Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: HBO Max

  • 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

  • Warner Bros. Premiering All 2021 Films on HBO Max and in Cinemas Simultaneously

    Warner Bros. Premiering All 2021 Films on HBO Max and in Cinemas Simultaneously

    Looks like going to the cinema will not be the same anymore. In a curious move, Warner Bros. has just announced that their entire 2021 film library will release simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. Not just that, this isn’t a Premier Access situation as you get all these films for free on release. Now, this will kick-off with December’s Wonder Woman 1984 release. That means you’ll be able to watch The Suicide Squad, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Matrix 4, and so many more films as a subscriber to HBO Max. It is crazy that they are pulling off this move for the entire year. Most of us suspected they would test the waters with WW84‘s release later this month. Yet, they decided to define the future of films right now and didn’t waste any time to announce it with the trailer below.

    Now, this is going to change the market as we know. Cinemas are already on the verge of going into bankruptcy. Companies tested out VOD solutions earlier this year, but many hoped that everything would return to some form of normalcy by the end of the year. Well, it doesn’t look like it’ll be anytime soon, so WB was the first to just go with where the market is developing. This move makes sense, as even if the current pandemic comes to an end, people might still be quite nervous about returning to their usual daily activities. As such, it is uncertain if cinemas will be running at full capacity again once lockdown measures are a thing of the past. It’ll be interesting to see how other production companies will react. Disney+ isn’t directly comparable to HBO Max, so they might have to go down a very different route.

    Source: Twitter

  • 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

  • ‘Titans’: First Look at Starfire’s New Design

    ‘Titans’: First Look at Starfire’s New Design

    The third season of DC’s Titans is finally in production after a significant delay due to the ongoing pandemic. Fans have been clamoring for more info regarding the next season and were recently fed quite well with the reveal of Jason Todd’s Red Hood. There was also the hope that other characters get a much-needed upgrade to their design. Fans were especially hoping that Starfire, who has been one of the show’s standout characters, would finally get a comic-accurate costume. Anna Diop was once set to receive a suit back in the scrapped finale of the first season, which was seen in leaked footage.

    Starfire first appeared in the series was involved with quite a bit of controversy regarding her overall design and Diop‘s casting in the role. Of course, once we saw her act, she made the role her own. Now, over the past few days, we’ve been receiving teases similar to that of the Red Hood reveal. Yet, this time, we’re given pieces of the concept art for the outfit for Starfire’s new look. Finally, we got the first look, and it seems they are going for an armored look that incorporates the classic purple and green.

     

    Titans season 3 is currently in production and has no release date. It will premiere its third season on HBO Max after DC Universe became a digital comic library. The first two seasons of the series are now streaming exclusively on HBO Max. So, you should have more than enough time to catch up before the next one starts with the arrival of Red Hood and Starfire’s sister, Blackfire. Hopefully, fan-favorites Beast Boy and Raven also the redesign that they deserve. Seriously, poor Gar’s been wearing the same hoodie for two seasons now.

    Source: Twitter

  • HBO Max’s ‘Green Lantern’ Audition Tapes Leaked

    HBO Max’s ‘Green Lantern’ Audition Tapes Leaked

    The HBO Max Green Lantern show is by far one of the most anticipated projects that’ll be coming to the streaming service. After last month’s announcement, many fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for any casting information on the show. The show’s cast of characters was confirmed to include the likes of Guy Gardner, Alan Scott, Jessica Cruz, and Simon Baz. They are also introducing an original character, Bree Jarta, who is half-human and half-alien. It seems like casting is indeed underway and could even possibly be finalized for some characters, as audition tapes have made their way online. Here are two that are offering fans a taste of what they can expect from the cast, such as Alan Scott and Bree Jarta.

    https://vimeo.com/479424933

     

    The scene features Jarta, who we can only assume is speaking with a Guardian or dispatch of some sort on Oa, as she attempts to talk her way onto a search mission for the Dominators. This sequence seems to follow what sounds like a hostage situation that resulted in multiple fatalities of other Lanterns. The audition tape would match the rumors that the Dominators will be one of the era’s antagonists.

     

    https://vimeo.com/479421679

    The second Jarta scene offers us a much better look into her character. She’s confronted some people in a local diner in Florida. It looks like her partner Guy Gardner may have provoked some. They are set to be the lanterns of the ’80s storyline in the show. They will likely be facing the Dominators throughout the show. It looks like the tension between the two will also play into it, as they definitely won’t be getting along. Their two personalities will clash throughout their story, as one is headstrong and the other hard-headed. The Guardians created a duo that’s sure to spark some problems down the road. The tape also highlights the racism that Jarta faces in the diner, as she notes the Confederate flags, the attitude of the waitress, and the glares she gets from other patrons. It’s great to see the show highlighting broader topics than just the usual clash between good and evil.

     

    https://vimeo.com/481429273

    The final tape features Alan Scott, who we know as the Green Lantern of the Golden Age. He is a founding member of the Justice Society of America. It does seem unlikely that he’ll be involved with them in this series. Since the first report, we’ve learned that Scott will be an LGBTQ character with his storyline taking place in the ’40s. Being a member of such a community could cost someone their life during that era. It also revealed that Scott is an active police officer and a rather good one at that. The press is interviewing him after he took down a local mob boss. We see how frantic Scott is when someone even jokes about him possibly being queer. Not even his Green Lantern ring can give him a feeling of safety in a time full of so much prejudice and discrimination.

    Green Lantern is set to begin filming sometime next year and will stream exclusively on HBO Max. The show will focus on several lanterns spanning decades, as each one faces a new threat, whether that be a personal one or on a galactic scale. The show is being written by Marc Guggenheim and Seth Grahame-Smith. It is yet another show to fall within Greg Berlanti’s umbrella of DC content that he’s amassed since the beginning of Arrow.

    Source: Vimeo (Alan Scott), Vimeo (Jarta 1), Vimeo (Jarta 2)

  • ‘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

  • ‘Zack Snyders Justice League’ Latest Trailer Adds Some New Scenes

    ‘Zack Snyders Justice League’ Latest Trailer Adds Some New Scenes

    The fabled Snyder Cut of Justice League has become one of the most infamous and interesting topics in the entertainment world to date. After a 3-year campaign and millions of supporters around the world, Warner Bros had finally decided to move forward with the project. Back in May, it was confirmed by Zack Snyder and Henry Cavill during the Man Of Steel anniversary live stream. The cut was indeed coming and was due to release sometime in 2021.

    We then got a new look at Zack Snyders Justice League back in August at the DC Fandome event, where the first official trailer made its debut. Recently the trailer got taken down but turned out to be caused by a rights issue with the Cohen estate. Snyder took to Vero today to reveal the newest look at the film, a black and white trailer similar to that of the one we saw back in August. Yet, this time with a few extra tidbits thrown into the mix. Zack Snyders Justice Lague is set to feature the return of actors who were cut from the original film, such as Ray Porter, Willem Dafoe, Kiersey Klemons, Orion Lee, and Karen Bryson.

    https://twitter.com/ZackSnyder/status/1328727811595517953

    Zack Snyders Justice League is currently set to debut sometime next year on the HBO Max streaming service. The film will feature many familiar faces such as Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Henry Cavill, Ciaran Hinds, and Amy Adams. We are currently still waiting for the official release date to be announced.

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Expands Cast As Production Ramps Up

    ‘Peacemaker’ Expands Cast As Production Ramps Up

    Back in September, James Gunn confirmed that he had begun work on a spin-off series of his highly anticipated upcoming film The Suicide Squad. It will focus solely on the character of Peacemaker, who is played by WWE wrestler and film star John Cena. The series is a prequel and gives us a look into the origin of the man, whose quest for peace knows no boundaries. Production on the show is going to begin early next year. Gunn already has made his way to Canada to start his two-week quarantine before the production begins.

