Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Set Reportedly Reveals the Return of One of the MCU’s Heavy Hitters

    New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Set Reportedly Reveals the Return of One of the MCU’s Heavy Hitters

    Though she wasn’t part of the Marvel Studios’ stunt that revealed 27 members of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, Brie Larson seems as safe a bet as any to join the cast of the 2026 film. Larson was among 33 additional names Jeff “The In” Sneider reported would be part of the studio’s next wave of reveals and given the ending of The Marvels, that certainly seems a safe bet.

    The 2022 Captain Marvel follow-up saw Carol’s best friend’s daughter, Monica Rambeau, stranded on an alternate Earth after helping seal a rift in spacetime. It’s all but a sure thing that Carol will make some effort to find her friend and that sort of inter-dimensional travel can cause some issues. Whatever the case, Carol’s presence in Avengers: Doomsday is a no-brainer and a new report from a trusted insider indicates it won’t be long before Larson is on set.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DKEMPpat__z/?igsh=azRraWFseG9mY2Jj
    Following a report from longtime set photographer Atlanta Filming which indicated that a spaceship was being built near the Dark Wood in Windsor in Berkshire, England, insider Daniel Richtman has revealed that the ship will belong to Larson’s Carol Danvers.

    While Richtman’s report doesn’t explicitly say it, the ship is likely the Hoopty, Carol’s home in space since 1996. Should the report be accurate–and there’s no reason to believe it is not–Larson will likely be joining the cast in the UK soon.

    As one of the heaviest hitters in the MCU–if not the heaviest–Danvers will certainly prove invaluable as the mightiest  heroes of Earth-616 take on Doctor Doom and, perhaps, the X-Men of Earth-1005.

    Avengers: Doomsday is now in production and will be released on December 18, 2026.

  • ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Star Reportedly Joins Marvel Television’s ‘Vision’

    ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Star Reportedly Joins Marvel Television’s ‘Vision’

    Marvel Television’s 2026 D+ Vision-centric streaming series continues to sound more and more like it will be a true exploration of the boundaries of machine and man. With James Spader set to return as the murderbot Ultron, Kerry Condon and James D’Arcy reportedly set to portray human versions of Tony Stark’s artificial intelligences F.R.I.D.A.Y and J.A.R.V.I.S, respectively, and T’Nia Miller cast as Jocasta, it’s clear the Terry Matalas‘ created series will take audiences to some weird places. Now it seems another AI will be joining the mix.

    According to insider Daniel Richtman, who broke the Miller casting, Schitt’s Creek star Emily Hampshire has joined the cast of Vision. Richtman reports that Hampshire will bring another Stark AI, E.D.I.T.H.–the voice of Peter Parker’s augmented reality security, defense and artificial tactical intelligence system uploaded into a pair of glasses–to life.

    I’m not Ultron. I am not J.A.R.V.I.S.. I am… I am.

    -Vision

    With the series believed to be set to follow Paul Bettany‘s Vision through a bit of an existential crisis and explore “a lot of early Vision ideas from Phase 2,” according to Brad Winderbaum, there may well yet be more of Tony Stark’s creations brought to life. It’s possible, though in no way confirmed, that the streaming series may draw inspiration from Sam Humphries Avengers A.I. which explored the possibilities of artificial intelligences gaining sentience.

    After being destroyed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, Vision’s shell was confiscated by S.W.O.R.D.. Under the supervision of Marvel Studios’ worst villain ever, Tyler Hayward, Vision was reassembled and reactivated as part of Project Cataract in the streaming series WandaVision. After interacting with Wanda’s Hex version of Vision, the new White Vision left Westview and the next chapter of his story will be told when the Vision series hits Disney Plus in 2026.

  • The Hulk’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Role Reportedly Revealed

    The Hulk’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Role Reportedly Revealed

    The news that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will feature Mark Ruffalo in a “substantial role” has generated some serious hype for the 2026 film. After years of rumors about the film’s potential plot and cast, fans seem to believe that Bruce Banner to finally meeting up with Spider-Man after nearly a decade of them failing to cross one another’s paths is a recipe for success. Now, a new rumor sprinkles even more spice into the mix.

    According to a pair of rumors making their way around, Ruffalo‘s Hulk will serve as the main villain of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Though it’s unclear why, the rumors suggest the Savage Hulk will return and that the showdown between him and Spider-Man will be central to marketing the film.

    With one part of the rumor reportedly stemming from a conversation with Chris Higashi, an entertainment journalist who claimed that Boomerang, Scorpion and Tombstone were revealed as part of Spider-Man: Brand New Day at the recent Disney Blockbuster Consumer Products presentation, also comes word that Tarantula will have a role in the film as well.

    Although the timing of these recent rumors can and should be questioned, fans have already begun to theorize what might cause Banner to revert to the Savage Hulk, and that the film will launch the MCU’s long-rumored World War Hulk project. With the film not set to hit theaters until July 31, 2026, expect plenty more rumors like these to emerge, and keep in mind that multiple reputable insiders leaked accurate information about Spider-Man: No Way Home that was initially disregarded until the film’s release.

  • T’Nia Miller Joins Marvel Television’s ‘Vision’ Series as Bronze Age Avenger

    T’Nia Miller Joins Marvel Television’s ‘Vision’ Series as Bronze Age Avenger

    In early March, concept art from Marvel Studios Senior Concept/Visual Development Mushk Rizvi’s now removed Art Station folder revealed early designs for Jocasta, a character whose introduction was teased a decade ago in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Now, a trusted insider has learned the name of the talented actress set to bring the character to life in the 2026 streaming series, Vision.

    According to insider Daniel Richtman, T’Nia Miller, who started in Foundation and Netflix’s The Haunting anthology, has landed to role of the A.I. Avenger.

    Though she was designed as “The Bride of Ultron”, Jocasta has long been an ally of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and an Avenger herself. It’s unclear if Ultron will be responsible for the creation of her body in the MCU but it is starting to feel like Vision will see a proliferation of artificial beings with rumors that characters such as Viv Vision and Victor Mancha may also appear.

    Shaping up to be one of the studio’s most unique projects to date, Vision has been in production in the UK for several months. Originally developed by WandaVision and Agatha All Along showrunner Jac Schaeffer, Vision was passed off to Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas in May 2024. Matalas wasted no time rebuilding the show according to his new…vision…and from what can be gleaned by going through the confirmed cast–which includes Ultron voice actor James Spader–and team of directors, Vision may end up being a tense psychological thriller with notes of existential crisis. And it looks like it might have a lot of artificial intelligence types as well.

  • Marvel Studios Has Reportedly Chosen Tom Holland’s Surprising ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Co-Star

    Marvel Studios Has Reportedly Chosen Tom Holland’s Surprising ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Co-Star

    As part of the ongoing agreement between Sony and Disney that allows for Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man solo films to be set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios has to “lend” one of their characters to Sony for each film. Thus, Iron Man, Nick Fury and Maria Hill, and Doctor Strange were able to appear in the first Spider-Man Trilogy. With production on the fourth installment in franchise set to begin this summer, recent rumors and reports have started to roll out regularly and now one claims to have revealed which long-time MCU star will join Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

    According to a report from Nexus Point News, Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner is set to co-star in Spider-Man Brand: New Day.

    Obviously, one of the things to like bear in mind with Marvel is that there is, your film is a small cog in a large machine, and that machine has got to keep running, and you need to make sure that you can fit into that timeline at the right time to benefit the bigger picture.

    -Tom Holland

    Last seen in the D+ streaming series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Ruffalo’s Banner returned from a trip to Sakaar with his son, Skaar. NPN’s report claims Banner will have a “substantial role” in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is in line with the stars on loan from Marvel in prior Spidey installments. This report calls to mind a rumor from earlier this year that suggested the film would feature Spider-Man teaming up with Frank Castle to take on the Hulk.

    While no details about Banner’s role in the film we’re shared, the site speculates that he could serve as a science mentor to Holland‘s Parker. Given Banner was working in a lab on his own private Mexican island in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, thats hardly a stretch. With filming set for late July, expect further casting news to begin rolling out soon.

    Source: NPN

  • ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Adds a Pair of MCU Vets to Its Cast

    ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Adds a Pair of MCU Vets to Its Cast

    Despite having its release date significantly delayed, Marvel Studios Avengers: Doomsday is deep into production. While there have been plenty of looks at a set that seems to show a downed Sentinel and a video taken by a fan who was able to sneak onto the studio lot, MCU fans are still waiting to catch a glimpse at some behind-the-scenes action. With the studio supposedly taking measures to keep prying eyes away from the action, those glimpses may be hard to come by; however, set photos and videos aren’t the only way to glean information about projects in production.

    As the cast of Avengers: Doomsday prepares to film on location in Bahrain, actress Mabel Cadena and actor Alex Livinalli, who played Namor and Attuma, respectively, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, were spotted at dinner with other members of the cast.

    With Anthony Mackie, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Danny Ramirez, Simu Liu, Winston Duke and Hannah John-Kamen in Bahrain along with Cadena and Livinalli, it seems as though the Avengers will be turning to the Wakanda-Talokanil alliance for some assistance in solving the “space crisis” teased in Thunderbolts*.

    Bahrain’s unique location and architecture have fans theorizing that the capital of Manama could be used as a stand-in for Madripoor, which is believed to be visited in the film.

    While fans wait for another large-scale casting announcement, the returns of Cadena and Livinalli serve as a good reminder of just how large the scope and scale of Avengers: Doomsday will be. In addition to the rumored 60 “stars”, there will be plenty of other additions to the cast as the inhabitants of Earth-616 learn what’s coming their way.

  • Marvel Studios Guts Its Phase Six Theatrical Slate

    Marvel Studios Guts Its Phase Six Theatrical Slate

    Marvel Studios has made it clear that it plans to scale back on both its streaming and theatrical output. But knowing that doesn’t make it any less jarring when it happens. After originally planning to rollout four films in 2026, the studio will now release two: Spider-Man Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday.

    As part of a series of moves that saw Avengers: Doomsday move from May to December 2026, the studio also removed a pair of films from its 2026 release schedule. Originally set aside for untitled films, February 13, 2026 and November 6, 2026 were scratched from the calendar, joining the previously abandoned June 24, 2026 date on the scrap heap.

    Once upon a time, 2026 looked to be one of the studio’s most ambitious years yet; however, a series of delays and a changed approach have combined to leave only one of the four originally scheduled films (Sony schedules the Spider-Man films) Avengers: Doomsday, on the slate, arriving seven months later than its most recent rescheduling.

    2027 looks to be following a similar path, with Avengers: Secret Wars moving from May to December 2027 and a previously scheduled November 2027 film being removed from the slate. A July 23, 2027 date remains on the schedule for now.

  • Marvel Studios Shifts Release Dates for Next Two ‘Avengers’ Movies

    Marvel Studios Shifts Release Dates for Next Two ‘Avengers’ Movies

    On Thursday evening, Marvel Studios announced that the next two Avengers movies have been delayed. Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently in production, was initially meant to be released on May 1, 2026. Instead, the movie will now open on December 18, 2026. While Avengers: Secret Wars has been delayed to December 17, 2027 from its original release date of May 7, 2027.

    While it isn’t entirely clear why the films were moved, it’s suspected that the delay is to help production. Both Doomsday and Secret Wars are huge production for Marvel Studios, and the move comes as the studio is keen on putting its focus back on quality over quantity. Thunderbolts*, which was well received among critics and fans alike, is the first step in the right direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after suffering a few recent missteps. Previously, Marvel Studios has often scheduled releases a year out from the start of production, leaving little room for era both with the production and visual effects. The slight delays should prove beneficial for both titles, especially given the large cast expected in both films.

    Joe and Anthony Russo, the directing duo behind some of Marvel Studios’ biggest hits, return to helm the next two Avengers installments. Production kicked off on Doomsday back in April, following Marvel Studios’ cast reveal via use of set chairs. While Marvel Studios has yet to unveil any official footage from the film, it was revealed that the first official look at Robert Downey Jr. as Doom was unveiled during the recent Disney Blockbuster Consumer Products show.

    Source: THR.

  • Marvel’s Punisher Special Presentation May Take Inspiration from a Gritty Comic Classic

    Marvel’s Punisher Special Presentation May Take Inspiration from a Gritty Comic Classic

    Frank Castle may not have won the battle against Wilson Fisk’s Anti-Vigilante Task Force in the Daredevil: Born Again Season One finale, but he spilled plenty of blood. Most importantly, he lived to fight another day, escaping his dungeon cell and setting up the next chapter in his story. Set to stream on D+ in 2026, The Punisher Special Presentation, co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, will film later this year but to date, no details about the project’s plot or cast have been officially revealed.

    It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    When the Special Presentation was first announced in February 2025, Bernthal posted a picture of the cover of The Punisher #53, the first of a seven-part arc entitled “The Final Days.” Published in 1991, “The Final Days”, written by Mike Baron, saw Castle tangle with Wilson Fisk. Given that Fisk is the central villain in the street-level corner of the MCU, an adaptation of “The Final Days” in which Frank takes down the Fat Man would make plenty of sense. However, it sounds as though the new project may be introducing a new crime boss to the MCU for Frank to set his sights on.

    According to insider Daniel Richtman, The Punisher Special Presentation is currently searching for an actress to play a female crime boss who will serve as the primary antagonist of the project.

    I care very deeply about Frank, I’m really grateful that I’m getting the opportunity to tell the story that I think the fans deserve. We’re giving it our all and we’re trying to tell a Frank Castle story that we’re going to turn our back on the audience — it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be light, and I think it’s the version that this character deserves and I’m just beyond honored and grateful that we get the opportunity.

    -Jon Bernthal

    Though that’s about as generic as a character description can be, the information has fans beginning to believe that the villain will be Isabella “Ma” Gnucci, the head of the Gnucci Crime Family who tried to take Castle out in Volume 5 of The Punisher, written by Garth Ennis. The 12-issue arc, known as “Welcome Back, Frank”, launched Ennis’ 49-issue run with the character and has long been hailed as a classic Punisher tale. Harboiled and gruesome, “Welcome Back, Frank” took the character back to his roots and allowed him to do what he does best: kill bad guys with extreme prejudice…and a flamethrower. In terms of MCU Punisher continuity, Ma Gnucci makes quite a bit of sense as an antagonist for the project given that Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in Episode 1.01 of The Punisher, “3 AM.“

    Earlier this year, Bernthal promised fans that the D+ Special Presentation would match the tone set over the two seasons of The Punisher, which streamed on Netflix. “It’s going to be dark; Frank has no interest in breaking out the darkness,” Bernthal said. “It’s not going to be easy. I don’t know if that’s the Netflix tone then that’s what it’s going to be. It will not be Punisher-lite, I promise you that.” If Bernthal’s new Punisher story does indeed draw inspiration from Ennis’ “Welcome Back, Frank” arc, there’s plenty of darkness from which to draw.

    Sources: THR

  • First Look at Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom Reveals Classic Inspiration for the MCU’s Take on the Villain

    First Look at Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom Reveals Classic Inspiration for the MCU’s Take on the Villain

    The recent Disney Blockbuster Consumer Products was not the sort of place one would expect first looks at Marvel Studios upcoming projects; however, it seems to have been the most revelatory convention for the studio in some time.

    Marvel reportedly let is slip that Scorpion, Boomerang and Tombstone were set to antagonize Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, potentially putting to rest a number of rumors about the film’s plot and villains. As if that wasn’t enough, a short sizzle reel of footage from Avengers: Doomsday was also shown and according to on attendee, it provided the first look at that film’s villain, Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr.

    According to Film Threat’s Chris Gore, Doom’s face will indeed be disfigured and, in his opinion, looks to be inspired by the look of creatures from “classic Universal Monster movies.”

    Without any additional context, Lon Chaney‘s Phantom of the Opera would seem to be one possible comparison and would like up with Jack Kirby‘s belief that Victor Von Doom was “paranoid” because of the damage done to his face. The extent of that damage has varied widely over the years, with Kirby drawing it as only a small scar, others, such as Esad Ribic depicting a much more complete disfiguration and John Byrne drawing something intermediate to the the two extreme ends of the spectrum.

    …he’s a good-looking guy, and he only has a tiny scar on his cheek, but because he’s such a perfectionist, he can’t bear to see that imperfection. He isn’t hiding his face from the public, he’s hiding it from himself.

    -Jack Kirby
    Doom as drawn by Jack Kirby
    Doom as drawn by John Byrne
    Doom as painted by Esad Ribic

    The description of a disfigured Doom certainly helps explain the tracking dots seen on Downey’s face in a recent behind the scenes photo of the actor and may indicate that Ribic’s interpretation of the character’s face, seen in Jonathan Hickman‘s 2015 Secret Wars, inspired the villain’s MCU appearance. With less than a year until Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters, perhaps it won’t be long before the studio chooses to let the whole world behold the face of Doom.