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  • Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 70

    Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 70

    Charles and Charles take an unexpected deep dive into Chapter 10 of The Mandalorian, talk about some potential new Marvel Studios projects and more! Have a listen to the record breaking 70th episode below:

  • ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10: The Conflict Escalation Theory

    ‘THE MANDALORIAN’ Chapter 10: The Conflict Escalation Theory

    One of the hallmarks of The Mandalorian so far has been the fact that it has managed to keep, for the most part, its disputes with somewhat lower stakes than your usual live-action Star Wars project. Unlike the movies, here we don’t have any planet-killing weapons or galaxy-wide conflicts. This is partially due to the fact that we are now dealing with a TV show, which doesn’t have the budget to compete with the likings of a theatrical blockbuster. At the same time, it also feels like a conscious decision to keep the storyline a bit more compact, with a scope that’s easier to grasp for newcomers. But with one season already behind us, we’ve now gotten a few hints that season 2 seems to be taking steps towards what could be perceived as the natural progression in the show’s narrative, upgrading its storytelling (and military) resources.

    Season 1 has already hinted at this, even if at a sluggish pace which helped to make it a bit less obvious. Not only did we see Mando facing increasingly powerful foes, from criminals to stormtroopers, from mercenaries to an AT-ST, from Death Troopers to a TIE fighter, we also got Din himself constantly upgrading his own armor. Firstly getting his hands on some beskar pauldrons, then a full cuirass, eventually getting equipped with a jetpack. Season 2 should continue with this constant escalation, and there are a few indications that help to figure out what the path could be for that to happen if you focus on how the overarching story is being told.

    We’re only two episodes into Season 2 but one thing that’s becoming increasingly clear is that even the most overlooked plot points from some season 1 episodes are due to be paying off, at some level, in future installments. We already got the confirmation that Boba Fett was the mysterious figure at the end of Chapter 5 (possibly making the events of that episode matter a bit more down the line) and also Chapter 6’s events (an episode that seemed the be pretty much a self-contained story) were essential to the way Din Djarin managed to, not so much escape the New Republic patrol they came across, but begin to establish a good rapport with said patrol members in this last episode. So being, it’s fair to say that taking all of this into consideration (the way that enemies leveling-up are met by Mando’s own upgrades, and that small details tend to payoff a few episodes down the line) we are due for some incredible showdowns that’ll feature a few of the characters and factions we’ve already met.

    We’ve already established that the New Republic isn’t exactly treating Mando as a genuine criminal, having proof that he risked his life to try and save a New Republic officer in Chapter 6. We also know that Moff Gideon (with Mandalore’s Darksaber in his possession) has access to aircraft that belonged to the Empire, and is actively looking for The Child. If the show indeed continues on this path of not repeating its fights/battles, raising the stakes as we go along, what we should now be expecting to happen is that Moff Gideon keeps aggressively approaching the capture of Baby Yoda with his personal army and Din Djarin, being no match for such forces, will succeed in getting the New Republic to help level the odds with their military might, making for some great X-Wing vs Tie-Fighter action. Mando could either bring the fight to a sector under New Republic jurisdiction, so they can’t help but be involved, or manage to get them to full-on attack Gideon’s forces wherever they may be. This way, and while still essentially focusing on the more personal side of the fight (this is still a show focused on Din and The Child), we can get something new out of the show, and yet another connection to the greater galactic conflict that has been present throughout Star Wars history.

    Also, since the show is probably getting an appearance by a former Jedi Rebel Alliance spymaster, the chance she could be helping Mando navigate through all of this, connecting the dots and devising a strategy to ultimately keep Baby Yoda safe, is probably not off the table. It probably won’t take long until we find out.

     

     

  • ‘Spider-Man’: The Story So Far

    ‘Spider-Man’: The Story So Far

    Spider-Man took the world by storm back in 2018. Now, two years later, we finally get a continuation with the launch of the next-generation of PlayStation. Spider-Man: Miles Morales will continue where the original ended, as Miles grows into his new role and moves to Harlem. So, to celebrate the upcoming release, let us once again revisit the first game’s story to catch up. We meet this version of Peter, who already has a few years on his back as the titular character. Finally, the day has come that he can take down the Kingpin Wilson Fisk. After an intense battle, it is finally over, and Peter tries to catch up with his personal life. He meets Aunt May at the FEAST center, which is run by Martin Li. Peter also had to rush back to his job at Octavius Industries, where he and Doctor Otto Octavius try to create an artificial limb. His life seems to have calmed down, and he has time to spend it with the people he loved. He even gets a chance to rekindle his lost love with Mary Jane Watson.

    Well, it doesn’t last long as the power vacuum left behind is being filled by a strange group called the Demons, who seem to have supernatural abilities. MJ’s work as a reporter also helps her stumble upon some information regarding a project titled Devil’s Breath. It revealed a connection between Mayor Norman Osborn and Fisk. While Spidey was investigating the case, he ends up working alongside police officer Jefferson Davis, who turns out to be Miles Morales’ father. After Peter suspected Li of having ties to the Demons, he ends up leading an attack during a hero award ceremony, which ends up in Davis’ sacrificing his life to save the mayor. As a consequence, Osborn hires a private military company Sable International led by Silver Sablinova.

    It turns out the before-mentioned Devil’s Breath was a virulent bioweapon. Just in the nick of time, Spidey managed to secure it from Li, who has now taken on the Mr. Negative moniker and send him to the Raft. It doesn’t take long for the prisoners to escape with some of his classic rogues. There, he gets confronted by his former mentor. Throughout the story, Octavius revealed he was suffering from a neuromuscular disease which was slowly pushing him to the brink of desperation. It led to the evolution of their limb project into an attachment that finalized his transformation into Doctor Octopus. He was also the mastermind behind the breakout, which sent Rhino, Scorpion, Vulture, Rhino, and Mr. Negative back into the streets. Not only that, Doc Ock releases the virus on Time Square.

    Peter is at his limit while taking them down, who are trying to take over the city. They learn that there is an antidote and that Devil’s Breath got developed to heal their friend Harry Osborn. They believed he was in Europe, but it turns out he was dying and keeping it a secret. He tracks it down and defeats Li but gets brutalized by Doc Ock. Not just that, we find out Aunt May has also been affected by the virus and doesn’t have much time. He realizes the only way to defeat him is to match his technology, so he creates a suit for a final confrontation. In an emotional beatdown, Peter can defeat his former mentor at a heavy toll. He saves some of the antidotes but does not have enough to develop more and Aunt May in time. Peter made the difficult decision even if it was the last push beyond his breaking point. With her dying breath, she reveals that she always knew he was Spider-Man, and how proud she was of him.

    Months later, we find out that Harry is still alive. He is in a tank surrounded by strange black goo. Miles also reveals that he got bitten by a spider and has the same abilities as Peter. He also gets a visit from Black Cat, who got involved with the criminal Hammerhead. It ends up in another gang war between the different NYC families which leads to Hammerhead stealing Sable tech. He even replaces his body with armor, as he ends up in a final battle with Spidey and Silver Sable. With that, we are all caught up before Miles’ story takes center stage on November 12th.

  • The Biggest Stories of Year One

    The Biggest Stories of Year One

    If there’s one thing I’ve proven myself capable of over and over again, it’s the ability to never have a clue what’s going to be a big story. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve told Charles V. how excited I was to run something only to find out that pretty much me and two guys in Jersey actually cared about it. The top 10 most viewed articles of the first year of Murphy’s Multiverse make one thing very clear: most people don’t care too much about Marvel Studios’ scoops. If you had asked me a year ago, I’d never guess that only 1 of the top ten would be associated with a Marvel Studios project but that’s exactly what we have here in the Top 10 Biggest Stories of Year 1!

