Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Interviews

  • INTERVIEW: Michaela Jill Murphy Talks ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ and More

    INTERVIEW: Michaela Jill Murphy Talks ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ and More

    We had the chance to sit down with Toph voice actress, Michaela Jill Murphy, to talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender and the app, Hyype Space, where she posts challenges for fans to partake in. Along with discussing the challenge-based social media platform, Murphy also discussed her time voicing Toph and her feature endeavors.

    If you haven’t already, be sure to give Hyype Space a chance. The most recent challenge from Murphy had fans re-creating their favorite bending scene. The winner, determined by the most claps, ended up winning $300 cash, a signed Book 2 poster, a handpicked personalized rock from the Blind Bandit, and a personalized Metalbending Academy comic or a Toph Funko pop. While the second-place winner took home $200 cash and a personalized Rock and comic and the third-place winner took home $100 cash and a personalized rock. Hyype Space is available through the App Store and Google Play now.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Clayton on Reinventing Pinhead in ‘Hellraiser’

    EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Clayton on Reinventing Pinhead in ‘Hellraiser’

    Classic horror remakes don’t always stick the landing but when they do, it’s a remarkable feat. This year’s Hellraiser reboot does exactly that, delivering new thrills for the modern audience while reinventing the franchise. At the center of this film is Jamie Clayton‘s Pinhead, who succeeds Doug Bradley’s original version in more ways than one.

    We sat down with Clayton and asked about her process of reinventing the character. Clayton credits much of her performance to director David Bruckner‘s vision.

    It was wild. It was unlike anything I’d ever done. This role was the biggest challenge for me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Luckily, I had David [director] who literally one of the most amazing directors I’ve worked with. So generous with his time and ideas. We had many conversations about what the Hell Priest’s intentions were. What she would be feeling and thinking at every given moment. David gave me the room to play on set and we tried lots of different things and moments. He would direct me in a way that was so patient. I’m so happy that it’s me.

    Clayton’s incredible performance should only lead to more appearances in brand-new Hellraiser films. The look, voice, and gravitas she brings to the role are what makes the film ultimately sing. Without Clayton, the film wouldn’t have had the same reception at all.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Genevieve O’Reilly On Mon Mothma’s Home Life in ‘ANDOR’

    EXCLUSIVE: Genevieve O’Reilly On Mon Mothma’s Home Life in ‘ANDOR’

    Mon Mothma is one of the iconic Star Wars characters making their return in Andor. Played by Genevieve O’Reilly, the show explores Mon Mothma’s early days in the Rebellion, giving insight into how she navigated the Empire’s political landscape.

    This week’s episode, in particular, reveals the life she had at home away from all the politics. It is revealed that her husband is in cahoots with some of the Empire’s most questionable personnel, much to her frustration. We spoke with O’Reilly, and asked what she thought of this brand new examination of such an important Star Wars character:

    Isn’t it interesting that we usually see Mon Mothma surrounding by rebels in a bunker? Where we meet her now is so polar opposite to any position we’ve seen her in before. She’s living and working within the imperial senate but not only that, her husband is clearly a card-carrying paid-up member of that Empire. We know that she’s been a senator since she was 16 years old. That comes with some serious constructs. We know her has a woman with a voice and an advocate for democracy. But really, how much of a voice did you have at 16? What is the structure of the life you stepped into as a senator at 16? What choices did she have? What’s interesting in Tony’s version when we meet her in her home life is you go, “What choices has this woman ever had?”

    It’ll be interesting to see just how Mon Mothma’s home life plays out given how she eventually rises to lead the Rebellion a couple of years from Andor. Her husband’s fate will be one to watch out for when he realizes his wife is working for the Empire’s enemy. Will he rat Mon out? How will he find out? One of Andor’s biggest strengths is its willingness to ask these questions and that makes for incredible Star Wars storytelling.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘ANDOR’ Stars on Tony Gilroy’s Writing

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘ANDOR’ Stars on Tony Gilroy’s Writing

    This week’s release of Andor sees the Star Wars universe change in an unexpected way. The series strongly echoes the visuals and themes of Rogue One while presenting it in a darker tone. Murphy’s Multiverse sat down with a few of Andor’s stars and asked about the show’s script and Tony Gilroy‘s vision for a grittier Star Wars.

    Kyle Soller, who plays Syril Karn, said that the show’s unique tone was immediately present from the writing alone:

    I definitely felt it through the writing. When the script first came to me and I was talking to Tony Gilroy, I had the same exact reaction. It was not what I expected in the best possible way. It’s grittier. It’s more human. It’s very domestic. It’s a socio-political drama while also being a Star Wars epic. It built off the promise of what Rogue One was. This writing plus Tony Gilroy plus Diego Luna, it was just, “Wow!”

    The first three episodes of the series follow an intricate web of stories and complex characters. One of those characters is Cassian Andor’s close confidant Bix Caleen, a mechanic who may have ties to the Rebellion that Cassian has no clue about. Adria Arjona dished on Gilroy’s script and how it felt reading the story on the page:

    I think Tony is a brilliant writer. Tonally, when you read the script you realize how grounded it is and complex each and every character is and how interesting every storyline is and how they intertwine. It’s complicated and the characters are really going through something bigger than themselves. I think Tony did something beautiful where no one in this show lives in black or white. Everyone is in a grey area. There’s no such thing as good or bad and you get to explore ‘why’ in the intimacy of the character’s homes.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Prey’ Star Dakota Beavers Wants to Play a Jedi

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Prey’ Star Dakota Beavers Wants to Play a Jedi

    Being the second lead in a Predator film as the first project in a resume is a hell of an entrance to make but Dakota Beavers brings all the might of a true action star in Prey. As Taabe, the warrior-chief brother of protagonist Naru, Beavers brings a performance that is unlike any of the previous male protagonists of the franchise.

    Speaking to Murphy’s Multiverse about the pressures of starring in a Predator film, Beavers seemed relatively confident in his take on the character.

    It was easy to get spooked about since it was my first project. But it was also so different that I could comfortably be myself. Those men in the first movie had such strong voices and presence. I wanted Taabe to carry that with him. That strong and masculine air. But the film was different enough to where I could put myself enough in it and not worry about what people think.

    When asked whether he wanted to follow up his impressionist Prey performance with something in the vein of Marvel and Star Wars, the idea got him excited.

    I would be on Cloud 9 to play something like that. Like a Jedi or a Star Wars bounty hunter. I would be all over that.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Prey’ Was Originally Supposed to Be Entirely Filmed in Comanche

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Prey’ Was Originally Supposed to Be Entirely Filmed in Comanche

    Prey has the distinction of not only being the best Predator film in thirty but also the first major motion picture to have a Comanche dub. But the dub, which is available to watch on Hulu, wasn’t always a dub. Early plans for the film featured a script that was to be performed in the language. But as the development went on, the idea was scrapped.

    We spoke to Prey director Dan Trachtenberg and he gave insight as to why it was changed during development

    The initial concept was for all of it to be in Comanche. But as the story evolved, we found that there was a great mixture of languages and made this decision to not have subtitles. As new characters and languages come into the story, you’re always linked to Naru and her experience of it. What sounds foreign to her, will sound foreign to the viewers as well.

    Dan Trachtenberg

    When asked about whether the Comanche dub is the essential version of the film, producer Jhane Myers had this to say.

    For me, yes. But this is the type of movie you should watch twice. So I recommend you watch it in Comanche and English.

