Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Scout Comics Adapting ‘Midnight Western Theatre’ for TV

    Scout Comics Adapting ‘Midnight Western Theatre’ for TV

    Scout Comics and Oren Segal’s Management Production Entertainment have joined forces to develop an adaptation of Louis Southard’s comic book, Midnight Western Theatre. The series, which is published by Scout Comics, will be developed for the small screen with Kevin Carroll set to tackle the adaptation.

     “I was instantly drawn to the world of Midnight Western Theatre, with its razor-sharp wit and ingenious premise,” Carroll said in a statement to Deadline. “It blends the grittiness of a classic Spaghetti Western with the pulse-pounding elements of Gothic Horror. It’s a big, expansive world, populated with creepy creatures and demonic cultists. And at its core, a charming, endearing, heartbreaking story of two friends who have each other’s backs, no matter what.”

    Midnight Western Theatre, which marks Southard’s second comic, tells the story of Red Tom and his deadly posse who have laid claim to the once-prosperous town of Liberty Springs. When two black-clad, supernatural strangers arrive out of the blue, Red Tom and his posse find themselves on the defense as they try to enjoy their apparent short-lived victory The comic book series features artwork from David Hahn, who has illustrated titles such as Bite Club and its sequel, Bite Club: Vampire Crime Unit.

    Scout Comics & Entertainment, which was founded in 2015, signed with Mosaic’s management division back in 2020 to help manage its film & tv expansion. Since then, the publisher has announced an adaptation of multiple titles, including Tray Walker and Hoyt Silva’s Last Stop and Unikorn by Don Handfield, Joshua Malkin and Rafael Loureiro. 

    Source: Deadline

  • Latest ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Image Offers a Closer Look at Mantis’ New Design

    Latest ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Image Offers a Closer Look at Mantis’ New Design

    We’ve known for a while that Thor: Love and Thunder would continue where Avengers: Endgame left us off. Thor is out of shape and joining the Guardians of the Galaxy on whatever mission they find themselves. It’s still unclear what exactly their role might be in the sequel, but the first trailers have teased that they’ll be struggling a bit with their Asgardian member doing his own thing.

    We got a good look at the cast in the last trailer and the Guardians had a prominent part. Now, a few new images have found their way online that tease Thor and Jane Foster’s new look. Yet, we also got a new and closer look at Mantis’ design, which is once again played by Pom Klementieff. We don’t know how much she’ll be featured and if she’ll have the same costume in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but it looks like most of her design has remained intact from previous entries.

    It’s definitely not as green as previous films were, but it does seem like the lighting of this scene is hinting that her hair has gotten a bit more green. Star-Lord is also featured with his new beard, which seems a bit Thor-inspired. He’s wearing a much bigger version of his iconic jacket, but we know he’ll wear some more comic-accurate costumes in the upcoming sequel as revealed from a few set photos. So, who knows for how long we’ll still see Chris Pratt in a variation of his iconic red jacket moving forward.

    Source: Total Film

  • Ewan McGregor Isn’t Done With Obi-Wan Kenobi Just Yet

    Ewan McGregor Isn’t Done With Obi-Wan Kenobi Just Yet

    Obi-Wan Kenobi was the first series from Lucasfilm that was highlighted as a limited series. There was much time when head writer Deborah Chow confirmed that the project was conceived with a specific story in mind. Yet, while she’s remained very strict with that approach, Ewan McGregor has a different opinion. He actually would want to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi one more time in a future project.

    I hope it’s not the last time I play him. I had such a great time doing this, I’m sure we can think of a few more stories before I turn into Alec Guinness, don’t you think?

    Ewan McGregor

    Similar to how Hayden Christensen also was hinted at making a return in Ahsoka, it seems that their grand return to the Star Wars franchisee won’t just be a one-off. It’s unclear of the storyline may set up a future where he finds himself in a new environment or we take a look during his heyday before the Empire took over. There’s a lot of wiggle room, and while it would be great to see the franchise expand into new territory. So, we’ll see where the future is leading them and if we’ll see McGregor sooner rather than later.

    Source: Radio Times

  • Marvel Studios President Teases MCU’s New Saga Will Become Clearer Soon

    Marvel Studios President Teases MCU’s New Saga Will Become Clearer Soon

    Many have been wondering what exactly the current Marvel Cinematic Universe Saga has been about. Phase 4 of the long-running franchise took a few new turns to keep things fresh while also introducing a variety of characters that seemingly have no direct correlation. Yet, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige promises that all will be made clear very soon, especially as Phase 4 is nearing its end.

