Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Secret Invasion’ May Not Release Until Next Year

    ‘Secret Invasion’ May Not Release Until Next Year

    We’re quite far into 2022 and still have a few projects heading our way. The shorts for I Am Groot finally got a release date with She-Hulk on the horizon in August. There’s also the last cinematic release in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set to release in November with a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special later this year. Let’s not forget the many rumors surrounding a small but potentially fun Halloween special focused on Werewolf by Night.

    For some time, there were also theories that we may get Secret Invasion at one point this year, but those plans may have been postponed. According to TVLine, the Samuel L. Jackson-led Disney+ series may not release until 2023. Of course, they don’t have any details or a specific release window but that would make sense given rumors of potential reshoots happening recently. There were a lot of rumors that hinted at it releasing some time this year.

    With that, 2023 seems to be even more stacked than this year, as it would join Echo and Ironheart, which recently started production. Loki‘s second season is also already underway and rumors hint that Agatha: House of Harkness potentially starting at some point. While they believe all these projects will release in 2023, there’s no official word especially with Disney+ Day heading our way later this year. So, we’ll see just how many shows Marvel Studios truly has planned to roll out.

    Source: TVLine

  • REPORT: Netflix Developing More ‘Fear Street’ Films

    REPORT: Netflix Developing More ‘Fear Street’ Films

    Netflix is ready to return to Shadyside just a year after the release of all three Fear Street films. The streamer is reportedly very far into development on more installments within the franchise and plans to dive deeper into the Book of Witchcraft that has forsaken the town for so many years.

    Bloody Disgusting is reporting that they have indeed heard Netflix plans to develop more Fear Street projects exclusively for the streamer. There are currently no details on what any of these projects could be or who would return, but it can be assumed that the expansion may take place sometime around 1994 as that was where we last left Shadyside.

    For those who may not remember, near the tail end of Fear Street: 1666, the Book of Witchcraft was left behind within Nick Goode’s worship room, and before the film ends we can see a pair of hands reach out and grab it, hinting that the worst has yet to come and someone else intends to use the book.

    R.L. Stine himself, the writer of the original books on which the film series was loosely based, has heard that Netflix is looking to do more with the franchise.

    I…hear rumors about more Fear Street movies for Netflix, because the first ones did so well last summer, Those films kind of shocked me, because they were all R-rated, and I’ve never done anything R-rated! All those teenagers were getting slashed. I was like, ‘Suddenly, I have a slasher movie!’

    R.L. Stine

    Hopefully we get some more news on whats next for the series at Netflix’s upcoming TUDUM event, set to return on September 24th.

    Source: BloodyDigusting

  • Amazon’s Prime Video UI Gets Major Overhaul

    Amazon’s Prime Video UI Gets Major Overhaul

    Of all the streaming giants, Amazon’s Prime Video has seemingly been the one needing an update for the longest time. Luckily, it seems that the streamer has been working on something for secrets besides just a few tweaks over the years as they have shared their first major overhaul. This will be its biggest step since Amazon started distributing content back in 2013 and is the perfect time as they start hyping up The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s upcoming release.

    It looks like they wanted to make the navigation menu more user-friendly, especially in how one can access Prime Video’s library of originals. So far, it hasn’t been the easiest menu to maneuver, especially when it came to creating your own Prime experience with your favorite shows. There is now a side section for six primary pages: Home, Store, Find, Live TV, Free With Ads, and My Stuff.

    It seems they’ve tried to optimize the platform for users, especially given how diverse their offerings are with sports events, live TV, and more depending on your subscription model. It’ll also include a “My Subscriptions” addition for those wanting to switch between others like Paramount+ or AMC+.

    Overall, the design looks great and still adheres to some elements from the original, it gives their projects a bit more pop. Plus, it may help ease people to find what is actually part of their Prime subscription as it was mostly dependent on a small tag in the upper corner of the project. Will be interesting to see how people welcome the new design once it rolls out.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘Dune’ Sequel Starts Production With First Set Photo

    ‘Dune’ Sequel Starts Production With First Set Photo

    It looks like it didn’t take too long for Denis Villeneuve to continue his sci-fi epic, Dune. After quite a successful run at the box office, the auteur has swiftly jumped on the chance to continue his storyline with hints in the past that he may even have a third planned. Dune: Part Two as the title implies is the second part adapting the iconic book by Frank Herberts. To celebrate the production start, the official Duen account shared an image from the set to celebrate the occasion.

    Cinematographer Greig Fraser is back to join Villeneuve to adapt the storyline. He’s recently given us the iconic The Batman and it’ll be exciting to once again see how they adapt the sand planet Arrakis while still offering some more stunning visuals. The plans are to adapt the third film entry based on the second novel Dune Messiah, but it’s unclear if they’d further explore more entires from the six-book entries.

    Villeneuve has quite the track record with his stunning work and more slower-paced adaptations. Blade Runner 2049 was a standout when it was released it’s quite interesting to see the director tackle a franchise with even an HBO Max spinoff by Diane Ademu-John. It’s unclear if it might tie into the events of the main series, but it’ll be curious to see what the future has in store for this franchise.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel Adds ‘Game of Thrones’ Alumni

    ‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel Adds ‘Game of Thrones’ Alumni

    Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has added yet another impressive name to its cast. Deadline reports that Game of Thrones alumni Peter Dinklage has joined the cast as Casca Highbottom, who is the dean of the Academy.

    “Dean Highbottom is one of the most powerful people in Snow’s life. As the austere and vindictive face of the games, he sets the rules that will determine every aspect of Coriolanus’s fate. I’m thrilled that Peter will be bringing him to life,” director Francis Lawrence said in a statement to Deadline.

    Dinklage joins a cast led by Tom Blyth, who will play the young Coriolanus Snow, and Rachel Zegler, who plays tribute Lucy Gray Baird. Also starring in the film are Josh Andrés Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Jerome Lance, Ashley Liao, Knox Gibson, Mackenzie Lansing, Aamer Husain, Nick Benson, Laurel Marsden, Lilly Cooper, Luna Steeples, Hiroki Berrecloth and Jason Schwartzman. Production on the Hunger Games prequel is currently underway, with the film slated to hit theaters next year.

    “With production underway, we couldn’t be more excited about the way this cast has come together and thrilled to be welcoming Peter Dinklage to Panem. Peter is not just a fan favorite actor who brings a commanding presence to every part he plays,” Nathan Kahane, President of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group told Deadline. “He is one of the best actors alive. He will bring a formidable, charismatic authority to the important role of the dean of the Academy.”

    The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows an  18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, long before he became the president of Panem, as he becomes the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games approaching, Snow is alarmed to find he’s assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a young girl from District 12 – the same district Katniss is from in the original series. Like Katniss, Lucy is defiant, but Snow finds a way to turn the odds in their favor as they race to survive and ultimately reveal who is a songbird, and who is a snake.

    The film will be released into theaters on Nov. 17th, 2023.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ Writer to Adapt ‘Grounded’ as an Animated Series

    ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ Writer to Adapt ‘Grounded’ as an Animated Series

    Deadline has announced the videogame Grounded is being adapted into a television series. The videogame, which is an Xbox exclusive, is being adapted for television by Star Wars: Clone Wars writer Brent Friedman. He’ll craft the story for Halo director Brien Goodrich, currently attached as a director on the project.

    The game was released for early access in July 2020. Since then, it has amassed over 10 million plays. The full version of Grounded will be released this September. The game follows four friends who have big plans before they start high school to help elevate their social standing. Unfortunately, though, their plans are soon upended after they stumble upon shrinking technology that leaves them two inches tall. Now, the four friends face a new obstacle: the backyard full of predators as they uncover a corporate conspiracy threatening their town.

     “We couldn’t be more excited about diving into the whimsical universe of Grounded. This partnership will be one of great collaboration, expanding on an already wonderful journey of exploration and adventure,” Tina Chow, the CEO of Bardel Entertainment said in a statement to Deadline.

    “The team at Obsidian have created an incredible world that has already grabbed the attention of the gaming community. We are excited to work with our incredible partners to bring the story to life in an animated series,” added Carl Whiteside, MD, WP/SC Productions.

    The animated adaptation of Grounded is being produced through Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox in association with Waterproof Studios/SC Productions, Kinetic Media, and Bardel Entertainment. As it stands, the series does not look to have a network attached.

    Source: Deadline

  • Morning After Huddle: July 18th, 2022

    Morning After Huddle: July 18th, 2022

    Happy week ahead, Multiversers; we are back with a Monday morning edition of the Morning After Huddle. As we anxiously await for SDCC (stick with us: we’ve got you covered), the NFL sprints towards NFL preseason in just a couple of weeks. That, coupled with Madden 23’s nearing release date, and guess what? It’s beginning to look a lot like football. Let’s see what we got for you this morning, starting in New England with a second year QB who is in a terrible situation.

    • Mac Jones had a very good first half of 2021 and then an awful second half, culminating in a playoff game where he and the Patriots were systematically routed. Bill Belicheck had to hide his rookie QB in many games down the stretch and, now with no notable addition at WR and the departure of Josh McDaniels, this young QB will be asked to do so much more. In order to do that, it seems Mac Jones switched up his diet. No more big Macs at 3 AM for the former Crimson Tide QB, as Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston shared Jones’s anecdote about how he improved his diet this off-season. Now, if only his GM had chosen to improve his wide receiver room.
    • Speaking of wide receivers, Justin Jefferson set social media ablaze when he said that he will be the best wide receiver in the NFL by the end of this upcoming season. Jefferson has been the most productive young WR this side of Randy Moss in NFL history, eclipsing even the impressive marks of one Odell Beckham, Jr. As he nears a big-time contract and has taken over the number one WR role in Minnesota, it will be interesting to see if his claim pans out. Defenses will be looking to make other guys in the Vikings passing attack beat them.
    • On the topic of big claims and defenses, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson believes that the New Orleans Saints will have the best defense in the NFL. The word “dominate” was thrown around by CGJ to on Good Morning Football, and with the additions to the back end with Marcus Maybe and the Honey Badger, there’s a good chance he’s right. The Saints defense was top 5 statistically in almost all defensive categories, and if they get Michael Thomas back to where he was then that can only help a Saints defense that really has ridiculous talent at all three levels. They’ll be somewhat tested in that division with Tom Brady and Marcus Mariota in an Arthur Smith offense, but not as tested when you remember they get to play Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. The Honey Badger, proof that you can always go home, is probably salivating at those two matchups.
    • Lastly, on the topic of going home: Bobby Wagner’s career in Seattle ended this off-season, and he wasted no time signing with the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams. Wagner is a California native and, while we never know what role that plays in decisions, he said that it actually was one of the reasons he chose the Rams. Now, I buy it, but I also can’t help but wonder how much of this was that he also gets to play versus the Seahawks twice in one year, and he gets to compete for a Super Bowl.
  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Drops By 68% in its Second Weekend

