Murphy's Multiverse

Blog

  • Signs That ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Have a Season 2

    Signs That ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Have a Season 2

    Now that Marvel Studios has formally ventured into television, new questions arise about the future of characters and plots that debut in the Disney+ series format. While we know some series—such as WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—lead into feature films, the announcement of Loki’s second season has made fans interested in other series getting the same treatment. While no show besides Loki has been confirmed for a Season 2, there are many signs that Ms. Marvel could be the next. 

    To be fair, we know we will see Kamala Khan in The Marvels, so it would be easy to say that Ms. Marvel’s follow-up will be in that film. But The Marvels is a sequel to Captain Marvel and will feature, from what we know, three main leads. To think that Kamala’s individual story will be able to fully continue without her own solo project is brave. With only the finale to go, Ms. Marvel has left quite a lot of story on the table. Even a strong finale—which Marvel Studios is not known for—cannot reasonably wrap it all up. And that may very well be part of the plan to give Ms. Marvel a Season 2.

    First, Kamala’s entire high school-level plot has taken a backseat for the second act of the series. The last time we saw Nakia, she had just learned that Kamala was the masked hero and was no longer speaking to her. Bruno was jealous of Kamran and also told Kamala he was going to leave to attend CalTech. Kamran is clearly integrated into the superhero side of the plot, but the love triangle there is still up in the air. Many of these plot strings, particularly Nakia and Bruno, seem to come straight from Ms. Marvel comics and are nowhere near a resolution. Kamala’s personal life—the one she had before the bangle—has been set up for a longer journey than what the finale could handle. There is a very strong chance that the last episode will specifically leave these stories open and ready to explore in the future. And they would not make much sense in The Marvels.

    If Episode 5 of Ms. Marvel made anything clear, it is that the full extent of Kamala’s powers might not be explained in the series (or the first season). While we have come a long way since Episode 1, there are so many questions remaining about Kamala’s heritage and powers. The finale will without a doubt answer some of these. To be fair, it could answer them all. But when Kamala’s grandmother cut off the questioning as to how and why Kamala can do what she does to suggest it is all about how two people fell in love and made something bigger than themselves, it seemed like a way for the series to say, “don’t worry about it.” Regardless of what we learn in the finale, the implications of the Noor Dimension and Kamala’s bangle are surely things that cannot adequately be resolved yet. That’s where The Marvels may very well help out, but something even bigger remains elusive.

    Kamala has not yet become Ms. Marvel. She almost certainly will in the finale, but we will not have seen her be the masked hero of Jersey City in Ms. Marvel. The series has received high praise from critics, and audiences and Marvel Studios alike love Iman Vellani. The character will be part of future team-ups in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the idea that they would not explore her solo adventures more is both laughable and sad. Unlike Moon Knight, which does not appear to have plans for a second season, the lead character in Ms. Marvel has not actually been the titular superhero during the series. Also unlike Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel is based on much more beloved and popular comics. Kamala is relatively new to Marvel, but her stories of heroism in Jersey City have a broad audience and can likely be relatively easy to adapt into (more) series-based content. 

    MCU series have a troubled history with resolving their own stories by the end of their runs, but the many-lingering plots in Ms. Marvel might be by design. If, like Loki, a Season 2 has been part of the bigger plan, the series is free to set up ideas that will continue to be explored. The points surrounding Kamala’s teenage life and relationships are, arguably, a very clear sign that this is happening. In particular, her and Bruno’s long will-they-won’t-they romance is set up for the long haul. Kamala also deserves to spend time in the spotlight as a solo hero, Ms. Marvel, in a way that team-up films and events are suited for. So, don’t be too surprised if a Ms. Marvel Season 2 announcement comes soon. 

    The first five episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+. 

  • ‘Hawkeye’s Hailee Steinfeld to Return in a Future MCU Project

    ‘Hawkeye’s Hailee Steinfeld to Return in a Future MCU Project

    Many have been wondering what the future has in store for some of the characters from the Disney+ show. Moon Knight’s future is still in question with no clear hint at where we can expect Oscar Isaac‘s return. The same goes for the recent introduction of Hailee Steinfeld‘s Kate Bishop. We’re still waiting for an announcement for a potential season two of Hawkeye, but it seems that We’ll see her in another project.

    According to Variety, Steinfeld is set to return in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project. They don’t give away any exact information or even if we should expect either a film or Disney+ series, but it does seem they aren’t done yet with Kate Bishop. There’s also the question of if she might be joined by Jeremy Renner‘s Clint Barton, as she is still an archer in training.

    Of course, there are the theories that Marvel Studios is building toward a Young Avengers Disney+ show or film. That would seem like the perfect place to reintroduce her and maybe even as her way to join the cinematic side of Marvel Studios’ offerings. With a big name like Steinfeld, it makes sense they’d want to have her return in one form or another.

    For now, we still have to theorize but San Diego Comic-Con, D23 and Disney+ Day are on the horizon. Perhaps we’ll get some announcements that offer a glimpse into the future of where Marvel Studios is heading, especially with the hope for confirmation on what the Phase 4 endgame is building towards.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’, ‘Hawkeye’, and ‘What If…?’ Nab Emmy Nominations

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’, ‘Hawkeye’, and ‘What If…?’ Nab Emmy Nominations

    Emmy season has started and while Marvel Studios isn’t topping the board this time around after the success with WandaVision, which did only end up winning a few actual awards, they are still going to be present this year. We already reported on Moon Knight drawing in an impressive eight nominations but that#s not the only series to draw in Emmy’s attention.

    Hawkeye got a bit snubbed this year with only two nominations. They have been nominated for Best Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series as well as Best Stunt Performance. Loki, however, was able to draw in six nominations in total with Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, Best Music Composition, Best Original Main Title Theme Music (well deserved), and Best Sound Editing. What If…? has also received three nominations, which include a posthumous nomination for Chadwick Boseman, Outstanding Animated Program for the Doctor Strange episode, and one for Jeffrey Wright as the Watcher.

    All three shows were quite well received by critics and have left their impression upon the MCU with some unique concepts. Loki stands out for telling a story out of time while Moon Knight was the most standalone since the original Iron Man. In a way, Hawkeye gave us the most grounded of all the Marvel Studios storylines as Clint had to take down a mafia.

    Source: Variety, Deadline

  • Chadwick Boseman Receives Posthumous Emmy Nomination for ‘What If…?

    Chadwick Boseman Receives Posthumous Emmy Nomination for ‘What If…?

    With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on the horizon, it’s been on many minds how much the Marvel Cinematic Universe won’t be the same without Chadwick Boseman‘s T’Challa. He’s certainly left a landmark performance and we still got to hear his voice in the animated What If..? series for Disney+ sometime after his passing. Now, the Emmys have revealed their nominations and it turns out that Boseman has received one posthumously for his performance in the Disney+ series.

    He’s not the only one, as Jessica Walter has also been nominated for her work in animation, as she gave a memorable performance in Archer even 12 seasons in. The season bid farewell to the actress who gave us one of the most memorable mothers in animation. She and Boseman are both nominated with this becoming Walter’s sixth overall nomination.

    The nomination for Chadwick Boseman will count as his first, which is fitting timing given how many of the team behind What If…? paid tribute to his work on the series and in the MCU. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has been quite vocal about not recasting the actor in their universe, and it has led to some uproar online but it’s uncertain just how the mantle of Black Panther will be carried on. For now, it’s a nice touch for him to receive this nomination for his hard work on the project.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Nabs 8 Emmy Nominations

    ‘Moon Knight’ Nabs 8 Emmy Nominations

    Emmy nominations are officially out and, while Marvel Studios didn’t see a ton of nominations like last year, Moon Knight did walk away with quite a few. In total, Moon Knight earned 8 nominations, two of which were for the fantastic stunt work done on the limited series.

    Moon Knight was nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series/Movie/Special (Original Dramatic Score), Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series/Movie/Special, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology series or Movie, Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series/Limited or Anthology Series/Movie, and Outstanding Stunt Performance.

