Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Cinematic Universe

  • ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    Premiere: February 14, 2025

    Following the tremendous success of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier it didn’t take long for Sam Wilson to get his very own movie where he’ll get to suit up with the Captain America suit he debuted in the streaming series. On the very same day of the season finale in April 2021 we learned, through a trade report, that a new Cap feature film was in development. Malcolm Spellman, who was the series’ showrunner will be returning to write the script. We will continue to experience the story of Sam Wilson as Captain America, as he defines his own legacy in the shadow of Steve Rogers and Isaiah Bradley.

    The project found its director in Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) as reported in July 2022.

    A 2022 San Diego Comic-Con poster hints at a possible return for Emily VanCamp‘s Sharon Carter, a character first introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and that gained relevance within the MCU in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier alongside Sam Wilson. Later that same weekend the subtitle New World Order was announced during the Marvel Studios Hall H panel.

    In September 2022, at D23, Marvel Studios announced that Tim Blake Nelson would be returning to the MCU as the Leader (last teased in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk) with Shira Haas also joining the cast playing Israeli superheroine Ruth Bat-Seraph AKA Sabra. As a response to some online backlash focusing on Sabra’s comic book history, Marvel Studios announced that the filmmakers’ approach would differ from the comics‘.

    A somewhat shocking piece of news was confirmed in October 2022 when it was announced that none other than Harrison Ford would be taking over the role of Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross from the great late William Hurt.

    When Bob Iger returned to Disney,the film was retitled Captain America: Brave New World in July 2024. Following the WGA and SAG strikes of Summer 2023, Marvel Studios decided to go back to work on Brave New World, hiring writer Matthew Orton to rework the script for the film which had already completed production.

    Cast

    • Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Captain America
    • Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns / The Leader
    • Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres / Falcon
    • Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley
    • Harrison Ford as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross
    • Shira Haas as Ruth
    • Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder
    • Xosha Roquemore in an unknown role
    • Liv Tyler as Betty Ross
    • Takehiro Hira as Prime Minister Ozaki
    • Sebastian Stan as James “Bucky” Barnes
  • ‘Armor Wars’

    ‘Armor Wars’

    Premiere: TBD

    Based on a 7-issue Iron Man arc that ran from 1987-1988, Armor Wars will see Don Cheadle‘s James Rhodes step into the spotlight and lead his own Disney Plus series! As teased by Kevin Feige, Armor Wars will find himself scrambling to save his friend Tony Stark’s tech when it falls into the wrong hands.

    In July 2021, Don Cheadle mentioned the show should begin production in 2022, perhaps as early as March. The following month the series found its head writer in Yassir Lester.

    Following a period with little to no news regarding the show, in September 2022, at Marvel Studios D23 panel, it was announced that the series would serve as a follow-up to Secret Invasion and would be comprised of 6-episodes. Production on the show was confirmed to begin in 2023.

    Just a few weeks afterward, in a stunning move, it was reported that Armor Wars would be developed as a movie instead of a streaming series. After going quite some time without an update, it was reported early in 2024 that Marvel Studios was on the search for a director with hopes of kicking off production on Armor Wars in late 2024 or early 2025. If things stay on track, it’s possible that the film could take one of three dates set aside in 2026 for Marvel Studios films.

    Cast

    • Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / War Machine
  • Blade

    Blade

    Premiere:TBD

    Probably the biggest surprise of SDCC 2019 was the unveiling of a new Blade film starring Mahershala Ali. Unfortunately, we still know nothing more about the project and while an October release date sounds right for a vampire film, it’s nothing more than a guess at this point. Overseen by Marvel Studios EP Eric Carroll, this reboot should do a thorough job of expanding the world of the Daywalker, introducing horror elements never before seen in the MCU. In August of 2020, Murphy’s Multiverse discovered a new production company, Grass-Fed Productions, had been created which could well mean things are getting started on this reboot!

    The project found its writer in Stacey Osei-Koffour, who worked on HBO’s highly acclaimed Watchmen series, and that will become the first Black woman to write a Marvel Studios screenplay. In order to give Osei-Koffour a bit more time to polish the script, production on the project moved from late 2021 to July 2022. In July of 2021, Marvel Studios brought Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq on to direct the film.

    Following a few months where the project kept being developed behind closed doors without much news being released, the end of 2021 saw it gain a bit more traction. Blade himself made his first MCU appearance on an Eternals post-credit scene, even if off-camera and the cast reportedly doubled as Delroy Lindo was said to be in final negotiations to join the project. Lindo’s role is still undisclosed, but it would seem like he might fit the Jamal Afari part, the comic character Whistler (from the Wesley Snipes series, played by Kris Kristofferson) was based on. On the same report, it was stated that the feature it was eyeing a late Summer 2022 production start which would put it on schedule for a potential Halloween of 2023 release.

    Actress Milan Ray (The Wonder Years reboot) was cast as a key character in June 2022, lending credence to the rumor that the movie could focus on Blade’s daughter, Fallon Grey. In early 2023, it was reported that Ray had to leave the project due to scheduling conflicts. In April 2023, horror star Mia Goth joined the cast.

    In what can only be seen as a major setback regarding the project, director Bassam Tariq left the feature’s director’s chair in late September 2022, roughly a year before the project’s determined release date. This would mean that Blade‘s premiere would unsurprisingly be delayed to an, as of yet, undisclosed date. Following Tariq’s departure, and the rumors that the available 90-page script was a bit lackluster, X-Men ’97 head writer Beau DeMayo was called in to rewrite the entire movie from scratch. A few weeks later the movie got a new release date as part of a significant shift in the Marvel Studios movie slate, and was scheduled to premiere on September 6th, 2024. Following the WGA and SAG strikes, the date was moved to November 7, 2025.

    Rumors that Elegance Bratton would be taking over the director’s chair surfaced in October 2022, showing that Marvel was indeed moving forward with the project ahead of its new late 2024 release date. Finally, in November of 2022, director Yann Demage joined the project along with writer Michael Starrbury. The script underwent several major revisions with Michael Green taking the most recent shot following Nic Pizzolato‘s work on it. With all the revisions, it’s unclear which talent is still attached to the film.

    As of SDCC ’24, Blade was no longer expected to meet its 2025 release date and is currently an undated release.

    Cast

    • Mahershala Ali as Eric Brooks / Blade
    • Mia Goth in an unknown role
    • Delroy Lindo in an unknown role
  • Untitled Wakanda series

    Untitled Wakanda series

    Premiere: TBD

    In February of 2021, Ryan Coogler signed a multi-year deal with Disney TV to develop original content. First among Coogler’s projects is a D+ series set in Wakanda. Coogler did a ton of world building while developing Black Panther and while there are no details on what to expect from the series yet, it’s safe to say it spun out of the director’s early work on the first film much in the same way George Lucas’ early work on Star Wars spawned dozens of projects outside of the original film.

  • ‘Echo’

    ‘Echo’

    Premiere: TBD 2023

    In March of 2021 a trade report announced that an Echo solo series focusing on the deaf Native American character was in development at Marvel Studios with Alaqua Cox,  that’s set to make her MCU debut in the Hawkeye series alongside Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld, returning to the role. Most other Disney+ series developed by Marvel Studios have been spin-offs of their feature films with Echo set to become the first spin-off of one of these original Disney+ shows. Its premiere date is, as of now, to be determined.

    With news that the series would start production as early as January 2022, it’s becoming more likely that it’ll manage to be released by the end of the year.

    Academy Award-nominated actor, Graham Greene, joined the production in an undisclosed role in March 2022. Also apparently joining the show would be two powerhouse names that officially joined the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye, respectively: Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio. Also with a non-confirmed appearance in the series is Devery Jacobs May even if that also seems like it might actually be true. This was confirmed soon after via a trade report. In May 2022 a few other names were confirmed to have been cast in the show, including Chaske Spencer (The Twilight Saga), Tantoo Cardinal (Wind River), Cody Lightning (Four Sheets to the Wind), and Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs).

    With production starting in late April 2022, the series seems headed for a 2023 streaming debut. This was later confirmed alongside the release of its first look and official synopsis in May 2022.

    Cast

    • Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez / Echo
    • Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
    • *Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil
    • Graham Green in an unknown role
    • Devery Jacobs May in an unknown role
    • Zahn McClarnon as Willie Lopez
    • Chaske Spencer in an unknown role
    • Tantoo Cardinal in an unknown role
    • Cody Lightning in an unknown role

    (* indicates RUMORED additions to the cast)

  • ‘The Marvels’

    ‘The Marvels’

    Premiere: July 28, 2023

    Announced in January of 2020, the Captain Marvel sequel will be directed by Nia DaCosta and based off a screenplay by WandaVision writer’s room alum Megan McDonnell. Expected to take place in the present day, Captain Marvel 2 will hit theaters in the Fall of 2022.

    On December 10, 2020, it was officially confirmed that both Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris would show up in the Captain Marvel sequel, playing Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau, respectively. Zawe Ashton will be co-starring as the antagonist as reported in February 2021, even if the role itself wasn’t disclosed.

    In May 2021 the official title of the movie was disclosed, turning away from the expected Captain Marvel and instead going with The Marvels, a nod to the presence of both Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau in the feature.

    Following what is expected to be the final post-pandemic reschedule of the Marvel Studios slate, The Marvels has seen its premiere shifted to February 17, 2023. Six months afterward the project saw its release date changed once again. This time, trading premiere slots with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania meant it would now be coming to theaters in July 2023.

    Cast

    • Brie Larson as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
    • Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel
    • Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau
    • Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
    • Zawe Ashton as Ael-Dan
  • ‘Werewolf by Night’

    ‘Werewolf by Night’

    Premiere: October 7, 2022

    Following the disclosure, over several months, of a number of LLCs linked with MCU projects, a report on August 2021 stated that one titled “Natural History Productions” is referring to a Werewolf by Night Disney+ project said to be in early development over at Marvel Studios. The details surrounding the show are scarce, to say the least, but with three Disney+ series already under their belt, we should expect more news on both this and several other MCU series set for development in the coming months.

    With production set to begin in early 2022 the project, a Halloween Special, is likely to be eyeing a late October 2022 Disney+ premiere.

    Even without the show having been officially titled, Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal joined the project in early November 2021. His role is, as of his casting, unknown. With Michael Giacchino directing the project, Laura Donnelly joined the cast in early 2022 with production on the Disney+ Halloween Special set to begin in March.

    A trade report confirmed Giacchino‘s involvement in the project in March 2022. This was something that had been long rumored, mostly due to some solid pieces of evidence that heavily hinted at his Marvel-associated directorial debut. Considering his professional background, having music play a bit part in the project seems like a given at this point.

    This was later confirmed via a trade report, along with confirmation that the show indeed started production in March 2022. Just a month afterward, and with shooting well underway, it was rumored that Laura Donnelly’s character was none other than Elsa Bloodstone.

    With an expected Halloween 2022 release date, the Marvel Studios Special Presentation was only actually confirmed to exist in September 2022. At D23 there was official confirmation of both the director (Giacchino), both leads (Garcia Bernal and Donnelly) and their respective characters. The first trailer, released at the same event, revealed that a number of other characters are set to make appearances, with Man-Thing being the highlight.

    Cast

    • Gael Garcia Bernal as Jack Russell
    • Laura Donnelly as Elsa Bloodstone

    Promotional Material

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Premiere: November 11, 2022

    Ryan Coogler came back to write and direct the sequel to one of Marvel Studio’s most successful solo films to date and fans are eager to see what’s next for the King of Wakanda. Coogler certainly left some interesting threads hanging at the end of 2018’s Black Panther and while he could pick those up and run with them, fans seem desperate to see Namor introduced in the sequel.

    Following the death of star Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios has decided not to recast the role of T’Challa and will instead focus on other characters from the “world of Wakanda.” That was somewhat confirmed in the movie’s title that was disclosed in May 2021 on an official Marvel Studios Phase 4 Trailer.

    Meeting fan’s expectations, it was reported in early June 2021 that the Sub-Mariner himself, Namor, would indeed be making his MCU debut in the movie, with Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta attached to the role. Furthermore, Namor’s cousin Namora and the warlord Attuma will also make appearances in the feature. With news that Atlantis would make its MCU debut in the Black Panther sequel, early reports hinted at the plot of the feature being focused on a war between Wakanda and the sunken civilization ruled by Namor, surrounding the access to vibranium.

    Principal photography was reported to have started by early July 2021. With the feature set for a July 2022 release, this is perfectly aligned with past MCU projects’ schedules. In August, with shooting already underway, it was confirmed that Mabel Cadena had joined the cast as Namora and that Dominique Throne, playing Riri Williams, would make her MCU debut ahead of her upcoming series, Ironheart.

    Following what is expected to be the final post-pandemic reschedule of the Marvel Studios slate, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has seen its premiere shifted to November 11, 2022.

    Production is set to head out to Puerto Rico, a location that will be used as a backdrop for Haiti, further acknowledging Namor’s presence as a pivotal part of the movie’s plot.

    Further details about the feature were, as they often are, revealed through merchandise leaks: Fans got their first look at Namor and Riri Williams was confirmed to be using her very own Mark 1 armor.

    Cast

    • Letitia Wright as Shuri
    • Tenoch Huerta as Namor
    • Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia
    • Danai Gurira as Okoye
    • Mabel Cadena as Namora
    • Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams
    • Winston Duke as M’Baku
    • Florence Kasumba as Ayo
    • Michaela Coel as Aneka
    • Martin Freeman as Everett Ross
    • Angela Bassett as Ramonda
    • Alex Livinalli as Attuma

    Promotional Material

  • ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’

    ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’

    Premiere: November 25, 2022

    With Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn directing, this holiday special created specifically for Disney+ will be shot during the production of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

    The Special Presentation will see the return of the entire Guardians team, with Maria Bakalova making her MCU debut as Cosmo the Spacedog, ahead of her appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Kevin Bacon is set to play a fictionalized version of himself, someone intrinsical to the plot as it will revolve around his kidnapping by (some of) the Guardians themselves. Michael Rooker will also make his return as Yondu Udonta, even if with his character having died in Vol. 2.

    With the release of the project’s trailer, a November 25, 2022 premiere was confirmed.

    Cast

    • Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord
    • Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer
    • Karen Gillan as Nebula
    • Pom Klementieff as Mantis
    • Vin Diesel as Groot
    • Bradley Cooper as Rocket
    • Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta
    • Kevin Bacon as himself
    • Zoe Saldaña as Gamora
    • Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the Spacedog

    Promotional Material

  • ‘Secret Invasion’

    ‘Secret Invasion’

    Premiere: TBD 2023

    One of Marvel Comics most intense and wide-ranging comic book crossover events is coming to the MCU in 2022 with Secret Invasion! Announced at Disney’s 2020 Investor Day, Secret Invasion will focus on a faction of less-than-friendly Skrulls who have spent years infiltrating Earth and are now ready to take over.

    Kyle Bradstreet will develop and oversee the project as Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn reprises his role as Talos. In April 2021 Olivia Colman was confirmed to be in negotiations to join the series, and just a couple of days later we learned that Emilia Clarke was also talks to join the cast in an undisclosed role. Kingsley Ben-Adir and Killian Scott are also expected to have their names added to the cast list.

    The following month the show found its directors in Thomas Bezucha and Ali Selim, and also got Christopher McDonald on board portraying a newly created character. Samuel L. Jackson confirmed production had started by October 2021.

    Notably absent from the announcement cast list, Cobie Smulders was confirmed to be reprising her Maria Hill role per a trade report in early December 2021. A few months into 2022 Samuel L. Jackson accidentally confirmed that Martin Freeman‘s Everett Ross would be making an appearance in the show.

    Colman‘s role was reported to be that of Union Jack with her character’s surname (Fallsworth) being shared by two of the comics’ iterations of the character. Clarke‘s character, initially undisclosed, was confirmed to be that of Abigail Brand.

    Cast

    • Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
    • Ben Mendelsohn as Talos
    • Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill (?)
    • Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / War Machine
    • Emilia Clarke as Abigail Brand
    • Olivia Colman as Sonya Falsworth
    • Martin Freeman as Everett Ross
    • Kingsley Ben-Adir as an unknown Skrull villain
    • Killian Scott as Fiz
    • Christopher McDonald as an unnamed news personality

    Promotional Material