Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Unused Designs of ‘Moon Knight’s Mr. Knight Find its Way Online

    Unused Designs of ‘Moon Knight’s Mr. Knight Find its Way Online

    It’s not uncommon that Marvel Studios’ projects go through various stages of production, and also many versions of designs are played around with before they end up with the design we see in the final series. It looks like Moon Knight had gone through quite a few stages, as artist Raphael Imhotep shared a few designs from Mr. Knigh that he was involved in within its earliest stages of production.

    He goes on to share that he was influenced by the anime Naruto when adding some additional details to the suit, especially in how it ties to visualize Khonshu “binding” him to the design.

    He did praise the work that went into the version that would find its way to Disney+, but highlights that he wasn’t credited for his work yet was at least paid. Considering he was in the earlier stages of its development, that may be the reason why he didn’t get any direct credit.

    They seemingly used elements from his design but added even more details, such as the crack on the mask and the detailing on the shirt. It’s always fascinating to get ta look at just how many different versions these designs go through, though it’s a shame w lost the hoodie which would’ve added a nice charm to his look.

    Source: Instagram

  • Wanda Maximoff Was Originally Meant to Make Her MCU Debut in ‘Doctor Strange’

    Wanda Maximoff Was Originally Meant to Make Her MCU Debut in ‘Doctor Strange’

    With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming to a close on its first weekend, reactions have been somewhat mixed, but the film has been extremely successful at the box office. While the Doctor Strange sequel follows its titular character, it also puts the spotlight on one of the most complicated Avengers and now villain, Wanda Maximoff.

    While Wanda more recently has seen quite the extensive MCU treatment with WandaVision and now Multiverse of Madness, her history in the MCU prior to Phase Four was much different. The Avenger was first introduced in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and her path throughout Phases Two and Three of the MCU centered on her membership on the iconic team.

    It was not until WandaVision that Wanda took on the mantle of the Scarlet Witch, and it was not even revealed she was a witch until then. Recently, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Bionic Buzz that her more magic-focused arc was the original plan for the character, rather than the Avengers arc. Feige stated:

    At one point, one of the initial ideas we had for Doctor Strange was to introduce Scarlet Witch in the Doctor Strange movie because those two characters were always two we really wanted to see together and sort of fit in that same world. Obviously, we ended up introducing her in [Avengers: Age of Ultron], and thank god we did, because we got to do all the other things with her. But this is really something that has been in the works for a very long time, and finally, here we are.

    Kevin Feige

    Had Wanda not been introduced as an Avenger, we may not have seen her pivotal roles in Avengers stories. For example, her loss of control of her powers in Captain America: Civil War sparked the Sakovia Accords, and it was through the Avengers that she met Vision. While she may have been able to have been utilized in a similar way had she been introduced in the original Doctor Strange, her journey surely would have been much different.

    After Multiverse of Madness, the Scarlet Witch is cemented in the magical realm of the MCU, though history would suggest a return to the Avengers is still an option down the line. While the character had a seemingly tragic ending in the Doctor Strange sequel, all bets are on the Scarlet Witch returning in the MCU.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.

    Source: Bionic Buzz

  • Elizabeth Olsen on [SPOILER]’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Elizabeth Olsen on [SPOILER]’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    The upcoming article will spoil some story elements from the latest Doctor Strange film. If you want to remain unspoiled in the Multiverse of Madness, then only continue at your own risk.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduces us to Wanda after the Darkhold took full control over her hopes and dreams. She’s looking for a way to travel throughout the multiverse in hopes that she can reunite with her children. Yet, many might have wondered why there’s a noticeable absence of her other family member, Vision.

    We do see a multiversal representation of her kids but she seemingly isn’t actively looking for her husband either. In an interview with Collider, Elizabeth Olsen not only talks about how many people she could end up looking for in the multiverse but also why the version we meet is seemingly on her own. She is asked if Wanda wouldn’t want to bring back more people from her past, and she goes on to highlight that:

    There’s a whole list of things, like my brother, my parents. I think the main reason when we would talk about if there is this multiverse, and in the version of the universe this woman wasn’t with Vision. We liked having that be a mystery. For some reason he’s not in her world. I always thought of her as more of a domestic Wanda. They got divorced. They’re separated. She’s not wearing a wedding band for a reason. Like those kinds of things. We liked the idea of her being on her own. The idea really is that the most important thing once you become a mother in the world are your children, and that’s why.

    Elizabeth Olsen

    It definitely seems like this aspect builds upon what the ending of WandaVision gives us. Not only was she able to say her farewell to Vision but her focus on her kids is exactly what the Darkhold had focused on when it started influencing her mind. The fact she’s completely focused on her kids and a multiverse where it’s only them may highlight that her good intentions were being manipulated greatly by the evil book of sorcery in her possession. It’ll be interesting to see if the Scarlet Witch may have a bigger story to tell.