    Interestingly, while Variety accidentally tweeted out that leading man Oscar Isaac received a nomination for his work on Moon Knight, it looks like the actor was nominated for another project. Per the Emmy’s website, Isaac was nominated in the Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category for his work in Scenes From a Marriage – not Moon Knight.

    While Moon Knight’s nominations are a far cry from the nominations WandaVision received, it’s still great to see the series acknowledged in some shape or form. All episodes of Moon Knight are now streaming on Disney+. As it stands, a second season has not been officially announced.

    Source: Television Academy.

  • ‘Squid Game’ Joins ‘Stranger Things’ at the Emmys, First Non-English Language Film to Nab a Nomination

    ‘Squid Game’ Joins ‘Stranger Things’ at the Emmys, First Non-English Language Film to Nab a Nomination

    It has been nearly a year since Squid Game first premiered on Netflix. Since then, the Korean drama has become Netflix’s most-watched show of all time with over 1.65 billion hours viewed within the first 28 days of release. And now, the drama is looking to make history with the Emmys, too.

    Nominations for the 74th Emmy Awards were announced this morning and, unsurprisingly, Squid Game was nominated – as was leading man Lee Jung-jae. The series pulled in 14 nominations overall, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. More impressively, though, Squid Game has become the first non-English language drama to secure an Emmy nomination in the main drama category.

    Elsewhere, another Netflix hit earned 13 nominations. Stranger Things was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), and Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series among others. Unfortunately, the show’s young cast looks to have been ignored in the acting categories, with many believing Sadie Sink’s work as Max was overlooked.

    While the release date for Season 2 of Squid Game is still up in the air, the final season of Stranger Things is looking to enter production relatively soon. For now, fans can enjoy the first season of Squid Game on Netflix now, as well as the first four seasons of Stranger Things.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Ironheart’ Star Spotted on Set as Disney+ Series Starts Production

    ‘Ironheart’ Star Spotted on Set as Disney+ Series Starts Production

    Actress Domique Thorne has been busy with her work on the upcoming Black Panther sequel where we’ll first meet Riri Williams. The genius college student would be the first to develop a suit of armor as advanced as Tony Stark and she is set to get her own Disney+ series. Now it seems that the first set photo has seemingly found its way online.

    Atlanta Filming, who has shared set photos in the past, took to his Instagram account to share a first look at Domique Thorne on what is likely the set of Ironheart, which may have only recently started production. We don’t have a set release date for the project but it’s exciting to know that work is underway.

    We don’t get an exact look at if this is her costume, but the purple jacket could seem like something Riri Williams wears. There have been rumors that might hint at her suiting up as the titular Ironheart even before her series premiers, as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tie-in promotional material is hinting that we’ll see her Mark 1 at some point in the series. It’ll be interesting to also see how her story may connect to Armor Wars series that is also set to kick off at some point.

    Source: Instagram, The Direct

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.2

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.2

    With Ms. Marvel’s Episode 5, entitled “Time and Again”, the series’ connection to Ms. Marvel comics continues to be present, even if sometimes in a more subtle way. In Episode 1, we looked at how the series adapted from the comics the moment Kamala’s powers were activated; for Episode 2 we delved into the comics’ and series’ introduction and handling so far of the character Kamran; in Episode 3 we looked at the interesting source material for the series’ villains, the Clandestines; and in Episode 4 we went into how Red Daggers were introduced and how they compare to the comics’ Red Dagger. As for episode 5, following our dive into Kamala’s ancestors during Partition, we now focus not so much on what happened in the show, but on what future comic events it might be hinting at.

    Episode 5 of Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel ended on a somewhat weird note. If on one hand the Clandestines’ subplot was apparently swiftly resolved, the Damage Control threat somehow gained traction with the attack on Kamran and Bruno at the Circle Q. While there is no real perfect counterpart to this sequence in the comics, the aftermath could perhaps lead Bruno down an interesting, yet painful path, taken straight out of the comics.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5

    Leading up to Secret Wars, Kamala finally met her hero Captain Marvel as New York was soon to be destroyed by an incursion. This later led to Carol making Kamala the leader of a group they named the Carol Cadets. The Cadets were created following the discovery of an Inhuman named Ulysses, who through the use of mathematics could basically predict the future. They were made to go after criminals who were yet to commit any sort of crimes but that Ulysses deemed likely to end up doing so. This was something that began not to sit right with Kamala’s friends, around the same time she also began to fight back against the idea behind the creation of the Cadets by questioning their methods.

    Ms. Marvel #16 (2015)
    Ms. Marvel #8 (2016)
    Ms. Marvel #9 (2016)

    This all led to Bruno trying to break into the Cadets’ facilities in order to set free who, in his eyes, happened to be detained there without a valid reason. Said break-in went wrong and Bruno had to deal with the consequences, being left bedridden with third-degree burns all over the left side of his body, losing the use of his left hand (his dominant one), and with serious doubts if he’d ever be able to walk again.

    Ms. Marvel #10 (2016)

    Once he finally regained conscience, and even though Kamala tried her best to stay by his side throughout his hospital stay, Bruno made it extremely clear that he held her responsible for the situation that left him in the state he found himself in. He considered she was focusing too much on her superhero life without regarding the consequences to the people around her who loved her, taking everyone for granted. He vowed to never want to see her ever again, and that his next step would be moving away to study at the Golden City Polytechnic Prep, in Wakanda.

    Ms. Marvel #18 (2017)

    Once there, he was involved in an attempted vibranium robbery, he met King T’Challa and eventually went back home when he realized that Kamala was who he wanted to be near. Unfortunately for him, Kareem, the Red Dagger, had by then stepped into the frame.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    It’s hard to predict if the Circle Q explosion might end up serving as the catalyst to a similar journey for the MCU’s Bruno. If it does, it would certainly be something worth going into in the second season (?) of the show, with perhaps Black Panther: Wakanda Forever being a possible project in which to feature a Matt Lintz cameo in the meanwhile.

    The first five episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+.

  • Morning After Huddle: July 12th, 2022

    Morning After Huddle: July 12th, 2022

    While my partner-in-prose Megatron burns Vegas to the ground, I am manning the MAH Morano for the Multiverse crew. We have some news to share, and there’s some stuff that will excite some of you, irritate some of you, and bore some of you. This is basically the Love and Thunder of the football season, so you at least know I will enjoy the heck out of this. Let’s bring this back like Mjolnir, word to Jane Foster.

    • The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that the stadium formerly known as Heinz Field will now be known as Acrisure Stadium. Steelers fans were not happy with the name change, with one Twitter user saying “I hope they know we are still calling it Heinz”, to which another user said “imagine being loyal to ketchup.” As the Rooney Family embarks on the post-Roethlisberger era, stadium name changes are really what the fanbase needs!
    • Speaking of post-Hall of Fame QB eras, a report came out last weekend that said the Bucs had discussed pursuing 49ers QB Jimmy Garrapolo to be the heir apparent (once more) to Tom Brady. Well, yesterday, Garrapolo’s agent spoke to Tom Pelissero, who denied the report. In his conversation with Pelissero, Don Yee reiterated that the I-would-imagine-soon-to-be-former 49ers QB is rehabbing nicely from offseason shoulder surgery, and that he expects to be ready for the upcoming season. Pelissero went on to say that he believes Garrapolo is traded before the end of the month.
    • Staying with guys who may be on the move, we turn to Bengals S Jessie Bates. The uber-talented safety is looking to be paid like the top safety he is, with most reports saying he’s looking for something in the $18M a year vicinity. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, this doesn’t seem like it’s headed towards an amicable resolution, as both parties don’t believe a deal will be reached. With the July 15th deadline looking, the Bengals could be in a position where they don’t have one of the key cogs for a team that was just in the Super Bowl. Could they look to trade the safety?
    • Ending with the franchise tag this morning, Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki has also not made progress towards a new deal. However, unlike Bates, it seems he will play on the franchise tag, according to the aforementioned Garafolo. Gesicki figures to be a vital part of this Dolphins passing attack, and could breakout in a big way in Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s offense. Of course, he has a QB with the arm strength of a toddler, so maybe it’s all a moot point!
  • How Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons Could Inspire a ‘Stranger Things’ Characters Return

