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  • ‘She-Hulk’ Writer is the Reason Marvel Put Abomination in ‘Shang-Chi’

    ‘She-Hulk’ Writer is the Reason Marvel Put Abomination in ‘Shang-Chi’

    Tim Roth is currently pulling off one of the most unexpected comebacks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he couldn’t have done it without writer Jessica Gao. The She-Hulk: Attorney at Law creative recently sat down with Comic Book’s Phase Zero podcast to discuss the debut of her new series, and revealed in the process that she is the reason for Roth‘s return to the Marvel fold. Before Gao boarded the upcoming Disney+ project, the British actor’s Gamma-irradiated baddie was a bit of a one-off character in the franchise. He opposed Edward Norton‘s Bruce Banner in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, and though he survived the events of the film, he has mostly been disregarded by Marvel Studios in the years since. That changed with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, last year’s surprise hit that featured the Abomination in a quick cameo appearance.

    According to Gao, it was actually her She-Hulk pitch to Marvel that sealed the deal on Emil Blonsky becoming a player in the MCU once more. She explained to Comic Book that she had envisioned Blonsky as part of her series from the very beginning, but was worried Marvel might turn the idea down after so much time away from the character:

    So Abomination, Emil Blonsky, was in my original pitch and at that point, the last time we saw him was in 2008, The Incredible Hulk. I had no idea what their relationship to this character was anymore. I don’t know if they had any plans but it was a story I wanted to tell so I just put it in there. What’s the worst that could happen? I don’t get the job. Look, I have not gotten the job so many times at Marvel it was like old hat to me. I had no more fear. I was like Daredevil. I was the woman with no fear now.

    Jessica Gao

    She then dropped the intriguing tidbit that Marvel Studios was so on board with her concept, they added Abomination to Shang-Chi just to remind audiences of his existence before She-Hulk‘s release. Gao elaborated:

    Because he was built in to be such a big part of the show in that original pitch and in the writer’s room, we really like, we were creating this whole story for him. Because everything in Marvel is connected, that was actually why he then was put in Shang-Chi, because he was in our show. That way, it was kind of to seed him so that people can get excited but also remember him and it kind of forced people to go, ‘Oh, I should go back and check in on him and remember who he is and what all of that was about.’

    Jessica Gao

    It seems Hulk’s former rival will have a lot to do when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law hits the small screen on August 18th. Gao‘s comments may also indicate The Incredible Hulk will have a more important role in the grand scheme of the MCU going forward. After all, the writer’s final comment implicates Marvel boss Kevin Feige as the perpetrator behind seeing Abomination back into the mainstream so seamlessly. When asked whose idea it was to put the monster in Shang-Chi, Gao replied:

    It’s Kevin. All roads lead to Kevin.

    Jessica Gao

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘Star Wars Visions’ Producer on Going Beyond Anime With Volume 2

    ‘Star Wars Visions’ Producer on Going Beyond Anime With Volume 2

    Many were relieved when it was announced that Star Wars Visions would return for a second season. The animation anthology became quite the hit with its unique take on the iconic franchise. Not only did it offer small stories that each brought something new to the table, but it also included some truly fantastic animation. Many were surprised when the announcement dropped that the second volume would go beyond Japan, but it seems that is exactly the intention of executive producer James Waugh.

    The first anthology is anime because we all loved the style of it, but personally my intention for Visions was to always let it be a more broad palette, because there’s so much great animation work going on in the world. There’s so many interesting voices in all sorts of other mediums that are really focused on animation right now. And we really wanted it to be, in a way, a “sub-brand” that allowed for different creators to come celebrate Star Wars from their own unique cultural perspective.

    James Waugh

    The animation varies from country to country, and opening up the possibility of other countries contributing does add something that’ll make the next season stand out.

    And so Visions volume two is sort of a global tour of some of the most interesting animation studios on a global level. We have studios from Africa, Chile, England, Ireland, France, India… and the guiding light there was that we wanted their storytelling to be a reflection of what Star Wars meant in their culture, but also a reflection of the myths and stories that could only come out of their cultural context. Spring next year is currently where we’re targeting and I think it’s an absolutely beautiful anthology.

    James Waugh

    Luckily, spring isn’t too far away anymore and it’ll b exciting to see what stories will get explored, especially how the individual mythologies play into the storytelling approach. It also opens up the possibility of many more new stories to join the anthology over many years to come, which is always an exciting prospect for this varied galaxy far far away.

    Source: Deadline

  • Jameela Jamil Previews Titania in ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’

    Jameela Jamil Previews Titania in ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law had its official premiere last night, with the social media embargo lifting shortly thereafter. With many calling it the best Marvel Studios series to date, anticipation is building for audiences as they wait to see how all the new characters being introduced will come into the fold of the series and the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, though, fans of the villainous Titania will apparently have to wait a bit longer into the run of the show for her to be a major presence. While being interviewed on the red carpet for the series premiere, actress Jameela Jamil previewed what audiences should expect from her character and when.

