Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Avengers

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Offers First Look at MCU-Inspired ‘Civil War’ Iron Man Skin and More

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Leak Offers First Look at MCU-Inspired ‘Civil War’ Iron Man Skin and More

    Just yesterday, we covered the leaked audio files that teased what upcoming playable characters will join Marvel’s Avengers potentially in the future. As production on this game has been in a constant shift, as is usual with any live service game, it does add some excitement to know that they are potentially releasing in the future. Now, it seems that @mmmmmmmiller has potentially leaked some skins from the game that tease comic-inspired designs and Captain America: Civil War‘s Iron Man armor.

    He also teased comic-inspired designs based on Thor when he was wearing a Destroyer armor, as well as Hulk inspired by one of his most iconic War storylines. Keep in mind that all these skins being showcased are low-res and very likely still in some form of development. Of course, these aren’t official announcements and are early leaks. So, these are in some form of development internally, and that doesn’t mean that they’ll release within a specific time frame.

    The details on the new skins are quite impressive, and the new in-game way of gaining character skins through grinding in-game currency has added a good incentive to spend some more time with the game between updates. We will also get our hands on a new playable character in the near future with Mighty Thor, which will make for a fun new character to play. So, here’s looking forward to what the future of this game has to offer.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’s Production Budget Was $1 Billion

    ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’s Production Budget Was $1 Billion

    Marvel Studios was all-in with their double featured led by the Joe and Anthony Russo, who were fresh off of their success with Captain America: Civil War. At the time, there were rumblings that the films were working with a budget of around $400 million but it was never truly confirmed. Well, that was until now, as Joe Russo revealed during a panel at Sands International Film Festival of St. Andrews that Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel Endgame each cost $500M to make. As such, they had a total budget of a billion making it probably the most expensive productions in Hollywood.

    I don’t know if these numbers have ever been accurately reported but in the case of Avengers: Endgame or Infinity War, each of those movies was $500 million plus. So this is an incredible amount of money that is being spent on these films. And you have responsibility, if you have a conscience to in some way deliver a return on that investment for the people that gave you that money. So it is risky to say ‘Hey we got a crazy idea, here’s how we can subvert expectations but we’re going to take your two most popular characters and we’re going to have them try to kill each other.’

    Joe Russo

    It definitely paid off, as not only did Endgame become the highest grossing film for some time before a re-release of Avatar took back the top spot, but we can only imagine how much money they made on home releases, merchandising and more. You have to also respect the fact that the company was willing to risk it. They believed in two directors that had their humble TV roots that would end up developing some iconic entries in one of the largest franchises of the world.

    Source: Deadline via ScreenCrush

  • VFX Veteran Talks ‘Black Panther’s Final Act and the Challenge of the Industry’s Demand

    VFX Veteran Talks ‘Black Panther’s Final Act and the Challenge of the Industry’s Demand

    The discussions surrounding the use of CGI in modern blockbusters have been heated. Most use it as the basis for their take on what makes or breaks a modern blockbuster, even going as far as to break down an entire film into one single screenshot. What is lost in the shuffle is the dire state of the entire industry, as many VFX companies are forced to close shop and work under problematic deadlines.

    While a general industry issue, it has been boiled down to the MCU due to their film’s reliance on special effects. Still, VFX veteran Todd Sheridan Perry sat down with Inverse to discuss the general situation in the industry and how VFX has to be created within short deadlines, as the count grows while postproduction time windows shrink.

    It falls squarely on the shoulders of studios that set a release date and then work backward from there. The time isn’t enough to live up to the ambition of the project.

    Todd Sheridan Perry

    Perry has worked on the infamous Black Panther third act, where the effects have struggled even as the film received critical acclaim. He highlights that “there were multiple things going on in act three” that played a factor. What does paint an interesting picture is that Marvel Studios actually recognized the time crunch and wanted to support the production studio. The only issue is that the good intention accidentally leads to a different issue as they utilize very different software that doesn’t cooperate as well.

    We’d already done tons of development work on the vibranium mines and it all had to be packaged up and sent over to DNEG. Even if you’re in the same company and sending it to a different department, packaging all that up and having it work requires a lot of elbow grease. DNEG didn’t have the time to polish their shots as much as other companies who’d been working on the film for seven or eight months, and they were caught at a disadvantage. I’m not saying DNEG is a bad company – they have a closet full of Oscars. They thankfully took it on and it actually got done. We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish it otherwise.

    Todd Sheridan Perry

    Understanding the context adds up a lot to what exactly happened. Marvel Studios seemingly had good intentions in supporting its VFX company. Yet, they also still fall into some old issues such as some of their biggest films getting finished a week before release, which is something that they hopefully start learning to avoid moving forward.

    Even the Marvel films, which have all the resources in the world, play this dangerous game. Avengers: Endgame had 1,000 VFX shots delivered one week before the film was in theaters.

    Todd Sheridan Perry

    Yet, there are some productions that also push it to their brink, such as the infamous work on Cats, which he also highlights in his interview.

    The worst example is Cats. Cats didn’t just suffer from bad CG, but missing CG. And it’s for all the reasons we’ve talked about.

    Todd Sheridan Perry

    He has praised productions like Parasite and Little Women for “absolutely invisible” VFX work. These films work under very different circumstances with less pressure of putting out a high-budget blockbuster within a specific release date. There’s a general issue in the modern-day that content needs to be dropped at a fast pace, as it is believed to keep interests and franchises alive. That issue is definitely affecting big-budget projects, especially Marvel which only can rely on its singular IP. Demand and supply have created a cycle that will be hard to break. Yet, hopefully, the cycle breaks before the talent that manages to provide amazing work under extreme pressure.

    Source: Inverse

  • Ethan Hawke Says ‘Moon Knight’ “Could Be the Origin Story of a Larger Thing”

    Ethan Hawke Says ‘Moon Knight’ “Could Be the Origin Story of a Larger Thing”

    Despite the fact that the next Marvel Studios project, Moon Knight, arrives soon, fans are already wondering if or when they will see the titular character in future Marvel Cinematic Universe stories. Star Oscar Isaac has already confirmed that the Disney+ series is in fact a limited series, suggesting that a second season isn’t likely.

    Even if Moon Knight ends its run after six episodes, that probably has little bearing on whether the vigilante will be a part of more stories in the MCU down the line. The character already has plenty of momentum to join the Avengers or be a part of a potential future Midnight Sons team. Now, actor Ethan Hawke, who plays Moon Knight villain Arthur Harrow, has indicated that the character of Moon Knight may very likely be a part of something “larger” in the future:

    The good news is that it’s possibly both. It lives and breathes on its own merits, it functions as a limited series – and if people are engaged and excited by it then it could be the origin story of a larger thing.

    Ethan Hawke

    Hawke’s phrasing is certainy interesting as he not only suggests that Moon Knight’s future in the MCU could hinge on audience engagement, but also clearly believes that the character’s future could lie in something larger. This could be somewhat disocuraging news for anyone hoping to see Moon Knight extend the character’s solo adventures, but fantastic news for all those excited to see Marc Spector team-up with other characters in exciting new ways in the MCU’s future.

    Moon Knight’s first episode will premeire on Disney+ on March 30.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ War Table Rework Adds New Missions and Supports New Players

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ War Table Rework Adds New Missions and Supports New Players

    It looks like we finally got a date for the next major update to Marvel’s Avengers. While it won’t include a new character, Crystal Dynamics has been hard at work trying to rebuild the game’s core mechanics to ensure the game flow is fully optimized. The next big step will be a rework of its war table, where players can choose their missions to play the game. The update patch 2.3 will arrive on March 24th and will see the grand return of Nick Fury to the Helicarrier. While it’s uncertain how exactly he made his way back, it looks like all will be clear next week. Still, here are some insights into the major changes.

    Let’s start off with Fury. He is now part of the Hellicarrier to guide players through the Avengers Initiative. He’ll replace JARVIS and Maria Hill’s narration in the beginning, in tutorial videos and missions. It’s mainly made for new players but old ones can catch up with him, but no details are given. It seems you can talk to him at the War Table to catch up. It would’ve been nice if there was an in-game reason for his arrival though given last we see him stuck in a time bubble.

    The general onboarding process has been updated. There are now multiple mission chains that help guide players on the Initiative. They took in the feedback that it’s a bit confusing. So, they are trying to ease in new players, especially given that the Marvel brand draws in players that might not have any experience with GaaS–was me included early on.

    They have changed the missions that are updated every 15 minutes. Now, Drop Zones and Threat sectors will always be available on the War Table. So, finding a new mission will be a much simpler affair moving forward. Yet, there will still be some mission types that are dependent on your power level. HIVES now only appear within specific regions, as each one also now comes with a suggested power level. That way, players will move on from one region to the next as they level up. They are as follows:

    • 1 – 25 Eastern Seaboard
    • 25 – 50 Pacific Northwest
    • 50 – 75 Utah Badlands
    • 75 – 100 Snowy Tundra
    • 100 – 125 Future Wastelands
    • 100 – 140 Wakanda

    Vaults are also no longer hidden if you don’t have access to the data necessary. It’s uncertain if the SHIELD bunkers will offer anything additional as a replacement moving forward. You’ll require a Daily Mission chain from the SHIELD terminal with Elite Vaults rotating weekly. Villain Sectors are also always visible on the War Table with them rotating daily. Elite Villain sectors also take on a weekly rotation.

    HARM Rooms also got a makeover, as the hero version has a base Power Level of 1. Now, the usual Challenges I to V are part of a rotation. So, they are part of the challenge mission chain but not visible once completed. Flashback Missions have also been rehauled, as they no longer end with a boss fight. Instead, they are now Wasteland and Wakanda Threat Sectors. Heroic Mission Chains (former Iconic Mission Chains) only appear when you’re playing the hero, it seems.

    The best part, we get some new missions: There’s a new Wasteland vault and we finally get the Taskmaster Villain Sector. It took him quite some time to show his face in the distant future after being taken down by a quick arrow. We’ll also get two new Drop Zones and a Threat Sector in the Future Wasteland. The only other location getting a new mission is a Threat Sector in the Snowy Tundry. Just happy that the wasteland is finally getting more than just two missions–not counting the second Maestro mission.

    The updates do sound quite promising even if new players might benefit the most from it. The core changes of the War Table highlight a new direction, as it streamlines a lot of the processes to get to missions. They have locked some specific missions like Mega Hives, the OLT, and Raid only until you unlock a specific level. So, you’ll be eased into the game a bit more. We’ll see if the same will be done with the gear, but this new direction does offer motivation to revisit the campaign again.

    Source: Play Avenger

  • New ‘Ms. Marvel’ Merch Teases New Jersey Avengercon

    New ‘Ms. Marvel’ Merch Teases New Jersey Avengercon

    While we have gotten a few teases in the first Ms. Marvel trailer, merchandise has found its way online featuring a print that confirms the event all about Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. It also seems to tease various events that visitors can try out during their visit like Hulk’s Rage Room, which are actually real things that you can visit–just without the Hulk branding. Of course, as it is Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel also gets highlighted as the “Cosmic Avenger.” The other posters also offer a better look at her new costume for the series, highlighting some doodles we saw from her active imagination in the trailer. The photos were found by @TimmyTakout.

    It’ll be interesting to see what other merchandise might find its way online, as something like Avengercon seems like the perfect idea to build creative merchandise around. It’s ironically not the first time such an event was used to introduce Ms. Marvel’s transformation into a superhero, as Marvel’s Avengers used a similar concept with A-Day. It’s funny to see two creative teams build a similar concept for their adaptation of the character.

    The first trailer has teased an exciting slice-of-life meets superhero series that’ll explore what it’s like to be a teenager wanting to become a hero. We still don’t know if any Avenger will make an appearance in the series, as you’d think one would appear during an event called Avengercon. Maybe they include some fun Easter eggs, like an actor that voices Iron Man or Captain America on an animated series to poke fun at the many Variants that are out there. We’ll see if the next trailer might offer a closer look at Avengercon.

    Source: Hot Topic via Twitter

  • Doctor Strange Isn’t an Avenger in the MCU

    Doctor Strange Isn’t an Avenger in the MCU

    Here’s an interesting revelation. After the events of Avengers: Endgame, it seemed like so many have become members of the organization. We still never found out what exactly happened to the organization given that everyone only talks about it in the past tense. While a new generation seems to be brewing, Benedict Cumberbatch has shared his thoughts on where Doctor Strange lies when it comes to being a member of the Avengers.

    He’s fine with aligning himself with creatures and spirits and everything else that’s thrown at him and that’s why he can be a slight outsider as an Avenger. People say that you were in the Avengers, but you’re not an Avenger, right? No, I’m not. I’m not at Stark Tower with Nick Fury. No, he’s sort of outside of that realm, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a character trait. I think that is just a job title. He’s there to protect the reality of the Avengers in a different way to what they have been fighting up until the point that everything collides in the last two Avengers movies, so he holds his position as an adult on the periphery of that, but I think only for so long.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    While an Avenger doesn’t necessarily have to live in Stark Tower–especially with how little we know who took over the tower–but he makes a good point. Avengers are part of a team with it being like a job title. Unlike Spidey, he never was announced or accepted the role of an Avenger. He just showed up in Infinity War and Endgame to help out, especially the former because Banner just happened to drop into the Sanctum Sanctorum. So, while he’s appeared in the films, he still works independently from them. Though he may wish they’d come to help him as he explores a Multiverse of Madness.

    Source: KCRW

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Head Writer On Marc Spector’s Avenging Future

    ‘Moon Knight’ Head Writer On Marc Spector’s Avenging Future

    Moon Knight, Marvel Studios’ next installment, is headed to Disney+ in just under a month. With the series’ March 30th release date on the horizon, Marvel is ramping up its promotion for the lesser-known superhero. While Moon Knight is a name even Marvel fans may be unfamiliar with, it looks like caped vigilante could be set to stick around the MCU in a significant way.

    Moon Knight head writer Jeremy Slater told Total Film that he does not know Marvel Studios’ long-term plan for the character. When asked if Moon Knight was gearing up to enter the wider MCU, Slater stated:

    The honest answer is I don’t know…Because Kevin [Feige] is the guy who decides all that stuff. Look, if it was up to me, he would be part of the Avengers. It’s absolutely not up to me, but I think that is the goal!

    Jeremy Slater

    While it is no surprise that Moon Knight’s MCU future is a secret, it is telling that Slater believes that goal is for the character to break out of his solo outing into a larger team-up or crossover role in the future. Of course, Marvel Studios characters tend to end up as members of the Avengers or other teams. But Phase 4 is introducing new characters at a speed and quantity that is unprecedented even for Marvel Studios, so it is easy to wonder if some characters will be handled differently than fans have been used to.

    Before any potential Avengers team-up, Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight will star in his solo series, which promises to be a unique entry in the MCU. The first episode of the series will hit Disney+ on March 30.

    Source: Total Film via Games Radar

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Black Widow Skin Leaked Early

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Black Widow Skin Leaked Early

    It looks like a new skin for an upcoming shipment may have accidentally leaked early, as a recent update of Marvel’s Avengers has led to the reveal that the next shipment will include Avengers: Age of Ultron-inspired design for Black Widow. Currently, Iron Man 3‘s iconic golden armor was made available as part of the next shipments but it seems the update added the next unlockable design for when the next iteration of shipments kicks off, which is the game’s offering to earn cosmetics through grinding various missions.

    User @LewisXI19 shared a good look at the costume that seems mostly true to the films with a very bright red hair. This isn’t the first time that skin like this managed to leak online, as there was a similar case with Hawkeye’s Captain America: Civil War skin, as pointed out by the user this isn’t the first time. The design looks great and the Age of Ultron costume added a lot of neon elements to her costume, which still stands out to this day as she usually focused on primary black, undercover designs.

    We’re still anxiously awaiting any news on what the future has in store for the game. They’ve confirmed they are working on new updates, but it’s uncertain just what we can expect not only from the roadmap but from the year overall. They have mostly focused on teasing content for half a year rather than the full one. So, we shouldn’t expect to know what’ll release by December once the roadmap drops. Still, it’s fun to speculate and we’ll see what the future has in store.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Studios Makes a Major Change to The Phase One Timeline

    Marvel Studios Makes a Major Change to The Phase One Timeline

    Disney Plus has now added all of Marvel Studios One-Shots to their streaming library, giving fans a chance to relive some of the memorable shorts that once accompanied the home releases of their films. Agent Carter, All Hail the King and more are now streaming on the service and have all been added into the official, chronological viewing order. Interestingly enough, one of the One-Shots has knocked one of Marvel Studios biggest hits out of its place as a bookend to Phase One.

    As you can see from the screenshot, the 2012 One-Shot Item 47, which was released on The Avengers Blu-Ray, is now the official end of Phase One. The 12-minute short, which was heavily tied to ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., starred Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford as a couple who, in the wake of the Battle of New York, find a Chitauri weapon and use it to go on a crime spree. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents Sitwell and Blake, played by Maximiliano Hernandez and Titus Welliver, respectively, intervene on the couple’s spree and eventually incorporate them into S.H.I.E.L.D.

    While the events of the series were never mentioned again and neither Caplan nor Bradford’s characters were ever seen again, the One-Shot, directed by Louis D’Esposito, led directly to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. getting the green light on ABC. Bob Iger, who was Disney’s CEO at the time, gave the go ahead on AoS after watching Item 47 and the series debuted one year later on the network. Of course, Agents Sitwell and Blake continued on in the series and, in Sitwell’s case, the films with Sitwell dying during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Blake pretty much just disappearing.