    How Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons Could Inspire a ‘Stranger Things’ Characters Return

    It’s almost a tradition at this point with Stranger Things that the Duffer Brothers make sure to introduce a loveable supporting character each season that the fandom becomes obsessed with, only to ultimately crush our hearts with their untimely death. It started back in Season 1 with Barb, who still has yet to get her justice, followed by Bob Newby, and then Alexei. So, the show has made sure that we should try our best to not get too attached to new characters even if we still repeat the same mistakes.

    Season 4 introduced Eddie Munson, the metal head-loving dungeon master of the Hellfire Club. Like those who came before him, Eddie met his fate in the season 4 finale after being swarmed by Demobats while trying to buy more time for those who went after Vecna. While Eddie is seemingly dead, some evidence and dot-connecting could hint at resurrection for the character, with some help from the lore of Dungeons and Dragons, as well as one of Munson’s favorite metal bands.

    Following the death of Eddie, Max seems to be up next on the chopping block, having just barely escaped Vecna’s grasp after Steve, Robin, and Nancy were able to take him down. Unfortunately, due to her wounds, Max does indeed die. At least, that is what we assumed until Eleven miraculously uses her abilities to bring Max back to life. If Eleven can do this, someone with the same powers would be able to do that as well. With Vecna surviving his encounter, he’d most likely be able to bring Munson back to life. However, after being mangled by Demobats, his body presumably being left in the Upside Down, he’s not likely to be the guy we came to love throughout Season 4.

    This is where the Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons inspirations come in. Hawkins’ resident metal head shares his namesake with an icon of the metal scene in the ’80s, the undead mascot of Iron Maiden. Of course, the only connection they share is the name and that he’s a fan, protecting their honor and declaring them as real music. Yet, there’s the potential that a resurrected Munson could sport a similar look to the band’s undead mascot, especially after what he went through.

    This could lead to a storyline hinted at the beginning of the season, as their current campaign in Dungeons and Dragons always tends to hint at future storylines. At the Hellfire Club’s big session, the group is ambushed by Vecna within the game, and Mike, startled at the monster’s appearance, mentions that Vecna is dead. He was killed by Kas, the human vampire and trusted lieutenant to Vecna, who betrayed and killed the Arch-Lich within their stories’ canon.

    In a way, Eddie would be quite the valuable asset in Vecna’s mission of revenge and furthering his invasion into the overworld. At first, he’s used as a ploy to mess with and break those who seek to oppose him. We’ve seen in Season 4 how Vecnas breaks his victim’s minds, and preys on their darkest memories, using them against them. Eddie would definitely be the perfect puppet for him to get into everyone’s head, especially Dustin’s.

    The D&D character of Kas was dead. And after spending too much much time near the negative energy plane, he was transformed into a vampire. In Stranger Things, they could use the Upside Down as its equivalent, where Eddie died after fighting off a horde of Demobats. His weapons of choice are also clues. His weaponry is similar to the flaming sword and shield Kas uses, even if Eddie’s don’t ignite, the flaming sword can be seen in the Hellfire Club logo.

    Some may also notice his Tattoos may hint at his return, with one being a demon puppeteered by a floating hand, possible as a reference to the hand that Kas cut off of Vecna and the control he would have over a risen Munson. Plus, it also matches the tease of him playing Metallica‘s Master of Puppets during the finale episode of Season 4. On top of all of this, he has a swarm of bats on his arm, foreshadowing his demise and possibly resurrection.

    The fifth and final season of Stranger Things has even yet to be written and will most likely not release until sometime late in 2024. Still, in the meantime, we can all theorize just how our beloved metal head could return to Hawkins and further prove to be the hero he never thought he was. Getting one more chance to save his friends would seem like the perfect way to give him one last hurrah.