Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    According to a playbill for his new gig, The Lehman Triology, British stage actor and Penny Dreadful alum Sir Simon Russell Beale has joined the MCU and will be making an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder.

    https://imgur.com/gallery/2uMrQOM

    Beale has portrayed Shakespearian icons such as Malvolio, Hamlet, Iago and King Lear during his nearly 30 year career that has stretched from stage to big screen. He also memorably portrayed Egyptologist Ferdinand Lyle over 3 seasons of Penny Dreadful.

    It’s not known what role Beale has taken on in Thor: Love and Thunder, but given his pedigree and the rumors that gods and goddesses from other pantheons may appear, it’s not too far fetched to think he might be portraying one of them.

    Thor: Love and Thunder will be in theaters on July 8th, 2022.

  • ‘Dune’ Spicing Up the Domestic Box Office With Potential $30M+ Opening

    ‘Dune’ Spicing Up the Domestic Box Office With Potential $30M+ Opening

    We’ve been waiting for Dune‘s arrival in domestic cinemas for quite some time. It already had a great start internationally with around $36.8M in its opening weekend across 24 markets in September. Now, we finally got a clearer picture for its domestic debut, as it garnered around $5.1M in its Thursday previews. Denis Villeneuve‘s latest film was also made available through HBO Max, which might give it a good audience boost. The numbers are looking good, as it drove 30% of Thursday’s box office, especially in Imax cinemas. It makes sense, as it was one of the big selling points of the film and ended up making up $1.5M of its total preview income.

    As of now, the box office seems likely for a $30M+ opening, but Warner Bros. is keeping their prediction at around $30M to be safe. Its Imax performance is certainly a showcase of the film’s marketing and selling the “cinematic experience,” but the question remains if it can keep the momentum going into the weekend. HBO Max availability has hurt films Saturday’s at times, but only time will tell for now.

    Villeneuve’s films haven’t always garnered box office attention but were still very popular with critics and audiences. As The Hollywood Reporter highlights, the biggest challenge lies in the franchise’s older draw. Even No Time to Die suffered a bit over the weekend due to the original novels’ older audience. It’s going to be exciting to follow its development.

    Source: Deadline, Forbes, Hollywood Reporter

  • Kevin Feige’s ‘Spider-Man’ Pitch Involved a Sandwich Flying His Way

    Kevin Feige’s ‘Spider-Man’ Pitch Involved a Sandwich Flying His Way

    We’ve always wondered how the discussion came to be that Marvel Studios and Sony would work on a Spider-Man remake. The moment the announcement dropped, it was a huge surprise for everyone when the world found out that they’d bring the character back into the MCU. Luckily, the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe offered some insight into how that conversation happened.

    It started off as a pitch for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 from producer Amy Pascal to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. She wanted his input on the project, as he had done on the second entry long ago as revealed by the infamous Sony leaks. After he shot the pitch, he highlighted it was just a repeat of what has come before. He then went on to make the pitch about them cooperating on the next project with Marvel Studios taking on the production side of things, similar to DC and Christopher Nolan‘s deal. Pascal shared her feelings on the inquiry in the book.

    At first, I was super resentful,” she admits. ‘I think I started crying and threw him out of my office, or threw a sandwich at him – I’m not sure which.’ Then she started to think it through. ‘By the fifth [Spider-Man] movie, we weren’t giving them anything new. And I have to be honest about it, we were trying so hard to be different, we even went into places to be different that we shouldn’t have. We weren’t fresh anymore.’

    It turns out though that their love for the character was what inspired them to give the idea a try. It didn’t take long for her to get back to him and figure out what exactly was brewing in his mind. Even recalling his time working on Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man.

    Pascal called Feige back the next day after their lunch. The concept of a collaboration between Sony and Marvel Studios had not left her mind. After hearing his specific thoughts on what to do with Spider-Man in the MCU, she admits, ‘The idea of putting him up against a world where everybody had everything and he had nothing was a whole new way of telling his story. I thought, ‘Goddamn, that guy’s smart.

    This call would end up changing the filming landscape in a big way, as Tom Holland would take on the mantle and appear in Captain America: Civil War. Crazy to think that a meeting with a sandwich getting thrown in a room would eventually turn into one of the franchise’s cornerstone moves, as Spider-Man became an important cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Source: The Story of Marvel Studios via The Direct

  • Nintendo’s ‘Advance Wars’ Remake Delayed Until Spring 2022

    Nintendo’s ‘Advance Wars’ Remake Delayed Until Spring 2022

    Sadly, it looks like the E3 announced Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp was officially delayed. Nintendo took to Twitter to announce that the remake of the original two games won’t get released until Spring 2022. It originally was going to be made available this holiday season on December 3rd. The remake will take the original’s sprite artworks and update it with a combination of hand-drawn animations for the characters and 3D stylization for the various infantry units.