    Source: Collider

  • Marc Jobst Wraps Work on First 2 Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Episodes

    Marc Jobst Wraps Work on First 2 Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Episodes

    It’s crazy to think that a few months have already passed since the live-action One Piece series started production. We didn’t know how they would tackle the series and if they are tackling it one episode at a time. It’s not uncommon for production to follow a different structure, as they schedule it around the availability of actors and how long some sets might require construction, something that stands out with One Piece‘s many ships that were spotted. Now, it seems that director Marc Jobst has wrapped up production on the first two episodes, as shared on Twitter.

    The date on the board confirms that they’ve finished work with Friday’s date included. While we were able to confirm he’s working on the pilot episode some time ago, this is our first reveal that he’s also working on the second entry. The timing seems interesting, as the iconic ship of Shank’s was spotted and perhaps they’ve finished work on the flashbacks involving Shanks at a later point, which is why the first two episodes were only able to wrap at this point. He also shared a photo with some of the cast members to highlight the fun he had working on this project.

    We’ve seen set photos of the Baratie and Alvida’s ship, which gave us some hint at some elements they may have filmed over time. Even Garp’s ship was hinted at, which was still in construction some time ago and may have already been finished. There’s a lot we don’t know, but it’s great to see they are moving forward with the production at a smooth pace and Jobst seemingly had an amazing time working on the production. Here’s hoping that he’ll also return for future seasons if Netflix realizes the potential of this project.

    Source: Twitter

  • Benedict Cumberbatch Has “A Lot Left to Give” as Doctor Strange 

    Benedict Cumberbatch Has “A Lot Left to Give” as Doctor Strange 

    Benedict Cumberbatch’s latest Marvel adventure, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has only just hit theaters, but the actor is already looking at what’s next. In an interview with Extra TV, the former Sherlock star opened up about his excitement for his character’s on-screen future. Sam Raimi’s sequel leaves the Master of the Mystic Arts in a rather interesting place, and Cumberbatch can’t wait to see how it’s further explored down the line:

    I really can’t wait to see what the fan reaction is to this and where it takes Strange, and who he is by the end of the film. But I think it sets him up for a really exciting future.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    As for whether or not the actor is willing to stick around for the journey, it apparently won’t be a problem. In a different interview, this time with Total Film, the British icon confirmed his love of playing Doctor Strange, and revealed that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon:

    I’m not tired of it all yet. I really enjoy playing this character, and I’ve still got a lot left to give as him, and a lot more adventures I want to have with him.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    See Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in theaters now, and discover for yourself just how thrilling the next chapter of Strange could be.

    Sources: ExtraTV & TotalFilm via Direct

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ is Sam Raimi’s Biggest Opening Weekend Ever, En Route to Pull in $450M Worldwide

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ is Sam Raimi’s Biggest Opening Weekend Ever, En Route to Pull in $450M Worldwide

    The numbers are finally in and it looks like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has made quite the splash, as it currently is on its way to ending the weekend with $185M domestically. It may still make the $190M if it picks up some momentum going into the Sunday, but it’s still looking good that the film remains on this route. That’s not all, as it also now stands at an impressive global tally of $450M. This makes it the best opening ever for a Sam Raimi-directed film and is now the biggest release of 2022.

    Keep in mind, that these numbers are what Disney is calling with some experts still thinking it could manage between $194M to $197M. It’s an impressive kickoff and the best Disney opening since the pandemic started, which could potentially place it in the top ten openings of all time. Its development currently is expected to be on par with Avengers: Age of Ultron, as Mother’s Day, could drag it down a bit, but that’s already been accounted for according to Deadline.

    The film did face a B+ CinemaScore, but the development highlights that it’s not going to get dragged down by it. The film even saw a 9% increase over Friday going into Saturday, which may hint at it having a similar development to other horror titles, which are strong legs even with lower Audience ratings. Internationally, the film drew in $265M, which is the second biggest global release for Hollywood and is only 17% behind Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    What stands out is that its development is 160% ahead of the original 2016 Doctor Strange and making it one of the biggest leaps from one entry to the net. A true showcase of how strong the interconnectivity of the MCU is supporting its projects. It also has to take into account that it’s been banned from releases in specific countries like Saudi Arabia and China for the inclusion of LGBTQ references, which highlights just how strong the release truly is. We’ll see once the final numbers for Sunday roll in if the film managed to reach the $200M domestically after all and if it gets an additional boost worldwide.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter, Deadline

  • ‘Doctor Who’: Ncuti Gatwa is the Next Doctor

    ‘Doctor Who’: Ncuti Gatwa is the Next Doctor

    The next doctor has been found as Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa will take on the daunting task. He will follow after Jodie Whitaker to take on the role as the famous time traveler. He shared his excitement on taking on the role:

    There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my upmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger. An actor’s metaphorical playground. The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show.

    Ncuti Gatwa

    It’s certainly going to be an exciting new era for Doctor Who and we’ll see what the return of Russel T. Davis will also bring to reinvigorate the franchise. Gatwa is the first POC actor to take on the role and is coming off of his work on Sex Education. Here’s hoping we get a tease of his Doctor outfit in the near future.

    Source: Doctor Who

  • Michael Waldron on Kang’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ 

    Michael Waldron on Kang’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ 

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness does its best to carry on the multiversal plot threads introduced in last year’s first season of Loki, but there’s one major component missing from the final product. Despite an ominous warning from Jonathan Majors’ He Who Remains that a more dangerous variant of himself, Kang the Conqueror, would arrive if the Sacred Timeline was continually tampered with, there was not a single inter-dimensional warlord to be found in Doctor Strange’s two-hour runtime. Michael Waldron, the man with a plan who wrote both projects for Marvel, recently sat down with Deadline’s Hero Nation podcast and revealed exactly why he chose not to include the next big Ant-Man baddie in Sam Raimi’s sequel:

    To me it felt like we had the biggest, best bullet already, in Wanda. That when working with Sam, when it was like we should really make the decision to make Wanda the antagonist of this film. It was exciting and part of that was the feeling of ‘geez, we can’t let another movie go have that fun.’ It’s because she is going to be so great.

    Michael Waldron

    The Scarlet Witch acts as an incredibly effective villain in Multiverse of Madness, which packs a lot into its story already. It was probably for the best that Waldron and Raimi decided to focus on one antagonist at a time. The writer confirmed as much as he continued his answer, explaining:

    And I think that if you had introduced Kang, as great as Jonathan Majors is, and as great as he is going to be playing that character, you would have risked the movie just getting maybe over-stuffed.

    Michael Waldron

    For fans worried about the lack of Kang, don’t be. The villain is set to get the spotlight in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and will likely be a major player in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the meantime, go see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in theaters now.

    Source: Deadline

  • Tom Hiddleston on Loki’s Bisexuality: “It was definitely important to all of us.”

    Tom Hiddleston on Loki’s Bisexuality: “It was definitely important to all of us.”

    While Marvel Studios has made strides to improve its own screen representation, it’s hard to deny the LGBTQ+ representation has been rather lacking. The studio, however, has been working to right its former wrongs with the inclusion of America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to the on-screen kiss between Phastos and his husband in Eternals. Unfortunately, though, while these instances have been relatively well-received, one attempt at inclusion wasn’t received nearly as well.

    Loki, which stars Tom Hiddleston, saw the character come out as bisexual in its first season. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Hiddleston was asked what it was like to bring the character to the small screen. The actor noted he was excited for the opportunity, explaining he wanted to retain the integrity of the character in the move from the big screen to the small screen. He also noted how important it was to confirm the character’s bisexuality. “I also hope Loki coming out as bisexual was meaningful to people who spotted it. It was a small step, and there’s further to go. But it was definitely important to all of us.”

    The reaction to Loki’s bisexuality revelation has been mixed since the series debuted. While many were excited to see the character confirm his sexuality, some felt it wasn’t handled all that well. Still, as Hiddleston notes, it was a small step that is important even if there’s still plenty of work to be done.

    Filming on Season 2 of Loki will be kicking off soon. For now, fans can enjoy Hiddleston’s trickster on the small screen with the first season of Loki now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: The Guardian.

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Opens to Around $190M at the Box Office

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Opens to Around $190M at the Box Office

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is entering its opening weekend earning approximately a resounding $190 million domestically as per current industry estimates. This comes off the back of $90 million earned on Friday in addition to previews the day prior. This would be Disney’s most successful opening for a film since the start of the pandemic. Marvel Studios’ latest tentpole release places 7th in terms of largest domestic opening days for box office earnings. More interesting, though, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now home to half of the top ten films in this category. Globally, the Benedict Cumberbatch-led project has opened to over $229 million thus far and will certainly exceed the expectations of a $300 million opening weekend.

    According to EntTelligence, a box office earnings data firm, 89% of all moviegoing attendees were specifically present for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This is generally in line with the most previous theatrical entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: No Way Home. 

    Still, there are some questions about the long-term sustainability of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in the box office after receiving a B+ CinemaScore. Still with the momentum the film has had in its opening weekend, it’s certainly possible for Sam Raimi’s latest superhero project to be a long-term success in theaters. It will definitely be a story worth following in the coming weeks.

    Source: Deadline.