Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Hulu

  • ‘Echo’: Marvel Studios New Marvel Spotlight Explained

    ‘Echo’: Marvel Studios New Marvel Spotlight Explained

    Marvel’s next streaming series, Echo, will check off a lot of “firsts” for the studio. With a story centered around Alqua Cox’s Maya Lopez–who was first introduced in 2021’s D+ streaming series, Hawkeye— Echo will be the first MCU project led by both a deaf and Native American actress. As the studio’s first TV-MA project, it will stream synchronously on Hulu and D+, where all 5 episodes will drop on January 9th. And, after some post-production retooling, the series will also be the first project to debut under a brand new production banner for the studio known as Marvel Spotlight. The banner is more than just semantical doublespeak, however, as it represents a new direction for the studio that’s deeply connected to the long history of Marvel Comics.

    One of three “tryout books” devised by Stan Lee when he became president of the House of Ideas, Marvel Spotlight was an anthology series that introduced new characters such as Red Wolf, Jessica Drew, Werewolf By Night, Ghost Rider and Son of Satan and then assess the reaction of the readership before greenlighting new series. Additionally, Marvel Spotlight books included stories about previously established characters which, in some cases, retconned major pieces of their stories or provided additional background essential to them. One such instance was 1976’s Marvel Spotlight #31 which in a story about Nick Fury, introduced the Infinity Formula as the reason behind the character’s unnatural hold on youth. Though Echo is not the first appearance of Maya Lopez, the series does stick to the Marvel Spotlight in this way by revealing the true origin of the character.

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ Echo, releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    According to an official project announcement from Marvel Studios, Marvel Spotlight projects will bring “more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen.” Additionally, “under the new banner“, series such as Echo “can focus on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity” and, perhaps most importantly, “viewers don’t have to watch any other Marvel series to understand the plot.” While the “street-level stakes” are certainly eye-catching, especially for fans of Netflix’s Defenders-verse series, the last bit of the announcement deserves some attention as well.

    In theory–and hopefully in practice–a Marvel Spotlight series will not require any prior exposure to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the case of Echo, that means anyone who tunes in on Disney Plus or Hulu will not have to have seen, nor have any understanding of, Hawkeye, Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law or even, as heretical as it may seem, a single one of Daredevil’s 39 episodes. Not only does that render features such as the ridiculous “The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Echo” totally meaningless, it also implies–if not promises–that any and all background information necessary to fully digest the plot of Echo will be included within its 5 episodes.

    In this way, the new banner represents an interesting pivot for the studio at a time when casual fans have begun to decry the interconnectivity of the projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (please, let that last sentence strike you however it may). Yes, Marvel Spotlight projects like Echo will include characters, such as Daredevil and Kingpin, from the ever-expanding MCU but whatever is NECESSARY to the plot of the series will be contained within. That provides a classic win-win scenario for Marvel Studios in which if a viewer wants to watch every episode of Daredevil or Hawkeye ahead of Echo, they could–potentially–find their viewing experience enhanced. However, a newbie could also tune in on January 9th and find out everything they need to know throughout a much shorter period of time. Choose your own adventure and you win either way.

    About Echo

    Marvel Studios presents Echo, spotlighting Maya Lopez as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy. Echo stars Alaqua Cox (Hawkeye) as Maya Lopez, as well as Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s Reservation Dogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs) and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind), with Graham Greene (1883, Goliath) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Daredevil, Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who returns to the villainous role of Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin.

    Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland. Co-executive producers are Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin. Marvel Studios’ Echo launches on Disney+ and Hulu Jan. 9, 2024.

  • Disney+ Original ‘Secret Invasion’ Heading to Hulu for Limited Time

    Disney+ Original ‘Secret Invasion’ Heading to Hulu for Limited Time

    Disney has been experimenting quite a bit on how they can grow the audience for their various shows. Just recently, it was announced that Ms. Marvel is heading to ABC and quite a few of their animated shows get limited releases on Disney’s various TV channels. Now, they are also trying it out with another Marvel series.

    Hulu has unveiled that the first three episodes of Secret Invasion, which is going to release its season finale next week, will be available for a limited time on Disney’s sister streaming service. It’s an interesting way to promote the series and gain additional viewers ahead of the finale but it’ll continue to be available until August 17th.

    The strategy isn’t bad, as it’s more about also expanding the bundle they are offering for those interested in multiple streaming services. While viewership for this series wasn’t among Marvel’s best, it doesn’t have any superheroes that tend to carry these kinds of projects. Though we generally don’t know what makes a Disney+ series successful in the eyes of Disney, as they release no data and we have to rely on third-party analysis. One of the important reasons writers and actors are fighting for better pay.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Reservation Dogs’ to End With its Upcoming Third Season

    ‘Reservation Dogs’ to End With its Upcoming Third Season

    Sadly, showrunner Sterlin Harjo has revealed that the FX series Reservation Dogs is going to end with its upcoming third season, which will premiere in August. In a heartfelt message on Instagram, he take the time to share what it was like working on the show and that he already knew what the ending would be ahead of time for the iconic series that premieres on Hulu.

    That’s a difficult line to write and a more difficult decision to make. However, it’s the correct decision creatively for the show. I always knew what the end of this story would be, I just didn’t know when it would arrive. As we continued to break stories and write scripts this season, it became clear to the producers, Taika and me that the season three finale is the perfect series finale. When we came up with the idea for Reservation Dogs, I didn’t think the show would ever get made, but thankfully it did.

    Sterlin Harjo

    The Hulu series was created by Harjo and Taika Waititi. It follows the story of four Indigenous teenagers in Oklahoma, who ended up taking on a dangerous lifestyle after the death of their fifth member. The show has a talented cast that was led by Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor, and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai. It’s a shame to see a great show end but perhaps Harjo has some exciting new Indigenous stories to tell in his future.

    Source: Instagram, Deadline

  • ‘BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War’ Returns with Part 2

    ‘BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War’ Returns with Part 2

    Viz Media announced today that BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War is officially set to return with Part 2. The first episode of Part 2 will debut on Saturday, July 8th at 7:30 AM PDT on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in select international territories. Viz Media also confirmed that the series will feature English, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, and Italian subtitles.

    Along with the confirmation of Part 2‘s release date, Viz Media also unveiled a brand-new poster for the series, as seen below.

    BLEACH is an award-winning manga that has sold over 130 million print copies since it debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump — of those sales, 2.7 million were within the United States. The series ran from 2001 to 2016 and features 74-volumes. The anime, which spanned 366 episodes and ran from 2004 until 2012, is still regarded as one of the best animes of all time.

    “Through his visual genius, Tite Kubo has had an indelible impact on the fandom world and the course of manga and anime history. He is also a supremely gifted and accomplished storyteller, and it is a great honor for VIZ Media to acquire this final arc in his legendary catalogue BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War, for fans everywhere.”

    Brad Woods, Chief Marketing Officer VIZ Media 

    While Part 1 featured an opening theme song – “Scar” – by Tatsuya Kitani, Part 2 will feature an opening theme song, titled “Stars”, by w.o.d..

    The synopsis for the series is as follows:

    Was it all just a coincidence, or was it inevitable?

    Ichigo Kurosaki gained the powers of a Soul Reaper through a chance encounter. As a Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo became caught in the turmoil of the Soul Society, a place where deceased
    souls gather. But with help from his friends, Ichigo overcame every challenge to become even stronger.

    When new Soul Reapers and a new enemy appear in his hometown of Karakura, Ichigo jumps back into the battlefield with his Zanpakuto to help those in need. Meanwhile, the Soul Society is observing a sudden surge in the number of Hollows being destroyed in the World of the Living. They also receive separate reports of residents in the Rukon District having gone missing. Finally, the Seireitei, home of the Soul Reapers, comes under attack by a group calling themselves the Wandenreich.                                                                  

    Led by Yhwach, the father of all Quincies, the Wandenreich declare war against the Soul Reapers with the following message: “Five days from now, the Soul Society will be annihilated by the Wandenreich.”

    The history and truth kept hidden by the Soul Reapers for a thousand long years is finally brought to light.

    All things must come to an end—as Ichigo Kurosaki’s final battle begins! 

    Fans in the United States can catch up on Part 1 now as the series is currently streaming on Hulu.

  • ‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ Coming to Hulu and Netflix

    ‘Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead’ Coming to Hulu and Netflix

    Viz Media announced today that Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is officially coming to the United States. The anime series, which is based on manga by creators Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata, will soon be available to stream on Netflix and Hulu. Per Viz Media, the series will simulcast on Hulu premiering 2:00AM PDT, July 9th, 2023, with sunrise details for Netflix and other streaming platforms to be announced.

    The production hails from Shogakukan and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Japan, with VIZ Media representing the anime in the North America, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand territories. It stars Shuichiro Umeda as Akira Tendo and Tomori Kusunoki as Shizuka.

    The official synopsis for the series is as follows:

    With three years under his belt at the company from hell, Akira Tendo is mentally and physically spent. All at the ripe old age of twenty-four. Even his crush from Accounting, Saori, wants nothing to do with him. Then, just when life is beginning to look like one big disappointment, it happens. The zombie apocalypse descends on Japan! Surrounded by hordes of hungry zombies, Akira comes to a realization that will forever change his life…

           “Wait, does this mean I never have to go to work again?”

    Confess to… party like it’s… travel Japan coast to…

    Now, with his nightmare job no longer, Akira’s got his mojo back. Let the bucket listing begin!!

    The series will feature an opening theme by KANA-BOON, as well as an ending theme by Shiyui. The anime is directed by Kazuki Kawagoe and features music by Makoto Miyazaki. Those interested in reading the manga can do so thanks to Shogakukan: Monthly Sunday Gene-X, which currently publishes the ongoing series.

  • REVIEW: ‘White Men Can’t Jump’

    REVIEW: ‘White Men Can’t Jump’

    Reboots, remakes, requels, revivals and legacy sequels have carved out quite a niche in Hollywood. 2022 put Robert Pattinson in the cowl and Tom Cruise back in the cockpit as Maverick 36 years later. 2023 has already rolled out a superior Super Mario Bros. film, a new installment in the Evil Dead franchise, a requel sequel in Scream VI and will see a live-action The Little Mermaid, Timothee Chalamet bring Willy Wonka back to the screen and Harrison Ford back in action as Indiana Jones 15 years after his last big-screen adventure. Lost in the shuffle of all those big tentpoles films is a retelling of the 1986 classic White Men Can’t Jump and while it may not have been on your radar, you’ll want to add it to your list.

    Directed by L.A.-born and raised Calmatic, 2023’s White Men Can’t Jump smartly avoids one of the biggest pitfalls that too often plague remakes: trying to actually remake the original film. Calmatic, who cut his filmmaking teeth in the world of music videos, describes the film not as a remake but as “sampling” of the 1986 original in which he made bits of the classic feel new and familiar. Given the 1986 version starred two Hollywood icons in Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Calmatic’s choice to create two original characters who could capture the spirit of the original film’s odd couple dynamic with modern sensibilities gave his film a chance to stand on its own…and it certainly does. Sinqua Walls‘ Kamal and Jack Harlow‘s Jeremy don’t have to be Sidney Deane and Billy Hoyle because 37 years later, why would they be? So while the name of the game remains the same–hustling the streetball circuit of L.A.–the players come complete with modern glow ups that give the film a foundation of heart and soul beneath the humor.

    (L-R): Jack Harlow as Jeremy and Sinqua Walls as Kamal in 20th Century Studios’ WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Parrish Lewis. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    And while the film and its actors exhibit plenty of range, White Men Can’t Jump is simply a good time. Walls and Harlow share an easy chemistry that allows the comedy between the two to feel as natural as their on-court game. Myles Bullock and Vince Staples, who play Walls‘ Kamal’s buddies Renzo and Speedy, might not add much in the way of support on the court but more than fill their roles as additional comedic relief. Laura Harrier and Teyana Taylor, the partners of Harlow’s Jeremy and Walls‘ Kamal, respectively, may not get quite enough to do–and neither gets as much to do as Rosie Perez’s memorable Gloria in the 1986 film–but certainly help fill out who Jeremy and Kamal are. Given what the film sets out to accomplish in its modest 101-minute runtime, the bulk of it is understandably focused on developing its co-leads. So much so that not even the great Lance Reddick, in one of his final performances, gets much to do. Ultimately, however, the focus on Jeremy and Kamal pays off as both Harlow and Walls give solid individual performances but truly shine when their together.

    Hulu’s White Men Can’t Jump works in such a way that fans of the 1986 film will find resonance in Calmatic’s sampling and those who have never seen the original will find plenty to enjoy. Whether revisiting the courts of Venice Beach, recreating the original film’s “Rodney” scene with a flamethrower or giving Kamal an origin that would never have fit in 1986, Calmatic didn’t miss with his directorial choices. As one of my top five favorite Pistons always said, “Ball don’t lie.” White Men Can’t Jump should be on your list of 2023 re-whatevers.

  • ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ Director Calmatic on “Sampling” the 1992 Original

    ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ Director Calmatic on “Sampling” the 1992 Original

    Don’t call it a remake. 20th Century Studios White Men Can’t Jump might share the name and premise of the 1992 Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson classic but it is unabashedly its own film. Jack Harlow‘s washed-up white dude, Jeremy, and Sinqua Walls‘ Kamal are still hustling on the streetball circuit of L.A. but the 2023 film is much more of a modern retelling than a remake. Infused with 21st-century sensibilities, the new film works as a wonderful homage to the 1992 original while comfortably and confidently forging its own path.

    After retelling another 1990s classic, House Party, director Calmatic dipped into the retelling well again for White Men Can’t Jump, just his second feature film. Known for his work as a director of music videos for stars such as Lamar Kendrick, Lil Nas X, Pharrell Williams and more, Calmatic saw the opportunity to bring an important part of the music industry to the project: sampling. Rather than attempting to remake a beloved film, Calmatic paid homage to the film by taking some of its best bits and making them their own, new thing.

    (L-R): Jack Harlow as Jeremy and Sinqua Walls as Kamal in 20th Century Studios’ WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Parrish Lewis. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    “I got a hip-hop background, right? And so, I don’t like to say, like, we re-made a movie. I feel like we sampled a movie, right?“, explained Calmatic during the global press event for Hulu’s White Men Can’t Jump. Calmatic extended the music analogy much further, saying “We took a couple of elements; you know what I’m sayin’? We chopped it up. We changed the pitch; you know what I’m sayin’? We reversed it a little bit. And then we put a whole new bassline, a whole new set of drums on it to make it feel current. And so, I feel like that’s what this is, right? This is, like, a dope flip, you know what I mean? So, I think, you know, they say things that are classic are things that are new that feel familiar.“

    For Calmatic, it was a balancing act of sampling the bits of the 1992 film that worked so well with allowing the 2023 film to find its own footing. “So, I think we had a bunch of new elements, new characters, new storyline,” he explained, “but we had to have some of those elements, some of those locations that are familiar to everyone, you know, kinda, you know, associates with the original film. So, Venice Beach, we had to keep Venice Beach in there, you know what I’m sayin’? We had to have, you know, the guy skating down the boardwalk, you know what I mean? We had to do this in Watts, you know what I’m sayin’? That court is iconic. That bridge, the Watts Towers, like, we had to keep that. And then, obviously the big, you know, flamethrower scene. That was the original location from the “I’m gonna go get my gun,” you know what I’m sayin’?“, said Calmatic, referencing the classic bit from Marques Johnson‘s Raymond.

    What’s clear is that while fans of the 1992 film will find those rhyming samples entertaining, Calmatic has made a film that doesn’t require any association with its namesake. That Hulu’s White Men Can’t Jump can both stand on the shoulders of the classic and stand on its own is quite an accomplishment. White Men Can’t Jump debuts on Hulu May 19th.

  • Ryan Coogler Is Eyeing ‘X-Files’ Reboot at Disney

    Ryan Coogler Is Eyeing ‘X-Files’ Reboot at Disney

    Black Panther director Ryan Coogler utilizes his talents on and off the big screen. This time, he is reviving a well-known show. Reportedly, Coogler is looking into The X-Files, a science fiction series that followed FBI agents as they investigate paranormal cases. The series originally ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002 before two additional seasons ran in 2016 and 2018. Two films, The X-Files and The X-Files: I Want to Believe, were also spawned by the series’ sprawling mythology.

    The information about the new take on the show came via creator Chris Carter, who explained that Coolger is working on the reboot during an interview celebrating the original show’s 30-year anniversary.

    I just spoke to a young man, Ryan Coogler, who is going to remount ‘The X-Files’ with a diverse cast. So he’s got his work cut out for him, because we covered so much territory.

    Chris Carter

    Coogler and 20th Century Television reps have yet to confirm. The project, which is in early development, falls under Coogler’s five-year deal with Disney. While it’s currently unclear which network might land the series, Variety indicates that Hulu is a strong contender.

    Source: Variety

  • REVIEW: ‘Boston Strangler’

    REVIEW: ‘Boston Strangler’

    True crime stories have captured the imagination of audiences for decades, offering dramatic retellings that allow them to indulge in their morbid curiosities. Fans often find themselves interested in the psychology of criminals and, according to a study published in Social Psychology and Personality Science by Dr. Amanda Vicary, “the consumption of true crime is likely a subconscious effort to protect and educate oneself.” Writer-director Matt Ruskin‘s Boston Strangler capitalizes on the fascination with the genre to shine a light on two journalists who sought to protect and educate the women of Boston in the early 1960s as a serial killer–or two–terrorized Boston at a time when the concept of serial killing was a decade away from beginning to make its way into the vernacular.

