Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Five Things ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Needs to Get Right

    Five Things ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Needs to Get Right

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set for its next major shift in the status quo. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will seemingly be the ultimate resolution for the Ant-Family trilogy, while also marking a starting point for Phase Five and various new plot threads. The film is set to introduce the next Avengers big-bad in Kang the Conqueror as portrayed by Jonathan Majors. As seen through the marketing and the latest trailer, Marvel Studios is making it clear that the Ant-Man franchise is moving away from the strictly light-hearted tone of the first two installments. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has lofty expectations for being a turning point in the Multiverse Saga. With that in mind, here are five elements Marvel Studios’ next film needs to get right in order to be a success.

    Connections to Phase Four

    With the conclusion of Phase Four, one major complaint from fans online was the lack of a “connective tissue” between projects. Some have drawn the conclusion that Marvel Studios has no “plan” for the Multiverse Saga; even after they showcased their future plans. This is a ridiculous conclusion to draw with Phase Four mirroring the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with projects being building blocks to introduce characters and concepts that will pay off by the time films like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars hit theaters.

    When it comes to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, the film has a golden opportunity to prove the nay-sayers wrong. As the first project of Phase 5, Marvel Studios can quickly change the narrative into that of full anticipation for how each project connects to the conclusion of this saga. This was a key element that made the Infinity Saga such a triumph in the 2010s. If Quantumania can be the film to kickstart that positive momentum for the general direction of the MCU, then it will be that much more strongly received historically speaking.

    And based on eagle-eyed viewers of the trailers, this seems to be the case in tying Chronopolis to important artifacts from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Ms. Marvel. Here’s hoping that these connections will be overt plot points in the new Ant-Man and The Wasp film.

    Lead Into ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    avengers kang dynasty

    While having an eye toward the past is critical to the success of Quantumania, focusing on the future is equally important. The upcoming film is the first introduction to Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror; not counting the wildly different variant shown in the Loki season one finale. As such, this film enters the road to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty for him to become the main antagonist of the MCU.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania absolutely needs to get the character right in order for the film to be a worthwhile trilogy ending and for the Multiverse Saga to be worth watching. Audiences should be leaving the film in February with a clear understanding of why Kang is dangerous to whatever permutation of the Avengers he faces in 2026.

    And Quantumania being a direct path to The Kang Dynasty goes beyond just the titular character. The film’s exploration of the Quantum Realm would very well benefit from also being an exploration of key plot elements useful for the remainder of the Multiverse Saga. The Ant-Family should be host to pertinent information for the next Avengers film beyond just Kang himself. This certainly is something hard to quantify in the immediate future but would help the long-term perception of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania like previous films in the Infinity Saga.

    Set Up William Jackson Harper for More MCU Appearances

    This is the most specific element of this list, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked. William Jackson Harper is one of the most underrated actors working in Hollywood today. He was a frequent name on fan castings for Fantastic Four, and his character on The Good Place highlighted how excellent Harper would’ve been as Reed Richards in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    With the recent news of the actor being cast in a supporting role for Quantumania, some quickly jumped to the conclusion of Harper being introduced as the new Mister Fantastic through the Quantum Realm. However, this is clearly not the case with casting still well underway for Marvel Studios’ 2025 reboot.

    With that in mind, one would hope that Harper will still have a meaningful role both in Quantumania and become a recurring face in the MCU. Rumors have circulated that he could be playing a variety of characters which included Psycho-Man, Quasar, or just a citizen of the Quantum Realm. Ultimately, what’s most important is that he holds genuine relevance to the film. Having an actor as talented as Harper in a supporting role is a massive boon for Marvel Studios, and placing him in a decently important role can easily create a new memorable face for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Setting the Stage for ‘Young Avengers’

    While Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has done a good job setting up the next two phases, one major component that currently feels underdeveloped is the Young Avengers team. A number of key players have been introduced through the previous two years, but a Young Avengers project has curiously remained absent in the tease of the future.

