Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: DC Movies

  • ‘The Flash’ Had 3 Endings Throughout the Production

    ‘The Flash’ Had 3 Endings Throughout the Production

    The Flash has had a troubled production for so long that it’s hard to think that even up to its release there wasn’t any chaos behind the scenes. Not only was the film handed over from director to director, Ezra Miller started to gather troubling news as time went on just as the film finally was about to start promotion. Plus, Warner Bros. Discovery decided to change things up with its initial leadership kicked out of the company. Then, they decided to restart a brand new universe with James Gunn and Peter Safran heading the new DC Studios.

    As it turns out, every leadership change also ended up changing the final version of The Flash. In a new report by Hollywood Reporter, it seems that the film had around three different sequences that seemingly got chopped up. We won’t spoil the one that is currently being showcased in the final version of the film, especially as it just released but we’ll take a look at the previous two versions.

    Still, only continue at your own risk if you want to remain completely spoiler-free on watching The Flash in theaters.

    The initial ending seemingly had a sequence of only Sasha Calle’s Supergirl and Michael Keaton’s Batman at the courthouse. It actually matches some of the leaked set photos that we saw of both of them at a set that would match a courthouse. Though, it seems when the initial DC heads left, they kept Calle and Keaton in the sequence but added two more cameos. Originally, Henry Cavill’s Superman and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman were going to appear.

    That version has also been cut due to the new leadership of DC Studios, who were worried that keeping those cameos would end up confusing viewers going into the “new” DC Cinematic Universe. As such, the current version in theaters was filmed around six months ago and added to the project. This move is also when they decided not to move forward with Cavill’s Superman movie and why Wonder Woman 3 was no longer moving forward.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • CONFIRMED: ‘The Flash’ Director to Tackle DCU’s New Batman

    CONFIRMED: ‘The Flash’ Director to Tackle DCU’s New Batman

    The Flash has had a rough development cycle throughout the last few years, but it still managed to put Andy Muschietti on Warner Bros. Discovery’s radar as someone that can tackle a good slew of projects. As first reported by One Take News, he has seemingly also nabbed the job to direct the new DC Cinematic Universe’s Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold inspired by the iconic comic storyline of the same name.

    DC Studios presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran shared the following statement on adding him to their new slew of directors.

    We saw The Flash even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan. It’s a magnificent film – funny, emotional, thrilling – and Andy’s affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They’re an extraordinary team, and we couldn’t have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU .

    James Gunn and Peter Safran

    There currently is no writer attached, but that isn’t too surprising given that the WGA strike is still going on. Interestingly enough, Christina Hodson was at one point attached but decided to tackle the eleventh Fast and Furious film. For now, they may have attached a director but it seems unlikely that they’ll get the project moving until the writer’s strike wraps up.

    Source: One Take News, The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘The Flash’ Losing Momentum as ‘Elemental’ Fizzles Out on Opening Weekend

    ‘The Flash’ Losing Momentum as ‘Elemental’ Fizzles Out on Opening Weekend

    It’s not looking too good for Warner Bros. Discovery’s ambitious direction with The Flash. They were all-in by not even promoting most of their DC line-up ahead of the DC Cinematic Universe revival. all their chips were set in the film that was mired with controversies due to its leading star, Ezra Miller, being caught in a slew of criminal acts. Now, the film has finally been released after a nine-year-long production hell and sadly, it’s not keeping up with what CEO David Zaslav may have hoped for.

    After a decent take of $9.7M in previews, the film opened to around $24.5M on Friday, which includes those previews. While the film is very likely still take the top spot, it doesn’t seem like the film might hit the hoped $85M over the weekend. It’s heading towards a similar opening to 2022’s Black Adam and 2018’s Aquaman. Though the latter had the holiday season to rack up more at the box office than the former.

    The film went all-in with a multiverse storyline, nostalgia bait with Michael Keaton back as Batman after 31 years, and Snyderverse callbacks like the return of Michael Shannon’s Zod. Most of the promotion mostly ignored Miller and primarily used the rest of its cast to promote the team. Yet, the big issue is the B CinemaScore, which puts it lower than Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

    Audiences have become quite a bit pickier in their cinematic flair. So, just doing the usual won’t keep you strong at the box office. Even Marvel isn’t safe as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania pulled in a similar CinemaScore but seems to have a bigger life once it hit streaming. After training audiences that release windows are quite a bit shorter, they are willing (especially families) to wait it out if there’s not something that keeps them coming back.

    Deadline believes the film is heading to a likely $60M 3-day opening, which is even further away from the lower expectations the films had. It could use the Juneteenth holiday to grow to $70M over 4 days but that is even lower than what an Ant-Man film managed in its opening weekend earlier this year. Perhaps billing this film as “the greatest superhero movie ever made” has greatly backfired with the film having a low PostTrak exit of only 59% recommendation.

    That isn’t the only depressing news, as Elemental isn’t looking much better either. It’s likely not going to open above $30M, as it currently is projected to hit $28.5M over three days. It likely not even outpace Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse going into its third weekend. Estimates did, however, expect an opening around that size. It did get an A CinemaScore and people seem to love it. So, perhaps it can make up for it in upcoming weekends similar to some of Pixar’s earliest releases.

    Surprisingly, it seems that this weekend is generally not a good one for cinemas. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts has dropped considerably in its third weekend, as it currently stands to drop 68%, which could rival any of the biggest superhero drops throughout the last few years. It is ahead of Transformers: The Last Knight slightly, but it’s unclear if it might even break $130M in cinemas.

    Source: Variety, Deadline, The Wrap

  • ‘The Flash’ Director on How He Approached DC Film’s VFX

    ‘The Flash’ Director on How He Approached DC Film’s VFX

    The Flash has just hit theaters this week after a long wait. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav hailed it as the best superhero film he’s ever seen. They had a variety of big names like Tom Cruise and Stephen King openly sharing their love for the film. Yet, it still has hit a rather surprising mixed reception from the internet with the VFX becoming a hot topic online.

    In an interview with Gizmodo, director Andy Muschietti had a chance to discuss his approach to establishing a unique view from someone that is moving at a speed that would distort light and texture. While one can discuss if he managed to do what he was aiming for, it definitely stirred some discussions online.

    The idea, of course, is…we are in the perspective of the Flash. Everything is distorted in terms of lights and textures.

    Andy Muschietti

    There’s been a big discussion point surrounding VFX for quite some time, especially when it came to some of the latest Marvel Studios releases. People have nitpicked quite a few films based on one or two sequences as a standard of quality for an entire production. So, some may have very different experiences with these projects and there are some VFXs that may be perceived as “bad” as a result of how one can perceive effects. Either way, it seems this discussion point isn’t going away anytime soon.

    Source: Gizmodo

  • DC Studios CEO Confirms Blue Beetle as First Character of the New DCU

    DC Studios CEO Confirms Blue Beetle as First Character of the New DCU

    The DC Cinematic Universe is about to be reborn and it’s going to be quite a messy transition. James Gunn is taking on a rather challenging movie franchise, as he’s set to not only end what Zack Snyder started but also start his own take on the iconic comic universe. The only challenge is that he still carries over some of the old projects.

    So, the question remains what exactly will be the new beginning for this franchise? While taking part in the Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, he revealed that while Superman Legacy will be the first true DCU film, Blue Beetle is the first DCU character; hinting at Jamie Reyes’ future in the franchise.

    I mean the first DCU character, for sure, is Blue Beetle, and the first full DCU movie is Superman.

    James Gunn

    It’s definitely interesting and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. As perhaps Reyes ends up being transported into the DCU as part of The Flash’s consequences across the multiverse. Of course, it could also be something we’re not even considering as there’s always something that is adapted shortly before the release.

    You can watch the full interview with James Gunn here:

    Source: The Wrap via YouTube

  • James Gunn and DC Studios Closing in On New Superman & Lois

    James Gunn and DC Studios Closing in On New Superman & Lois

    Superman Legacy is James Gunn’s biggest project yet. Not only is it him tackling a new superhero but it’s also his proof of concept that the DC Cinematic Universe with his leadership will prosper in this new era. So, there’s a lot riding on finding the right person to play the iconic superhero that was previously played by Henry Cavill in the Snyderverse. According to Deadline, it seems that the first in-person meetings are set to take place, interestingly enough, on Father’s Day.

    DC Studios’ CEOs Peter Safran and James Gunn are spearheading the auditionings. So far, it seems Nicholas Hoult, Tom Brittney, and David Corenswet are going to audition for the role. They are also testing for Lois Lane; likely to ensure they can test out the tension between the acting duos as well given how integral their relationships are. Currently, Phoebe Dynevor, Emma Mackey, and Rachel Brosnahan are set to test for the role.

    It’ll be interesting to see what they are looking for, as many still wonder what exactly a Superman film will be by Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad director James Gunn. He definitely has proven his love for the comics and understanding of these universes, but there’s always the question of if he’ll use his iconic style of humor or might try to be a bit more subdued to focus on the messaging he has teased.

    Source: Deadline

  • Becky G Joins ‘Blue Beetle’ as the Scarab’s AI

    Becky G Joins ‘Blue Beetle’ as the Scarab’s AI

    Blue Beetle is the only HBO Max original DC film that managed to survive Warner Bros. Discovery’s purge. While Batgirl might sadly never see the light of day, we’ll get to explore the story of Jaime Reyes who ends up having an extraterrestrial bug attached to his back. While we still have some time before the film releases as all eyes are on The Flash, it seems a major casting has been revealed.

    Ángel Manuel Soto’s film will seemingly integrate some familiar elements from other tech-based superheroes as the alien Scarab will have a voice. And it seems the one to voice the being is nonother than Rebbeca Marie Gomez, better known as the singer Becky G. She’ll be joining Xolo Mariduena, who played Jaime, in his unlikely adventure of becoming a new hero.

    The entity she voices will be named Khaji-Da and we already got a tease of her voice in a teaser that has found its way online, as shared by @bluebeetlenews on Twitter. It seems they are adding some more distortions to her voice but it’s definitely strongly inspired by the AI voices we’ve seen with Iron Man and Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’ll be interesting to see how they try to make this dynamic stand out.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘It’, ‘The Flash’ Director Andy Muschetti Reportedly Set to Helm a New DC Studios Film

    ‘It’, ‘The Flash’ Director Andy Muschetti Reportedly Set to Helm a New DC Studios Film

    While the old DCEU begins to flame out, James Gunn and Peter Safran look to be grabbing one of its hottest embers to start the fire of their new DCU. One Take News is reporting that The Flash director Andy Muschetti has agreed to direct DC Studios’ upcoming film, The Brave and the Bold.

    The report comes on the heels of earlier rumors that Gunn would look to find a way to retain Muschetti as the transition from the Snyderverse era continues. Described by Gunn as a “a very strange sort of father-son story,” The Brave and the Bold will introduce the DCU’s new Batman alongside his son, Damian, and will also “feature other members of the extended Bat-Family just because we feel like they’ve been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long.”

    Muschetti, who recently refused to comment on the rumors saying only “I don’t think I can talk to that yet,” became a hot commodity after turning in two stellar films as an adaptation of Stephen King‘s It. As a follow up, he is currently filming the Max streaming project and It prequel, Welcome to Derry. According to OTN, The Brave and the Bold is currently without a script or release date.

    Source: OTN

  • A New Name Joins the List of Actors Up for the Role of Kal-El in ‘Superman: Legacy’

    A New Name Joins the List of Actors Up for the Role of Kal-El in ‘Superman: Legacy’

    With production on James Gunn‘s Superman: Legacy tentatively slated to get underway in January 2024, the search for the actors and actresses who will fill the film’s key roles is well underway. In May, a list of potential frontrunners for the roles of Superman, Lois Lane and Lex Luthor emerged and while that list was stocked with talent, there’s been no official word of anyone landing a spot just yet. Now, a new report from Variety indicates that Gunn may still be looking for his Superman and that a new name has joined his list of candidates.

    The trade is reporting that model and actor Pierson Fodé, best known for a 280-episode run on The Bold and the Beautiful, may have caught Gunn’s eye and be among those up for the role of Kal-El. Fodé‘s self-taped audition included a “montage” of the small-town farm in Montana on which the actor grew up and it apparently gave off some Clark Kent/Smallville vibes that Gunn reportedly enjoyed.

    Landing what must be one of the most coveted leading roles in Hollywood would be a major step up the ladder for Fodé whose biggest film credits include a supporting role in Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart‘s Netflix original The Man from Toronto. Variety reported that no decisions have been made and that everyone’s reps declined comment. Superman: Legacy is currently set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘The Flash’ Director Won’t Recast Ezra Miller in Possible Sequel

    ‘The Flash’ Director Won’t Recast Ezra Miller in Possible Sequel

    The hype surrounding The Flash is a troubled one. While the film has been in development hell for quite some time, Andy Muschietti is finally going to reveal it to the world in just a few more weeks. Yet, the discussion surrounding its leading star, Ezra Miller, has left some questioning his future as the iconic hero.

    In 2020, the actor made headlines due to choking a woman before it started going to new questionable levels in 2022. Miller was stated to be in treatment for “complex mental health issues” and is completely absent from the film’s promotional run. Yet, Muschietti believes that they are the only one right to play Barry Allen.

    If [a sequel] happens, yes. I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys — it feels like a character that was made for them.

    Andy Muschietti

    His wife and co-producer, Barbara Muschietti, also highlights Miller’s role during filming and highlighting that he was “the most committed” actor on set to bring the different variations of Barry to life.

    In principal photography, Ezra was brilliant and the most committed and the most professional [actor]. Ezra gave everything for this role — physically, creatively, emotionally. They were absolutely supreme.

    Barbara Muschietti

    It’s hard to say what people will take away from the film and if Miller will still stick around once the new era of the DC Cinematic Universe kicks off under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s management. Warner Bros. Discovery has put all its money into this film’s box office and we’ll see if it’ll manage to do just that once it finally releases next month.

    Source: Variety