Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Delroy Lindo in Talks to Join Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade’

    Delroy Lindo in Talks to Join Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade’

    Fans are eager to see the live-action return and debut of Eric Brooks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Mahershala Ali set to star as the titular vampire hunter. Not much is known about the project but Blade already seems to be making moves on and off-screen in the MCU. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that actor Delroy Lindo is in final negotiations to join the cast of Blade. It’s currently unknown just who he would play as that is still under wraps along with plot details. The project is currently being reported to be starting production late into the summer of 2022. Lindo is best known for his work in films like Da 5 Bloods, Gone in 60 Seconds, Malcolm X, and most recently The Harder They Fall.

    As it’s currently unknown who he would be playing, Lindo would fit pretty well as Jamal Afari. In the comics, he was Blades’ mentor who found and raised Eric since he was nine years old after he was saved from vampires. Blade would learn everything he knows in hunting vampires from the man, who was once one of the greatest hunters. He even famously faced the toughest of vampires, Dracula. The character recently made his entrance into the MCU via the post-credit scene in Eternals. While you don’t see the man himself, we hear him speak to Dane Whitman just as he’s about to pick up the Ebony Blade, asking if he was sure he was ready for that. It’ll be interesting to see if Dane pops up in Blade as well, but Lindo is quite the addition to this project.

    Source: THR

  • Patton Oswalt Not Only Voiced But Also Played Pip the Troll on ‘Eternals’ Set

    Patton Oswalt Not Only Voiced But Also Played Pip the Troll on ‘Eternals’ Set

    We all got a nice surprise when Harry Styles made his MCU premiere as Eros in the first post-credit sequence of Eternals. He wasn’t alone, as his character got introduced to the character of Pip the Troll, who was voiced by the always iconic Patton Oswalt. It turns out, he did quite a bit more than that to bring the computer-generated character to life, as he was also on set to play the character.

    Weta Digital’s Matt Aitken revealed that he was on the sound stage performing the entire act on his knees so they’d have the right height for the character. So, he did the entire motion capture for the character to bring Pip to life for the latest Marvel Studios film. He goes on to share that

    We ended up replacing Patton Oswalt with Pip and the corridor, because we needed to do all that interactive portal light and extend it. But if you’re looking at Eros, then his face will definitely be the face, but everything else is CG in those shots.

    Matt Aitken

    Weta Digital also shared a first look at the visual breakdown of the character that Comic Book’s Adam Barnhardt shared on Twitter:

    https://twitter.com/adambarnhardt/status/1461756972735287308?s=21

    Oswalt joined in the fun and even offered a closer look at him behind-the-scenes in the mo-cap suit.

    It’s great to see his commitment to the role and might hint at him returning to play the character whenever Pip the Troll might make his grand return. James Gunn‘s brother Sean Gunn famously played Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films walking on his knees while Bradley Cooper purely voiced the character. It’s always interesting to get a look behind-the-scenes on these projects, especially how they bring these CGI-heavy characters to life. It certainly sounds like Styles had some fun with Oswalt on his knees while introducing his character.

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Production Officially on Hold Until 2022

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Production Officially on Hold Until 2022

    Just a couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would be halting production while one of the film’s leads, Letitia Wright, recovered from an injury sustained while filming in August. Now, according to a trade report, production has officially paused and will not resume until January.

    The Deadline report indicates that the cast and crew were notified today via a message from Marvel Studios’ top brass. It seems that’s Wright’s injuries will require more time to heal before she can get back to work. With Wright playing a major role in the film, it seems the studio has completed all the principal photography that it can without her and now must allow her to convalesce. The text of the note can be read below:

    As we wind down for the holidays, we wanted to send a note of thanks and appreciation for the hard work of our entire cast and crew, as well as an update on timing. First and foremost, this project is exceptional and something we know audiences are eager to see. We could not be any more excited to complete this film and share it with the world next year. Thank you for everything you’ve done to get us to this place.

    Unfortunately, we’ve not gotten here without a few setbacks. Running a production of this scale in the midst of a pandemic is not an easy task, and you have remained diligent and professional throughout. In addition, as you are all aware, Letitia had a frightening accident on our set during a stunt back in August. It was a reminder of the importance of safety at all times in our work, which we know you understand and are committed to. What we had initially thought were minor injuries turned out to be much more serious with Letitia suffering a critical shoulder fracture, and a concussion with severe side effects. It has been a painful process and Letitia has been home recovering with her doctors and the support of family.

    We’ve adjusted our production schedule so she has the time she needs to heal, but there’s only so much we can do without Shuri! We also want to thank Letitia for everything she’s doing to get back to the set – we know how much she loves this role, how tough it’s been for her to be away, and how hard she’s working to recover as quickly as she safely can. We are eagerly awaiting her return and we know we will all come back stronger together.

    Please be on the lookout for more information on your specific return-to-work date. As of now, we’re on schedule to resume filming – with Letitia – in January 2022. We are all focused on finishing the movie with excellence, honoring the memory of our dear brother Chadwick in the process. We are thrilled to share Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the world, confident that the challenges that we have overcome together as a team will make the film even more impactful. Please take care of yourselves and enjoy the holidays.

    The film’s release date was recently moved to November 11, 2022 and, according to the report, the production delay is not expected to cause any further shifts to its release.

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Is a “Giddy Mixture” of Marvel and Raimi’s Style

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Is a “Giddy Mixture” of Marvel and Raimi’s Style

    As soon as Sam Raimi took over directing duties from Scott Derrickson for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, many wondered what it might mean for the film. Not only is Raimi‘s Spider-Man film what kicked off the superhero boom alongside Blade, but he’s also quite famous for his work on horror films. As the Doctor strange sequel was teased frequently as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first horror story.

    So, he is the perfect choice to join the project to bring his flair from films like Evil Dead or Drag Me to Hell. There were some concerns that his directorial style might take a backseat for the overarching universe building, but actor Benedict Cumberbatch may have offered a tease of what’s to come.

    You have to wait and see. There’s a lot of Marvel and there’s a lot of Raimi as well. Raimi fans will hopefully not be disappointed. It’s a very giddy mixture, actually. And I think it’s, it’s a riot and it will live up to its title, a multiverse of madness for sure

    It certainly sounds like it’ll bring together the best of both worlds. The post-credit sequence from WandaVision made many questions if it was directed by Raimi due to the use of the camera chasing towards Wanda’s little cabin. There’s something iconic about his use of the camera and might make the horror elements in this multiversal storyline stand out even more. Here’s hoping we won’t have to wait too long for the first trailer and a hint at what to expect.

    Source: The Playlist

  • Scarlett Johansson Working On A Top-Secret Project With Marvel Studios

    Scarlett Johansson Working On A Top-Secret Project With Marvel Studios

    It has looked fairly certain that Scarlett Johansson wouldn’t be working with Marvel Studios again anytime soon. Her version of Natasha Romanoff met her end in Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow recently released on Disney+. There are also others to continue the stories of the Widows and the Red Room. Variants of Natasha were introduced in What If…? and Yelena Belova suggested she would free the rest of the Widows across the world. So it comes as a surprise that Johansson is working on a top-secret Marvel Studios project already. 

    An awards ceremony seems the least likely place to hear of a new Marvel Studios project. The 35th American Cinematheque Award where Scarlett Johansson’s contribution and engagement in the industry was where this news was revealed. During a speech, Kevin Feige honored “Marvel Studios’ first and longest-running female hero.” He also praised Johansson’s producer skills saying she was the “first time an actor had also worked as a producer.” Towards the end of his remarks Feige revealed a bit of fun secret we can speculate on:

    “We already are working with Scarlett on non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project.”

    Kevin Feige

    So what is the project Marvel Studios and Scarlett Johansson are already working on? Feige noted it wasn’t a Black Widow-related project, though he could be referring in shorthand to Johansson’s Romanoff specifically. Deadline has reported Johansson will have a producing role on the upcoming project. Having produced Black Widow, it could be related to any of the characters in that film including Red Guardian, Melina Vostokoff, or Taskmaster. Maybe it could also be a Thunderbolts project involving Yelena Belova. It could potentially be an A-Force project, with Natasha almost certain not to be involved if that project went ahead. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities, given the small amount of information we have! 

    Sources: YouTube, Deadline

  • Jamie Dornan In Talks With Marvel Studios for a Hero Role

    Jamie Dornan In Talks With Marvel Studios for a Hero Role

    Marvel Studios has attracted some talented people throughout the years. They still tackle their franchises by introducing fresh talent from the industry, especially to those that are interested in wearing a cape one day. It seems like they may have already set their eyes on the next addition in the form of actor and musical James Dornan. The actor has appeared in countless projects with his next big project, Belfast, on the horizon. During an interview with New York Times, he revealed that he’s already in talks with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige about potentially donning a cape in a future project. He added the following regarding his ambition moving forward and how becoming a parent also helped push him.

    I’m more ambitious than I’ve ever let on before. It’s like a necessity to deliver and provide, very caveman-esque: I must succeed for these precious little people. Also, since my dad died, it’s lit this extra fire within me, this extra burner of wanting to succeed. […] But for some reason, since he’s gone, I have a weird thing of wanting to prove something to myself, to prove some sort of succession that is impressive.” And now that he’s channeled his own father, shouldn’t some other heroes be on the table?”

    Jamie Dornan

    Dornan might be most famously known for his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise opposite of Dakota Johnson. The actor has appeared in more varied projects since, such as 2018’s action-adventure Robin Hood alongside Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx. He even voiced a character in last year’s Trolls World Tour release before tackling another romantic comedy with Wild Mountain Thyme. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of role he might tackle, as the current projects we know about actively casting would be Fantastic Four.

    Source: New York Times

  • Kevin Feige on the Future of Marvel Studios: “I’m Not Anywhere Near Bored Yet”

    Kevin Feige on the Future of Marvel Studios: “I’m Not Anywhere Near Bored Yet”

    The threat of “superhero fatigue” has been looming over Marvel Studios since 2011 when they brazenly doubled their output from 1 film a year to 2 films a year. In the decade since, critics of comic book films have taken to social media to warn us all of the impending end of the genre due to the lack of interest of fans. As they continue to bang that drum, Marvel Studios, under the leadership of Kevin Feige, is wrapping up a year in which they will have launched their first 4 live-action streaming series on Disney Plus, streamed their first in-universe animated series and will release four films for the first time in their history. At a global press event for Hawkeye, Feige was asked by our own Charles Villanueva to think about what they learned about putting so much content on streaming as they head into year 2 of Disney Plus. After talking about how positively the audiences have responded, Feige talked about one big takeaway from year one, saying:

    That it doesn’t seem like an overabundance of this. I have always said, nobody will get bored before we at Marvel Studios will of these projects. And going 20 plus years, I’m not anywhere near bored yet. Because we’re allowed to do within the sub-genre, so many different types of things.

    This is encouraging news for fans of Marvel Studios on a couple of levels. Feige has always indicated that he’d be willing to make as many projects per year as exist good scripts. With nearly a dozen films and at least a dozen streaming series (both live-action and animated) at different stages of development and headed to consumers over the next 3 years, it seems like Marvel Studios has found a sweet spot in script development. Additionally, there’s been unfounded concern over the past couple of years that Feige was looking to move on: a DC rumor here, a Star Wars rumor there. Knowing that he’s not ready to let go of the reigns at Marvel Studios, especially with the MCU versions of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men on the horizon, gives fans confidence that the same care for the characters and stories to which they’ve grown accustomed will be given to those characters as they enter the shared universe. Superhero fatigue looks like it’ll continue to be a fictional construct engineered by critics of the genre while fans continue to consume any and everything superhero-related.

  • Trailer Analysis-‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Trailer Analysis-‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Anthony Canton III and Dalbin Osorio break down yesterday’s No Way Home trailer which was filled with villains and lacking heroes. Did it live up to all the hype? Check out their thoughts in the video and follow our YouTube channel!

  • ‘Earth X’ Writer Teases How ‘Eternals’ Ikaris Could Become Galactus in the MCU

    ‘Earth X’ Writer Teases How ‘Eternals’ Ikaris Could Become Galactus in the MCU

    While Eternals is influenced by the well-known comic runs of the alien race by creator Jack Kirby and Neil Gaiman’s modern run, it has also become clear that the films were heavily influenced by the more obscure 1999 Earth X storyline. Written by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, Earth X introduced the story of an Earth that had a Celestial growing inside of it. It depicts a dystopian future where the entire world has developed superpowers.

    Not just that, it also included numerous plot points that seem far beyond where the current Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading, but the fact that Eternals creators eagerly dove into the material could suggest that it may have more to offer. So, when asked by Bleeding Cool if there are other aspects of Earth X the series that came after it that he would like to see Marvel adapt in future movies, Krueger teased a particularly interesting development for Eternals’ character:

    I think the MCU is an amazing place and I wouldn’t begin to throw them ideas… That said, in the back story continuity of Earth X, the former Galactus has become a star…because a star was once a sun, it leads me to wonder about the fate and potential irony of a certain Celestial-serving character who finds himself in the sun at the end of the movie. Could this character potentially and ultimately offer the balance to the cosmos if the Celestials became too powerful? Sounds like a pretty great person to become Galactus one day.

    Jim Krueger

    Krueger is no doubt referring to Ikaris, who seemed to meet his end by flying into the sun at the end of Eternals. It’s difficult to imagine future stories surrounding the Eternals themselves without such a keystone character. Still, re-introducing him as Galactus – a major player yet to be seen in the MCU – would be quite an interesting move. Anything is possible, though, especially considering that Earth X apparently served as an “uncanny bible” for the Eternals writers.

    Source: Bleeding Cool

  • How the ‘Earth-X’ Writer Helped Create ‘Eternals’ 20+ Years Ago

    How the ‘Earth-X’ Writer Helped Create ‘Eternals’ 20+ Years Ago

    Jim Krueger has built up quite a legacy in the comic industry, most notably with his work on the Earth X trilogy alongside Alex Ross. It explored a dystopian take on the Marvel universe, where that version of Earth is implanted with a Celestial egg. Now, watchers of the recent MCU film Eternals might remember that very plotline being a central element of the recent release.

    In a recent interview with Bleeding Cool, the creator of Earth X revealed that he may have planted a seed of his own in the head of Kevin Feige almost 20 years ago. Krueger shared that he discussed the potential of this concept working with the Eternals all the way when his comic was just released in paperback.

    Well, what’s funny, is that I first met Kevin Fiege years ago, after the first trade paperback of Earth X had come out. We sat down a number of times and Kevin shared his love for Earth X. He also shared that it was at a time when many of the Marvel heroes, including X-Men, Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. At the time, Kevin told me how much he wanted to make Earth X. And I told him that I thought he could do it with the Eternals. Talk about seeds being planted. It didn’t take hundreds of thousands of years like a Celestial, but it took almost 25.

    Jim Krueger

    It’s always crazy to look back at conversations or ideas that take years to actually grow into something. Marvel Studios’ growth alone into the studio that it is today would make it a reality that Eternals is the fourth-highest opening film of the year and that during a pandemic. Earth X is a very obvious inspiration for the film and to think that Kevin Feige and Jim Krueger first planted the idea so long ago.

    Source: Bleeding Cool