Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Batman

  • New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Featurette Reveals Sean Gunn as Calendar Man

    New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Featurette Reveals Sean Gunn as Calendar Man

    Before the film made its big debut at last year’s DC Fandome, fan’s imaginations were running wild who’ll end up joining Task Force X in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. He hand-picked some of the wackiest and obscure characters from within the DC Universe. The current line-up includes Polka-Dot Man, Peacemaker, Javelin, Savant, Black Guard, and even a walking Weasel played by Sean Gunn. Gunn‘s brother is no stranger to playing around in his brother’s films. He was the on-set model for Rocket Raccoon and played Kraglin in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. While we knew he’d be playing Weasel in the film, it seems he picked up another role within the film.

    In a new behind-the-scenes featurette for the upcoming film, in a brief blink and you’ll miss it scene, you can catch Sean Gunn as one of Batman’s most obscure rogues, Calendar Man. The character was not previously known to be in the film and looks to be a brief cameo. The actor has a shaved head, and the abbreviated months tattoed around his cranium which many might remember from the comics.

     

     

    For those unfamiliar with Julian Gregory Day, who is better known as Calendar Man. He’s a supervillain whose fascinated by holidays and calendars. That love turned into his theme where he only commits crimes on those specific days. The character gained more notable popularity in The Long Halloween. In it, he was reimagined as a more Hannibal Lecter-type villain that Batman would speak to within an effort to locate the holiday killer, and would toy with Batman with his cryptic hints and clues.

    You can check out the featurette here:

    Source: Twitter

     

  • Leaked ‘The Flash’ Promo Reveals New Concept Art and Teases the ‘Flashpoint’-Inspired Storyline

    Leaked ‘The Flash’ Promo Reveals New Concept Art and Teases the ‘Flashpoint’-Inspired Storyline

    It looks like Comic-Con might have come early. A new video promo for Andy Muschietti‘s The Flash has leaked online, and it reveals quite a bit of new information about the long-delayed solo film. The video starts with franchise star Ezra Miller describing what he loves about his character’s powers. Namely, the fact that a single ability, his famous super-speed, can translate into several different abilities, such as creating tornadoes or traveling through time. They showcase the new concept art of Flash saving a baby in mid-air. Miller then gives confirmation on a detail that’s been rumored since production on the film began: there will be multiple Batmen in the film. Ben Affleck‘s name is not specified.

    https://twitter.com/Hellkr1/status/1410248329817210885?s=20

    Director Muschietti eventually takes over, referring to the team of Sasha Calle‘s Supergirl, Miller‘s Flash, and Michael Keaton‘s Batman as a ragtag Justice League. He claims that the group of underdogs is going to save the world as the brand new concept art of Supergirl and Keaton‘s Batman is shown. Supergirl stands on a roof next to Barry with her cape flowing and takes flight to combat an unknown threat. Barry rides in the back of the Batmobile as a “spoiler alert” sign covers up another figure alongside him.

    The mysterious new face might belong to that of the figure huddled for safety, possibly the de-powered version of Kal-El from the Flashpoint comic series. It’s also possible the figure under the sign is Wonder Woman, as pausing the footage at the right moment reveals some familiar armored boots and the tip of an equally familiar sword. It’s uncertain how this found its way online, but there is a chance it was prepared for this year’s DC FanDome and a test version of the footage was leaked online.

    Source: Twitter

  • Michael Keaton Sighted in Latest ‘The Flash’ Set Photos

    Michael Keaton Sighted in Latest ‘The Flash’ Set Photos

    It looks like the set photos aren’t stopping anytime soon for the upcoming The Flash film. The upcoming entry will bring back Michael Keaton in the role of Batman, which he hasn’t played since the 1992 film Batman Returns. We still don’t know how he will find his way into the multiverse or what role Keaton’s Wayne might have, but the latest set photos offer our first glimpse at the actor, who seems to be sporting a very familiar look. Twitter user @bigscreenleaks uploaded an image offering our first look at the actor on set. Seems they tried to replicate his hair from the original Tim Burton films, but with a silver fox look.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1406648296907608065

