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  • J.J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates Working on a ‘Superman’ Reboot

    J.J. Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates Working on a ‘Superman’ Reboot

    Fans have been clamoring to see the Man of Steel return to the silver screen ever since his last solo outing in 2013. Of course, they want to see Henry Cavill reprise his role as the last son of Krypton, something that’s been up in the air for the past few years. A while back, it was being reported that Henry Cavill had exited the role, but his management had assured everyone that the cape was still in his closet. The actor has been noticeably absent from the DCEU, which didn’t help keep spirits high. He got replaced with a body double in Shazam!, and there was no word on any future appearances being in the works. After a long wait, we finally got the confirmation that Superman has a future in the DC Extended Universe after all.

    According to Deadline, J.J. Abrams has begun developing a Superman reboot through his production company, Bad Robot. Ta-Nehisi Coates will write the script, whose previous works include many notable Black Panther and Captain America comics. The project will be produced by J.J. Abrams alongside Hannah Minghella. Plot details for the upcoming project are still unknown. They have also pointed out that no lead is attached to the film. The report notes that Cavill hasn’t been signed on yet. They point out that he is eager to get back in the cape to play one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time.

    His future with the franchise may still be unknown, but Cavill will return in HBO Max’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It will feature original and never-before-seen footage that never saw the light of day back when the original version was released in 2017.

    Source: Twitter, Deadline

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘BLACK ADAM’ Looks to Explore the Origins of Doctor Fate

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘BLACK ADAM’ Looks to Explore the Origins of Doctor Fate

    Production on the long-awaited Dwayne Johnson superhero vehicle Black Adam is set to get underway in Atlanta this April and as the start date draws nearer, director Jaume Collet-Serra is looking to round out the cast. Our first look at the film at DC Fandome teased Teth-Adam’s slave origins in ancient Khandaq and a new casting search indicates the film might be spending quite a bit of time exploring Adam’s origins.

    Get Your First Look At Black Adam Concept Art And DC Fandome Panel Breakdown - The Illuminerdi

    Black Adam is currently on the hunt for what appears to be a young version of Johnson’s Teth-Adam along with characters who would appear to be his father and another warrior from the time period. Additionally, the production is looking an actor to portray a magician described as a “powerful being prepared to do what they must to protect the world.” Given the time period the film is set to explore and the foundations it is expected to lay, it’s HIGHLY probable that Black Adam will introduce Nabu to the DC Universe.

    DC Teases Return of Doctor Fate

    Nabu is an incredibly ancient and powerful cosmic entity whose spirit is contained in the Helmet of Fate, the magical artifact worn by those taking up the mantle of Doctor Fate. Nabu prophesied the arrival of a Thangarian ship to Earth and was with Black Adam and Khufu, the Egyptian prince whose soul was eventually reincarnated as Carter Hall, aka Hawkman, when they discovered the ship and the Nth metal. The pieces all fall into place nicely for Black Adam to serve as an origin story for Adam, Hawkman and Doctor Fate.

    Black Adam, originally set for a December 2021 release, is still without a new release date.

     

  • ‘Pokémon Diamond and Pearl’ Remakes Announced Alongside New Open-World Prequel Game

    ‘Pokémon Diamond and Pearl’ Remakes Announced Alongside New Open-World Prequel Game

    It is somewhat of a tradition that the various Pokémon games get remakes while Gamefreak is working hard on the next entry. As such, many weren’t wonder if we would get remakes of Diamond and Pearl, but rather when. Many believed it would be the case with the last Nintendo Direct, but it turned out they had an entirely separate event planned for it, as they finally revealed the remakes with the titles Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Not just that, they also revealed the game’s art style in a small teaser for its Nintendo Switch release:

    https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1365319952153083910?s=20

    they went ahead and recreated the original Nintendo DS games with a chibi design. It really looks like they made 3D renders of the original pixel art. It is rather surprising, as the franchise seemed to be moving away from the top-down view it has been using since its inception. Of course, once you enter battle the design shifts to showcase fully realized 3D models that we’ve seen in the new Pokémon Let’s GO games. However, it looks like they are also testing a new design out with the reveal of a pre-make game that is set within the land of Sinnoh titled Pokémon: Legends Arceus:

    https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1365321297190940673

    gives us a fully realized 3D Pokemon game many of us have been wanting to see in the franchise. You can freely explore open worlds and catch wild Pokémon without entering a specific fighting sequence. It seems like they might be testing out a new direction for the franchise. The Japanese design of exploring the history of this world is a great idea, which hopefully will be explored more in the future. The franchise is a perfect candidate for an open-world action-RPG. It looks like the Pokémon franchise has some big plans for the Nintendo Switch.

    Source: Twitter (Remake), Twitter (Premake)

  • LEGO Leak Reveals How ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Will Embrace Chinese Mythology

    LEGO Leak Reveals How ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Will Embrace Chinese Mythology

    A first look at Shang-Chi’s costume finally arrived with the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Lego set, which got leaked this morning. It showcased some of the confirmed characters and a dragon. In a way, those things were expected, but it also included a mysterious flying creature without any facial features named Morris. After some digging, it turns out that this is a representation of Chinese mythology in the upcoming film. The strange creature is known as Dijiang.

    https://twitter.com/cosmic_marvel/status/1365217872616677380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1365217872616677380%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.murphysmultiverse.com%2Fleaked-lego-set-offers-first-look-at-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings%2F

    As described in the book A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas, a Dijiang commonly six legs and four wings. It is like a featureless yellow or reddish sack otherwise. Without any eyes or ears, it is said to be in a constant state of confusion, which is why it was associated with the being of cosmic chaos, Hundun. Even without these essential features, it enjoys singing and dancing. 

    Source: Description and image of Dijiang

    It does sound like a cutesy adorable thing that the kiddos will all enjoy getting in their McDonald’s Happy Meals when the movie comes out. However, I wonder how the little mythical beast might fit into the story and in what context. With a name like Morris, it must be someone’s pet. So, the question remains whose pet would he be then? As we learned from Goose in Captain Marvel, sometimes the most innocent, sweet, and benign-looking creatures can have a big impact in an MCU film. So what secrets this cute but strange little creature has yet to reveal has me intrigued. 

    Source: Twitter, Amazon, Fandom

  • ‘HAWKEYE’ Set Photos Seemingly Reveal the Clown’s Connection to the Tracksuits

    ‘HAWKEYE’ Set Photos Seemingly Reveal the Clown’s Connection to the Tracksuits

    There’s been quite a bit of excitement over the Clown (aka Kazimierz Kazimierczak) appearing in Hawkeye ever since casting grids pointed to him being in it last summer. Irish actor Fra Fee snagged the villainous assassin’s role but it appears, at first anyway, he will not be donning iconic white mime makeup, and will actually start off as a member of the Tracksuit Mafia. 

    New images from Instagramer @ryleeherself show Fee and Hailee Steinfield on their way to film something, and it’s clear that Fee is wearing a tracksuit, much like the ones Tracksuit Mafia members were seen in other recent Hawkeye set images. 

    Via Ryleeherself on Instagram
    Via Ryleeherself on Instagram
    Via Ryleeherself on Instagram

    Fee has also been spotted once or twice before on set, with regular-looking clothes and no clown makeup at all. But for those of you who may be disappointed, I don’t think this means the character will never have the more familiar creepy and ominous look from the Matt Fraction comic run.This might be evidence of more of an origin story for the character first before he turns into a more familiar-looking version of the Clown. 

    Christinaatthecastle on TikTok (via Twitter) offered another, better look at Steinfeld and Fee on set:

    Fra Fee on Hawkeye set, via christinaatthecastle on TikTok.

    A recent Instagram story by Fee revealed a detail that may be part of his costume. The image below was taken in the middle of the night, probably during a night shoot, revealing a skull and cross tattoo on his neck. Previous images of Fee on his Instagram do not show this tattoo at all, and it seems very unlikely he’d be getting one in the middle of filming a big series. So the creepy skull tattoo is probably temporary for the character.

    Another Mafia member who was first spotted back in early December appears very likely to be the leader of the Tracksuits, Ivan Banionis. The actor has since been identified as Aleks Paunovic (from the Van Helsing TV series). Numerous images of this tall imposing actor have appeared on Just Jared and Getty, and if you look you’ll notice that there are quite a few tattoos on his character as well. So tattoos and tracksuits definitely seem to go hand in hand for this gang. 

