Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Breaks Records for Digital Sales

    ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Breaks Records for Digital Sales

    Top Gun: Maverick continues to exceed expectations. The Tom Cruise-led film finally hit digital on Aug. 23rd and has continued its streak of breaking records. According to Paramount, Top Gun: Maverick has become the No. 1 best-selling digital sell-through title ever in the U.S. in its first week of release.

    The studio has also revealed that Maverick is already one of the top 20 best-selling digital releases in history after being available for one week. While the film is still playing in theaters, Maverick has been the top-selling item on Amazon within the United States consistently since it was released. It has also been the top-selling title on Fandango’s Vudu service since its release, with the service’s Top Gun bundle – including both films – also remaining a top-seller.

    While the studio hasn’t revealed a dollar amount for the sales, the film’s digital performance shouldn’t be too surprising. After releasing in May, Maverick has earned $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office. It’s currently the 6th highest-grossing film in domestic box-office history, as well as the number one film this year.

    Top Gun: Maverick, which stars Cruise, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Nov. 1st. It is also still playing in theaters. Those eager to catch the movie before it leaves theaters can catch it for $3 tomorrow as part of the inaugural National Cinema Day.

    Source: Variety.

  • ‘Blue Beetle’ Star Teases His Character is “Really Important” to the DCEU’s Future

    ‘Blue Beetle’ Star Teases His Character is “Really Important” to the DCEU’s Future

    There’s been some confusion on what the future has in store for the DC Extended Universe. The newly established Warner Bros. Discovery is leaving some rather harsh scars on its own production side with various projects being outright canceled or even taken down. Still, there are a few projects that might make it out, such as Xolo Maridueña‘s upcoming Blue Beetle film. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that he was told how important Blue Beetle, whose secret identity is Jaime Reyes, will be for the DC Extended Universe.

    He shared his experience after having a Zoom call with DC and what it was like getting another interview. “Why do these guys want to meet? What’s happening? I was so nervous. There’s so much riding on what they think about me.” He goes on to highlight what Walter Hamada, the president of DC Studios, told him about his character, as a way to also calm him down “Look Xolo. This role of Blue Beetle is going to be really important to this universe. We want to just make sure that whoever we go with is a real person and we’re not just hiring a face. It’s about more than what’s in front of the camera.”

    It definitely sounds like Maridueña was chosen for that very reason, as he’ll bring a certain humanity to the role and the universe. Similar to how Spider-Man commonly becomes that human anchor for the Marvel universe. Luckily, it seems that the project is still moving forward as Warner Bros. Discovery still believes in the project. It’s unclear if Reyes’ role in the DCEU will also remain the same as they rewrite the next ten years for the franchise but it would be a shame not to make use of it.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Tim Roth Reveals Feige Originally Planned for a Different Fate for Abomination

    Tim Roth Reveals Feige Originally Planned for a Different Fate for Abomination

    With She-Hulk: Attorney at Law being well under way with its first season on Disney+, one of the standout characters fans have connected with is Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination. The character, of course, is played by Tim Roth, who returns to the role and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a reformed villain serving a prison sentence. It’s certainly not the way many expected to see the character return, and it turns out, the character very nearly had a different fate planned for him. When sitting down with IGN, the actor revealed what the original fate of Blonsky would have been after The Incredible Hulk.

    I remember talking to Kevin [Feige] on set of [The Incredible Hulk] and Stan Lee as well. The idea was that they locked him up in a steel vault and sank it to the bottom of the ocean and left it there. So that when you found it at the beginning of whatever film that might have been… That’s where you found him. And he’d had time to think. About what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go.

    Tim Roth

    The idea of Abomination being locked in a confined space and submerged deep into an ocean could’ve led to a different adaptation of the character upon a return. However, Roth went on to further elaborate on how his position in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law still has some mirrors to this original fate.

    Well in a sense they kind of did it in She-Hulk. He’s in isolation, dealing with his inner monster… and he’s been in a bubble… in a maximum security [prison] in total isolation, for many years. So now what do we get? Who is he? And the journey he goes on will possibly dance around the knife edge of ‘is he or isn’t he [reformed]?’ And I know I had some fun with him.

