Murphy's Multiverse

Blog

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Star on How His High Evolutionary Differs From the Comics

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Star on How His High Evolutionary Differs From the Comics

    Chukwudi Iwuji is hitting the comic book scene, as after a scene-stealing performance on Peacemaker, he’s followed director James Gunn over to his next major project. He is set to star as the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and even gave us a first look at his costume during San Diego Comic-Con.

    We still know very little about how his character will tie into the story outside of hints he’ll be the one that created Rocket Racoon. Yet, Iwuji was able to tease his overall take on the character in an interview with Collider, even highlighting there’s some “Shakesperean about him” when he brought the character to life.

    Shady doesn’t touch it. He is narcissistic, sociopathic, but very charming. I couldn’t have thought of a better character that uses [a] skill set better to join the MCU with. Because there’s something very Shakespearean about him, there’s something very emotionally dark about him, and he’s a lot of fun on top of all that. The costume like you mentioned, the day I put on that costume because he looks very different from how he is in the comics, but the costume just worked. There’s something about putting it on, which I’m glad you mentioned because a big part of my performance was that costume.

    Chukwudi Iwuji

    Marvel Studios isn’t new to changing things up from the comics to add a new fresh take on the medium. He definitely gave us a good glimpse at his “emotionally dark” take on the character, and it does sound like a fun take. Iwuji getting a chance to just play around with a character after giving us a more serious performance in Peacemaker. It’ll definitely be fun to see his take on the High Evolutionary next May.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Batgirl’ Has Been Shelved and is Not Being Released

    ‘Batgirl’ Has Been Shelved and is Not Being Released

    Earlier today, a report surfaced from the New York Post stating that DC and Warner Bros. Discovery had opted not to release its previously announced Batgirl film. Now, The Wrap has come out to confirm that the movie is not being released. The reasoning behind the decision is that, despite reshoots and an increased budgets, Batgirl just wasn’t able to come together well enough to please the studio. Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly said to want to make big theatrical event films, and Batgirl just didn’t feel like an event film.

    Batgirl was one of the few films put into development prior to the merger and was to be an HBO Max original. Production on the title kicked off last November and wrapped back in March, when director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah shared the first look at leading lady Leslie Gace in costume as Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl. While the nearly completed $90 million film will be shelved, the studio is said to be keen to work with film’s directors and star and wants to work with them again soon.

    The decision to not release Batgirl comes after the studio canceled the Wonder Twins film shortly after casting its lead roles. Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to tighten its grip on its DC properties, taking time to re-evaluate the projects that were in development before David Zaslav took over. Unlike the Wonder Twins, however, Batgirl was nearly complete and had been announced as receiving a theatrical release earlier this year. The decision to shelve a $90 million film as the studio takes a closer look at its budgets is sure to ignite a conversation among fans online. One can only hope Grace gets another chance to don the cowl sooner rather than later.

    Source: The Wrap.

  • ‘Nobody’ Producer Confirms Sequel, Bob Odenkirk Set to Return

    ‘Nobody’ Producer Confirms Sequel, Bob Odenkirk Set to Return

    Films based on assassins are all the rage these days, with then success of John Wick spawning many more copycats. One in particular hit theaters last year, starring Saul Goodman himself, Bob Odenkirk, who played a retired intelligence agency hitman who’d been brought back into action after a home invasion; sounds a bit familiar. The film was quite the hit, garnering positive critical reaction and grossing over $50 million at the worldwide box office on a shoestring $16M budget. It seems to have been enough to warrant a sequel as the film’s producers confirmed a sequel is in development.

    David Leitch recently sat down with Collider while promoting his upcoming action film Bullet Train, where he confirmed that a Nobody sequel is in the writing stages and they’ll be working on the project as fast as they can. Leitch went into detail about just how much people loved working on the first one, and that it meant a lot to everyone involved.

    Oh, I think everyone’s really excited about it, Everyone involved is like, ‘Full steam ahead.’ We are in the script process, and I think we had so much fun making that. Kelly and I had a blast, the actors had a blast, the studio loved the results, and it’s happening. I mean, I think it’s happening as fast as we can make it happen.

