Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: DC

  • First Look at HBO Max’s ‘Aquaman: King of Atlantis’ Revealed

    First Look at HBO Max’s ‘Aquaman: King of Atlantis’ Revealed

    In January of 2020, before the world descended into madness, HBO Max revealed a new original was in the works for the service titled Aquaman: King of Atlantis. The series will follow the new king of Atlantis, Arthur Curry, as he starts his reign of the underwater civilization. Aquaman is joined by his friends Mera and Vulko. They are there to help him learn the Atlantean ways so that he’ll become the best king he can be. He tries his best to gain the love and trust of his people. He will also have to face his evil half-brother, evil elders, and surface dwellers. After a long wait, a trailer for Cartoon Network’s rebranding gave us our first official look at the upcoming series.

    We got our first look at the upcoming series, with no release date and no voice cast, its interesting to see that production on the series seems to have already ramped up. The short snippet gives us our first look at Aquaman and Mera, as the two seem ready for combat. The animation seems to be incredibly similar to Thundercats ROAR!, a CalArts-style reboot on the classic feline warriors from the ’80s.

     

     

    The image is taken

    https://twitter.com/awschedules/status/1362108932219543553?s=21

    The series currently has no release date but is set to release exclusively on HBO Max. It is unclear if Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, or Willem Dafoe will be reprising their roles from the film since it’s supposed to serve as a follow-up. The only real concrete creative information known is that James Wan is involved and s serving as executive producer. Hopefully, we will get a full trailer with more cast details soon to get a feeling for which direction the show is heading and how it may tie into the overarching DC Extended Universe.

    Source: Deadline, Twitter

  • ‘The Old Guard’s Marwan Kenzari Confirmed for ‘Black Adam’

    ‘The Old Guard’s Marwan Kenzari Confirmed for ‘Black Adam’

    While Black Adam may have gotten removed from the studio’s release slate, nothing seems to be slowing down its production. Recently, news on the film has been scarce, as many fans were waiting on the edges of their seats to hear who else will join the film. It seems the most recent update is confirming a report we’ve known a few months back on the film’s villain. Hollywood Reporter has confirmed Illuminerdi’s story from October that Marwan Kenzari is joining the production.

    While the official report states that Kenzari‘s role is still under wraps, we knew from just a few months ago that the studio was eyeing the actor to play Sabbac. He will be the main antagonist in the film’s ongoing story. The villain had three different comic iterations over the years, but the film will focus on Ishmael Gregor. He is the most well-known identity of Sabbac for those that read his short run. He was a Russian immigrant who made his way to New York, where he becomes a mob boss. Ishmael initiates a demonic ritual in which he sacrifices innocent people to gain the powers of the demon. His name is an acronym for Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis, the beings that give him his powers. This naming is quite similar to how Shazam’s name in the comic derives from six immortal elders. Those were Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

    Black Adam currently has no set release date. Jaume Collet-Serra is directing the film, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star as the titular character. Aldis Hodge, Sarah Shahi, Noah Centineo, and Quintessa Swindell will round out the cast. We are still waiting on the casting for Doctor Fate.

    Source: Illuminerdi, Hollywood Reporter

  • Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ and Richard Donner’s ‘Superman’s Return Through Comic Sequels

    Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ and Richard Donner’s ‘Superman’s Return Through Comic Sequels

    The worlds of Tim Burton‘s Batman and Richard Donner‘s Superman will finally continue. They are receiving sequels in the form of comic books this summer. DC Comics announced that they are adapting the universes that started the comic book movie craze in two separate series, Batman ’89 and Superman ’78. They will play out throughout six digital issues. The first installments will drop on July 27th and will continue to release weekly. The books are similar to the continuations of television classic with Wonder Woman ’77 and Batman ’66 from a few years ago. It’s a move by DC that is sure to make fans excited, as both film franchises ended on sour notes.

    Batman ’89 will be written by screenwriter Sam Hamm, who wrote the scripts for both Tim Burton‘s Batman films. Joe Quinones, of Dial H for Hero fame, will take over the art and help Hamm pick up the gothic adventures of Michael Keaton‘s Bruce Wayne right where they left off at the end of Returns. The series promises to tie up several loose threads left open by Tim Burton, including the return of Michelle Pfieffer‘s take on Catwoman and the debut of a new Robin, who potentially is based on Damon Wayans unrealized version of the character. Quinones is also creating a universe-accurate Two-Face, once intended to be played by Billy Dee Williams, that is “as close to movie magic as a comic can get”.

    Superman ’78 will feature art by Wilfredo Torres, who previously worked on Batman ’66, and a story from Robert Venditti, who has operated in the world of DC before with a run on Hawkman. Set within the universe that made Christopher Reeves an icon, the book will tell stories that prove to fans that a man can truly fly. The timeline of the series is a little vaguer. The announcement did reveal that we will see a Lois Lane who does not yet know Clark Kent and Superman are the same. Plot details are also a little less ample. We may see classic Superman villains and other characters that didn’t get adapted in the film that would reflect Donner‘s vision.

    The creative team took to Twitter and share some of the artwork for the upcoming projects, which truly show that these designs will forever be iconic:

    https://twitter.com/joe_quinones/status/1361771925777887232?s=21

    https://twitter.com/mightyfineline/status/1361787931002830850

     

    Source: Nerdist, Twitter (DC Nation), Twitter (Batman), Twitter (Superman)

  • RUMOR: HBO Max Seeking a Riz Ahmed Type for ‘Constantine’s Titular Role

    RUMOR: HBO Max Seeking a Riz Ahmed Type for ‘Constantine’s Titular Role

    It looks like HBO Max has some grand plans for its DC line-up. They took over the series that started on the original DC Universe streaming service, such as Doom Patrol and Titans. Now, they will expand their DC catalog. We are about to get next month’s Zack Snyder: Justice League release, and a Green Lantern Corps series is in active development. They are working on another brand new series that will explore the darker side of the DC Multiverse. Last September, it was revealed that shows focused on Zatanna and Constantine are in development. HBO Max is developing them alongside J.J. Abrams‘ Bad Robot Productions. Illuminerdi learned a few details on the Constantine show. They state it will be different from previous incarnations, as it will be more horror-focused. That is not all, as it seems casting has already started.

    They are switching it up with their casting, as they are looking for a BIPOC actor in his late 20s. The description hints at them looking for a Riz Ahmed type in the titular role. Keep in mind, it doesn’t mean they are casting the actor but looking for someone who fits his description. It certainly sounds like they want to mix up the casting to distinguish it from Matt Ryan‘s run with the character. Guy Bolton will write up the horror story. It is a great angle to take, as they could use this chance to connect it to DC Universe’s canceled 2019’s Swamp Thing show. As they point out, previous incarnations were more focused on the religious angle of the character. It is still a defining trait of his characterization. So, it might play just take a backseat in the series. I am excited to see where they could potentially take this storyline and can’t wait to see who nabs the iconic anti-hero role for the series.

    Source: Movieweb, Illuminerdi

  • HBO Max’s ‘Peacemaker’ Adds Alison Araya and Lenny Jacobson

    HBO Max’s ‘Peacemaker’ Adds Alison Araya and Lenny Jacobson

    Hot off the production of The Suicide Squad, James Gunn got right to work and began writing a series based around Peacemaker. The series would reportedly follow the origin of the character following his debut in the upcoming film. John Cena will reprise the role. Christopher Smith is a man who seeks peace no matter what the cost is. Not much else is known about the series’ story so far, but we did get some early casting announcements. The inclusion of Vigilante is hinting at a Janus Directive-inspired story. Shortly after, we got the casting announcement for Judomaster, whose origins are tied to Charlton comics, where Peacemaker made his debut.

    It looks like they are still rounding out their cast. Variety has revealed that actors Alison Araya and Lenny Jacobson have joined the project in recurring series roles. They only that they will play Amber and Evan, a married couple in the series. Interestingly enough, this isn’t Araya‘s first step into the DC Universe, having played two characters on Arrow.

    Peacemaker is currently set for a January 2022 release exclusively on HBO Max. The project will be written by Gunn, who will direct multiple episodes of the upcoming series. The series cast includes John Cena, Steve Agee, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, Chris Conrad, Nhut Lee, and Annie Chang. It is Gunn’s last project before he starts work on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Hopefully, this spin-off’s success could lead to more stories inspired by characters from The Suicide Squad.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘JUSTICE LEAGUE’: Zack Snyder’s Unusual Shot Composition May End up Being the Right Choice

    ‘JUSTICE LEAGUE’: Zack Snyder’s Unusual Shot Composition May End up Being the Right Choice

    By now most of us are already familiar with what an IMAX movie screen provides to the cinematic experience. These screens are much bigger than usual ones, with an aspect ratio that brings them closer to the 4:3 ratio found in old CRT televisions, moving away from the wider ratios cinemas became accustomed to. Over the years with the advancing IMAX technology, IMAX cameras became both smaller and cheaper allowing directors to use them more often, up to the point where we got entire feature films where only such cameras were used.

    But the main thing with the format isn’t the aspect ratio, it’s the size of the frame/screen itself. The point was to allow for an image of such size that, aided by the steeper angle in which the seats are arranged, the audience would undergo a much more immersive experience as its field of view would be completely occupied by the image being projected. But this would also mean that, as audiences wouldn’t be able to properly keep up with the entirety of the screen, the edges (and especially the upper and lower ones) shouldn’t contain crucial information to the scene as it could end up being lost to the viewer. This way, when framing a shot, one should take all of this into consideration to allow for the best possible viewing experience, and not having to ask the audience to keep tracking a screen so big in its entirety in search of vital story details.

    Snyder explaining how he’s composed shots to go beyond the usual boundaries.

    But Zack Snyder, while using such a tall aspect ratio, had a different approach when composing Justice League shots. He decided to use every square inch of the frame to tell his story, including placing crucial information to the story both front and center as well as in the edges of the frame. If this was to be a regular theatrical release one might argue that this would be an ill-usage of the IMAX format, as having such an action-packed movie asking the viewers to keep up with so much information, on such a large screen, might prove too much. But the circumstances dictated that Snyder’s cut would end up being released through HBO Max, and audiences will now have to experience the feature film in their own homes, through their TVs. This means that the screen size has been considerably downgraded, and having information scattered throughout its entirety suddenly becomes a non-issue. In fact, it might even add to the experience since, by using both the upper and lower edges of the screen to their full potential, you are now reaching the home-theater audiences in a much more engaging way. If the shot composition was less on the unusual side, when adapting the material to the small screen you could always, as many do, cut the image without leaving out important material to the story, but that would mean that, in this case, people wouldn’t get to enjoy the shots to their fullest since there was no usual theatrical run to go with the home media release.

    This way, a creative choice that seemed to deviate from the norm (and not in the best way), might end up proving itself as the right decision as, a little over a month from now, audiences sit on their couches to enjoy Snyder’s definitive take on his Justice League project.

     

     

    Source: Justice Con / Youtube 

  • First Official ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Trailer Teases the Coming of Apokolips

    First Official ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Trailer Teases the Coming of Apokolips

    Yes, it has been a long wait but the official full trailer for Zack Snyder’s Justice League has finally dropped. As one might suspect, it gives us a good look at the many elements that didn’t make it into the original 2017 release of the film. We get a good look at Darkseid, the new design for Steppenwolf, and so much more. The age of heroes has returned with the brand new trailer that is sure to make a lot of people happy that are highly anticipating our first real look at Snyder‘s original vision of the film.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM-Bja2Gy04

     

    The trailer offers a lot of the sequences that have been teased ever since it was officially revealed. We get a closer look at our favorite heroes and Superman’s new black suit. It will be interesting to see how different the film will be once it officially releases on HBO MAx next March. Surprisingly, there is no showcase of Martian Manhunter, who has been revealed to be in the film some time ago. So, there is a chance there are still quite a few secrets that Snyder is keeping close to the chest for once it officially releases. At least, we got our first look at the SWAT uniform version of Jared Leto‘s Joker. We only have to wait for a little over a month until it finally is released, so you can be sure we will be checking it out once the Snyder Cut is finally released to the world. Let’s see what the future may hold for the DCEU as it continues to expand and explore new ventures.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • ‘Wonder Girl’ No Longer In Development at The CW

    ‘Wonder Girl’ No Longer In Development at The CW

    We recently reported on CW moving forward with a pilot order for a live-action adaptation of Powerpuff Girls. It also included the official order for DC’s Naomi which will be produced by Ava DuVarney and former Arrow executive producer Jill Blankenship. There was one show that was surprisingly missing in the pilot orders. A few months ago, it was announced that a new series based on Wonder Girl was being developed focused on Yara Flor, who was a brand new character that only recently joined DC in their Future State event. It looks like we found out why it was missing, as Dailyn Rodriguez took to Twitter and announced that they passed on the project.

    https://twitter.com/dailynrod/status/1360324356354629633?s=21

    It is a shame that they aren’t moving forward with their first Latino superhero series. I do wonder if this would’ve been set in the Arrowverse’s future. It would’ve been an interesting way to expand the cast with iconic DC characters while also giving the show a bit more freedom. Hopefully, the world that Rodriguez teases gets another chance at HBO Max. Perhaps the streaming service could offer her the budget to create a live-action Future State adaptation that would make it stand out among other DC shows. CW has become more selective in which shows are moving forward, as various veteran shows like Black Lightning and Supergirl are ending. They even skipped on a sequel series to the show that started it all, as Green Arrow and the Canaries was passed on. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Arrowverse continues in the coming years.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Look at Granny Goodness in Latest ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Teaser

    First Look at Granny Goodness in Latest ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ Teaser

    The build-up to Zack Snyder’s Justice League has been monumental. For a while now, Snyder has been teasing the inclusion of Darkseid in his film. At one point, the character got cut from the theatrical cut of the film aside from a few name drops from Parademon grunts. We got our first look at the lord of Apokolips back at DC Fandome, and from there, fans weren’t sure just how much we would see of the character, as his uncle Steppenwolf remains the primary foe of the film. Now that the countdown has begun, it makes us wonder if we get more teases of how much of the New Gods we can expect. Snyder has dropped short teasers every day to build up to its release. It seems fans are about to get a lot more than they bargained for, as the newest teaser provides a much better look at Darkseid alongside his closest and trusted confidants.

    The short teaser offered us our first possible look at a classic New God that’s commanded the legions of Parademons and Female Furies since their very inception. In a short glimpse at what looks to be a throne room on the planet of Apokolips, we see an armor-clad Darkseid joined by Desaad. Now, the big surprise is on his other side, as it confirms the first live-action appearance of Granny Goodness. It makes sense for Darkseid to keep her close by, especially during times of war. She was the one that trains and commands his army, so she is a powerful ally to have. It looks like the film is set to feature much more of the New Gods than previously seen before. Zack Snyder’s Justice League starts streaming on March 18th exclusively on HBO Max. 

    Source: Twitter, Vero

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Reportedly Set for Early 2022 Release

    ‘Peacemaker’ Reportedly Set for Early 2022 Release

    Hot off the production of The Suicide Squad, James Gunn got right to work once more and began writing and developing a series based around John Cena’s Peacemaker. The series would reportedly follow the origin of the character following his debut in the upcoming film. The series will see Cena reprise the role of Christopher Smith, the man who seeks to achieve peace no matter the cost. Not much else is known about the series aside from it being a prequel and the involvement of Vigilante, possibly hinting at a Janus Directive Inspiration, but now it seems we may just know when we’ll be getting a whole lot more Peacemaker.

    During an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, HBO and HBO Max content chief Casey Bloys confirmed that Peacemaker was one of the first DC projects that he greenlit as well as confirming that the series is set to be released in January of 2022. The series has just begun filming and is still adding members to its cast, with them quite recently casting Nhut Lee as the classic Charlton comics character of JudoMaster. Bloys’ full statement from the interview can be seen below and offers some insight into how they’ve begun to shape the DC universe moving forward at WarnerMedia.

    I just started to get involved with the DC content in August. Peacemaker is one of the first shows I greenlit and one of the first shows coming out, in January 2022. It’s a great example of what HBO Max can do with DC content in that we’re producing at al level we haven’t seen DC content on TV do thus far. It’s been one of [WarnerMedia CEO] Ann Sarnoff’s priorities to organize the DC world for exactly what you’re talking about — to make sure that the universe is logical and makes sense. She talks about the flywheel: that the movies speak to the TV shows that speak to the movies — that it’s all connected. There’s a lot of work going on in that at DC and Warner Bros. That is very much something that Ann has made a priority and the company is doing. It’s one of the things in terms of WarnerMedia today vs. Time Warner five years ago, I have regular conversations now with [Warner Bros. film chief] Toby Emmerich and [DC content chief] Jim Lee and we talk about all things in way that never would have been discussed before. That’s probably how you got a little DC over here, a little of DC over there, etc. The idea going forward is that we’re talking with one voice about the DC universe. It’s a really valuable world to have and we want to make sure we’re using it correctly.

    It’ll be interesting to see how Peacemaker helps to bring order to the chaotic DC Universe.

    SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter