Murphy's Multiverse

Blog

  • ‘Clayface’: James Gunn Confirms New Film’s Place on the DCU Timeline

    ‘Clayface’: James Gunn Confirms New Film’s Place on the DCU Timeline

    Following the release of the teaser trailer for DC Studios’ Clayface, fans expressed some confusion about if the film’s titular monster was the same character that debuted in Season 1 of Creature Commandos. It’s a fair question given that the title of Clayface has belonged to more than half a dozen characters in the pages of DC Comics and also because in it’s short history, the DCU’s timeline has expanded chronologically…until now.

    While responding to a fan’s question about when Clayface takes place within the DCU, DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn revealed that the events of the new film are set before Superman, making it “the first DCU film out of chronological order.”

    Set in Gotham and inspired by Batman the Animated Series, Clayface will tell Matt Hagen’s origins as the muddy menace. With it being set an undisclosed period of time before Superman, it leaves plenty of room for DC Studios to either explain how Hagen continues on as the character or pass the mantle to another character.

    Clayface will “center on an ascending actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. As a last resort, the actor turns to a fringe Elizabeth Holmes-style scientist for help. At first, the experiment is a successful but … well, it wouldn’t be a horror movie if the story ended right there, would it?”

  • ‘Clayface’ Trailer Reveals a Terrifying Body Horror Vision for the DCU

    Look fear in the face—or what’s left of it. DC Studios has officially dropped the first trailer for Clayface, and it is a stark departure from the traditional superhero aesthetic.

    Written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil), the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose face is destroyed in a brutal attack. The footage shows Hagen in a hospital bed, bandaged and bloody, before shifting into The Fly territory as his cells begin to liquefy. We get a shadowy glimpse of Hagen transforming his arm into a spiked mace, but the horror remains grounded in the tragedy of his lost identity.

    This is a full-blown body horror movie that just so happens to me set in the DCU. The trailer concludes with Hagen in a bathtub literally wiping his own face away with his hand. If you want the dark, tragic side of Gotham without the Bat-Signal, this is your movie.

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 Leak Teases Massive Return of Netflix Villains in Brutal Fight Scene

    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 Leak Teases Massive Return of Netflix Villains in Brutal Fight Scene

    The Out the Kitchen production cycle is living up to its name, and things are getting hot. According to an exclusive report from ComicBookMovie, the currently filming Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 is doubling down on its Netflix roots with a sequence that sounds like a love letter to the original series’ gritty stunt choreography.

    SPOILERS AHEAD

    Following an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Charlie Cox’s heavily-bearded look had fans belieing that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 would be at least partly inspired by Ed Brubaker‘s “Devil in Cell Block D” arc. In the story Matt Murdock is outed, arrested, and thrown into Ryker’s Island alongside the very criminals he put away…and it sounds as though Season 3 will indeed bring some of that to the screen.

    According to CBM, Cox recently filmed a scene in which he took on members of the Anti-Vigilante Task Force in a prison fight that may well have been inspired by Season 2 of the original Daredevil.

    Showrunner Dario Scardapane has done some impressive work weaving threads from the original series into the revival and it sounds as though the Season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again will not only pay homage to the epic prison fight from Daredevil Season 2 but also bring back the Kitchen Irish. The Irish mob was featured heavily in the season before being systemically offed by Frank Castle because of their involvement in the death of his family.

    While it’s not confirmed, a rebirth of the Kitchen Irish would almost certainly coincidence with a vacuum of power, leaving fans to wonder what might happen to Wilson Fisk.

  • ‘Clayface’ Trailer Rumored for Today; “Regenerative Medicine” Teased

    DC Studios has been quietly dropping breadcrumbs for their Clayface movie and now they’re about to introduce the DCU’s first true monster movie. Following a week of viral teasers focused on actor Matt Hagen’s “fading looks,” the first trailer for Clayface is expected to drop later today.

    After launching anInstagram account for the film which serves as a viral marketing tool, a new teaser for Gotham Medical magazine features a headline about “The New Face of Regenerative Medicine.” Reports suggest the first trailer is dropping today.

    The viral campaign has focused on a fictional publication called Gotham Medical, highlighting Dr. Caitlin Bates’ (Naomi Ackie) breakthrough in regenerative medicine. The “tragedy” of the film reportedly stems from Hagen using this untested tech to restore his face after a disfiguring accident, only to have his cellular structure become permanently unstable.

    Clyafacs is shaping up as a movie monster tragedy. The marketing is framing Hagen’s transformation as a failed experimental treatment to save his acting career, rather than a simple accident. Descriptions of footage from the film shown at CinemaCon suggest a film that is part The Fly and part Phantom of the Opera. It’s a grounded, heartbreaking look at a man who can become anyone but can no longer remain himself.

  • SDCC ’26: Marvel Studios to Assemble the Avengers in Hall H This July

    SDCC ’26: Marvel Studios to Assemble the Avengers in Hall H This July

    According to a report from The Wrap, Marvel Studios has officially locked in its return to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

    After a calculated absence from the major presentation circuit during the height of the 2025 production shifts, Kevin Feige is heading back to the convention floor with one primary mission: the global unveiling of Avengers: Doomsday.

    While a teaser trailer for the December 18th release is rumored to be coming “soon”, it seems highly likely that the cast of the film will be on the big stage in Hall H to roll out a trailer and launch the tidal wave of hype for the first Avengers film since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

    In addition to a big Doomsday blowout, it’s possible the studio will confirm some of the cast for Avengers: Secret Wars, though they’ll have to pick and choose–as they did with the Doomsday cast reveal–to avoid spoilers. However, with filming on Secret Wars expected to kick off in June, it’s possible fans may already be privy to the identity of many of the cast members, even if the studio isn’t ready to announce them.

    Source: The Wrap

  • First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    Production has begun on DC Studios Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and director James Gunn has wasted no time in teasing the film’s core dynamic and revealing a sneaky look at the film’s logo.

    In a photo shared by Gunn on social media, a chess board sits front and center near a badge that confirms Nicholas Hoult‘s Lex Luthor will still be in Van Kull prison when the film begins. Fans of the comics will likely recall that Luthor is a bit of a chess master and has played the game against both Clark and Jonathan Kent while they visited him in prison.

    While it’s intentionally a little tougher to see, a logo that combines the crest of the House of El with the iconic three-dot Brainiac can be seen on the clapboard at the top of the photo.

    In Man of Tomorrow, Brainiac, played by Lars Eldinger, will pose a threat so great that Superman and Luthor will team up to stop him.

  • Wilson Bethel Confirms Bullseye’s Return for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3

    Wilson Bethel Confirms Bullseye’s Return for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3

    The target is officially locked. After a scene-stealing run in the currently streaming Season 2, Wilson Bethel has confirmed that Bullseye’s will be back for Daredevil: Born Again Season 3.

    In a new interview, Bethel put an end to the speculation about his survival following the chaotic events of the Season 2. Not only is he coming back, but he’s also teasing a major shift in the assassin’s employer.

    While principal photography for Season 3 officially began on March 17, 2026, in New York under the working title Out the Kitchen, Bethel revealed that he hasn’t stepped in front of the cameras just yet. “I haven’t started shooting yet, but I will soon,” Bethel said. “I won’t spoil anything, but yeah, more Dex to come.”

    Bullseye was once a puppet for Kingpin, but the Val connection changes his trajectory entirely. By linking him to Mr. Charles and the Thunderbolts, Marvel looks to ne moving Dex out of Hell’s Kitchen and into the wider MCU hierarchy. He’s no longer just Daredevil’s nemesis—he’s a national asset with a very dangerous set of skills.

  • Forgotten Marvel Star Confirms Studio Has Discussed His Return in Long-Rumored Horror Ensemble

    Forgotten Marvel Star Confirms Studio Has Discussed His Return in Long-Rumored Horror Ensemble

    After years of rumblings and rumors, it seems as though the occult corner of the MCU may finally be coming out of the shadows. In an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Moon Knight star Oscar Isaac confirmed that “interesting conversations” are happening regarding a Midnight Sons movie—and he has one specific request for the casting director.

    From rumored writers to directors and cast members, the big screen team-up flick has allegedly been in development since 2022 and its potential to be a hit is undeniable. Werewolf By Night helmer Michael Giacchino was originally floated as a potential director before Fede Álvarez‘s name popped up on the radar in 2024. Alvarez’s involvement seemed to be attached to a screenplay being drafted by Logan scribe Michael Green and it seemed as though the studio was hoping to fast track the project. While it’s possible the studio had originally planned to get the supernatural squad together before the end of the Multiverse Saga, the deployment of the Time Ripper to accelerate the end of uneven Saga through the removal of scheduled films could have delayed its announcement and arrival.

    Most recently, a rumor claimed that the  Midnight Sons team would feature Dane Whitman, Blade, Elsa Bloodstone, Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Moon Knight, Werewolf By Night and Wong. Isaac’s confirmation that talks have taken place does nothing to quell that rumor and, in fact, may even throw gasoline on the fire.

    Yeah, there was an interesting conversation about Midnight Sons. It’s tonally very important because we’re playing with real stuff [DID] in that one. It’s expressing something very real, challenging, and difficult, so for me, I have a lot of respect for that.

    -Oscar Isaac

    When asked about the persistent fan-casting of Ryan Gosling as the MCU’s Ghost Rider, Isaac didn’t hesitate: “Make it happen, fellas. I mean, it’s a no-brainer.”

    Isaac’s revelation and request comes shortly after Gosling confirmed that he’s had “some discussions” with Marvel about portraying Ghost Rider but that it was a “complicated situation.”

    While not officially on the Phase 7 slate–nothing is, for what it’s worth–Isaac’s comments suggest the project may be in active development as Marvel looks to fill out the first wave of films in its post-Multiverse Saga plans.

  • ‘The Wire’ Alum Andre Royo Joins ‘Man of Tomorrow’

    James Gunn is keeping it in the family—and the prestige TV circle. Gunn recently took to Threads and Instagram to officially welcome Andre Royo to the cast of Man of Tomorrow.

    The announcement, accompanied by a photo of Royo alongside Gunn and editor Fred Raskin, confirms a reunion 15 years in the making for the duo, who last worked together on Gunn’s wonderful 2010 indie superhero flick Super. 

    While Royo’s character is officially undisclosed, the internet has already settled on a primary theory that would change the face of the DCU.

    Fans are convinced Royo is playing J’onn J’onzz, aka, Martin Manhunter. Fueling this fire is Gunn’s history of posting Chocos–the Martian’s favorite cookie–on social media, combined with the fact that Royo has the perfect soulful, alien observer energy to play the last survivor of Mars.

    Royo, legendary for his role as Bubbles on The Wire, is the latest alum from the HBO drama to join Gunn’s DC stable, following Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

    Filming officially kicked off on April 17, 2026, in Atlanta under the working title “Exodus.” Royo’s casting coming just as cameras start rolling suggests his role is integral to the early production blocks.

    Man of Tomorrow looks to function both as a Superman sequel and an of the DCU. Between Maxima, Green Lantern, and now potentially Martian Manhunter, Gunn could be building the most comic-accurate universe we’ve ever seen.

  • New Insider Report Backs Claim that a Second Defenders-Verse Character Will Join The Punisher in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    New Insider Report Backs Claim that a Second Defenders-Verse Character Will Join The Punisher in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    Marvel Television’s Defendes renaissance is starting to leak over into Marvel Studios’ plans. After rumors swirled last year, a new report seemingly confirms that Rosario Dawson will appear in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Claire Temple, marking her first appearance since the Netflix days.

    Claire reportedly serves as the underground medical contact for Peter Parker. With Peter living in anonymity and avoiding traditional hospitals, Claire is the only person he can turn to when the biological mutations—and the bruises from a rampaging Hulk—become too much to handle.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider’, Claire’s clinic is where Peter and Frank Castle first cross paths, setting up the unlikely alliance that carries the film’s second act.

    Bringing back Claire Temple is an interesting choice for the studio that recently rebranded to make fans feel like they could escape the interconnectedness of its interconnected cinematic universe. It rewards the long-term fans of the street-level shows while giving Peter a much-needed civilian anchor who understands the cost of being a hero. Between Bernthal and Dawson, the Netflix DNA is officially part of the backbone of the new Spidey trilogy.