    David Leitch

    Leitch went spoke more on the sequel to cast aside doubts that the project wouldn’t happen, explaining that they’re excited to get working on it with Odenkirk.

    Yes, I do. I do, because there are these certain journeys that you go on, and they’re just undeniable experiences for the people involved. And that was one of them. And I think all of us want to go back and play in that universe, and we want to see Bob bring that character to life again.

    David Leitch

    With Better Call Saul set to wrap up its sixth season in the next few weeks, Odenkirk is going to have a whole lot more time on his hand to explore new projects, with one of those hopefully being the Nobody sequel.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing $30 Million Opening Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing $30 Million Opening Weekend

    Brad Pitt’s latest film, Bullet Train, is heading toward a slow start. The action flick opens in 4,300 theaters across North America this Friday, but box office experts don’t seem to have high hopes for it. As of now, Bullet Train is eyeing $30 million – or more – in its opening weekend.

    Reviews for the film hit today and they seem to be mixed. Bullet Train currently has a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics noting the Pitt-led film feels flat and lacks steam. While a $30 million opening would be enough to lead the domestic box office over the weekend, it’s a lower projection than anticipated given the film is an action-packed thriller aimed at adult men. The R-rated film was costly to produce – around $90 million – so it’ll be interesting to see how the box office plays in the coming weeks. Poor word of mouth, though, could take down the film before it ever gets a chance to speed off. Bullet Train could also potentially see competition from Jo Koy‘s Easter Sunday which opens on Friday, too.

    Bullet Train has also been the subject of controversy which could hinder its box office potential. Based on a book of the same name by Kōtarō Isaka which features primarily Japanese characters. Rather than cast a primarily Asian cast, Sony and those involved with the project used the “fictional people” argument to justify the decision not to bring in Japanese actors. Just a few days ago, director David Leitch argued that the characters are “not real people, and maybe they’re not even Japanese.” While Isaka is okay with the casting decisions made regarding Bullet Train, it’s likely the controversy will ultimately impact the movie’s overall potential when all is said and done.

    Bullet Train hits theaters on Friday.

    Source: Variety.

  • REVIEW: ‘LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation’ is All About Letting Go

    REVIEW: ‘LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation’ is All About Letting Go

    LEGO adaptations have been breathing new life into the Star Wars franchise for nearly two decades, and LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation is a lovely way to carry on the tradition. The project is the latest in a yearly string of comedic animated short films that began with 2020’s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special, and is the kind of delightful storytelling that makes a person hope Lucasfilm never stops producing this joy-inducing series. Summer Vacation has something for everyone, as long as they’re open to it, and an almost weirdly good handle on what specifically makes the world of Star Wars and all its characters so great. It also may be a bit deeper than its wacky exterior implies.

    Maybe the nicest aspect of the LEGO Star Wars shorts are their place outside of the franchise canon. Most Lucasfilm content these days, whether it be on the big screen or on Disney+, finds itself almost immediately bogged down by questions of legitimacy. Internet arguments break out over the most minute choices and details, and the hostility often spills over into the real world. It can make it hard to simply enjoy what one enjoys, with the constant threat of having to defend an opinion looming around every corner. With Summer Vacation, there is no such stress. It’s just good vibes from beginning to end. The movie’s existence within a separate, goofier, brick-filled timeline allows the story to be as silly as it wants without breaking any unwritten rules of the fictional universe it takes place in. It’s frankly sort of freeing, and truthfully, that may be exactly what Summer Vacation is all about.

    In the film, which is hypothetically set after the events of Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Finn takes his friends on a galactic cruise for one last group expedition before everyone goes their separate ways. He’s accompanied by the likes of Rey, Poe, Rose, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8, and is quickly dismayed when nobody seems to understand the point of their time away from saving the galaxy. From there, Finn encounters a few familiar Force Ghosts who use tales from past vacations as a way to explain that, sometimes, you have to let go of expectations if you really want to enjoy yourself. This is maybe not a purposeful allegory to the way a lot of people now consume media, but it works all the same. If a person can let go of preconceived notions, and the seriousness that can come with them, then the adventure will be better for it. To simplify – the journey is not about anything, it’s all about the journey.

    One could say this sounds too spiritual for a children’s program, but to be fair, George Lucas has always said Star Wars is for kids, and those movies have more spiritual implications than any other blockbuster franchise there is. Thematically speaking, Summer Vacation is just as valid as any other installment in Lucasfilm’s vast catalog. It’s potentially even better, because, unlike prior Star Wars projects, this one is unafraid to show Darth Vader in a full-body swimsuit. Yes, as previously mentioned, Summer Vacation is also truly great at just being a fun time. Between the life lessons are a boatload of self-deprecating franchise jokes and insanely accurate character bits. In the same way this story understands what makes Star Wars what it is, it firmly doubles down on what fans love about their favorite protagonists. There are also references and plot points from every Star Wars timetable, except the ongoing High Republic line, that include both fairly obscure Clone Wars-era name drops and instantly recognizable Mandalorian-era needle drops.

    This is all a roundabout way to say LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation is not only fun for the whole family, but a fantastic little chapter of storytelling as well. It’s every bit as zany as oner might expect, if not more endearing than they signed up for. A nice, beach-side breeze of fresh air for a hot, hot season. Plus, Weird Al Yankovic sings an original song in the middle of it, so it’s worth watching by default.

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 2, 2022

    Morning, teammates! It was definitely a manic Monday as Judge Sue Robinson released her recommendations for the suspension of one Derrick Deshaun Watson.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • Though clearly disturbed by the evidence presented to her, six games is what Judge Robinson ruled in response to Deshaun Watson’s violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Her ruling hinges largely on the fact that the current PCP does not give credence to her to rule beyond her recommendations. Watson and his camp are not expected to appeal and are standing by the decision. The Browns released a statement relaying much of the same info. The assumption is that the NFL will likely appeal. (I have thoughts, but for the sake of today and the pending appeal, I’m going to hold my thoughts – if you’re even remotely curious about how I might respond, you can read my previous piece: Deshaun Watson: What It All Means)
    • Keeping with quarterback news, Joe Burrow returned to Training Camp today after being out for an emergency appendectomy. Hopping over to Arizona, Kyler Murray has tested positive for Covid 19 and will be out for at least 5 days. That’s quite the week for Kyler. (At least the Cardinals can feel confident he has plenty of time to study film during his time away. Too soon?)
    • Finally, your Key Signings Roundup:

    Thanks for catching up on all things NFL with us. We’re back tomorrow with more things you want to know. 

    ICYMI: Monday – August 1, 2022 Edition

  • James Gunn On Where’The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ Falls Among MCU’s Phases

    James Gunn On Where’The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’ Falls Among MCU’s Phases

    Coming out of Marvel Studios’ marquee panel at San Diego Comic-Con over a week ago, one of the major talking points was the confirmation of the full line-ups of both Phase Four and Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, one project which was curiously omitted from either lineup was the previously announced The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special . Despite Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 holding a major presence at the event, no update on the holiday special was provided. 

    Director James Gunn took to Twitter to give some updates on the special, including its placement in the MCU timeline. Gunn officially referred to the upcoming holiday special as the “epilogue” to Phase Four.

    This bit of news seems obvious on a surface level with the special debuting in the limbo period between Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (the end of Phase Four) and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (the start of Phase Five). Even still, it will be interesting to follow how Marvel Studios officially notates the holiday special. If it never receives an “official” placement in an MCU phase, it could be an omen that these one-off specials aren’t as distinctly canonically tied to the ongoing Multiverse Saga. In theory, this would be in line with how the Marvel Studios Animation wing has seemingly been sectioned off from the ongoing narratives of the live action MCU projects.

    However, there is still the possibility that Marvel Studios distinctly withheld The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special from San Diego Comic-Con to instead spend time discussing the project at the D23 festivities in September. This could pair well with the assumed official reveal of Marvel Studios’ Halloween-based special coming later this year. Ultimately though, this subject is likely a continued indicator of the general banality of phase delineation and that people generally overthink the distinct meanings of them beginning and ending.

  • Colin Farrell Talks ‘Penguin’ Series, ‘The Batman 2’

    Colin Farrell Talks ‘Penguin’ Series, ‘The Batman 2’

    In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Colin Farrell briefly talked about the forthcoming Penguin series he’s attached to star in for HBO Max. Earlier this year, reports suggested the spinoff series would kick off production in June. That, of course, did not occur. Now, with Farrell beginning work on the Apple TV+ series, Sugar, Farrell is hoping to film The Penguin soon. As he told Entertainment Tonight, The Penguin should start filming come the new year.

    And Farrell is more than ready to don the Penguin prosthetics once again when it comes to The Batman 2. When asked if he’d be up for returning for the sequel, Farrell was more than enthused at the possibility of returning. “Oh my god, you kidding me?” He teased. “It’s so much fun, are you joking [with] me? I’ve been around the block man. That was an easy sport, I mean…it was a joy.”

    Matt Reeves, who directed and co-wrote The Batman, is also working on The Penguin. While he will not be directing episodes of the series, Farrell did tease Reeves is all over the series. Per Farrell, Reeves is helping to structure the scripts and help select the director(s) for the project. “He’s so obsessive about what he does, but he’s all over The Penguin as well. I mean, he’s not gonna direct it but he’s all over the structure of the scripts and who’s gonna direct them. And so, it’s exciting.”

    News of The Penguin series first surfaced in September 2021. It wouldn’t be until March 2022 that the project was confirmed to be in development by the folks at DC. Agents of SHIELD veteran Lauren LeFranc serves as the showrunner on the series. As of now, it does not have a release date.

    Source: Entertainment Tonight via Variety.

  • Zombie Apocalypse ‘As We Know It’ Finds its Cast

    Zombie Apocalypse ‘As We Know It’ Finds its Cast

    It looks like an upcoming horror comedy As We Know It has found its cast, as it has added quite a few comedic veterans to headline the project. Oliver Cooper, known for his work on Project X, 30 Rock‘s Chris Parnell, and Jackie Brown‘s Pam Grier have joined the project to face a late 90s nuclear zombie apocalypse. The story follows the story of James Bishop who is facing a breakup and is trying to finish his book before the apocalypse arrives.

    They aren’t alone, as they also added Mike Castle and Taylor Blackwell, alongside a TikToker by the name of Danny Mondello. In the directing chair is Josh Monkarsh and the production has already started production during the end of July. It’s going to wrap up in early August and is based on a script by Monkarsh, who co-wrote it alongside Christopher Francis and Brandon DePaolo. It does sound like it could be a fun time and it’s not the first horror comedy to take a look at the apocalypse through the lens of comedians.

    Unlike Seth Rogen‘s This Is The End though, the actors aren’t playing themselves but they are sticking to a fictional storyline. Still, the cast does sound promising and it’ll be interesting to see how it comes together. Comedy is subjective and they may add their own spin fo the concept. There’s no word if this will also be a mostly adult comedy, as zombies aren’t strangers to more PG-13 fare as well but with the popularity of R-rated comedies it would seem strange they’d not stick to it with the base concept.

    Source: Variety

  • Dolph Lundgren Sets the Record Straight on ‘Creed’ Spinoff

    Dolph Lundgren Sets the Record Straight on ‘Creed’ Spinoff

    You’d think the announcement of a Drago spinoff focusing on the father-son duo by the same name spinning out of Creed would mostly have a positive place in media coverage. Yet, it seems that it hit quite a soft spot with Rocke himself, Sylvester Stallone who publicly spoke out against the franchise’s producers due to a rights ownership discrepancy. Now, Dolph Lundgren has “set the record straight” in regards to what exactly is going on and that he’s also in touch with Stallone in an interview with Variety.

    Just to set the record straight regarding a possible ‘Drago’ spinoff. There’s no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor. There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr. Balboa – just so all the fans can relax…There ya go.

    Dolph Lundgren

    So, it does seem it’s in very early stages and it may not happen given the circumstances; at least not with the returning cast. Plot details remain uncertain and if there’s no approved script, it might be in a very early stage of development. So, we’ll have to see how or when this project even comes together. It’s good to see that Lundgren is in touch with Stallone and offers some insights, as the former Rocky star has pointed to the producers of the franchise as “parasites” in a recent Instagram post. He’s actively condemned the Winkler family in the past and it’s interesting

    Source: Variety