Murphy's Multiverse

Category: News

  • ‘Black Widow’ Postponed for a Simultaneous Release on Disney+ And in Theaters

    ‘Black Widow’ Postponed for a Simultaneous Release on Disney+ And in Theaters

    Looks like Marvel Studios’ first Phase 4 MCU film is finally ready to make its debut on Disney+. In the past year, since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Marvel Studios has had to work its way around its Phase 4 slate, delaying its projects for over a year and moving some projects around to officially start Phase 4 earlier this year with WandaVision (2021). Speculation over the film’s release has been thrown around over the last couple of months, with rumors running rampant about the film being shifted solely to Disney+ like Mulan (2020), or a hybrid format like Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Well now, Black Widow (2021), has been delayed and it is scheduled to be released on July 9th and will debut in a hybrid format via theaters and Disney+ Premier Access. Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution chairman, Kareem Daniel, had the following to say on the announcement:

    Today’s announcement reflects our focus on providing consumer choice and serving the evolving preferences of audiences. By leveraging a flexible distribution strategy in a dynamic marketplace that is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, we will continue to employ the best options to deliver The Walt Disney Company’s unparalleled storytelling to fans and families around the world

    The move comes after Marvel’s incredible success with their Disney+ series, WandaVision (2021) and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (2021), bringing in huge numbers as they have announced that the latter series had the biggest premiere and is also their most watched title worldwide on the platform. The film will debut on their Disney+ Premier Access format for $30, just as its predecessors Mulan (2020) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), as well as also be available in theaters. Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Natasha/Black Widow alongside Florence Pugh as Yelena, David Harbour as Alexei aka The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz as Melina.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • J.K. Simmons Hints At ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Return

    J.K. Simmons Hints At ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Return

    J.K. Simmons is starting to become a regular name in comic book adaptations, and he’s not done yet. During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the acclaimed actor hinted that he may not be through with playing with one of his most iconic roles. The role being referred to is, of course, hot-headed journalist J. Jonah Jameson, whom Simmons has inhabited to perfection since his big screen debut in Sam Raimi‘s 2001 Spider-Man. Originally depicted as the web-head hating editor of the fictional New York City newspaper The Daily Bugle, Simmons reprised the role in both of Raimi’s sequels as well as the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man. Fans everywhere were surprised to find the Oscar-winning performer show up as Jameson once more in Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s mid-credits scene, this time as an internet conspiracy theorist. The unexpected cameo made him the first actor to play the same character in more than one Marvel Cinematic Universe and led audiences to wonder if he may show up again in the future of the mainstream MCU. This quote, taken from Simmons after a question about his involvement in the worlds of both Marvel and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, most likely provides the answer:

    “I’m pretty sure people know that I might be showing up in Spider-Man land again…”

    Aside from playing J. Jonah Jameson, Simmonsis known to comic book fans for his part as Commissioner James Gordon in the DCEU and his upcoming role voicing Omni-Man in Amazon’s Invincible series. Supporters of Nickelodeon’s Avatar franchise may recognize him as the voice of Tenzin in The Legend of Korra. Outside of the nerd realm, the actor has won an Academy Award for his performance in the film Whiplash, and has appeared in numerous critically-acclaimed films such as Burn After Reading and La La Land.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • Additional Evidence Supports Kid Loki Joining the MCU in ‘Loki’

    Additional Evidence Supports Kid Loki Joining the MCU in ‘Loki’

    Over the last year, there’s been mounting evidence that the upcoming Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series, Loki, would feature different versions of the trickster. Sophie Di Martino is widely speculated to be playing a female version of the character (speculation that was backed up by some samples of the score for the series), Richard E. Grant’s role as “Classic Loki” may have been revealed by his stuntman, and, last September, evidence emerged that we might also be getting Kid Loki in the series. Now young actor Jack Veal has confirmed his role in Loki via Instagram and furthered speculation that he could be playing a younger version of the God of Mischief.

    Veal shared the recently revealed poster for the show and, as you can see in the photo above, confirmed he was in the series and responded “can’t wait” to a user referring to Kid Loki. Obviously, we’re in no position to officially confirm that Veal will portray Kid Loki, but he seems to be pretty excited about the prospects. The idea of there somehow being multiple versions of Loki involved in the show is both comic accurate and could set up any number of potential stories or spinoffs down the road. You can never be sure what to expect from a Loki but we’ll all find out together when Loki streams on Disney Plus beginning June 11th!

     

     

  • ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Is Disney+’s Most Watched Premiere Ever

    ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Is Disney+’s Most Watched Premiere Ever

    Streaming services are commonly very shy about sharing any insight into their viewer numbers. It made us dependent on what external analysts can figure out based on Social Media buzz and external data sources. Well, it looks like Falcon and the Winter Soldier may have broken a record, as Disney+ has officially shared the news that its second Marvel Studios show has beat out The Mandalorian and WandaVision‘s debut numbers. They have announced that the debut series didn’t just have the biggest premiere, but is also their most watched title worldwide.

