Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • UPDATED: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Production Reportedly Restarted After All

    UPDATED: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Production Reportedly Restarted After All

    UPDATED: So, there has been some confusion surrounding the current state of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s production. In the THR article, it was included with the statement that “production was set to restart this week” without a confirmation it was able to do so. It’s uncertain if this was a statement based on old information, but The Direct’s Jack McBryan has offered an update stating that production is currently underway:

    While he mentions something that happened earlier this month, the implication is on a report from January 14th – last week – by THR. It’s when the production wasn’t able to restart as planned that Monday and includes the reference to the cast and crew, as well as Lupita Nyong’o, contacting COVID. At the time, the report was accidentally overlooked, which is why the latest entry was mistakenly written as the first update on her condition. For now, it seems that the latest THR piece published on the 18th may have been based on old information, or they were able to restart today. No matter if they did or not, hopefully everyone affected by COVID was able to recover.

    Source: THR, Twitter

    It seems like just a few days ago, we were reporting that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was able to start up production again after a long vacation break so that Letitia Wright‘s severe injury can heal. Sadly, it seems that in a new piece by The Hollywood Reporter the production was forced to close down again, as cast and crew members were tested positive for COVID. It was originally going to start up production this week again, which will once again face further delays. Among those tested positive is also one of its stars Lupita Nyong’o.

    This news is sadly becoming common once again, as Star Trek Picard also was closed down after over 50 people involved with the production were tested positive. As a result of this rise in numbers, it seems a new deal was struck for new COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure that this cannot happen further with the spread of the Omicron variant.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Eternals’ Takes Top Spot as Marvel Studios’ Biggest Disney+ Debut

    ‘Eternals’ Takes Top Spot as Marvel Studios’ Biggest Disney+ Debut

    Eternals has finally released on Disney+ and offered many a chance to check out the Chloé Zhao-directed film that didn’t get a chance to see it in theaters. Of course, a release on any streamer is bound to get the attention of people that want to see just how much of a second life a streaming service can give a project, and it looks like Marvel Studios’ take on an Indie film has garnered quite the attention in its home release.

    SambaTV, who has shared data on various projects in the past based on internal study panels, has revealed that 2M households in the United States alone viewed the film within five days of its release. As pointed out by @Luiz-Fernando_J, this is the biggest film debut from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it has surpassed Shang-Chi‘s 1.7M debut.

    The film had a strong run at the box office, ending its run almost hitting the $400M benchmark without a Chinese release. While it didn’t have the momentum that other Marvel Studios projects had, it still had an impressive run. So, it getting a second life on Disney+ is a sign that the film still had a strong showing and may finally give Marvel Studios a push to hint at what the future has in store for the franchise.

    Source: Twitter, The Numbers

  • Murphy’s Murmurs: ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Murphy’s Murmurs: ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Sony’s Kraven the Hunter is currently set to release on January 13, 2023 and it’s been some time since fans have had any updates on the film. Outside of the film’s star, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and director, J.C. Chandor, details on the film have been hard to come by. That all should be changing rather soon, however, as it looks like things are set to get started on the project.

    Production start dates have always been tentative and now, more than ever, it’s important to keep that in mind, but assuming no delays, it sounds like Kraven the Hunter will begin production in the UK next month. Given the film’s January 2023 release date, it’s a very sensible timeline for principal photography, leaving plenty of time for any additional photography, which is always factored into these projects.

    Taylor-Johnson has taken his prep for the role VERY seriously. As fans of the comics know, Kraven is a physically imposing specimen, carrying well over 200 pounds on his frame and having enough strength to tangle with dangerous foes even before he was enhanced through the potions of the voodoo goddess Calypso, who is rumored to be played by Jodie Turner-Smith in the film. Should they follow the comics and juice up the character, he’d be superhumanly strong and word is that Taylor-Johnson has done the work to look the part, having gone to great lengths to transform his body for the role.

    Fans caught a quick tease of the character in last act of Spider-Man: No Way Home and with the multiverse now in play, it probably won’t be long before one of the Spideys finds himself tangling with Kraven, giving Sony the chance to adapt The Last Hunt, something that has been discussed and teased as long as there’s been rumors of a Kraven film. We’ll see what role Spidey has to play in the expanding Sony universe and which actor will fill that role.

  • Andrew Garfield On Replicating the Spider-Man Meme in ‘No Way Home’

    Andrew Garfield On Replicating the Spider-Man Meme in ‘No Way Home’

    It almost seems like a tradition that any storyline featuring Spider-Man and the multiverse has to include a reference to the original animated series’s pointing sequence. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse included the sequence in its post-credit sequence and we even got a reference in the latest cinematic Spidey crossover, Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    We ended up getting two versions of the sequence, such as the iconic discussion after they got their butt handed to them. Andrew Garfield, in an interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, shared his experience filming the project and how they brought those meme-inspired moments to life.

    Oh, so we were trying to figure out the pointing thing, like how we were going to do the pointing meme in a way – it took us a while – it kind of happened naturally on that scaffolding scene with Peter 1, Peter 2, Peter 3, like all that.

    Andrew Garfield

    We did end up getting the pointing scene earlier in the film and it turns out that the idea came from Garfield during the production, as they were filming in the lab. It was one of the funniest scenes in the film, as Ned struggled to call out Holland‘s Peter Parker but got the attention of all three.

    I remember having a lightning bolt and running into set and telling [director] Jon [Watts], ‘I got it, I got it.’Cause there’s this moment where Jacob is like, ‘Hey Peter?’ and we all go, ‘Yeah?’ But in the script, it was like, that was that. We all go ‘Yeah?’ and in the script, my Peter says, ‘This isn’t going to get old at all,’ like something kind of sardonic – which felt kinda undercutting and not quite right for the moment because it’s cute. It’s actually kinda cute. So then we were thinking I could say, ‘Aw, this is adorable. We’re so adorable. God, we’re cute.’ Something like that. But then I was like, no, this is the moment where we get to go, ‘Do you mean me?’ Jon was like, ‘That’s it. That’s it. Done.’ I was so happy that worked.”

    Andrew Garfield

    It sounds like they had a lot of fun reenacting the iconic scene and the pointing during the lab sequence was the perfect timing. The fact it also kept going with Ned trying to say Peter’s full name thinking it would change anything was a hilarious expansion on the concept. It also was great that they didn’t just directly replicate it but gave it a unique spin that worked well into this story.

    Source: Megaphone via The Direct

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes $900M Internationally, Highest-Grossing Film in Mexico

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes $900M Internationally, Highest-Grossing Film in Mexico

    Sony’s latest Marvel film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, continues to blow expectations out of the water, as the film will pass Black Panther‘s domestic box office in just a short time. At this point, it has garnered the spot of fourth highest-grossing film in the United States. It’s no small accomplishment if you consider that the Omicron discussion is still worrying some about an eventual closure of cinemas once again. Still, the film has been a juggernaut, as only this weekend’s release of Scream managed to surpass it this weekend.

    It’s been a great weekend as the latest horror entry beat expectations, and No Way Home managed to garner a few interesting new milestones. As @ErikDavis shared, the film is now the highest-grossing film of Mexico, may even add Central America and Brazil to that list. It’s passed $900M internationally, opening up a potential $1 billion if it can still keep up some momentum.

    It’s definitely no small accomplishment with everything stacked against it due to the rising numbers worldwide. The fact the film managed to pass the $1.6B mark is quite impressive and everyone is still curious just how close it might get to potentially join the $2B club. It still seems unlikely currently, but the film has proven to have some great legs in cinemas. Plus, there’s also the possibility it might still hit China for that last boost it needs.

    Source: Twitter

  • M’Baku Actor Winston Duke Given “Expanded Role” in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    M’Baku Actor Winston Duke Given “Expanded Role” in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever resumes filming after star Letitia Wright’s injury and other delays related to COVID-19, a recent report suggests that some potentially major changes have been made to the film during production. 

    While plenty of attention has been on Wright‘s Shuri throughout the film’s development and production for numerous reasons, it looks like actor Winston Duke has possibly had quite an interesting journey with the sequel’s production as well. According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that Duke, who plays Jabari Tribe leader M’Baku, has negotiated a hefty pay raise due to his reported expanded role within Wakanda Forever and perhaps the Black Panther franchise at large. 

    While there is no information on just how “expanded” Duke’s role actually is, the news is sure to bring up both old and new theories on where the follow-up to the extremely beloved and successful Black Panther plans to go after Chadwick Boseman‘s tragic death in 2020 and recent controversies surrounding the sequel. 

    Despite the delays, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still on track for its scheduled Nov. 11, 2022 release date. 

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ On its Way to Pass ‘Avengers: Infinity War’s Spot in the Domestic Box Office

    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ On its Way to Pass ‘Avengers: Infinity War’s Spot in the Domestic Box Office

    While Spider-Man: No Way Home sadly is more an exception than a rule, its hold on the box office is truly impressive. Not only did it manage to take in over $200M in its opening weekend, as everyone else struggled to even get near the $100M mark, but it also is the first pandemic release to pass the $1 billion mark. Now, the film continues to grow, as it’s already on its way to becoming the fifth-highest domestic opening of all time, as it passes by Avengers: Infinity War‘s $678.8M.

    These numbers are impressive, as it’s very likely going to hit $700M by Monday. while it does seem unlikely that it could manage $800M given the rise in Omicron concerns as of late, the film’s box office development has been quite impressive. It also stood unopposed since its release in December, but there’s a chance that Scream will just barely inch out the Marvel threequel over the weekend, as it takes in a predicted $29.4M, who’s also showing some impressive numbers even as it faces the pandemic.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Doctor Doom May Have a Minor Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    RUMOR: Doctor Doom May Have a Minor Role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    We all know that the Fantastic Four are on their way to cinemas once again, but there have been quite a few rumors we might see elements of their mythology appear in the MCU at an earlier date. A long time ago, there were some hints that their most famous adversary, Doctor Doom, might have a role in sparking the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. A new rumor has found its way online offering a bit more information on his potential appearance.

    Bleeding Cool reports that he’ll have a very minor role in the story. They’ve heard that Marvel Studios has already been working on a costume of some kind, which adds to a potential appearance. We’ve heard very little about the Fantastic Four film so far, and it’s uncertain if it even entered some form of pre-production as of now. So, if they are already trying to bring one of Marvel’s most iconic villains to life early, it seems likely he’d appear in a project sooner rather than later. If he appears, it would mainly be to tease a potential connection to the Wakandan and Atlantean war.

    Of course, it’s still a rumor for now as we haven’t even got official information on the involvement of Namor and Atlantis in the story. So, we still have to take it with a grain of salt, but his involvement would be a great addition to the story and potentially tease a larger role for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe later down the line. He’s known for forcing everyone throughout the Marvel universe to band together and it wouldn’t be too surprising he does the same here.

    Source: Bleeding Cool

  • RUMOR: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ May Set Up a Namor Franchise

    RUMOR: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ May Set Up a Namor Franchise

    There have been many rumors pointing to Namor becoming the main threat for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It’s still unclear how the story will unravel, but it seems more and more likely that a clash is inevitable between Wakanda and the Atlanteans. In a new story by Bleeding Cool, they offer some additional insight into what the upcoming sequel may have planned for the iconic Sub-Mariner and it seems they are using this as a jumping-off point for the character to get his own franchise.

    It seems their plan is to use this film in a similar fashion to how Captain America: Civil War introduced Black Panther into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The future king of Wakanda had a substantial role in that film with his own arc that would become the starting point where the first Black Panther film started off. So, it’s likely that wherever the conflict between these two nations ends up, it’ll probably continue his storyline through its aftermath.

    We still have to take it with a grain of salt, but given how much the franchise has been expanding as of late, it wouldn’t be too surprising that they’d want to set up a franchise for a character that’s been with Marvel since the beginning. He’s also known as the first mutant, which may also be an interesting setup in connecting him to the larger mythology developing through the MCU. There’s a lot of potentials and we’ll see what the future has in store once the film releases later this year.

    Source: Bleeding Cool

  • Tom Holland Hopes To Return as Spider-Man “Again and Again and Again”

    Tom Holland Hopes To Return as Spider-Man “Again and Again and Again”

    Spider-Man: No Way Home has become one of the highest grossing films of all time and the highest-rated live-action Spider-Man film ever but, without the work of Tom Holland, it wouldn’t have happened. Following Spider-Man: Far From Home, the relationship between Marvel Studios and Sony was as dead as Marisa Tomei’s Aunt May until Holland swung in and saved the deal. Now it seems the relationship between the two studios is stronger than ever, with both Amy Pascal and Kevin Fiege confirming that work on a fourth collaboration is already underway. And if that wasn’t enough to excite fans, Holland himself added a little more enthusiasm to the mix today.

    Rotten Tomatoes awarded the highly-regarded film three of their Golden Tomato awards in 2021 and Holland thanked the site in a video. During that video, Holland expressed not only his thanks, but also his desire to “do it again and again and again” and followed up by saying “we’ll see you soon.”

    Fans were rightfully trepidatious about Holland’s return to the role as his time on the press rounds for the film was filled with contradictory conversation about his willingness to return to the film. However, the events of the film leave the character in the perfect place for an all-new, all-different sort of trilogy that will allow Holland to put a new spin on the character. With development on fourth installment already underway, it might not be too long before we hear news about a potential release date.