Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Film

  • Oscar Isaac Set to Play Solid Snake in ‘Metal Gear Solid’ Film

    Oscar Isaac Set to Play Solid Snake in ‘Metal Gear Solid’ Film

    Hot of the tails of his run in a galaxy far far away as the rebel pilot Poe Dameron, Oscar Isaac seems to be filling up his post-Star Wars career and covering all bases. Recently it got announced that Isaac would be playing Moon Knight on the upcoming Disney+ show. Not just that, he will also be starring in the new HBO series Scenes From A Marriage alongside Jessica Chastain. Now, we got the news that Isaac has found his new lead role in an upcoming big-budget film. He will star as Solid Snake in the live-action adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid.

    The film has been in development for a while now. Jordan Voght-Roberts was the first to join the production as director. The film is produced by Avi Arad and overseen by Peter Kang. Derek Connolly wrote the script for the adaptation. It is uncertain if it got a rewrite since. The casting is a huge deal, as Isaac has been a popular fancast of the role, especially after the actor showed his interest in it. Director Voght-Roberts at one point even commissioned a mock-up of what he’d look like as the character from the popular digital artist BossLogic. It isn’t the first time his artwork predicted a future casting.

    The film currently has no release date, and it’s unknown when the project will begin production, especially Isaacs‘s packed schedule and commitments. So, it could be a while before we see him pop out from under a box anytime soon. We also don’t know if it will be an adaptation of a specific storyline from the franchise’s long run. There is a good chance the story will adapt Shadow Moses but integrate aspects from future story arcs. Now, the question is will we see the other two of the Les Enfants Terribles project.

    SOURCE: Deadline, Twitter

  • HBO Max: Warner Bros. 2021 Film Release Schedule

    HBO Max: Warner Bros. 2021 Film Release Schedule

    Warner Bros. may have started a brand new development within the cinematic market. They just announced that they will release their entire 2021 slate simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Now, the official trailer does mention that the films and release schedules are subject to change. It has been quite confusing with all the delays in 2020, so let’s look at a quick rundown of all films slated to release next year. The new HBO Max release schedule will technically start as of December 25th with Wonder Woman 1984. So, as of now, Mortal Kombat will kickstart the year but we still have no trailer for the film, so there is a good chance it will get delayed. Here is an overview of all Warner Bros. 2021 films:

     

    January 15th, 2021: Mortal Kombat

    March 5th, 2021: Tom & Jerry

    March 12th, 2021: The Many Saints of Newark

    May 21st, 2021: Godzilla vs. Kong

    June 4th, 2021: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

    June 18th, 2021: In the Heights

    July 16th, 2021: Space Jam: A New Legacy

    August 6th, 2021: The Suicide Squad

    October 1st, 2021: Dune

    November 5th, 2021: Elvis

    November 19th, King Richard

    December 22nd, 2021: The Matrix 4

    December 22nd, 2021: Sherlock Holmes 3

    No Release Date: Judas and the Black Messiah

    No Release Date: Those Who Wish Me Dead

    No Release Date: Malignant

    No Release Date: CryMacho

     

    It is quite an extensive list of films that we can expect to get released in the coming year. We will see if any of these dates will change throughout the year, especially if some of the films that are still in production might face delays due to the pandemic. HBO Max’s subscriber numbers are sure to rise with every major release, so it’ll be interesting to see if it will be able to compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ through this strategy. We will see if other film giants will also follow in this digital revolution.

    Source: The Numbers

  • Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    Peter Dinklage Joins ‘Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

    No, you read that title correctly. It looks like Peter Dinklage has already selected his next feature film, which will be a remake of the 1984 low budget comedy. Toxic Avenger was a cultural phenomenon when it became a success through midnight screenings in New York City. The film managed to get three more sequels before It was created by Troma Entertainment, who is well-known for some rather bizarre films like Redneck Zombies, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, and Tromeo and Juliet. That last film was co-written by James Gunn, as he started his career with the studio. Co-Founder Lloyd Kaufman even has a cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy.

    It is uncertain which role Dinklage will have in the film and how closely it’ll follow the original. Toxic Avengers is the story of a mild-mannered janitor who lives in Tromaville. After being dumped into a vat of toxic waste, he transforms into the titular character, who will become an unlikely hero of the fictional city of Tromaville. He tries to keep his community safe from corruption and greed that is threatening their suburban lives.

    Macon Blair joined the production last year after Legendary acquired the rights to the comedy franchise. He will act as the writer and director of the film. His debut film I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore was highly-acclaimed and won the Grand Jury prize at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Troma Entertainment founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz are also involved with the picture, as they will serve as producers. Legendary’s Alex Garcia and Ashenfelter are overseeing the project.

    Source: Deadline, Variety

  • Netflix and HBO Max in a Bidding War for ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

    Netflix and HBO Max in a Bidding War for ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’

    It looks like the next entry in the Monsterverse saga will have a new home. According to Hollywood Reporter, Netflix made an offer for over $200 million to get their hands on Warner Bros. Godzilla vs. Kong. Surprisingly, they declined the offer and are hoping for a bid by HBO Max to keep it in their own house. It is a curious move as Netflix would’ve covered 75% of the budget. Legendary still has plans to release the film in theaters, especially in international markets. A third of its Box Office was in China alone, which doesn’t have any Netflix presence. So, they might be hoping to still bank on that market potential outside of the US. Plus, this film combines two franchises in a massive crossover, which would surely draw attention to theaters.