    Episode five and six is when I really start to come around and ‘fork shirt up’ as the way we would say it on ‘The Good Place,’ and I bring mess and chaos and trouble to She-Hulk. And I really test her limits…she talks a lot in the show about ‘a woman’s patience’ and I think I know all of her buttons to press, and I do it with perfectly manicured fingernails.

    Jameela Jamil

    The preview of the character Jamil provides seems to set in place that Titania will become a fairly late-game major antagonist for the series. This would certainly be in line with other Disney+ series produced by Marvel Studios such as WandaVision and Hawkeye in how they introduced primary antagonists in Agatha Harkness and Kingpin, respectively. As well with this quote, it will be interesting to follow the dichotomy between Tatiana Maslany’s portrayal of She-Hulk and the social media influencer inspiration that’s seemingly been taken with Jameela Jamil’s Titania. If done right under the writing supervision of Jessica Gao, the dynamic between the two could become a largely memorable pair of rivals in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres exclusively on Disney+ on Thursday, August 18.

    Source: Deadline

  • Jessica Gao on ‘She-Hulk’ and Fourth Wall Breaking: “A Foundational Element”

    Jessica Gao on ‘She-Hulk’ and Fourth Wall Breaking: “A Foundational Element”

    Last week, we here are Murphy’s Multiverse were lucky enough to attend the virtual press conference for Marvel Studios’ latest Disney+ series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. On hand to promote the series were stars Tatiana Maslany and Ginger Gonzaga, as well as director and executive producer Kat Coiro and head writer and executive producer Jessica Gao.

    During the conference, Gao was asked how she went about adapting such an iconic character like She-Hulk, and the important elements deemed necessary to retain for the series. According to Gao, the most important aspect she felt necessary to retain when adapting She-Hulk into live-action was the fourth wall breaking. Which shouldn’t be too surprising as the Rick & Morty writer cited John Burns‘ for helping her fall in love with the character. “For me, foundationally, I felt like first and foremost was the fourth wall breaking and the kind of meta humor and the self-awareness.  ‘Cause it was the John Burn run that made me fall in love with this character.”

    She felt it was important to keep the lightheartedness from the comics, something the series seems to have successfully captured judging by the trailers for the series. Gao is best known for her work on “Pickle Rick,” the iconic episode of Rick & Morty that went on to earn a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy nomination. Comedy television is where she’s made her career, so bringing that tone to She-Hulk felt right. “For me, because I come from TV comedy, like, the comedy was kind of, like, a priority.  But then, what’s great about having such an incredible cast is, then it feels like you’re cheating a little bit as a writer,” she explained.  “Because they come in and they really just imbue this, like, humanity and this realness to these characters.  Where you were like, “Oh, I was kinda focused on jokes, but you guys made her a real person.”

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law hits Disney+ on August 18th, with a new episode premiering every Thursday.

  • ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller Breaks Silence on Recent Events

    ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller Breaks Silence on Recent Events

    There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding The Flash star Ezra Miller, especially due to continued accusations that have reached a threshold of many wondering what the future has in store for the film. Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to cancel Batgirl with the controversies surrounding The Flash star had many baffled and there were even hints on how they might tackle it.

    It seems that something is happening now after all, as Miller has broken the silence on his recent behavior as revealed by Variety. It seems that he has opened up about the legal issues and accusations. He seemingly apologizes for his behavior and highlights that he’s back towards a “healthy, safe and productive stage” of his life.

    The future of The Flash has been a massive question mark, especially with the controversies surrounding its stars. It was already pushed back by an entire year; ironic given just how often the project seemingly was postponed before it even got a chance to start production. After going through many directors and writers, the drama surrounding the project seemingly just added to its issues. We’ll have to see how they handle it moving forward and if this is their first attempt at repairing the PR surrounding the project.

    Source: Twitter

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 16, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: August 16, 2022

    Happy Tuesday, teammates, and welcome to The Morning After Huddle, where the takes are just as bad as your Uncle Rico (You’re my kind of person if you can name the movie I referenced). Let’s hop into it.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • If you’re like me, you’ll take any football at this point. It’s a long road from February until September, and pre-season football, while completely terrible for casual fans, is a goldmine for football savants like myself. Naturally, I assumed you might enjoy Greg Rosenthal’s 2022 NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap. Sixty nuggets of pure football analysis, including things like ”Weird Coach Stuff”, ”Cause for Concern” and “Irresponsible Speculation”. This is my type of chaos. Enjoy!
    • Next up, Titans LB Bud Dupree is pleading guilty to charges from a January altercation. Dupree is charged with misdemeanor assault (offensive or provocative) over an incident with a Walgreens employee. He is taking a plea deal that includes 6 months of probation.
    • Last, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    Thanks for hanging out with us today! We are back tomorrow with more NFL news you want to know.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Actress Teases Wong’s Unorthodox New Friend

    ‘She-Hulk’ Actress Teases Wong’s Unorthodox New Friend

    We all knew that Wong is making his return in the upcoming She-Hulk: Attorney at Law series. We don’t know exactly how he’ll fit into the greater narrative, or if he’ll simply have a case that needs to be solved by Jennifer Walters. Either way, it does seem like one thing will change for the Sorcerer Supreme, he’s going to make a rather unorthodox friend in the upcoming series.

    As revealed during the Disney+ series’ premiere, actress Patty Guggenheim revealed that she is playing a character named Madisynn, who was recently hinted at in a promo for the She-Hulk series. She reveals that her character and Wong will become friends in a way and she eve calls him “Wongers” throughout their time together.

    It definitely sounds like Wong won’t have it easy in the upcoming series, especially if she is involved with whatever case he gets dragged into. It’s funny to see someone who has become the Sorcerer Supreme that has to deal with things beyond the usual world-ending threats. It’ll be interesting to see how his story plays out when the Disney+ series releases later this week.

    Tatiana Maslany will lead a new cast of characters that’ll offer a more legal look at the world that Marvel Studios has built since 2008 with the first Iron Man. It’ll be interesting to see how they set-up this part of the MCU and how it might even expand beyond what we know so far.

    Source: Twitter

  • Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    One of Marvel Studios’ biggest reveals at SDCC ’22 was that their ongoing Multiverse Saga was set to wrap up in 2025 with two Avengers films, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. The studio’s plans should seem familiar to fans, as they wrapped up the previous multi-phase Infinity Saga with two Avengers films as well in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

    While not all of the MCU’s heroes had a large role to play in both Infinity War and Endgame, one who did was Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo. And while some of his longtime MCU co-stars have moved on from Marvel Studios’ projects-at least for the time being-Ruffalo is still going strong, set to appear next in the Disney + streaming series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. At the green carpet premiere for the series, Ruffalo was asked about Avengers: Secret Wars by Entertainment Tonight and while uncharacteristically reserved did have something to say about the project.

    It’s gonna be hard to top Endgame, but if I know Kevin and I know Marvel, it’s gonna be pretty amazing. It’ll be a big bang. We’ll go out with a big bang.

    Mark Ruffalo

    With Secret Wars still over three years away, it’s not surprising to hear Marvel Studios’ talent, even the usually verbose Ruffalo, giving more measured responses to questions about the film. While it’s likely Ruffalo will appear in the film and that he has a vague sense of what the story might entail, it’s even more likely that he’s not seen so much as a first draft of the script. That all means fans will have to wait a while before Ruffalo, or Tom Holland, start letting some details spill out on press tours.

  • ‘She-Hulk’s Composer Took Inspiration from ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Ally McBeal’

    ‘She-Hulk’s Composer Took Inspiration from ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Ally McBeal’

    Marvel Studios’ latest TV venture is soon going to grace Disney+, as they venture out into the world of legal comedies. With Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters at the helm, we’re getting a little something different this time around. As such, a new challenge was given to composer Amie Doherty, who had to find the perfect sound to accompany the latest Disney venture, and it seems she looked towards others from the genre for inspiration.

    As revealed in an interview at the She-Hulk L.A. premiere, Doherty talked about how she took inspiration from classics like Ally McBeal and the very successful The Good Wife series for how to create a unique soundtrack for this Disney+ series. She wanted to bring something unique to it as she had to balance the many sides of this project.

    It’s interesting how she highlighted that she brought these two worlds together with the project. There was a time where YouTubers made the case that the Marvel Cinematic Universe lacked a recognizable soundscape but projects like Avenger: Endgame used character’s themes for their impactful moments. The franchise has come a long way and it’s great to see how their new, more creative ventures offer unique opportunities to further diversify the MCU.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Sets the Record Straight on Ghost Rider Rumors

    ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Sets the Record Straight on Ghost Rider Rumors

    Rampant and ridiculous rumors accompany the production of every Marvel Studios project and their next project, the Disney + streaming series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, is no different. While the show is loaded with cameos and appearances by no less than a dozen characters, known and unknown, it looks like one character can safely be scratched off the list.

    According to head writer Jessica Gao, who spoke to Deadline at the green carpet premiere of She-Hulk, fans should not expect to see Johnny Blaze in the upcoming series.

    While rumors of a Ghost Rider appearance have circulated online for months, a recent trailer for the series really fueled the fire that Johnny Blaze would be in the streamer. Fans caught a glimpse of a blurry poster that read “Donny Blaze” and believed it to read “Johnny Blaze.” Despite efforts to clarify what was seen on the poster, a section of fans clung tightly to the belief that Donny Blaze was either actually Johnny or related to him. As Gao explains multiple times to the disbelieving interviewer, Donny Blaze isn’t Johnny and is “just a magician who picked a stage name he thought was going to get a lot of attention.”

    No Jonny Blaze and fans will have to wait a few weeks to see Donny Blaze in action, but She-Hulk: Attorney At Law debuts on August 18th on Disney +.