     

    1. ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’ LEAK OFFERS FIRST LOOK AT ‘AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.’S JEMMA SIMMONS

    When I started Murphy’s Multiverse, it never crossed my mind to cover gaming. It had been years since I felt like a part of the gaming community and knew I was out of touch with modern gamers. Thankfully Charles and Joseph are part of the team and found a way to connect with gamers because the results are clear: gaming needs to be a big part of the future of the site. This one made its way to the top in just over 3 days, forcing me to reshuffle the top 10. The combination of Marvel Avengers with Jemma Simmons, star of the beloved Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series proved to be of great interest to readers as Year 1 came to a close.

     

    2. FIRST GLIMPSE AT ‘MARVEL’S AVENGERS’ BLACK PANTHER LEAKED

    Marvel’s Avengers game has brought a lot of new readers to the site and Joseph has worked hard to find any and all new information on the game. Fans are so hungry for info on the game that 7 of the top 10 most-read pieces of the year are about it, including this one which gave fans their first look at Black Panther.

     

    3. EXCLUSIVE: ELISABETH SHUE TO APPEAR IN ‘COBRA KAI’ SEASON 3

    As mentioned in the top scoops post, this one was essentially ignored when I wrote it a year ago but once Cobra Kai hit Netflix, the flood gates opened. Shue’s role on Amazon’s The Boys certainly represents a departure from her Ali Mills persona, so it’ll be interesting to see the actress occupy two very different prominent pop culture roles at the same time. Cobra Kai’s enormous popularity got fans searching for more info on Shue’s return and there was only one place to find it: right here at Murphy’s Multiverse.

     

  • CONFIRMED: Solve Everything a Marvel Studios Property; ‘FANTASTIC FOUR’ Likely a Go

    CONFIRMED: Solve Everything a Marvel Studios Property; ‘FANTASTIC FOUR’ Likely a Go

    This update won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone, but since we first reported on Grass-Fed Productions and Solve Everything Productions, the latter of which we firmly believe to be associated with the Marvel Studios Fantastic Four project, it does seem appropriate to follow up. When we broke the news a few months ago, we were able to confirm that Grass-Fed Productions was a Marvel Studios production company; however, until today, I had only anecdotal evidence that Solve Everything Productions was also a Marvel Studios production company meaning, ironically, you just had to take our word for it…until today.

    Marvel 75th Anniversary: Fantastic Four Fine Art Lithograph by Alex Ross | Sideshow Collectibles

    As of today, there’s no room for doubt: Solve Everything Productions is officially a registered Marvel Studios property and, as we discussed, points directly at Fantastic Four and making it highly probable that Kevin Fiege and crew have given the green light to the project. While there is no official word from the studio at the moment, it seems increasingly likely that Fantastic Four will be added to the 2023 slate which means we should expect a creative team to be put together at some point in 2021. Again, most of us had already come to this conclusion, but TO MY KNOWLEDGE, there had been no confirmation of the connection until now.

    For the record, Marvel Studios reps had no comment on the situation.

  • Stories We’re Looking Forward to Writing in Year 2 of Murphy’s Multiverse

    Stories We’re Looking Forward to Writing in Year 2 of Murphy’s Multiverse

    It is amazing to think a full year has already passed for Murphy’s Multiverse. The team has grown substantially over the year, as we started tackling various new topics in the world of pop culture. Now, we are looking to the future, as we are hoping for many more news stories, leaks, and scoops our team can cover. To celebrate our first anniversary, it was the perfect time for the team to come together and share what they hope to see in Year Two and what they hope to be their next big scoop.