    Jhane Myers

    Even though Prey is amazing as it is, a version of the film with the actors performing in Comanche would be a totally immersive experience. Nonetheless, the Comanche dub is described by Trachtenberg as “a little more sophisticated than perhaps our memory of watching dubbed movies.” So even the dubbed version is already going to be a lot more special than generic dubs.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Amber Midthunder on ‘Prey’s Impact on Indigenous Representation

    EXCLUSIVE: Amber Midthunder on ‘Prey’s Impact on Indigenous Representation

    The Predator brand is undoubtedly the biggest draw of Prey. One of the great things about the brand is that it can be used to tell all kinds of stories. In Prey, the Predator brand is used to examine the lives of the Comanche nation as they try to live their lives in a world that is changing by the minute. The film’s cast is made up of primarily indigenous talent, making it a huge watershed moment for a Hollywood production.

    Murphy’s Multiverse spoke with star Amber Midthunder and asked what her industry hopes were for the representation in the film.

    That’s the thing about this movie I’m most proud of. I think it’s an obviously entertaining and incredible movie. It’s beautiful and all the things but I’m personally proud of the representation element and what that does. All the projects you mentioned are working together to show that indigenous people, filmmakers, and actors can make shows and films that are entertaining and relatable. We’ve been storytellers for a long time. We have something valuable to add not just in this arena but in any. There’s also the fact that whenever you see a period piece film, I can’t think of one where you get to see native people be people. People that you relate to and are intelligent. People that have a variety of personalities. You often see somebody be really savage or be over-spiritualized or one-dimensional so I’m proud of that as well.

    Prey is the latest in a line of projects with native talent working in front and behind the camera; Reservation Dogs is one of FX’s most acclaimed shows and Marvel Studios is working on Echo, which stars a Cheyenne character. Prey is a hell of a film with a hell of a cast. Should audiences flock to Hulu to watch the greatest Predator film in 30 years starring an indigenous lead, it could mean truly great things for representation.

  • ‘Solar Opposites’ Executive Producers Discuss Creative Process for the Series

    ‘Solar Opposites’ Executive Producers Discuss Creative Process for the Series

    Solar Opposites recently released its third season, consisting of 11 episodes, on Hulu, and much praise has been given to the extremely high concept ideas that are presented and the overall strong writing from the adult animated series. During this past weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con events, Murphy’s Multiverse had the opportunity to sit down with series co-creator Mike McMahan and executive producers Josh Bycel and Danielle Uhlrik to talk about the creative and writing process behind Solar Opposites. McMahan opened the interview by discussing the ultimate creative freedom the team has and their ability to formulate absurd pitches into tangible content. 

    Half the time, I’ll pitch an insane thing, Joshua (Bycel) will go, ‘Well we can’t do that,’ and we’ll spend the day thinking how we can do it.

    Mike McMahan

    A good portion of the “insane” ideas that end up being folded into the series come from a deep lexicon of film and television references. Both Danielle Uhlirk and Josh Bycel spent some time talking about these inspirations that permeate in the writer’s room.

    We love TV and movies so much that the more we can break the rules, the better. And then we are just surprising ourselves, because, at the end of it, we are just trying to entertain ourselves in the (writer’s) room.

    Danielle Uhlrik

    So many times, so many of the nods or the homages are only things that we like that no one else is asking for. Like no one was asking for us to do a storyline about Sylvester Stallone’s movie Daylight, but we thought it was funny and Mike (McMahan) and I liked it.

    Josh Bycel

    With that in mind, Mike McMahan brought up the advantages that the animation medium has in being able to reach these unpredictable concepts that the creative team produces.

    When you’re watching an animated show, you know right at the beginning…it isn’t going to be a ‘standard’ show. So how are we going to wield that? Executives always ask, ‘Why is this animated?,’and for us, it’s because you’re never going to predict what happens in the show.

    Mike McMahan

    Josh Bycel also took some time to discuss the joy he and the writing team get to have in getting to branch out into various genres of film and television for this show, even within their distinct background of comedy.

    When we get to do The Wall stuff and now with this new season, SilverCops…for us it’s so fun as we get to cosplay being drama writers. We’re like nerdy comedy writers that no prestigious drama would ever hire, but we get to do our own prestigious drama with tiny little people eating Peeps.

    Josh Bycel

    On the concept of The Wall, Mike McMahan revealed that the Solar Opposites team still has large amounts of story to be told from that arc that will cover a good portion of the show’s future.

    I think for The Wall, we have at least two or three more seasons figured out, but luckily it’s such an open book. Because you can switch the genre and because it’s just little people in a society…it’s like a video game in a way. We can always adjust it and change it, we just have to introduce new villains and new heroes and let time pass. The one thing we push the breaks on is we don’t want to jump ahead, it’s more funny to us to be like ‘Okay, now the Cherie character has a baby, but next season it can’t be a teenager, that almost has to be a toddler and let it be a slow, unexpected serialized thing.’ But then because we get to genre-change all the time, it feels like a different Oscar-movie thriller every year which we never get to write that stuff as comedy writers. It’s like a whole new sandbox, and we never run out of ideas

    Mike McMahan

    If Solar Opposites is able to maintain the high level of creative quality it has exuded thus far for the multiple future seasons of content the writing team has accounted for, Hulu could have a long-term success story on their hands. All three seasons of Solar Opposites are currently available to watch on Hulu and a fourth is currently in development.

    This interview was done in conjunction with Saturday Morning Cereal, Pixelated Geek, and JVS Media & Productions.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ms. Marvel’s Powers Were Changed To Connect to Other MCU Stories

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ms. Marvel’s Powers Were Changed To Connect to Other MCU Stories

    Easily the most divisive element of Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel is the altered powers of Kamala Khan as the creators behind the series changed Kamala’s origin from an Inhuman who has her powers awakened one fateful night to a normal teen who receives a magical heirloom. Her powers are changed from a form of elasticity called embeginning to very visual, crystalline energy powers akin to Green Lantern.

    While it remains to be seen how it will all work out within the context of the show, series executive producer and character co-creator Sana Amanat explained in a conversation with us why the power was changed in the first place:

    I talked to them a little bit and gave some feedback but I do know from my understanding that it was something that was important to connecting powers to other MCU stories and the next phase. At the same time, it was connecting it to her lineage and identity. My favorite part of how they evolved her powers was the idea that it was connected to her own life and her family’s experience.

    Sana Amanat

    Fans have theorized that the powered heirloom Kamala receives in the series has to do with the upcoming The Marvels, a film slated to be her next appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That corner of the Marvel Universe has featured objects of similar power such as the famous Quantum Bands so it wouldn’t be surprising if that ties into it. Whatever the heirloom ends up being, it’s pretty clear that the figureheads over at Marvel Studios wanted the heroes of The Marvels to have a unifying visual identity as Carol, Monica, and Kamala all have similar energy-based powers.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Co-Creator Wants Thomas Edison For Season 2

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Co-Creator Wants Thomas Edison For Season 2

    Seemingly missing from this season of Ms. Marvel is the infamous avian foe of Kamala Khan, a bipedal, talking parrot that also happens to be the clone of Thomas Edison. In the comics, Edison plays a big part in Kamala Khan’s early superhero days as the first supervillain she comes across.

    In an exclusive interview with Ms. Marvel co-creator and show producer Sana Amanat, we asked about the possibility of seeing this wacky character in the MCU and if he would even work believably.

    I think so! I think it could work. We’ll find a way to work it in. Give me a Season 2. We’ll see [laughs].

    This year in the MCU alone has seen all kinds of wacky characters in live-action. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw a dead Doctor Strange come to life and a bovine sorceress fight Scarlet Witch. Moon Knight had a talking bipedal crocodile and hippopotamus. With how far the MCU has come, a bird clone of Thomas Edison isn’t much of a step too far. Should a Season 2 for Ms. Marvel be greenlit, Thomas Edison would be at the top of a list of characters that we’d like to see.