Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Loki’s Head Writer Michael Waldron Confirms Coordination with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Writers

    ‘Loki’s Head Writer Michael Waldron Confirms Coordination with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Writers

    Spider-Man: No Way Home’s multiversal story seems to be the worst kept secret in the industry. Rumors dropped early that Andrew Garfield, Kristen Dunst, and many more would reprise their roles from past Marvel films in the upcoming threequel. To make matters worse, Alfred Molina confirmed his involvement and return as Doctor Octopus in an interview with Variety.

    It seems that we can add Loki‘s Michael Waldron to the list of people hinting at the multiverse storyline. In an interview with The Playlist Podcast, he confirmed that he actively communicated with No Way Home writers Chris McKenna and Eric Summers. In the podcast, he states the following:

    Your producing teams are constantly communicating with those producing teams to make sure that you’re not screwing each other up. I had the benefit on Spider-Man: No Way Home, Chris McKenna and Eric Summers wrote that, I was their writer’s PA on Season 5 of Community, so I can call McKenna and get bullied by him whenever I want, but also say ‘Hey, what the hell are you guys doing? Let me make sure I’m not ruining it.’ So there’s communication to the extent that the creative teams themselves, the filmmakers, the writers, whoever, can become friendly, it certainly benefits the projects.

    Of course, the multiverse would be the connective tissue they would discuss. Loki‘s final episode unleashed the multiverse, with every possible branch coming into existence. With all the rumors surrounding No Way Home, it makes sense they’ll try to keep it consistent. Plus, Waldron is the writer of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will probably build upon the Spider-Man threequel. The collaborative approach makes a lot of sense to keep the world’s rules in line, especially if the multiverse becomes a bigger element moving forward in the current Phase of the MCU.

    Source: The Playlist Podcast via The Direct 

  • DC President Hints at More DCEU Projects in James Gunn’s Future

    DC President Hints at More DCEU Projects in James Gunn’s Future

    James Gunn’s Suicide Squad sequel will soon release and continue the DC franchise. He’s been busy working on a spin-off focused on the character of John Cena’s Peacemaker before returning to Marvel with the final installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. So, it looks like the director will be quite busy for the years to come, and DC Films president Walter Hamada may have hinted at a lot more projects in the iconic comic world heading his way. After a vague mentioning that they would always welcome him back, he also ended the interview with the following statement:

    He’ll be back. We have more stuff planned.

    So, it seems pretty clear that Gunn is in no way finished working with DC. It’s unclear if he’ll return to work with Marvel Studios in the near future, but the more disconnected strategy for the DCEU franchise may offer him a wilder playing field with how he approaches characters. There are hints that Peacemaker might get a potential second season, and he may even explore other spin-offs of the various members.

    Of course, he may even return for a sequel for The Suicide Squad, or tackle a brand-new character. Almost five months ago, Charles Murphy heard that Krypto was on the table at some point, and he could potentially return to the idea. It’s great to see Gunn‘s return to the world of comic book movies. We’ll all keep a close eye on what his future holds. Who knows what other wacky adventures or stories he has in store for us.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Agent Carter’ Footage is Absent in Peggy Carter’s ‘Legends’ Episode

    ‘Agent Carter’ Footage is Absent in Peggy Carter’s ‘Legends’ Episode

    As is tradition, Marvel Studios released a new slew of episodes for their Legends series. It recaps the story of a character or specific group to ensure others can catch up quickly ahead of its release. What If came with an interesting combination featuring the Avengers Initiative,  the Ravagers, and Peggy Carter. It teases the first three episodes of the new animated series What If and could hint at new entries for each new scenario in the future. Yet, there’s an interesting reveal with the episode focused on Peggy Carter, it’s missing a significant part of her story, Marvel TV’s Agent Carter.

    Why is it significant? Well, there have been many discussions about the canonicity of Marvel TV’s ventures. Loki’s introduction of the Sacred Timeline and eventual expansion into the multiverse opened up the possibility of any type of story being part of the bigger piece. So, it seemed like the perfect time to include her story, especially with the inclusion of  James D’Arcy’s Edwin Jarvis in Avengers: Endgame. Yet, the entire episode doesn’t feature a single piece of footage from the expanded ABC series.