     

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    It’s crazy to me to think that as much time as I spend chasing Marvel Studios stories, they really aren’t the heart and soul of the site. Over the past year, we’ve grown so much, been blessed with a growing team of talented and passionate writers who continue to amaze me with the work they do and it’s that work that has become the heart and soul of Murphy’s Multiverse. However, I still love chasing stories, and looking ahead into Year 2, I can tell you the biggest ones I’ll be anticipating won’t always be Marvel related. I’m really enjoying what I see as a renaissance period for Star Wars, so I would love to learn more about the projects they are developing, but none interest me more than the potential Boba Fett spinoff. On the Marvel Studios side of things, I’ll be continuing to chase, as I have for a while now, what’s “up next” for the studio but I’ll have my sights set on Fantastic Four. Of course, there will be things I’d never know to look for that will fall into my lap and I’ll graciously take them, but if I could nail Boba Fett and Fantastic Four in Year 2, I’d be thrilled. – Charles Murphy

     

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    I’d be remiss if I didn’t give my favorite comic character Matthew Michael Murdock some props for this answer. The live-action rights of the character are reverting back to the Marvel Studios homecourt this month so it’s only logical to expect some semblance of Daredevil news anytime next year. My feelings on whether they should reboot or reuse the Netflix cast has been documented on this site but at this point, I think I’ll be happy to hear any movement on a potential Daredevil project from Marvel Studios.  – Charles Villanueva

     

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    If I had to say what I’m looking forward to next year, mine would probably be to see how Marvel Studios decides to tackle the Multiverse akin to the “Marvel Cinematic Multiverse” theory I made a while back for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Just the idea that Marvel Studios could find a way to acknowledge most, if not all, of the films pre-MCU is exciting to me. Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider, Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, Fox’s X-Men, the 2000’s Fantastic Four, the possibilities are endless. Similar worlds all bridged apart by the fabric of the Multiverse and then all of them being acknowledged in 1 scene sounds fantastic. And with WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2 delving into the concept of the Multiverse and with the rumors that Spider-Man 3 might incorporate the “Spider-Verse” with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, it might be the best time to do it. – Edward Rose

     

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    When I was asked to write about what news story I’m looking forward to next year, right away my mind went to the sort of things that would give fans of the MCU the most happiness, hope, and positivity for the future. This led me to think about the heartbreaking loss of Chadwick Boseman and the question of how the Black Panther films continue without its iconic leading man. On a personal note, Chadwick‘s death was right smack in between two very painful losses for me, and thinking about it now, this still feels quite raw and painful. I’m sure that many, many MCU, Black Panther, T’Challa, and Chadwick Boseman fans are still grieving his loss too. Between Chadwick and my own personal losses, somehow “scooping” doesn’t seem so important to me at this time, but finding something to hang onto that gives hope to myself and others do. This whole agonizing question of what to do now, with T’Challa in the MCU and the Black Panther franchise, has been a very painful thing to think or talk about, but at some point Disney and Marvel will have to decide what to do.

    My hope is that they come up with a solution that is the best, most positive, most appropriately handled way that they could possibly come up with. Ideally, that would also be something that honors Chadwick’s memory, of course. I know many feel T’Challa should never be recast, many others feel that the character and the film’s impact on society is far too important to just let him fade away into the sunset. I don’t pretend to know Chadwick or his thoughts personally about any of this. But my feeling about who Chadwick was, how he carried himself, the kind, gracious, thoughtful human being he appears to have been, and how he understood T’Challa’s importance and impact particularly on young Black children, I don’t believe he would want T’Challa to never be seen on the big screen again. Not at all. I believe he would want T’Challa to continue to inspire children, touch people’s lives, and both challenge and uplift people’s ideas about what it means to be a person and a superhero of color. So I hope in the coming year we learn what the future is for Black Panther and it’s the best possible solution, that gives fans hope and excitement for the future again. What that might be, I’m not sure. It is still a very painful thing to think about, but if the best possible replacement for Chadwick is announced, someone who would honor Chadwick‘s memory in his performance, as well as his off-screen life, I would consider that a very good thing. I would also consider it a good thing if Shuri were given a storyline and a spotlight in the MCU as the next Black Panther. Perhaps it could be left open somehow for T’Challa to come back at a later time when the idea of replacing a seemingly irreplaceable actor is less raw and painful than it is right now. – Lizzie Hill

     

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    I’d organize the stories I’d love Murphy’s Multiverse to cover this following year in three levels. 1) Street-level, some that could actually come out by the end of 2021: We get some details from Rian Johnson‘s and from Kevin Feige‘s Star Wars projects. Both the Era they will be set in and what MCU actor is Feige bringing into the Star Wars universe (just as he discussed a while ago). 2) Super-hero level, one that might be a bit of a stretch: Alex Garland gets confirmed to direct a Fantastic Four trilogy for Marvel Studios (with Dev Patel playing Reed Richards) as well as oversee/produce a Future Foundation spin-off limited series on Disney+ 3) Cosmic level, one that’s wayyyy out there: We get confirmation that Marvel is developing an “Avengers 1000000 BC” project that’ll shed new light on how and why Earth is a super-hero hotbed since the beginning of time. – João Pinto

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    I haven’t been part of the team for that long, but it has already been so much fun covering so many different topics. Somehow, a lot of my coverage has been dominated by Marvel’s Avengers game, as I covered reveals and various leaks. It has been a great deep dive into the gaming market, but I certainly won’t just be covering that aspect of the multiverse this site has to offer. I hope to expand and learn, as well as use my day job’s insight to find new perspectives on things. I cannot wait to discuss and potentially uncover what Marvel and DC-related news might be heading our way soon. Of course, I hope to find out more about what the Avengers game is in store for us, what characters we might see in Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad Kills The Justice League, or WB Montréal’s Gotham Knights. I’d even be happy as a fan of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to see if I can get my hands on information on the rumored Nick Fury-focused show or Secret Warriors. Trying to piece together the multiverse one story at a time sounds like a fun prospect for the second year. The biggest thing for Year 2 will be something I’ve been cooking up for some time now, so I hope to have that grow and expand in the next year. – Joseph Aberl

     

    There you have our expectations for Murphy’s Multiverse’s second year. We cannot wait for you to join us on this journey as we continue to grow and see what the future holds. Here is to many more years to come and plenty of scoops to find.

  • ‘Mass Effect Legendary Edition’ Finally Confirmed

    ‘Mass Effect Legendary Edition’ Finally Confirmed

    Mass Effect has quite a history. The third entry was quite controversial when it launched but it still gave us a very unique blend of action and role-playing. You took control of Commander Shepard, who must stop the invasion of the machine race Reapers. The entire game was planned out as a trilogy, which ended in 2012. There was also a spin-off titled Andromeda that focused on a new character and era. Suddenly, quite a lot of rumors have spread throughout the year about a remaster of the original trilogy. After a long wait, it became a secret that everyone knew was coming. Now, it has finally been revealed in a short teaser.

    The teaser showcases the many unique characters that join your cause throughout the trilogy that are part of the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. They are not full remakes of the original. You can expect improvements to the core game. They used higher resolution and framerates, as well as upgraded the textures and models. The DLC is also included in the re-release, which will release in Spring 2021. It also looks like a brand new entry is in development in the franchise, but no official details are available.

    It will be interesting to see how unique the 2007 version will look once it is upgraded. Mass Effect 2 was a personal favorite in the trilogy, especially with the various character relations. The whole concept of you preparing for a suicide mission where you can lose your members was truly unique, so it is a trilogy worth revisiting.

    Source: Twitter, PC Gamer

  • The Biggest Scoops of Year One

    The Biggest Scoops of Year One

    They grow up so fast! Somehow we blinked and the site that I started on a whim one afternoon in 2019 has turned 1! When I launched last year the only real “business plan” I had was to start a site for me to share (mostly) Marvel Studios rumors and my thoughts about the MCU. It’s certainly become MUCH more than that and I’ve somehow been blessed with the hardest working and most supportive team I could ever imagine. While we certainly struggled through the beginning of the pandemic, we bounced back and grew and are incredibly grateful for the support from you all and hope to keep making this site a part of the ever-growing fan community.

    While I’ve always loved chasing the big scoops associated with Marvel Studios, one thing I’ve learned in the past year is that our fans’ interests are incredibly diverse as evidenced by the scoops that they’ve read. Below are the Top 6 biggest (most viewed) scoops of Year One!