    Source: Instagram, Tracksuits on the set of Hawkeye (Just Jared), Aleks Paunovic on set of Hawkeye (Getty)

  • Leaked LEGO Set Offers First Look at ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

    Leaked LEGO Set Offers First Look at ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

    As a result of the ongoing pandemic, Marvel Studios’ release schedule has suffered some significant delays. Multiple films have been pushed back by an entire year, such as Black Widow and Eternals. With all these delays, fans had to wait even longer to get first looks at some of their most anticipated films from Phase 4. One of Marvel’s most exciting upcoming features is Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. The film will see the debut of Simu Liu as the kung-fu master. Much of the film’s plot has been kept under wraps, with some of the most intriguing points being that the film will see the debut of the real Mandarin, who got previously teased in Iron Man 3‘s One-Shot, All Hail the King. Some recently leaked Lego sets surrounding the film may give us a better idea of what’s in store for fans in the upcoming film.

    https://twitter.com/cosmic_marvel/status/1365217872616677380?s=21

    The set offers the first look at a showdown in what seems to be an ancient village. It depicts a fight between Shang-Chi and his foes, giving us a tease of the characters Death Dealer, Wenwu, and Xialang. Of course, one of the most notable features of the set happens to be the giant, red and white dragon spewing blue fire. It’s unclear what side the beast is on, but its appearance nonetheless is striking. His inclusion may confirm this is the Valley of the Sleeping Dragon, which Charles Murphy reported on around five months ago. It is the lair of Fin Fang Foom, who may not be the only dragon in the upcoming film. The set also includes what seems to be a flying bug named Morris. There doesn’t seem to be any bug with that name in the comics, but it turns out it is a Dijiang that it is a creature from Chinese mythology.

    Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will release on July 9th, 2021. The film was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and will star Simu Liu alongside Awkafina, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Ronny Chieng, Florian Munteanu, and Tony Leung as the Mandarin.

    Source: Twitter

  • Latest ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach’ Trailer Showcases First Gameplay

    Latest ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach’ Trailer Showcases First Gameplay

    The PlayStation’s State of Play has revealed quite a few interesting new details on upcoming games. While I am still waiting for an announcement on that rumored Silent Hill game, we did get a bit of horror in the latest showcase. Around five months ago, it was announced that the next entry in the Five Nights At Freddy‘s franchise, Security Breach. The newest trailer gave us an even better look at the game’s story and gameplay.

     

     

    The opening showcases a very familiar mask to those that played through the VR game, Five Night’s At Freddy’s: Help Wanted. We get a good look at the new location and animatronics that will become our living nightmare. The most exciting aspect is that this is the first time we have a fully realized game, as previously, the games were restricted to smaller sections of the game. Security Breach seems to offer us an entire world to explore, as we avoid getting captured by the various animatronics.

    Now, we can’t discuss the trailer without talking about the post-credit sequence. We see a human figure with a purple arm. Now, for anyone who doesn’t follow the overly complicated lore of these games, purple is associated commonly with the main antagonist of the franchise. The aptly named “purple guy” has deep ties with the creation of the iconic possessed animatronics. It will be interesting to see how this neon-drenched sequel will connect to the previous entries. I cannot wait to get my hands on the game.

    Source: YouTube

  • Square-Enix Announces Two New ‘Final Fantasy 7’ Mobile Spin-Offs

    Square-Enix Announces Two New ‘Final Fantasy 7’ Mobile Spin-Offs

    The Final Fantasy 7 Remake franchise is continuing to expand. In the latest PlayStation State of Play, we got a trailer for the first DLC of last year’s remake. It will explore a story that takes place during the Midgar chapter, as Yuffie tries to uncover Shinra’s dark secrets and take them down from within. It looks like Square-Eni wasn’t done with the franchise yet, as they simultaneously revealed two brand new mobile games. Interestingly enough, the titles for these games were leaked two months ago due to trademarks.

    The first mobile game is titled Final Fantasy 7 Ever Crisis. It will be a single-player game that covers the entire franchise’s timeline. It even includes the compilation and designs from the Remake franchise. The gameplay showcases the return of the classic ATB system. It even switches between chibi-versions of the characters and their larger designs. The ending seems to tease a story featuring Zack, which could potentially be tied to the ending of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

    As mentioned before, it wasn’t the only mobile game reveal. It looks like they are dipping their toes in third-person shooters as well. Final Fantasy 7 The First Soldier will be a Battle Royale game that takes place in Midgar before the events of the original game. You take over the role of a SOLDIER candidate, who will take on other players and some classic enemies from the original game.

    The quality of these games is impressive and showcases how far mobile gaming has come. There is a good chance there are some gacha or microtransactions integrated into the game, as is common for mobile games. I might check out The First Soldier game, as it seems like a fun distraction. Ever Crisis would technically count as a remake of the original with how faithful its adaptation seems to be. I am excited to see what else the franchise might have in store for us, as we anxiously wait for the sequel to last year’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

    Source: Twitter (Ever Crisis), Twitter (The First Soldier)

  • Theory Thursday: ‘She-Hulk’ May Be Bigger Than We Expect

    Theory Thursday: ‘She-Hulk’ May Be Bigger Than We Expect

    While everyone is focusing on the supernatural aspects of WandaVision, Marvel Studios will introduce a different perspective of Phase 4 in less than a month with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Just like how Wanda’s story is setting up, what I like to call, the Multiverse Arc of the MCU, I suspect that the next Disney+ show will possibly set up not just one but multiple arcs. For example, I imagine it will be a key piece in setting up the superpowered team known as The Thunderbolts. This set-up may not be the only thing that the upcoming series might tackle. I suspect that the Sokovia Accords might play an essential role in the story, which will start to unravel once She-Hulk releases.

     

     

    If we look back at the series description, it highlights that the series will focus on superhuman legal cases. Now, if you consider everything that is happening in the MCU, by the time She-Hulk arrives on our television, which will presumably be in 2022. The superpowered community may lose face in the public eye as future events unfold. The Sokovia Accords are still in effect, as confirmed by Agent Jimmy Woo during an episode of WandaVision. So what does this all entail?

     

     

    According to my current theory, She-Hulk may be based around Jennifer Walters presenting a case that the Sokovia Accords are unconstitutional. It might build-up to her asking the United Nations to revoke them. Introducing Jennifer Walters into the MCU at this moment is by no means an accident, and this show has the potential to showcase Walters’ abilities both in the courtroom and in battle. This story also sets up what was teased in the rest of the show’s description.

    She-Hulk will welcome a host of Marvel characters to the series, including the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo, and the Abomination, played by Tim Roth.

    Notice the keywords in that description hinting at a host of Marvel characters? It confirms that Banner and Blonsky will not be the only MCU characters in the show. I suspect that given the legal aspect of this show, we might see several MCU characters pop in as potential witnesses that can either make or break Walters’ case. Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Kamala Khan, James Rhodes, and any other Marvel Cinematic Universe hero could be called into the stand.

    It could also be a creative way to introduce Krysten Ritter‘s Jessica Jones into the MCU, who was rumored to appear a while back. We could also see Walters seek legal advice from other colleagues, such as Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock. If this theory pans out and given how Marvel is now pushing its projects to include characters from the entire universe, She-Hulk will certailny be a show to keep an eye on. The defense rests its case, your honor.

    Source: Disney+

  • First ‘Final Fantasy 7 Remake’ DLC Reveals the Return of Yuffie

    First ‘Final Fantasy 7 Remake’ DLC Reveals the Return of Yuffie

    I didn’t expect this. In the latest PlayStation State of Play, we got a look at various upcoming game releases and the showcase of upgrades for PlayStation 5 owners. Among them, we got a showcase of 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake with new textures, lighting, and so much more. It even comes with some Quality of Life improvements. We finally get a Photo Mode to see all the detailed work in the game. The biggest surprise was the reveal of an entire story chapter focused on everyone’s favorite ninja Yuffie. The new story will be available for PlayStation 5 players and is titled “Intergrade“.

     

     

    It starts with a recap until we suddenly get a brand new sequence looking at Midgar through a telescope. It quickly reveals Yuffie’s updated design and introduces a new cast of characters. We even get some gameplay that shows her maneuverability on the field. It looks like they want to add a lot more ways to get around the map in the sequel. Yuffie’s Intergrade storyline will take place at the same time as the original game.

    The trailer even ends on a curious cliffhanger. It reveals a mysterious character, who may be the main antagonist for this storyline. The DLC will be released on June 10th worldwide, and it will expand the franchise before the official sequel gets released. I didn’t expect any smaller content drops, as they already broke the original game into multiple pieces. It also is a brand new story that wasn’t a part of PlayStation’s Final Fantasy 7 release in 1997, so we might see more additions in the future. I cannot wait to revisit this world on the next-gen console.

    Source: YouTube