    We’ve known for a while that John Cena would be reprising his role as the titular character. He will be joined by Steve Agee, who’d be reprising one of his two roles from the upcoming film, John Economos, the warden of Belle Reve. Now The Hollywood Reporter reported several additions to the films’ cast with Danielle Brooks set to play Leota Adebayo, Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith, Chris Conrad as Adrian Chase a.k.a. The Vigilante. Also, reprising her role from the film is Jennifer Holland as Dr. Emilia Harcourt.

    Peacemaker will begin production early next year with James Gunn at the helm, writing and directing multiple episodes of the series and will produce the series alongside Peter Safran. The show is an HBO Max exclusive but currently has no release date set.

    SOURCE: Hollywood Reporter

  • RUMOR: ‘Green Lantern’ to Feature Original Black Female Lantern

    RUMOR: ‘Green Lantern’ to Feature Original Black Female Lantern

    Just recently, we received the long-awaited news that the HBO Max Green Lantern series would be officially moving forward. It got a full season green light with Seth Grahame-Smith, and Marc Guggenheim set as showrunners. Alongside this news, it was confirmed that the show features a large cast of characters. The Green Lantern Corp. will include Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, Kilowog, and Alan Scott. The show will take place throughout multiple decades of history. It seems the Lanterns will be getting a new face from Sector-2814 to aid in the protection of the galaxy.

    The Direct is reporting that that show features an original character that’ll partner up with Guy Gardner. Her description states that she is a black female lantern named Bree Jarta. It also states that she is an equal part of alien and human. The character is said to have grown up within an advanced alien society on a planet deep in space. She will be extremely determined to uphold the honor and values of the Lantern Corps to stay true to the duty of holding the ring.

    Many fans might assume that this is an adaptation of the newest Lantern, who got introduced in the Far Sector comics from DC’s Young Animal library. This storyline features Jo Mullein, an ex-cop, and vet who becomes a lantern. She is part of a sector so far from Oa that she calls it the Far Sector. It would be a shame not to adapt to this character, especially if you consider the character’s rise in popularity. Also, the unique situation in which she finds herself on a distant planet could lend itself to an interesting

    Green Lantern currently has no release date. Casting hasn’t started yet, but with work behind the scenes seemingly moving along, we can expect some more news in the future.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘TITANS’: First Look at Red Hood Revealed

    ‘TITANS’: First Look at Red Hood Revealed

    With the third season of Titans currently in production, many have been on the edge of their seats waiting to get their first look at Red Hood. After some initial teases, we would finally get the latest persona of Jason Todd on the show. It was revealed back in August at the DC FanDome event by EP Greg Walker. Curran Walter‘s character would be going down a darker path in season 3 and, as such, would don the iconic Red Hood mantle. Many fans were left scratching their heads at this news, as Jason hadn’t experienced anything close to a crowbar from the clown prince of crime at any point in the previous season. This approach has led many to become very cautious about the news.

    Walter‘s Todd will sport an accurate adaption of the Red Hood costume. It will consist of the iconic leather jacket and red bat-symbol across the chest. This look is sure to please fans of the character. The suit is made by the highly talented LJ Supersuit, whose work has shown up on previous seasons of Titans. They have also worked on the costumes of Nightwing and Deathstroke but were also involved with other shows such as Stargirl, Doom Patrol, and The Boys.

    Titans’ third season is still in production. We currently have no release date, as production was significantly delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. It will feature the return of fan-favorites of the shows the main roster including Brenton Thwaites as Nightwing, Anna Diop as Starfire, Ryan Potter as Beast Boy, Teagan Croft as Raven, Joshua Orpin as Superboy, and they will be joined by the newest addition, Barbara Gordon. We have no news who will pick up the mantle of Oracle in this show, so as production continues we might get some news on it. Still, getting our first look at Red Hood is certainly going to get people excited for the latest season.

    Source: Twitter