Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Disney Plus

  • REPORT: ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Adds 2 Young Leads to Disney+ Series Cast

    REPORT: ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Adds 2 Young Leads to Disney+ Series Cast

    We’ve long been waiting for news for Lucasfilm and it seems that shortly before the big event arrived a few tidbits have already found their day online. In this case, two cast members that’ll join Jon Watts‘ upcoming Skeleton Crew. According to Cinelinx, they have cast Kyriana Kratter and Ravi Cabot-Conyers for the series that is rumored to explore four kids on an unlikely adventure throughout space. They may be likely officially confirmed later today during the panel. They’re the first hint at the lead cast that we’ve gotten besides the only confirmed casting of Jude Law from Star Wars Celebration.

    Source: Cinelinx

  • D23: First Look at Original Series ‘Iwájú’

    D23: First Look at Original Series ‘Iwájú’

    We’ve gotten a tease some time ago about a new project titled Iwájú and it looks like the wait is finally over. During the D23 Expo we got a glimpse of this new series. It’ll explore a futuristic version of Lagos, Nigeria, and marks Disney’s first real cooperation with external studios in Kugali. The series is set to release in 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • Mena Massoud Confirms He Initially Auditioned for ‘Ahsoka’s Ezra

    Mena Massoud Confirms He Initially Auditioned for ‘Ahsoka’s Ezra

    It feels like yesterday when rumors flooded the internet that Aladdin‘s Mena Massoud would be playing Ezra Bridger in Star Wars‘ upcoming Ahsoka series. Many were quite hyped about the actor getting the role but it wasn’t until earlier today that it was confirmed that actor Eman Esfandi has gotten the role for Ezra. Of course, it left the door open to how the rumors started in regards to Massoud.

    As it turns out, the actor took to Twitter to share his relief that the rumors were finally losing steam. Still, he did highlight that he actually auditioned for the role with a self-tape months ago and simply didn’t get further along in the casting process.

    https://twitter.com/menamassoud/status/1568320638733139968

    It’s a shame he didn’t get the role but the actor shared that he’s excited to see what Esfandi can bring to the role. Plus, he also highlighted how similar he looks to the Star Wars Rebels character. Given his performance in Aladdin, it’s a shame he hasn’t found a new role in the Disney playhouse again but perhaps there’s another one just on the horizon waiting for him.

    Source: Twitter

  • Disney+’s ‘National Treasure’ Star on Stepping in Nicolas Cage’s Shadow

    Disney+’s ‘National Treasure’ Star on Stepping in Nicolas Cage’s Shadow

    National Treasure is making a big comeback on Disney+ but with a few new faces. Nicolas Cage won’t return as Ben Gates but it opens up the possibility for a new generation to carry on his character’s mission. As it turned out, Lisette Olivera was the one to nab the lead role for the spin-off series titled Edge of History. While the franchise wasn’t the biggest box office draw, it still made enough to get a sequel and gain cult status. So, it wasn’t easy for the actress to step in those shoes.

    After my casting announcement had been made and the whole world knew it was me that was gonna be at the forefront of the franchise, there were some people that were disappointed, but there were a lot of people that were very supportive

    Lisette Olivera

    Still, the series is set to carry on the legacy that the original established, especially with the original writers of the films, Marianne Wibberly and Cormac Wibberley, once again returning for the new production. She got the chance to highlight elements they couldn’t in the films due to the limited runtime.

    The story of telling the history of America is so interesting because it depends on the point of view. We haven’t really covered that in any of the movies.

    Marianne Wibberley

    It definitely sounds like they are embracing aspects of the original while adding a new spin. Plus, if the show draws an audience and gets additional seasons there’s always another chance for Nicolas Cage to return and maybe take the new explorer under his wing in an unlikely pairing.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • D23: ‘Willow’ Concept Art and Costumes Offer New Glimpse at Upcoming Series

    D23: ‘Willow’ Concept Art and Costumes Offer New Glimpse at Upcoming Series

    D23 is going to be a busy weekend for everyone in the entertainment business, as there’ll be quite a lot to write about. With a lot of focus on what Marvel may have to offer, there are a lot of Disney+ originals heading our way that’ll offer some distraction from the usual MCU fanfare. While we not only got a first look at Indiana Jones 5 through concept art and costumes from the sequel, it seems the same treatment was given to the upcoming Disney+ continuation of Willow, as shared by Andrew Rainer on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/Andrew_Reiner/status/1568308280350625792
  • ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka’ Has Found its Ezra Bridger

    ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka’ Has Found its Ezra Bridger

    If there’s been one casting that everyone is talking about with Ahsoka it is whoever may end up playing Ezra Bridger. The popular Jedi padawan was first introduced in the animated series Star Wars Rebels and when first hints with Ahsoka’s arrival in The Mandalorian hinted at a continuation of where that series left off, it seemed obvious he’d make his eventual live-action premiere as well. Now, it seems we finally know.

    While we got a tease of Ezra in Ahsoka back during Star Wars Celebration, it was still the one casting that has never been confirmed. As it turns out, we just had to wait until just ahead of D23 for the confirmation Eman Esfandi will take on the role of Ezra Bridger in the live-action spinoff heading to Disney+.

    He joins a stacked cast that already consists of Rosario Dawson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ivanna Sakhno, Ray Stevenson, Hayden Christensen, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. We’ll see what the project will look like and how it will potentially tie in all open points in regards to Star Wars Rebels, as well as set up a future for these characters in this new post-The Mandalorian universe.

    Source: Cinelinx

  • D23: First Look at Tim Allen’s Return as Stana Clause for Disney+ Series

    D23: First Look at Tim Allen’s Return as Stana Clause for Disney+ Series

    D23 is finally upon us, as we anxiously await any reveal or tease of what’s to come in Disney’s future. While Disney+ Day surprisingly didn’t include any reveals for the streaming service, it led to many speculating that they are keeping their reveals and potential trailers for the upcoming Disney-owned event. Luckily, it turns out that while they are only getting started we’ve already gotten a first look at one of the upcoming projects

    As shared by Matt Dobrovolsky, it seems that they are showing some glimpses of what’s to come during D23. While he shared quite a few teases of what’s to come with the theme park side of Disneyland, it seems that they also included a first-look video where Tim Allen’s return in the upcoming The Santa Clauses Disney+ series has been unveiled.

    It definitely looks like Santa Clause and is our first look at the series. So, it seems likely that we might get our hands on a first trailer during the event. It also opens up the possibility of other Disney+ originals might get some promotion as well for what other new original series or legacy series are in development. Perhaps we’ll also see more from the National Treasure series that has been teased quite a bit. It’s a great little way to kick off D23.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Actress Teases More Law-Focused Future for the Disney+ Series

    ‘She-Hulk’ Actress Teases More Law-Focused Future for the Disney+ Series

    As She-Hulk: Attorney at Law continues its run on Disney+, much speculation has arisen about where the plot of the series will go next. The fourth episode, which premiered earlier today, left off with Jennifer Walters having a lawsuit filed against her by a newly released Titania over the trademarked name of “She-Hulk”. Audiences who are anticipating a continued focus on the legal aspects of the series from this revelation should be excited for what’s in store. Actress Ginger Gozaga, who plays the role of Jen Walters’ best friend Nikki, spoke with TVLine about what audiences can expect for the second half of the series.

    Yes, that hot legal action with pens and highlighters that you’ve all been asking for! [Laughs] The show is now definitely switching into what it looks like when you have petty, idiot supervillains and superheroes who are either antagonizing you or need to be represented by you. The thing about working in a superhuman law division is we can represent anyone, so we get comic book characters that haven’t entered the Marvel Universe yet, that you haven’t seen in any of the trailers. And you get to see the idiocy of the ridiculously fun superheroes who have legal trouble and may or may not listen to their attorneys. I’m really excited for people to see these guest stars that are in the comic books.

    Ginger Gonzaga

    Based on what Gonzaga has described, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is fully swinging into the perspective of the “legal comedy” that the series was initially previewed to be. Specifically, a legal battle between the characters of She-Hulk and Titania could very well become a more central arc that the show can take on for the remainder of its first season. This is something that Jameela Jamil seemingly alluded to as early as the red carpet premiere of the series.

    Ultimately, fans of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law will have to wait till next week to find out more about this direction of the series as the fifth episode is set to premiere on September 15 on Disney+.

    Source: TVLine

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Cars on the Road’ Director on Paying Homage to Ray Harryhausen

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Cars on the Road’ Director on Paying Homage to Ray Harryhausen

    With the Cars on the Road series hitting Disney+, we finally get a chance to discuss some of the fun additions. Earlier concept art even dating back to last year’s Disney+ hinted at an episode including the duo of Lightning Mcqueen and Mater in prehistoric times. As it turned out, the episode also was a way for the animation team to pay tribute to Ray Harryhausen‘s claymation era.

    In an exclusive interview with the creative team behind Cars on the Road, Steve Purcell shared the initial inspiration for tackling this episode and why they decided to include a tribute to Harryhausen. Plus, he praises his animation team for managing a way to bring that unique animation type to live in a new medium.

    I think in that case it was really specifically wanting to see that and I think it worked because it’s in a dream environment. It helps to separate that world from the regular world but I had this itch I wanted to scratch. I wanted to see this world animated in that style and I thought our animator’s swung for the fence and they hit it.

    Steve Purcell

    Furthermore, he also highlighted that they used the opportunity to pay homage to Harryhausen with the way they animated the prehistoric T-rex-inspired car.

    There’s a little homage in there where the dino kind of let’s go and waits for a minute and then snaps him up again. It goes back to any kind of dinosaur movie from the 30s or 60s.

    Steve Purcell

    It’s great to always see how these stories come together and use the opportunity to pay tribute to the animations that paved the way to the modern era. It also sounds like a unique challenge for the animators that wanted to add a special flair to what the Disney+ series has to offer.

  • Lee Jung-Jae Joins ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘The Acolyte’

    Lee Jung-Jae Joins ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘The Acolyte’

    Squid Game actor Lee Jung-Jae is heading to a galaxy far, far away.

    Deadline reports that the actor has signed on to The Acolyte as the male lead. The news comes days before the Emmys, where Jung-Jae earned a history-making nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Drama for his work on the Netflix series, Squid Game. This will mark his first major studio role following the success of Squid Game. Further details surrounding the actor’s role in The Acolyte are currently unknown. Jung-Jae joins the previously announced Amandla Steinberg and Jodi Smith-Turner.

    Russian Doll‘s Leslye Headland will serve as the series director, writer, executive producer and showrunner on The Acolyte. According to Deadline, Headland has been working closely with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy on the series, including the show’s casting. The series is said to take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.

    Jung-Jae’s casting is a huge win for Lucasfilm and Star Wars as the actor has been highly sought after since the success of Squid Game.

    The Acolyte was first announced in April 2020 by Variety, with Disney officially confirming the series in December 2020. It’s currently unknown when production will kick off, but with D23 right around the corner, perhaps we’ll continue to learn more about what looks to be Lucasfilm’s most promising Star Wars series.

    Source: Deadline.