    As we’re nearing the end of Phase 4, I think people will start to see where this next saga is going. I think there have been many clues already, that are at least apparent to me, of where this whole saga is going. But we’ll be a little more direct about that in the coming months, to set a plan, so audiences who want to see the bigger picture can see a tiny, tiny, tiny bit more of the roadmap.

    Kevin Feige

    So, not only will we get a look at the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it also looks like we’ll get an idea of where exactly the current phase is heading. Many arrows are pointing to Jonathan Major‘s Kang being the main antagonist, especially after Loki introduced us to his Variant and the events of the series unraveled whatever will lead to Kang the Conqueror being unleashed upon the multiverse. He also makes for the perfect choice to rewrite the franchise in case they want to reinvent it by going into a new Saga and tackling different kinds of stories moving forward.

    Source: Total Film

  • Kevin Feige Teases New MCU Announcements “in the Coming Months”

    Kevin Feige Teases New MCU Announcements “in the Coming Months”

    There’s been a lot of questions about where the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe may be heading. Phase 4 has seemingly been the most disjointed, echoing the early days of Phase 1 and 2 where it seemed like these projects were a bit looser in connection. Yet, as the MCU’s Phase 4 is slowly coming to an end with its upcoming releases, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has teased that we’ll get to see more of the roadmap in the coming months. The time frame would match with San Diego Comic-Con, D23, and Disney+ Day on the horizon. His full quote is as follows:

    […] we’ll be a little more direct about that in the coming months, to set a plan, so audiences who want to see the bigger picture can see a tiny, tiny, tiny bit more of the roadmap.

    Kevin Feige

    It’s exciting to know that we’ll get a tease of what the future has in store, but it does seem like we shouldn’t expect any full-phase announcements. It does seem like Marvel Studios has generally moved away from that concept and with the new TV series also trying to build upon smaller announcements to further expand the franchise. So, who knows if Phase 4 truly will end or just continue to whenever thee story is getting a new kickstart into the next stages of the current Saga.

    Source: TotalFilm

  • ‘Lightyear’ Loses to ‘Jurassic World 3’ While ‘Top Gun’ Continues to Soar

    ‘Lightyear’ Loses to ‘Jurassic World 3’ While ‘Top Gun’ Continues to Soar

    The numbers are in and, as sadly expected, Lightyear isn’t going to set the box office in flames. The Toy Story spinoff which isn’t necessarily an actual spinoff of the original franchise, but rather a fictional film that takes place in that same universe, has opened to $51M over the weekend. With a wide release in 4,255 North American which is on par with many current releases but it does seem like family audiences aren’t quite ready yet to return to theaters as initially hoped. David A. Gross, who runs Franchisee Entertainment Research, shared the following statement on its release:

    This is a soft opening for a spin-off of one of the most successful animation series of all time. ‘Toy Story’ defied gravity at the box office during its 27 year run, each episode topping the last, the last two clearing a billion dollars worldwide. But like all spin-offs, the ‘Lightyear’ story is narrower now.

    David A. Gross

    The early expectations had the film at around $70M but it’s sadly now going to be one of Pixar’s least successful releases, especially with a high production cost of $200M. Lightyear isn’t a sign of Pixar losing its draw at the box office, but more a reflection of the pandemic’s influence on younger audiences and Disney+’s strategy of using one of its biggest franchises to boost subscription numbers. Internationally the film has also been a lukewarm release with $34.6M, which puts it at an international release of $85.6M, which is a far cry from its initial expected $135M+.

    Jurassic World Dominion kept its dominance at the box office, as it held on to the top spot, but did face a harsh 60% drop in its second weekend. It’s not too far from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ 67% and highlights how these franchise films operate. With a lower opening than the Marvel Studios project, it reflects how these drops normally operate, but the dinosaur epic still generated $58.6M which is a strong release and now stands at $259M domestically.

    It’s second-weekend highlights even more how much Top Gun Maverick is an exception than the rule, as the film has taken a massive $44M in its latest weekend which is just a 15% drop. As such, it is the second-highest fourth weekend with the only exception being Avatar. The film is likely going to pass a billion in just a few weeks as it already stands at $885M and will likely become the highest-grossing film of the year very soon. It sparked the box office in a big way and is a testament to just how sudden some projects can pull in viewers.

    Source: Variety

  • First Look at ‘Avatar’s LEGO Set Ahead of ‘The Way of the Water’s Release

    First Look at ‘Avatar’s LEGO Set Ahead of ‘The Way of the Water’s Release

    It may have taken way longer than anyone suspected, but a new LEGO set for Avatar has been unveiled. While the first entry of James Cameron‘s sci-fi epic was released back in 2009, the sequel The Way of the Water is only a few more months away from hitting theaters. Now, LEGO has unveiled its new Avatar-themed set during LEGO Con 2022. The set is titled “Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls” which will be made available to purchase on October 1st, 2022, as shared through Jay’s Brick Blog.

    They have also shared an image of what the set looks like built, highlighting the many figurines included in the model. It’s surprising that with the title of The Way of the Water, they wouldn’t include an aquatic set going in.

    LEGO sets have become a common tie-in to big blockbuster releases. So, it’s no surprise that they will do the same with the latest Avatar film. There’s a lot riding on its release, as not only will it kick off various others but it also has the legacy of the biggest movie release ever to compete with. Either the film will fall short of the original film’s overall box office, or it could even surpass it if the long wait between films has proven with the recent release Top Gun Maverick. It’ll be interesting to see what the box office has planned for a film entering its franchise stage.

    Source: Jay Bricks blog

  • Amazon Prime’s ‘Paper Girls’ Eyeing July Release, New Look at Cast

    Amazon Prime’s ‘Paper Girls’ Eyeing July Release, New Look at Cast

    It looks like the upcoming adaptation of Paper Girls has been steadily building up steam. Not only did we get a first look not too long ago, but now Amazon Prime released a close look at the team while also highlighting that the series is going to release on July 29th. It’s crazy to think how far the project has come that initially started shifting into gear back in October of 2020. The comic explores the story of a group of four young paper girls in 1988, who suddenly find themselves traveling through time.

    The previews certainly have teased quite the style for the project and it does seem like a trailer isn’t too far off with a July release. It is curious that they are taking the Netflix promotion route this time by having it showcased this close to its initial launch window. Either way, the adaptation looks quite promising and a time travel storyline is definitely something to grab people’s attention currently. We’ll see if the trailer can also tease the vibe that the comics offered and how they may bring it on Amazon Prime.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Lightyear’ Currently Underperforming, May Not Dethrone ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

    ‘Lightyear’ Currently Underperforming, May Not Dethrone ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

    It looks like Lightyear is struggling a bit to catch its legs at the box office, as the latest Pixar film may not beat Jurassic World: Dominion at the box office this weekend. Going in, the Pixar film was eyeing a potential $85M+ opening weekend but after a lukewarm Friday, it does seem like Dominion may keep its dominion (pun fully intended) over the box office domestically. The film opened to $20.7M on Friday, which includes the decent $5.2M preview screenings, yet the film is very likely to end at around $52M.

    There are many theories online on what exactly led to this opening. The biggest aspect is definitely the pandemic, as while Top Gun Maverick pulled audiences back into seats they likely haven’t visited in a long time, families are still a bit uncertain. They also released the last three films exclusively on Disney+ to push subscriptions but it may have shown its fangs on dragging that out while letting Marvel Studios roam free as of late.

    Luckily, the numbers would put it as one of the strongest family films since the pandemic started, but a $200M budgeted spinoff based on a toy from a film franchise is not an easy sell. It did get an A- CinemaScore, which hints at word-of-mouth being strong for the Pixar release. Lightyear may just not have the same selling effect that Pixar hoped for, as it doesn’t have the Toy Story branding, and outside of its main character, has no connection to the original.

    So, it’s a spinoff that is also an original film based on pre-existing characters without the original voice. Toy Story 4 opened to a powerful $120.9M in 2019, which was already a powerhouse year, but simply highlights that this is more a case of Solo: A Star Wars Story than

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ BTS Image Offers a Glimpse at Christian Bale’s Transformation into Gorr the God Butcher

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ BTS Image Offers a Glimpse at Christian Bale’s Transformation into Gorr the God Butcher

    Thor: Love and Thunder is only a few more weeks away and we’re anxiously awaiting the journey that Christian Bale is going to take us on with his take on Gorr the God Butcher. While we had to wait a bit for the first official reveal, the second trailer for Love and Thunder offered a look at a very different interpretation of the character. We’ve known very little about how his transformation came to be, but a new behind-the-scenes image shared offered some insight into how they brought him to life.

    While we don’t get a good look at his full make-up, it does reveal that Christian Bale has originally shaven his entire head to play the role of Gorr. Yet, very likely due to contractual reasons with another project, he wasn’t able to during reshoots and so they had to tackle a different way of making his bald head come to life. Bart Mixon shared a look at how they created a bald cap to make it seem like he had no hair at all.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CexS0GnDJ4t/

    Bale is the kind of actor that would go the extra mile to bring his character to life, but it’s interesting how they manage to still create a realistic-looking bald head. Karen Gillan talked bout how they were able to use a bald cap for her role as Nebula to avoid her constantly having to shave her head, even if she did it for her initial casting to prove how ready she was to take on the role.

    Source: Instagram