    It would be a massive missed opportunity to not make use given their relevance in Kang’s storyline, and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the perfect place to set the stage for that to happen. Kathryn Newton’s Cassie Lang could instantly become a fan-favorite character by having the events of Quantumania motivate her to form a team of fellow young heroes to help curb the multiversal calamity awaiting. This wouldn’t need to be a time-consuming element of the film to be successful. In fact, a stinger (pun intended) towards the end would be able to satiate audiences and cement a positive reception for the film.

    A Strong Conclusion to Ant-Man’s Arc

    antman 3 reshoots

    While most of the elements presented for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania are esoteric to the larger MCU, arguably the most important element for the film is successfully rounding out its self-contained trilogy. While the first two films in the franchise aren’t among the most popular, the Ant-Man movies have told a strong unifying story about family and striving to be the best version of one’s self.

    Paul Rudd has provided a strong performance to grow Scott Lang into a true hero for both the world at large and his daughter Cassie. Quantumania provides the opportunity to conclude this storyline in a grandiose fashion, regardless of who does or doesn’t return following the events of the film. His time as an Avenger has forced him to lose key amounts of time with his daughter and has been challenged in being present for key parts of her life. 

    Now while faced with his greatest individual opponent and having to do so side-by-side with his daughter, Peyton Reed has a critical opportunity to tell a profound story about legacy and what a parent passes onto their child. If done correctly, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania can become the next classic interpersonal tale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite the massive stakes attached to the future of the Multiverse Saga.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has been written by Jeff Loveness and is directed by Peyton Reed. The film stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfieffer, Kathryn Newton, and Jonathan Majors. Quantumania opens exclusively in theaters on February 17.

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios Might Be Fast-Tracking ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios Might Be Fast-Tracking ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    It looks like the rumor mill is ablaze today, as one story after another has been hitting the web on what exactly the future looks like for Marvel Studios’ Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ve had to cast rumors for Fantastic Four, hints at various Disney+ shows, and many more, but it seems we have one more story making the rounds. Now, a new rumor from multiple sources has surfaced that Marvel Studios might be fast-tracking a third Doctor Strange film.

    @GGeneralHolt8 better known as Greatphase has seemingly shared online what might be a major shift in the future plans of the MCU. Among them is that Marvel Studios hopes to release a new Doctor Strange film ahead of their next major Avengers film, The Kang Dynasty.

    While it seems that rumors also picked up on Scott Derrickson, who directed the first entry, potentially returning for the third entry after leaving Multiverse of Madness over creative differences, there seems to be some uncertainty surrounding that detail. @BigScreenLeaks adds to hearing something similar about the third Strange film but not so sure about the Derrickson part.

    For now, this remains another rumor but one that does make quite a bit of sense. The post-credit sequence and a major part of the film explore the multiverse, a major aspect of the upcoming Avengers film. Not only that, but we also meet someone who seemingly has knowledge about Incursions, which are very likely a big part of how the movies will tie the various multiverses together.

    The only question is who they might get to bring this film to life and if Derrickson would return. While they didn’t come to a consensus on the second entry, he was still on board as an executive producer and fully supported Sam Raimi as the film’s new director. Not just that, but he has also openly stated he’s interested in working with Marvel again. So, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility.

    Source: Twitter via The Direct, Twitter

  • RUMOR: Adam Driver May Be Marvel Studios’ Top Choice for Stretchy ‘Fantastic Four’ Lead

    RUMOR: Adam Driver May Be Marvel Studios’ Top Choice for Stretchy ‘Fantastic Four’ Lead

    There have been a lot of discussions on who exactly might take on one of the leading roles of Marvel Studios’ take on the Fantastic Four. The film has long been in development and even lost its initial director, Jon Watts before the almost Star Trek director Matt Shakman took over the production. Casting rumors have been one of the most popular discussions online, especially while building up toward San Diego Comic-Con and D23.

    Now, the rumors have once again surfaced teasing who exactly might be taking on the role of Mr. Fantastic. According to some new rumors alongside a hint by The Direct, they believe that the former Kylo Ren, Adam Driver, might be the top choice for the role of Reed Richards in the MCU’s Fantastic Four. For now, we’ll have to take it with a grain of salt, but he’d make a rather curious choice in the role.

    Driver is certainly a strong actor, which he proved with his work in projects like Marriage Story and BlaKkKlansman. He’s come a long way since his time in the Star Wars franchise as the moody Kylo Ren. Of course, we’ve seen top choices by Marvel Studios pass on the role and who knows if Driver is even interested in investing a lot of time into a new franchise once again. For now, it’s definitely a curious direction to take Reeds, and given his acting ability, perhaps we’ll see a lot more versions of Driver from across the Multiverse.

    Source: The Direct

  • What to Expect from the New ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Trailer

    What to Expect from the New ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Trailer

    A new look at Marvel Studios first 2023 film, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, is slated to be featured during tonight’s NCAA Football National Championship Game. If you’re wondering how to catch it and what to expect, you’ve come to the right place.

    When Will It Happen?

    The CFP National Championship game is slated to kickoff at 7:30 PM ET on January 9th. However, exactly when during that game the new look will debut is anyone’s guess. When Marvel Studios has debuted footage from films and/or series during sporting events in the past, the footage tends to drop a little later in the broadcast of said events than non-sports fans like. The networks like to keep those viewing numbers high and having a bunch of Marvel fans tune in to catch footage of the next big thing helps.

    Where Can You Watch It?

    The CFP National Championship game will be broadcast on ESPN and the footage will debut there. In the past, Marvel Studios has used TV spots to debut portions of a new trailer and then released the full trailer online simultaneously. The good news is that even if you are not watching the game, the new spot/trailer will go online right away so you can catch it on YouTube or your favorite Twitter account.

    (L-R): Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

    What Can You Expect?

    While it’s not a hard and fast rule, Marvel Studios does seem to follow a bit of a trend when it comes to promoting their films. The first trailer is a true teaser that gives the basic premise of the film, shows off some of the big characters in the film and some fancy VFX shots but doesn’t really give the audience too much in terms of the plot. For example, the Quantumania teaser establishes that Cassie’s device transports the Ant-Family to the Quantum Realm, which looks really cool and is where Kang, who seems pretty powerful, wants to make a deal with Scott.

    When it comes to second trailers, however, Marvel Studios tends to be a little more forthcoming with plot points. Traditionally, the studio has placed all kinds of spoilery things in their second trailers. Sometimes those things are clearly spoilery teases (Charles Xavier’s voice in the second trailer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness); Other times, fans don’t even know they’re being spoiled (Nick Fury’s return from the dead in the second trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier). So what could that mean for the new Quantumania footage?

    One might guess that the trailer will give fans a little better idea of just what it is Kang is up to and the extent of his power and knowledge. The footage shown exclusively at D23 contained an extended version of the scene between Scott Lang and Kang from the first trailer and it really put an emphasis on just how outmatched Scott was. Another solid guess is that the new trailer will reveal the film’s other/true villain: M.O.D.O.K. Given that merchandise of the character has already gone on sale, there’s no reason to hold back on hyping up fans with a look at the giant, floating head. Will they tease the big reveal that he’s being voiced by Corey Stoll? No reason to think they wouldn’t feel free to do that, but who knows when it comes to these things.

    What Else Should I Know?

    Given the proximity of this trailer to the release date of the film, it’s very likely that tickets will go on sale the night of January 9th as well. It’s also worth noting that as spoilery as second trailers can be, if you’re truly worried about going into the film unspoiled, do not continue watching promotional footage from the film as the release date draws nearer. Marvel Studios has a fair track record of releasing incredibly spoilery TV/social media spots in the days right before release, so after tomorrow you might want to consider muting some keywords on social media.

  • Mike Colter Says ‘Luke Cage’s is “In the Rear View Mirror”

    Mike Colter Says ‘Luke Cage’s is “In the Rear View Mirror”

    The moment we saw Charlie Cox return as Daredevil, the floodgates were open on who else might also return in one form or another. So far, we only got Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but we’re still waiting for any hint on what the future may have in store for the rest of The Defenders. So, anyone getting a chance to interview an actor that played one of the roles on the Netflix series will use the opportunity.

    ComicBook.com got the chance t interview Mike Colter if he’d be interested to return as Luke Cage. His story infamously was cut short just as he was hinted at potentially diving into the darker side of Harlem. It would be a great opportunity to soft reboot his character while also hinting at what those hints may have originally developed yet it seems he’s hung up the yellow shirt for now.

    I just try to stay in reasonable shape just because, but I don’t think about Luke Cage opportunities. It’s one of those things where it’s in the rear view mirror at this point. If somehow I get a call, my dance card is kind of full. But if I get a call, something happens, great.

    Mike Colter

    He still keeps the door open a bit to potentially re-appear if something comes together, but it does seem like he’s got enough on his plate with the new film Plane, his work on the series Evil, and more. So, it might be quite difficult to even find the right time for him to join the ever-growing franchise.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Digital Release Date, Bonus Features Confirmed

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Digital Release Date, Bonus Features Confirmed

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever served as a strong tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and successfully continued the story of Wakanda on the big screen. Marvel Studios’ most recent theatrical release was also a massive success as a theatrical release in earning over $827 million at the box office. Though now, the film is moving to its next release window with its upcoming arrival to digital platforms and Blu-ray.

    February 1 will be the official launch of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on digital platforms. This is the same day as the release of the film on the Disney+ streaming platform. Meanwhile, the physical home media versions of Wakanda Forever will be available on February 7.

    In terms of bonus material, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is full of interesting new pieces for fans to dissect. A full-film commentary track done by director Ryan Coogler, writer Joe Robert Cole, and cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw will be available. In addition, a gag reel and two featurettes covering the aesthetic design of Wakanda alongside one about the themes of legacy will be included.

    Though the main event of the bonus features will be the four deleted scenes. Information about what they entail are below:

    Outside The Scope – Okoye has a shocking standoff with Ayo and the Dora Milaje. Aneka makes a challenging decision.

    The Upstairs Toilet – Ross infiltrates the NSA in disguise in an attempt to uncover information.

    Daughter of the Border – After a conversation with her Uncle, Okoye is faced with a daunting choice.

    Anytime, Anywhere – In Haiti, Shuri and Okoye share a bittersweet moment.

    These deleted scenes predominately follow further developments for Danai Gurira’s Okoye and her fallout from being removed as leader of the Dora Milaje. It appears these new scenes will likely add deeper context to her character and transition into the role of a Midnight Angel. Ultimately though with the extensive runtime of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in its original cut, it’s logical to see why her arc was more abbreviated in the actual film.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was directed by Ryan Coogler and was written by both Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. The film stars Leitita Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Dominique Throne, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, and Angela Bassett.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • ‘Vision Quest’ Series May Introduce One of Marvel Comics Champions

    ‘Vision Quest’ Series May Introduce One of Marvel Comics Champions

    Paul Bettany‘s Vision has had quite a run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From weapon of mass destruction to family man to weapon of mass destruction again, Vision has often found himself a pawn. One thing Vision has not done much of, however, is to write his own story but that might be something the blank slate White Vision gets a chance to do in the upcoming Vision Quest streaming series and a new rumor points in that direction.

    In a series of rumors from an anonymous source shared by the mods at r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers, there’s a compelling nugget of information about a potential plot point of Vision Quest. The rumor suggests that Bettany’s White Vision, last seen flying off from his battle inside the Hex in the final of WandaVision, will gain a daughter during the series: Viv Vision. In the comics, Viv Vision is a synthezoid created, along with her brother Vin and his wife, Virgina, by Vision to allow him to explore the complexities of the human family unit. Things did not go as planned for the Visions (as told in Tom King’s wonderful 12-issue run on Vision) but eventually Viv found herself a spot on a team of young heroes known as The Champions.

    The adaptation and exploration of Tom King‘s excellent work on the comics would come as no surprise to those who have read it and the idea that the White Vision would be interested in starting from scratch to study the emotions associated with a family make sense. While he possesses the memories of the original Vision, the White Vision will certainly need to have his own experiences to understand the idea of a family unit given that Wanda and Vision’s Hex family would NOT be part of said memories.

    Vision Quest is being developed by WandaVision and Agatha: Coven of Chaos showrunner Jac Schaeffer and currently has no release window.

  • ‘Stranger Things’ Star Sadie Sink Rumored to Be Headed to the MCU

    ‘Stranger Things’ Star Sadie Sink Rumored to Be Headed to the MCU

    The lack of actual news about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has the rumor mill cranking harder than ever. Rumors of project delays, plot points and potential castings have run rampant over the past few weeks and this week looks to be starting off no differently as a new casting rumor is making the rounds. According to an anonymous source (shared by Reddit’s Marvel Studios Spoilers mods), Stranger Things star Sadie Sink may be joining the MCU.

    The rumor is that Sink is being eyed to join the cast of Thunderbolts as team mainstay Melissa Gold, aka Songbird. While interesting, the rumor seems potentially problematic. Sink is only 20 years old and certainly looks younger than that; Gold has not traditionally been portrayed as teen/young adult in the comics. Additionally, Season 5 of Stranger Things is set to begin filming in May 2023 and Thunderbolts is rumored to begin filming in June 2023 and Marvel Studios features usually film for about 5-6 months, plus scheduled reshoots. Of course, there’s plenty of room to work around that as Sink’s Stranger Things character, Max Mayfield, was comatose at the end of Season 4 and Season 5 is expected to be in production for nearly a year and co-star David Harbour is also working both projects.

    The rumor also states that Songbird won’t be the only addition to the team shown in concept art at D23. The Sentry, whose presence in the film has been rumored for some time, and Anthony Ramos‘ Parker Robbins/The Hood are also said to be joining the roster of Thunderbolts in the 2024 film. While there’s no word what role Songbird might fill on the team, she could potentially be another experimental Super Soldier working under the command of CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. With filming only several months away, casting for the film should start to pick up over the next month or two, so fans may not have to wait long to see if this rumor checks out.

    Source: Reddit

  • RUMOR: Liv Tyler In Talks To Appear Upcoming MCU Film

    RUMOR: Liv Tyler In Talks To Appear Upcoming MCU Film

    Tim Blake Nelson might not be the last cast member from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk to make his welcome return to the MCU. A new rumor from Reddit is saying that Liv Tyler, last seen as Bruce Banner’s partner and the daughter of Thunderbolt Ross 14 year ago, will reprise her role in an upcoming MCU film that might be World War Hulk.

    A World War Hulk project was rumored to be in the works for some time, with some fans speculating that Captain America: New World Order would be a distilled version of it, given the involvement of The Leader and Thunderbolt Ross. With those characters playing a big part in the future of the MCU, it only makes sense for Betty Ross to be in tow.

    It’ll be fun to see what the dynamics will be between Bruce and Betty now that Skaar is in the picture.

    Source: Reddit

  • Paul Rudd Spotted Filming Some Additional Reshoots for ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

    Paul Rudd Spotted Filming Some Additional Reshoots for ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’

    Reshoots have become quite common for any production, but it became quite normalized when Marvel Studios included it as part of their usual production cycle. While reshoots received a bad reputation over the years, most notably with projects like Justice League, it’s an important part of any filmmaker wanting to tighten up their film as much as possible ahead of its release.

    Of course, there’s the trouble of including additional shots requiring CG work, which would cut it close before a film releases and adds a lot more pressure to those involved with that part of the process. Ever since COVID hit, that time window has gotten difficult to keep in check and also added more pressure to the industry.

    Yet, it’s interesting to note that Paul Rudd has seemingly been spotted by Twitter user @paulruddcom undertaking some reshoots for the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It’s notable given that the film is set to release just next month and they may be adding some more minor shots to the production. He’s not in his Ant-Man suit and it seems connected to the opening hinted at in the film’s trailer. So, they may just be adding some minor scenes as a pick up, which was also hinted at by Big Screen Leaks.

    For now, it shouldn’t be something to worry about and reshoots have also commonly taken some time up to the release. Here’s just hoping that there aren’t many CG-intense sequences that had to be filmed putting more pressure on the artists bringing the vision of the Quantum Realm fully to life in the upcoming sequel. It should also be noted that most of the film was filmed on the Volume, which may elevate some of that pressure, but we know too little from the production to really know how much they are still working on at the moment.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter