Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Staff Uproar Has Led to the Restoration of a Same-Sex Kiss in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’

    Staff Uproar Has Led to the Restoration of a Same-Sex Kiss in Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’

    There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Disney, most notably CEO Bob Chapek. His handling of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill has had some important consequences, as LGBTQ employees and allies of Pixar sent statements that “overtly gay affection” was being cut out of films by the studio. According to Variety, the same almost happened with the upcoming Pixar film Lightyear, which features the character of Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba) who was going to kiss another woman in the film. The recent uproar has led to the scene being added in once again. For many, this is a hopeful turn for the company and its handling of LGBTQ representation.

    Pixar has long fought the battle to include LGBTQ representation in their projects but was consistently hitting a wall when working on their projects. The recently released Luca was also going to include a scene with the character Giulia. While it was claimed that the issue came from uncertainty with adding a girlfriend character to highlight the character’s sexuality, it seems that the Disney corporate review process has been their main issue. The statement included the following statement:

    Nearly every moment of overtly gay affection is cut at Disney’s behest, regardless of when there is a protest from both the creative teams and executive leadership at Pixar. Even if creating LGBTQIA+ content was the answer to fixing the discriminatory legislation in the world, we are being barred from creating it

    Sadly, this is quite an international issue with films like Onward featuring a lesbian cop getting banned in Kuwait, Oman, Quatar, and Saudi Arabia. Marvel Studios has shared a clear statement on their official account and has ensured that their recent release of Eternals wouldn’t get censored in any way. The fact that the scene was added back in for Lightyear is hopefully a big showcase for a more welcoming future, especially for the employees that have been fighting for it.

    Source: Variety

  • Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Ready to ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’ as Alexandra Shipp Joins Cast

    Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Ready to ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’ as Alexandra Shipp Joins Cast

    I am starting to run out of ways to talk about Greta Gerwig‘s upcoming adaptation of the popular children’s doll Barbie. Not only do we know very little about the actual plot of the film or even the director’s approach to modernizing the character, but we’ve had one of the biggest cast announcements. It may only rival that of Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer. Still, it’s not over yet for Barbie, as Tick, Tick … Boom! star Alexandra Shipp has joined the project.

    I could count down the massive cast that includes Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, and so many more, but I’ll just link you to the categroy on our site here. Could one accuse me of being lazy? Probably, but try to figure out how to write about a film adapting a Barbie doll multiple times as the film just collects one actor after another. To be fair, it’s at least easier than trying to make up multiple articles that aren’t carbon copies when talking about an adaptation of J. Robert Oppenheimer‘s life.

    Alexandra Shipp has been quite busy, as she filmed the sequel to Kung Fury opposite Michael Fassbender and also was in Silk Road. She’s also appeared in Shaft, and Jexi before making quite the splash with her appearance in Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s directorial debut film, Tick, Tick … Boom!. It’s great to see her join this big project, and it’ll be interesting to see how the cast members factor into the story. Perhaps we’ll get a wide variety of Barbie copies or clones, but we can only theorize for now.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Scream’ Sequel Gets March 2023 Release, Courteney Cox Returning

    ‘Scream’ Sequel Gets March 2023 Release, Courteney Cox Returning

    Spyglass Media’s Scream revival has been quite the success and it looks like Paramount doesn’t want to waste any time, as they have now given the film a March 31st, 2023 release. The reboot took in $140M at the global box office, which is quite impressive with the current conditions and given how long it’s been since the film’s release. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are once again attached with James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick writing the screenplay for the remake sequel.

    That’s not all, as it looks like the upcoming film will also see the return of Courteney Cox in the sixth entry of the franchise. It’s currently eyeing a production start in Canada at some point in June, which would put it on track to hit its 2023 release.

    I got the script yesterday. And I haven’t read it yet. I just got it, and I’m so used to getting, you know, Shining Vale scripts, which are 26 pages, and I’m, ‘Whoah, I’ve got to read a script.’ I’m excited to read it. don’t know if I’m supposed to say anything. Let me tell you the killer.

    Courteney Cox

    The sixth entry was quickly greenlit after the success of the remake over MLK weekend, and we’re seeing another popular slasher franchise make a grand return. While reception to Netflix’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre was mixed, the Halloween sequel series has been quite popular with it spinning out into two more sequels. With those titles having some fun with the title, here’s hoping the next Scream entry is called “Scream Again” or “Scream Some More.” So, maybe we’ll see other slasher icons return in the near future.

    Source: Deadline, Just for Variety via IGN

  • George Lopez, Adriana Barraza And More Join ‘Blue Beetle’

    George Lopez, Adriana Barraza And More Join ‘Blue Beetle’

    It looks like the cast for Blue Beetle continues to grow with the DC film adding some big names to its cast. The film is eyeing an August 2023 release and has now added George Lopez, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carrilo, and Damián Alcázar to its cast. They join Xolo Maridueña who will take on the leading role of Jaime Reyes, who will end up turning into the interstellar hero Blue Beetle through the help of a strange device attached to his back.

    The cast round out the Reyes family with Lopez as Uncle Rudy, Alcázar taking on the role of Alberto, Barraza‘s Nana, and Carrillo as Rocio. The only other member cast so far was Bellisa Escobedo as Milagro. Director Angel Manuel Soto offered some insight into his approach to ensuring that the Reyes family consisted of Mexican and Mexican-American talent:

    Initially, my goal with finding the family was to be able to have an authentic group of people, not just as authentic on the Latino side, but authentic on the accents and authentic on the experience overall, it was very important for me to have the elders in the family to be from Mexico. And more than just being from Mexico is honoring those amazing beloved actors from Mexico that have paved the way not just in Latin American cinema, but also crossing over to the Anglo Saxon community and Latin American community in the United States

    Angel Manuel Soto

    It’s a great approach to not only keep the family dynamic authentic but also to highlight the characters’ roots. Comic Book films have been becoming the center of more representation in cinema, and it’s great to see the talent reflect that. Bruna Marquezine and Harvey Guillén, who recently also joined another DC series, Harley Quinn, as Nightwing, also round out the cast.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Samuel L. Jackson Says Nick Fury Will Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Samuel L. Jackson Says Nick Fury Will Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    With so many Marvel projects in the works, it is easy to lose track of where some characters are in the universe and when we might see them reappear in the future. Case in point, all eyes have been on Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Nick Fury in the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion. Given his conenction to Captain Marvel, it is no surprise that we are expecting to see Fury return in The Marvels as well.

    In a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused project, Jackson mentioned his role in both Secret Invasion and The Marvels, but he also appeared to confirm that Nick Fury will return yet again in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania:

    It used to take a while to make a movie. It still kind of does, but people make about two or three of them at the same time. In the Marvel universe, it’s crazy. When I was in London just now, there was Ant-Man and Captain Marvel 2 was happening and we were getting ready to do Secret Invasion. So it was like three Marvel movies on one lot. So I was kinda running around from place to place.

    Samuel L. Jackson

    Fury has been a staple of the MCU since its very first post-credits scene in Iron Man, so it is encouraging to see him as a mainstay in 2023, which will feature both The Marvels and Quantumania, and likely Secret Invasion as well.

    Not much is officially known about Quantumania yet, though recent set photos have shown a bit of Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang. With Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conquerer as the Villain and the Quantum Realm a major focus, the third Ant-Man film will likely get pretty wild. That makes Fury’s inclusion in the film so much more interesting considering he is generally a very grounded character. How his Skrull connections and Secret Wars arc will play into the greater MCU is an even larger question now than it was before. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is expected to hit theaters on July 28, 2023.

    Source: Happy Sad Confused via ComingSoon

  • Harvey Guillén Joins ‘Harley Quinn’ as Nightwing

    Harvey Guillén Joins ‘Harley Quinn’ as Nightwing

    Harvey Guillén is on a hot streak, as he’s been cast in quite a few projects over the course of the last few weeks. Not only is he taking on a big role in Puss In Boots: the Last Wish, but now it seems he’s also got his hands on a big animated project. Deadline has just revealed that the actor has joined Harley Quinn in the role of Nightwing. He’ll make his debut in the upcoming third season, which will be when it first gets released on HBO Max.

    There currently is no release date, and it’s unclear what direction he is taking with this version of the character. Still, it’s exciting to see the actor’s hot streak after his success working on the FX series What We Do In The Shadows. He’s also finished his work on the series I’m Totally Fine and will also be seen in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the popular DC character Blue Beetle.

    We’ve already seen previous members of the Bat-family in the first two seasons. We did meet a version of Robin, who was Damian Wayne. Batman, of course, also had quite the role throughout the series’ run. It’ll be interesting to see if we’ll also meet others from the Bat-family and get to explore their dynamic more in the R-rated series. Plus, a potty mouth version of Nightwing is probably going to be quite hilarious.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Halo’ Showrunner Didn’t Use the Game as Reference

    ‘Halo’ Showrunner Didn’t Use the Game as Reference

    It’s crazy to think that we’re this close to the release of a Halo series. the project seemingly was in development hell for quite some time with stories of countless scripts holding it back. Yet, it’s finally on the horizon and the creative team is sharing their thoughts on the journey that may have seemed endless at some time.

    It’s uncertain how they may have approached the project, but it looks like they didn’t look at the games for reference. Showrunner Steve Kane, known for his work on The Last Ship, has shared that while they did consult the developers behind the game, they wanted to not shackle themselves to the game’s

    We didn’t look at the game. We didn’t talk about the game. We talked about the characters and the world. So I never felt limited by it being a game.