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Drops By 68% in its Second Weekend

    Fans have all been keeping a close eye on where exactly Thor: Love and Thunder would end up in its second weekend. After quite the drop on its second Friday at 80%, the film still managed to pull in $46 million at the domestic box office. That makes for a 68% drop, which is higher than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ 67% drop. Still, the film grossed higher than its estimated $130 million, pulling in $144 million during its opening weekend. It’s also the same drop that Black Widow faced in its second weekend, as well as Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    The follow-up to 2017’sThor: Ragnarok now stands at $233.2 million in its second weekend and is about to cross the half billion mark worldwide. Globally, the film stands at $498 million. However, despite opening higher than Ragnarok‘s $122.7 million, Love and Thunder was not able to out-gross the film’s second-weekend earnings of $57 million. The drop could be an indicator moving forward if this remains a trend. The 68% drop is similar to that of other summer superhero blockbusters, such as Man of Steel (67.9%) and Fantastic Four (68.2%). And with Top Gun: Maverick raking in $1.2 billion, it is clear that Marvel is getting beaten at the box office this summer.

    It seems that general audiences are not connecting with Thor: Love and Thunder as much as they did Thor: Ragnarok. CinemaScore has given the film a general audience consensus of B+, compared to Ragnarok‘s A. However, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also received a B+, and ended up grossing $950 million worldwide. Only time will tell if Love and Thunder will have the same momentum.

  • ‘Skeleton Crew’ Disney+ Series Budget Among ‘Star Wars’ Highest, Eyeing 2023 Release

    ‘Skeleton Crew’ Disney+ Series Budget Among ‘Star Wars’ Highest, Eyeing 2023 Release

    Star Wars has mostly become a Disney+ exclusive franchise for now, as we’re still waiting for any news on the mysterious films that were promised back during Disney’s Investors Day by CEO Kathleen Kennedy. Until now, it seems those productions are continuing to face various delays but nothing is standing in the way of their Disney+ series. Among them is Jon Watts‘ upcoming Skeleton Crew. In a new piece by Hollywood Reporter, we may have gotten our first tease of just how big this project may end up being.

    A new piece on the California tax credits gained by big projects also includes a brief statement on some Skeleton Crew details. It seems the project’s production budget is around $136M, which would put it among the highest costing series for the streaming service. The production also is receiving $20.9M in credit from California. The project by the Spider-Man: No Way Home director is currently eyeing a 2023 release but no further details on when that might be.

    There were reports that Obi-Wan Kenobi had a lower production budget than even The Mandalorian, but as we have little official confirmation, we can only theorize. So, it’s surprising we get a more exact number with Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. It’ll be exciting to see just how Watts will tackle this project and how the story of a group of kids getting lost in space might be explored. With Jude Law attached, we are still waiting for some casting announcements but if it’s eyeing a 2023 release, production ill likely start rather soon.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter, Epic Stream

  • RUMOR: New Poster May Hint at ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Season 2

    RUMOR: New Poster May Hint at ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Season 2

    You never know what may find its way online, especially with many eagle-eyed fans out there looking for the next hint at some of their favorite franchises making a return. With San Diego Comic-Con on the horizon, who knows what kind of announcements we might get from the various studios. There have already been quite a few teases of what Mar vel STudios may have planned in the near future, but a new poster may hint that a Star Wars Disney+ series may also make a return soon.

    As shared by Reddit user u/SomeBoredBoi, they’ve spotted a poster teasing the various Disney+ Star Wars series. Among them, there’s the listing of the various projects currently in development which also includes a tease that The Book of Boba Fett may be getting a second season. There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, especially with all eyes on The Mandalorian‘s third season, Ahsoka for next year, and even Andor later next month.

    Boba Fett Season 2 confirmed in Spanish poster?
    by inStarWarsLeaks

    We still have to take it with a bit of a grain of salt, as there have been some very well-made fake posters in the past to catch people off-guard. Still, it would make sense for a second season that builds upon the storylines slowly introduced in the first. The first season was part of Boba Fett’s origin story for what happened to him after falling into the famous Sarlacc Pit while also setting up The Mandalorian‘s third season. So, here’s hoping a second entry could keep the focus on Boba a bit more and also give Temuera Morrison some more chances to showcase just how badass he really is.

    Source: Reddit