    Hulu’s Boston Strangler tells the story of the string of crimes from the dual perspectives of Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, played by Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon, respectively. As the murders continued in and around Boston, McLaughlin and Cole’s work was instrumental in tying the murders together while police from different jurisdictions struggled to solve the stockpiling cases. McLaughlin and Cole’s instincts, perspective and persistence ultimately helped Boston PD identify and nap a suspect, Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to the murders; however, their work, done in predominantly male fields, wasn’t warmly received at the time and almost 60 years later, McLaughlin and Cole’s names are still rarely associated with the case.

    (L-R): Carrie Coon as Jean Cole and Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Claire Folger. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Ruskin looked to change that by making Boston Strangler and strong performances by Knightley and Coon will resonate with audiences, particularly those who have faced similar struggles and discrimination in their chosen fields. The role of women in the workforce had only just begun to change in the early and mid-1960s and as the film shows–sometimes subtly and other times not so subtly–not everyone was eager to accept the change. To that end, Boston Strangler‘s supporting cast, led by Chris Cooper and Alessandro Nivola, turn in solid performances as allies to McLaughlin and Cole’s cause.

    Though it’s likely to draw some eyeballs as a true crime project, Boston Strangler is fairly light on crime and violence, choosing instead to work more as a tribute to the work done by McLaughlin and Cole. It’s here where the film does its best work, rightfully identifying the deuteragonists as heroes and protectors. If not for McLaughlin’s work tying the cases together and Cole’s experience in navigating the landmines of the male-dominated fields of law enforcement and journalism, the Strangler’s (Stranglers’) body count could have been much higher. Their work, done at the great risk of career, family and personal safety, served to warn the women of Boston about the behaviors of the Strangler and certainly saved lives. Boston Strangler is a fitting celebration of two unsung heroes of their profession and a wonderful tribute to women who charged hard and stood firm against the obstacles in their way.

    Source: Social Psychology and Personality Science,

  • Keira Knightley Calls ‘Boston Strangler’ a “Love Song to Female Investigative Journalists”

    Keira Knightley Calls ‘Boston Strangler’ a “Love Song to Female Investigative Journalists”

    Between 1962 and 1964, 13 women were stalked, sexually assaulted and strangled in the Boston area. By July of 1962, word of the “Mad Strangler” or the “Phantom Strangler” had begun to spread and with that word spread fear among women in the area who believed they might be next. With the murders taking place in multiple different jurisdictions within the greater Boston area, police were slow to see the potential serial nature of them; Boston Record American journalist Loretta McLaughlin, however, was not. Working with Jean Cole, McLaughlin began investigating the murders and tying them together through evidence. In 1963, the pair published a four-part series in the Record American about the murders committed by the Boston Strangler. Though their work in connecting the cases was groundbreaking, the pair of journalists are rarely discussed in connection with the case.

    The Hulu original movie Boston Strangler, starring Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin and Carrie Coon as Jean Cole, looks to shine a light on the important work done by McLaughlin and Cole in helping police tie the murders together and, eventually, identify a killer and put a stop to the serial killings. While there’s still some doubt that all 13 murders were the work of one man, the killings stopped with the arrest of Albert DeSalvo. During the global press junket for the film, Knightley spoke on the role the two women played in stopping the murders and why the story of their work, which has been ignored for so long, needs to be shared.

    Well, I think for me, this whole film is really a love song to female investigative journalists. And really highlights how important it is to have women in position of power in storytelling because it was these two women that really went, “This is an important story. This is
    information that needs to be in the public in order to keep women of Boston safe.” And I think, largely, it was a story that had been, at that point, ignored by the male establishment.

    Knightley went on to indicate that given the climate and culture at the time, it’s possible the string of murders may have gone unnoticed much longer had McLaughlin not made the connection.

    And I don’t know that their male colleagues would have seen the importance of it. So I think it’s wonderful to be part of something that is really highlighting how important it is to have as many good female journalists as you possibly can for the safety of our communities.

    Given the prominence of McLaughlin and Cole’s persistent work–even in the face of discrimination– in helping save the lives of potential victims and noticing the serial nature of the killings, Boston Strangler certainly works as a reminder of the challenges faced and overcome by women in predominantly male fields. As part of Women’s History Month, you can check out Boston Strangler on Hulu beginning March 17th.