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  • Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    According to a playbill for his new gig, The Lehman Triology, British stage actor and Penny Dreadful alum Sir Simon Russell Beale has joined the MCU and will be making an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder.

    https://imgur.com/gallery/2uMrQOM

    Beale has portrayed Shakespearian icons such as Malvolio, Hamlet, Iago and King Lear during his nearly 30 year career that has stretched from stage to big screen. He also memorably portrayed Egyptologist Ferdinand Lyle over 3 seasons of Penny Dreadful.

    It’s not known what role Beale has taken on in Thor: Love and Thunder, but given his pedigree and the rumors that gods and goddesses from other pantheons may appear, it’s not too far fetched to think he might be portraying one of them.

    Thor: Love and Thunder will be in theaters on July 8th, 2022.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh on Sprite’s Future Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh on Sprite’s Future Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    When most actors sign on to appear in a Marvel Studios film, they do so without a clear idea of how long their character will be around. In the past, Marvel Studios was known to sign actors for six-picture deals, however, that has since changed. Still, it’s hard to imagine most actors don’t envision a future for their characters within the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe at one point or another. For Eternals actor Lia McHugh, she’s unsure of Sprite’s future but seems hopeful.

    In an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, McHugh briefly discussed her future as Sprite. While she can’t comment on future appearances, the actress does discuss how she has earned the distinction of being the youngest superhero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe – despite playing a character well over thousands of years old.

    You know, as a kid you sort of daydream about different, crazy things that don’t ever really come true. And I never thought in a million years that I would play a superhero because there’s never really been a kid superhero, especially at this level in the MCU. So, when I got this part, I was absolutely shocked and its been special that I’m the youngest superhero in the MCU. I’ve officially gotten that title. I really can’t comment on any future movies, they don’t tell me anything. So, you probably know more than I do.

    She is open to doing voice work in an animated project, though. When asked if she would voice Sprite in an animated series for Marvel, McHugh kept it simple.

    I mean, I don’t know. I would probably be open to anything.

    Fans can meet McHugh’s Sprite when Eternals hits theaters on Nov. 5.

  • ‘Dune’ Spicing Up the Domestic Box Office With Potential $30M+ Opening

    ‘Dune’ Spicing Up the Domestic Box Office With Potential $30M+ Opening

    We’ve been waiting for Dune‘s arrival in domestic cinemas for quite some time. It already had a great start internationally with around $36.8M in its opening weekend across 24 markets in September. Now, we finally got a clearer picture for its domestic debut, as it garnered around $5.1M in its Thursday previews. Denis Villeneuve‘s latest film was also made available through HBO Max, which might give it a good audience boost. The numbers are looking good, as it drove 30% of Thursday’s box office, especially in Imax cinemas. It makes sense, as it was one of the big selling points of the film and ended up making up $1.5M of its total preview income.

    As of now, the box office seems likely for a $30M+ opening, but Warner Bros. is keeping their prediction at around $30M to be safe. Its Imax performance is certainly a showcase of the film’s marketing and selling the “cinematic experience,” but the question remains if it can keep the momentum going into the weekend. HBO Max availability has hurt films Saturday’s at times, but only time will tell for now.

    Villeneuve’s films haven’t always garnered box office attention but were still very popular with critics and audiences. As The Hollywood Reporter highlights, the biggest challenge lies in the franchise’s older draw. Even No Time to Die suffered a bit over the weekend due to the original novels’ older audience. It’s going to be exciting to follow its development.

    Source: Deadline, Forbes, Hollywood Reporter

  • Kevin Feige’s ‘Spider-Man’ Pitch Involved a Sandwich Flying His Way

    Kevin Feige’s ‘Spider-Man’ Pitch Involved a Sandwich Flying His Way

    We’ve always wondered how the discussion came to be that Marvel Studios and Sony would work on a Spider-Man remake. The moment the announcement dropped, it was a huge surprise for everyone when the world found out that they’d bring the character back into the MCU. Luckily, the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe offered some insight into how that conversation happened.

    It started off as a pitch for The Amazing Spider-Man 3 from producer Amy Pascal to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. She wanted his input on the project, as he had done on the second entry long ago as revealed by the infamous Sony leaks. After he shot the pitch, he highlighted it was just a repeat of what has come before. He then went on to make the pitch about them cooperating on the next project with Marvel Studios taking on the production side of things, similar to DC and Christopher Nolan‘s deal. Pascal shared her feelings on the inquiry in the book.

    At first, I was super resentful,” she admits. ‘I think I started crying and threw him out of my office, or threw a sandwich at him – I’m not sure which.’ Then she started to think it through. ‘By the fifth [Spider-Man] movie, we weren’t giving them anything new. And I have to be honest about it, we were trying so hard to be different, we even went into places to be different that we shouldn’t have. We weren’t fresh anymore.’

    It turns out though that their love for the character was what inspired them to give the idea a try. It didn’t take long for her to get back to him and figure out what exactly was brewing in his mind. Even recalling his time working on Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man.

    Pascal called Feige back the next day after their lunch. The concept of a collaboration between Sony and Marvel Studios had not left her mind. After hearing his specific thoughts on what to do with Spider-Man in the MCU, she admits, ‘The idea of putting him up against a world where everybody had everything and he had nothing was a whole new way of telling his story. I thought, ‘Goddamn, that guy’s smart.

    This call would end up changing the filming landscape in a big way, as Tom Holland would take on the mantle and appear in Captain America: Civil War. Crazy to think that a meeting with a sandwich getting thrown in a room would eventually turn into one of the franchise’s cornerstone moves, as Spider-Man became an important cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Source: The Story of Marvel Studios via The Direct

  • EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh Talks About the Casting Process for ‘Eternals’

    EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh Talks About the Casting Process for ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios’ latest blockbuster, Eternals, will not only tell the story of some of its oldest characters. The film will also debut 10 brand new heroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Lia McHugh‘s Sprite. During an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, the young actress briefly discussed the long casting process she endured for the role as Sprite.

    During our one-on-one interview with McHugh, we asked her about the casting process for her role as Sprite in Eternals. Interestingly enough, McHugh revealed she auditioned for Marvel television roles in the past.

    I had auditioned for, I think, a couple of Marvel TV shows when I was a lot younger. So, it was the same studio that I had been to for auditions back when we used to do in-person auditions.

    At the time, McHugh wasn’t entirely sure what she was auditioning for, although she had her suspicions it could be for Marvel again. As we’ve seen in the past, Marvel Studios used fake sides for the casting process, which threw the young actress for a loop.

    I kind of had the idea that it was something for Marvel. I didn’t know what, um, it was weird sides and the description was someone with dark hair, dark eyes. I remember when I went in, I was like ‘Just so you know, I’m willing to dye my hair and wear contacts’.

    Eventually, McHugh was brought in to audition once again. This time, though, she was given real sides, and she realized she was auditioning for the chance to be a superhero.

    I got a callback and then, I think my second round of callbacks, I finally got real sides. “It was one or two scenes… and I was sort of able to figure out who Sprite was by googling and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is for an Eternal. I could play a superhero.’

    McHugh would go on to do a massive screentest on a soundstage in front of director Chloé Zhao and the film’s producers, where she found herself feeling nervous. She was told she would hear back within 30 days regarding whether or not she got the part. To her surprise, at the end of the 30 days, she was then flown out to London to do a screen test with Richard Madden at Pinewood Studios.

    I got to go to London for a week before I even got the part, and I got to meet Richard Madden. And then, it was actually my brother’s birthday when we got the call, and they called my mom and she accidentally hung up the phone because she was so nervous. They called back and she woke me up because I was asleep… and we all started crying. It was a very vigorous process.

    It was a long process for the young actress, but luckily, McHugh secured the role as Sprite. Fans can catch McHugh in Marvel Studios’ Eternals when it hits theaters on Nov. 5.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh Was Surprised By Changes Made to ‘Eternals’

    EXCLUSIVE: Lia McHugh Was Surprised By Changes Made to ‘Eternals’

    Major studio films rarely stay the same from start to finish. Whether it be thanks to reshoots or constant script changes, movies are constantly evolving. It would seem Marvel Studios’ newest blockbuster saw plenty of changes, too, throughout production. During an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, Eternals star Lia McHugh revealed she was caught off guard by a handful of changes made to the movie between the time of filming and its release. Of course, this is common practice for the House of Ideas. Sometimes it’s meant to keep actors in the dark. Other times, however, the alterations are made to enhance the quality of the film. Either way, statements regarding alterations throughout production have become a recurring statement among those involved with Marvel’s projects. 

    When asked directly if any parts of the final product were a surprise to her, McHugh responded:

    There were a lot of changes… I mean, not a lot. There were a few changes made from when we shot the movie and then a couple things were changed in reshoots.

    While this may not be all too interesting, it’s what she says next that will pique fans’ interest:

    One of the after-credits scenes I was surprised. I watched like a rough cut of the movie before I saw the final cut, and I actually was surprised by a few things. I can’t say too much about it. But yeah, there were a few things that were changed that I was surprised.

    It’s important to note that the up-and-coming actress does not specify what she was surprised by; it could have been because the after-credit scene was changed, or simply because she didn’t know it existed. Either way, it would appear Marvel Studios had a few secrets up its sleeve for both audiences and the cast of Chloe Zhao‘s latest work. 

    Eternals hits theaters on November 5, should fans like to see what surprises McHugh might have been talking about.

  • Nintendo’s ‘Advance Wars’ Remake Delayed Until Spring 2022

    Nintendo’s ‘Advance Wars’ Remake Delayed Until Spring 2022

    Sadly, it looks like the E3 announced Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp was officially delayed. Nintendo took to Twitter to announce that the remake of the original two games won’t get released until Spring 2022. It originally was going to be made available this holiday season on December 3rd. The remake will take the original’s sprite artworks and update it with a combination of hand-drawn animations for the characters and 3D stylization for the various infantry units.

    As mentioned previously, this game won’t just include the original Advance Wars, but also its sequel Black Hole Rising. There’s also word that it’ll include online functionality for those wanting a chance to face off against friends. There’s no word if it’s one ongoing campaign or if the games will be available as two separate options. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remix combined both into one game but still kept the levels separate.

    We’ll see what the game has to offer, but it’s exciting to see them bring back some classic franchises. The Nintendo Switch has become a home for many classic franchises. They recently released the long-awaited sequel to Metroid Fusion titled Dread on the console and there’s hope that other long-dormant franchises might get a release.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: New Character Description May Hint at ‘Batgirl’ Casting Alysia Yeoh

    RUMOR: New Character Description May Hint at ‘Batgirl’ Casting Alysia Yeoh

    As production is set to kick off sometime in November, we’ve recently got a slew of new information on the upcoming Batgirl film. The film seems to be taking its inspiration from the Burnside run that was prominent in the New 52. Directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi also teased the appearance of “the real” Batman, which naturally adds quite a bit of speculation. The cast is still growing as they recently added actor Jacob Scipio in an unknown role. It looks like they might be adding one more character.

    The production is currently looking to cast a role under the name Alanna. Cast-It lists it as an “Untitled Warner Bros. Action Film” with Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi listed as directors. What is also noteworthy is that it’s eyeing to shoot in the United Kingdom. The role is described as a transgender, Asian-American actress in their mid-late 20’s. The production is looking for someone to play both an older and younger version of the character. So, there’s an additional casting call for a 10 to 12-year-old Asian-American, transgender girl, or a non-binary/gender-diverse person. They are described as “athletic, fun, and confident”.

    This description matches almost perfectly to the character of Alysia Yeoh, Barbara Gordons best friend, and roommate from the comics. She would eventually end up dating Barbara’s brother James, which could even further backup that Jacob Scipio could indeed be playing James Gordon Jr. Batgirl currently has no set release date but will release exclusively on HBO Max. Leslie Grace is taking on the mantle and will be joined by J.K. Simmons, reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon.

    Source: Cast-It

  • ‘Halloween Kills’ Jamie Lee Curtis Would Love to Play Dr. Kureha in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    ‘Halloween Kills’ Jamie Lee Curtis Would Love to Play Dr. Kureha in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    We’re still anticipating the casting for Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of One Piece. The upcoming adaptation of Cowboy Bebop will be our first window into its potential, but the recent short has proven they can capture a live-action anime quite well. Still, the casting will play a vital role in the series’ potential. So far, we have no diea who’ll take on the iconic roles from the popular manga series. The only rumor was taht they were eyeing Ludi Lin for the role of Roronoa Zoro. Well, it seems one well-known actress has her eyes set on a specific role.

    Halloween KillsJamie Lee Curtis is well-known for her love of the series. In the past, she has openly discussed her wish to play Robin. Of course, the age difference won’t make that a reality, but she does seem to have a Plan B that matches some fan castings. In an interview with the One Piece Podcast, Curtis‘ daughter Ruby Guest joined the podcast’s hosts talking about the show. She ended up also getting a question on the fans wanting her to play Chopper’s teacher, Dr. Kureha.

    My mom loves Kureha. I would be 100% for it and I honestly, since Netflix is doing the live-action adaptation, I would highly recommend her to pull some strings to see if she can. […] I know my mom is 100% for it.

    Ruby Guest

    In the interview, Guest also reveals that her mother loves Chopper. So, it almost seems like a destined casting. Of course, if they end up casting her it won’t be until the series gets a second season renewal, as Kureha doesn’t appear until the Drum Island arc. It was a pitstop on tehir way to Alabasta as Nami fell ill from their time on Little Garden. The island was famous for its doctors until the selfish King Wapol tried to monopolize their services. She was one of the few doctors that roamed the island alongside the quack Dr. Hiriluk. Here’s hoping that we’ll get to explore the Grand Line after the first season’s time on the East Blue.

    Source: One Piece Podcast via Twitter

  • Maluma Joins Disney’s Animated Film ‘Encanto’

    Maluma Joins Disney’s Animated Film ‘Encanto’

    It looks like Disney is ready to kickstart its advertising for the upcoming animated film Encanto. They’ve shared a little video on Twitter to promote Latin superstar Maluma joining the voice cast of the film. Of course, the Colombian singer will also lend his singing voice to the upcoming film. He’ll play the character of Mariano. He’s the soon-to-be fiancé of Mirabel’s sister Isabela. He had the following to share on his casting in the film.

    Encanto is such a magical movie. I’m from Colombia and the story is about a Colombian family. I’m proud to be part of this beautiful story. It means so much to me as I’m very passionate about sharing my country’s cultural values and story globally

    Maluma

    You can check out the video and first look at his Encanto character here:

    Juan Luis Londono Arias, better known to fans as Maluma, made a name for himself in the last ten years across the world. With six albums released, his work on “#7DJ – Seven Days in Jamaica” put him on the map with Billboard, Latin Billboard Awards, VMAs, and the Latin GRAMMYs. He’s also set to appear in the upcoming film Marry Me featuring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. Given his experience as an actor and singer, he’s a great addition to Encanto which is eyeing a November 24th release. The film also features songs by Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda and is directed by Zootopia‘s Jared Bush.

    Source: Twitter