Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Mark Ruffalo Addresses the Rumors of Another ‘Hulk’ Solo Film

    Mark Ruffalo Addresses the Rumors of Another ‘Hulk’ Solo Film

    Since rumors about a potential World War Hulk(s) film circulated a couple of years ago, information about a second Marvel Studios-produced Hulk film has dried up almost entirely. With Red Hulk believed to be set to appear in Captain America: Brave New World, the stage seems set for the studio to put together some sort of Battle of the Hulks project; however, it’s not so simple as putting together a script and starting production when it comes to the Hulk and associated characters.

    Similar to Spider-Man, yet unique and a little different, the live-action rights to the Hulk have always been tied up in a deal that now involves NBCUniversal. While it’s thought that perhaps some settlement has been reached during negotiations over Hulu that would allow Disney to take over the rights to the character, nothing official has ever been shared. If the old deal were still in place, Marvel could make the film but would ultimately share profits with NBCUniversal. Still, Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo has expressed the desire to continue to evolve the character on the screen and has made it known he’d love to do another solo Hulk project. While talking with Comic Book, Ruffalo was asked if there was a change of possession of the live-action rights following the Disney an NBCUniversal deal.

    “Not that I know of,” Ruffalo began before adding that he’d “been asked not to comment on it, that specifically.” Once a fountain of MCU spoilers, it seems that Ruffalo has been the subject of some recalibration by Disney. While he wasn’t able to reveal any major updates on the status of the live-action rights, he did, however, share that he was as hopeful as anyone that another Hulk film might happen and that if it does, he’s got some ideas about what it should be. “Hopefully, one day though they’ll work it out,” he said of the right’s exchange. “I think [another MCU-set Hulk film] could be really cool and I’ve been putting a lot into what it could be to be cool, but I don’t know yet.“

    If such a project is officially in the works at Marvel Studios and part of the Multiverse Saga, perhaps Disney will find a way to share some news in 2024.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Mahershala Ali Shares Motivating Update on Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade’

    Mahershala Ali Shares Motivating Update on Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade’

    It’s kind of crazy to think how long ago Mahershala Ali was announced as the iconic vampire hunter Blade. We all were quite excited to see the direction this take on the iconic character would take, especially with the potential of it being one of Marvel Studios’ first R-rated projects. Yet, we still are waiting for it to start filming after COVID delays and these strikes.

    Some even believed that Ali may have lost interest in the project given how long it took up until now to get the ball rolling. Luckily, it seems he’s still very much attached to the project as he reveals in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that they are still actively working on the project.

    We’re working on it. That’s the best I could tell you. I’m really encouraged with the direction of the project. I think we’ll be back at it relatively soon.

    Mahershala Ali

    In the same interview, he adds that he is “sincerely encouraged” regarding those involved in directing and writing the project since it went through several creatives since the initial announcement. We even had a director attached in Bassam Tariq who left the project at one point.

    I’m sincerely encouraged in terms of where things are at and who’s on board and who’s leading the way as far as the writing of the script and the directing and all that. So that’s the extent of what I can tell you.

    Mahershala Ali

    It’s definitely great news to hear that Blade is still happening (for now) and we’ll see if they might end up starting production sooner rather than later to hit that initially expected 2025 release date. For now, we still have to wait for the next update. Yann Demange is currently attached to direct and there hasn’t been a change in director so far.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Brad Pitt Nearly Started as Cable in ‘Deadpool 2’

    Brad Pitt Nearly Started as Cable in ‘Deadpool 2’

    Josh Brolin played a mean Cable in 2018’s Deadpool 2. The veteran actor brought the right amount of snarl and grit to the old time traveler but before Brolin landed the role, rumors suggested Brad Pitt was destined to portray the Askani’son. According to comic book creator Rob Liefeld, those rumors weren’t just the usual Internet fodder.

    “I know for 100% fact that was true,” Liefeld said of the Pitt rumors in an interview with Comic Book. “They did previews, and David Leitch had a very special relationship doing stunt work with [Pitt]. What people don’t know is that was very early early on. So when they knew they weren’t going in that direction, they went down several others.”

    As Liefeld indicated, Leitch worked as Pitt’s stunt double on five projects including Fight Club, Troy and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. In 2014, Leitch broke into the big leagues as a director when he co-directed John Wick with Chad Stahelski. When Deadpool director Tim Miller departed Deadpool 2 amidst creative differences, Fox quickly pivoted to Leitch to he the sequel.

    Aside from Pitt, Kyle Chandler was also associated with the role. However, as Liefeld told Comic Book, the role quickly went to Brolin…once his wife convinced him to read for the role. Rumors have Cable’s time traveling device playing a major role in Deadpool 3 so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Brolin return as the Son of Tomorrow, especially given the number of actors set to cameo in their prior Fox roles.

    Marvel Studios Untitled Deadpool and Wolverine film is set to hit theaters on July 26th, 2024.

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Set Photos Feature Some Classic Marvel Vehicles, Tease a Mad Max-esque Scene in The Void

    ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Set Photos Feature Some Classic Marvel Vehicles, Tease a Mad Max-esque Scene in The Void

    Recently, some spoilery photos from the set of Marvel Studios untitled Deadpool and Wolverine project made the rounds. Now, a larger series of photos has emerged and provides not only a little more context to the previous photos but also revealed some incredible cameos and Easter eggs.

    Spoiler Ahead

    The set photos, which can be viewed here, seem to indicate that a portion of the film will involve a battle in The Void that looks to be very much inspired by George Miller’s Mad Max franchise. The leaked images show more of a character who looks just like Tyler Mane‘s Sabretooth joined by a slew of other villains including Toad, a character who resembles Boyd Holbrook’s Donald Pierce from Logan and some other currently unrecognizable characters making their way through the Void on a wild array of vehicles. Among them are what looks to be a lunar rover hooked up to multiple motorcycles (is one of those Cap’s?) that’s reminiscent of the Doof Wagon seen in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, the von Darrelman cupcake van from Moon Knight, and most incredibly a FULLY FUNCTIONAL FANTAST-ICAR which seems to be inspired by the MK1 model that first appeared in Fantastic Four #3 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

    The photos also seem to confirm the rumors that the TVA will play a role in the project as they look to reveal a TVA agent in the Void alongside the heroes and villains. It is believed that Matthew Macfadyen will portray a TVA employee named Paradox in the film and ultimately end up tagging along with Deadpool and Wolverine.

    As Marvel Studios only theatrical release in 2024, Deadpool 3 must pack quite a punch at the box office. Between the rumors surrounding its plot and the set photos that have made their way online so far, it certainly seems as though it stands a chance to impress!

  • Marvel Studios Head Promises They Won’t Revive Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man

    Marvel Studios Head Promises They Won’t Revive Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man

    In the multiverse, anything is possible. There have been many rumors that Marvel Studios has instantly tried to bring back its iconic Infinity Saga characters to undo whatever the internet has been complaining bout. As much as Phase 4 and 5 have been a bit more varied in their quality, there’s certainly something curious about the amount of rumors people still clamor around.

    In an interview with Vanity Fair, however, Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige has once again highlighted that they are not going to undo the big heartbreaking death of Tony Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame. He gave the following statement that they won’t “magically undo it in any way.”

    We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.

    Kevin Feige

    However, we should keep in mind that this doesn’t mean Robert Downey Jr. could still return in some form in the franchise. They could have him take on a different role and still appear in the multiverse franchise. The fact they haven’t used the actor since they started the multiverse storyline showcases that they are holding back and likely only reintroduce a version of him if it fits the story thematically.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • Tom Holland “Engaging in Conversations” on Fourth ‘Spider-Man’ Film

    Tom Holland “Engaging in Conversations” on Fourth ‘Spider-Man’ Film

    We’ve all been waiting for the update on when we can expect an update on the fourth entry in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man franchise. As much as everyone is discussing the current status of Marvel Studios, there’s still hope to further build upon the rather melancholic ending that Spider-Man: No Way Home left us with. It seemed like the perfect time for Spider-Man to return back to basics.

    Yet, it seems Tom Holland isn’t quite on board. This would mark the first actor to get a fourth live-action entry and it seems he wants to make sure they do it quite right, as he feels “very protective” of this iconic Marvel franchise and character. It’s fitting and hopefully, we’ll get more updates as time goes by, but in an interview, he highlights that he’s “actively engaging in conversations” on the fourth entry.

    All I can say is that we have been actively engaging in conversations about what it could potentially look like for a fourth rendition of my character. Whether or not we can find a way to do justice to the character is another thing. I feel very protective over Spider-Man. I feel very, very lucky that we were able to work on a franchise that got better with each movie, that got more successful with each movie, which I think is really rare, and I want to protect his legacy. So, I won’t make another one for the sake of making another one. It will have to be worth the while of the character.

    Tom Holland

    Of course, there’s the likelihood that he’s already signed on and just highlighting how much he cares about the project, as they are trying to make sure they find their way moving forward. There are rumors that they might not fully remove the character from the multiverse saga though the hints have been for a more grounded storyline. Though, perhaps it’s simply a post-credit tie-in forced upon by Sony given that they don’t want to lose the contract again. Still, we’ll see once they start hinting at the next entry moving forward.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Thunderbolts’ Star David Harbour Talks the “Unexplored History” of Red Guardian

    ‘Thunderbolts’ Star David Harbour Talks the “Unexplored History” of Red Guardian

    Marvel Studios Thunderbolts has gone through some turbulence in its efforts to make it to the big screen; however, with cameras now set to roll next April, some of the film’s stars have been a little more forthcoming in sharing their excitement for the film. Wyatt Russell, who will reprise his role as John Walker in the film, thinks director Jake Schreier has what it takes to bring out the best in the ensemble cast which includes Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Steven Yeun and David Harbour. Though Harbour has to complete work on Season 5 of Stranger Things before getting to work on Thunderbolts, he did recently talk with Screen Rant about the MCU project.

    Thunderbolts will in many ways be a follow-up to 2021’s Black Widow. Three of the film’s main characters (Taskmaster, Red Guardian and Yelena) were featured in Black Widow and Thunderbolts will reunite Harbour’s Alexi with Pugh’s Yelena. Black Widow gave some insight into their shared past–not all of which was bright and happy–and Harbour teases that there’s more of that to come in Thunderbolts. “So they have a lot of unexplored history,” says the actor of Alexi and Yelena. “There’s a lot of details that the director, Jake, has gone into the great care of what their life was like in the Midwest when they were doing all that spy stuff. And then, a lot of that comes up in really fun, interesting, beautiful ways, which, like in the Black Widow movie came up with that song, American Pie. And there’s just a lot of complexity between me and Florence’s character, which I love,” he concluded.

    Thunderbolts will mark the first time the two have interacted on screen since the death of Scarlett Johannson‘s Natasha Romanoff. That loss is sure to be central to at least some of the interaction between the two in the film, something that Harbour also teased. “And also they’re two people that… she can’t stand, but she needs some because she’s incomplete in a certain way that he may be able to help her with. I think that’s always so beautiful. Because I feel like our relationships are always so… Sometimes we don’t get to choose the people that complete us. The people that we really need. I think that they exemplify that in their own way. It will be fun to bring that to life in the movie.“

    While their father-daughter relationship was contentious at best in Black Widow, it was obvious that not only did Alexi truly care for Yelena but also that part of her BIG personality certainly came from spending time with her larger-than-life surrogate father, the boastful Super Soldier from Russia. Whatever emotions they’ll have to process, they’ll have to do so quickly as their team will be faced with the daunting task of taking on Yeun’s Sentry when Thunderbolts hits theaters on July 25, 2025.

