Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson Teases Valkyrie’s LGBTQ Romance

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson Teases Valkyrie’s LGBTQ Romance

    Thor: Love and Thunder teases its main focus in the name of the film. While we’ll get our usual action, director Taika Waiti teased that he wanted to explore romance just a bit more in the upcoming project. There have been quite a few rumors that Valkyrie might have a romance of her own throughout the film’s story, and Tessa Thompson teased what’s to come in an interview with The Wrap. She shares her excitement on exploring this new aspect of her character in the film, as she states that:

    It’s totally exciting. We talk so much about representation and obviously, in terms of the LGBTQIA community, there’s still so much work to be done. But if you look at the comics in the canon, there are so many queer characters! It’s hard because Taika (Waititi, who directed both of Thompson’s “Thor” films) and I would’ve even liked to go further, but in the context of the movies, there’s only so much we can do. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of time invested in love stories in Marvel movies in general. I think that will be a little different on the new “Thor,” which is exciting. And getting to play a character that historically is not written for somebody that looks like me, all of that felt exciting.

    Tessa Thompson

    It would be interesting to find out what their original vision might’ve been, but there’s always the chance they could expand it through a Disney+ series or spinoff film at a later time. Valkyrie is a character with a lot of history that is worth exploring. If Waititi still has some stories he wants to tell – and he’s also no stranger to long-form storytelling, there might be a chance that he and Tessa Thompson can take another swing at it later down the line, as it’s definitely a story worth telling.

    Source: The Wrap

  • ‘Knives Out 2’ Eyeing Late 2022 Release

    ‘Knives Out 2’ Eyeing Late 2022 Release

    Netflix caught everyone’s attention when they made the deal of a century to purchase any future entries of the murder mystery franchise Knives Out. The series, created by Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, will not only get one sequel but two as part of the deal. It looks like the next entry, which started filming last year, is already eyeing a release in the last quarter of 2022 according to a new report by Variety.

    Not just that, it also will try to release at festivals early, but there has been no word which one it might end up being. For now, Netflix is all in with the project, and with a festival focus, they are likely trying to prepare for next year’s Oscar season, as they are currently expected to dominate with The Power of the Dog, Don’t Look Up, and Tick, Tick … Boom!.

    The only returning actor for the film is Daniel Craig as the iconic detective. Johnson’s team is also rounded out with those that helped in the first feature, such as editor Bob Ducsay and cinematographer Steve Yedlin. The first one was originally released through Lionsgate and was produced by Media Rights Capital before Netflix purchased the franchise for $450M back in March. It’ll be exciting to see the next storyline with an all-star cast, which includes Edward Norton, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, and more.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Luca’ Top 2021’s Streaming Chart

    ‘Lucifer’ and ‘Luca’ Top 2021’s Streaming Chart

    2021 has been quite a year, to say the least, as the pandemic continued to keep us at home. As such, we had a bit more time on our hands and luckily the various streaming services had plenty of content to keep us busy throughout the year. Of course, there’s always hope that your favorite show of the year might make it to the top of the list. While streaming services still won’t quite tell us how shows and films are performing, Nielsen still conducts its studies to give us an inclination on how the year went.

    In 2021, the most-streamed original show was not the extremely popular Squid Game, but actually Lucifer. It switched to Netflix some time ago and now has become their most streamed offering. The Great British Baking Show takes the third spot followed by Virgin River, Bridgerton, You, Cobra Kai, The Crown, and Longmire. It’s not until the tenth spot that a non-Netflix offering joins the ranks with Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Disney+ and Apple TV+ only got one entry each with WandaVision and Ted Lasso.

    There’s a very different story when it comes to movies, as eleven of the most viewed cinematic offerings were from Disney+. The list is dominated by Luca, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon. Netflix’s Red Notice takes the fifth spot and they also nabbed the ninth with Mitchells Vs. The Machines. Marvel Studios also joined the list with Black Widow on the eleventh spot and rounds out the Top 15 with Avengers: Endgame. The performance of Disney+ is a good hint at the fact that family- and child-friendly offerings were the big winners.

    Overall, it’s a strong list of shows. There’s always a chance that if we’d ever get a chance to see the true numbers their positions might shift. Nielsen also only uses third-party information that excludes mobile numbers, which could work in specific offerings favor. They only rank TV screens and HBO Max and Peacock are not currently included in the list, whose offerings with Friends and Yellowstone are likely candidates to be in the list. Still, it’s at least a small inclination what 2021 was like and we’ll see what 2022 has in store for us.

    Source: Deadline

  • Pixar is “Really Bummed Out” On ‘Turning Red’ Heading to Disney+ Instead of Theaters

    Pixar is “Really Bummed Out” On ‘Turning Red’ Heading to Disney+ Instead of Theaters

    There has been a rather discouraging trend of Disney sending Pixar films to Disney+ for free. The prestigious animation studio was one of the leading voices in spearheading our modern understanding of CG-animated filmmaking. Yet, as the pandemic hit, things haven’t been easy for everyone in the industry. Especially with uncertainty if families will visit cinemas as they did before the pandemic started in 2020. As such, Disney made the move to release some of its films on their new streaming service.

