Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: DC Movies

  • Original ‘Little Mermaid’ Filmmakers Developing an Animated ‘Metal MeN’ Film

    Original ‘Little Mermaid’ Filmmakers Developing an Animated ‘Metal MeN’ Film

    Animation has always been one of DC’s stronger areas, with many of the straight-to-DVD animated films becoming instant classics for the brand, and adapting some of the most beloved stories and characters. With League of Super-Pets set to hit theaters next year, it seems DC and WB are ready to bring these animated stories to the big screen, with another animated film already in development.

    The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Warner Animation Group is currently developing an animated film focused on the Metal Men. They are a group of superheroes from DC Comics that debuted in the early ’60s. The film was written by Ron Clements, Celeste Ballard, and John Musker. They are best known for their work on many classic animated Disney films such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Princess and The Frog, Hercules, and Moana. They are also eyeing to direct the project and will produce alongside Craig Peck.

    The Metal Men made their debut back in 1962 and were created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru. Dr. William Magnus developed the six highly advanced AI robots known as Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Tin, and Platinum whose personalities and abilities mirrored that of their namesakes. The team briefly had a series of animated shorts that aired exclusively on Cartoon Network, but since then the characters really haven’t been in the spotlight. The willingness of WB and DC to explore characters like the Metal Men, even if it is in animation is very promising for the future. The animation will allow for these characters to be accurately brought to life and live up to their full potential.

    Source: THR

  • Composer Natalie Holt Joins ‘Batgirl’ Production, Shares New Set Photo

    Composer Natalie Holt Joins ‘Batgirl’ Production, Shares New Set Photo

    Just yesterday, we got our first set photo from the upcoming HBO Max original film, Batgirl. The story about Barbara Gordon’s time in the iconic mantle will explore Gotham in a new way. Director Adil El Arbi shared the photo on his Instagram account, which teased Barbara’s future as a beat cop in the series. production is finally revving up in Glasgow and it looks like they’ll soon be joined by a new GCPD cop that has some musical talents.

    Natalie Holt announced back in September that she joined the HBO Max original to compose its soundtrack. After her incredible work on Loki, her addition was an exciting prospect that got many wondering what exactly she may add to this particular story. Of course, it’s too early to get a feeling for exactly that, but she did tease that she is now on set. Her tease might also hint that she’ll have a cameo as a GCPD officer in the series.

    https://twitter.com/filmmusicholt/status/1466099113720692739?s=21

    We might see others of the production team appear as cops whenever Barbara is going through her job. She likely is working for her father, which will add quite a bit of tension between them. So, who knows how nosy her colleagues are and appear in the background during their discussions. It’ll be interesting to explore her story from the perspective of a police officer, as she’ll definitely be active as Batgirl throughout the story. It could lead to an interesting conflict of interest. Here’s hoping we get more teases or even a look at Leslie Grace in costume from what was teased during DC FanDome.

    Source: Twitter

  • Adil El Arbi Shares First ‘Batgirl’ Set Photo as Production Starts

    Adil El Arbi Shares First ‘Batgirl’ Set Photo as Production Starts

    The DC extended universe seems to finally be set on a consistent path project-wise. for a while there it seemed like films were just randomly getting announced but would never really come to fruition. Thankfully, it seems like things are finally in order, especially with the upcoming Batgirl project. It was another film that struggled to really get going early on, initially picking up Joss Whedon to write and direct, before Warner Bros. cut ties with the director. After a long wait, it has officially begun production.

    Director Adil El Arbi shared an Instagram post from the set. We get a look at the office of Barbra Gordon, who has been revealed to be working as a cop, most likely for GCPD. The photo gives us a look at the current logo for the film as well as hints when it may be set. In the background there appears to be some decorative tinsel, possibly hinting at the film being set during the holiday season. It will certainly add a nice visual flair to this film’s version of Gotham.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CW6NJ64sqk9/?utm_medium=copy_link

    Some speculation could hint at Barbra beginning the film working as a cop, but something happening, involving her father, leading her to follow her own path and become Batgirl. The film was written by Christina Hodson, who previously worked on Birds of Prey and The Flash. Adil El Arbi will direct the project alongside Bilall Fallah.

    Source: Instagram

  • Dolph Lundgren Praises James Wan’s Work on ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’

    Dolph Lundgren Praises James Wan’s Work on ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’

    We’ve all been waiting for some more news on the upcoming Aquaman sequel that’ll explore the mysteriously lost kingdom. James Wan has still remained coy on what exactly the film’s title is hinting at and what the future of the franchise has in store for us. We did learn that Dolph Lundgren would reprise his role back in October, as he shared an Instagram post with part of his wig already on from the set. It was an interesting surprise due to his role as King Nereus and it opened up many questions about how he might tie into the story.

    In an interview with THR, the actor didn’t quite give away any details on what to expect but did tease that we can expect quite a bit of an upgrade from the previous entry. The films take place in Atlantis and it was no small task filming everyone in a way that makes them feel like they’re truly underwater. According to Lundgren, the effects have already come a long way to make that effect even easier and praise Wan‘s involvement.

    That whole picture is just a class act. I think [Aquaman 2] is better. I think the script is stronger and it’s more exciting. The technology has moved forward in four years, so I was really pleased to be a part of it. James Wan is just going to blow everybody away again by this tremendous world that he creates. He’s involved in every little detail, even every little piece of every weapon, and I think it’s going to be great.

    He’s certainly excited about the upcoming sequel and it’ll be interesting to see how the new technology may have changed elements from the production. We’ll likely not spend all the time underwater due to the adventure-vibe the first film gave off. With the first photo teasing an icy location, we’ll get quite a few new locations to explore in the sequel. If it’s anything like the first film, we’re in for a great time.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Warner Bros. Officially Releases an Updated Synopsis for ‘The Batman’

    Warner Bros. Officially Releases an Updated Synopsis for ‘The Batman’

    The Batman has been generating a lot of buzz over the past couple of weeks following a recent test screening. Rumors are running wild about a potential appearance by the Joker and the feedback from those involved in the screening seems positive. Today, Warner Bros. updated the official site of the film with a new synopsis that gives us a MUCH clearer picture of what we can expect to see.

    Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies — Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) — amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens.


    When a killer targets Gotham’s elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World’s Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz), Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin (Colin Farrell), Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler (Paul Dano). As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

    It’s nice to see Matt Reeves‘ film will stress the detective side of Batman, something that’s really been neglected in the recent films in order to shine a light on the physicality of the character. Christian Bale’s turn in the cowl focused on the character’s training as a ninja while Ben Affleck’s version seemed to really be into lifting heavy things. Reeves, it seems, is choosing to challenge the Dark Knight in a little different way by running him up against the Riddler, though the rumors persist that several other members of Batman’s rogues gallery that might provide a little bit more of a physical threat will be teased or appear.

    We know DC has great faith in Reeves’ vision, having already allowed him to continue to build this world out in TV series, now it’s just a little bit longer of a wait for fans to see how he’s delivered in his new take on the hero. The Batman is scheduled to debut in theaters on March 4th, 2022.

  • RUMOR: ‘The Batman’ Eyeing a Similar Runtime to ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

    RUMOR: ‘The Batman’ Eyeing a Similar Runtime to ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

    It’s been a long road for Batman fans, as the project has hit multiple delays due the ongoing pandemic that’s made it difficult for Hollywood to keep their machine running. The project has seen three delays but seems to finally have found its footing with the current release date of March 4th, 2022. As it is nearing, director Matt Reeves is adding the finishing touches. So, they’ve reached the next step and it looks like the potential runtime may have found its way online.

    The Batman reportedly had a new screen test in which fans were treated to the most recent cut of the film, and while things are definitely susceptible to change, it seems the current runtime will surely excite fans. The reported runtime of the film is currently around two hours and forty-five minutes, making it one of the longest Batman films alongside The Dark Knight Rises. With test screenings anything can change with quite a few more months ahead. The rumored runtime comes from @ViewerAnon.

    https://twitter.com/ViewerAnon/status/1461223963074252803?s=20

    If the film sticks with the nearly three hour runtime, than it would make it longer than The Dark Knight‘s 2 hours and 32 minutes, but closer to The Dark Knight Rises‘ 2 hours and 45 minutes. The film could be very different from previous adaptions of the character, with directed Matt Reeves more interested in tackling the detective side of Batman. The film will see Batman up against Gotham’s criminal underworld as the Riddler tears through the city to uproot and expose its corruption. If this runtime says anything it’s that we’re going to be seeing Batman truly digging deep and actually acting as “The Worlds Greatest Detective”.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Batgirl’ Adds ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Cinematographer John Mathieson

    ‘Batgirl’ Adds ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Cinematographer John Mathieson

    Barbara Gordon is set to make her DC extended universe debut after quite a bit of time in development hell. The film looks to be taking inspiration from Batgirl: Year One as well as the Batgirl of Burnside storyline. The HBO Max original movie landed the directing duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who most recently worked on the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel. It seems the films added yet another Marvel Studios veteran to its crew, with Arbi announcing the projects found has found its cinematographer.

    In one of his Instagram stories, he announced that John Mathieson, whose previous works include Gladiator, Logan, and Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness has joined their film’s production. This is an interesting development considering the Doctor Strange sequel is currently slated to begin reshoots in the coming weeks that are considered to be quite extensive and time-consuming. So, joining Batgirl might imply that once Doctor Strange wraps up, he’ll join the DC project shortly after.

    Plot details on the film are still being kept under wraps as the DCEU continues its expansion. The film is set to be one of the first projects that will air exclusively on the HBO Max streaming service. It’ll also be joined by a project focused on Blue Beetle. Plot details and a release date for the film are still unknown as the film is set to start production in Glasgow. Batgirl is set to star Leslie Grace as the titular hero alongside Jacob Scipio, J.K. Simmons reprising his role as Commissioner Gordon and Brendan Fraser as Firefly.

    SOURCE: Instagram

  • REPORT: ‘Blue Beetle’ Eyeing Early 2022 Production Start

    REPORT: ‘Blue Beetle’ Eyeing Early 2022 Production Start

    The DC Expanded Universe continues to expand as it plots more and more films like Batgirl, Zatanna, and even Blue Beetle. The latter will follow Jaime Reyes, the third, most recent, and most popular character to wield the mantle of Blue Beetle. Jaime is set to be played by the Cobra Kai‘s Xolo Maridueña, perfect casting for what’s surely shaping up to be many peoples most anticipated comic book films.

    Not much is known about the project, as it’s yet to add any other talent to its cast. It seems like that could be changing very soon as it seems production on the film could begin in the first quarter of 2022. A new Production Weekly listing has the film set to begin filming in Georgia sometime early next year. Usually these types of dates from production weekly are taken with a grain of salt, but director Angel Manuel Soto has added some fuel to the fire by retweeting the news on his Twitter account.

    There’s always a chance this production start date may change, but it seems Soto is anticipating an early 2022 start date if he also openly retweets it. The film will release as an HBO Max Original film but currently has no release date. The film is one of many upcoming DCEU films set to debut on the streaming platform in an interesting move to expand its shared DC universe from WB.

    Jaime Reyes is the first Blue Beetle to actually don the scarab and wears the exoskeleton armor created by the Reach. It’ll be interesting to see how the film honors the past Beetles as it seems Ted Kord is poised to play a larger role in the film based on the concept art we saw at DC Fandome.

    Source: Twitter

  • New ‘The Batman’ Promo Pays Tribute to ‘Batman: The Animated Series’

    New ‘The Batman’ Promo Pays Tribute to ‘Batman: The Animated Series’

    It looks like a new visual has found its way online promoting the upcoming adaptation of The Batman. Matt Reeves will tackle a new interpretation of the Caped Crusader with Robert Pattinson taking on the daunting task of playing the titular character. We just recently got a second trailer during this year’s DC FAnDome event, as we prepare for its release next March. To tie us over, it seems some promotional material has found its way online that pays tribute to one of the most beloved interpretations to the character, Batman: The Animated Series. The visual comes courtesy of Twitter user @DCverso1.

    https://twitter.com/dcverso1/status/1457498003745517571?s=21

    It’s hard to deny the visual similarity with Batman holding up his cape in a similar fashion to that of the original. The 90s animated series was the introduction for many to the character and revolutionized the way we looked at animated projects aimed at kids. Its exploration of adult themes with episodes like “Heart of Ice” or “Baby-Doll” made it stand out from its contemporaries. So, a tribute to the series isn’t too surprising.

    The Batman has generally had a very different marketing push from the series that came before. While Christopher Nolan grounded the character in the real world, Matt Reeves seems to be taking a bite out of the different corners of the character’s history. So, instead of being tied to a specific interpretation, he can pay tribute to the many elements that defined the character over the years. Perhaps, we’ll get other visuals paying tribute to the various versions of Batman in the future.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Black Adam’ Producer Teases Future Plans for New Franchise

    ‘Black Adam’ Producer Teases Future Plans for New Franchise

    Dwayne Johnson is about to change the heroic landscape with his arrival as Black Adam. The first teaser finally dropped during DC FanDome, and it included a few teases of the film’s version of the Justice Society of America. It looks like they might also have some plans, as Johnson’s partner and one of the film’s producers Hiram Garcia offered some insight into what their plan is going into the project. In an interview with Variety, he shared the following:

    When we do something like this, we’re looking at the entire DC Universe as a whole because with our movie, not only do we introduce Black Adam, but we introduce several characters. We have great ambitions and plans for what we want to do in the DC Universe, and we’re starting to work on that now as we start to roll out that plan.

    Hiram Garcia

    He also jokingly talked bout how they want to see Gal Gadot‘s Wonder Woman face off against Black Adam, as Garcia believes she’s the only superhero that can go “toe-to-toe” with the fallen warrior of Shazam. They certainly would make for an interesting match-up, especially given their long history. They’ve teased Black Adam as more of an anti-hero.

    So, while the initial teaser showed him mercilessly killing a random soldier, we might get to learn about his softer side throughout the story. Diana is not just a warrior but also has the ability to find the good in people. So, it might turn into a battle of wits as much as it will be of brawn.

    Source: Variety via ComicBook