Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 Finale Gets Special ‘Disney Gallery’ BTS Episode

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 Finale Gets Special ‘Disney Gallery’ BTS Episode

    We’ve been anxiously awaiting any news on The Mandalorian‘s third season. Sadly, it seems that we will have to wait until 2022 before we find out what Din Djarin’s future has in store for him without Grogu by his side. Until then, we’ll get a spin-off The Book of Boba Fett that’s eyeing the Disney+ series main release window. Luckily, it seems the wait for anything Mandalorian-related just got shorter, as the official Twitter account for Star Wars unveiled a special Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian episode will release August 25th that’ll focus on the making of the finale.

     

    It makes sense that they’re giving the finale a special episode. Many have wondered how they de-aged Mark Hamill for his grand return as Luke Skywalker. Overall, the finale featured some amazing effects that could keep up with any high-budget film that are worth highlighting. The first Disney Gallery season consisted of multiple episodes that explored different perspectives on developing the series. Showrunner Jon Favreau sat down with the directors, writers, animators, and cast to talk about how they brought the galaxy far far away to Disney+.

    As the pandemic was raging when the second season was released, it was unlikely that they could get the team together at one table. So, they only released a singular episode that covered the entire season.  It’ll be interesting to see if they do the same with others. Marvel Studios’ Assembled series took a similar approach by adding a new episode after each Disney+ show was released. It’s still surprising we didn’t get a rebranding for the Star Wars series, as they will slowly expand in the future.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante Costume in ‘Peacemaker’ BTS Image

    First Look at Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante Costume in ‘Peacemaker’ BTS Image

    Before The Suicide Squad is even out, the upcoming spin-off show Peacemaker has already wrapped filming. The show will debut in January on HBO Max. It’ll see the return of John Cena as the titular character of Christopher Smith, the man who will do anything in the pursuit of peace. Plot details for the series remain unknown as the show could be adapting the Janus Directive storyline. In it, we follow Peacemaker’s origins as he faces off against Adrian Chase, also known as the Vigilante. The small story ends up involving multiple shady organizations that all lead back to Amanda Waller.

    Originally the series would’ve seen Chris Conrad as Adrian Chase, but he would ultimately get recast due to creative differences. Freddie Stroma took over the role after Conard’s exit. As the season finishes up production, a new photo featuring the entire cast has given us our first look at the actor’s suit. He is sporting the character’s classic blue and white color pallet with a V-shape design on the chest.

     

     

    For those unfamiliar with the character, Adrian Chase is the second person to don the mantle of Vigilante. His first appearance was in The New Teen Titans #23 all the way back in 1982. Chase was an Attorney in New York City who went down a more violent path of justice following the murder of his wife and kids at the hands of mobsters. He would come face to face with Peacemaker after Smith murdered one of his closest friends in his absence. Chase, so terribly out of shape, would be beaten by Peacemaker and unmasked live on television, ending his career as the vigilante. It’ll be interesting to see if the HBO MMax series follows the same structure.

    Source: Instagram

  • New ‘Free Guy’ Promotion Features MCU Crossover With Deadpool and Korg

    New ‘Free Guy’ Promotion Features MCU Crossover With Deadpool and Korg

    Here’s an interesting surprise. Ryan Reynolds just shared a video to promote his upcoming film Free Guy. In it, we get Ryan in his iconic Deadpool costume reacting to the new trailer alongside Thor: Ragnarok‘s Korg. They even make a cheeky reference to how Deadpool can join the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the end of the trailer with various Easter Eggs hidden throughout the background. Who knew that Deadpool’s contract also included him making React videos on YouTube once he joined Disney.

     

     

    His inclusion makes sense if you consider the fact that Taika Waititi is also featured in the 20th Century film, but, amazingly, they’d invest the money to fully animated the CGI rock man for a 4-minute video. It’s also our first official transition from Deadpool’s 20th Century Fox roots as part of the Disney-Marvel Studios family. Perhaps we can expect more cheeky cross-franchise videos in the future. Deadpool 3 is still actively in development but we haven’t heard anything on the project in some time now.

