he did not turn down a role in Loki. In fact, he says he did not get the part. 

    Speaking to a crowd at Rose City Comic-Con on Sunday, Esposito answered a fan question about his rumored relationship with Marvel Studios. Not only did Esposito say he did not believe he was the one chosen for the unknown Loki part at issue, but he revealed he likely would have liked to have played that role. Esposito stated:

    The truth of the story Is this. about four years ago I met with Louis D’Esposito who [is] in the television unit of Marvel. And they had come to me to play possibly play Loki on the television side. And so I did not do [that part], and there were reasons for it. I think I wasn’t the one who was chosen [would] be the honest truth. But I would have maybe liked to do it.

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Interestingly, Esposito stated that not getting the Loki part is actually what led him to be interested in a film role within the MCU. He continued:

    And then I thought when I wasn’t selected for that, that it would be great if I could be in a Marvel movie, not just a television show because I like films a lot. I love television, obviously I had a great run in the television world, doing last year was four shows at one time and the year before five shows. 

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Only time will tell if Esposito joins the MCU. But one thing is certain: fans all over the world would celebrate the announcement.

    Source: Rose City Comic Con

  • D’Onofrio Teases ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ Promises ‘Incredible’ Take

    D’Onofrio Teases ‘Daredevil: Born Again,’ Promises ‘Incredible’ Take

    With D23 officially in the past, the waiting game for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe slate moves forward. With that in mind, one of the most heavily anticipated projects for Phase Five of the MCU is Daredevil: Born Again. Audiences have long been clamoring for Charlie Cox to reprise his role of Matthew Murdock in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the cancellation of the original Netflix series in 2018. And by the point in which casual fans had generally resided themselves to the notion that the Netflix universe of characters was fully finished, Marvel Studios dropped two bombshells late last year with the return of Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk in Hawkeye. And now following Charlie Cox’s upcoming involvement in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Matt Murdock will once again star in his own series with Born Again.

    Following D’Onofrio‘s return in Hawkeye, his fate was left in question with the finale of the Disney+ series. It has since been confirmed, however, that Wilson Fisk will be involved with both Echo and Daredevil: Born Again. And when it comes to Born Again, D’Onofrio has been outspoken in his excitement for his involvement with Charlie Cox. In a tweet today, the actor discussed his return and has promised fans that the revival will be worth the wait.

    It certainly is a lofty promise from Vincent D’Onofrio about Daredevil: Born Again. Though with three times the episode count of the other Marvel Studios Disney+ franchises and the quality of most of the original Netflix series, it’s certainly not impossible to match. The concept of these characters being fully present in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the larger-than-life nature of the franchise certainly could become a major point of interest. At this time, not much is known about what Born Again may entail and if anyone else from the original Netflix series (or other Marvel Netflix franchises) will be involved.

    Daredevil: Born Again is currently scheduled to begin filming next year and release its 18-episode run in the Spring of 2024.

  • ‘Titans’ Season 4 Set for November Release, Titus Welliver Joins as Lex Luthor

    ‘Titans’ Season 4 Set for November Release, Titus Welliver Joins as Lex Luthor

    While the fate of HBO Max has already been sealed, it looks to be business as usual for now with the return of Titans on the horizon. The comic book series will return with its fourth season on the streamer later this year. Entertainment Weekly has the first details on the Titans’ return as well as some exciting casting news that could give us a hint into who could be a major player this season. 

    Entertainment Weekly has revealed that actor Titus Welliver will make his debut as Lex Luthor this season after being teased for quite some time now. Showrunner Greg Walker dished on Welliver’s arrival, revealing the actor to be a massive comic book fan, especially of George Perez and Marv Wolfman’s beloved run on the Teen Titans. 

    “You usually have to do this whole dog-and-pony show to get an actor to do the show, But when I called to kind of lure him in, I could barely get a word in. We were talking on the phone and he was just walking through his library, telling me about all his Wolfman/Perez Titans editions. He’s a giant, giant fan. He’d watched every episode of the show, and could tell me about certain stories, certain shots. It was the most unexpected call I’ve ever had.

    Greg Walker
    First Look at TItus Welliver as Lex Luthor alongside Anna Diop as Starfire

    Luthor is sure to add an interesting dynamic to the team as the Titans make their way back to Titans tower in San Francisco. While talking to EW, Walker also teased just what makes this Lex tick, and what sets him apart from any other foe the team has come to face.

    “He has a very sensitive, thoughtful approach to evil and power. You know what he’s done, what he’s capable of doing, except like many of those people, he’s personable. He doesn’t have a cat on his lap. Yeah. He’s curious, which I think is very interesting about his character. He wants to know about people and what makes them tick, and how they’re different from him. He sees the world through the lens both of his own power and his own inadequacy, and tries to compensate for both.”

