Murphy's Multiverse

Blog

  • Marvel Studios Taps ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Writer to Tackle ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    Marvel Studios Taps ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Writer to Tackle ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    It looks like not only does Avengers: The Kang Dynasty have a director in Destin Daniel Cretton, but they’ve also added Jeff Loveness as its writer. It seems his work on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has put him on the map to tackle the feature, which is fitting given that the film also introduces the main threat of Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors, after the introduction of his variant in Loki.

    It’s safe to say that they’re likely to set on continuing his work on the character, who’ll have a bigger role considering the name of the film’s title. In a way, Marvel Studios is relying more on familiar writers that have already had their experience in the franchise, similar to how Michael Waldron introduced the multiverse concept in Loki and went on to tackle the Doctor Strange sequel.

    There’s also a fun trend of Marvel Studios hiring Rick and Morty writers for its various projects. Loveness and Waldron are both veterans of the animated series and it seems their experience with sci-fi concepts has made them the perfect candidates for these projects. Even the writer of the Pickle Rick episode, Jessica Gao, has been spearheading the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law project.

    It opens up the question of who might get their hands on the Avengers: Secret Wars film, especially with them still actively searching for the director. They may be considering Ryan Coogler for the role of director, and perhaps Michael Waldron may return as well, especially as he set up the idea of the Incursions in his Marvel projects.

    Source: Deadline

  • New ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Concept Art Reveals Unused Doctor Strange Variant

    New ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Concept Art Reveals Unused Doctor Strange Variant

    In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we took our first real trip throughout the multiverse, or at least Doctor Strange was forced to when helping a young America Chavez. Throughout his travels, we are introduced to two Variants of the talented yet arrogant sorcerer, yet it seems that there was one more that didn’t make it beyond the concept stage.

    Concept artist Darrell Warner revealed a new piece of concept that offers a first look at “Marvellous Melvyn,” a street magician version of our popular doctor. It seems this version of the character was part of the initial pitch by Scott Derrickson before Sam Raimi took over production, which took the production into a very different direction.

    The design is great and it’s really a shame that we didn’t get to see this version of the character. Not only would it have given Benedict Cumberbatch a fun new interpretation to bring to life, but perhaps he may have been an unwilling traveler that ends up getting dragged along for a journey he is definitely not equipped for. It’s also great that the designer got to work with thee costume designer Graham Churchyard to bring the idea to life.

    We can always theorize on the “what if” of the original Scott Derrickson‘s sequel of his Doctor Strange film that introduced magic into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Perhaps it is somewhere out there in the multiverse that got a chance to see it and they could use the What If…? series to introduce a few of those concepts that didn’t quite make it.

    Source: Instagram

  • Disney+s ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’ Adds Mychala Lee to Round Out the Cast as Mallory

    Disney+s ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’ Adds Mychala Lee to Round Out the Cast as Mallory

    It looks like Disney+’s upcoming adaptation of Spiderwick Chronicles has rounded out its cast with Mychala Lee, who is set to take on the role of Mallory. It’ll adapt the book series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, which will explore the story of a bunch of kids moving back to Michigan with their mother where they are pulled into a magical world.

    Lee joins the cast of Lyon Daniels and Noah Cottrell, who will play the twins Jared and Simon. Joy Bryant will play their mother and they’re also joined by Christian Slater‘s Mulgarath. According to Variety, Lee‘s character is described as “a classic firstborn child. She is extremely Type A, smart, determined, and ambitious. She strives for perfection in everything she does, from learning to drive to her passion for fencing. While she loves her brothers, her parents’ divorce and her life being uprooted is putting more than the usual strain on their normal sibling rivalry“

    Disney+ has been quite busy expanding beyond its Marvel and Star Wars offerings by entering the young adult market. Spiderwick Chronicles is only slowly getting ready for production but they’ve already been busy working on the adaptation of Percy Jackson, which just recently got a first look released. So, it seems we’ll have quite a bit more heading our way soon.

    Source: Variety

  • Matthew McConaughey’s Soccer Film ‘Dallas Sting’ Scrapped Shortly Ahead of Production Start

    Matthew McConaughey’s Soccer Film ‘Dallas Sting’ Scrapped Shortly Ahead of Production Start

    Here’s a surprise but it looks like six weeks before Matthew McConaughey‘s film Dallas Sting was completely scrapped by Skydance. It was going to be directed by The Falcon and Winter Soldier‘s Kari Skogland but the plug was pulled due to allegations regarding how it’ll adapt the true story of a girl soccer team’s trip to China back in 1984 from Dallas.

    The story explores this soccer team’s story of beating the odds and defeating some of the world’s best players back in the day with McConaughey set to play their coach Bill Kinder. It seems that the drama this story was based on may have a much more “disturbing” story that hasn’t been told which led Skydance and the producers to pull the project six weeks ahead of production start.

    There is a disappointment in the air at Skydance, as they were excited to tell the story of this team’s accomplishments, but sometimes there are limitations and challenges when adapting real-world stories. It seems that the project was also in the stages of finalizing its casting and here’s hoping that everyone involved with the project gets a chance at another.

    The known cast so far consisted of Dopesick’s Kaitlyn Dever who was going to play the coach’s daughter. They already invested quite a bit of money, as they were hoping to include real soccer players, who they would train their acting abilities. Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch of GLOW fame worked on the script.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Paramount+’s ‘Halo’ Season 2 Kicks-Off Production With First Set Photo

    Paramount+’s ‘Halo’ Season 2 Kicks-Off Production With First Set Photo

    It’s crazy to think that we had a live-action Halo series release on Paramount+ not too long ago. The idea of an adaptation focused on that franchise already seemed like a heavy burden for anyone willing to take the risk but the series still managed to pull in a second season renewal from the streaming service.

    While the news is scarce on what exactly they have planned for the second season of Halo, it seems that production has finally started. Not only that, the official Twitter account even shared a first look at the set to celebrate the production start, which is currently taking place in Iceland.

    We’ll see how the series continues the iconic franchise and how they’ll further explore this unique take on Master Chief. While familiar elements exist in this franchise, it’s mostly using the platform to tell its own stories that pay tribute to what came before. Translating a gaming franchise to live-action has been a challenge for many throughout the years, which is why it’s exciting to see the project get a chance at a second season.

    Halo has also seen a resurgence in gaming with Halo: Infinity by 343 Industries. So, it’s also the perfect time to keep the momentum going as they further explore this universe through different perspectives. We’ll see if elements from the series even get added into the game’s multiplayer to play around with this new world that’s been established and the many characters that exist in it.

    Source: Twitter

  • Charlie Cox Teases ‘Daredevil’s Disney+ Series May Return to Film in New York

    Charlie Cox Teases ‘Daredevil’s Disney+ Series May Return to Film in New York

    If there ever was one thing that made the Netflix series stand out, it was the fact that they filmed most of the film on location in New York City. Especially for Daredevil, it was the perfect touch given the character’s strong ties to the streets of Hell’s Kitchen. With a new Disney+ series on the horizon, many wondered if Marvel would rely heavily on its usual shooting locations like Atlanta. They have filmed sequences of Hawkeye in New York City but it didn’t mean they’d do the same for Daredevil: Born Again.

    Luckily, it seems Charlie Cox may have revealed that they do plan on filming in NYC again during a follow-up interview after the D23 Marvel Studios panel. They may have held back on what the Daredevil Disney+ show has to offer, mostly giving us a reunion between him and Vincent D’Onofrio, it still looks like that reunion on set is what Cox is most excited for. And while discussing that very point, he may have let slip that they’re eyeing a production start in New York, which is confirmed to start sometime next year.

    There’s going to be a day at some point in the future, where I am going to be in New York, I am going to show up to work. I am going to put on my costume and walk on set with him. And that’s going to be an momentous occasion. I am emotional just thinking about it.

    Charlie Cox

    We still don’t know if many other actors from the original series will be joining them in one capacity or another. There’s a lot of hope that they’ll reunite Cox with Deborah Ann Woll and Elden Henson. Some even hope to see other members of The Defenders Saga make a return in this project. With 18 episodes planned, the longest for any Marvel series so far, there’s a lot that can happen.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Thunderbolt’s Hannah John-Kamen Teases Ghost’s Biggest Challenge as Part of a Team

    ‘Thunderbolt’s Hannah John-Kamen Teases Ghost’s Biggest Challenge as Part of a Team

    The reaction to the new Thunderbolts line-up has certainly been interesting but there’s some exciting news in seeing some returning faces. Not only do we get a few cast members from the Black Widow film which will give us a chance to further flesh out this interpretation of Taskmaster but also Ava Starr, who is better known as Ghost. We haven’t seen Hannah John-Kamen in the role since 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp with many wondering what future she might have in the franchise.

    Now that we have an answer, it’s even more surprising to see Ghost return as part of a team considering she mostly worked solo. After D23, John-Kamen got a chance to tease the character’s biggest challenge as part of the Thunderbolts team. We know the character as a lone wolf and it looks like human contact outside of her caregiver Bill Foster is going to be quite the challenge.

    Well, she doesn’t like to be touched. So, that’s going to be interesting. She’s quite socially…Well, she’s not social. She grew up in the vat, so she’s never had human contact with anyone. It’s going to be interesting for Ghost to connect.

    Hannah John-Kamen

    Ghost was one of the most exciting additions, especially in how unique her move set is. We don’t know if they truly found a way to stabilize her abilities in some way. It initially seemed like they were trying to heal her but with people disappearing as a result of the Blip we may also find out what happened to her. Plus, who knows why she’s part of the team and where Foster might show up again, if not in this film.

    Source: YouTube

  • David Harbour Teases “Drama and Comedy” in ‘Thunderbolts’

    David Harbour Teases “Drama and Comedy” in ‘Thunderbolts’

    Thunderbolts was only recently announced at San Diego Comic-Con but Marvel Studios didn’t waste any time giving us a tease of the film’s mixed batch of unlikely teammates. Sebastian Stan’s Bucky and Florence Pugh‘s Yelena are in for a lifetime challenge by trying to keep a functioning team consisting of Taskmaster, Red Guardian, the returning Ghost, and US Agent. While many hoped for a more diverse group of powers, the dynamic seems promising.

    Shortly after D23’s Marvel Studios panel, ComicBook.com’s Brandon Davis got a chance to talk to some of the cast visiting the event. During that time, he highlighted what we can expect from the dynamic of this unlikely team and Red Guardian himself, David Harbour, took the chance to tease that the film will have “drama and comedy” based on the characters that have to interact alone.

    I mean I think they’re all difficult people who have many weaknesses. And as you may know, I certainly do, if you put a bunch of people with various weaknesses together: there’s often drama and comedy. So, I think you can expect both of those things.

    David Harbour

    It definitely sounds like the team is in for quite a difficult time, and that might be the big selling point of this story. While the Thunderbolts have served many purposes in the comics, they are going down a more anti-hero route. It likely is the best way to also make it stand out from Suicide Squad, which is likely the direct comparison made throughout the film’s promotional campaign, as it was a project focused on villains that were forced to work together. Of course, we’ve only seen a single image and have no idea about any details.

    Source: YouTube

  • Alaqua Cox on Maya’s Journey in ‘Echo’

    Alaqua Cox on Maya’s Journey in ‘Echo’

    Alaqua Cox broke ground as the first Indigenous character in the MCU and continued to blaze a trail when it was announced that her character, Maya Lopez, would be getting her own series, Echo. Last seen in Hawkeye, Maya went on the run after falling out with Fra Fee’s Kazi and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, apparently killing them both.

    Maya’s actions will certainly have consequences and a D23 exclusive first look at Echo showed that Fisk survived and has somehow hunted down Maya, who has sought refuge with family. In an interview at D23 with Phase Zero, Cox detailed where Maya went, what she’s up to there and teased the return of Kingpin.

    Maya’s actions are leading her to Oklahoma. To reconnect with her Indigenous roots and find the definition of family and community. But we don’t know about Kingpin yet…

    Alaqua Cox

    The first look at Echo showed that not only will Maya be reconnecting with her living family, but also going on a vision quest that will connect her to her ancestors. The trailer showed a much more physically violent Maya and may have hinted at her character acquiring a new power, while showcasing its large Indigenous cast. With Charlie Cox set to appear and rumors that it will dovetail into Daredevil: Born Again, Echo is shaping up to be a ca n’t-miss for fans.

    Source: Phase Zero

  • Winston Duke on M’Baku’s New Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Winston Duke on M’Baku’s New Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Winston Duke’s M’Baku became a fan favorite after the actor’s wide-ranging performance in Black Panther. While he was one of T’Challa’s first foes in the comics, the MCU version of the character became of T’Challa’s allies, fighting alongside the King during the Battle of Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War. Duke returned for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the 2018 film, and his character now inhabits a world where the King and Black Panther of Wakanda is dead and the world is forever changed following T’Challa’s decision to break from tradition and step out of isolation.

    With T’Challa now dead, the fallout from his decision will now be in the hands of others, including his mother, Queen Ramonda, and the members of the Tribal Council. In an interview with Phase Zero, Duke described how the time gap between the two films has changed his character.

    M’Baku is really forced to catch up with the times. His role is changed. He survived the Snap. He is now part of their Tribal Council, so he’s more forward-facing and less insular. So he’s been forced to really be a part of the collective transparency. I think that’s a really cool thing for him and you get to see a whole new dynamic including him.

    Winston Duke

    Duke’s M’Baku has been a fan favorite choice to take on the mantle of Black Panther ever since the tragic passing of star Chadwick Boseman. While the identity of the character in the costume in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever remains a mystery, it certainly seems M’Baku has taken some steps in a direction that might allow him to suit up at some point.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th, 2022.

    Source: Phase Zero