    Of course, they didn’t provide any numbers. According to Deadline, they have only mentioned that Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and the second season of The Mandalorian are their top three most-watched weekend premieres. It would be interesting to know what they are measuring that and if they also evaluate the drop-off between episodes.

    Unlike cinemas, we have no public data to really confirm or evaluate its validity. Still, it shows how much anticipation there was for the series’ more action-focused series. According to Nielsen, WandaVision was watched around 6.5 million times in America, which was the only data point we had for its opening weekend. It was ranked sixth amongst all shows. Its weekly release strategy would then pay-off as later episodes would give the series the top spot. It showcased how binge shows only have a temporary increase before trailing off unlike these series continuing to grow their audience over time. It’ll be interesting to see how much Falcon and the Winter Soldier grows over its six-week runtime.

    Source: Deadline, Forbes

  • Netflix Announces ‘BRZRKR’ Sequel Anime and Live-Action Adaption

    Netflix Announces ‘BRZRKR’ Sequel Anime and Live-Action Adaption

    Keanu Reeve has been on a hot streak for some time now. The man has become unstoppable as a movie star. He recently even played Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk: 2077 and even wrote his comic book. Just two weeks ago, the first issue of BRZRKR hit the shelves, a story about an immortal warrior known as “B.” He has been around for over 80,000 years, fighting through wars across history, who just so happens to be half-mortal and half-god. In the modern era, he has become an operative for the US government, who fights the battles no one else wants. Now, he is hellbent on uncovering the secret to his neverending life. 

    Netflix has acquired the rights to the new comic book series, which has already sold a whopping 615,000 units according to its publisher, Boom! Comics. Netflix will develop a live-action adaption alongside a sequel series in the form of an Anime. It’ll serve as a follow-up to the comic that will run for twelve issues. Reeves is also set to star in both projects, as the character’s likeness is based on his own.

     

    BRZRKR’s first issue has hit shelves two weeks ago. The story was developed by Reeves, who worked on it alongside Matt Kindt. As these new projects are early in development, they currently have no release date. So, it’s the perfect time to explore the BRZRKR universe.

    Source: THR, Twitter

  • ‘Hawkeye’ Spin-Off Focused on Echo In Development for Disney+

    ‘Hawkeye’ Spin-Off Focused on Echo In Development for Disney+

    It looks like Marvel Studios is already planning some spin-offs for their major series well in advance. In a recent exclusive by variety, they have unveiled that Marvel Studios is already developing a series that focuses on Echo. The character will be first introduced in the upcoming Hawkeye series. Alaqua Cox has been cast in the role of the deaf Native American, Maya Lopez, who might have a bigger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward than we first expected. It seems that they also have already found their writers, as Etan Cohen and Emily Cohen are attached. Of course, Marvel Studios will return to produce the series.

    Now, this is interesting as it opens up the floodgates to many other characters introduced on Disney+ getting their own series at one point. It also means that Marvel Studios has some big plans for the character. We don’t know how large her role will be in the upcoming Disney+ series. Of course, the knowledge of her spin-off makes us keep an even closer eye once Hawkeye premieres, as we will see how its ending might keep the door open for her story to continue upon.

    It’s a great surprise, to say the least, and I cannot wait to see what other spin-offs might be in some form of development moving forward. The MCU will continue to grow from here and it is obvious that a lot of fate has been put into the development of their long-form storytelling.

    Source: Variety

     

  • Oscar-Nominated Director Emerald Fennel Set to Write ‘Zatanna’

    Oscar-Nominated Director Emerald Fennel Set to Write ‘Zatanna’

    Around this time last year, it was announced that J.J. Abrams and his production company, Bad Robot, would be taking the reigns of the Justice League Dark characters for WB. We haven’t heard too much officially on these projects but we do know that the first project in the works is set to feature the popular occult detective, John Constantine, with casting for the new character already underway. Just last week we got our first confirmation and the next character set to join Abrams’ Dark Universe, the one and only mistress of magic, Zatanna.

    It was unclear what exactly the project would be considering Constantine would be getting a show, but we now know the project is indeed a film set to be written by Oscar-nominated director Emerald Fennel, who is currently in the running for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay for her work on Promising Young Woman. The project is also currently set to be released theatrically but has no set release date, and currently has no talent attached aside from Fennel.

    Why Zatanna Needs To Be The Next DC Extended Universe Star - CINEMABLEND

    This will be the first time Zatanna has appeared in live-action since her time on Smallville, in which she was played by Serinda Swan and only appeared for a few episodes. With the project still currently on the hunt for a director, it’s possible Fennel herself could take up the reigns to bring the character to life once more and would have no complaints here. It’ll be interesting to see if the actor who is eventually cast as Constantine reprises the role for this film as he and Zatanna were both trained by Zatanna’s father, Zatara.

    SOURCE: Variety 

  • ‘BATWOMAN’ Recasts Kate Kane With Wallis Day

    ‘BATWOMAN’ Recasts Kate Kane With Wallis Day

    Kate Kane is coming back to The CW’s Batwoman, but she won’t look the same as when we last saw her. Deadline has confirmed that actress Wallis Day will replace Ruby Rose as the character who first donned the Batwoman cowl. The move comes less than a year after Roseabruptly quit the series over unknown grievances. Her character was subsequently written off of the Bat-show, with Kane being said to have disappeared in a mysterious plane crash. The second season debuted with Javicia Leslie assuming the title role as a brand new Batwoman named Ryan Wilder, the first black woman to take the mantle. While the latter half of the second season has now committed to answering the question of Kane’s whereabouts, it is being stressed that Leslie will remain the show’s one and only Batwoman.

    Batwoman' Casts Wallis Day to Take Over Ruby Rose's Role | Hollywood Reporter

    Day‘s take on Kate will be an altered version of the character. A big reveal on the latest episode of the series revealed Kane to be alive but nearly unrecognizable, with her face wrapped in bandages. It’s still unclear what this means for the former vigilante heroine going forward, but fans can bet they won’t be seeing exactly the same character they met in the series’ pilot. Luckily for Day, she is already familiar with the wide world of DC television. The British thespian is perhaps best known for her starring role in Scyfy’s Krypton, based on the origins of Superman’s biological family. She has also made appearances in The Royals and Casanova, and will star in Antoine Fuqua‘s next feature film, Infinite.

    Source: Deadline

  • Denis O’Hare Joins The Cast of ‘AHS: Double Feature’

    Denis O’Hare Joins The Cast of ‘AHS: Double Feature’

    Fans are eager to get their first official look at the upcoming season of American Horror Story. As per tradition, the latest season takes on a new theme to switch things up. This year, the show hit a wall when the pandemic messed with its production plans. It caused things to change and dates to shift back. The series creator, Ryan Murphy, revealed the upcoming theme was indeed a double feature. As such, the season would see two storylines with two different casts. We are still waiting for the casting announcements for the second part of the season. Murphy recently took to Instagram to confirm the return of a fan favorite amongst AHS fans, one that’s awaited for a while now.

     

    Recent rumors began to swirl that AHS alum and fan-favorite Denis O’Hare would be returning for the upcoming season, as he began sharing a lot of the material surrounding the new theme. On the above rumor post about the actor, Murphy confirmed that O’Hare will indeed return for this upcoming season. Considering that Denis was not apart of the initial cast reveal for this season, it’s easy to assume that he’s the first addition to the second cast for the other storyline we’ll be seeing this season.

     

     

    American Horror Story: Double Feature currently has no set release date. The cast for this season continues to feature more and more alum such as Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Finn Wittrock, and now Denis O’Hare.

    Source: Instagram

     

     

  • ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’: How Disney+ Is Changing Marvel’s Storytelling

    ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’: How Disney+ Is Changing Marvel’s Storytelling

    Only two weeks ago, WandaVision kickstarted a new direction for Marvel Studios on Disney+. They are now taking their time to explore those characters that never got a chance to shine on the silver screen. At the same time, it allows these heroes to face the biggest challenges that got sidelined by alien invasions or secret organizations taking over the world. Wanda was making breakfast for dinner while turning an entire city into her physical shape of denial. The tradition continues with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, where we get a closer look at the lives that Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes face in a world post-Captain America.

     

    The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Episode 1 Breakdown & Easter Eggs Explained

     

    We get a good look at Sam’s private and superhero life throughout the episode. Even if he saved the entire galaxy, he can’t afford to keep his family’s business alive. The small glimpses we got during Avengers: Age of Ultron are at the forefront of these stories. Disney+ allows them to spread out their tales. Even if the world’s future is at stake, we still get the time to explore times in these superheroes’ lives that seemed secondary. Even if the show is about the legacy left behind by Steve Rogers, it really is about people trying to find their identity in the world. Are we more than what the people believe us to be?

    Bucky is the perfect example. He spent almost 90 years frozen. Only to see the world as a mindless assassin killing innocent lives. Now, he was brought back from that life but is having a hard time coping. Not only does his story work as a parallel to real-world issues with soldier’s PTSD, but it also gives us a moment to explore his time facing that past. He is going to therapy sessions and even tries his luck with a date. His guilt sadly takes over, but we get a brief window into his life.

     

    Bucky, Sam in Couples Therapy in Falcon and Winter Soldier Trailer | The Mary Sue

     

    In a way, Disney+’s offerings mix-up what we usually expect from Marvel. We do miss the spectacle on the silver screen. Yet, it feels like these somber moments of real-life would only really work through these smaller stories. It makes sense that Ms. Marvel or She-Hulk are going to take an episodic direction, as their private and professional life is what defines them. We get to spend some time as they balance their heroic life with their everyday existence. The franchise can echo what the Spider-Man films have tried to balance in a limited runtime. It’ll be interesting to see how the future episodes continue down this path set-up by the premiere episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.