Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Sam Raimi Had “Complete Creative Freedom” Over ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Sam Raimi Had “Complete Creative Freedom” Over ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    There have been many discussions surrounding the creative freedom that directors have with modern blockbusters. As franchises become larger and more complex, consisting of multi-media franchises, there’s a challenge to keep an overview while fully letting external creatives take control over these projects. Marvel Studios has repeatedly been spotlighted given how the MCU continues to expand, its complexities may hinder talent. Yet, while there are some cases, most directors have seemingly praised the work with the production company. Sam Raimi, who joined the franchise to work on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has revealed in an interview with The Playlist that he had “complete creative freedom” while working on the film.

    Well, let me say — and this may sound like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth — that Marvel allowed me complete creative freedom. However, it had to follow so many things in Marvel lore, [so] even though I had complete freedom, the previous movies and where Marvel wants to go in the future really directed the path in an incredibly specific way. Within those parameters I have freedom, but I’ve got to tell the story of those characters in a way that ties in with all of the properties simultaneously. We had to make sure, for instance, that Doctor Strange didn’t know more than he had learned about the multiverse from No Way Home. And yet we had to make sure he wasn’t ignorant of things that he had already learned. So everything was dictated by what had become before.

    Sam Raimi

    He does highlight that there were some elements he couldn’t fully control, but those are purely adhering to story consistency. So, the same rules apply to taking over any project that already has a few films on its belt. He is taking over the Doctor Strange sequel. So, even if there wasn’t an expanded universe to adhere to, the rule would still apply given what we saw in the first. It’s great to know that the director had that much creative freedom and highlights how much the team believed in his work going into the sequel.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • REPORT: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Soundtrack Includes Spoiler-Filled Track Names

    REPORT: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Soundtrack Includes Spoiler-Filled Track Names

    If you want to avoid spoilers of any kind for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, then only continue reading at your own risk.

    Nowadays, it seems like an upcoming film release has become a treacherous search for a way to avoid spoilers. Marvel Studios has even been releasing promo videos that give away quite a bit that caught many off-guard. Now, we also have to avoid sou tracks for films, as they include teases for story beats and hints at major events throughout the film’s run. Film Music Reporter has now released the full soundtrack for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and it contains some curious details on what we can expect from the film. Though, keep in mind that the track order has not been confirmed yet.

    1. Multiverse of Madness (2:37)
    2. On the Run (2:17)
    3. Strange Awakens (0:43)
    4. The Apple Orchard (3:18)
    5. Are You Happy (1:08)
    6. Gargantos (2:50)
    7. Journey with Wong (1:44)
    8. Home? (4:08)
    9. Strange Statue (1:43)
    10. The Decision Is Made (1:14)
    11. A Cup of Tea (3:58)
    12. Discovering America (0:47)
    13. Grab My Hand (1:14)
    14. Battle Time (3:11)
    15. Not a Monster (2:38)
    16. Forbidden Ground (2:29)
    17. Tribunal (2:13)
    18. They’re Not Coming Back (1:00)
    19. Stranger Things Will Happen (2:56)
    20. Buying Time (3:39)
    21. Book of Vishanti (2:45)
    22. Looking for Strange (1:38)
    23. Strange Talk (3:32)
    24. Lethal Symphonies (1:48)
    25. Getting Through (5:34)
    26. Only Way (2:51)
    27. Trust Your Power (2:54)
    28. They’ll Be Loved (3:59)
    29. Farewell (2:29)
    30. An Interesting Question (3:13)
    31. Main Titles (2:36)
    32. An Unexpected Visitor (0:32)

    Danny Elfman is working on the soundtrack, which is going to be quite promising given his history with the genre. He’s already helped work on MCU projects in the past and so he’ll be right back at home with this project. The biggest question though lies in the title “An Unexpected Visitor.” If that is indeed the final song on the track, it seems like we’ll meet someone from the multiverse that may set the path moving forward. Perhaps that unexpected visitor is the same that visited Dane Whitman in Eternals.

    Source: Film Music Reporter

  • Sam Raimi Opens Up on the Challenges of Working on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Sam Raimi Opens Up on the Challenges of Working on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Modern blockbuster development has become quite a challenge, as it now includes way more moving parts as budgets grow. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness adds to that very challenge with a multiversal storyline and Sam Raimi jumping in after Scott Derrickson left the project over creative differences while remaining as a producer. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he highlights the challenges and unique situation he found himself in when he started working on the project.

    When we started, we had a deadline to start shooting with a script that I didn’t really have anything to do with. And [screenwriter] Michael Waldron, [producer] Richie Palmer, the team at Marvel, and myself pretty much had to jump in and start over. I was very rushed and panicked — a lot of trepidation. But we kept working through it. And for us, the Covid delays were a blessing because it bought us more time to work on the script. We eventually got to the point where we had started shooting, even though we were still working on the script, and it went really well. Now I feel much more relieved. That part of the process is behind us.

    Sam Raimi

    Raimi goes on to highlight that there was one element that he would consider the “hardest part” of working on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It’s something that has become quite common for modern blockbusters and that is the ongoing writing process.

    I think the hardest part was the time deadlines, not having the story or the script [ready] … being halfway into it and not knowing what the ending was. Michael’s trying to stay a couple days ahead of us with the next page coming out of his computer printer, and it’s hard because you want to make sure that everything is supporting the whole — that the themes are running through the picture. But when you don’t quite know everything about the picture, it’s hard to do that job as effectively as possible.

    Sam Raimi

    We’ve heard in the past that the third act is the one aspect of films that gets changed the most, especially in the case of Marvel films due to all the moving parts involved. Of course, it adds a unique challenge, as he teased in the same interview, and Raimi has highlighted that he still had quite the creative freedom when it came to bringing this story to life. Yes, he did adhere to the stories that came before but it’s nothing new for a director to jump into a sequel of an existing franchise. It just happens to be a much larger one. He also highlighted just how challenging it was given it may be the most “complex movie” he’s ever worked on.

    It’s probably the most complex movie I’ve ever had anything to do with. Not just dealing with one character, or even five characters, but multiversal versions of those characters — and each one has a storyline.

    Sam Raimi

    With multiverse in the title, it’s no wonder that it was going to add an additional layer of challenge for anyone taking on the project. Sam Raimi is a veteran not only to film but also Marvel, which makes him a perfect choice to bring this project together. Add in his camera work to make their first horror-based storyline pop just that bit more making it even more exciting. The director also has said with all these challenges, he’s down to work on another project in the future.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Sam Raimi and Stan Lee Tried to Adapt Marvel’s ‘Thor’ in the 1990s

    Sam Raimi and Stan Lee Tried to Adapt Marvel’s ‘Thor’ in the 1990s

    If you’ve ever wondered just how far back Marvel films go, it seems that long before even Sam Raimi worked on the first Spider-Man film in the early 200s, he was already trying his hands at a Marvel project in the early 1990s. Not only that, but he was working on it together with Stan Lee, as they tried to adapt a film based on Marvel’s Thor.

    In the interview with Rolling Stone, he talks about how they pitched the concept around but just couldn’t get any studio to sign off on the project. He mentions a few reasonings such as people downplaying Stan Lee’s involvement and even worries about the religious implications of making a film based on the Norse God of Thunder.

    They were great. We worked on a story based on his Thor stories, then we took it around to pitch to the different studios — and I couldn’t believe that they didn’t regard [Lee] more highly back then. This was probably 1991 or something, and he was treated like just another writer. “Oh, great. You write comic books. Big deal.” I remember going to eight different studios, and then looking at eight different rejection slips, saying “How could they say no to this?” They’d say things like, “People are kind of touchy about their gods,” and I’d go, “Yes, but it’s not like a religious picture. He’s the God of Thunder!” They so didn’t get it.

    Sam Raimi

    Of course, it seems rather bizarre considering how we’ve had Bast, Thor, and even the Egyptian pantheon introduced in recent projects. Yet, even in the early days of the CU, there were concerns that they could not only make Thor work but even how he’d fit into the bigger picture of the MCU. So, in the early 1990s, there wasn’t a world that believed in comic book movies or expanding upon old mythology.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man 4’ Was Going to Feature Kraven the Hunter

    Sam Raimi’s ‘Spider-Man 4’ Was Going to Feature Kraven the Hunter

    As Sam Raimi makes his grand return to the Marvel universe with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s hard not to ask him about what could’ve been with Spider-Man 4. Many years after the director left the projects behind, it was hinted that it was going to feature Bruce Campbell‘s cameo as Mysterio and Vulture would appear in some capacity. Yet, it turns out that the plans were originally going to include another classic member of his rogue’s gallery.

    It looks like Kraven the Hunter was going to be part of Spider-Man 4. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sam Raimi reveals that not only was Mysterio not a definite, as they had other plans for Bruce Campbell to cameo, but they also were going to include the iconic villain in the film. The reasoning is the same for any comic fan., he wanted to see them fight on the silver screen.

    We had other things in mind, too, but that was one of them. And I missed Kraven the Hunter. We were going to work that character into the next Spider-Man; I always wanted to see Kraven fight Spider-Man on the big screen. I thought that would be really unique. He’s the ultimate hunter, and Spider-Man is like the most agile trickster of the skies. And I wanted to see Peter continue forward as a human being.

    Sam Raimi

    It’s crazy to think that Spider-Man: No Way Home may have almost featured the character as well before fully jumping into the multiverse. The character is currently getting their own spinoff series starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but it’s unclear how it may tie together with Sony’s overarching plans. Still, it’s a shame he never got to explore the character, and perhaps he’s interested in integrating that story into the fourth entry of Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man as a nice tribute to his original plans.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Sam Raimi on How the Reshoots Helped ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Sam Raimi on How the Reshoots Helped ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    There has always been a strange uncertainty online surrounding the wording of “reshoots,” especially when it comes to Marvel Studios. It’s become an essential tool for directors to revisit elements of their story that may not have worked as initially expected. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Sam Raimi opened up on their approach with exactly that for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    In the interview, he highlights that their main focus was on making the film accessible and ensuring that everything works well together. while many might not be fans of test screenings as a concept, it does help directors receive feedback from an external source to potentially uncover elements that just aren’t hitting as initially expected. Of course, that is also helpful for storylines with complex concepts like the multiverse.

    There’s a lot of points where the audience says, “I don’t understand this. I don’t understand this concept.” Or, “I’m aware of this concept, and then you explained it again in the third act.” “Oh, you’re right. The audience knows that already.” Or: “They had to know that in order to accept this next story beat.” A lot of it is test screenings, learning what is confusing on a complex picture like this, or learning things that have overstayed their welcome. Recognizing when something is too slow, and even though it’s a proper beat to put in, the audience doesn’t need it.

    Sam Raimi

    It also carries over into the editing process, as they try to bring the film together. In a way, Raimi highlights it also gives him the opportunity to uncover elements that might work even better or are worth expanding as a result of it.

    They can figure that out on their own, so what seemed like a logical step now becomes, in the editing process, “Hmm. That’s slowing us down. Let’s skip it and let the audience make the leap themselves.” But it’s also about recognizing what they really like, and sometimes expanding those things that they’re really reacting well to. It’s recognizing what’s original about the picture, and when you’ve got the opportunity to, expanding upon that.

    Sam Raimi

    It definitely sounds like the concept helps the directors tighten their work on projects, and it’s become a common practice for films of any kind from any studio. In a way, it’s just an additional toolkit that helps creatives build upon their work and potentially even lean further into the elements that are original and stand out. It helps add a little more insight into Bruce Campbell‘s comments when he jokingly said Benedict Cumberbatch might not even know if he’s in his own film.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Sam Raimi on How ‘WandaVision’ and ‘No Way Home’ Impacted ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Production

    Sam Raimi on How ‘WandaVision’ and ‘No Way Home’ Impacted ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Production

    COVID has made quite a mess out of many things, and a franchise that builds upon itself being shifted around willy-nilly may have faced many more consequences than it initially expected. We’ve heard in the past that the release schedules between Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home ended up forcing their hand to rewrite both projects to better fit the overarching narrative. Still, it made many wonders how that exactly impacted the production.

    In a lengthy interview with Rolling Stone, director Sam Raimi got a chance to sit down and talk bout his experience working with Marvel Studios and within the MCU playbox. He has already praised the work in the past and is even open to returning for a future project. Yet, he also highlighted how the pandemic’s influence on two interconnected releases, previously-mentioned No Way Home and the Disney+ series WandaVision, impacted the writing process.

    Yes, it was all on the fly. “Now this is happening. Now that’s happening.” It was a fun juggling game. I guess it must be like that for all of the directors and writers of these very big Marvel properties that now have a long history. It was a very chaotic, wonderful, creative — I don’t want to use the word “mess,” because that’s unfair — but it was just a cascade of ideas. We’d take the best ones and quickly weave together the fabric of this universe. It was very exciting, actually.

    Sam Raimi

    In a way, it sounds like they were able to weave their story even with the “cascade of ideas” weaving out of these projects. One has to admire the work these creatives go through to bring an entire franchise to life and the way Raimi is praising it sounds like it helped them become even more creative. It seems that WandaVision also only became a factor during the writing process, as that series was also facing changes and delays due to COVID.

    I’m not really sure what the WandaVision schedule was or how it changed. I just know that halfway, or maybe three-quarters of the way into our writing process, I’d first heard of this show they were doing and that we would have to follow it. Therefore, we had to really study what WandaVision was doing, so we could have a proper through line and character-growth dynamic. I never even saw all of WandaVision; I’ve just seen key moments of some episodes that I was told directly impact our storyline.

    Sam Raimi

    As he highlights, things changed a lot behind-the-scenes and it’s to be expected when any projects are currently in development,w which also influence each other on a character and story basis. Raimi highlighted that these changes created a potential for creativity, which highlights a core aspect of these story elements. He highlights that he was heavily involved with the writing process alongside Loki‘s Michael Waldron and it makes the exciting prospect of what story they ended up within that playfield

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Directors That Could Take on Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’

    Directors That Could Take on Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’

    For those living under a tardigrade fold in the Quantum Realm, a new help wanted sign has been posted at Marvel Studios. Jon Watts, who successfully helmed the MCU Spider-Man trilogy, is departing the Fantastic Four reboot. The project was announced by Kevin Feige at SDCC 2019 and Watts had been attached to lead the project since Disney’s December 2020 Investor Day; however, Marvel Studios will now have to explore new options and we have some ideas for who could sit in the directors chair.

    Bryce Dallas Howard

    Howard is still new to the directing game, having only directed a handful of shorts, music videos, and episodes, but she’s quickly proved that she has what it takes to helm an ambitious project such as The Fantastic Four. Her episodes of The Mandalorian and episode of The Book of Boba Fett were among the best of each of those highly-scrutinized series, causing fans to rally for her to be given the reigns to a Star Wars feature film. While she may still be waiting in line for one of those as Lucasfilm keeps its focus on streaming series, this could be a golden opportunity for both Howard and Marvel Studios.

    Brad Bird

    Its hard to deny that The Incredibles are incredibly (pun somewhat intended) similar to the Fantastic Four, sporting very similar power sets but with an entirely different dynamic. The understanding of that dynamic is what could make Bird such a good pick for The Fantastic Four. Nailing their family dynamic is key to the project’s success. Bird has done that. If he can work with Marvel Studios to understand the core values of these characters, he can get creative within those parameters and put together the first good FF film.

    Sam Raimi

    The man behind Spider-Man 2, arguably one of the best comic book films of all time, has made his return to marvel with the upcoming Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. Raimi has made it clear that after a LONG break from the superhero genre, he’d be willing return to collaborate with Marvel Studios. The Fantastic Four could be a great route for him. Raimi has similar qualities to that of Brad Bird, where he looks to find relatability in these characters like what he did with Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four is a chance to do that with a whole new dynamic.

    John Krasinski

    Before the reboot was even announced, fans had already made up their mind as to who they wanted to see play Reed Richards in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: John Kransinski. What if he directed the project instead? The former star of The Office has made his move into directing these past few years with the Quiet Place films and has shown an understanding of the craft. Kransinski could be a great choice to sit in the director’s chair for this one, and who knows, he could even be the first star to also direct an MCU film.

    The Daniels

    One of the most important things that the next Fantastic Four film must do is set itself apart from the past live-action iterations of the team. The Daniels could be the chance to make something really special here. Following the release of Everything Everywhere All At Once, all eyes are on the duo to see what they tackle next. The Fantastic Four could be a great project for them. The two were recently in talks to direct Season One of Loki, but opted out in order to develop their most recent release. The Daniels could spark life in the project, offering a creative new spin on the team and dive into that weird side of the Fantastic Four that we previously suggested should be the avenue Marvel takes with the team.

  • REPORT: Sony Expects Jon Watts, Tom Holland, and Zendaya to Return for Spider-Man 4′

    REPORT: Sony Expects Jon Watts, Tom Holland, and Zendaya to Return for Spider-Man 4′

    The timing of this story is quite fitting, but director Jon Watts has just left Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four franchise. Unlike some in the past, it’s not over creative differences but rather to take a break after working back-to-back on three massive blockbusters. After the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s not surprising that he’d want to take it easy for a bit. Yet, it seems that Sony seemingly is still counting on him to return to direct the fourth entry in the MCU’s incarnation of Spider-Man.

    As shared by ComicBook.com, the production company hopes to have him alongside Tom Holland and Zendaya return for a fourth entry in the franchise. While many were hoping to potentially see a new director leave his imprint on the franchise, it’s not surprising that they’d want to bank on the success of the third entry. It’s unclear though when we might expect the next entry. As Watts takes a step back from the spotlight, the statement from Marvel Studios has hinted that they are keeping an eye out for other projects they could work on.

    The addition of Zendaya being expected to return is a rather interesting surprise considering the ending of the third film. It seemed like they were moving away and giving Spidey a new cast of characters resulting from the final spell that Doctor Strange unleashed upon the world. We know from Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige that they started work on a fourth entry, and many things can change throughout production.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • BREAKING: Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’ Without a Director Following Jon Watts’ Exit

    BREAKING: Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’ Without a Director Following Jon Watts’ Exit

    Here’s a surprise to many, but after being announced as the director for Fantastic Four in 2019, it seems that Jon Watts has pulled out of the project. This is quite the surprising move considering he just cemented his standing with Marvel Studios after his work on Spider-Man: No Way Home. It seems that the reasoning is that the director wants to take a break after completing the trilogy and it wasn’t intended to be his next film.

    The director has been quite busy, as he’s been busy with production, directing, and promoting the Spider-Man films since he finished work on his 2015 Cop Car. So, he wants to take a break and all parties have confirmed the exit is amicable. Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige shared the following statement:

    Collaborating with Jon on the Spider-Man films has been a true pleasure. We were looking forward to continuing our work with him to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU but understand and are supportive of his reasons for stepping away. We are optimistic that we will have the opportunity to work together again at some point down the road.

    Kevin Feige

    Watts has shared the following statement on the exit:

    Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life changing experience for me. I’m eternally grateful to have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years. I’m hopeful we’ll work together again and I can’t wait to see the amazing vision for Fantastic Four brought to life.

    Jon Watts

    It’s great to see Marvel Studios give the director time to focus on himself and take a step back. Not only that, but it opens up new opportunities for them to find a new voice to join the MCU, especially with the strong sci-fi direction this project might take. There’s a lot of potential with many talented directors that might be perfect for the film.

    Source: Deadline