    Source: Screen Rant

  • Wyatt Russell Says ‘Thunderbolts’ Is Not a “Straightforward Marvel Movie”

    Wyatt Russell Says ‘Thunderbolts’ Is Not a “Straightforward Marvel Movie”

    Everyone loves to take a shot at the king; however, when the CEO of your parent company comes out swinging on your latest film, even the big shots at Marvel Studios have to pay attention. Truly, while Bob Iger’s recent comments about why The Marvels failed to succeed might be the first time the public has caught wind of the Disney CEO’s train of thought, it’s very likely those sentiments have been shared behind closed doors in the months since his return. His goal is simple: get Marvel Studios back on top. And that’s a goal that at least one MCU actor shares with Iger.

    Wyatt Russell joined the MCU as deranged Super Soldier John Walker in 2021’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and is set to reprise the role in Black Widow 2 Thunderbolts. While chatting it up with THR, Russell gave some insight into the delays that have faced the project and what he expects to accomplish.

    As of now, principal photography on Thunderbolts seems slated to get underway in April of 2024. For a film that was originally scheduled to be released on July 26th, 2024, you can see how that’s problematic. It’s been obvious to the public that the project has its fits and starts and according to Russell “almost started shooting that about 14 times.” While the recent WGA and SAG strikes certainly were part of the problem, they weren’t the entire problem. The film has changed writers multiple times but now seems to be on a little more solid footing.

    “I have confidence it’s gonna be good,” said Russell. “I know everybody is sort of on this Marvel train right now of things not going so well.” Part of the actor’s confidence in the project clearly stems from his trust in the director, Jake Schreier. Despite Thunderbolts being Schreier’s first big tentpole film, Russell believes the director has what it takes to make a great Marvel Studios film.

    I know Jake so well and I know how smart Jake is and how much he cares about making something interesting and different and utilizing everyone’s talents to the best of their ability

    Wyatt Russell on Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier

    Russell’s confidence will only do so much for the project; however, the actor also indicated that while he hasn’t read a final draft of the script, Thunderbolts has a lot going for it, including not being so cut and dried as many MCU films have been in the past. “The story that I think they’ve come up with is really interesting,” said the actor. “I know parts of the story and how the story works, I can’t talk about it. But it’s not a straightforward Marvel movie as you’ve seen in the past.“

    Whatever it is that Russell does know and is holding back, he’s confident MCU fans will be impressed. “I think that it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” he said, “but I think it will be something that hopefully Marvel fans will look at and go, ‘Oh OK, this is a little different, let’s go hard at it.’ And as far as how we are approaching it, it’s time to go to work a little bit, it’s time to make a good Marvel movie, so let’s do that and work hard at it and don’t take things for granted.” Just how straightforward and good a project it ultimately ends up being remains to be seen.

    Thunderbolts is currently expected in theaters on July 25th, 2025.

    Source: THR

  • 6 Villains Who Could Replace Kang as the Big Bad of the Multiverse Saga

    6 Villains Who Could Replace Kang as the Big Bad of the Multiverse Saga

    On the heels of news from a couple of weeks ago that Destin Daniel Crettin will no longer be directing Avengers: Kang Dynasty, the speculation that Jonathan Majors’ Kang will no longer serve as the main antagonist, or “big bad,” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga has really started to heat up. This is especially true when you consider that the character’s primary influence has been felt on the series side, where Loki just wrapped up its two-season, 12-episode arc in a satisfying way. But even if pivoting away from the character solves one problem, that still raises an even more important question: Who should step in to replace Kang, either for both Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, or just the finale?

    Below are five possible alternatives:

    The Big Name
    1. Doctor Victor Von Doom



    Among superhero fans, this character needs no introduction. Indeed, as far as Marvel villains go, he is at the top of the food chain, capable of matching science with Tony Stark, matching magic with Stephen Strange, and matching kingdoms with the Black Panther. Alongside the X-Men, he was arguably one of the most coveted of the Fox-controlled characters that Marvel Studios acquired when Disney purchased 21st Century Fox in 2017. And Doctor Doom was at the center of not just the original Secret Wars comic event in 1984, but the more multiverse-centric event from 2015. Indeed, “God Doom” featured Victor at his most iconic, reaching his apotheosis and ruling the remnants of a shattered Multiverse as its God Emperor. From that position, it’s easy to see how he could seamlessly fill out the “Dynasty” aspect of The Kang Dynasty.

    However, it is precisely because Doom can be such an enriching asset to the MCU as an ever-present, ongoing antagonist that it would be viewed as a waste to slot him into the role of the “Final Boss” to be vanquished by the Avengers. Telling his story and developing his character over multiple projects and across multiple conflicts can flesh him out and give mainstream audiences more of an opportunity to connect with him over the long term. But having him be the Final Boss of the Multiverse Saga and not be defeated in a satisfying way would be worse, because it won’t provide the closure and sense of culmination. It’s a Catch-22 for Marvel if they were to slot Doom into the role, and that explains why it shouldn’t be him.

    The Variants
    2. Thanos



    This would be one of the more controversial choices, for sure, but in a way, it would bring things full circle. Yes, the Avengers’ inability to deal with their own failure in Avengers: Infinity War led them back to him in Avengers: Endgame. But surely, across an infinite Multiverse, there had to be a Thanos with even grander ambition than snapping away half the lives in the universe. A Thanos who wants to snap away half of the universes, then, is just the kind of leveling up that made The Force Awakens’ “build a bigger Death Star” plan so successful — play the hits, only louder.

    But admittedly, there’s a huge risk in bringing back the villain the MCU successfully pulled off because they couldn’t quite pull off establishing The Next Thanos; it could be seen as an admission of defeat and creatively bankrupt. That said, the idea of time loops and recurring, iterant cycles has been central to the Multiverse Saga so far. Marvel might be able to lean into the deja vu of it all and make it work.

    3. Infinity Ultron



    If Thanos is the Avengers villain who won, then Ultron is the Avengers villain who lost. But What If…? gave us a glimpse into a fully actualized Ultron who, if unleashed on the world could become a threat to every universe in the Multiverse. And right now, with artificial intelligence such a big part of the zeitgeist, there’s a way to bring this upgraded Ultron to the big screen in such a way that it feels not like a retread, but an existential threat.

    On the other hand, there aren’t a lot of ways to make Ultron drones visually interesting, and audiences would probably grow tired of repetitous battles, even if it’s fun to see heroes unleash their full powers on killer robots.

    4. The Maker



    Now it would for sure be a tough sell to fans for newly-introduced Reed Richards and his evil Variant to be thrust into prominent roles in The Multiverse Saga at around the same time. But while it certainly runs the risk of being considered rushed, the fact that the MCU already introduced the Council of Kangs makes a Council of Reeds less likely, and functionally, if Good Reed is going to possibly step up with a plan to save the Multiverse from collapse, an Evil Reed who has a much more sinister plan can capably fill the void left by infinite Kangs.

    The other major upside for using The Maker in this fashion is that unlike Doom, he can be definitively defeated without fans feeling like a character with long term Big Bad potential has been wasted. What better time to introduce us to the ultimate twisted mirror version of a hero as major villain than the Multiverse Saga? Which brings us to the next possibility…

    5. Hydra Cap



    One of the most controversial characters introduced in comics in recent years is the version of Steve Rogers who was actually a sleeper Hydra Agent, ushering in the fascist takeover of the United States. In many ways, Hydra Cap was prescient, but over the years, the polarizing nature of the controversy has waned, so much so that Steve’s “Hail Hydra” in Endgame was viewed as a nod to the character. It’s been nothing new that rumors have swirled around Chris Evans’ possible return to the MCU, and after playing villainous roles in Knives Out and The Gray Man, he’d likely be game for playing an Evil Captain America.

    What are the downsides? Perhaps the “political” aspects of the character would take away from the more cosmic scope of the other presumed antagonists. But across an infinite Multiverse, while our Steve was capable of wielding Mjolnir, perhaps Evil Steve wielded the Infinity Gauntlet or some other immensely powerful weapon as he extended Hydra’s reign across dimensions. In any event, the shot of Chris Evans wearing the Hydra colors as he stepped out of the shadows, a la the train station scene in Infinity War, would be one helluva reveal.

    6. King Killmonger



    If Hydra Cap represents the twisted mirror version of “I Could Do This All Day,” King Killmonger represents the twisted mirror version of “Wakanda Forever.” Another recent comics storyline was the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, where the highly advanced African nation first sought to explore space, but turned to conquest, and established an empire across the stars in the name of Wakanda, led by an emperor, N’Jadaka, who was essentially a reincarnated Killmonger. For the MCU, that story doesn’t have to be replicated beat by beat, but if an audience primed for Kang the Conqueror got, essentially, Killmonger the Conqueror instead, with all of the accouterments of a Wakandan ruler but leveled up to cosmic, it would be quite the sight. Not to mention that in Michael B. Jordan, you’d have an established A-list star and charismatic performer who could sell the idea and get audiences to buy in. Yes, it would for sure be an out-of-left field pivot, but it would certainly be provocative and get the people going.

    Shifting the focus of the Multiverse Saga away from Kang would be a bold and controversial move. And surely the brain trust at Marvel Studios are weighing the pros and cons of such a move as we speak. But if they chose to take such a drastic step, each of these choices offers a feasible alternative, and if well-executed, could still lead to a satisfying conclusion to these recent Phases of MCU storytelling.

  • Fantastic Father: Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards Casting Suggests Franklin and Valeria Are Coming To the MCU Sooner Than Expected

    Fantastic Father: Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards Casting Suggests Franklin and Valeria Are Coming To the MCU Sooner Than Expected

    Last week, fans finally got a long-awaited glimpse into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s plans for the Fantastic Four, when the story broke that Pedro Pascal, he of The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and countless “Daddy” memes, was cast as Reed Richards, the patriarch of Marvel’s First Family. And of course, that set the social media sphere aflame. But one aspect of the casting has been underexplored. At 48 years of age, Pascal won’t exactly be a spring chicken when Fantastic Four debuts on the big screen. And what that likely means is that a heretofore never explored aspect of Mister Fantastic in live-action is likely to be explored here: Reed Richards, father.

    Based on Pascal’s age, a story based around the F4’s origin seems unlikely. Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny will probably be established heroes, and therefore it’s perfectly reasonable to assume that alongside the core Four, we will be introduced to Reed and Sue’s children, Franklin and Valeria Richards. In fact, it’s quite plausible that they’ll be teenagers, rather than toddlers.

    This is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, as a franchise that debuted in 2008, the MCU is getting a bit long in the tooth, as the Gen Xers and Millennials who were part of what made the MCU a phenomenon are aging into the phases of their lives when they’re no longer dictating what’s cool. And while Marvel has seeded their universe with Young Avengers in order to hopefully connect with Zoomers on their level, the Fantastic Four is a throwback. You couldn’t get more Boomer. So who better to provide the eyes through which we meet them, if not their children? Yes, the F4 are a little bit (or even a lotta bit) uncool to modern audiences, but there can be something charming about Mom and Dad not being cool.

    As stated earlier, the Fantastic Four feel like quaint throwbacks to a bygone era, and it’s for that reason that so many imagined Fantastic Four as a 60s period piece. But Franklin and Valeria are different; they’re not stuck in the amber of any previous generation’s aesthetic. They, more than the others, can bring a Modern Family element to a Father Knows Best dynamic. And it’s because they can look at their parents and uncles — who they love — and tell them that they’re a thousand years old and completely out of touch. Ironically, that kind of Gen Z gaze is how you make the F4 resonant to modern audiences, relatable both to the kids who see their parents in them, and the Gen Xers/Millennials, who see themselves in the context of their own relationships with their kids.

    Which brings us back to Reed. There’s a certain amount of inherent unlikeability to being the smartest man in the world. It was always going to be necessary to smooth Reed’s edges a little bit, and get people to root for him and Sue to make things work. Casting the eminently charming Pedro Pascal helps. He’s already shown an ability to project fatherly qualities, even when his characters are supposedly loners. And when the MCU introduces us to Franklin and Valeria Richards, Pascal will be able to showcase that side of Mister Fantastic and enhance the Fantastic Four’s position as the First Family of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.