Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Michael Keaton On ‘Batman Forever’ And Returning for ‘The Flash’

    Michael Keaton was Batman for many that grew up watching Tim Burtons‘ film back in 1989. He would end up returning for Batman Returns but decided to pass on Batman Forever. Of course, the films took a very different direction once Joel Schumacher took over. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor talked about why he ended up leaving the project.

    It was a job. And then the next one was a job, and I enjoyed it. But then over time — and then the third one, I just couldn’t do. I just thought, ‘Well, this is not good. This is not good. I just can’t do it. I’ll blow my brains out. Just can’t live with myself.’ And so I walked away.

    Michael Keaton

    Of course, after parodying his time as the iconic DC character in Birdman, he ended up taking a step back into the world of superheroes with Spider-Man: Homecoming. He ended up taking a villainous role as the Vulture, which was a highlight of the film. He wasn’t quite done yet, as he has now decided to return to the role that put him on the map for the upcoming multiverse-exploring The Flash film.

    I thought, ‘Boy, what would that be like?’ And then, coincidentally, there were murmurs, and I got a call from Warner Bros. They wanted to talk to me about something and there were hints of Batman.” Studio execs asked him to just read The Flash script. It has to be good. There’s no reason to do it if it’s not good. It’s not gonna really change anything. And I just jumped in and had fun. And why would you not? You know, I mean, director Andy Muschietti is fantastic, and it’s really creative. I don’t know. It’s fun.

    Michael Keaton

    It certainly looks like the quality of the project is one of the reasons he decided to return, and his trust in Muschietti is a good sign that he believes in the project. He’s also rumored to appear in Batgirl. So, the work on the project has certainly convinced him to invest more time once again to bring Batman to life once more.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Peacemaker’s John Cena On Rejections for ‘Shazam’ and ‘Deadpool 2’

    ‘Peacemaker’s John Cena On Rejections for ‘Shazam’ and ‘Deadpool 2’

    John Cena is living the life as the new superhero addition to the DCEU, Peacemaker – well, probably more of an anti-hero to be fair – and is proud to lead his own series after his debut in The Suicide Squad. Director James Gunn found the perfect role for him by taking a satirical look at the classic Charleton character. As his series has just premiered, Cena has been busy with interviews. During his recording with the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, he revealed that he’s been chasing superhero roles for some time, but was met with rejections left and right. He was passed on by projects like Deadpool 2‘s Cable, and even the title role for Shazam!.

    I can’t tell you how many superhero roles I’ve been rejected for. Shazam is certainly one. There was a brief try at the Deadpool universe, rejection. Shazam! was Dikembe Mutumbo. There was a few in the Marvel universe, rejected.

    John Cena

    It’s certainly a competitive market out there, as many actors are trying to nab that role for their chance to either bring a personal favorite hero to life or get their foot in the door. Cena is a household name for many and has starred in quite a few films and projects. So, even if it took some time, the wait has paid off for him to not only join a superhero project but also to find a role he can fully embrace. The fact he still loves wearing the costume to every event is a testament of his commitment.

    Source: Spotify via ComicBook

  • RUMOR: ‘Moon Knight’ Will Premiere in March

    RUMOR: ‘Moon Knight’ Will Premiere in March

    Things may seem to be slowing down for the MCU as the world reels in from the craziness that was Spider-Man: No Way Home. The first two months of the year have yet to have anything MCU-related but a rumor is claiming that March will see a major Disney+ premiere for Marvel. That Hashtag Show is claiming that Moon Knight is being targeted for a March 30, 2022 premiere date.

    A Disney rep responded to our own inquiry regarding this story: “Date is still being figured out.” And so as always, scoops that have to do with premiere dates are rarely ever correct so take this with a grain of salt. That being said, it does make sense for Marvel to put out content while they bide their time for the next big release, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Source: THS

  • Timothy Olyphant To Star in ‘Justified’ Sequel Series on FX

    Timothy Olyphant To Star in ‘Justified’ Sequel Series on FX

    Timothy Olyphant is set to grace our TV screens once more as FX greenlights a sequel series to its hit crime neo-western Justified. Titled Justified: City Primeval, the show sees Olyphant reprise the iconic role of US Marshall Raylan Givens once more in this brand new Elmore Leonard adaptation.

    The show’s synopsis is as follows:

    Having left the hollers of Kentucky eight years ago, Raylan Givens now lives in Miami, a walking anachronism balancing his life as a U.S. Marshal and part-time father of a 14-year-old girl. His hair is grayer, his hat is dirtier, and the road in front of him is suddenly a lot shorter than the road behind. A chance encounter on a desolate Florida highway sends him to Detroit. There he crosses paths with Clement Mansell, a.k.a. The Oklahoma Wildman, a violent, sociopathic desperado who’s already slipped through the fingers of Detroit’s finest once and aims to do so again. Mansell’s lawyer, formidable Motor City native Carolyn Wilder, has every intention of representing her client, even as she finds herself caught in between cop and criminal, with her own game afoot as well. These three characters set out on a collision course in classic Elmore Leonard fashion, to see who makes it out of the City Primeval alive.

    Word of a Justified spin-off surfaced last year when Variety reported that FX was planning to adapt the Leonard novel City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit. The trade speculated then that Olyphant could be attached to star but we’re only seeing the confirmation right now.

    All in all very exciting news for Justified fans like myself. If only Walton Goggins‘ Boyd Crowder could make an appearance as well.

    Source: EW

  • ‘Santa Clause’ Revival Series Heading to Disney+, Tim Allen to Return

    ‘Santa Clause’ Revival Series Heading to Disney+, Tim Allen to Return

    We know that Disney+ is obsessed with reviving classic IPs to attract new viewers to its streaming platform, but this is quite an interesting surprise. It looks like the Christmas classic Santa Clause starring Tim Allen is making a return. It’ll be the third time the actor takes on the role of Scott Calvin after his last appearance in the 2006 threequel. He originally took on the role back in 1994, where the unknowing Scott ended up leading to the death of Santa Clause and would take on the role. It seems the series will explore his time to pass on the role, as revealed in the following series description:

    Scott Calvin is on the brink of his 65th birthday and realizing that he can’t be Santa forever. He’s starting to lose a step in his Santa duties, and more importantly, he’s got a family who could benefit from a life in the normal world, especially his two kids who have grown up at the Pole. With a lot of elves, children, and family to please, Scott sets out to find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family for a new adventure in a life south of the pole.

    The mastermind behind Allen‘s last comedy series Last Man Standing, Jack Burditt, is on as showrunner and executive producer. Kevin Hench, Richard Baker, and Rick Messina will also join in the executive producer role alongside its star. With Hocus Pocus 2 on the horizon, it really seems like the House of Mouse is quite excited to revive cult classics for a new generation of viewers.

    Source: Variety

  • Letitia Wright Returns to Film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Letitia Wright Returns to Film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    After almost five months, as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took an extended break for the holidays, its leading star has returned. Letitia Wright returns to the set of the Marvel Studios sequel months after her serious injury. At first, it seemed like she only had a minor injury but later turned out to be a fractured shoulder and a concussion with severe side effects. So, it’s no wonder that production was forced to take an extended break, as they wait for her to recover.

    A spokesperson for the star has told the BBC that Wright has now returned to the production in order to complete the film, which is scheduled for release in November of this year. Her character Shuri is set to be a lead character for the film which will focus on Wakanda and its place in the world amidst pressure from the outside after the events of the first entry. With Spider-Man: No Way Home wrapping production at the end of March 2021 for a December release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever should have plenty of time now that it has resumed production, as they are probably catching up with scenes that involve Wright.

    Source: BBC

  • NBC Orders Pilot for ‘Quantum Leap’ Sequel

    NBC Orders Pilot for ‘Quantum Leap’ Sequel

    NBC is looking to bring back the hit series, Quantum Leap.

    It was announced early Thursday that the network has given a pilot order to a Quantum Leap sequel. The potential series would be set 30 years after the original television show, which ran for a total of five seasons on NBC between 1989-1993. The new project will reportedly bring back Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, judging by the synopsis, although NBC has yet to confirm his involvement.

    The sequel takes place 30 years after the events of the original series, where Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Following his vanishing, a new team is brought in to restart the project to try and understand the mysteries behind the machine and the man who built it. As it stands, the order from NBC is only for a pilot episode. However, this is the first major movement on any Quantum Leap revival since Bakula teased the potential project last year. At the time, the actor cited the rights as the reason a revival hadn’t happened yet. Now, though, it would seem that problem has been sorted.

    Creator Don Bellisario will serve as executive producer for the sequel series, while Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt (Gotham) serve as the showrunners. Should the project move forward, it will be a part of NBC’s 2023 line-up.

    Source: THR.

  • Netflix’s ‘Shadow & Bone’ Casts Four Key Roles for Season 2

    Netflix’s ‘Shadow & Bone’ Casts Four Key Roles for Season 2

    Netflix has filled four key roles for the forthcoming second season of Shadow & Bone, which is now in production.

    To celebrate the start of production on the series, Shadow & Bone has added four new actors to its rooster. Joining the cast are Anna Leong Brophy (Back) as Tamar Kir-Bataar, Patrick Gibson (The OA) as Nikolai Lantsov, Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat) as Tolya Yul-Bataar and Jack Wolfe (The Witcher) as Wylan Hendriks. Along with casting four key roles, the three others have been upped to series regulars for the upcoming season: Danielle Galligan who plays Nina Zenik, Daisy Head who plays Genya Safin and Calahan Skogman who plays Matthias Helvar.

    Along with adding new cast members, the series is also making some changes behind the camera. Netflix has announced that Season One writer, Daegan Fryklind, has been upped to co-showrunner for the series alongside Eric Heisserer, who is returning as showrunner. They’ll be working with directors Bola Ogun, Laura Belsey, Karen Gaviola and Mairzee Almas who will all helm episodes for Season Two of Shadow & Bone. The hit Netflix series, which also stars Ben Barnes, is based on the best-selling Grishaverse novels by author Leigh Bardugo, who is an executive producer on the Netflix adaptation.

    The Grishaverse novels follow orphan Alina Starkov, a young girl who who possess a sought-after power, across a war-torn world as she flees from the powerful General Kirigan, played by Barnes. The season, consisting of eight episodes, is expected to debut sometime this year.

    If you’re new to the Grishaverse, the first season of Shadow & Bone is streaming in full on Netflix now.

    Source: THR

  • David Ramsey Set to Lead Arrowverse Spinoff ‘Justice U’ Series

    David Ramsey Set to Lead Arrowverse Spinoff ‘Justice U’ Series

    There’s relative uncertainty around the CW right now, as WarnerMedia reportedly looks to sell the network. It supposedly hasn’t been profitable since 2006. Nevertheless, the Arrowverse is in a time of great change, as they move on from their flagship series like Arrow, Supergirl, and Black Lightning as they usher in a new era of justice. The CW’s latest additions include Superman and Lois, Naomi, and even a new series set to follow some young vigilantes in Gotham City. That’s not it, as it seems like they’re going all-in on some young Justice.

    The CW is reportedly in the development of yet another original series set within the Arrowverse with David Ramsey set to lead as John Diggler. The series will see Diggle set off to train the next generation of heroes, as he recruits five young metahumans, who will live at a prestigious university. There they’ll study and train to become the world’s next best heroes. If the series is picked up, David Ramsey will serve as the pilot’s director as part of his new deal with Berlanti Productions.

    The series was created by Michael Narducci, a co-executive producer on Superman & Lois alongside Zoanne Clack. Berlanti Productions will produce the series in association with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. Geoff Johns will serve as an executive producer on the series. No further casting has been made as the series has yet to receive a series order nor a pilot order.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Real Steel’ Series Reportedly in Development for Disney+

    ‘Real Steel’ Series Reportedly in Development for Disney+

    Just when you thought the upcoming slate of streaming projects couldn’t get any more exciting, The Wrap goes ahead and reports an exciting new bombshell. According to an article from Umberto Gonzalez, a series based on the film Real Steel is in early development for release on Disney+. The show is set to have an impressive set of executive producers, with veteran filmmakers Shawn Levy and Robert Zemeckis joined by Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, Susan Montford, and Don Murphy behind the scenes. Levy previously directed the original 2011 film on which the new project will be based, while Montford and Murphy return as producers.

    Real Steel tells the story of a struggling former boxer, who enters and navigates the world of robotic combat alongside his young son. The film featured Hugh Jackman in the lead role and was based on the 1956 short story Steel by science fiction writer Richard Matheson. The concept was also adapted into a 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone, under the same title. It’s unknown if the Disney+ series will continue the story established in the movie or serve as a total reboot of the franchise. There is currently no release estimate or cast attached to the project.

    Source: The Wrap