    The suit worn by Ryan Reynolds in the video seems to be the same one he had in the second entry of the franchise. As they are still writing the film, they won’t have prepared a brand new suit for the actor to wear. One of the best parts of the franchise was its creative marketing and this is a hopeful sign they will continue the tradition. He’ll have some competition with breaking the fourth wall, as She-Hulk is reported to do the same. So, her upcoming Disney+ show would be the perfect place for the two to exchange their ideas for the MCU’s future in a promotional video.

    Source: YouTube

  • Marvel Studios Nabs 28 Emmy Nominations for ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’

    Marvel Studios Nabs 28 Emmy Nominations for ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’

    It looks like Marvel Studios’ venture into streaming and long-form storytelling has paid off. The Emmy nominations have finally announced their nominations, and Marvel Studios managed to garner 28 Primetime nominations. 23 of those are primarily from WandaVision. What makes it stand out is that it got the second-highest nominations of the year right behind another Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. Falcon and the Winter Soldier managed to grab five nominations during the event. It’s the first time that a Marvel live-action series gets an above-the-line nomination.

    As pointed out by Deadline, WandaVision‘s tribute to television history is perfect for Emmy voters. The series’ nominations include three nods for Writing Limited Series, Casting, Hairstyling, Main Title Design, Original Dramatic Score, Main Title Theme, Sound Editing and Mixing, Special VFX, and many more. It also included the first Emmy nominations for Paul Bettany and Elisabeth Olsen. Matt Shakman got nominated for his directorial work. Kathryn Hahn received her second Emmy nomination for her role as Agatha Harkness. Falcon and the Winter Soldier did score one above-the-line nomination with Don Cheadle getting a Guest Actor in a Drama Series nod.

    Overall, it’s been quite a successful week for Marvel Studios. Loki‘s season finale is just around the corner. Black Widow garnered the highest pandemic opening with around $215M worldwide if you include its Disney+ Premier Access. As they venture out with new series, we could see Marvel Studios garner more attention at the Emmys in the future. Their expansion has been quite a success, as their viewership numbers have also been rising at an impressive rate. So, the future looks bright for their Disney+ expansion.

    Source: Deadline, Variety

  • Tom Hiddleston Teases Loki’s Big Change in ‘WHAT IF…?’

    Tom Hiddleston Teases Loki’s Big Change in ‘WHAT IF…?’

    The Marvel Studios machine is running in high gear. Even as we approach the final of Season One of Loki, we are only just a few weeks away from Marvel Studios next Disney Plus series, What If…?, the studio’s first foray into a canonical animated series. What If…? will see how changes to significant events in the MCU (like Peggy Carter becoming a super soldier instead of Steve Rogers) would have changed reality. Marvel Studios star Tom Hiddleston appeared on last night’s Tonight Show to talk with host Jimmy Fallon about both projects. In describing the premise of What If…?, Hiddleston teased what’s in store for Loki and may have given a slight spoiler for his character’s episode of the upcoming series.

    We know that the other storylines mentioned by Hiddleston are accurate, so it would seem like Loki’s change of familial circumstance might be too; however, we are talking about the man who has played the God of Mischief more than a few times, so it’s possible he’s pulling our legs. It’s also possible, maybe even probable, that with all the Variant Lokis we’ve met in Loki we might be getting more than one episode featuring a Loki in some way. The recent trailer shows Loki using the Casket of Ancient Winters, last seen in Thor, so maybe we’ll get a Loki who has invaded Asgard and cleared out the vault before heading to the other realms to conquer them as well.

    What If…? is set to debut on Disney Plus on August 11th.

     

  • ‘She-Hulk’: Disney+ Series Adds ‘Sex and the City’ Cinematographer Florian Ballhaus

    ‘She-Hulk’: Disney+ Series Adds ‘Sex and the City’ Cinematographer Florian Ballhaus

    It seems that Marvel Studios is continuing its experimentation with genre into Disney+. While Falcon and the Winter Soldier was closer to a classic Marvel fair, it also acted as a geo- and social-political drama. WandaVision consisted mostly of sitcom-inspired episodes that got reinvented with each episode.

    Even Loki took the genre of mystery thriller and added some Office Space, and Wizard of Oz into the mix. We’ve known that She-Hulk would act as a legal comedy, but that might not be all it’s inspired by. According to film lens producer LEITZ whose lenses were used in the production, the Disney+ series’ upcoming Director of Photography is Florian Ballhaus.

     

    Allegiant (2016)

     

    The German cinematographer is famous for his work on films like The Book Thief, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Marley & Me, and, most notably, The Devil Wears Prada. He also worked on ten episodes of Sex and the City. There are hints that Jameela Jamil‘s Titania might be a Kim Kardashian-esque influencer. His work would add the perfect flair to the series to showcase the character’s lifestyle.

    Ballhaus is also no stranger to action, as he was the cinematographer for RED and Allegiant. So, he’s the perfect candidate to balance the legal comedy and Hulk action sequences. We’ve heard rumblings of the Wrecking Crew facing off against Jennifer Walters and with Mark Ruffalo‘s return as Professor Hulk, we might see these two team up against their unlikely foes. Here’s hoping we get some teases for the upcoming series. It seems likely with Marvel Studios skipping this year’s SDCC@Home, we might get our first look during Disney’s Investors Day in December.

    Source: Leitz, IMDb

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Had No Idea She Was Auditioning for ‘Loki’s Miss Minutes

    EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Had No Idea She Was Auditioning for ‘Loki’s Miss Minutes

    With Loki set to wrap its first season up later this week, fans are eager to uncover the secrets of the Time Variance Authority. We were just as confused as Loki on what was going on when he got dragged into the organization’s offices for the first time. Luckily, Miss Minutes, who is a living animated clock just bursting with southern charm, explained their origin.

    Minutes is voiced by none other than the famous voice actress Tara Strong. She is no stranger to superhero stories, as she worked on Teen Titans, Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, and famously voices Harley Quinn in many different shows. In a recent interview with our very own Charles Murphy, Strong revealed just how different the audition process behind this project was compared to others.

    You know initially in the audition, when I get an audition it’ll have a drawing of the character, a character description, a show bible with what this world was all about, and I didn’t get any of that for Miss Minutes. In fact, I called my agent to learn more about her, because everything I get feeds into how I go into creating an audition and I auditioned first in my home studio and they couldn’t get anymore information. I didn’t even know what show I was auditioning for.

    With so much mystery surrounding this process, she mentioned how she navigated her way through this process and how Miss Minutes was created. It seems she and director Kate Herron built upon her initial pitch without knowing fully what character she is going to play.

    So, I’ll take between ten minutes or three hours ’till I get it exactly how I want it and they said to try one with an accent. So, I did this sort of Southern Belle and they really liked that and then it wasn’t ’till I booked it that I knew what it was and then working on the Zoom with Kate and them playing me which audition they really liked and we worked on that collabratively to get it exactly where Miss Minutes is now.

    Strong‘s charming take on the character sure won fans over as she quickly became loved by fans of the show. We’ll see if we get more of Miss Minutes in the upcoming finale, but with her origin still remaining a mystery, there’s still a lot we can learn about the character.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Talks Miss Minutes Mysterious Origins And ‘Loki’ Fan Theories

    EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Talks Miss Minutes Mysterious Origins And ‘Loki’ Fan Theories

    Loki has taken Marvel fans by storm as each episode slowly unraveled the sinister secrets behind the TVA. We are so close to the finale, and everyone is still wondering who is the mysterious mastermind behind the organization and the robotic Time-Keepers. There have been countless fan theories on the true identity of the man in the castle. The list includes a Loki Variant, Kang the Conqueror, and even the adorable Miss Minutes.

    Luckily, our very own Charles Murphy got the chance to sit down with Miss Minutes herself, Tara Strong. She didn’t give away what we can expect in the next episode, but she gave a cheeky in-character answer when asked. She did share her love for the various fan theories that Miss Minutes is the evil mastermind behind the series. 

    I love, you know, connecting with the fans and seeing what they’re doing on social media. I’ve loved all the art that’s been made. It’s been incredible. And I love all their theories, I can’t comment if things are right or not, but it’s been fun to see people so invested in the show.

    She also talks about the challenge of playing Miss Minutes, who is an original creation for the show. Strong didn’t have a chance to research the character’s backstory and implied she still doesn’t know her origin. It’s a curious reveal if you consider her origin should tie directly into the TVA. Perhaps it is something they are keeping open to explore in the future if it doesn’t get answered in the upcoming finale. Whatever happens, Minutes will certainly stick with audiences and she hopefully has a long history ahead of her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Says ‘LOKI’ Finale Will Leave Fans “Happy and Excited” After a “Great Ride”

    EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Says ‘LOKI’ Finale Will Leave Fans “Happy and Excited” After a “Great Ride”

    While Marvel Studios has made quite a splash in the streaming market with its first two original series WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, there’s been some sentiment among the fans that neither series really stuck the landing in their respective finales. With the finale of Loki just over a day away, fans are starting to wonder if this series, which has been incredible so far, will follow suit. Earlier today, I chatted with Tara Strong, who voices the TVA’s AI interface Miss Minutes, and asked her how fans would feel after this week’s episode.

    They’re going to be so happy. A lot of times you watch a show and you’re invested in a show and the final episode leaves you disappointed. And I think this series of Loki, from start to finish, has been one of the most stellar, perfect shows I’ve ever seen and everyone’s just going to happy and excited and feel like they’ve gone on a great, great ride.

    Strong’s answer should leave fans feeling pretty hopeful about how Kate Herron, Michael Waldron, and the rest of the series’ creative team have chosen to wrap up the first season of the show. We know that Loki and Sylvie are headed to the citadel at the end of time to take on whoever is the true power behind the TVA (who could it be?) and that the MCU is headed towards the Multiverse of Madness, so it seems that not only will the finale wrap up this episode but also serve as a springboard into the next wave of Phase 4.

  • ‘John Wick 4’: Keanu Reeves to Face Off Against Marko Zaror

    ‘John Wick 4’: Keanu Reeves to Face Off Against Marko Zaror

    It looks like we finally know who the main antagonist will be for John Wick 4. We’ve seen a variety of castings over the course of a few weeks, which included legends like Donnie Yen. Yet, there was no confirmation on who exactly would be Wick’s main foil throughout the film. According to Deadline, Marko Zaror is in negotiations to join the film that started filming not too long ago. He would join a stellar cast that includes Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Lance Reddic, and many more.

    It will be based on a screenplay by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. We’ll find out what happened to Wick after he got betrayed by Winston and maps out his next vengeance. They won’t disclose which role Zaror has in the film, but the martial artist will offer an interesting adversary. He’s known for his work on Alita: Battle Angel, and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. Marvel fans might recognize him as Shaft from Marvel’s The Defenders.

    John Wick‘s use of choreography makes it stand out among many iconic action franchises. The combination of Reeve’s subtle performance and creative action has put the next installment on everyone’s radar as Wick continues to get screwed over. At his point, it makes you wonder if he’ll ever escape his life as Babayaga. The man wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet with the last memories of his wife. One fatal mistake set the man on a path of vengeance that seems almost endless at this point. We’ll see how long he can pull it through moving forward.

    Source: Deadline, IMDb