    EXCLUSIVE: ELISABETH SHUE TO APPEAR IN ‘COBRA KAI’ SEASON 3

    Elisabeth Shue’s return to the world of the Karate Kid wears the crown and took the victory by an impressive margin. Interestingly enough, thought the story was written last November, it wasn’t until Cobra Kai hit Netflix that this scoop got hot. With Season 3 set to stream on January 8th, we don’t have long before we’ll find out if Ali Mills will reunite with Johnny and Daniel or if this one will end up in the Biggest Poops pile down the road.

    EXCLUSIVE: EVAN PETERS PLAYING MYSTERY ROLE IN ‘WANDAVISION’

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Offers Minor Kate Bishop Update, Gear Optimization and More

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Offers Minor Kate Bishop Update, Gear Optimization and More

    It is time again for another developer stream for Marvel’s Avengers. We got a small glimpse into what is in development last week, so I was curious about what they might reveal or hint at this time around. Well, it was a quieter stream as they didn’t reveal much. Phil and Andy returned but teased that we may get some appearances of others from the development team or voice cast in the future. Let’s not waste time and jump into some of the highlights from the stream:

    • Phil confirmed that the Kate Bishop DLC is in bug testing, but naturally, there was no release date mentioned. Still, they do highlight again that they wish they could giveaway these dates. They also highlighted again the challenges they are facing.
    • They apologized for the German post. It was mistimed but did confirm that AIM Cloning Labs is getting bug tested for release. Crystal Dynamics confirmed the level will be quite a challenge and cannot be played in single-player, as there are multiple puzzle elements. Cloning Labs will be only on weekends, as they plan on adding others that will map the rest of the week.

    • Mega Hives are going to get a multiplayer variation. They are already working on it.
    • New variations of daily missions are already in development. They have a designated team behind that. If you noticed in their last War Table blog, they released pictures from the dev version of the game that lists 150+ missions. They also seem to be working on a mission type that will have you fighting enemy waves.
    • More villains are definitely on the way. Our streamers teased more complexity in the last stream.

    • Do not expect any vehicles for existing heroes. They are working on fixing the traversal issues with some of the heroes, most notably Captain America.
    • They are working on gear modifications as well as expansions on existing sets, especially for heroes post the 50 level cap. Loadouts were also confirmed to be in development in the last stream.
    • PVE experience is their core focus, so do not expect PVP for a long time.
    • Character updates will vary in size. They chose them based on what type of character they want for strike teams and if they fit the overarching narrative.

    Not many larger news stories to pick from here, but they are hard at work on the game. Of course, they did point out the roadmap is still being worked on. We still are at the beginning of November, so there is still some time for the time range they teased a while back for the roadmap. It would be good to get some idea of when things release, but that depends on how far they get with bug fixes. These types of games are long-term investments that have a bad reputation. There are currently discussions surrounding its profitability for Square-Enix going around on Social Media and various platforms that are much more complex to cover based on minor information. Here’s hoping next week gives us some more information, as we have now entered the game’s third month. 

    Source: Twitch

  • Tom Holland Gives Behind the Scenes Look at ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    Tom Holland Gives Behind the Scenes Look at ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    Earlier today, Tom Holland uploaded a behind the scenes picture to his Instagram.

     

     

    The image depicts Tom, wearing his suit costume from the last film, Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), while wearing a “double mask”, providing a look behind the scenes and confirming that production is well underway for the upcoming MCU-based Spider-Man sequel. We should note that the actor, along with Jacob Batalon and Zendaya, have all arrived the past week in Atlanta for the production of the untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel and that most of the Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019) cast are expected to return, along with the incorporation of Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and Jamie Foxx, who will be reprising his role as Electro for this film.

    Rumors about the plot of the film have run rampant with everything from Spider-Slayers to a Multiverse that includes Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield returning as their versions of Peter Parker but, unfortunately, this photo doesn’t give anything away in terms of plot spoilers.

    ‘Spider-Man: Something with Home in the Title’ is expected to premiere in December 2021.