Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Loki

  • New Rumor Further Hints at Deadpool Facing the TVA in ‘Deadpool 3’

    New Rumor Further Hints at Deadpool Facing the TVA in ‘Deadpool 3’

    The multiverse is still set to expand in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future. While we still don’t know when we’ll see Jonathan Majors return once again, the presence of Kang the Conqueror will continue to remain. One of the biggest rumors has been pointing to the third installment of Deadpool will feature him traveling through the multiverse, a fitting story given how he destroyed his own universe’s timeline after the events of Deadpool 2.

    Now, a new rumor is making the rounds from Jeff Sneider, which adds more weight to the long-running hints that we may see the return of Loki‘s Time Variance Authority in the upcoming sequel. Not just that, but supposedly we’ll see the return of Owen Wilson‘s Mobius alongside Tara Strong‘s Miss Minutes. There is, however, no other word on who else might appear from the series.

    There’s the possibility that we get some hint at this Deadpool adventure in the second season of Loki, which will continue the storyline after Sylvie unleashed the multiverse and the events we’re seeing unfold in the current Saga of the MCU. It would be great to see Tom Hiddleston have to interact with Ryan Reynold‘s chaotic Merc with a Mouth, but they may keep him for a post-credit sequence.

    There’s also the question if we might see Wolverine from a different part of the multiverse. While knowing that Hugh Jackman is reprising the role, it was never confirmed that he is the exact same character we see throughout 20th Century Studios’ long-running take on the franchise. Of course, there’s always the chance that we see that version and some more from different universes. Wolverine vs. Wolverine, anyone?

    Source: Twitter

  • New Report Clarifies Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Plans

    New Report Clarifies Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Plans

    Less than one year ago, Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, rolled out a fully loaded Multiverse Saga to the thunderous applause of fans at SDCC ’22. That slate included 9 total projects slated for release in 2023: 4 films (Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvel and Blade) and 5 streaming series (Secret Invasion, Echo, Loki Season 2, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos). Halfway through halfway through the year–that’s one quarter to you and me–that slate has already been blown all to hell and the pieces haven’t been Humpty-dumptied back together again.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, which kicked off Marvel Studios 2023 as planned, was supposed to be followed by the Spring release of Secret Invasion. Spring has now sprung and though there are solid rumors of a June release of the series, there has been no word from Disney as to when fans will actually be able to check out the Nick Fury-centric spy thriller on Disney Plus. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which was originally slated to follow Secret Invasion, will make its May 5, 2023 release date; however, Echo, which was scheduled for a post-Guardians Summer release, has been subject to some pretty wild production rumors and, according to showrunner Marion Dayre, was pushed to late 2023.

    Those moves began the cascade of moves that resulted in 2023’s slate devolving into chaos. Delaying the release of Secret Invasion caused the second season of Loki to be pushed back as well; Blade brought on one–and then another–new writer and a new director and was moved to 2024; The Marvels left its late July slot for Blade’s November slot, giving it more time in post-production and a better release window; with all the other series shuffling around, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos seem destined to be moved to 2024. Dominoes. And almost a quarter of the way through 2023, Marvel Studios fans have absolutely no idea when they’ll be able to catch a streaming series on Disney Plus.

    While that might not be remedied any time soon, a new report from Variety does at least seem to clarify how many projects fans can expect to stream in 2023…sort of. According to Variety’s sources, the five series that were planned to stream this year (Secret Invasion, Echo, Loki, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos), “have been narrowed to three or four” and whichever ones don’t make the cut will be “moving into 2024 and possibly beyond.” With Secret Invasion and Loki sure bets for 2023 and Dayre’s statement about a potential late-2023 release of Echo lining up with recent rumblings, the “three” part of “three of four” seems set. Will Marvel Studios try to jam another live-action series into the second half of 2023? If so, Ironheart would be the safest bet given that Agatha: Coven of Chaos is still filming and would not be done any favors be being rushed through post-production to make a 2023 release. So what’s the safest bet at the moment: rounding out 2023 with Secret Invasion, Season 2 of Loki and Echo. What Marvel Studios will do beyond that remains to be seen and until they give us some direction, it’s best to keep things speculative and not etched in stone.