    The film is still slated for a May release next year. It is uncertain if theaters will open by then, so it is a risk to wait it out and not take the digital route. Godzilla vs. Kong‘s future is in Legendary’s hands, who decide its release even if they only have a 25% stake in the film. There is a good chance they’ll wait out the success of Wonder Woman 1984, which will have a theatrical and digital release simultaneously in December. They might be nervous about giving Netflix the release, as it could restrict their attempt at a theatrical release. Plus, their main goal is to grow the internal streaming service, so it would be a waste not to use such a tentpole franchise to draw in new subscribers. Godzilla: King of Monsters sadly underperformed, so there was hope that this crossover could bring more attention to the franchise. Yet, this decision could make it difficult to determine if the Monsterverse will continue beyond this entry.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Digital Spy

  • First Look at Tom Holland & Russo Bros.’ ‘Cherry’ Released

    First Look at Tom Holland & Russo Bros.’ ‘Cherry’ Released

    It has been over a year since the Russo Bros. graced screens with Avengers: Endgame. This film was going to be their swansong before tackling other projects and leaving the MCU behind for some time. They didn’t leave everything behind, as they decided to film their next film Cherry with Spider-Man star Tom Holland. The film focuses on a nobody from Cleveland, who’s barely getting by without any major aspirations for the future. It will tackle the results of a young man going to war, and the dangers of opioid addictions. Throughout the film, Holland‘s titular character gets pushed to the darker sides of life and ends up making terrible decisions. Vanity Fair had the honor of offering our first look at the upcoming film.

    The ambitious project is set to premiere worldwide on Apple TV+ on March 12th. The Russo Bros. describes it as six films compressed into one story, as we explore these different chapters in the life of our protagonist. It is based on the 2018 novel by Nico Walker with Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg having penned the script. Joe Russo added how the story had a deep connection

    We’re from Cleveland and Nico’s from Cleveland. Interestingly enough, we know a lot of people that are implied in the book. I think he’s fictionalized names and personalities. But I worked at the same restaurant that Nico worked at, 10 years apart. So he had a very similar upbringing to us. He just had a very different journey than we did.

    Ciara Bravo will be at the center of this film’s love story, as her character Emily will be facing many of the hardships alongside Cherry. Her performance alongside Holland will give both a chance to explore new facets through their acting. The film is a departure from how many see Holland since he took on the mantle of Spider-Man. His casting was deliberate to also create this juxtaposition with what audience’s know him for, as well as his natural charm to sell the performance of a young man losing his way.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Mortal Kombat 11’ Adds 1995 Film Character Skins And Voices

    ‘Mortal Kombat 11’ Adds 1995 Film Character Skins And Voices

    Mortal Kombat 11 has seen quite the addition of characters since its launch. They’ve added some fan-favorites like Mileena. Their third-party additions this time were some R-rated movie icons like Terminator, RoboCop, and even Rambo, who is actually voiced by Sylvester Stallone. Probably the biggest addition was that they redesigned Shang Tsung to look like his 1995 film counterpart Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Even better, he returned to voice the character in the Aftermath DLC. Well, it looks like that wasn’t the only trip down memory lane, as franchise creator and MK11 director Ed Boon revealed three more returning additions from the original film.

    Yes, they are adding three more movie skins for Raiden, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade. Their original actors also return with Christopher Lambert, Linden Ashby, and Bridgette Wilson returning to the iconic roles. The trailer shows them off into action. Fans of the original might’ve noticed that they recreated some of their iconic fights from the film as well. They also added a rendition of the original’s iconic song, which was a great touch.

    Hopefully, this new Skin Pack might also mean we are could see others return to the franchise. Robin Shou gave a memorable performance as Liu Kang and is sadly missing from this line-up. They could even be working on skins based on the franchise’s upcoming reboot, which may have been delayed due to the pandemic. This inclusion is such a great touch and showcases how MK11 also acts as a love letter to the franchise. Hopefully, we’ll see many more tributes in the future. Now, the only question remains will they acknowledge Mortal Kombat: Annihilation?

    Source: Twitter, IGN

  • ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Eyeing March Production Start

    ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Eyeing March Production Start

    Just recently, news broke about Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler tackling a live-action adaptation of The Pink Panther. It made us wonder what this could mean for the sequel featuring the blue blur. Well, luckily the preliminary production details have been released via the British Columbia Film Commission to tease what is to come. It looks like the film is scheduled to film between 15th March until 10th May 2021. So, we can expect some casting details earlier next year as the film enters production. It will film under the codename Emerald Hill with the in-house production company being given the title Red Energy Films. The first film had the codename Casino Night. The in-house production at the time was Hedgehog Films.

