Murphy's Multiverse

Blog

  • Fans Seemingly Spot Deadpool in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Poster

    Fans Seemingly Spot Deadpool in New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Poster

    In a film focused on the multiverse, Doctor Strange’s next project could open up what seems like an endless potential, even if we might explore the nightmarish aspects of what the multiverse may have to offer. Still, the first trailer did confirm an ongoing rumor that an iconic character making a return in the upcoming film. Yet, the Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness poster may have included a few more details on what we may expect from the sequel.

    We previously reported that the poster includes Captain Carter’s shield, which we previously saw in the multiverse adventures of What If…?. Yet, some eagle-eyed fans may have noticed another addition in the form of what may be the inclusion of Deadpool. As shared in the image by @therealsupes, you can see a character with white eyes and black rings surrounding it. If you look closely, he seemingly is shushing whoever is looking at it.

    There’s always a chance this isn’t Deadpool, but the design seems pretty close to the character, and the fact he is seemingly shushing people looking at the poster does add some potential validity to it. The weird yellow symbol in the front is the only element that may hint that it isn’t who we think it is. Plus, the black around the eyes is a bit smaller than what we’ve seen from the character previously. So, there’s always a chance it turns out to be someone else, but it’s fun to speculate with a potential multiverse ready to explore in May.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Batman’s Robert Pattinson Wants to Face the Court of Owls in a Sequel

    ‘The Batman’s Robert Pattinson Wants to Face the Court of Owls in a Sequel

    Robert Pattinson is ready to take on the mantle of the Batman in Matt Reeves’ new universe, and it seems he’s been taking a deep dive into the comic history. In an interview with Den of Geek, the actor has revealed that he is quite interested in exploring an adaptation from Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo‘s iconic The Court of Owls storyline. The introduction of a secret society deep within Gotham’s high-class was a great storyline and had a more horror-themed aspect to it as it pushed Bruce Wayne to his limits. Pattinson highlights how their take on the character also leads itself perfectly for this storyline:

    I’d love to do something like Court of Owls. There are elements of The Batman which are kind of horror and I think it really feels quite new for Batman.

    Robert Pattinson

    Some time ago, we’ve even theorized that the series might be building up to a potential confrontation with the Court of Owls given some of the story hints that may hint at a bigger picture beyond this solo outing. While it seems they are going for a more grounded take on the Dark Knight, it may expand at some point to include supernatural elements, and zombified hitmen in owl costumes seem on the more acceptable side of that direction. Here’s hoping the actor gets his wish, as the franchise potentially spins off into a new trilogy or even more.

    Source: Den of Geek

  • Benedict Cumberbatch on How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Became “a Sam Raimi Picture”

    Benedict Cumberbatch on How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Became “a Sam Raimi Picture”

    Marvel Studios has built up a reputation for how they tackle their projects. For some time, it was commonly called the “Marvel formula” due to similarities being enforced on earlier projects through the special committee put in place by Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter. Ever since Captain America: Civil War, there’s been a stronger shift and we got more creative projects like Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and more. Even now, the latest trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness promises a darker tale and a deep dive into the horrors of the multiverse, as Sam Raimi takes over the reins of this project.

    And it seems once he took over from director Scott Derrickson, who left the project due to creative differences, that shift became a strong focus for everyone involved. In an interview with Empire, Benedict Cumberbatch shared how the director joining shifted the project to make sure his talents and horror roots are reflected in his work. As the actor puts it:

    Once it became Sam, it was always about making it a Sam Raimi picture. Your head’s going to be spun.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    The trailer certainly promised some creative camera work and horror elements like the potential tease of a new Zombie Strange. It’s unclear if it’s the same from What If…? or even a zombie to begin with. Though seeing a Variant of Strange being slowly turned into one would make for quite the memorable visual. It’s a shame Derrickson couldn’t bring his vision to life, but it would be great to see him potentially tackle a different project with horror elements.

    Source: Empire

  • REVIEW: ‘The Cuphead Show!’ is Just a Golly Good Time

    REVIEW: ‘The Cuphead Show!’ is Just a Golly Good Time

    An animated series based on MDHR Games’ popular indie darling Cuphead just makes sense. The entire premise of the game is that it’s inspired by classic Max Fleischer animation as the titular Cuphead and his brother Mugman accidentally owe the devil their soul and need to find a way to save themselves from damnation. So, it was such a no-brainer that someone would end up bringing it to life in its very own show and Netflix happened to be the one to do it. The only question is if they can create a compelling show based on a simple narrative that stays true to its iconic visual style? Luckily, The Cuphead Show! manages to do that and offer a golly good time.

    Yes, the core narrative remains with Cuphead and Mugman going on hijinks, especially with the Devil playing a recurring role throughout. Yet, the biggest difference is that the series isn’t focusing primarily on an overarching narrative, but rather focusing on small vignettes that continue to build up the challenges our unlikely duo have to face. The first episode pretty much gets the essentials out of the way in a fun and entertaining way to unshackle itself from the games it adapting. The second episode seems specifically made to catch you off-guard if you’re expecting a one-to-one adaptation.

    The one thing it remains mostly true to the original lies in its animation style, especially the show’s character designs. As you’d expect, they translated perfectly to an animated format and they give them quite a bit of personality. I will complain that it doesn’t fully commit to the rubber hose style – ironically the opening seems to embrace it more with a catchy theme song – but it definitely feels like a modern take on it. Yet, the animators did add some small animation flourishes that call back to that era to meld it with the modern elements. There is some great use of 3D in this series that feels like a call-back to some great 3D models used in the game.

    I was surprised by how restraint the show is as an adaptation. Normally, there’s this bizarre need for any adaptation to shove every possible iconography from the franchise into a short amount of time, but the series doesn’t really focus on that. Hell, they even twist and turn some iconic characters like King Dice to better fit a straightforward narrative rather than strictly sticking to what we saw in the game. They even include some new characters to add diversity and catch you off guard, or even give characters like Elder Kettle a personality besides a walking-talking tutorial.

    The show wouldn’t work without our two main protagonists, and the dynamic is a simple but effective one. Mugman is the cowardly but level-headed brother while Cuphead is quite the oblivious rascal. I enjoyed that these characters are flawed but well-meaning, which made you enjoy the events that started to uncover. Tru Valentino and Frank T. Todaro definitely are having fun with these roles, and the time-fitting accents just add to its charm. My other personal favorites were Grey Griffin‘s Miss Chalice and Luke Millington Drake‘s Devil, especially the latter just seemingly had a blast with the role.

    Each episode offers something a little fun and special, but I will say the show doesn’t reinvent the wheel or truly blow your mind in any way. In a way, it never really has to and still manages to be among the best adaptations of a video game. I am looking forward to more and definitely would give it a rewatch if I feel in the mood to just have some fun. My biggest complaint may be that the ending of the series seems a little out of nowhere. The prior two episodes actually build upon each other only for the finale to have a completely new storyline and character. It may be the only time I was scratching my head on why they suddenly went this direction throughout the show.

    Sometimes a show doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel and just offers a good time mixed with some great animation. The series pays tribute in clever ways and knows exactly what it is going for. Running gags, great performances and a lot of heart carry this show that doesn’t restrict itself to a specific storyline outside of continuity. Anyone who loves animation will have a blast and fans of the game will surely enjoy seeing these iconic characters brought to life. The Cuphead Show! is exactly what is advertised and you won’t regret your time with it.

  • Oscar Isaac on the Challenges of ‘Moon Knight’

    Oscar Isaac on the Challenges of ‘Moon Knight’

    Marvel Studios Moon Knight has captured the attention and imagination of fans, many of whom aren’t entirely familiar with the character’s struggles with dissociative identity disorder. The character, first introduced in 1975, has evolved over the years into one or Marvel Comics most complex heroes and, according to star Oscar Isaac, who will bring the character to life in the upcoming streaming series, it was that taking on the challenge of that complexity that attracted him to the role.

    What I love most about this thing is that it’s an exploration of a mind that doesn’t know itself. A human being that doesn’t know his own brain. I found that really moving: what the mind is capable of as far as survival. But the workload was massive: the technical challenge of embodying these different characters, physically, the way I manifest my body… It required a lot of energy.

    So far, through a trailer and the Super Bowl TV spot, we’ve seen Isacc inhabit the role of Steven Grant most of the time, with only a quick mention of the character’s original identity, Marc Spector. The series, however, promises to see “Grant” unravel the mystery of his true identity in what Isaac called “the first legitimate Marvel character-study since Iron Man“, and the many twists and turns that it’ll take along the way are sure to keep fans engaged from week to week. While the character has existed for more than 40 years in the comics, it seems as though Marvel Studios has created a rather original take on the character, meaning that even long-time comic readers may find themselves guessing, which seems to be exactly what Isaac hoped for because, as he said himself, he saw it as a chance to do “something really fucking nutty on a major stage” and there is no stage more major than the MCU at the moment.

    Moon Knight – exclusive
    Source: Empire Magazine

    Marvel Studios Moon Knight will debut on Disney Plus on March 30th.

    Source: Empire

  • New ‘Moon Knight’ Screenshot Further Hints at Disney+ Series’ Villain

    New ‘Moon Knight’ Screenshot Further Hints at Disney+ Series’ Villain

    Moon Knight‘s trailers have mainly focused on our protagonist and his shattered mind, but the biggest question still remained on who Ethan Hawke was playing. The first teaser trailer hinted at him having a role similar to a cult leader, but it’s unclear how he may connect to the overarching narrative and Egyptian mythology present in Moon Knight’s. Well, a new set of photos as the Super Bowl spot has finally dropped may have given a much clearer connection in the form of his staff.

    In one of the images, you can clearly see Hawke’s character holding a staff with two alligator heads on it. Now, for Egyptian mythology, this is quite the big reveal and now the first time we’ve seen the visual. The first teaser included a crocodile on Marc Spector’s phone. Sobek is commonly connected with a crocodile head but there’s also Ammit, better known as Ammut. The latter is probably the likeliest candidate, as the Devourer of the Dead had a big role in Moon Knight‘s comic storylines.