    Strangely, there still is seemingly no clear strategy moving forward. Only select films were made available through their Premier Access options, where you can purchase the film for a set price. Yet, while their original and Marvel Studios offerings got the special treatment, Pixar’s Soul and Luca didn’t get the same. They were made available for free to push Disney+’s subscription numbers. Turning Red, their next film, was their big return to cinemas but ended up following the same fate. In a new piece by The Hollywood Reporter, they shared a statement by an anonymous Pixar employee on the situation.

    Everyone is really bummed, but most of us get it. Families just aren’t going to the movies

    They highlight that the company isn’t mad about the decision, but more disappointed. There’s a good chance that Encanto’s low box office numbers were one of the reasons they went down this route, especially. Sing 2, the most recent animated film to release in theaters, also didn’t fare much better if compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Here’s hoping that the current omicron development gets better so that Pixar can make its grand return to cinemas once again.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Joshua Jackson Joins Lizzy Caplan in Paramount+’s ‘Fatal Attraction’ Remake

    Joshua Jackson Joins Lizzy Caplan in Paramount+’s ‘Fatal Attraction’ Remake

    Joshua Jackson has signed on for Paramount Plus’ Fatal Attraction remake, joining Lizzy Caplan who was cast last year. Jackson will play the male leading role opposite Caplan’s leading lady.

    The forthcoming series is meant to be a reimagining of the hit 1987 film starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close. It’s said the reimaging of the film will focus on the “timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes towards strong women, personality disorders and coercive control.”

    Jackson’s playing Dan Gallagher who ends up having a relationship with Caplan’s Alex Forrest. As the relationship develops between the two, it’s clear an obsession is building from Alex. Regarding Jackson’s casting, Nicole Clemens, the president of original scripted series at Paramount+, praised the actor. “Joshua is an incredible talent who creates beautifully complicated characters on both the screen and stage.”

    “He and Lizzy are perfectly matched to tell a nuanced and modern narrative about the complexities of the human psyche. We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring this provocative and captivating story to a new generation,” she continued. Caplan, of course, was confirmed to join the project in Nov. 2021. Jackson marks the second actor to join the project.

    Alexandra Cunningham (Dirty John) serves as the showrunner for Fatal Attraction, as well as the writer. She’ll executive produce the series alongside Kevin J. Hynes and Amblin Television’s Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.

    Source: THR.

  • Marvel Studios Makes a Major Change to The Phase One Timeline

    Marvel Studios Makes a Major Change to The Phase One Timeline

    Disney Plus has now added all of Marvel Studios One-Shots to their streaming library, giving fans a chance to relive some of the memorable shorts that once accompanied the home releases of their films. Agent Carter, All Hail the King and more are now streaming on the service and have all been added into the official, chronological viewing order. Interestingly enough, one of the One-Shots has knocked one of Marvel Studios biggest hits out of its place as a bookend to Phase One.

    As you can see from the screenshot, the 2012 One-Shot Item 47, which was released on The Avengers Blu-Ray, is now the official end of Phase One. The 12-minute short, which was heavily tied to ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., starred Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford as a couple who, in the wake of the Battle of New York, find a Chitauri weapon and use it to go on a crime spree. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Sitwell and Blake, played by Maximiliano Hernandez and Titus Welliver, respectively, intervene on the couple’s spree and eventually incorporate them into S.H.I.E.L.D.

    While the events of the series were never mentioned again and neither Caplan nor Bradford’s characters were ever seen again, the One-Shot, directed by Louis D’Esposito, led directly to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. getting the green light on ABC. Bob Iger, who was Disney’s CEO at the time, gave the go ahead on AoS after watching Item 47 and the series debuted one year later on the network. Of course, Agents Sitwell and Blake continued on in the series and, in Sitwell’s case, the films with Sitwell dying during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Blake pretty much just disappearing.

  • Disney+ Added All Marvel Studios One Shot

    Disney+ Added All Marvel Studios One Shot

    There was a time when Marvel Studios did quite a bit of experimenting. In the early days of Phase 1, they tested out a concept known only as Marvel One-Shots at the time. The physical Blu-ray release of some films included these short episodes that helped tie together some loose ends, such as The Consultant, or just have some wacky fun, like Team Thor. Suddenly, there were sightings of All Hail The King – which introduced viewers to the fact that there was an actual Mandarin out there – after Shang-Chi was added to Disney+. Now it seems they have added all One-Shots as part of a collection, as shared by @riverrun779.

    https://twitter.com/riverrun779/status/1484503856541167623?t=K2LF4dk7HfT4a6soJt9r7A&s=19

    It’s interesting to note that the series of shorts have the logo “Marvel Studios One Shot,” but when you search for them they are only available with the name “Marvel One-Shot.”

    Their addition is great for the purists that want to watch every part the Marvel Cinematic Universe has to offer. Plus, it also helps them add it to their timeline on the service, which helps give some hints when and where to place these stories. As a fan of logo design, it’s great to see All Hail The King or The Consultant get actual visuals that add some flourish to their stories, even if they are quite small in the grand scheme of the wider MCU. Their inclusion with a new logo also opens up the possibility they might revisit the concept with new 15 minute shorts for minor characters. So, we’ll see if this opens up a window for more opportunities later down the line.

    Source: Disney+, Twitter

  • IDW Will Lose ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Transformers’ Licenses at the End of the Year

    IDW Will Lose ‘G.I. Joe,’ ‘Transformers’ Licenses at the End of the Year

    It’s official: IDW will lose the G.I. Joe and Transformers license at the end of 2022.

    The news was announced on Thursday by the comic book publisher. Back in December, it was announced that Robert Kirkman‘s Skybound imprint was in talks to pick up the licenses from Hasbro. Now, IDW has confirmed the news. However, fans of the G.I. Joe and Transformers comics can rest easy knowing the stories will continue throughout the remainder of the year.

    In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, IDW commented on the news. “At the end of 2022, IDW will bid a fond farewell to the publication of G.I. Joe and Transformers comic books and graphic novels. We’re exceedingly proud of our stewardship of these titles – 17 years with the Robots in Disguise and 14 years with A Real American Hero – and thank the legion of fans for their unwavering support, month in and month out. We’re also eternally grateful to every one of the talented creators who helped bring these characters to four-color life through our comics.”

    The monthly Transformers titles will come to an end around mid-summer, along with Transformers: Beast Wars series. While IDW is still preparing for a milestone issue of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero with issue no. 300 with writer Larry Hama on board.

    While the publisher will be losing the licenses for G.I. Joe and Transformers, however, it will retain the licenses for both My Little Pony and Dungeons & Dragons. As it stands, Skybound, Kirkman‘s imprint, has yet to comment on the potential deal with Hasbro.

    Source: THR.

  • Official Japanese Marvel Site Removed ‘What If…?’ and ‘Secret Invasion’ From 2022 Line-Up

    Official Japanese Marvel Site Removed ‘What If…?’ and ‘Secret Invasion’ From 2022 Line-Up

    Just last week we reported on the official Japanese Marvel site that included an overview of its 2022 Disney+ and film slate. What surprised us was the inclusion of Secret Invasion and What If…? Season 2, as both were not announced for that year. Especially with their placement, it seemed like we’d have six Disney+ series premiering in just one year. Interestingly enough, the site has been updated and those two series have been removed. Not only that, but they also seemingly adapted the order of release.

    When we first reported it, the line-up seemed quite deliberate with Moon Knight ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She-Hulk was then placed after that film’s release, which implied it would also follow in May or June. Now, the order has Ms. Marvel ahead of She-Hulk, but the films are given their own separate location. So, either they accidentally uploaded it in the wrong order, or things have shuffled around. Moon Knight even has its March 30th release date included now, but with Ms. Marvel planned for the summer, She-Hulk might not release until November.

    Marvel Studios has been known for their steady output of content and with films has always been ver upfront about when they will release. Disney+ has been a very different experience, as they don’t truly advertise a show’s release until around two months in advance. While no one expects concrete release dates, it’s been strange we haven’t gotten release windows for some of the shows, especially when Ms. Marvel was originally going to be a 2021 release. The pandemic has affected productions quite a bit and could be a factor, but we still know very little about their plans for this year. We’ll have to see if we get more information as the year goes on.

    Source: Marvel

  • Disney Working on Live-Action ‘Aristocats’ Film

    Disney Working on Live-Action ‘Aristocats’ Film

    Disney has been quite obsessed with bringing their many animated projects to live-action. They even made an entirely CG film based on The Lion King, which was still treated as a live-action adaptation due to the photorealism. Yet, they also used real animals for the Disney+ adaptation of Lady and the Tramp It looks like they have set their eyes on another project mostly focused on animals in the form of Aristocats. A new piece has revealed that Will Gluck and Keith Bunin are writing the script for a live-action take on the 1970’s animated film.

    The original story was about a family of cats living in Paris that were thrown out of their home by a jealous butler, as they were set to inherit everything from their wealthy owner. With the help of a tomcat, they make their way home and meet some colorful characters along the way. The project is in very early development but there are hints it’ll be closer to Lady and the Tramp rather than a fully animated adaptation like The Lion King.

    The original has some questionable characters in it that will definitely be rewritten, but there’s a good story here to revisit and even expand potentially. If they are going for the style that is hinted at, it’ll be impressive for them to get cats to play along to bring the project to life. I am especially curious how they might tackle the musical scenes if they are included at all. Not every live-action adaptation has embraced the musical aspects, but it wouldn’t be the same without “Everyone wants to be a cat” at one point in the film.

    Source: Deadline