    There isn’t too much to go on for the upcoming production, but the naming choice of the in-house production company is rather interesting. Red Energy doesn’t give anything away but could tease the focus of the sequel. The color red is strongly associated with Knuckles the Echidna, whose race we saw briefly in the opening of the first film. It is the biggest mystery that hasn’t been answered, so there is a good chance this sequel will follow-up on it.

    Tails’ arrival at the end of the first Sonic the Hedgehog film could be a tease of the worlds colliding. I am curious which direction they will take, as they can either be inspired by Sonic Adventure‘s storyline that heavily featured the Echidnas or focuses on the Archie Comic storylines. There is also the question of how or if Robotnik will return as well. There are a lot of potential story directions they can take, so we’ll hopefully get some glimpses with future casting announcements.

    Source: Deadline, BCFC via Tails’ Channel

  • Disney May Premiere Future Tentpole Films on Disney+

    Disney May Premiere Future Tentpole Films on Disney+

    The pandemic has hit the film industry in many ways. Film productions had to close down prematurely once the first lockdown hit. Cinemas across the world got shut down. Many production firms were considering moving their theatrical releases to streaming services. Universal was the first to test it only to get banned by AMC. They have reconciled since, but that was only the beginning. Now, as many countries entered their second lockdown, even Warner Bros has decided to move their last tentpole film of the year, Wonder Woman 1984, to their streaming service HBO Max alongside its theatrical release. Now, this move opened up the question if other studios would follow, especially Disney, who tested out a premium service with Mulan a few months ago.

    It looks like Disney has at least been considering putting the option on their table. According to Deadline, the mouse-led company is considering launching a variety of their tentpole films on their service. These films consist of Craig Gillespie’s Cruella, Robert Zemeckis‘ Pinocchio, and David Lowery‘s Peter Pan and Wendy. They haven’t decided yet if they will go down the route with Soul, which will release for free, or take the Premium Access route once again.

    Disney+ has seen a massive increase in subscribers over its first year. The addition of high-profile films could get people’s attention and increase that number. Yet, there is an important franchise missing from that list. It seems that they are hellbent, for now, to see the Marvel Cinematic Universe remain in cinemas. They might still be testing the profitability of such ventures before risking losing Box Office numbers off of their cash cow franchise. The upcoming release of WandaVision could also be a test to see how many subscribers join with the addition of MCU content to the platform. Whatever Disney ends up deciding, the cinema landscape will not be the same as it used to be.

    Source: IndieWire, The Atlantic, Deadline

  • ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Confirmed for HBO Max Alongside Theatrical Release

    ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Confirmed for HBO Max Alongside Theatrical Release

    UPDATE: So, it looks like Warner Bros took down the trailer that confirmed the release date. It has been confirmed and shared by other outlets, such as the Hollywood Reporter.

     

    Wonder Woman just couldn’t catch a break with one delay after another. It once was going to kick off the summer movie season, but now Wonder Woman 1984 fell victim to the beast that is 2020. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the film has had to move its release date multiple times with director Patty Jenkins adamant that the film will play on the big screen. She promised that we will receive the theater experience that we have all taken for granted until these difficult times.

    It’s now been confirmed via a new promo for the film, that fans’ return to the DCEU could get a lot more comfortable. The film is keeping its current release date of December 25, 2020, but will also stream on HBO Max. This reveal makes it one of the service’s biggest additions and is sure to lure plenty of more subscribers to the service that launched mid-pandemic this year. The timing is also perfect, as HBO Max was finally added to the Amazon Fire TV service. Current subscribers to HBO Max fret not, you won’t have to pay a dime more to enjoy the film, as it will not be blocked behind a paywall. This announcement also came alongside a brand new trailer, which you can check out right here:

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-m2vgoQjIc&feature=emb_title

     

    Wonder Woman 1984 will feature the return of Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. This time around it is Trevor that has to adapt to a new world, as Diana must face new foes in the form of Kristen Wiig‘s Cheeta and Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord.

    Source: YouTube, Variety, Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu Set to Direct Live-Action ‘Lilo and Stitch’

    ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Jon M. Chu Set to Direct Live-Action ‘Lilo and Stitch’

    Here’s an interesting surprise. It looks like Disney is not quite done with their cash cow live-action adaptations and has already set their eyes on the next project. They aim to adapt the Hawaiian story of Lilo & Stitch into live-action, which was originally going to be featured on Disney+. It is uncertain if things have changed but they have tapped Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu to tackle the project. Producers Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich of Rideback are set to return after their success with the Aladdin adaption into live-action. They currently do not have a writer set for the project. Mike Van Waes has drafted the version that was initially titled Stitch for Disney+, which was never officially greenlit.

    The original story by Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders focused on a young girl named Lilo, who met the alien creature Stitch. He was created in a lab as the perfect creation of destruction. His time in Hawaii, however, teaches him about the importance of Ohana. The little alien was hellbent on protecting his newfound home from those that are trying to recapture him once more. Chu is a fantastic director to tackle this project. It also is his second project with Disney, as he is also involved with the upcoming Lucasfilm Willow project. These live-action adaptations of beloved animated classics haven’t gotten the best reception, so maybe this film can break the curse.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter