Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Cinematic Universe

  • Theory Thursday: Welcome to New Salem

    Theory Thursday: Welcome to New Salem

    It’s been known that comics usually take inspiration for their stories from our world and the times that we live in. And Marvel Comics is no exception. After all, Stan Lee himself once said; “Marvel is the world outside of our window”. During the week, I started to look around for any sort of clues that Marvel Studios could tell us about WandaVision and the town that it’s going to be set in, which is WestView. Now, while looking around, I noticed something really interesting in Google Maps. There are multiple WestViews across the United States, but the one in particular that caught my attention was WestView, Indiana. The reason why it caught my attention was that in Indiana, WestView is “an unincorporated community in SALEM Township…” And then my brain clicked.

     

     

    For my US History nerds (and for those forced to read The Crucible in High School), we know that Salem (in Massachusets) was infamous for the Witch Trials they held in 1692. Many “witches” were persecuted, tried, and executed as part of those trials. And Marvel Comics acknowledges Salem as well in the comics, but where real-world history ended, Marvel Comics continued to write the story their own way. After their persecution, many witches sought refuge near Colorado and founded their own community known as “New Salem”. Now, in order to keep themselves safe, they isolated themselves from the rest of humanity and made their community only accessible to those who possess magical abilities. Now, why is New Salem so important to Marvel Comics and possibly to WandaVision? Well, it’s the home and residence of one of the most powerful witches in Marvel Comics, Agatha Harkness.

     

     

    Theory: ‘New Salem’ might be an important location in WandaVision.

     

    Going back to the Google Maps research I did, whenever I looked up Salem across the US, nearly every Salem location was associated with WestView. WestView Drive, WestView Ave., WestView Manor, the community of WestView, etc. While I am hesitant to say that WestView is specifically a “dummy” location and that WestView is actually the community of New Salem, I am certain that we might see the community of New Salem appear at some point during the show. Most of Agatha Harkness’ story in the comics is set around the community of New Salem and the strain she possesses with the members of that community, who have branded her a traitor for leaving them and deciding to interact with the commoners, mainly the Fantastic Four. Wanda and Vision also play very pivotal parts in the comics after Agatha Harkness’ spirit contacted them to come to New Salem during the 2nd series of comics for “The Vision and the Scarlet Witch”. 

     

     

    In this particular comic above, Wanda and Vision faced off against Vertigo and the “Salem Seven” after Agatha Harkness contacted them to come to New Salem. At one point, Vertigo absorbed the power of all of the residents of New Salem and lost control, killing the residents of New Salem in the process. But Wanda actually tried to contain and redirect the power after Agatha Harkness had taught her how to channel magic or “hex”. Eventually, Agatha’s astral form in that comic had told Wanda not just to channel that power, but to actually use it and she actually succeeded in using her power to redirect it to the mountain and destroying New Salem. If we were to see this portion of the comic play out in WandaVision, it would actually be a nice callback to Captain America: Civil War (2016) when Wanda couldn’t contain and redirect her power properly causing the explosion in Lagos and the death of dozens of innocents which brought about the events of that film.

     

    WandaVisionIS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO PREMIERE AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR On Disney Plus.

  • REPORT: ‘LOKI’ Season 2 Production Slated for 2022

    REPORT: ‘LOKI’ Season 2 Production Slated for 2022

    It’s long been speculated that the Disney plus Loki series will have more than one season. This was mostly based on the Limbo Productions I LLC, and other reports including one from our own Charles Murphy. Now Production Weekly is reporting a January 2022 start to production for the second season of the series.

    Things I heard this week: actors being brought on board for lead and major supporting roles in Loki are having options for a possible second season written into their deals.

     

    Now it’s a fine line between what this does mean and what it does not mean. It does not mean that, as of today, I can confirm with 100% certainty that a second season of Loki will happen. I will say that there’s plenty of evidence which supports the idea that it’s a great possibility.

    January 24, 2020 What I Heard This Week by Charles Murphy

    At one point it was believed that season one and two of the Loki series would film back to back, but this was a plan for pre COVID-19. It appears with this Production Weekly news, if correct, that they have changed those plans.

    While you shouldn’t always trust Production Weekly to be totally accurate, especially with start dates, there is additional information from the website that Netflix series, White Stork is slated to begin filming in the UK in March 2021 (airing in 2022). The series, which also stars Tom Hiddleston, starting production in March supports the idea that production of season 2 of Loki will be pushed back. After all, Hiddleston is a talented actor, but he cannot be in two places at once. He can’t duplicate himself like Loki can so a splitting up of seasons for Loki makes sense. White Stork is expected to be ten 60 minute episodes, so that should certainly keep Hiddleston busy filming that for a good chunk of 2021.

    Now, you may ask, what does that mean for the possibility of Loki popping up his dear brother’s fourth installment of his films, Thor: Love and Thunder? If Hiddleston basically has an open schedule in January, February and at least part of March, then there’s certainly a possibility of him joining the filming, at least briefly, while they film in Australia (or perhaps separate filming just for him elsewhere). However it doesn’t seem to indicate a very large role in the Thor franchise for the God of Mischief this time around.

  • Untitled Vision Series

    Untitled Vision Series

    Premiere: TBD 2026

    Initially mentioned by Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic with John Rocha, the series was confirmed to be in development by Deadline in October 2022. It will supposedly follow Vision on his path to regaining his memories and humanity, with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) rumored to be making an appearance.

    In April 2024, it was reported that production on the streaming series was slated to get underway in the UK in October 2024. In May 2024, Variety reported that Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas had taken over as showrunner for the series and that the studio has slated it for release in 2026.

    In August 2024, James Spader signed on to reprise his role as Ultron. In September 2024, Todd Stashwick joined the series as a mysterious assassin.

    Faran Tahir, who portrayed Ten Rings terrorist Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar in 2008’s Iron Man, was announced to be returning to the role via trade reports in January 2025.

    Cast

    • Paul Bettany as The Vision
    • Ruaridh Mollica in an unknown role
    • James Spader as Ultron
    • Todd Stashwick as Paladin
    • Faran Tahir as Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar
    • T’Nia Miller as Jocasta
    • James D’Arcy as Jarvis
    • Kerry Condon as F.R.I.D.A.Y.
    • Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H.
  • Schrödingers’ Khonshu: More Myth Than Moon Knight’s God

    Schrödingers’ Khonshu: More Myth Than Moon Knight’s God

    Moon Knight is a fascinating character and a great addition to Marvel Studios’ Disney+ line-up. Initially, he was Marvel’s answer to Batman. He even had moon-shaped versions of the Batarangs. Yet, the character grew into his own as time went on. Marc Spector is commonly known for having a Dissociative Identity Disorder, so he started to adopt a variety of names and identities over the years. One of his most recent additions was the detective, Mr. Knight. The most iconic aspect of Moon Knight is also his relationship with a God known as Khonshu. In a mission in Egypt as a mercenary, he gets betrayed by his employer Raul Bushman. Left for dead, an Egyptian God gave him a new lease on life. He would, later on, believe that this encounter was nothing more than an illusion. Yet, the Moon God’s influences stuck with him in his designs. His disorder also made him an unreliable narrator, so it was uncertain for quite some time if he was real. As the show is slowly starting production, it is unclear if Khonshu is an actual character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

    Well, that was until a report by The Direct was pointing to the addition of four Egyptian characters. This casting is interesting if you consider that Moon Knight’s main base of operation in New York City. One character’s definition is as a female lead. So, they will play somewhat of an essential role in the series of some kind. Now, this may tease that Khonshu’s past is a massive part of the story. The hiring of Mohamed Diab also highlights that the characters’ Egyptian heritage will have some influence, so it makes sense to explore this mystical aspect of the MCU. Thor is proof that Gods do exist, so this would allow us to get another perspective on one of the many undiscovered corners of the MCU.

    Yet, Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige toyed a bit with audiences when he announced the show initially. He said that Marc might be crazy, which opens a lot of questions. Khonshu, as a character, adds a lot of depth to this universe, so it would be a waste for him not to exist. Yet, at the same time, they could use him as a red herring to make you question the sanity of Spector. If Khonshu exists, we will be learning about his history with the other Gods. It also allows us to uncover how their existence played into the MCU’s past. Plus, they can use that aspect to make you accept Khonshu exists in Spector’s view of the world before pulling the rug from under your feet. This aspect is what sells Moon Knight as a show. It isn’t as crazy as WandaVision‘s sitcom-based multiverse shenanigans, but it can screw with its audience. As I mentioned before, Marc is an unreliable narrator, so if he retells the story of Khonshu, there is a chance it is just all made-up in his head. It would also open up the possibility to see his already broken mind fall apart as he begs for a God for help that does not exist.

    In the comics, Khonshu is very much a tangible existence. He even got into conflict with the Avengers, which ended up with him fighting Robbie Reye’s Ghost Rider and Black Panther. In Avengers Vol. 8 #37, he ended up losing and being apprehended by the team of heroes. Even if he exists in the comics, it doesn’t chain the series to do the same. He may be an illusion by Spector after seeing an idol of the lunar God shortly before he passed out. It’s a great way to play with expectations, especially as it allows the director to play around with some crazy visuals. I do hope we get the design from Moon Knight Vol. 7 that features him in a white suit with a bird skull instead of a head. It’s such an iconic visual that can also add a unique atmosphere to this show, as he may seem like just one of the many personalities. Yet, in his thirst for vengeance is manipulating Marc to follow a darker path. Right now, we have no idea as they could go either direction. We might get to meet a real Egyptian God, or just the remnants of a broken mind. Until Moon Knight releases on Disney+, he is Marvel Studios’ Schrödingers’ Cat.

    Source: The Direct, YouTube

  • ‘Spider-Man 3’ Should Introduce Inter-Dimensional Hunter Morlun

    ‘Spider-Man 3’ Should Introduce Inter-Dimensional Hunter Morlun

    Spider-Man 3 is shaping up to be quite a unique entry in the ever-growing Spider-Man franchise. Recent rumors are starting to pile on that this will end up the opening to the greater multiverse. Doctor Strange was confirmed to appear in the film. Now, some rumors are also pointing to some other Spider-Men getting added to the film. This storyline could be our first live-action adaptation of the Spider-Verse if they dive deep into the larger multiverse. Still, it opens up an important question about who the main villain would be that ties it all together. Kraven has been on everyone’s list, but with the multiversal aspect of the story, there is another hunter that may take center-stage. I believe that Earth-001’s Morlun might become the main focus of the story.

    The 20 greatest (and 10 worst) Spider-Man villains of all time - Page 16

    Let’s start with a quick recap on who Morlun is. He was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2 #30. He is from an alternative Earth and is part of a family known as the Inheritors. They hunt down totems of heroes that exist throughout multiple universes. They have an obsession with hunting down Spider-Totemic avatars. These consist of the many incarnations of Spider-Man across the multiverse. At one point, he even tried to take on Black Panther as he hunted down Panther totems. The reason for his hunt is to absorb the life of the totems, which give him superhuman abilities. With the help of Master Weaver, they can transport to different dimensions to prolong their lives for eternity. As such, he is described as a vampiric cosmic entity, especially after the Inheritors were the main villains in Spider-Verse.

    Why do I believe Morlun will be the focus of Spider-Man 3? Well, Spidey is on the run from the government. His identity is out there, so he has no place to remain safe. He will have to outrun the police and maybe even the government. His home turf of New York City isn’t as safe as it uses to be. All of a sudden, Wanda’s actions in WandaVision have broken the barriers between the multiverse. Suddenly, Peter is fighting enemies he has never seen before but seems to recognize him. Among them was the recently confirmed Elektro that has some history with him. Suddenly, ta new menace shows his face, who seems to be the one guiding these villains to Peter’s dimension.

    The mastermind turns out to be no one else but Morlun. The interdimensional hunter is after the various Spider tokens. He was previously after two distinct versions of Spider-Man that seemed to have escaped into this dimension. Holland‘s incarnation ends up getting cornered by the various villains. Morlun uses this chance to suck out his life. Yet, he gets interrupted by other Spider-Man. in a perfect world, this could mean the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Just for fun, why not also bring in Jake Johnson to reprise his role from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Together they fight Morlun and defeat him. Doctor Strange appears to help them to make sure they can return home safely, but in the process, Holland‘s Spidey ends up falling into a different dimension before. Now, he is trapped in an unknown world. He will do his best to find a way back home while facing new challenges. Little does he know, Morlun has resurrected and is ready to hunt them down once more.

  • A Brief History of Denials by Marvel Studios Actors

    A Brief History of Denials by Marvel Studios Actors

    If you’ve been keeping up to date with the news, you’d know by now that Tatiana Maslany, who according to a trade report landed the role of Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk for the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series, has now denied that those casting rumors. Many people were taken by surprise when Ms. Maslany denied these rumors, however, it isn’t the first time actors that work within the MCU have denied such casting before. Today, we’re going to take a look at some prime examples of this concept.

     

    1. Paul Rudd

     

    Let’s all go back to a simpler time, 2013. Paul Rudd is fresh off production from Anchorman 2. By that time, Variety had released a report saying that Paul Rudd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were the frontrunners to portray Ant-Man in the MCU. Now because the report came from another source outside official confirmations, when asked about the subject, Paul Rudd stated said “It’s all rumor, man!”.

     

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XIvS-qvRRk&w=560&h=315]

     

    And clearly, we all see how that rumor went years later, with him appearing in 2 solo MCU films and also appearing in Captain America Civil War & Avengers: Endgame.

     

    2. Benedict Cumberbatch

     

    It’s incredibly difficult to believe anyone else could have portrayed Doctor Strange since he was always the top pick amongst fans to portray the Sorceror Supreme but it’s true. Back in 2014, Benedict Cumberbatch spoke to MTV about the possibilities of him portraying Doctor Strange, & he mentioned that at the time, it couldn’t work out because he was doing a little play called ‘Hamlet’ in London. “So I don’t think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”

     

    Clearly, he didn’t miss out, and thankfully he is our Sorceror Supreme today.

     

    3. Evangeline Lilly

     

    Just like Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly denied the rumors of her being the female lead in Ant-Man back in 2014. She stated back then that “No, I can’t. I don’t know anything about those rumors.” And look where she’s at now, kicking it as the resident Wasp in the MCU.

     

    4. Jeremy Renner

     

    Even an original core member of the Avengers had denied he was cast. Back in 2010, Jeremy Renner stated that the Hawkeye rumor was “just one of those things that got blown way out of proportion. It was an idea…So there’s truth that we talked about it, but there’s no truth to me doing it. “

     

    Thankfully, he decided to do it and now, he’s one of the main members of the OG Avengers, has appeared in multiple MCU films and will now have his own Disney+ show Hawkeye.

     

    What does this all mean? Essentially it means that actors are sometimes put into the position to deny any sort of casting rumor until an official confirmation from studios comes through. And what does this mean for Tatiana Maslany’s casting as She-Hulk? It most likely means she’s following suit and denying these “rumors” until they become “confirmations”.

     

    Besides, Mark Ruffalo already tweeted about it.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Could Introduce Hulk’s Greatest Enemy: His Father

    ‘She-Hulk’ Could Introduce Hulk’s Greatest Enemy: His Father

    Just today, The Direct revealed that a 10-year old Bruce Banner is being cast for She-Hulk. At face value, it’s something we could’ve guessed given that they are cousins. It wouldn’t be too hard to imagine some minor flashback sequence between the two. Yet, once you start thinking about it, this is Marvel’s chance to tell a Hulk-centric story since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. That film skipped through his origin and creation. We get scenes reminisced of the original 1978′ The Incredible Hulk TV show, but it didn’t spend much time on Banner. The MCU was mainly focused on his relationship with the Hulk. We never truly spent a lot of time with Banner before he was facing his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario. Well, if the casting rumor is true, we might get

    Throughout the MCU, Banner never much talked about his family history. We have seen this story told in the original Hulk film by Ang Lee. The 2003 film focused on Bruce’s relationship with his father David Banner, who started his experiment in gamma radiation. He isn’t the father of the year, as he believes Bruce owes him for putting him in this world. This ends up becoming his obsession by stealing Bruce’s ability before transforming into Zzzax.

     

     

    In the comics, his father’s name was Brian. Sadly, the comics did not share a happier story for the Banners. He was quite abusive towards his son, as he believed his family had a “monster gene”. His work in nuclear energy drove him to alcoholism. He even swore never to have children but, of course, broke that when Bruce was born. He neglected him believing he shared the same monster gene, which he felt confirmed when Bruce showed a hyper-intelligence. It all led to the moment that Bruce had to witness his father kill his mother. These moments were what would truly shape the rage monster that he was holding within.

    It’s a very dark story that was never delved into within the MCU. The recent news might be a small inkling of how we may uncover why rage is what fuels the Hulk. We might get to meet Brian and his mother, Rebecca. She-Hulk‘s protagonist Jennifer Walters is his cousin on his father’s side. We don’t know how close they are since he was on the run for most of his life after the transformation. He may have tried to get back in contact with her since he joined the Avengers. This forced him to face his past, which will be at the center of the story.

    Jennifer’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be a jumping-on point in exploring more of Banner’s past and his relationship with his family. It opens up the question if we will get the introduction of Brian, who in the comics even transformed into a Hulk-like monster during the Chaos War storyline. Whatever they may have planned, it’s looking like Bruce will have to face his past one way or another.

     

    Source: The Direct

  • Jamie Foxx in Talks to Return as Electro in MCU’s ‘Spider-Man 3’

    Jamie Foxx in Talks to Return as Electro in MCU’s ‘Spider-Man 3’

    No, you read that correctly. Jamie Foxx is currently in talks to return as Elecro in the upcoming third entry of the MCU’s Spider-Man films. It is uncertain at this point if it is the exact same character from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or just a different interpretation within the MCU. The film takes place shortly after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness so he could be the one from Andrew Garfield‘s Amazing universe. We have been speculating who the villain might be but we never expected Electro to make a return. Little did we think they would recast Foxx for the role. He is high in demand especially with Pixar’s Soul on the way, so it would be a waste not to use him. Foxx was one of the highlights of the 2014 film.

    Hollywood Reporter did state that Marvel had no comment on the casting. It is just very bizarre, as this is the second returning character from a past Spider-Man franchise. J.K. Simmons reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: Far From Home. This could also open up the floodgates for other iconic villains to return in some form. There is a chance this is also a fusion of different universes once the events of Doctor Strange‘s sequel take place. Perhaps this is how Venom and Morbius end up connecting to the overarching MCU. This is huge news and may break our understanding of how the MCU works moving forward.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • BREAKING: Iman Vellani is the MCU’s ‘Ms. Marvel’

    BREAKING: Iman Vellani is the MCU’s ‘Ms. Marvel’

    Last week we were flooded with Marvel Studios news and it looks like this week is off to a good start. Despite all the good news, surprisingly, we still didn’t know who as going to play Ms. Marvel. The first Muslim character to headline her own series has seen quite the surge in popularity lately. She is the main focus of the Reassemble campaign in Square-Enix’s Avengers game voiced by Sandra Saad. She has also been heavily featured in the Marvel Rising series. We were just waiting for the official announcement and it is finally here. Iman Vellani will be playing the titular character according to Deadline.

    There’s not much information out there on Iman Vellani other than that she’s a budding filmmaker herself. A newcomer in the truest sense, Vellani will surely become a star as soon as the show comes out. Marvel has always been incredibly on point with their casting and she certainly looks the part of Kamala Khan. It is also great to see Marvel Studios also bring in new and young talent for these major projects. We cannot wait to see her adaptation of the iconic superhero.

    Source: Deadline 

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Casting Four More Supporting Characters Including Sheikh Abdullah

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Casting Four More Supporting Characters Including Sheikh Abdullah

    Looks like the upcoming Disney+ show Ms. Marvel is still getting its supporting cast together. We are still anxiously waiting for the reveal of the main character’s casting. Still, Kamala Khan has such an extensive cast of supporting characters that it will help flesh out the world of our young hero. Not many of the Avengers we’ve met so far have to deal with family drama. In addition, her religious background will play a key factor in her character and growth. As such, it isn’t surprising that one of the best characters from the comics will appear, Sheikh Abdullah, according to a new report from The Direct.

    SHEIKH, Male, 50 – 70s, Middle Eastern, he’s the Sheikh at the local Mosque. Warm, kind, and understanding, he’s always there to lend an ear. 4/6 eps

    He will most likely have the same role as in the comics. Kamala will most likely confide in him regularly throughout the show’s runtime. It is interesting that his episode count isn’t determined, as they may film additional sequences in case they need to shift it around.

    Of course, we have three more characters that will support Kamala in her journey. There is the mention of a character known as Auntie Ruby. In the comics, Kamala has an aunt named Ayesha but the character is cast to be between 50 – 70. As such, it could be that she is just another person from her mosque or a family friend that Kamala talks to about her problems. There are also the characters Fariha and Aadam included, who are both to be from Sudanese backgrounds and in their 30s. These may also be family friends, especially with Aadam being described as comedic, funny, and smart. Hopefully, this is getting us closer to the official casting of our heroine, as the show is about to enter production soon.

    Source: The Direct