    As mentioned previously, this game won’t just include the original Advance Wars, but also its sequel Black Hole Rising. There’s also word that it’ll include online functionality for those wanting a chance to face off against friends. There’s no word if it’s one ongoing campaign or if the games will be available as two separate options. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remix combined both into one game but still kept the levels separate.

    We’ll see what the game has to offer, but it’s exciting to see them bring back some classic franchises. The Nintendo Switch has become a home for many classic franchises. They recently released the long-awaited sequel to Metroid Fusion titled Dread on the console and there’s hope that other long-dormant franchises might get a release.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: New Character Description May Hint at ‘Batgirl’ Casting Alysia Yeoh

    RUMOR: New Character Description May Hint at ‘Batgirl’ Casting Alysia Yeoh

    As production is set to kick off sometime in November, we’ve recently got a slew of new information on the upcoming Batgirl film. The film seems to be taking its inspiration from the Burnside run that was prominent in the New 52. Directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi also teased the appearance of “the real” Batman, which naturally adds quite a bit of speculation. The cast is still growing as they recently added actor Jacob Scipio in an unknown role. It looks like they might be adding one more character.

    The production is currently looking to cast a role under the name Alanna. Cast-It lists it as an “Untitled Warner Bros. Action Film” with Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi listed as directors. What is also noteworthy is that it’s eyeing to shoot in the United Kingdom. The role is described as a transgender, Asian-American actress in their mid-late 20’s. The production is looking for someone to play both an older and younger version of the character. So, there’s an additional casting call for a 10 to 12-year-old Asian-American, transgender girl, or a non-binary/gender-diverse person. They are described as “athletic, fun, and confident”.

    This description matches almost perfectly to the character of Alysia Yeoh, Barbara Gordons best friend, and roommate from the comics. She would eventually end up dating Barbara’s brother James, which could even further backup that Jacob Scipio could indeed be playing James Gordon Jr. Batgirl currently has no set release date but will release exclusively on HBO Max. Leslie Grace is taking on the mantle and will be joined by J.K. Simmons, reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon.

    Source: Cast-It

  • ‘Halloween Kills’ Jamie Lee Curtis Would Love to Play Dr. Kureha in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    ‘Halloween Kills’ Jamie Lee Curtis Would Love to Play Dr. Kureha in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    We’re still anticipating the casting for Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of One Piece. The upcoming adaptation of Cowboy Bebop will be our first window into its potential, but the recent short has proven they can capture a live-action anime quite well. Still, the casting will play a vital role in the series’ potential. So far, we have no diea who’ll take on the iconic roles from the popular manga series. The only rumor was taht they were eyeing Ludi Lin for the role of Roronoa Zoro. Well, it seems one well-known actress has her eyes set on a specific role.

    Halloween Kills‘ Jamie Lee Curtis is well-known for her love of the series. In the past, she has openly discussed her wish to play Robin. Of course, the age difference won’t make that a reality, but she does seem to have a Plan B that matches some fan castings. In an interview with the One Piece Podcast, Curtis‘ daughter Ruby Guest joined the podcast’s hosts talking about the show. She ended up also getting a question on the fans wanting her to play Chopper’s teacher, Dr. Kureha.

    My mom loves Kureha. I would be 100% for it and I honestly, since Netflix is doing the live-action adaptation, I would highly recommend her to pull some strings to see if she can. […] I know my mom is 100% for it.

    Ruby Guest

    In the interview, Guest also reveals that her mother loves Chopper. So, it almost seems like a destined casting. Of course, if they end up casting her it won’t be until the series gets a second season renewal, as Kureha doesn’t appear until the Drum Island arc. It was a pitstop on tehir way to Alabasta as Nami fell ill from their time on Little Garden. The island was famous for its doctors until the selfish King Wapol tried to monopolize their services. She was one of the few doctors that roamed the island alongside the quack Dr. Hiriluk. Here’s hoping that we’ll get to explore the Grand Line after the first season’s time on the East Blue.

    Source: One Piece Podcast via Twitter

  • Maluma Joins Disney’s Animated Film ‘Encanto’

    Maluma Joins Disney’s Animated Film ‘Encanto’

    It looks like Disney is ready to kickstart its advertising for the upcoming animated film Encanto. They’ve shared a little video on Twitter to promote Latin superstar Maluma joining the voice cast of the film. Of course, the Colombian singer will also lend his singing voice to the upcoming film. He’ll play the character of Mariano. He’s the soon-to-be fiancé of Mirabel’s sister Isabela. He had the following to share on his casting in the film.

    Encanto is such a magical movie. I’m from Colombia and the story is about a Colombian family. I’m proud to be part of this beautiful story. It means so much to me as I’m very passionate about sharing my country’s cultural values and story globally

    Maluma

    You can check out the video and first look at his Encanto character here:

    Juan Luis Londono Arias, better known to fans as Maluma, made a name for himself in the last ten years across the world. With six albums released, his work on “#7DJ – Seven Days in Jamaica” put him on the map with Billboard, Latin Billboard Awards, VMAs, and the Latin GRAMMYs. He’s also set to appear in the upcoming film Marry Me featuring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. Given his experience as an actor and singer, he’s a great addition to Encanto which is eyeing a November 24th release. The film also features songs by Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda and is directed by Zootopia‘s Jared Bush.

    Source: Twitter

  • UPDATE: ‘The Story of Marvel Studios’ Author Elaborated on Why ‘Agents of SHIELD’ Wasn’t Included

    UPDATE: ‘The Story of Marvel Studios’ Author Elaborated on Why ‘Agents of SHIELD’ Wasn’t Included

    UPDATE: Author Tara Bennett, who wrote the new book exploring the history of Marvel Studios has shared a new statement regarding her earlier tweet and its coverage.

    There are some amazing little details in the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It revealed that New Girl‘s Zooey Deschanel could’ve been the Wasp in 2012’s Avengers. We got the first confirmation that Agent Carter is technically canon. But the lack of information also says more than what you’d think. There’s a noticeable absence of the ABC show that started Marvel TV’s venture, Agents of SHIELD. Author Tara Bennett took to Twitter and clarified that the book does not explicitly state that the series is part of the MCU.

    https://twitter.com/TaraDBennett/status/1450906836396240898

    This statement will certainly open the floodgates, as there’s been quite a heated debate on the series’ canonicity. Technically, it has built up cases that some actions by the team of SHIELD agents informed the films. Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury even made an appearance and was just one of many cameos from the films. The absence in the book might also be purely due to production reasonings, but it not having a bigger part in exploring its connectivity to Marvel Studios’ MCU is a curious case.

    In June, Loki‘s Michael Waldron even questioned its canon, especially as it expanded into the multiverse at the tail end of the series. Technically, it could exist somewhere in the multiverse and still utilize elements from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The potential return of Charlie Cox as Daredevil also raises the question of the Netflix shows working within the canon, or how they might approach it. Here’s hoping we get a clearer picture in the near future.

    Source: Twitter

  • New Marvel Studios Book Confirms ABC’s ‘Agent Carter’ is Canon in the MCU

    New Marvel Studios Book Confirms ABC’s ‘Agent Carter’ is Canon in the MCU

    There’s been a curious discussion surrounding ABC’s TV series Agent Carter. Just like with Agents of SHIELD, there’s a debate if these Marvel TV shows are canon within the MCU. Back in July, director James Gunn declared that WandaVision was the first MCU show ever produced, which naturally raised some eyebrows. SHIELD was a direct spinoff out of 2012’s Avengers while Agent Carter introduced us to James D’Arcy‘s Edwin Jarvis, who would eventually make his film debut in Avengers: Endgame. So, there were connections there, but a lack of official confirmation. Well, that was until now.

    In the book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s a mention of the ABC series featuring Hayley Atwell. Not only that but it’s highlighted as “canon storytelling” that would eventually lead back into future films. Sadly, it was canceled after only two seasons and the character didn’t make her return until the post-credit sequence of Endgame. The paragraph reads as follows:

    Launched on January 6, the series debuted on the ABC midseason slate. Notably, Agent Carter marked the first time an MCU-originated character would transition from the big screen to the small screen, with canon storytelling that would eventually dovetail back into future films.

    The book also reveals that some character rights were not fully under Marvel Studios’ supervision. So, it seems that the Netflix series and other projects by Marvel TV were done completely out of Kevin Feige‘s hands. It also highlights the internal struggle and politics holding the franchise back in its early days. No wonder then that Marvel Studios merged with the TV department as they ventured into Disney+. There is, however, no word on the other series which still leaves their canonicity a question mark.

    Source: The Story of Marvel Studios via The Direct

  • WarnerMedia Studios CEO Seemingly Confirms Plans for a ‘Dune’ Sequel

    WarnerMedia Studios CEO Seemingly Confirms Plans for a ‘Dune’ Sequel

    Denis Villeneuve‘s adaptation of Dune is only the first part of the bigger picture. The story that explores the dunes of Arrakis offers a taste of what the story has to offer and many wondered if we’d finally get a sequel announcement. Luckily, it seems that WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Chair and CEO, Ann Sarnoff, might have confirmed that they’re already planning on the story getting a continuation. In a sit-down with Deadline, she gave the following answer on the question if we should expect the sequel.

    Will we have a sequel to Dune? If you watch the movie you see how it ends. I think you pretty much know the answer to that.

    Ann Sarnoff

    WarnerMedia CEO also added that their decisions on continuing franchises are based on audience responses and not just box office. The question was made due to the cinema epic also releasing on the streaming service HBO Max. WarnerMedia has been holding true to its promise that all 2021 releases will be made available simultaneously in theatres and their streaming service.

    It’s an interesting tease ahead of its domestic release. The film has been performing strongly internationally and the domestic release could be the last push it needed. Yet, it seems that there’s not as much pressure on Dune to outperform its earliest expectations for a domestic premiere. Our own Filip Manka had a chance to watch the film early and you can check out his review here.

    Source: Deadline