    Image

    In the comic, Ammut took over the body of Doctor Emmet, one of the characters Hawke was theorized to be playing. Yet, the captions from the initial trailer seemingly confirmed him to be playing Arthur Harrow. So, they may be combining multiple characters in this case. We also have the humanoid jackals that were featured in the comics from the initial trailer, which adds to the theory that the character may turn out to be the actual villain in the story that’s been using Hawke‘s character as a vessel to do their bidding. It’s uncertain though if she is working alongside Khonshu or against, which could make for an interesting turmoil for our unlikely hero to face.

    You can watch the whole Super Bowl spot here:

  • ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Hints at Doctor Strange Visiting an Animated Universe

    ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Hints at Doctor Strange Visiting an Animated Universe

    We might be able to write all night about all the small details that are included in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Super Bowl trailer. We just shared an article that the trailer may have hinted at the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on the Savage Lands, but mere seconds before that you can actually see a star-shaped portal. Strange and America Chavez are falling through the multiverse and if you look closely, it almost seems like they are dropping out of a universe that seems to be animated or at least drawn.

    There’s no clear point of reference to figure out what it may be hinting at, but with their revival of the 90s X-Men animated series, they could be using this as a point of connection. It’s certainly closer to hand-drawn animation rather than the CGI designs we got with What If…? but something that almost seems like it’s taken from the 60s Spider-Man series with its color palette. We might never find out until the film releases, but speculation is going to be fun to figure out where exactly they are falling out from. There’s also the chance that is a purposeful placeholder to keep viewers on the edge of their seat deciphering what secrets the film might have in store for us.

  • ‘Doctor Strange’ Trailer May Have Teased the Savage Lands

    ‘Doctor Strange’ Trailer May Have Teased the Savage Lands

    There are a lot of interesting details to take away from the new trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. I might even be running out of ideas on how to start these articles, but there is one more really interesting detail that might have bigger implications moving forward for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Besides the biggest reveal in the trailer, there’s a small moment that actually may have hinted at an iconic location from the comics that finally finds its way into live-action.

    In a blink-or-you-miss-it moment, Strange is seen floating alongside America Chavez from one portal to another. What stands out is that a tyrannosaurus rex is standing in the background ready to let out a powerful stream. No, it’s not a crossover with Jurassic World: Dominion but rather the first introduction of the continent known as the Savage Land. In the comics, it’s set in Antarctica and is a prehistoric land that has remained hidden through volcanoes surrounding it.

    We don’t get a confirmation that this is definitely the Savage Land, but as the story is about dimension-hopping and not time travel, the MCU could introduce this land as part of its own pocket dimension similar to what we saw in Shang-Chi and the Legend of Tomorrow‘s Tao Lo. Chavez might be the reason they are being catapulted from one dimension to another, but it’s a great little addition in case the land makes a return in a future project. There’s still the chance it may simply be a dimension where dinosaurs continue to thrive but one can dream.

    Source: YouTube

  • New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Includes a Captain Marvel Tease

    New ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Includes a Captain Marvel Tease

    As expected, Marvel Studios unleashed a brand new trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The incredible trailer, which has been rumored to drop for weeks, fully unleashed the Multiverse upon the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer included a look at a returning Mordo, as well as a Wanda variant, while also seemingly confirming the rumored return of an X-Men actor. However, there’s one key part of the trailer that is sure to get folks buzzing.

    At the 1:35 mark of the trailer, we see a mysterious figure who is difficult to make out.

    While it’s hard to decipher just which character that is, it seems likely that it’s none other than Monica Rambeau’s Captain Marvel. In the comics, Rambeau took up the Captain Marvel mantle before Carol Danvers, and before she ultimately became known as Spectrum.

    Teyonah Parris took over the role of Monica Rambeau in last year’s WandaVision and is next set to appear as the character in The Marvels.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters on May 6.

  • Ultron Sentry Return in ‘Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer

    Ultron Sentry Return in ‘Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer

    The latest trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has finally dropped and it includes quite a lot from what we can expect in the upcoming sequel. The biggest reveal came in the form of a simple voice clip of a voice everyone might recognize, but there was one part of the multiverse that stuck out quite a bit in the trailer in the form of Ultron Sentry making their return. We can clearly see them escort Strange after he was arrested for his crimes against reality. It’s not sure what exactly is going on and where he is, but some of the leaks may help clarify what is going on.

    What is worth pointing out is the silver, slick design of these Ultron bots. It’s very reminiscent of Superior Iron Man’s design. As we don’t know who the other members of this council are beside the one major reveal, there’s a chance that an alternative version of Tony Stark could make an appearance. We’re talking about the multiverse, which opens up a lot of possibilities for Marvel Studios to explore. The trailer finds that perfect balance to give away nothing while making us scratch our heads what exactly is going on.

    You can check out the trailer here: