Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Loki

  • ‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors

    ‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors

    Besides a few hints and plenty of rumors, we know very little about Doctor Strange’s travel through the multiverse. The aptly titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will build upon the events of Loki and will follow after Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, the multiverse opens up the franchise to what seems like endless possibilities. We know that Wanda Maximoff will return after the events of WandaVision, as she searches for her children throughout the multiverse. America Chavez will also make her MCU debut with the upcoming film. Yet, there are countless more rumors  So, let’s take a closer look at the multitude of cameos and appearances rumored for the sequel.

     

    WandaVision“: Das Ende von Folge 9 erklärt – Das steckt hinter den Post- Credit-Szenen · KINO.de

     

    Let’s start with those that might have larger roles in the film. A recent Funko Pop leak teases the addition of different Variants of Strange and Wong. There will be Supreme and Defenders versions, which may or may not be allies in their multiversal travels. It also included the naming of Rintrah, who Adam Hugill is reported to be playing. The iconic comic character will also get a Funko alongside the Variants, which may hint at them having a somewhat larger role in the story.

    The only hint at an overarching villain we got was the hint at the appearance of the multiversal being, Shuma-Gorath. The upcoming What If series may have hinted at his inclusion, and he seems like the perfect choice for this type of storyline. He’ll likely connect to the appearance of America Chavez, whose abilities may become the catalyst for the overarching narrative in the film. Now that we got the bigger roles out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the various teased or rumored cameos for the upcoming film:

     

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    Bruce Campbell in 'Doctor Strange'-Sequel dabei?

     

     

    There are quite a few rumors and who knows what else might appear online in the coming months, ahead of its release. At one point, Mads Mikkelsen was rumored to make a grand return before it swiftly got debunked. It was a given that the moment Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange jumped into the multiverse that almost any possible appearance has become a possibility. So, if the rumors surrounding Spider-Man: No way Home turns out true, who knows if they may also connect with Strange’s upcoming adventure with his appearance confirmed. So, we’ll see if this list ends up growing as time goes on.

  • ‘Assembled’: ‘WandaVision’s Episode is the Most Watched Entry of the Marvel Studios BTS Series

    ‘Assembled’: ‘WandaVision’s Episode is the Most Watched Entry of the Marvel Studios BTS Series

    Disney+ doesn’t actively share any viewing data. So, we are dependent on external analysts to figure out how successful a show may be on the streaming service. Luckily, the latest analysis by Samba TV has revealed that WandaVision‘s Assembled episode is the most-watched episode of all three.

    They shared the statistic on Twitter which showcases how many viewers the episodes got in their first five days. WandaVision led with 98K US households followed by Loki with 65K as well as Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s 61K. It seems that the premier Marvel Studios series had the most momentum, as people wanted to uncover how they brought the iconic sitcom eras to life throughout each episode.

     

    It’s an interesting insight into how many viewers are interested in the BTS episodes. It seems that this additional one-episode format per Disney+ series is paying off and has earned a considerable audience in the US. We’re still questioning if we potentially get the release of a Black widow-focused episode. There was never any announcement if they are actively including it in the series. So, it seems likely they might be utilizing this exclusively for the Disney+ series.

    Yet, they might also time it with the digital release, as they also include various looks at behind-the-scenes and cut scenes. Plus, the Disney+ series run for several weeks and it only gets released once the series’ finale got released. It’ll be interesting to see how many viewers the BTS episode on What If might garner, as we get a closer look at the animation process of his unique series. Here’s hoping Assembled has a long history ahead.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Studios’ Multiverse is Both a Blessing and a Curse

    Marvel Studios’ Multiverse is Both a Blessing and a Curse

    Loki has unleashed the multiverse. It’s probably what you’ve been reading for the last two weeks since the episode was released. Everyone is excited to finally explore the possibilities of multiple Variants of our favorite heroes existing. It offers some credence to the rumors of Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man getting joined by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. It even opens up all kinds of possibilities for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Yet, there is one big problem with this new development. It creates an easy-to-exploit way to solve future issues. Its existence establishes brand new trappings that could hurt future Marvel storytelling through an overreliance. The multiverse could end up as the franchise’s biggest Deus Ex Machina.

     

    Here's What Loki's Multiverse Should Bring Us In The MCU

     

    What do I mean by that? The phrase once referenced ancient plot devices’ in Greek and Roman theatre performances. Yet, it has become the go-to term for unexplainable or random plot points that solve storylines. To give an example, 1954’s The Lord of Flies by William Golding famously had a naval officer appear at the perfect time to shift an ongoing plot point. In the world of comics, Batman’s utility belt serves that function by offering the exact tool he needs to solve his problem. In a way, the multiverse is Marvel Studios’ new storytelling utility belt. They can tell new types of stories yet also fall into the trapping of relying on it to solve any potential problem.

    The newly introduced multiverse opens up many new avenues for the franchise. Yet, it also creates a plethora of potential plot holes and exploits. With hints pointing at iconic characters from other franchises returning, it seems like an easy pass to introduce characters from alternative dimensions to solve problems. Our main hero can’t take on the enemies on his own? Fine, here are others from the multiverse to aid him. It could end up being more convenient than purposeful, which is a challenge for Marvel studios’ future directors to juggle.

     

    What is the TVA from Loki in Marvel comic books? | GamesRadar+

     

    Kevin Feige and his crew have proven some foresight by setting specific rules for how the multiverse works in their franchise. They even tied it into how time traveling, which could prove helpful to avoid one element complicating the other. There’s also the question of how long the multiverse will remain, as it could be a temporary element for the Kang-focused overarching storyline. We know that the end goal lies in the Multiversal War, but the path to that point will be a complicated one.

    There’s a chance that only specific films will deal with this storyline, which includes Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Doctor Strange sequel as well as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Here’s hoping we get a bit more insight into how these storylines will intersect in the franchise’s future. So, only a specific group will have to directly tackle the outcome of Loki while others are more independent. The path ahead won’t be an easy one for Marvel Studios, but it’ll be exciting how they reinvent the franchise through this new direction.

  • New Artwork Reveals ‘Loki’ Almost Featured a Rocket Variant

    New Artwork Reveals ‘Loki’ Almost Featured a Rocket Variant

    The Time Variance Authority introduced the world to the concept tof Variants. To keep the multiverse from springing into existence, they would prune that version of the character from their original timeline. The entire series follows the story of various Loki Variants. If you look closely in the background, we even seem to get a brief cameo from someone who looks like Haley Atwell‘s Peggy Carter. Sadly, it never got confirmed if the actress returned for the role for that cameo.

    It was strange we didn’t get too many Variants covering the halls of the TVA from familiar MCU characters. It seems that there might’ve been plans for a Rocket Variant to appear, as the latest episode of the Assembled documentary reveals artwork that features the iconic waiting line from the series’ first episode. In it, the waiting room was empty as the time organization kept a very good eye on the timeline. Well, in the concept art, they originally were going to have quite a line for Loki to sit through. If you look closely at the end of the row, Rocket is also waiting in line.

     

     

    Interestingly, this version of the waiting room teases quite a variety of aliens going through the TVA. The show seemed to focus primarily on humans with one Skrull in the first episode. There’s a chance that they had to cut down on some ideas due to the pandemic postponing production and even influencing budgetary restraints. The empty room does make it a bit more sinister and they can introduce this busier version with the second season. Now that the multiverse was born, it seems like the perfect time to round up quite a few Variants that could cause trouble for the newly established leader.

    Source: Disney+

  • ‘Loki’s Jonathan Majors Teases Many Iterations of Kang in the MCU’s Future

    ‘Loki’s Jonathan Majors Teases Many Iterations of Kang in the MCU’s Future

    It’s been ten months since Jonathan Major‘s casting as Kang the Conqueror got announced. He was going to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quntumania. Of course, we knew that film wasn’t going to release for some time. So, the early casting was quite a curious reveal. It almost felt like he was meant to appear in another property long before his first appearance as Kang.

    The final episode of Loki confirmed our suspicions, as Majors appeared as a Kang Variant only known as He Who Remains. It is our first glimpse at the iconic Marvel character. Luckily, Marvel Studios’ new behind-the-scenes series Assembled also gave us a hint at what we can expect with the character and it seems

    I think with He Who Remains, the objective for me was to give me the largest canvas possible. And then from that, as Kang begins to rear his head and do his deeds, in so many ways, he has no choice but to be in opposition or to be different from He Who Remains. That was the thing that grabbed me and pulled me into the role. The fact that Kang lives in so many iterations. As He Who Remains says: ‘Reincarnation, Baby’.

    His appearance was even teased as the embodiment of the next Phase in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It sounds like Kang will definitely be a very different character from He Who Remains, who was inspired by characters like Willy Wonka. There’s also a very likely chance that Kang isn’t just one singular threat. We might meet various versions of the iconic character that’ll make the Avengers life a living hell. The ending of Loki‘s first season teased his dominance over the Time Variance Authority. So, he won’t be an easy villain to take down.

    Source: Disney+

  • A Version Of ‘Loki’ Could Have Seen Him Wield the Infinity Gauntlet

    A Version Of ‘Loki’ Could Have Seen Him Wield the Infinity Gauntlet

    It’s crazy to think that Loki ended last week. The series started with an emotional journey of self-discovery and ended with the birth of the multiverse. Luckily, Marvel Studios started a great new tradition with Disney+, as the end of one show means we’ll get a little extra. Marvel Studios’ Assembled started as a special documentary series after the release of WandaVision and continued to be the center of our first glimpse behind their Disney+ show productions.

    The latest one focusing on Loki offered a little extra glimpse into what the series could’ve been. In a blink-and-you-miss-it sequence, head writer Michael Waldron is standing in front of a whiteboard full of ideas. If you look closely, there’s a listing of eight points that tease a very adventurous episode for the God of Mischief. The list to its left follows the structure of the episode we ended up watching.

     

     

    It’s not easy to make out, but it involves Loki visiting different time periods. He gets into various mischievous situations, which a specific highlight on sex. He starts collecting the Infinity Stones and even gets his hands on the gauntlet. Yet, after all that, he questions if it is even real and returns to the TVA. There, Mmobisu shows him their true power.

    It certainly sounds like a very different episode from what we got. It also seems this was set up before the Sacred Timeline was established. Loki gathering all the Infinity Stones would’ve caused a massive Nexus event. It shows how many ideas they must’ve gone through before the show even entered production. Interestingly enough, the travel through different eras was the original pitch of the series some time back. So, it’s always great to get some insight into seeing that original idea almost made it into the Disney+ series.

    Source: Disney+

  • VIDEO: ‘LOKI’ Director Kate Herron Explains Marvel’s Cinematic Multiverse

    VIDEO: ‘LOKI’ Director Kate Herron Explains Marvel’s Cinematic Multiverse

    In a recent chat with Charles Murphy, Loki director Kate Herron took the time to explain how Marvel’s Cinematic Multiverse, introduced by Jonathan Majors‘ He Who Remains in the finale of the series, works and details exactly what we’re seeing as the timeline branches. Check out the video below:

  • ‘Loki’: Jack Veil Talks Kid Loki’s Time in the Void

    ‘Loki’: Jack Veil Talks Kid Loki’s Time in the Void

    There have been many standouts throughout Loki‘s six-episode run on Disney+. In the fifth episode, it embraced the zaniness of its Variant concept. We met one Loki after another. The episode gave. bigger focus on Richard E. Grant‘s Classic Loki, who helped our main duo in their confrontation with Alioth. There was also Alligator Loki, who has become a fan-favorite with many hooping to see his return.

    Of course, many also hope to see the grand return of Kid Loki, played by Jack Veil, who was a prominent member of the Young Avengers in the comics. We only learn that he managed to kill his version of Thor and go pruned as a result of it. Sadly, we have no idea where his story led him afterward, but Veil offered some insight into his backstory in an interview with Comic Book Movie.