    What is interesting to note is that he seems to be in the same location where Ezra Miller‘s Barry Allen and Kiersey Clemons‘ Iris West are filming.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1406628352790872067

    As these photos are surfacing around the same time as our first look at Sasha Calle’s Supergirl, it may imply that Keaton‘s Batman is around in the mainline universe. So, perhaps Barry accidentally altered the timeline that he took Ben Affleck‘s place, or he somehow dragged Iris into the mss. There were images showcasing an ad for Central City featuring Gal Gadot‘s Wonder Woman, so it seems more likely that this incarnation of Batman may have ended up in the wrong dimension. Who says time travel and the existence of a multiverse isn’t confusing at all.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • Chris McKay Reveals First Details of his Scrapped ‘LEGO Batman’ Sequel

    Chris McKay Reveals First Details of his Scrapped ‘LEGO Batman’ Sequel

    It almost seems like it was yesterday when The LEGO Batman Movie premiered on the silver screen. Sadly, it’s already been around four years since the animated film was released and gave us a very unique but heartfelt take on the iconic Batman mythos. There haven’t been any announced plans for a sequel since and it seems that director Chris McKay didn’t want to keep it a secret anymore. It seems that there once was a sequel in development that tragically got scrapped even with the talented duo of Community‘s Dan Harmon and Loki‘s Michael Waldron. The latter even took to Twitter to share the script’s first page unveiling the title as Lego Superfriends.

     

     

    The script, according to McKay, would explore Batman’s relationship with the Justice League that was only briefly glimpsed in the first film. He described it as a Boogie Nights-esque comedy and goes on to offer some details on what he, Harmon, and Waldron were working on:

    Dan (Harmon) and (Michael) Waldron had done a first draft of the script that was really great. It was truly epic… both from an action standpoint and from a story standpoint. The structure was Godfather Part 2… a story about Batman’s relationship to the Justice League (and Superman) now as well as the formative moments of the Justice League (and Batman’s relationship with Superman) then.

    The reason we never got a sequel was due to Universal purchasing the rights to the LEGO franchise. As the original LEGO Movie got published through Warner Bros., they had access to their extensive library. Many might recall the various cameos from the LEGO Batman finale. As such, any future LEGO properties can include franchises like The Fast and Furious or Jurassic World, but we can’t expect a Batman sequel. Hopefully, Warner Bros. ends up buying the rights back to continue the franchise.

    Source: Twitter, Collider

  • ‘Batwoman’: First Official Look at Camrus Johnson as Batwing

    ‘Batwoman’: First Official Look at Camrus Johnson as Batwing

    Ever since the first season, Camrus Johnson‘s Luke Fox has been Batwoman’s Man in the Chair. He stepped into his father’s footsteps, who had a similar role for Bruce Wayne. The character has seen a dramatic shift this season and recent set photos confirmed that he’d be hopping out of his chair and straight into the action. We all theorized he’ll join his comic counterpart by donning the identity of Batwing. While it wasn’t officially confirmed, Writer Caroline Dries shared the first promo images of Johnson‘s Batwing suit that he’ll wear for the first time in the upcoming finale of Batwoman‘s second season, and finally, fight alongside Batwoman.

    https://twitter.com/carolinedries/status/1402325159185289217?s=20

    The look is heavily inspired by the character’s first appearance as the hero in Batwing #19 after picking up the mantle from David Zavimbe following the hero’s retirement. Fox was quickly recruited by Batman to take over the role. In a statement to TvLine, Johnson explained how excited he was to be wearing the suit and being a role model for kids to look up to.

    Honestly, it’s hard to explain how much it means to me to wear the Batwing suit and officially play my first superhero, The main reason I wanted to be in Batwoman was for this opportunity — to give kids like me another Black hero to look up to and relate to. It’s hard not to smile when I catch myself in the mirror with the bat symbol on my chest, and I’ll keep smiling through every fight scene, every awesome stunt, and every Gotham night where Batwing is finally in the field!

    It’s definitely exciting to watch the Batfamily grow more and more. While we don’t have them all in one universe it’s great to finally see some of comics’ famous and inspirational heroes from the DC Universe brought to life. The second season finale of Batwoman is currently set to air on June 13th and will see the debut of Johnson as Batwing.

    Source: TvLine, Twitter

  • Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Joker was one of DC’s and WB’s most unique projects, as it dived deep into the psyche of a man who’d been beaten down and forgotten by the people around him. The film was a smashing success after bringing in over a billion dollars in its total box-office haul on a budget of just $55M. Not only was it a financial success, but the film also made headlines being the first to score the most nominations for one film at the Oscars and taking home two awards for best score and best actor. With success like that, it seemed like a viable path to continue down. It looks like we might get just that.

    There have been countless rumors surrounding the project for some time now, and it was previously uncertain if the franchise would remain a one-time event. Just a few weeks ago, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the studio was still developing a sequel but no other word was given on the status of the project. It’s now being reported by THR that writer/director Todd Phillips has signed onto return to co-write the potential sequel but no word if he’ll be jumping back into the director’s chair.

    While it seems like the sequel is still in very early phases, it could show us what Gotham is like post-Joker’s riot. Towards the end of the film, we see the city in flames, as masked citizens ran rampant through the streets. Our titular character got taken into custody as he smiled upon the movement that he started. The potential next entry could explore multiple characters’ stories as they take on the clown’s ideals. Perhaps there is more than just one Joker after all.

    Source: THR

     

  • Animated ‘Injustice’ Film In Development

    Animated ‘Injustice’ Film In Development

    Many fans always wondered what would happen if the DC Universe got turned upside down. What would happen if Superman embraced a darker side? The various Crisis events in the DC universe did tease this potential, but it wasn’t until NetherRealm Studio that went all-in with their Injustice franchise. The fighting games pitted villains and heroes alike to see who would be the last one standing. Its story was a standout when the first entry, Injustice: Gods Among Us, released in 2013. Now, WB Home Entertainment announced they are developing an animated film based on the Injustice franchise. We didn’t receive any details on the project, but we can expect an advanced sneak peek available in the upcoming release of the Batman: The Long Halloween Part II animated film.

    With the film getting announced out of nowhere, there’s little to no information on the project. Warner Bros has not announced any plot details or casting as of now. The film could be an animated retelling or be part of their new choose-your-own-adventure animated films. WB Animation released an animated retelling of Under The Red Hood that gave the viewer a choice on how the events unfolded

    The games did something similar. In the ending of Injustice 2, you were given a choice that resulted in one of two endings. One resulted in Superman getting banished to the Phantom Zone while the other saw him combine with Brainiac. As a consequence, he built an army to protect Earth and continue his rule overall. The games had an amazing roster to play with and we can expect a lot of familiar faces in the upcoming film. Here’s hoping the sneak peek offers more details on what to expect.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Camrus Johnson Suits Up as Batwing in New ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos

    Camrus Johnson Suits Up as Batwing in New ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos

    Throughout Batman’s long-running history in comics, there’s always been a constant theme of family. Since the introduction of Robin, his family has grown exponentially with the inclusions of characters like Batgirl, Huntress, and Batwoman. CW’s adaptation of Batwoman has embraced this concept and continued to expand the series’ family since the first season. After Ruby Rose‘s departure, Javicia Leslie took over the role through the character of Ryan Wilder, who previously made her comic debut in Batgirl #50. It looks like they plan on adding more to this universe’s bat family. They recently introduced the character of Stephanie Brown, and it looks like one original member finally gets to don a cape of his own.

    Since season one, Camrus Johnson has acted as Batwoman’s man in the chair. He was acting behind the scenes as Batwoman’s Oracle and even took a few pages out of his father’s book by upgrading her gear. It looks like his time in the chair is finally over as brand new set photos have found their way online revealing the actor in a Batwing costume.

    For those unfamiliar with the character, he is the son of Lucius Fox. In the comics, he is currently the second person to hold the mantle of Batwing. Lucas made his debut with the mantle in 2013’s Batwing #19 through Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray‘s work. He has been a recurring character in Gotham since his debut. He was also a master of mixed martial arts and skilled detective who wears a suit equipped with a powerful arsenal of weapons and gadgets, all while being able to fly. It is great they are taking a page out of the comics and giving Johnson a chance to don the suit in live-action. It’ll be interesting to see how they introduce it and if he might be keeping it a secret from the rest of the group.

    Source: Twitter

  • J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm Developing an Animated Batman Series for HBO Max

    J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm Developing an Animated Batman Series for HBO Max

    It looks like we’re getting a brand new animated series about everyone’s favorite Gotham socialite turned vigilante. Batman: Caped Crusader has been ordered straight-to-series for HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with acclaimed filmmakers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves set to produce. They will be joined by long-time DC animator Bruce Timm. The cartoon is being described as a “reimagining of the Batman mythology”. Reeves and Abrams shared their enthusiasm for the new noir take on the character:

    We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City. The series will be thrilling, cinematic and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.

    Die-hard fans of the character will know that Timm was also behind one of Bruce Wayne’s most iconic adaptations, Batman: The Animated Series. Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register highlighted this fact in his own statement regarding the project:

    Batman: The Animated Series was a masterpiece that shaped the perception of the character for an entire generation of fans. It is in that spirit that we are bringing together three master storytellers in J.J., Matt and Bruce – each with their own intuitive understanding and affection for the character – to create a new series that will continue in the same groundbreaking legacy.

    The series will utilize state-of-the-art animation techniques to create intense action sequences set in a visually striking world. You can also expect another nuanced reinvention of Batman’s famed rogue’s gallery, brought to life with sophisticated storytelling. There is no current release date set for the cartoon. Hopefully, more news will follow shortly.

    Source: Deadline

  • New ‘The Batman’ Merchandise Offers New Look at Paul Dano’s Riddler

    New ‘The Batman’ Merchandise Offers New Look at Paul Dano’s Riddler

    The Riddler has been one of Batman’s greatest rogues ever since the character debuted in Detective Comics #140 back in 1948. He was famous for his mind, one that rivaled even the wit of the caped crusader, putting his detective skills to the test in a constant storm of riddles that all lead back to Edward. When word got out that actor Paul Dano would be playing the character, fans were stricken with joy. The actor’s performances in Prisoners and There Will be Blood made him the perfect choice for a cunning as well as obsessed Riddler.

    The DC FanDome trailer offered a brief glimpse at the character’s redesign. Luckily, new merchandise from the upcoming film offers a closer look at Dano‘s Riddler, which was previously shrouded in thick shadows. The calendar includes a closeup of the character’s mask. It is a complete reinvention of the Batman rogue. He is famous for his green question-mark-covered clothing, domino mask, and top hat. Modern renditions ditched most of those staples, and he would reduce his wardrobe to a green shirt. This rendition of the character is sporting a full face mask, only revealing his eyes. The image reveals that he is wearing glasses underneath those goggles. 

     

     

    More graphics from the merchandise include a few more Riddler-centric months. They include the phrases “My Life has Been a Riddle” and “Unmask the Truth,” hinting at a new angle for the character. In a scene from the trailer, we hear him tell Bruce that “He’s a part of this,” adding to that theory. It feels like he could act as an anti-hero in a city like Gotham, where crime and corruption know no better home. Could this version of the Riddler be a byproduct of that society, which uses violent methods to expose the dark secrets Gothams held for years to come?

    Of course, the merchandise won’t give away every secret the film has in store for us. We cannot wait to see this rendition of the character and what Dano has to offer for the interpretation. It looks like the character has an ulterior motive that may tie directly into Bruce Wayne’s family heritage. We’ve theorized there might be a connection to build up Scott Snyder‘s Court of Owls storyline, which you can read here. Hopefully, in the coming months, we’ll get a new trailer offering a closer glimpse at what the future may hold.

    Source: Erik