    Source: Variety

  • New Funko May Have Unveiled an MCU Original Hero Kahhori for ‘What If…?’ Season 2

    New Funko May Have Unveiled an MCU Original Hero Kahhori for ‘What If…?’ Season 2

    Marvel Studios has mainly focused on adapting existing characters from the choices; sometimes even twisting some familiar faces in new ways like the Scarlet Scarab in Moon Knight. Yet, a new Funko leak may have unveiled a brand new character that could be a Marvel Cinematic Universe exclusive character.

    Instagram user lasvegasfunkoholics has shared a Funko Soda that includes a character named Kahhori. Now, this character seemingly has no connection to an existing one in the comics and seemingly will appear in the upcoming second season of What If…?‘s second season given that another leaked Funko Soda includes Zombie Iron Man and the logo is included.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQJnIFp7Uy/

    There are also Soda Funko’s for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as they are seemingly rolling out quite a few MCU-centric Soda Funkos. There will be some confusion of who Kahhori is and if she might also have a role in live-action. There’s also the chance that she might appear in The Marvels or potentially one of the Disney+ shows set to release this year, Secret Invasion and Loki‘s second season.

    Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige has always been open to potentially introducing brand new characters original to the franchise. Agent Coulson may not have been a hero but Clark Gregg‘s iconic character went on to become a fan-favorite and was also even introduced into the comics even before he got his own spinoff series Agents of SHIELD. So, we’ll have to keep an eye out for where Kahhori might appear.

    Source: Instagram, The Direct

  • RUMOR: Jonathan Majors’ Kang May Return Sooner Than Later

    RUMOR: Jonathan Majors’ Kang May Return Sooner Than Later

    Jonathan Majors finally got to play Kang the Conqueror in the recently released Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While we did get a brief glimpse of one of his Variants during the first season of Loki, the first season even ended with a glimpse at the big bad himself as the new leader of the Time Variance Authority. So, we all assumed he’d likely have a role in the second season, but it was never officially confirmed.

    With Quantumania‘s release and the much-discussed post-credit sequences, the Marvel rumor mill has once again picked up steam as Cosmic Circus has hinted that Kang will have a larger role in the upcoming second season. While he only made a brief appearance in last season’s finale, it seems we can expect him to appear in at least three episodes. If they are still sticking to their six-episode format for dramas, he’ll have a significant role in the series.

    They believe the reasoning is that we’ll see a few Kang variants in the season, as it’ll focus on Loki and Mobius seeking out the different versions and how they influenced the timeline. The Sacred Timeline is no longer and with the multiverse continuing to stretch out into infinity, who knows what they might find. It’s definitely sounding like Marvel is making good use of the concept and giving Jonathan Majors many chances to give us a unique take on this character every time we see him.

    Source: Cosmic Circus via The Direct

  • Natalie Holt Returning as the Composer for ‘Loki’ Season 2

    Natalie Holt Returning as the Composer for ‘Loki’ Season 2

    Natalie Holt has confirmed her return for Season 2 of Loki. Holt revealed her return in a tweet on Friday, with an image of Loki oil. Along with the image she tweeted, “Indian #Loki oil, I need some to cool my mind as I write the music for S2.”

    Production on the second season of Loki kicked off last Summer and wrapped in October of 2022. Outside of a few set photos that leaked, not much is known regarding Loki Season 2. The newest season, which is expected to kick off shortly after the events of the first season, will feature new cast members Kate Dickie and Ke Huy Quan. And while not confirmed, Season 2 is expected to introduce a new inventor variant of Kang.

    While Loki Season 2 does not yet have a release date, the season is excepted to be released sometime this Summer.

    Source: Twitter.

  • Theory Thursday: Victor Timely’s Time Has Come

    Theory Thursday: Victor Timely’s Time Has Come

    New information from insider Daniel RPK seems to have indicated that a Variant of Kang known as Victor Timely is set to make his debut in the MCU in 2023. Via his Patreon, Daniel RPK shared that Loki Season 2 will feature another new Variant of Jonathan Majors‘ Kang who is “an inventor from the past wanting to buy stuff from people to affect the future.” Though RPK added he could not confirm that this Variant will be Victor Timely, speculation about the character has revolved around that identity. This isn’t the first time the character’s name has come up, either, given that the insider teased a mention or appearance of Timely in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Who is Victor Timely and why are so many fans sure this is him? Fascinating questions to which there are probably multiple great answers, to be sure, and while we can’t provide the correct answer we can theorize!

    Who is Victor Timely?

    Interior art from Avengers Annual #21(1992)

    Kang is a complex villain and the convoluted and continuous retconning of the character in the pages of Marvel Comics over the years has made a true understanding of him daunting. In one respect, that’s actually worked in the favor of those penning whatever the latest adventures of the character are because they can be as mysterious and crazy as they want given pretty much nobody knows exactly what went on with Kang to begin with and when time travel is involved, anything is possible…and that is the essence of Victor Timely.

    Victor Timely’s origins come from a retcon to Kang’s story first published in 1992’s Avengers Annual #21. The issue tells the story of what happened following Kang’s first defeat at the hands of the Avengers. Kang retreated to the past, where under the alias of Victor Timely he founded a city and rose to fame as an inventor and industrialist. His work as Timely quietly shaped the century while he built a fantastical and quasi-temporal base of operations, Chronopolis, from where he could access timelines that other versions of himself had conquered. On Earth, Timely worked from a location–complete with a door that transported him to Chronopolis–and his advancements in technology ultimately put his products into every robot, cyborg and computer, allowing him full access to nearly every piece of technology on the Earth.

    Why Does Victor Timely Make Sense for the MCU at This Point in Time?

    The short answer is time. One of the reasons fans debated whether or not Kang would make for an appropriate villain in the MCU is the convoluted nature of the character’s comic book past. Marvel Studios seems to have addressed that fairly well in Season 1 of Loki by indicating that He Who Remains was the victor of a Multiversal War among Kangs who has since spent his time pruning timelines and making sure that the Multiverse doesn’t come back into existence and bring Kang Variants back with it. When Sylvie killed He Who Remains, it set loose a chain reaction of events (the repercussions of which will be explored in Season 2 of Loki) including the emergence of an infinite number of Kangs. It’s all pretty confusing, but by the time Loki Season 2 comes around, the Kang Variant that we are theorizing to be Victor Timely will have already lived a life full of experiences and opportunities we are unlikely to see in full on screen.

    By following the rules of time travel and the Multiverse as they are currently understood, should a Kang Variant travel back in time (as Timely did in the comics), it would create a Nexus Event and a new timeline. The new future for the Variant, which takes place in the past, can’t change what happened on his old timeline, but it certainly can be conquered in the new timeline. So the Avengers may have beaten that Kang, but can they beat this Kang? And what is this Kang up to? The comics–and an Easter egg from Season 1 of Loki–could give some hints.

      While the Variant of Kang set to appear in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Kang the Conqueror, is stuck in the Quantum Realm, he also seems to have lived quite a life already and is well aware of his multiple pasts. It’s possible that this Variant is an older version of Victor Timely. In the comics, Timely traveled time to get a head start on the Avengers by cornering the market on technology while also secretly constructing Chronopolis from where he could access all timelines. The fantastical city within the Quantum Realm that’s been seen in promotional material for Quantumania is almost certainly Chronopolis and Kang almost certainly used it for its intended purposes for a long, long time before being trapped there. It’s possible that the Victor Timely Variant of Kang set to appear in Loki Season 2 is there, in part, to explain to audiences how Chronopolis came to be and to fill in the gaps about who the Conqueror that fans meet in Quantumania is.

      If that half of Timely’s story could be adapted from the comics, the other half could be adapted just as easily. RPK’s information suggests that Timely is an inventor in the past and in a very Back to the Future twist (that’s Kevin Feige‘s favorite movie, by the way) is looking to impact the future. That future, a future in which Timely’s technology, not Tony Stark’s, is what drives the world may have already been glimpsed in the Void in Season 1 of Loki. The fifth episode of Season 1, entitled “Journey into Mystery”, revealed an alternate version of Stark Tower, Qeng Tower, had been cast into the Void following the reset of one timeline. That timeline would have been reset at the behest of He Who Remains, whose main purpose was to keep other Variants of himself from taking control. In the comics, Timely continued on by feigning death and “handing down” the company from Victor Timely to Jr. to III. It wouldn’t take much imagination to change it up in the MCU and have him “sell” the company to a new owner who might rename it Qeng.

      So why is Victor Timely right for the MCU right now? Telling his story in Season 2 of Loki after meeting him in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania not only tells the past of the Conqueror trapped in Chronopolis but also why he’ll be a threat to the Avengers in the future as the man behind Qeng Enterprises.

      What is Qenq Enterprises?

      Qeng Enterprises appeared in just a couple of comics during Mark Waid‘s 2015 Avengers: Ultron Forever but could be set to play a much larger role in the MCU. In the comics, Qeng Enterprises was the Earth-bound base from which Kang planned to launch his New Qeng Dynasty. In the MCU, it could be the equivalent of the point from which he accessed Chronopolis in the comics and the temporal location that the Avengers choose to target him as he wages his Multiversal War. In Loki, the tower has clearly taken heavy damage and given the crazy time-traveling shenanigans in play now, fans may already have seen the outcome of the Avengers’ war on the Kang Dynasty in a blink-and-you-miss-it Easter egg.

      Why is Kang Stuck in Chronopolis?

      How does a man like Kang, who has conquered so many timelines become trapped in a city of his own design? in the comics, the ability to move discretely between timelines was powered by an object of unfathomable chronal power: the Forever Crystal. More than one theory has discussed the possibility that the Forever Crystal has already been seen in the promotional footage for Quantumania and that it is the McGuffin of that film. If Scott Lang retrieves the Forever Crystal for Kang, he could put into motion the events of The Kang Dynasty.

      Summary

      The Kang Variant known as Victor Timely sets up shop on Earth, shapes a century or two through his own technology while building and then using Chronopolis to conquer other timelines. At some point in his journey, he becomes trapped in the Quantum Realm. Once he escapes, hehas enough power and/or weapons at his disposal to take on the Avengers, who had previously defeated him, he launces his attack from Qenq Tower. Looping in a previous theory, the Avengers have acquired powerful weapons (potentially created by other Kang Variants) and defeat Kang. What impact could an assault on Qeng Tower and or Chronopolis have on the Multiverse? That’s a theory for another day.

    • RUMOR: ‘Loki’ Season 2 May Introduce a New Inventor Variant of Kang

      RUMOR: ‘Loki’ Season 2 May Introduce a New Inventor Variant of Kang

      It looks like the number of times we’ll see Jonathan Majors‘ Kang is finally ramping up. After a brief tease in Loki‘s first season with He Who Remains, a new rumor is making the rounds that we’ll perhaps see another variation of the character appear in its upcoming second season. This would mark the third Variant we’ll meet as it’ll release after February’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

      According to insider Daniel Richtman, it seems that the upcoming second season of Loki will offer a new Variant that is “an inventor in the past.” It seems he buys things that’ll affect the future and it’s Loki’s job to stop him. Given we see a version of Kang the Conqueror in command of the Time Variance Authority, he might be using them to hunt down other versions of himself that are affecting the multiverse.

      Richtman also goes on to highlight that he’s unsure if this is Victor Timely, a version of Nathaniel Richards from the comics and also known as “Prime Kang” but that “it is likely him.” The character is known as the one who ends up forming the town of Timely which would eventually blossom into Chronopolis, which is theorized to be the city we visit in Quantumania.

      It’ll definitely be interesting to see how this develops, and if we might see even more versions of the character appear throughout the next few phases. Majors highlighted that the joy of Kang was that he can play different variations that allow him to explore different perspectives on the character. So, he’ll definitely jump at the opportunity to bring Victor Timely to life.

      Source: Patron via The Direct

    • Jonathan Majors is Here To Conquer The MCU

      Jonathan Majors is Here To Conquer The MCU


      The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been no stranger to great expectations. As we’ve gone through each phase the hype has grown to an impossible level to measure. From YouTube Easter eggs to fan theories and fan casts there’s been a bit of disappointment. Whether it’s warranted or not we have arrived at an interesting point as MCU fans. Phase 5 begins with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and there’s a high level of anticipation. Sure, it’s great to see Scott, Hope, Cassie, and the rest of the crew. However, we know why we’re really here and his name is Kang.

      Kang The Conqueror is synonymous with greatness. He is one of the greatest villains of all time, and one of the more fascinating characters in comic book lore. He’s time-bending; he’s mind-bending; he’s a threat unlike any other in Marvel. When time travel was introduced in Avengers: Endgame, the thought for many fans who are studious to this is that Kang could not be far behind. Lo and behold, he is here. Now take this into consideration, when you are casting for this role you need a heavy hitter. You need the best, the absolute best. Enter Jonathan Majors.

      At the end of Loki Season 1, at the end of time, both Loki and Sylvie were introduced to He Who Remains, a variant of Kang, who had been pulling all the strings. Before his death at the hands of Sylvie, He Who Remains shared some weighty thoughts. “You may hate the dictator, but something… far worse is gonna fill that void if you dispose of him. I’ve lived a million lifetimes. I’ve gone through every scenario. This is the only way.” These are words we hung on and were captivated by. The delivery, the playfulness, and the all-knowing fatigue of that power was mystifying. We’ve seen great performances in the MCU, wrought with great emotion and full of surprises. This was the most electrifying performance we’ve seen to date in the franchise.

      There’s a level of expectation to deliver that Majors superseded. The bar has been raised. This wasn’t even the actual character that he was playing. Just a version. One, singular version. Kevin Feige and Co. have made a decision to build this saga around this gentleman and it will pay off in spades. We are not prepared for what we are about to see. You just have to sit back and enjoy it. If you want variants you’re getting them. If you want a compelling character you’re getting that tenfold. You’re probably saying to yourself that this is overhype, this is hyperbole. It’s not. In fact it’s underselling the point.

      To make a bit of a comparison, there’s a conversation when it comes to Denzel Washington as an all-time great that in his movies he’s always Denzel. It’s an endearing quality that we love to mention. Jonathan Majors disappears into his roles. Like a chameleon, you only know the character and the person is replaced. There’s a specific scene in The Last Black Man In San Francisco that explains what can’t be explained here. If you get a chance watch that movie, and if you have relive this scene.

      When you watch this scene you understand the talent and why he was chosen to anchor Phase 5 of the MCU. In an interview with Empire magazine, Majors discussed playing the villain and what that entails. “Kang adds tonal diversity, real conflict and real friction,” he promises. “You’re being introduced to a new vibration in the MCU. There’s conflict – not just mano-a-mano, not just hero and villain, but your way of life’ and ‘my way of life’. I’m coming for it. We’re in battle here.” That sounds like someone ready to wear the crown.

      Usually, with a villain, we have a foreboding sense of fear of what might happen. As fans, you can feel the level of excitement when Kang is mentioned, theorized about and discussed. We just know we’re getting something special, and this is why we go to the movies.

      It is extremely rare to feel ready to sit back and watch greatness. There won’t be a worry and there won’t be a thought about whether Quauntumania has a bad post-credit scene or was too long or too short. There will be a moment when the MCU once again raises expectations for us and then they are met because they chose the right man to lead the way. You’re out of your league, Ant-Man. It’s just another reminder that Jonathan Majors is here to conquer, for all time.

    • Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige Personally Offered Ke Huy Quan to Join the MCU

      Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige Personally Offered Ke Huy Quan to Join the MCU

      Ke Huy Quan is back with a vengeance. The actor once made a big splash in films like The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but was unable to truly land a role for many years. Now, the actor returned to theaters with a stunning performance in Everything Everywhere all at Once, which just recently won him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

      That’s not all he has planned, as the actor is also set to kick off his first franchise role as part of Loki‘s second season. Details are still being kept a secret on who exactly he might be playing, but in an interview with Josh Horowitz‘s Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor revealed a rather interesting detail.

      In the interview, the actor revealed that he didn’t actually audition for the role. Rather, Kevin Feige watched Everything Everywhere All at Once and personally asked him if he was interested in joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There was a lot of fanfare when he was announced as part of the cast during D23 and it’s even more exciting to find out that Feige personally wanted him on board.

      Here’s hoping that the actor has many more roles just waiting for him after his recent success, and we’ll also get a tease on who exactly he is playing once the first full trailer for Loki‘s second season releases. He’s a talented actor and it would be great to see a lot more of him in the future, in more future MCU titles, and any other project he’ll join.

      You can watch the full interview here:

      Source: YouTube

    • What to Expect from Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Series

      What to Expect from Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Series

      As of now, it looks like Marvel Studios will be pushing out three streaming series in 2023. Spread out over Spring, Summer and Fall, the series couldn’t really be any different from one another than they are though all three do share one thing in common: very little is known about them to date! To fix that and get you primed for 2023, we share what it is we know about each project.

      Secret Invasion

      When news of this series was first broken by the trades, it was described as a Nick Fury-centric project, so after years of being an important supporting character, Fury gets to shine in Secret Invasion. Fans looking for this to be an Avengers cameo fest like the comic book event of the same name are likely barking up the wrong tree. This is likely to be a much more personal and small-scale paranoid thriller that revolves a little more closely around the worlds of Fury and Talos and those in their orbits such as Rhodey, Talos’ daughter and Olivia Colman’s Sonya Falsworth. Kingsley Ben-Adir’s Skrull villain has a history with Talos’ family which lends itself to being a much smaller story.

      Obviously, Skrulls have been on Earth for some time now and have infiltrated positions of power and Europe seems to be a hot spot. The official description from Disney Plus indicates that the Skrulls, much like in the comics, want Earth to be their new planet and crew gifts that were handed out indicate that the story may take some inspiration from the comics in the form of Ben-Adir’s faction believing the Earth was prophesied to belong to them. Outside of that, this isn’t the Avengers-level event you’re looking for.

      Loki Season 2

      Even though there’s great connectivity and continuity from Season 1 with Eric Martin taking over for Michael Waldron, going into Season 2 expecting more of the same would be a mistake. What you think you know about the end of Season 1 may not be quite right…and it could lead to one hell of a wild ride.

      All of Season 1’s key players are back and Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston‘s fantastic chemistry will be at the forefront again, so expect some more laughs. However, this is still a wild time-traveling adventure and it will explore the fallout from Sylvie’s choices in the Season 1 finale. Ke Huy Quan‘s Bo plays a major role in dealing with that fallout and much like Season 1, you’ll probably be surprised by who the villain of the series actually is (unless you’ve already been spoiled) and how important this series is to the overall plot of the Multiverse Saga.

      Ironheart

      “Dark arts vs. technology.” It sounded hard to believe at first, but Marvel Studios has taken the dive in Ironheart, due out sometime in the Fall. Riri Williams’ debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever means fans will already know a bit about the character when the series begins which is perfect because it’s going to take some time to wrap their brains around Sacha Baron Cohen‘s Mephisto and his deal with Anthony Ramos‘ Parker Robbins.

      The footage of this screened exclusively at D23 put an emphasis on Robbins and his gang of misfits, which he wants Williams to join. It also looked upbeat and incredibly fun, giving the impression that this series may be the surprise hit of 2023.