     

    Cap☆ en Twitter: "A cameo that really surprised me was seeing Jarvis from Agent Carter in Avengers Endgame.… "

     

    There is some footage that some viewers might be surprised to see return, the original Agent Carter One-Shot. It was released in 2013 featuring the tease of the Zodiac. So, why did it make the cut but not the show? There’s a chance it is purely due to the Zodiac plotline finally getting picked up after its complete absence in the ABC series. As it was a Marvel Studios production, they may want to revisit the storyline through an alternative reality, which may also be their approach with the Fury’s Big Week adaptation.

    With the confirmed return of Bradley Whitford, who only appeared in the One Shot, it seems very safe to assume that’s the reason for its inclusion. Yet, Agent Carter‘s second season ended on quite the cliffhanger that still never got resolved. Sadly, it seems we’ll never find out what happened to Agent Thompson and due to them not picking up those pieces, it wasn’t included in the Legends episode.

     

    Marvel One Shot: Agent Carter - "Action Peggy" Clip

     

    Yet, we’ve theorized that its absence may also continue the story that Marvel Studios is distancing itself from storylines set up through Marvel TV. Even a month ago, James Gunn declared WandaVision as the first true MCU series. So, Legends completely sidelining two seasons’ worth of stories while still showing us Peggy’s final days and even funeral, which does not seem relevant to the What If scenario of the original Captain America: The First Avenger.

    It’s an odd balance and continues to showcase the growing rift between Marvel Studios and the old TV division. The appearance of the Marvel Netflix series in future entries could also highlight this direction by using the old cast with completely new stories, negating any canonicity of these original shows. For now, until they pick up or reference any story from that franchise, we’ll have to accept it’s part of a multiverse that seems forgotten. Yet, one could argue the use of the iconic red hat from the first season might be that glimmer of hope after all.

  • UPDATE: Deborah Ann Woll Denies Photos With Kirsten Dunst In Midst of Reported ‘NO WAY HOME’ Reshoots

    UPDATE: Deborah Ann Woll Denies Photos With Kirsten Dunst In Midst of Reported ‘NO WAY HOME’ Reshoots

    UPDATE: It looks like it may be a look-a-like of Deborah Ann Woll, as the actress took to Twitter to state that it isn’t her in the photos shared by @Peli_Comic.

     

     

     

    Additional photography for Spider-Man: No Way Home is ongoing in Los Angeles as fans are still anxiously awaiting their first look at the upcoming film. Rumors and plot leaks have run rampant over the last year and all point to the film including characters from not only previous live-action Spider-Man franchises but also Netflix’s Daredevil. Today, a fan may have caught a glimpse of those worlds colliding as actresses Kirsten Dunst, who played Mary Jane Watson in the Sam Raimi trilogy, and Deborah Ann Woll, who played Karen Page in Daredevil, were spotted together in Los Angeles.

    The photos, shared by Twitter user @MaguireDunst, seem to have caught the two actresses out for a walk together. It could just be a coincidence that the two are out together in Los Angeles, but it could also point to even more characters joining the cast. Dunst has been rumored to be a part of the film for months now and a recent IMDB listing indicated that a personal costumer for the actress was part of the crew. Woll, on the other hand, has not previously been associated with the Spidey threequel, but with Cox rumored to be working as Peter Parker’s lawyer in the film, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Karen Page make an appearance given that she was part of the Nelson, Murdock and Page law firm established in the final episode of Season 3 of Daredevil.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher in New ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Set Photos

    First Look at Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher in New ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Set Photos

    The God Butcher has finally arrived, even if it’s only for additional photography. The Daily Mail has reportedly obtained the first ever images of actor Christian Bale as Gorr, a renowned god killer and the main antagonist of the next installment in the Thor film franchise. The leaked set photos feature the acclaimed British actor appearing in an all-white getup, with his face coated in makeup and prosthetics, lumbering around a blocked off section of Malibu. Also included is a black robe and hood, though that appears to be part of an attempt to hide his identity and not part of the actual costume.

    Bale was announced in the role late last year, as part of Disney’s annual Investor Day presentation, though his involvement in the Marvel project was known for months prior. He now seems to be taking part in a bit of extra filming, as the main Thor: Love and Thunder shoot wrapped back in June. His character, the aforementioned Gorr, is an alien extremist who makes it his mission to rid the universe of gods. This goal comes from years of a torturous life and unanswered prayers, making Gorr bitter and vengeful. Traditionally, the God Butcher wields “All-Black the Necrosword”, a blade crafted from the remnants of a Celestial, but this prop is not seen anywhere in the set photos.

    Thor: Love and Thunder is set to release on May 6, 2022. The film will see the return of Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, and Natalie Portman as the newest God of Thunder. Taika Waititi will also return, as both director and the lovable alien Korg.

    Source: Daily Mail, Twitter

  • REPORT: ‘Werewolf by Night’ Series In Development At Disney+

    REPORT: ‘Werewolf by Night’ Series In Development At Disney+

    The supernatural side of the MCU is getting bigger, and furrier. The good folks at The Cosmic Circus are exclusively reporting that Werewolf by Night, a fancy name for Marvel’s Wolfman, will be getting his very own live-action series on Disney Plus. The report claims the show will begin filming next February, under the clever working title “Buzz Cut”. The production company for the show will supposedly be “Natural History Productions LLC”.

    If true, the news makes Werewolf by Night one of the many unannounced projects Marvel has teased in the past. The character was previously rumored to be making an appearance in Oscar Isaac’s secretive Moon Knight series, as the two characters share a long history together. That could still be true, given Marvel’s penchent for debuting characters in other projects before their solo outings. Not long ago, director Kevin Smith stirred the lycan pot by revealing Marvel Studios had prevented the character from appearing in his unproduced Howard the Duck cartoon. This sort of blockage is usually a good sign the company plans to use that character in the near future.

    Debuting in 1972, the original Werewolf by Night has a complicated history that stems from usage of the Darkhold. A modern descendant of ancient werewolves, Jack Russell is born with his family’s curse and acts as Marvel’s first Wolven protagonist. In recent years, a Native American character named Jake Gomez took on the title. It’s unknown which of these characters might be the focus of the show when it airs.

    Source: GWW, Cosmic Circus

  • RUMOR: ‘The Flash’s Villain Might Be an Evil Barry Allen

    RUMOR: ‘The Flash’s Villain Might Be an Evil Barry Allen

    It looks like we might’ve gotten some more insight into the mysterious multiversal plot surrounding The Flash. Not so long ago, we saw set photos featuring a stand-in for Ezra Miller next to the actor himself. It implied we’ll meet multiple versions of Barry Allen. It seems there’s more to this than we thought, as The Direct has shared some insight into the main villain of the film, an evil version of Barry.

    They claim that the story will take inspiration from Flashpoint, but a doppelganger will take the place of Reverse-Flash.  So, it will remain that the Flash will go up against another speedster, but it’ll end up being a displaced Barry Allen. It’s uncertain if it might also echo the CW show’s this, where an alternative version of Barry turned out to be the villain Savitar. It’s not stated that they’d take inspiration from this version of the character, or it’s simply an evil Flash.

    It’s a popular storyline in the comics as well, as Wally West faced an evil version of himself known as Walter West or the Dark Flash. He might be the cause for the multiversal rift or a showcase of what would happen if the character ends up down a darker path. The concept isn’t too bad, but it’s strange they’d replace such an iconic villain. There’s a chance they don’t want to introduce this new villain and somehow fit him into the story while exploring the multiverse. We’ll see if further details are teased as the film continues production.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Batu Sener to Score Disney+’s ‘Ice Age’ Spin-Off

    ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’s Batu Sener to Score Disney+’s ‘Ice Age’ Spin-Off

    It looks like Disney+’s revival of the Ice Age franchise has found its composer, as Film Music reporter has revealed that Batu Sener will score Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild. The series will explore the character introduced in Dawn of the Dinosaurs, who is voiced by Simon Pegg. It’ll follow the story of the titular character in the Dinosaur World, alongside his sidekicks Crash and Eddie.

    Sener has worked on various projects, such as How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. He worked on the projects that were led by composer John Powell, who also worked on a few of the Ice Age films. He took over from David Newman, who led the original 2002 film. The final film in the series was composed by John Debney.

     

    9 Buck wild ideas | ice age, ice age movies, blue sky studios

     

    The series was first announced during Disney’s Investors Day back in December. Since, we’ve heard very little about the series. It’ll be animated by 20th Century Studios. The focus on Buck Wild makes sense, as the character was one of the more popular additions to the franchise. He became a mainstay returning in the sequels Continental Drift and Collision Course.

    As the story explores their time in the Dinosaur World, it will act as a prequel before they meet the main gang in the original franchise. So, we’ll follow their everyday taking on the larger-than-life reptiles. It’s uncertain if this might revive the franchise, and we’ll see other spin-offs in the franchise. The entry is currently eyeing a 2022 release.

    Source: Film Music Reporter, Batu Sener, Twitter

  • ‘What If’ Executive Producer Brad Winderbaum Talks Recasting MCU Characters

    ‘What If’ Executive Producer Brad Winderbaum Talks Recasting MCU Characters

    Ever since the last trailer dropped of What If we’ve been hotly discussing the odd absence of actor Robert Downey Jr. Once the official cast list dropped, we noticed big names like Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Holland, and Brie Larson were noticeably absent. There was even the surprise mention by Dave Bautista that he was never approached to reprise the role, which also got featured in the previously mentioned trailer. In an interview with Comic Book, executive producer Brad Winderbaum gave some insight into their approach with the voices.

    One early decision was we were not going to let the show be defined by the actors we thought we could get. Part of the fun of What If…? is being able to tell stories in any corner of the universe you want to and that means that you need that infinite canvas, you need that infinite potential. Also, I was afraid we wouldn’t get any actors to come back. The fact that we got as many as we did, 85% of the actors came back or something like that. It’s incredible and it’s a real honor and privilege to work with all of them

    Captain America & Iron Man als Zombies, Hawkeye als Hulk & viel mehr: Das verrät der "What If?"-Trailer über die MCU-Serie - Serien News - FILMSTARTS.de

     

    Interestingly, they don’t mention why specific actors didn’t join. There’s a chance that the dealings with the various returning voices were not done directly by the creative team, but rather by Marvel Studios directly. Winderbaum did discuss their approach to finding

    In the cases where we couldn’t get the original voice actors back, and many of which were very iconic roles, very identifiable voices, we prioritized the performance over the soundalike. So you might be able to achieve a perfect Tony Stark voice, but if the depth of the character wasn’t there and the acting, the performance didn’t have dimensionality to it, it wouldn’t matter. You’d be taken out. That would take you out.

    He also goes on to discuss that working within a parallel universe does help them sell the fact that the voices aren’t the same. It’s great their focus is on keeping the character’s spirit alive, but it would be nice to know why specific actors didn’t join. Especially Brie Larson’s absence is odd, as she seems to love playing the character, but she may not be comfortable doing voice work. We do have a theory on why Tom Holland isn’t included with the confirmed appearance of Spider-Man, which you can check out here.

    Source: ComicBook

  • “What If…? Writer Confirms Show As MCU Canon

    “What If…? Writer Confirms Show As MCU Canon

    Ever since Marvel Studios announced their first animated series, What If…?, it’s status as canon has been a heavy topic of debate among fans. Now, thanks to the series’ head writer A.C. Bradley, we can say with confidence that the show is a firm part of the MCU’s lore. In a recent interview with IGN, Bradley cemented the revelation with a decisive quote:

    The events of What If…? are canon. It’s part of the MCU multiverse. The multiverse is here. It is real, and it is absolutely fantastic, people.

    The idea that What If…? would explore alternate universes, especially in an animated format, had previously led many to believe it wouldn’t have an effect on the larger MCU. It seemed possible the project would be closer in impact to Lucasfilm’s The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, which played with canon material but was ultimately not canon itself. Luckily for Marvel fans, the events of Kate Herron’s Loki opened up the multiverse and will allow for What If…?’s episodes to exist within a grand, branched timeline.

    Marvel's What If...? Series Is Coming This August - IGN

    The trailer for the animated series hinted at many of the series’ teased protagonists coming together at some point, which might be something fans should look at when pondering how the show could effect the future of the franchise. It’s possible that characters like Hayley Atwell’s Captain Carter, Chadwick Boseman’s Star-Lord, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Supreme have a bigger role to play in Marvel’s tapestry than we initially believed. We’ll find out for sure when What If…? begins airing on August 11th.

    Source: IGN