Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Disney Plus

  • Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox is back as Daredevil and he’s ready to make a few improvements. The actor made his big return to the role of lawyer Matt Murdock in last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, before putting on the vigilante suit and seeing a little more screen time in Disney+’s latest series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. When fans finally saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Murdock take action, however, it looked a little different than the last time he appeared on Netflix. In She-Hulk, Daredevil was made to be a bit more acrobatic than he was in his own show, with additional CGI being used to more accurately reflect his comic book abilities. In a new interview with GQ, Cox revealed his hopes that this use of CGI continues in his next solo outing, Daredevil: Born Again.

    When asked about what he hoped to accomplish on Disney+ that he wasn’t able to do on Netflix, the former Stardust star gave the following answer:

    I guess what I would say is: hopefully, on the Disney+ show, Born Again, we will be able to use—and I hope that we do it sparingly, I believe it should be used sparingly—but we’ll hopefully be able to use a tiny bit more CGI in the action sequences. Just to emphasize his gymnastic abilities that have been basically impossible to do.

    Charlie Cox

    Marvel’s Netflix shows were known for their lower-budget feel, often resulting in the use of more practical action choreography that limited what Cox could do as the famously spry superhero. Of course, this doesn’t mean those fight scenes weren’t extremely well-done. Just that with a little added CGI, they might be able to do something more faithful to the source material. Also, to be fair, Cox prefaced his answer with a disclaimer explaining why he couldn’t give a more detailed response:

    I’ve learned that these questions are a little tricky because the problem with them is that if I start detailing things I’d like to do, then very quickly, it becomes a news story. It potentially gets in the minds of not only the fans but also the creators and the writers. I really want to be careful not to muddy those waters because if it turns out to be a good idea, it can be a shame because it robs the fans of that moment of discovery. So forgive me for being a little bit vague in this area.

    Charlie Cox

    Daredevil: Born Again is set to debut on Disney+ in the spring of 2024, with Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning to their respective roles of Murdock and crime lord Wilson Fisk.

    Source: GQ

  • Charlie Cox Discusses Differences Between Netflix and Disney+ Versions of Daredevil

    Charlie Cox Discusses Differences Between Netflix and Disney+ Versions of Daredevil

    The return of Charlie Cox as Matthew Murdock and Daredevil has been one of the most hotly discussed topics in the superhero landscape. Once believed to be a relative impossibility following the Netflix cancellation, this portrayal of Daredevil has been given a second wind of energy that will continue into in his own 2024 Disney+ series. While his return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has been met with general praise from audiences, some level of debate has amassed on the differences in portrayal of Matthew Murdock on Disney+ as opposed to Netflix. The somber tones of the original Netflix series are not present in the recent Disney+ series, though that’s absolutely logical with the latter being distinctly comedic in nature. It has, however, led to some questions about how this will translate to Daredevil: Born Again.

    While speaking with Variety about his return to the role, Charlie Cox took some time to speak about the different side of his character shown in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

    We’ve never really had an opportunity to explore the levity that there is in the comics. Obviously Daredevil at his core works better as a show that’s geared toward a more mature audience, but even life that is very serious has comedic moments in it. I felt like this was a really good opportunity to put Daredevil in a world where tonally there is a lot more fun to be had, it’s a lot more lighthearted, tongue in cheek. It was a really great experiment, both for me and for the character, to see how we fit into that world. It was just a question of freeing up a little bit and allowing myself as an actor to go toe-to-toe with Tatiana and make sure that Daredevil didn’t become the butt of the joke because he’s overly serious, to make sure he had his charisma, charm and wits. Whether that will play into what we do next year with “Daredevil: Born Again,” I don’t know, but it was certainly a fun experiment.

    Charlie Cox

    Charlie Cox makes a strong point about the importance of moments of levity despite his character being commonly associated with darker themes. Matthew Murdock’s role in She-Hulk doesn’t necessarily negate the character’s other experiences in the Netflix Defenders-verse. While the tone of Daredevil in She-Hulk was different from the Netflix series, it was also greatly in-line with the seminal Mark Waid run on the character in the comics.

    Whether or not this tone will remain for Daredevil: Born Again does remain a question. But if the quality of his material remains the same, it shouldn’t really matter what tone Daredevil will have for this upcoming series.