    Steve Kane

    Pablo Schreiber, who takes on the challenging role of bringing Master Chief to live-action, added the following regarding the universe they are about to enter in the adaptation.

    The richness and the depth of the universe was immediately kind of mind-boggling. And incredibly exciting, because what it means as a storyteller is that there’s already been a huge amount of preparation and groundwork

    Pablo Schreiber

    We still know very little about the series’ overall direction and how closely it might follow the storyline of the original games. It wouldn’t be too surprising for them to take a different route to keep old fans just on their toes like newer ones, but with a season 2 renewal already in place, Paramount+ is all-in with this new franchise. So, we’ll see if it hits the chords fans are hoping to see.

    Source: Variety

  • Eric Bogosian Joins ‘Interview With the Vampire’ as Daniel Molloy

    Eric Bogosian Joins ‘Interview With the Vampire’ as Daniel Molloy

    The cast for Interview With the Vampire is growing, as Variety has just shared that the AMC series has added Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy. The adaptation of Anne Rice’s iconic book is currently in production, which follows the story of immortal beings, as they face perils and blood. Sam Reid has taken on the role of Lestat while Jacob Anderson will play Louis. The role of Claudia will be played by Bailey Bass in the upcoming series. Showrunner Rolin Jones had the following to say on the casting:

    In 1988, I hit my mom up for money three times to see ‘Talk Radio’ in the movie theaters. I count Eric Bogosian as one of the half dozen artists who made me want to do this for a career. He is, for me, the dented car fender of the American Soul and I can think of no better actor/writer alive to play this role. I’m in total frothing geek mode about his casting

    Rolin Jones

    The role of Molloy is that of an investigative journalist who is trying to revive his career by conducting a titular interview. Bogosian is stepping into quite the shoes, as Christia Slater took on the role in the film by the same name. The actor has previously appeared in the play Talk Radio, Uncut Gems, Wonderland, Billions, and even Successions.

    Source: Variety

  • Runtime of ‘Moon Knight’s First 4 Episodes May Have Found its Way Online

    Runtime of ‘Moon Knight’s First 4 Episodes May Have Found its Way Online

    It looks like the reactions to the Moon Knight screeners are making the rounds, as praises are making their way online for Marvel Studios’ new series. It seems Oscar Isaac’s promise of a psychological thriller was true, as it also mixes in a new style of comedy for MCU’s usually quip-heavy approach. That’s not all, as it seems that the length of the Disney+ series’ episodes has leaked online as well. @BRMarvelNews has taken to Twitter to reveal the length of all four episodes that have made their way to critics.

    It’s curious that the first episode is the shortest, but we also have to keep in mind that they do include the credits, which are supposedly around five minutes long. We’re only two more weeks away from the series finally hitting Disney+ and it’ll be exciting to see just how Marvel Studios managed to bring one of its darkest characters to life on the family-friendly streaming service. The reactions have been quite promising and Marvel Studios remains on a hot streak with their projects.

    It’s still uncertain why four episodes were provided, but it seems Disney and Marvel Studios truly believe in this project, especially with the chance that something might accidentally leak. Still, it also makes you wonder what the last two episodes may have in store for viewers. Isaac has been quite excited about how different this project is and we’re certainly excited to find out as well.

    Source: Twitter , Twitter

  • Daniel Radcliffe Has No Interest in Returning to ‘Harry Potter’ Anytime Soon

    Daniel Radcliffe Has No Interest in Returning to ‘Harry Potter’ Anytime Soon

    Not too long ago, Chris Columbus talked about adapting the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play into films. The excitement was fresh after the original actors got back together for an HBO Max anniversary celebrating the Harry Potter franchise. Many assumed that the return of the original cast would open up the possibility of them returning, but it looks like Daniel Radcliffe has no real interest to do so. In an interview with New York Times, he talked about

    This isn’t the answer that anybody’s going to want, but I think I was so able to go back and enjoy it because it’s not a part of my day-to-day life anymore. I’m getting to a point where I feel like I made it out of “Potter” OK and I’m really happy with where I am now, and to go back would be such a massive change to my life.

    Daniel Radcliffe

    He goes on to make a comparison to how long it took before the actors of the original Star Wars trilogy returned to their iconic roles.

    I’m never going to say never, but the “Star Wars” guys had like 30, 40 years before they went back. For me, it’s only been 10. It’s not something I’m really interested in doing right now.

    Daniel Radcliffe

    Sadly, it seems anyone hoping to see The Cursed Child get adapted at some point will be disappointed. There’s always a chance that Radcliffe potentially changes his mind, but we’ll see what the years bring. He’s just wrapped up his work on the “Weird Al” Yankovic biopic for Roku and has been quite the popular fancast to play Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ll see if he is open to committing to a new franchise moving forward.

    Source: New York Times