    Many people don’t know this, but Kid Loki is the oldest one in The Void. He was pruned thousands of years before and just didn’t age because of The Void being the end of time as said by Judge Renslayer. It is also the sheer fact that he killed Thor. As I said, no other Loki would dare try or even do that successfully. That not only makes him the Oldest but the most intimidating as well.

    It explains why he was the Loki in charge. Not only was he the only one able or willing to kill Thor, but he’s been trapped in the Void long enough. If he were able to escape, he would offer a unique dynamic to a group of young heroes. Here’s hoping that the show’s second season could build upon his story and further build the Young Avengers story that is being teased throughout the Disney+ series.

    Source: Comic Book Movie

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Director Kate Herron Explains Marvel’s Interconnected Multiverse

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Director Kate Herron Explains Marvel’s Interconnected Multiverse

    The final episode of Loki introduced the world to the multiverse. A single decision unleashed a new Multiversal War and opened up new paths for the once Marvel Cinematic Universe. What If and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will be our first visits int the multiverse, but we don’t know quite yet how it works. Luckily, our own Charles Murphy got a chance to sit down with director Kate Herron. She offered some insight into how the Sacred Timeline expanded.

    So, there’s the branches, right, which is like the alternative reality. But then something, you’ll see it, it’s very subtle but in the very last shot where you see the multiverse, there’s like basically other bigger physical timeline branches. So, it’s almost like these different separate trees that are now connecting.

    The visual of the Sacred timeline branching off was quite a memorable moment for those wanting to explore the infinite possibilities o the multiverse. The latest What If the trailer teased a crossover of these different Variants in the form of the Guardians of the Multiverse. Luckily, Herron elaborated that there will indeed be some points where these timelines interconnect.

    It’s almost like a bridge. If you imagine the branch, it is like another reality. But if the branch extends beyond a certain point, it will then connect to other physical timelines. […] That last shot we did, there are other like thicker [branches] that are meant to be like our timeline. And there are other timelines like that and the branches are the connectors basically.

    It’ll be interesting to see if Doctor Strange will be able to clean up the multiverse in the upcoming sequel, or simply witness the results of timelines colliding. We know that Kang is the cause of the Multiversal War. It might end up becoming the final connection point between them. It still seems very likely Secret Wars in our future and we cannot wait to see how the second season of Loki further explores the multiverse.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Director Kate Herron Hopes ‘Loki’ Season 2 Explores Hunter B-15’s Backstory

    EXCLUSIVE: Director Kate Herron Hopes ‘Loki’ Season 2 Explores Hunter B-15’s Backstory

    The season finale of the Disney+ series Loki left quite the impression on fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As it answered many of the questions we had since the show premiered, the finale left us with quite a few cliffhangers. We are left wondering where Judge Renslayer was heading and why the Time Variance Authority can’t remember Loki. Sylvie was last seen in the citadel at the end of time, as Kang’s image replaces the Time-Keepers. In an interview with the show’s director Kate Herron, our very own Charles Murphy asked her about the various cliffhangers, and she even proposed an additional one: What is B-15’s secret past?

    I have no idea. I don’t know the future plans but the other thing I will say to just kind of add on to your cliffhanger pile: “Who is B-15?” I loved that scene when her and Slyvie see her memories but we don’t know who she is and why was she happy? I don’t know, I feel like there’s a lot of unresolved questions in the first season, but as to when they’ll be answered, I don’t know.

     

     

    The focus on Wunmi Mosaku‘s B-15 is quite interesting. It shows that her backstory could hide some interesting secrets than we previously anticipated. In the scene that Herron specifies from the fourth episode, we see Hunter B-15 going to the year 2050 with Sylvie. There she confronts her what exactly she did to her coworker and fellow TVA hunter, C-20. Sylvie then proceeded to unlock Hunter B-15’s memories from before she became a Variant. Now, we are left to wonder what exactly those memories were. There’s also the question of what her Nexus Event was that brought her to the TVA in the first place. Hopefully, by the time we enter Loki‘s second season, we’ll get an answer to all of these questions even though Kate Herron isn’t returning to direct.