Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Daredevil

  • The All-New, All-Different Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    The All-New, All-Different Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    Bob Iger‘s return to Disney and a pair of strikes have rendered nearly everything we once thought we knew irrelevant. Movies once slated for 2023 or 2024 have been moved to 2025 and the domino effect has probably only just begun. With so much having changed since last we ventured into the waters of the hypothetical calendar, it’s high time to relaunch them anew…and adifferent.

    January 8th-March 5th: Daredevil: Born Again, Episodes 1-9

    Following a major creative overhaul, the first episodes of Daredevil: Born Again–which were originally slated to debut in the Spring of 2024–are now TENTATIVELY on track to drop in January 2025. Though they didn’t throw the baby out with the bath water, it sounds like showrunner Dario Scardapane and new directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are going to take their time and make sure the MCU’s first Daredevil project does the character justice and given Bob Iger‘s demands that the projects live up to the high standards previously set for Marvel Studios, that might mean this gets pushed even further. We’ll know more shortly after the first of the year as we’ve recently heard that production is meant to get underway in January.

    February 14th: Captain America: Brave New World

    Reports of significant reshoots on Cap 4 lined up with Disney’s decision to move the film into 2025. Those reports suggested that the film will undergo roughly 5 months of additional photography which is a longer period of time than the film was in production for the first time around. Now, the studio has brought on a brand new writer in Matthew Orton and though they are targeting a mid-2024 restart, production will not resume until his work on the script is done. Throw in the amount of time it’ll take to make the VFX hold up–especially with an appearance by the Red Hulk in the cards–and the February 2025 date makes all the sense in the world.

    May 2nd: Fantastic Four

    Fantastic Four was announced at SDCC ’19 and two long work stoppages have kept pushing it further and further down the road though it’s continually in the news cycle. At this point, all anyone wants is for the casting rumors around this project to come to an end and for cameras to roll. According to a relatively recent interview with director Matt Shakman, production should get underway next Spring and be ready to serve as the studio’s tentpole film for 2025 and launch the summer movie season…just as it should.

    June 27th: Spider-Man 4

    No project on this hypothetical calendar is more hypothetical than this one. If all the rumors are true, its release is partially dependent on Daredevil: Born Again–and that’s IF the creative threads that originally tied the two projects together stay in the series with the new showrunner taking over. Throw in that there’s been no official announcement from Sony about this project and that Tom Holland‘s “new deal” hasn’t been officially announced either and you’ve got even more reason to think this one may not happen in 2025 at all. However, a script has been in the works for most of the year, Sony has this date on the calendar for a Marvel film and, at the moment, doesn’t have any other projects that seem to fit the date. On the other hand, rumors persist that Jon Watts may be on board to direct and plans are being made to film next summer…

    July 25th: Thunderbolts

    By the time production finally starts on this project, the entire plot will have been leaked online. Despite multiple creative retoolings and a revolving door of writers, Thunderbolts is ultimately only delayed by a year from its original July 26, 2024 release date. Production is currently set to get underway in the spring with a TENTATIVE April start on the books.

    September 3rd-October 8th: Ironheart

    A project that has been in the can for quite some time, Ironheart is on track to release 2 full years after it was originally slated to hit Disney Plus. It’ll be interesting to see if Disney ever addresses exactly why this series took so long to release (not even VFX touch-ups and reshoots can explain away a 2-year move), especially when the footage shown at 2022’s D23 looked pretty fun.

    November 7th: Blade

    Mahershala Ali has the patience of a saint. Ali is the driving force behind this project which, like Fantastic Four, was announced over 4 years ago, and is staying the course despite several changes to the creative team over the past year or so and the delays due to the strikes. As of now, Blade looks like it’ll actually start production in the second half of 2024 and be ready for theaters, complete with an R-rating, by November 2025!

    All in all, this is a major revamp from the last time we rolled out a hypothetical 2025 calendar. With things at Disney never having been in flux more than they are now, it’ll be fun to see just how much of this holds true.

  • Marvel Studios is at a Crossroads

    Marvel Studios is at a Crossroads

    Marvel Studios’ has faced its worst opening weekend with The Marvels. Is it a simple discussion surrounding superhero or Marvel fatigue? Going by just how varied the discussions are online, it’s very likely not as simple as anyone wants it to be. One could discuss the impact of the last few years, a rough 2023 box office for blockbusters, the SAG as well as WGA strikes, and many more factors. So, there might simply not be a singular reason and just a lot of elements coming together.

    Of course, these kinds of numbers establish the expected “end” of Marvel Studios’ discussion online. Articles have dropped announcing that the films are no longer events which is why no one is watching them. Certain subsections proclaim the end of Marvel due to “wokeness” and whatever personal reason one has when leaving the franchise behind as “it should’ve ended with Endgame” echoes throughout the dark corners of the web. For years, the discussion was that superhero movies would go the way of the Western and if that point has been reached, we’ll likely see a very different Marvel Studios moving forward.

    As such, it seems like the perfect time to discuss what exactly the future might hold for Marvel Studios and likely the results that’ll come from this blow at the box office. We have no insight into what Marvel Studios will truly do moving forward but there are already some minor hints that may tease what the future has in store and what we can expect from the studio that reinvented blockbusters for over 15 years. We’re at a crossroads and potentially the beginning of a new era moving forward.

    First Signs Exist in 2023

    Bob Iger returned as the CEO of Disney, which saw Bob Chapek try his best to figure out what exactly they would be doing during a pandemic. He carried over the Disney+ goals that were started by his predecessor only to buckle under the weight and get replaced. Yet, Iger’s run since hasn’t been something one would describe as a “return to form” but he has pointed out that a reduction of releases is something they are definitely going to review the future.

    At the time the pandemic hit, we were leaning into a huge increase in how much we were making. And I’ve always felt that quantity can be actually a negative when it comes to quality, and I think that’s exactly what happened. We lost some focus.

    Bob Iger

    2023 was still a big push from all studios to make bank after a rough pandemic, but it has led to many films fizzling out. As much as we want to point to Barbenheimer and Super Mario Bros. Movie as a showcase of how strong the year was: it simply wasn’t. Many films have bloated budgets due to filming during COVID and subsequently were never going to truly make their money back outside of some massive numbers. Prices are on the rise and with a cost of living crisis affecting people’s decisions, it becomes clear that people are far more selective than they’ve ever been (a reason it’s not as simple as just fatigue).

    One thing is clear though: we’ll see fewer releases moving forward. We already saw the reduction of output in 2023 with only two Disney+ series hitting the streaming service with quite a bit of time between each release; even if Secret Invasion didn’t quite help matters. The Marvels was pushed from July to November, which ended up hurting it due to the actor’s strike heavily hampering its promotion build-up. So, we’re already in the middle of a transition phase for the studio.

    New Disney+ Strategy

    Actually, there is one new highlight I ended up leaving out and that is Marvel Spotlight. Out of nowhere, Marvel Studios unveiled an entirely new banner just for their “grounded” stories that aren’t necessary for the major storyline being told throughout the phases. It was a strategic move that definitely left some ripples alongside a strong first impression with Echo’s trailer. Ever since there’s been a bit more positivity in the air that was definitely needed for the franchise that has been. Of course, outlets were still ready to say it’s too late or won’t fix any of the issues it’s facing. Head of Streaming, Brad Winderbaum, shared the inspiration for this new brand:

    Marvel Spotlight gives us a platform to bring more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen, and in the case of Echo, focusing on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity. Just like comics fans didn’t need to read Avengers or Fantastic Four to enjoy a Ghost Rider Spotlight comic.

    Brad Winderbaum

    It’s unclear if this might just become the de facto banner for the Disney+ shows and the way it is being described is to ease viewers into it. The fact of the matter is: there’s a lot of debate about Disney+ and the film’s connections potentially muddling viewership a bit, especially with The Marvels that technically ties into multiple stories. While many have been quick to point out that every Marvel film quickly introduces elements from these shows and doesn’t require audiences to do the homework they complain about online, it’s a clever way to just visually create a distinction and ease audiences in.

    Still, one thing that the Disney+ shows should do is focus primarily on becoming the venue of exploring either side stories from movie characters or simply setting up its own subset within the grander universe. In a way, they could take the Defenders approach from Netflix and simply have its own little build-up with various characters that can bleed into Avengers releases that tie the entire Phase together. Small references here or there could ease viewers in but not lead to discussions of: “why is Ms. Marvel headlining a movie, does it mean I need to watch her show to know who she is?”

    Daredevil and Echo could become the grounded, street-level heroes on Disney+ that are visually and much more distinct from what they do with the movies. That would also help make the films stand out more, as these shows are no longer just as bombastic and expensive as their main counterparts. Agents of SHIELD worked as a complementary series that looked like it was part of the universe but distinctively is a TV series.

    New Cinematic Strategy

    2024 will only give us Deadpool 3 and that likely is mainly due to the writer’s strike but also potentially a deliberate choice to restructure next year. The only question is if they will stick with their 2025 schedule, which now includes three releases as is the usual norm for the studio. Yet, we might see them move away from that once they start reshuffling moving forward.

    The biggest problem that plagues these films is the production costs that have ballooned since COVID. The Marvels marks the final production that occurred during that time with everything heading our way in the coming years once again being under somewhat normal production rules for the studio moving forward. Though the SAG and WGA strikes are definitely going to show their thorns with Captain America: Brave New World which is getting extensive reshoots and Deadpool 3.

    Still, it would seem wise to perhaps pull back a bit going into 2025. Once again rolling out three films and who knows how many Disney+ series might just set them right back to where they are currently. Perhaps going back to the days of two releases a year to slowly build up momentum again might be the best way forward.

    Hell, if they do it right they could have one major event release per year with a bigger budget behind it, something we might see with Captain America 4, and then try to focus on a smaller project in that same year which can make back its money with even a softer release. Blade is rumored to have a $100M production budget and would perfectly fit that very bill. Once things “normalize” we might see the old MCU budgets back in action, as the current ones are definitely not intended. That way they can build up relevance and still given minor characters a spotlight even if they carry a bigger box office risk.

    No Single Solution

    Even making these examples and ideas of how Marvel Studios could move forward; mostly based on what signs are already there; there’s no true single solution to it all. Every franchise will eventually end up in a slump and the box office developments between The Marvels and previous projects are still showcasing a distinction. The current slump may remain an anomaly due to multiple factors affecting its release and the question will be if Deadpool 3 can draw in a crowd given where Marvel stands.

    Going into 2024, I wouldn’t expect many more releases outside of Echo and perhaps one more Disney+ series. There’s a chance the binge model works for them so they do make use of it to avoid the series occupying too much time and potentially not leading to the consensus of overwhelming audiences. Yet, this year has proven that they can have a massive success like Loki’s second season and a mild reception like Secret Invasion.

    The clear thing is: that once they show more consistency moving forward for audiences as they build toward Avengers: Secret Wars, we might see audiences once again return to theaters to not miss out on the latest Marvel movie. The studio is at a crossroads rather than an immediate stop. Whatever happens, moving forward depends on how they react to this current status and how they decide to build upon it moving forward.

    Source: The Verge, CNBC, Deadline, Variety, ComicBookMovies.com

  • ‘Loki’ Directors Preparing for ‘Daredevil’ Disney+ Series

    ‘Loki’ Directors Preparing for ‘Daredevil’ Disney+ Series

    Some time ago, it was revealed that Marvel Studios is pulling back on the upcoming Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again. They restarted the project with an actual showrunner in the form of former The Punisher’s Dario Scardapane, who likely will bring his previous work to influence the series to be a bit closer to the version many are hoping to see revived from the original Netflix series.

    That isn’t all, as Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead, who have proven they are some of Marvel Studios’ best gets after Moon Knight and Loki Season 2, are also involved with the series. In an interview with The Wrap, they revealed that they have yet to start work on the project but are already diving deep into the franchise, comics, and Netflix series included.

    It is day zero. We’re currently just consuming Daredevil content, not just the Netflix show but all the possible material. We’re just making our stew of information nice and thick.

    Aaron Moorehead

    They will be directing the remaining episodes from the series and it’ll be interesting to see if they have any involvement in getting the previous entries going as well. There’s a lot we don’t know about the adaptation just yet given that it’s taking a completely new direction. Very likely a bigger sign of Marvel Studios reshuffling their future releases.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Marvel Studios’ Daredevil’ Series Finds Its New Showrunner and Directors

    Marvel Studios’ Daredevil’ Series Finds Its New Showrunner and Directors

    It’s been a wild ride for Disney+ and Marvel Studios. Now that the WGA regulations are in place based on the new deal, the studio’s head writer concept has been scrapped to return to a more traditional showrunner method. The Punisher’s Dario Scardapane is seemingly taking over as showrunner for the Daredevil: Born Again series (uncertain if that name will remain) and is joined by the directing duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who are making quite a name for themselves with their work on the Loki Season 2 episodes that are getting quite a bit of social media attention.

    The series was filmed in New York but after it was paused due to the strikes, it seemed that Marvel Studios wasn’t quite satisfied with what they got and original head writers Matt Corman and Chris Ord left the project. Given the character’s history with the Netflix series considered one of the best adaptations, it’s no surprise that they are trying to make sure that this one truly sticks the landing. Benson and Moorhead are attached to direct the new episodes to finish out the first season but no one knows how much they will overhaul the entire show.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Marvel Studios’ Reshuffles its Disney+ Release Slate as ‘Agatha’ Gets a New Name

    Marvel Studios’ Reshuffles its Disney+ Release Slate as ‘Agatha’ Gets a New Name

    Marvel Studios has been shifting quite a few of its release dates as of late. While they certainly are going to for all projects that have yet to finish, it seems they also decided to map out some of their TV shows that were set to release on Diseny+ in the coming months. The biggest surprise is that Echo was pushed back (again) to a January release date even though it was previously slated for November 29th.

    What If…? is going to be released on Christmas Day, which is our first confirmation as it was initially going to be released in 2023. So, it’ll be the only other show releasing this year besides Loki later in October, which is already being heavily advertised by Marvel Studios. X-Men ’97 also seemingly is getting a release timing, as it is set for early 2024 after initially planned to release later this fall. Season 2 of the series is already in the works.

    Ironheart is off the schedule for now, as it seems it is affected by the strikes. The same goes for Daredevil: Born Again and Wonder Man, which had to pause in the middle of production. The big surprise is that Agatha: Coven of Chaos is getting another new name, this time Agatha: Darkhold Diaries. It initially was announced with the title Agatha: House of Harknes and is now set to release on Halloween next year.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • BREAKING: Jennifer Garner to Return as Elektra in ‘Deadpool 3’

    BREAKING: Jennifer Garner to Return as Elektra in ‘Deadpool 3’

    It looks like the rumors are true, as Deadpool 3 will act as a callback to the era before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was getting started. In a new piece by The Hollywood Reporter, they have unveiled that not only will Ryan Reynold’s film see the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but we’ll also get an iconic character from a previous Marvel film. Jennifer Garner is back as Elektra one more time.

    For those that might not remember, Garner famously played the character in 2003’s Daredevil starring alongside Ben Affleck before getting her own spinoff in 2005. Her inclusion further supports the rumors that the story is going to feature a big multiverse storyline, as a way to build upon what we saw in Deadpool 2‘s post-credit sequence.

    Of course, Garner’s return opens up the discussion as to if recent rumors of Affleck being on set might also indicate that he’s set to return as well. Who knows if Daredevil will actually be featured and how exactly this multiversal storyline will connect, but it’s definitely the perfect idea to make good use of Deadpool’s shenanigans as a final hurrah to that era before the MCU became the de facto franchise based around Marvel characters.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Penguin’ Paused Due to WGA Strike

    ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Penguin’ Paused Due to WGA Strike

    Two more productions have paused production due to the ongoing WGA Strike. Deadline reported on Wednesday that both Daredevil: Born Again and The Penguin have officially paused production. Both series are expected to pick production back up whenever the strike ends, whenever that might be.

    The move comes after Daredevil: Born Again was previously shut down due to the strike as recently as June 12th. Born Again is three months into its planned eight month shoot for a total of 18-episodes. The series hails from Matt Corman and Chris Ord and is expected to have some sort of presence at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

    As for Penguin, the series has too been subjected to picketing by writers and is officially throwing in the towel for now. A spinoff of The Batman, The Penguin will see Colin Farrell reprise his role in the eight-episode series.

    Expect more productions to be impacted while the strike remains ongoing. Fingers crossed Hollywood gives the writers what they’re worth sooner rather than later.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Bosch’s Clark Johnson Joins Disney+’s ‘Daredevil’ to Direct and Star

    ‘Bosch’s Clark Johnson Joins Disney+’s ‘Daredevil’ to Direct and Star

    Marvel Studios’ upcoming take on Daredevil is continuing to add some great talent, as they have seemingly added Clark Johnson not only as a director but also to play the role of “Cherry.” While it’s not confirmed by Marvel, Deadline shares that it is who they have heard he is playing, and he’s set to also direct two episodes of Marvel Studios’ longest-running Disney+ series. He joins the new take on the Netflix characters once again played by Charlie Cox with new showrunners Matt Corman and Chris Ord working on the project.

    While the Deadline article spells the name “Cherry”, there’s a chance he might tackle the role of corrupt politician Randolph Cherryh, who appeared in Daredevil #177. The character was notable for having a direct tie to Kingpin, who is also going to return with Vincent D’Onforio reprising his role from Hawkeye and the upcoming Echo. It seems very unlikely that this will be a gender-bent version of Cherry Blossom, who served as a Hand assassin in the comics.

    Clark Johnson has made quite an imprint on TV, as he directed the pilot episode of The Shield which got him an Emmy nomination. He’s also been involved with shows like Love & Death, Mayor of Kingstown, Luke Cage, The Good Fight, The Wire, and many more. He also acted in a variety of projects, such as playing Gus Haynes in The Wire, which might be one of his most iconic roles. He also appears in Evil as Father Amara.

    Source: Deadline

  • Vincent D’Onofrio Teases a “Very, Very Different” Direction, Confirms Second Season of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Vincent D’Onofrio Teases a “Very, Very Different” Direction, Confirms Second Season of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Production on Marvel Studios Daredevil revival, Daredevil: Born Again recently got underway in New York City, kicking off an ambitious production schedule that is slated to be spread out over the majority of 2023. Over the past week, photos from the set have indicated that the series will be revisiting the childhood of Wilson Fisk, a time that was well established in the Netflix Daredevil series. Star Charlie Cox has already made it clear that Born Again isn’t a fourth season of Daredevil but rather a “whole new deal,” that would provide the opportunity to revisit and retell stories from the Netflix series. Now, for the first time, co-star Vincent D’Onofrio has given his input on how the new series compares to Daredevil.


    “We’ve only just started shooting. I think we’re a couple weeks in, and the show is going to be very, very different than the Netflix show, and it’s so exciting because what we’re doing is quite something.”

    Vincent D’Onofrio

    What exactly will be so different? According to D’Onofrio, Daredevil: Born Again is set to subvert the expectations of the audience.

    I think it’s something that people are not going to expect. But, always with these Marvel old comic stories that are being revisited and reinvented by us actors, and the writers, the main thing is to answer the fans.

    Vincent D’Onofrio

    How will showrunners Matt Corman and Chris Ord pull that off? According to D’Onofrio, by providing an original and emotional take on the characters.

    To give them what they want but try to be original in some way at the same time, and so that’s what we’re doing on the show. It’s definitely an original way to look at this, and it’s really deep, really emotional.

    Vincent D’Onofrio

    Daredevil: Born Again was presented as an 18-episode maxi-series slated for 2024. While the release schedule of any and all Marvel Studios streaming projects remains up in the air while the company restructures a bit under Bob Iger’s renewed leadership, Born Again not only looks to still make its debut in 2024 but also, according to D’Onofrio, already be penciled in for a second season. According to D’Onofrio, fans of the Netflix series may have to play the long game, but by the end of that second season, they’ll get “what they want.”

    And, by the second season, there are gigantic, gigantic payoffs—in the first season, too, but I can’t say much about that—but the fans are gonna really get what they want. It’s really quite cool to be doing it.

    Vincent D’Onofrio

    What is it fans want? If it’s a healthy amount of Cox and Jon Bernthal who is returning as Frank Castle, D’Onofrio has some.good news.

    These are two guys that, just as men and actors themselves, are legitimate people and I love those guys, Jon and Charlie. I just love them. They’re just awesome, good people, and their acting ability speaks for itself. They’re both very good, and it’s nice. It’s always nice to come on a set and you know that the other main actors are as prepared as anybody could be. It shortens the day, and that kind of preparation lends itself to a great scene.

    Vincent D’Onofrio

    As if it weren’t already evident given the 18-episode structure of Season 1, fans are going to have to sit back and let the story of Daredevil: Born Again unfold before they get an idea of exactly what’s going on and how it does or does not connect to the stories told on Netflix. Fortunately, with Bernthal, Cox and D’Onofrio on board, it should be an enjoyable ride.

    Source: Newsweek

  • Michael Gandolfini Teases His ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Character

    Michael Gandolfini Teases His ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Character

    Michael Gandolfini has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an undisclosed role for the Disney+ revival/sequel series Daredevil: Born Again. Even with the return of Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox, there will be something unique that’ll make it stand out from the previous iterations. Gandolfini‘s casting, for example, started a wave of rumors that he might be Wilson Fisk’s son in the upcoming series but in an interview with Collider, Gandolfini could only hint at one aspect of his character.

    I believe all I can say about my character is that my character is from Staten Island, and that’s about it.

    Michael Gandolfini

    While he can’t really divulge any details, Staten Island is certainly an interesting detail. It confirms that he’s a character that is from a New York City borough and might add just that little more weight to him potentially being connected to Fisk. Still, one thing is for sure: Gandolfini is excited to be part of this franchise.

    I mean, it’s incredible. It’s so, so exciting and daunting and everyone is so nice and so talented. I remember getting my first text from the producer, I was driving, and it said, ‘Welcome to the MCU!’ You see that and it just, like, hits you, you know? I teared up, and it’s just like, ‘Oh my God!’ I’m very grateful and lucky.

    Michael Gandolfini

    He also goes on to highlight that he’s “excited to be in Hell’s Kitchen” and we’ll see “the version of Daredevil” that we’ve come to love in the Netflix series not so long ago.

    I think people are going to really be excited to be in Hell’s Kitchen and see the version of Daredevil that everyone knows and loves, but now a part of this much bigger world where all of these other players are now in play, so it’s exciting.

    Michael Gandolfini

    Gandolfini‘s excitement is definitely infectious and it’ll be interesting to see who he is actually playing. If the rumors are true, there’s something interesting about getting to know Fisk through the eyes of his own son. We did meet his adoptive daughter in Alaqua Cox‘s Echo. So, who knows if there was a more sinister side to him that Echo was lucky to avoid.

    Source: Collider