    Tim Roth

    The concept of reforming oneself has been ever prevalent with the character of Emil Blonsky and it’s interesting to see how Tim Roth has run with that character direction. Ultimately, it could be considered a surprise that Abomination returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after over a decade of not being mentioned. This is especially the case for a subversion of the villainous role. Roth spent some time discussing his feelings about his return and the nature in which he was brought back.

    I laughed. I thought it was hilarious. When [Marvel] told me what they had in mind, I just laughed, I thought it was wonderful, and impossible, and mad… It also in a sense was nice because then I could revisit my kids’ childhood.

    Tim Roth

    It can be assuring to know that at least the performer behind the character has a positive experience for his time returning to this role. The first three episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law starring Tatiana Maslany as the titular character are now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: IGN

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Star Was Consulted on ‘Captain America: New World Order’s Director

    ‘She-Hulk’ Star Was Consulted on ‘Captain America: New World Order’s Director

    There’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the many new project heading to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many were also anxiously waiting for an update on the long-rumored Captain America sequel. Back in July, we learned that Julius Onah would tackle the job as director for the film which would get the subtitle New World Order during San Diego Comic-Con. As it turns out one of She-Hulks‘ stars may have had a hand in helping get him the job.

    As it turns out, it seems that Marvel Studio was consulting on the director’s abilities with Tim Roth, who co-starred in Luce by Julius Onah. In an interview, it turns out that he’s only found out about his former director’s new job in the Marvel family and was quite excited for this new opportunity for him.

    Okay, let me tell you this. Julius is incredible. He’s an extraordinary human being and the story that we told… Again, it was my second time working with Naomi Watts, too. I love her. She’s one of the funniest humans you’ll ever meet, but Julius is extraordinary and I didn’t know that he was doing that. They came to me to ask me about him. And I wrote letters and stuff. I’m so glad if… You know what? They’re in safe hands. I’m so pleased, I didn’t know. You just told me, I didn’t know

    Tim Roth

    It’s great to see that Marvel Studios also consults with the many actors they’ve worked with and their history with various directors. Onah is an exciting addition as he’ll bring something new to the franchise that is generally going through chance with its new lead in Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson. It’ll be interesting to see how they explore the character’s new position in the world and continue where Falcon and the Winter Soldier left us off.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • New Line Cinema Teases the Return of ‘Friday the 13th’

    New Line Cinema Teases the Return of ‘Friday the 13th’

    In an age of legacy sequels and classic franchises getting a second chance, it always feels like a question of time before a franchise gets another reboot of some kind. Scream just recently managed to offer a new look at the iconic slasher Ghostface with a returning cast from the originals continuing the storyline. Now, it seems that New Line Cinema is teasing the return of another iconic horror icon.

    IN a rather simple Instagram post, New Line Cinema has posted what looks like a phone notification hinting at Jason Voorhees, the iconic slasher lead of the Friday the 13th franchise, sending a message through Instagram. It’s difficult to not take this as a tease that a sequel of some kind is in development. There’s been quite a few rumors that something was in development, even Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes working on a potential reboot of Friday the 13th after being involved with the 2009 remake.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch-SvR9pRnY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

    Until now, the last time we saw Jason in action was in the 2009 version, which was directed by Marcus Nispel. What was actually quite a great new take on the franchise sadly didn’t quite make the splash many hoped it would at the box office and never got a sequel. Simply titled Friday the 13th, it was a perfect jumping-off for a new franchise but it never moved forward.

    Ironically, the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street faced a similar issue of reviving the cult classic but not getting the same critical reception. It also didn’t manage to continue the franchise but a potential successful remake of Friday the 13th could also see a new attempt to bring back Freddy Krueger as well. Considering Chucky got a second life with direct-to-DVD sequels and a TV series, horror is in a good place right now

    Source: Instagram

  • The Morning After Huddle: September 2, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: September 2, 2022

    Happy Football Friday and welcome to another edition of The Morning After Huddle!

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • First, Titans Running Back Derrick Henry is a very happy man this morning. Henry is now the highest-paid running back in the NFL. The Titans reworked his contract to give him a $2 million raise for the 2022 season for a total of $14 million. Henry will be a free agent once this deal expires and this gives the Titans the ability to create a new deal in the off-season.
    • Moving along, new Saints and Former Jets Safety Marcus Maye is in trouble with the law. Maye is facing charges of aggravated assault related to a road rage incident. Police say that Maye is the driver in an incident that involves pointing a firearm at another vehicle that was occupied by juvenile females. Maye’s lawyer denies the claims. Maye is still facing discipline for a 2021 arrest related to driving under the influence and leaving the scene. More to come with this story.
    • Next, Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton is heading to the non-football injury list. Hamilton is revealing news of a kitchen accident over the weekend. He shared photos via his social media showing what appears to be second-degree burns after a ”freak accident”.” The burns are the result of spilling cooking oil. Hamilton is now set to miss at least the first four games of the season as he recovers.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    As always, thanks choosing The Morning After Huddle for your NFL news. We’ll see you Saturday for more news you need to know!

  • ‘The Rings of Power’ Stars Discuss Gandalf Theory 

    ‘The Rings of Power’ Stars Discuss Gandalf Theory 

    After years of waiting, fans can finally stream The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime. The series, a prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic Lord of the Rings trilogy, premiered it’s first two episodes on Thursday to high praise from critics. Multiple new characters found themselves introduced during the show’s initial hours, alongside younger versions of some familiar names. One fresh face, however, was that of Daniel Weyman’s mysterious Stranger, a lumbering giant of a man with strange mystical abilities. The character was shown falling to Middle-earth in a meteor in the series’ pilot.

    There have been no shortage of theories on who the unnamed person actually is, but one has stood out more than the rest. A popular opinion online says that Weyman is secretly portraying a young Gandalf as he first appears in existence. According to a recent interview with ET, the actor has known the true identity of the Stranger since he was cast – but he won’t be spilling the beans anytime soon. When asked about the Gandalf theories, Weyman responded that fans will have to keep watching to find out:

    I would think, hopefully, people will have as much fun watching his story as I had filming it. And I suppose the best thing to say is that while we were working, I, at each point in the story, knew exactly where the character was and who he was and what he was going through. So, from my point of view, it was quite an easy task to follow that through.

    Daniel Weyman

    On the other hand, his co-star, actress Markella Kavenagh, was left just as much in the dark as viewers during the creative process. Kavenagh portrays an adventurous young Harfoot named Nori in the show, and is the one who discovers and helps the Stranger when he crashes to Middle-earth. She explained that she was forced to learn his real identity as filming went on:

    [We were] finding it out week to week. I mean, you’ll see when you watch it why it was also kind of beneficial because of how the Stranger is and how Nor is as well. But yeah, it was an experience.

    Markella Kavenagh

    Actress Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who has not yet appeared in the series, chimed into the conversation to add her take as well. She claimed that, in her opinion, there is a real joy in watching a mystery unfold without immediate answers:

    We enjoy all the fan theories and we have those ideas. But even for some of us, we don’t ultimately know the way in which our characters are going to have these experiences. And the audience will also get to see it as it unfolds as well.

    Cynthia Addai-Robinson

    The Rings of Power is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

    Source: ET

  • ‘Citadel:’ How the Russo Bros. Series Became One of the Most Expensive Shows of All Time

    ‘Citadel:’ How the Russo Bros. Series Became One of the Most Expensive Shows of All Time

    Back in 2020, it was revealed that Joe and Anthony Russo would be joining forces with Amazon’s Prime Video to bring a new event series to life on the small screen. Set to star Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Quantico), the series was dubbed a global thriller meant to launch local spinoffs in India, Italy and Mexico. Unfortunately, the project has been hit with behind-the-scenes drama and has seen its once projected $165 million budget skyrocket to $200+ million.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project has become a bit of a headache. The outlet has revealed that differences in vision have resulted in competing cuts of the pilot, with Joe and Anthony Russo delivering one version and scribes Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec delivering another. Eventually, it came down to Joe Russo and Appelbaum, who also served as the showrunner on the series, and Amazon ultimately decided to side with the brothers. This resulted in Appelbaum being let go last year ahead of Christmas.

    Shortly after his firing, Brian Kirk also left the series, as did line producer Sarah Bradshaw. Kirk is said to have directed five of the seven episodes of Citadel. Amazon ended up bringing in David Weil (Hunters) to re-write the series, with cinematographer Thomas Sigel taking over as director for the extensive reshoots with Joe Russo aiding the shoot. Between the reshoots and creative changes, the series saw its $165 million budget add an additional $75 million, making it one of the most expensive television shows ever behind Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

    Reshoots are said to have wrapped over the Summer and post-production is officially underway. No release date has been announced.

    Source: THR.

  • RUMOR: ‘Cruella’ Sequel Will Be a Musical, Taylor Swift Eyed for Antagonist Role

    RUMOR: ‘Cruella’ Sequel Will Be a Musical, Taylor Swift Eyed for Antagonist Role

    Disney’s Cruella was one of many films to face the pandemic head-on after movie theaters began to re-open following COVID. As theaters continued to struggle, Disney made the move to shift certain films to dual releases with Premier Access on Disney+ allowing films like Black Widow, Mulan, and Cruella to be rented from home while still playing in theaters. Despite that, Cruella was still able to score quite a successful haul and land a sequel. While news has been sparse regarding the sequel, a new rumor suggests that might soon be changing.

    DisInsider has released a rumor that the sequel could be a full-on musical, as the soundtrack from the first film featured an extensive library of songs and original music for the film. The outlet also reports that the film may have even already found its villain, with Taylor Swift reportedly eyed for the role as what is described as “Cruella’s match.” They mention that this could have some correlation to a rumor that popped up on Deumoix a while back, claiming that “This A+ singer who has a minor appearance in Cruella (very tiny, you probably haven’t even noticed) might have a larger part in the sequel.” Swift herself does not physically appear in the first film but what looks to be cut from a magazine of her face can be seen plastered on a wall and scribbled on.

    Finally, it’s reported that the sequel could find a home exclusively on Disney+ and will completely avoid releasing in theaters, even after the first film grossed over $230M at the worldwide box office. With D23 around the corner, it is possible we’ll learn more about Creulla very, very soon.

    SOURCE: DisInsider

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Cancels DC FanDome for 2022

    Warner Bros. Discovery Cancels DC FanDome for 2022

    Warner Bros. Discovery will not be hosting a DC FanDome event for DC fans this year. The news comes courtesy of WBD, with the newly merged studio announcing it is excited to engage with fans at numerous comic cons around the world, but that FanDome is not happening.

    “With the return of in person events, Warner Bros. Discovery is excited to be able to engage with our fans live at numerous comic-cons around the world and will not be scheduling DC FanDome for 2022.”

    Warner Bros. Discovery

    DC FanDome first launched in 2020 thanks in part to COVID-19 making conventions impossible. The event ended up being an eight-hour live stream that saw some of DC’s biggest talent take part in the virtual event for fans to promote upcoming shows and films. While last year’s FanDome wasn’t as exciting, fans were hoping to see the event return this year.

    The decision to cancel FanDome for this year, however, shouldn’t be too surprising. Ahead of its presentation at San Diego Comic-Con in July, it was revealed Warner Bros. Discovery was seeking to cut costs by limiting the properties it brought to the event. In the past, Warner Bros. has been known to go all out with massive screens and talent signings for fans. This year, however, outside of small presentations on both Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, there wasn’t much in store for DC fans at SDCC. New York Comic Con is coming up next month and, per Comicbook.com, the studio is excepted to have some sort of presence at the convention. As it stands, though, it’s unclear whether those plans include a booth or a studio presence. 

    With a much larger release slate set for next year, perhaps DC FanDome will make a comeback. For now, fans can hope for some news from New York Comic Con in October.

    Source: Comicbook.