    Greg Walker

    One of Conner’s most defining character traits in the history of his character would be his dual nature, being of human and Kryptonian biology, the character has never known where he fits. Luthor’s arrival really pushes the spotlight on Conner, finally making him come face to face with the person who is responsible for his existence and has him face the truth.

    “We’re really going deeper in all these characters and shaking them up, What shakes Conner up is an identity story. He’s explored his Superman self, but he has not really explored his Lex self. What does that mean when you do? What happens when you give that self the keys to the car? Does it start driving the wrong way at rush hour 100 miles an hour?” 

    Greg Walker

    Although no specific date has been announced just yet, Entertainment Weekly has confirmed that the fourth season will indeed premiere in sometime in November.

    SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly

  • D23: Anthony Mackie is Open to Chris Evans Appearing in ‘Captain America: New World Order’ 

    D23: Anthony Mackie is Open to Chris Evans Appearing in ‘Captain America: New World Order’ 

    Captain America: New World Order is shaping up to be quite the adventure. The film will be the fourth main installment in the Captain America franchise and former Falcon actor Anthony Mackie’s first official solo outing as the titular hero. During a panel at this year’s D23 convention, it was revealed that fellow The Falcon and the Winter Soldier co-star Carl Lumbly and Danny Ramirez would return to their respective roles for the movie follow-up, alongside The Incredible Hulk’s Tim Blake Nelson as villain The Leader. Not among the many returning cast members announced, however, were fan-favorite Sebastian Stan or 2021 newcomer Wyatt Russell. Instead, this duo was revealed to be appearing in 2024’s Thunderbolts project, something Mackie jokingly took issue with at the event’s red carpet.

    Speaking with Variety, the Marvel A-Lister was asked if Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, the previous Captain America, would make any sort of surprise appearance in New World Order. Mackie’s reply was that he wouldn’t mind, as a form of revenge for being left out of Thunderbolts himself:

    I hope so, man. You know, Chris is my boy. We all love and enjoy Chris. I’m highly upset that they put Sebastian in a movie with Wyatt and left me out. It’s a whole lot going on. If Sebastian gets Wyatt, I should get Chris.

    Anthony Mackie

    It’ll be a while before fans find out if this wish comes true, but it might not be worth anyone holding their breath. Chris Evans appears to be done with the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment, and Mackie deserves his time to shine in New World Order. Either way, a cameo is never out of the cards, and anything can happen when the film hits theaters on May 3rd, 2024.

    Source: Variety

  • D23: Teyonah Parris On Monica Rambeau’s Origin in ‘The Marvels’

    D23: Teyonah Parris On Monica Rambeau’s Origin in ‘The Marvels’

    Marvel Cinematic Universe fans learned a whole lot about the future of the franchise at this year’s D23 convention, and that included a bunch of new information about Nia DaCosta‘s The Marvels. A sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, the story will reportedly revolve around Brie Larson‘s Carol Danvers, Iman Vellani‘s Kamala Khan, and Teyonah Parris‘ Monica Rambeau as the characters begin swapping places every time they use their powers. Parris, who debuted in her role to much acclaim in 2021’s WandaVision, was on hand at D23 to discuss Monica’s development in The Marvels and explain how fans might see her next.

    Speaking with Deadline, the actress revealed The Marvels will find her heroine learning to deal with newfound abilities:

    With Monica, we see her at the end of ‘WandaVision’ gain powers. And so, in ‘The Marvels’, we pick up learning how Monica’s been learning about her powers, working with them – or if she has at all. Like, what she’s not been doing. So, that’s where we pick up with Monica in ‘The Marvels’.

    Teyonah Parris

    Nudged further about the specifics of Monica’s superheroic adjustment, Parris played coy and danced around the question. However, she did drop a little nugget about the character’s overall arc in the MCU, stating that the combination of WandaVision and The Marvels acted as a sort of drawn-out origin for Rambeau:

    She is adjusting… Between ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Marvels’, we really get to fully realize Monica’s origin story here in the MCU. So, it’s been really fun.

    Teyonah Parris

    The Marvels flies into theaters on July 28th, 2023.

    Source: Deadline

  • D23: Marvel Studios Confirms Identity of Two Major ‘Secret Invasion’ Characters

    D23: Marvel Studios Confirms Identity of Two Major ‘Secret Invasion’ Characters

    Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Secret Invasion is all about..secrets. And for quite some time, the studio kept some major secrets about the identities of the characters played by several members of the cast. Coming out of D23, the first trailer for the series featured looks at several of those characters and later, in an official press release, Marvel gave up SOME of the secrets about who is playing who.

    Olivia Colman as Special Agent Sonya Falsworth in Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
    Kingsley Ben-Adir as Rebel Skrull leader Gravik in Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

    According to the official release, Olivia Colman will debut as Special Agent Sonya Falsworth and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Rebel Skrull leader Gravik. The Falsworth name has quite a legacy in Marvel Comics as members of the family have served as Union Jack. While Sonya seems to be a character newly created just for the MCU, it’s possible she’ll have a connection to the Union Jack name and be an ancestor of James Montgomery Falsworth, who served alongside Captain America in WWII as a Howling Commando.

    Ben-Adir’s Gravik seems to be an entirely new character, though a Skrull named Granok did exist in the comics and was a bit of a radical, as it seems is Gravik. Whatever the case, Ben-Adir’s character has a long history with Mendelsohn’s Talos, though exactly what the nature of their relationships is/was, remains to be seen.

    Secret Invasion is set to stream on Disney Plus early in 2023.

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’s Disney+ Page Teases Special as a Comedy, First Plot Description

    ‘Werewolf by Night’s Disney+ Page Teases Special as a Comedy, First Plot Description

    D23 has come to an end but it still offered quite a few special surprises to keep us guessing on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Among the many reveals was the confirmation that Marvel Studios’ first special will be the long-rumored Werewolf by Night adaptation. Not only did they confirm long-time MCU composer Michael Giacchino in the director’s chair but also gave us a trailer to get a feeling for what exactly the project might be. Besides teasing a classic throwback to horror movies from the black and white era, we also got a small glimpse of the story. Luckily, the new Disney+ page gave us even more details.

    As first noticed by ComicBook.com’s Adam Barnhardt, the detail page not only includes a great new visual teasing the atmosphere this project has in store for us but also includes the official summary for the project. That’s not all as it looks like the trailer wasn’t lying about the series taking these classic Universal era monsters and giving them a comedic twist as it’s been classified as a comedy, which always has been a great combination with horrors for many years now and makes us wonder how they’ll tackle the character of Werewolf by Night in the story.

    The description reads as:

    On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious sand deadly competition for a powerful relic – a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monsteer.

    It definitely sounds promising and it’s a great way to introduce various fodder characters while building up whatever the “dangerous monster” might end up looking like, as we know it’s the titular character. Though Man-thing has also been showcased in the trailer which means there might be more to this story than what the description may be hinting at. Whatever they have in store for us, it’s going to be a blast either way and hopefully, open up the possibility for more “Special Presentations” from Marvel Studios.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Won’t Be A Continuation of Previous Series

    Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Won’t Be A Continuation of Previous Series

    Charlie Cox made his first major public appearance last night since returning as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home when Kevin Feige presented Daredevil: Born Again to the rabid public in D23. Cox’s return was rapturous and was only made better standing next to Vincent D’Onofrio, who appeared for the Echo presentation.

    There has been much debate on whether Daredevil: Born Again serves as a fresh start for the franchise, as the title suggests, or rather a continuation of where the Netflix series ended. During the press line, Cox revealed that Feige had iterated to him that the show would be different and be about “new stories and new ideas.” Cox went on to affirm this.

    It is a Season 1. It is not Season 4, so it is a whole new thing. Which I think is the way to go. If you are going to do it again, do it differently.

    Fans looking to see what happens next following the defeat of Kingpin and Bullseye will be disappointed by this quote but the decision to do a whole new thing isn’t surprising. As beloved as the cast of the show is, Feige may not share the same feelings about how certain plot points developed. At the most, Born Again may likely end up being a soft reboot where elements such as casting are continued and loose ends are completely ignored. Much like any new comic run where a new creative team takes over, Born Again’s situation is essentially the same thing.

  • D23: ‘Werewolf By Night’ Star Calls the Special “Genuinely Unique to the MCU”

    D23: ‘Werewolf By Night’ Star Calls the Special “Genuinely Unique to the MCU”

    Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for their upcoming Halloween Special, Werewolf By Night, at D23 Expo in Anaheim. The black and white trailer for the special, directed by Michael Giacchino, captivated the D23 audience with its pulpy, grindhouse feel, something Giacchino said he worked hard to achieve as an homage to classic 1930s and 1940s horror films.

    Werewolf By Night stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly joined Giacchino in Anaheim to discuss the project. Donnelly, who plays Marvel Comics monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, was heavily featured in the trailer, which set up the premise of a group of monster hunters coming together after the passing of Elsa’s father, Ulysses, for a hunt. Following the trailer premiere, Donnelly spoke with Deadline in the D23 press line, giving some insight into the project.

    I think that we can expect something that is genuinely scary and really thrilling, but also something that has a really beautiful heart to it. It’s a really human story. And I think that it is genuinely unique in the MCU.

    Laura Connelly

    Given what fans have seen of the project to this point, it’s clear that Donnelly’s comments on the uniqueness of the project are on point. Giacchino certainly reached his goal of paying homage to classic horror films like The Wolf Man. Now it remains to be seen how fans of the MCU take to the pulpy project when it streams on October 7th.