Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • DC Studios’ Reportedly Preparing to Film “Insane” Sci-fi Series

    DC Studios’ Reportedly Preparing to Film “Insane” Sci-fi Series

    Even as James Gunn and Peter Safran set out to build the DCU, the DC Studios’ co-chairs have made it clear that creatives will have freedom to tell stories through different mediums, genres and aesthetics. And so while Gunn’s Superman looks to be a bright, pulpy take on the Man of Steel, it takes place in the same continuity as Mike Flannigan‘s body horror flick, Clayface, and James Mangold‘s Swamp Thing, described as a “simple gothic horror movie.”

    The idea is, of course, in line with the long publishing history of DC Comics and should have a similar impact at DC Studios in that it will allow for original ideas to evolve into (hopefully) great superhero stories. One of the earliest test cases for the premise may well be Lanterns, a streaming series that continues to sound a lot like an HBO prestige series. And if one cast member is to be believed, fans may not quite be ready for what DC Studios is about to do with Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s “terrestrial-based investigation story.”

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU…

    -James Gunn
    In an interview with Collider, Poorna Jagannathan, who was cast in a supporting role in Lanterns, described it as “the best sci-fi script I’ve ever read.”

    “This is the first script that I’ve read that I understand why there’s an NDA,” explained Jagannathan. “Everything is so insane. It is the best writing that I have ever read.” Created by Ozark writer Chris Mundy, DC Comics ace Tom King and TV legend Damon Lindelof, Lanterns will focus on two of the corps‘ most well-known members, John Stewart and Hal Jordan who will be working as “supercops on Precinct Earth.”

    “I don’t know anything about sci-fi, and I don’t care, actually,” continued Jagannathan. “But this script makes sci-fi seem like my world. It makes it so accessible to me. I understand everything about this world even though I don’t understand this world.”

    The series, with an impressive cast led by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, had already begun to generate some buzz online and Jagannathan’s comments won’t do anything to temper expectations. With cameras set to roll this week, it may only be a matter of time before DC Studios gives fans a first look at Lanterns which is expected to stream in mid-2026.

    Source: Collider

  • Lucasfilm’s Daisy Ridley-Led ‘New Jedi Order’ Moving Ahead with New Writer

    Lucasfilm’s Daisy Ridley-Led ‘New Jedi Order’ Moving Ahead with New Writer

    One of three films announced to be in development during Star Wars Celebration 2023, the Daisy Ridley-led New Jedi Order era film was once expected to launch the theatrical return of the Star Wars franchise. Set 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, the project, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, has struggled to come together, however. Originally developed by Damon Lindelof, the film began to lose steam almost immediately after it was announced as the Lost creator, and his co-writer, Justin Britt-Gibson, bailed. Steven Knight quickly  boarded the project and just as quickly left, forcing Lucasfilm to pull the film from its 2026 release calendar.

    Undeterred and determined to get Ridley, who it views as its “most valuable cinematic asset”, back on the big screen, Lucasfilm has renewed work on New Jedi Order. According to THR, The Bourne Ultimatum and The Banker scribe George Nolfi is the latest writer to take a crack at the script.

    New Jedi Order will reportedly see Ridley’s Rey seek to build…a new Jedi order. Over the course of the Skywalker sequel trilogy, Rey not only unlocked her abilities but tapped into the Force in incredible and previously unseen ways. Though details about the new film have always been hard to come by and it’s unclear if Nolfi will be starting from scratch, it seems logical to assume that a decade and a half after defeating the First Order, Rey would be the most powerful Jedi ever seen in a project set in tht galaxy far, far away.

    With director Shawn Levy‘s Untitled Star Wars film believed to be starting production this year and eyeing a December 17, 2027 now, New Jedi Order remains unscheduled for the time being as Lucasfilm has no further dates set aside for Star Wars films.

    Source: THR

  • DC Studios Casts Ulrich Thomsen as Classic Legion of Doom Villain

    DC Studios Casts Ulrich Thomsen as Classic Legion of Doom Villain

    First introduced in ABC’s Challenge of the Superfriends in 1978, the Legion of Doom has since appeared across multiple mediums and become a staple of supervillainy for DC. Originally assembled by Lex Luthor, the Legion consisted of 13 baddies from the rogues galleries of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern.

    Over the years, different iterations of the team have added and subtracted members and grown the roster beyond the original 13. In any case, the group represents a sinister and serious threat to heroes of the DC Universe. And while it may be years down the road, there’s some chance that the all-new DCU might bring the characters together on the big screen for the first time.

    With Nicholas Hoult already on board as Lex Luthor in Superman, a second key member of the Legion of Doom is now confirmed to be on the way as well. According to a trade report, Banshee and The Blacklist star Ulrich Thomsen has joined Lanterns as Sinestro.

    In Lanterns, it seems Thomsen will be playing the charactsr as “a former Green Lantern who turned rogue and is described as ruthless yet undeniably charming. Sinestro’s manipulative nature drives his enduring obsession with his former mentee, Hal Jordan.” Traditionally, Sinestro has been Jordan’s mentor, making the DCU’s take a fresh one that could provide some unique narrative opportunities.

    Said to play “a really big role leading us into the main story” of DC Studios’ Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, Lanterns was created by what DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn described as “a crack team of writers” that consists of Tom King, Chris Mundy and Damon Lindelof and was ordered straight to series by HBO in 2024.

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.

    -James Gunn and Peter Safran

    Lanterns will revolve around Green Lantern Corps members Hal Jordan and John Stewart finding an “ancient horror on Earth.” Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre were cast as Jordan and Stewart, respectively. Word is that Jordan will be a grizzled vet–which makes Chandler a great choice–and that Stewart, played by the up-and-coming Pierre, will be a new member of the Corps working with him as “supercops on Precinct Earth.” Nathan Fillion‘s Guy Gardner, who will debut in Superman, is also reportedly set to play a role in the series.

    We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU.

    -James Gunn

    Lanterns will begin production this year and is expected to release in mid-2026 on Max.

    Source: Deadline

  • First Look at Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El Released as Principal Photography Gets Underway on DC Studios ‘Supergirl’

    First Look at Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El Released as Principal Photography Gets Underway on DC Studios ‘Supergirl’

    After screen testing along with Meg Donnelly and Emilia Jones, Milly Alcock was chosen as the DCU’s Supergirl in late January 2024. Nearly one year later, DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn has provided fans with a sneak peek of Alcock‘s Kara Zor-El as production has gotten underway on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

    Thrilled to see cameras roll at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on Supergirl, with Craig Gillespie at the helm and the phenomenal Milly Alcock as our Kara Zor-El. Craig brings an incredible sensibility to this story, and Milly is every inch the unique #Supergirl envisioned by Tom King, Bilquis Evely & Ana Nogueira.

    -James Gunn

    Though Alcock‘s Supergirl will first appear in 2025’s Superman, this is the first time any image of the actress in character has been shared from set. Set in a bar, perhaps somewhere in the galaxy as seen in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2, the photo shows Kara in casual wear rather than her costume. It also shows the same crest of the House of El featured in Gunn’s Superman.

    Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #2

    Based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s DC Comic series of the same name, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will see Kara travel the galaxy and ultimately do battle against the villainous Krem of the Yellow Hills, played by Matthias Schoenaerts.

    In our story, we have Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by incredibly loving parents. Kara was on Krypton. She was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet and she lived there for the first fourteen years of her life in a horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more fucked up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far.

    -James Gunn

    Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will hit theaters on June 26, 2026.

    Source: Twitter

  • By the Vishanti! Benedict Cumberbatch Updates the Status of the Doctor Strange Threequel

    By the Vishanti! Benedict Cumberbatch Updates the Status of the Doctor Strange Threequel

    Despite only making one live-action appearance in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Stephen Strange has remained a central character in the Multiverse Saga. While it remains to be seen how Marvel Studios ties the events of three seasons of Marvel Animation’s canonical animated series, What If…?, into the larger MCU narrative, one Stephen Strange Variant played an integral role from beginning to end.

    Despite all that–and being a key player in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame–it’s hard to believe that there isn’t much, much more the studio could do with the character. His film appearances have neither truly scratched the surface of the weirdness of the character’s comic book counterpart nor taken advantage of his shared history with characters such as the Hulk, Namor or Clea, who was at least introduced in the last film. Even more surprising is the news that despite the character seemingly being a perfect fit as a primary foil for Doctor Doom, Strange will not appear in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

    So what does the future hold for Strange? Cumberbatch promises the character will play a big role in Avengers: Secret Wars but surely the studio has more in store for a major Marvel Comics’ character played by one of Marvel Studios’ biggest starts…and it seems that they do. On the heels of a report that the powers that be have decided to move forward with a third installment in the Doctor Strange franchise, Cumberbatch addressed the potential threequel in an interview with Variety.

    Though the star was careful not to give anything away, it’s clear things are moving forward with the project.

    “They are very open to discussing where we go next,” said Cumberbatch, who will clearly have input on the direction of the project and its creative team.

    Who do you want to write and direct the next one? What part of the comic lore do you want to explore so that Strange can keep evolving? He’s a very rich character to play. He’s a complex, contradictory, troubled human who’s got these extraordinary abilities, so there’s potent stuff to mess about with.

    -Benedict Cumberbatch

    At this point, it’s unclear if Doctor Strange 3 fits into the Multiverse Saga or if the studio sees the project as one that can help it launch its post-Multiverse plans. While it seems as though the build up to Avengers: Secret Wars might benefit from additional narrative runway–and that Strange’s importance to the overall story would dictate continuing his story before that film would be helpful–that would require moving the film again, something the studio may be unwilling to do. So, for now, whatever “potent stuff” Cumberbatch believes is in store for the character remains the stuff of speculation.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios Star Confirms Extensive Changes to ‘Avengers 5’

    Marvel Studios Star Confirms Extensive Changes to ‘Avengers 5’

    As part of Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at SDCC ’22, head honcho Kevin Feige revealed plans to wrap up the Multiverse Saga with a pair of Avengers films set to hit theaters just one year apart. The first of those films, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for May 2, 2025, written by Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania scribe Jeff Loveness and meant to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, would have featured Jonathan Majors‘ Kang as the lead much in the same way Avengers: Infinity War did with Thanos.

    In the original plan for Avengers 5, then called Kang Dynasty, Shang-Chi would’ve been one of the film’s main leads. A lot’s changed since then; Avengers 5 was meant to focus on Kang the Conqueror, but Marvel has since completely retooled the film to introduce Victor Von Doom.

    -Inverse

    Fast forward to January 2025: Majors and Marvel Studios have parted ways, Loveness was replaced by Michael Waldron who was replaced by Stephen McFeely, Cretton left to work on Spider-Man 4, Anthony and Joe Russo and just over four months before it’s original release date, the film, now called Avengers: Doomsday, hasn’t even begun production. It’s been widely assumed that the studio all but started from scratch once McFeely and the Russos came aboard but despite rumors and reports that Waldron‘s draft has been scrapped, Marvel has, of course, stayed quiet…until now.

    In an interview with Variety, one of the studio’s biggest stars, Benedict Cumberbatch, not only confirmed that the studio has completely overhauled the film but also the cast. Once intended to play a major role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Cumberbatch revealed that Doctor Strange will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

    Is that a spoiler? Fuck it!

    -Benedict Cumberbatch


    Cumberbatch provided a simple explanation as to why Strange won’t appear in the film, saying “the character not aligning with this part of the story.” Concerned fans shouldn’t worry themselves too much, however. The star also told Variety that Strange remains “quite central to where things might go” and that the character is “in a lot” of Avengers: Secret Wars, also written by McFeely and directed by the brothers Russo.

    With Cumberbatch’s Master of the Mystic Arts no longer part of Avengers: Doomsday, the task of taking on Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doom looks to fall to the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Spider-Man and a group of Avengers that may just include some New* ones.

    Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to begin principal photography this Spring ahead of a May 1, 2026 release.

    Source: Variety

  • Giancarlo Esposito Makes Genuinely Bonkers Claim about His ‘Captain America Brave: New World’ Character

    Giancarlo Esposito Makes Genuinely Bonkers Claim about His ‘Captain America Brave: New World’ Character

    In late 2022, following a swell of online support for him to play Charles Xavier in Marvel Studios’ X-Men franchise, Giancarlo Esposito took matters into his own hands in an attempt to land an MCU role. During a fan panel at Rose City Comic Con 2022, Esposito explained how the fan casting led to having his people reach out to Marvel Studios. “I finally had to have my people call Marvel and explain that, you know, that this is a fan want and we would love to work with you,” Esposito told the crowd.

    But I feel as if there may be some mileage with me and Marvel. I know I love what they do. I know I love creativity. So who knows what could happen? Keep putting it out there.

    Giancarlo Esposito

    The star spent the next year making sure nobody has forgotten his willingness to join the world’s largest action franchise and then, in May 2024, thanks to the magic of Marvel Studios’ reshoots, Esposito‘s dream came true. By Summer, Esposito had taken it up on himself to unburden Marvel of any secrecy around his character, revealing that he had signed on to Captain America: Brave New World as Seth Voelkers, the founder of the Serpent Society (called Serpent in Brave New World) who went by the alter ego of Sidewinder.

    Marketing for Captain America: Brave New World has contained plenty of Esposito’s Sidewinder, attempting to establish the character as some sort of menacing threat to Sam Wilson. And while nobody believes that Captain America is in any true danger from Sidewinder, it hasn’t stopped Esposito from over hyping the character.

    Last Summer, Esposito teased Sidewinder as “a badass” and a departure from his usual roles. In a new interview with ABC, he repeated those claims, saying, “You’ve never seen me play a character like this. This guy knows how to use a rifle, a pistol, knives, (he’s) very very physical, active with his physicality, punches, kicks, all that.” And while that all checks out against the evidence available in the footage that’s been shared ahead of the film, Esposito also made a claim that caps into question his ability to be taken seriously when talking about Sidewinder.

    “Part of the incorporation of Sidewinder’s colors I brought into the costume that I’m wearing,” he said. “I’m hoping that it gives them inspiration in movies to come that will allow me to take on more of that serpent persona.“

    While it’s clear that Esposito will be playing a far more grounded and less flamboyant version of Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World, don’t tell him that. Perhaps Esposito’s comments about the similarities between the film and comic book characters costumes refer to the collar on his trench coat being similar in color to the comic book counterpart’s cape; perhaps his character has some fabulous footwear we haven’t seen just yet; perhaps, like with the character itself, Esposito is making a mountain out of a mole hill.

    As for the evolution of the “serpent persona”, Esposito did tease that his character would have a role in an unreveales series following Captain America: Brave New World, so maybe Marvel will indeed bring a fully realized Serpent Society–and its leader–into the MCU down the road.

    Source: ABC

  • Lucasfilm’s Targeting Computer Locking in on Ryan Gosling to Lead Shawn Levy’s Untitled Star Wars Movie

    Lucasfilm’s Targeting Computer Locking in on Ryan Gosling to Lead Shawn Levy’s Untitled Star Wars Movie

    Never tell me the odds! In a near unprecedented move for Lucasfilm, the studio has entered into negotiations with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars to lead its next Star Wars film. According to THR, Ryan Gosling is preparing to board director Shawn Levy‘s long-developing Star Wars film.

    Despite a steady stream of Star Wars projects heading down the garbage chute (fly boy), THR’s report indicates that should Gosling and Lucasfilm come to terms on a deal, production on Levy‘s film–which he’s been developing since 2022–will go into production this Fall.

    With production on The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will lead a new era of theatrical Star Wars projects, having recently wrapped, attention has turned toward Lucasfilm’s next film. While Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy‘s Rey-led film was originally expected to lead lead the charge back into theaters, the project has struggled to come together and was recently removed from Disney’s release schedule. And even as Dave Filoni and James Mangold continue development on their own untitled Star Wars films, it seems as though Levy’s film has jumped ahead in the queue and may end up filling the December 17, 2027 date Disney has set aside for Star Wars.

    Levy’s film will reportedly be a standalone project and not part of the Skywalker Saga. As it stands, it seems as though that honor will fall to the trilogy of films being developed by Simon Kinberg, the co-creator of Star Wars Rebels and a recurring villain from Fox’s X-Men films.

    Source: THR

  • A Second MCU Star Rumored for a Major Role in Disney’s Live-Action ‘Tangled’

    A Second MCU Star Rumored for a Major Role in Disney’s Live-Action ‘Tangled’

    With The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey in like to direct, Disney looks to be moving full speed ahead in preparation for the studio’s next live-action reimagining, Tangled. With a script in place from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who worked with Disney-owned Marvel Studios on Thor: Love and Thunder, the studio has already reportedly begun seeking out stars to fill out the cast of the film, with Kathryn Hahn and Jennifer Lopez already having been rumored as potential candidates to fill the role of Mother Gothel.

    Hahn’s portrayal as the MCU’s wicked witch, Agatha Harkness, has fans believing she’d be the perfect fit for the role of Tangled‘s own power-hungry crone. Now, a second Marvel Cinematic Universe star has had her name thrown in the ring to potentially join Hahn in the upcoming project.

    According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Florence Pugh, who is set to lead this summer’s Thunderbolts* for Marvel Studios, is considered a “front-runner” to land the lead role of Rapunzel in Disney’s currently undated Tangled reimagining.

    Of course, being the front-runner and landing the role are two very different things; however, Pugh‘s working relationship with Disney has been very beneficial for both parties. As the lead in this July ‘s Thunderbolts*, Pugh, who joined the MCU in 2021’s Black Widow, will continue her rise as one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars.

  • Newly Greenlit Marvel Television Series May Feature a Surprising Star

    Newly Greenlit Marvel Television Series May Feature a Surprising Star

    Marvel Studios may not continue releasing live-action streaming projects at the same rate they will in 2025, but that doesn’t mean they’ve slowed down the development process. Outside of Nova— which was confirmed by Marvel Television’s head honcho, Brad  Winderbaum, to be in development–the studio has been tight-lipped about which projects are in the works. Rumors and reports persist that Champions, which will bring together a new generation of heroes led by Kamala Khan and Kate Bishop, and Strange Academy, a Harry Potter-esque series featuring young magic users, are priorities for the studio despite lack of official word from anyone at Marvel.

    We have a new system behind-the-scenes at Marvel Studios. We’re more like a traditional studio now. We’re developing more than we actually will produce.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    In the case of Strange Academy, Marvel Studios insider Daniel Richtman recently reported that Winderbaum and his team had given the project the green light which could mean work on the series could get underway this year. Now, another insider has come forward with some information that calls to mind a two-year old rumor about the series.

    According to social media scooper My Time To Shine Hello, Wong, the MCU’s current Sorcerer Supreme, will serve as the star of Strange Academy. Additionally, Benedict Cumberbatch will reportedly have a “small role” in the series, if he appears at all.

    Though the Sorcerer Supreme has proven himself, having Benedict Wong as the lead would certainly seem to indicate that the studio sees Strange Academy as somewhat of a light-hearted adventure. Despite facing off with the Scarlet Witch and her demonic minions in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wong has far more often served as comedic relief. And while the series would feature a fairly large cast of kids and offer the potential for cameos from all types of MCU magic users, it could also allow for the return of the vacuous Madisynn King, Wong’s bestie last seen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

    Created by Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos, Strange Academy was first published by Marvel Comics in 2020 and focused on a new generation of magic users being trained in the mystic arts at a Hogwarts-esque school opened by Stephen Strange. Classes at Strange Academy were led by an array of Marvel mages including Doctor Voodoo, Wanda Maximoff, Wong, Magik and, yes, Agatha Harkness and covered a range of topics from astral projections to interdimensional geography to xenoanatomy.