    Source: Variety

  • Charlie Cox Discusses What to Expect in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Charlie Cox Discusses What to Expect in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    With She-Hulk: Attorney at Law having wrapped up its first season on Disney+, fans have begun further anticipating the next venture involving a superheroic lawyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Charlie Cox has received generally rave reviews for his performance in the final two episodes of She-Hulk, greatly raising the level of interest for Daredevil: Born Again, which arrives on Disney+ in 2024 with 18 episodes (an unprecedented move for Marvel Studios projects on the streaming platform). While talking with Variety about his return as Daredevil, Charlie Cox discussed the concept of an 18-episode series and how it will impact the production and story of the new series.

    It’s mad. I have no idea; your guess is as good as mine. Just in terms of shooting, physically it’s going to be a real slog and that will be a challenge in and of itself, which I’m excited about. It’s such a bold move. The character being a lawyer lends quite well to that. There’s a lot of story you can tell, just outside of the superhero element.

    Charlie Cox

    With Daredevil: Born Again being primed to be such a deep dive into the titular character and his world, questions will be asked of how much from the original Netflix series will be folded into this adaptation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When asked about who from the original series Cox would like to reunite with, the actor played it relatively coy. However, he did go fairly in-depth into the concept of being curious about where the character’s “canon” will be when the show streams.

    It was an absolute delight to work with everyone on all of those shows at Netflix. They were the beating heart of all of those shows. I would be honored and thrilled to work with any of them again. I would hate to single anyone out and I would hate to speculate because I just don’t know what the plan is going forward. That’s way above my pay grade. There are so many great stories to tell. There are stories to tell again. That wouldn’t be inconsistent with what they do in the comic book universe. Often a new writer and artist will take over a book and they will start from beginning. So maybe we’ll be doing that, but I genuinely don’t know. I’m just thrilled that I’ve been invited to the party.

    Charlie Cox

    Charlie Cox makes some interesting points here about the possibility of Daredevil: Born Again being a true fresh slate for the character away from what he did before. The specific status of “canon” within the Netflix universe of Marvel characters, however, does still remain nebulous. That said, the inclusion of Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin alongside rumors about other returning Netflix characters can lead to the belief that at least some of the core story beats will remain intact.

    The growing romance between Daredevil and She-Hulk caught the attention of fans, and She-Hulk, after showcasing strong amounts of chemistry in the latter two episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Fans have begun to ask questions about whether Jennifer Walters will make some sort of appearance in Daredevil: Born Again. Charlie Cox addressed the idea.

    I don’t like to speculate; I’ve learned over the years that when you get excited in an interview and you talk about things that could happen, the problem is that they then litter the internet. People talk about it, and then if it is a good idea, you end up ruining it for the fans. The only thing I’ll say is that I had such a blast working with Tatiana. She’s such an extraordinary actor, and the characters’ chemistry was really strong. There’s more fun to be had there, so whether we can go on that journey a little longer and our lives can collide again, I don’t know but I’d certainly be in support of that, if it can happen.

    Charlie Cox

    Source: Variety

  • RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    Marvel Studios upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Ironheart continues to shape up to be the MCU’s first really magic vs. tech battle. Kevin Feige announced Anthony Ramos as the series’ main antagonist, Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, at D23 and a recent rumor that Sacha Baron Cohen will appear as Mephisto continues to gain traction as more sources chime in on its legitimacy. With two major magic users in her way, it would stand to reason that Riri Williams might need some help understanding just what she’s up against and a new rumor might point in the direction of just that kind of ally.

    According to Geek Vibes Nation, actress Regan Aliyah, who joined the cast at the end of August, is set to play Zelma Stanton in Ironheart. Stanton is a relatively recent addition to the Marvel Comics’ universe, having been introduced in 2015 at the beginning of Jason Aaron’s run on Doctor Strange. Shortly after meeting Strange, Zelma agreed to work at the Sanctum Santorum as his librarian. More recently, Zelma has appeared in Strange Academy, a series in which Strange and some of the most powerful magicians in the Marvel Universe have opened a school for young magic users.

    https://twitter.com/GeekVibesNation/status/1581619861540986880?t=tR1vZCaIZRAdqr-l091W7Q&s=19

    At this point, we can only speculate as to what Zelma’s role in Ironheart might entail, but it does seem likely she will be assisting Riri as she learns about magic and takes on The Hood and the powerful demon Mephsito. As is often the case for characters adapted into the MCU from the comics, Zelma’s origin story might be changed a bit to allow for her to hop right into the action. Whatever the case, for a show featuring a tech genius, Ironheart is becoming very magic-heavy and very interesting.

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’ Concept Art Reveals Monster in Color

    ‘Werewolf by Night’ Concept Art Reveals Monster in Color

    Marvel Studios’ first Special Presentation, Werewolf by Night, was unique for quite a few reasons. Chief among them, however, was the short film’s commitment to displaying its dark new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe almost entirely in black and white. The spooky aesthetic helped cement the monsters of the world as memorable figures in the MCU’s character roster, but the visual filter wasn’t always going to be a part of the project. It took director Michael Giacchino a few tries to convince Marvel boss Kevin Feige to make the switch away from their traditional look, and in that time, it seems a few passes were made at designing the titular werewolf for a story told in full color.

    Concept artist Billy Christian recently took to his Twitter account to unveil the final approved design for Gael García Bernal‘s Werewolf by Night. In the post, he confirms that he was unaware the special would eventually be done in black and white and says his art was intended to be used as a style guide for the rest of production. It was clearly still influential, as the practical look of the monster was essential to the overall vibe of the hour-long short.

    The art is perhaps the best idea fans will get as to what Marvel’s werewolf may look like when he ultimately crosses paths with other heroes in their own colorful projects. A similar appearance can currently be seen in costume form at Disney Parks’ Avengers Campus, as an actor roams the lot dressed in full Werewolf by Night regalia.

    Source: Twitter, Variety

  • ‘Marvel Zombies’ Episode Count Confirmed

    ‘Marvel Zombies’ Episode Count Confirmed

    In 2021, Marvel Studios announced that Marvel Zombies would be coming exclusively to Disney+. Since then, however, details regarding the animated series have been sparse. Now, thanks to an interview with Comicbook, it looks like we at least know the episode count for the series and it’s on the shorter side.

    While at New York Comic Con, the folks at Comicbook were able to speak with writer Zeb Wells who revealed some brief information regarding Marvel Zombies. Wells noted that, while he didn’t work on the zombie episode of What If…?, he did work on its spinoff series, Marvel Zombies, which he says will consist of four episodes. Unfortunately, like the rest of us, he’s unsure when the series will actually hit Disney+. Well did, however, state that it’s “looking really cool.”

    In July, it was revealed that the forthcoming series would be rated TV-MA for mature audiences. As of now, a release date has not yet been announced, but it’s expected to be released sometime next year.

    Source: Comicbook.

  • How the MCU’s ‘She-Hulk’ Became Truly Savage

    How the MCU’s ‘She-Hulk’ Became Truly Savage

    The finale of Season 1 of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law opened with a great callback to the classic Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno series, The Incredible Hulk, that ran on network television in the late 1970s and early 1980s and spawned not one, not two but three made-for-tv movies in the late 1980s. The callback, which served as the recap of the series so far, ended with what’s become the norm for the series, a new, weekly title: The Savage She-Hulk. That title is, of course, the title of the first appearance of Jen Walters in Marvel Comics, The Savage She-Hulk #1, which hit newsstands in 1980. Ironically, through the course of the D+ series, Jen’s She-Hulk has been anything but savage for most of the time; however, the same can’t necessarily be said for the series itself.

    Language is an ever-evolving thing and, over the last decade or so, one word that has experienced some changes in its usage is “savage.” The way the kids are using it these days (these days being like 5-10 years ago), it means someone who has zero regard for the consequences of what they say when they rip into a person or a group of people. It’s in this way that Jessica Gao and the rest of the writers’ room on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law made the series one of the most self-aware and savage social commentaries in modern pop culture history.

    As the finale pointed out, Marvel Studios has an internet problem. No matter what project they churn out it wasn’t long enough, didn’t have enough cameos or didn’t include THAT character or THAT story that some fan was certain was going to be there. However, some projects have a bigger internet problem than others: the ones featuring female leads. From Captain Marvel to Ms. Marvel to Thor: Love and Thunder and now She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, female-led projects at Marvel Studios are described as “problematic” and “sloppy” before general audiences have seen a second of footage. And as Marvel Studios enters its second saga of stories and begins to introduce legacy characters, many of whom are female, the internet has come out swinging with chants of “Mary Sue” and “Thor is a name, not a title” as characters like Kamala Khan, Jen Walters and Jane Foster assume heroic mantles.

    It is in addressing these internet problems head-on that She-Hulk became truly, in the modern context, savage. The savagery really began in earnest in Episode 3, “The People vs. Emil Blonsky”, when Jen’s work at GLK&H began to garner more attention. In a brief sequence, the show called out anonymous and misogynistic social media influencers and YouTubers by making a mockery of their go-to commentary. “They took the Hulk’s manhood away, but then they gave it to a woman?” “So we gotta have affirmative action with superheroes?” “No more female superheroes plz.” “Why are you turning every superhero into a girl? Nobody asked for that.” “Why everything gotta be female now???” “So we have a #MeToo movement and now all the male heroes are gone?” Ridiculous only in their accuracy, these comments could have been (and most likely were) taken from real social media account from men decrying that “every hero” is now a female. Forget the fact that Thor: Love and Thunder featured both a man and a woman co-starring as Thor (and the female died), facts have no place in this dojo.

    To add an extra layer of verisimilitude to its social commentary on social media, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law brought the dudebro online community known as The Intelligencia to the forefront. While initial theories about who might run the group understandably centered on characters from the comics associated with the group, it turned out to be a collective of manbabies united by one thing: their insecurities. The creatives laid the satire on thick and in layers going so far as having Jon Bass‘ HulkKing scream “come at me bro” shortly after turning into Chris Kattan-Hulk.

    Between satirizing the ridiculous nature of online discourse around these projects and having Jen be the first MCU character to really explore dating and sex (she even smashes Matt Murdock on occasion), the Gao and the writers certainly had the very same people they were mocking clutching their pearls. And they did so by simply capitalizing on the very nature of the character pulled straight from the comics where she was Marvel’s first character to be aware that she existed inside of a story and interacted with the world that existed outside her story. So while Jen’s She-Hulk proved she was anything but the savage version her cousin Bruce thought she might be, Marvel Studios went full frontal savage and, in doing so, made their most socially relevant project to date.

  • ‘Percy Jackson’ Disney+ Series Adds to Impressive Cast

    ‘Percy Jackson’ Disney+ Series Adds to Impressive Cast

    The cast of the live-action Disney Plus adaptation of the Percy Jackson novels has grown once again. Adam Copeland, Suzanne Cryer, and Jessica Parker Kennedy have all been announced as guest stars to the already impressive cast. They join Walker Scobell, in the titular role, alongside Aryan Simhadri and Leah Sava Jeffries as Grover and Annabeth, respectively.

    Copeland, best known for his work as Edge in the WWE, will be playing Ares, the Greek god of war. He is described as being a handsomely arrogant god that loves to be an agent of chaos. Suzanne Cryer, likely best known for her leading role in Silicon Valley, will guest star as Echidna, the Mother of Monsters. She is described as a maternal, yet dangerous figure that will serve as a major challenge to the protagonists, both physically and spiritually. Jessica Parker Kennedy, likely best known for her supporting role on CW’s The Flash, will be portraying the infamous Medusa. She is described as an embittered wild card that the core characters are unsure if they can trust.

    Percy Jackson and the Olympians tells the story of a 12-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia who must come to terms with being the son of Poseidon and adapting to his new home at Camp Half-Blood. The first season will adapt the first novel of the Rick Riordan series,The Lightning Thief, in which Percy must clear his name and solve the mystery of who stole Zeus’ master lightning bolt.

    Source: Variety

  • REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Finale

    REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Finale

    We have come to an end of yet another Marvel Cinematic Universe series, but this finale stands on its own. Since WandaVision, MCU series have been rather well known for either botching or just not following through with outstanding finales. How anyone feels about the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law finale is less straightforward than usual. While the word “unique” has been thrown around a lot in Phase Four, there is no other way to start the discussion.

    Even though it did not take up the entire runtime, the massive fourth wall break in the finale has to be an instantly iconic moment in the MCU. To not only take the audience out of “the show” but to spend time with the titular character in Marvel Studios’ headquarters is beyond bonkers. Of course, the jarring transition from the regular program to She-Hulk breaking out of the Disney+ screen is incredible, and it lives up to the comic book version of her doing the same decades ago. The core potential of the character is released in the finale, and there are very few moments in the MCU that can genuinely say the same.

    The humor stemming from the fourth wall break is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but it is peak She-Hulk. Throughout the season, the show makes jabs at tropes and the incessant presence of the internet’s yelling in every single moment of the contemporary MCU. Anyone on Twitter is familiar with this, and anyone with a brain knew that She-Hulk would provoke perhaps the most attention in that regard. Instead of winking at the audience about it, the artificial intelligence replacement for Kevin Feige (a joke worthy of its own review maybe) addresses it head-on. The MCU has an internet relations struggle. She-Hulk is a strong, confident woman. The two combined were meant to be together, but the way the finale actually embraces it is almost too good to be true.

    The fourth wall break, without a doubt, is the finale. It may even be She-Hulk. Still, that does not mean the finale as a whole deserves top marks. It is somewhat hard to separate the fourth wall break from anything else, both because of the inherent difficulty of that and because they addressed very different things. The break speaks to the essence and the heart of She-Hulk, and what better place to do that than in the finale? But the rest of the story is quite limited because of it.

    Yes, it brings home the point that this is She-Hulk’s show, but it also made it clear that She-Hulk’s story—at least in Season One—did not do much more than what we already saw before this episode. That is not inherently bad, especially considering the show really wants to call itself a legal comedy. Plus, fans should have learned their lesson after WandaVision to not expect series finales to become the crossover, universe-shattering moments of their dreams. To that, She-Hulk said: here is Skaar. But plenty of plotlines arguably deserved more time and attention, and a longer version of how Jen cleared her name would have been very welcome. That in particular is the biggest loss of the finale’s choice, but at the end of the day, the fourth wall break is always the preferred option.

    She-Hulk made waves as an MCU series. As one of the few MCU projects to feature a woman in the title role, it went beyond just basic representational work on that front. Women’s real experiences were either mentioned or actually discussed, and the first project the MCU felt comfortable throwing sex in was a project where a woman led that concept on-screen. But the series will also go down as the funniest Marvel Studios project to date and in many ways one of the most grounded in reality (which is ironic in plenty of ways). Jen was an actual, believable human, and the series made that the basis of everything, even the crazier elements. She-Hulk, arguably, was what many internet fans wanted Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Cameos to be, and yet this was just the first season of a solo series. At the end of the day, there is not much else to say except: She-Hulk smashed.

  • The ‘She-Hulk’ Finale May Have Confirmed a Season 2

    The ‘She-Hulk’ Finale May Have Confirmed a Season 2

    Much happened—or didn’t, depending on how you look at it—in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law finale. The series ended on an upbeat note, and Jen seems to have taken back her life after the dark ending of Episode 8 and the sad beginning of the final episode. One thing is for sure, though, and that is that the bonkers fourth wall break is undoubtedly an iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe moment from here on out. In it, there are a couple of moments that mention a She-Hulk Season 2. And while Loki is still the only series to get an official confirmation by the time the credits start rolling, we have may have gotten the next best thing.

    When She-Hulk arrives in the writers’ room, she interrupts their conversation about what the second season should be. Specifically, one writer pitches the god-awful idea that the entire second season would be a dream sequence. Later, when She-Hulk is talking to K.E.V.I.N., a second season is once again brought up in a very matter-of-fact way.

    While the fourth wall break does not appear to be Marvel Studios’ way of officially announcing something, the fact that a She-Hulk Season 2 was mentioned more than once in a “yeah, this is going to happen” way seems like a fairly obvious way the show may be teasing it. After all, robot Kevin Feige had plenty to say but certainly did not correct the Season 2 assumption. While the writers could have included the references as cheeky jokes—after all, the internet will surely start debating what every word in the fourth wall break meant—it did not play off as obviously as some of the other jokes in that sequence.

    Like everything, we will have to wait and see if or when Marvel Studios decides to announce something like She-Hulk Season 2, but the writing may be on the wall. She-Hulk is also, conveniently, an incredibly second-season-friendly show with its ability to be a half-hour legal comedy. Whether it truly accomplished that in this first season is perhaps debatable, but the potential from this show and the comics’ source material is truly astounding. The episodes with Donny Blaze, Madisynn, and group villain therapy could easily become the norm in a second season, and those were standout episodes. There is a lot more lawyering Jen can do, and there is certainly a lot more She-Hulk smashing she can do.

    All episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are now streaming on Disney+.