Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • The Sunday Paper—November 27, 2022

    The Sunday Paper—November 27, 2022

    kang the conqueror

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is now the next Marvel Studios film up to continue the franchise. Accordingly, we are seeing plenty of news bits here and there about the upcoming film which will feature potential Multiverse Saga Big Bad Kang the Conquerer.

    Actor Jonathan Majors previously played He Who Remains on Loki and teased he was just one of “many iterations” of Kang that he’d be playing during his tenure in the MCU and now Ant-Man franchise director Peyton Reed has chimed in on which version audiences will see in Quantumania. “Kang The Conqueror in our movie is a very different character,” from Majors’ He Who Remains, teased Reed in an interview. “He’s someone who has dominion over time, and he’s a warrior and a strategist,” added Reed, whose description is in lockstep with how Majors has previously described this version of the character. Reed finished the thought by describing this version as, “an all-timer antagonist“, giving fans of the comics a pretty good idea of what to expect.

    A Funk Pop that made its way to stores earlier than expected offered fans the first look at M.O.D.O.K. A new theater standee shared on Twitter has indicated that in addition to the main cast of Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas returning for the film, one other actor is set to return for his third MCU film—David Dastmalchian. The actor has played Kurt Goreshter in the previous two Ant-Man films and along with Michael Pena’s Luis and T.I.’s Dave was a frequent source of comedic relief.

    the marvels ms marvel
    jon bernthal mcu
    superman cavill
    namor spinoff

    There’s been a lot of hype around Tenoch Huerta‘s incredible performance as Namor, the leader of Talocan and antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many have hoped that this performance would kick off interest from Marvel Studios to get this character his own solo project, but sadly it seems that rights are still an issue for some of the Marvel characters. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore has confirmed that the character can definitely return in a future project, but Disney is not able to produce a standalone project based around the character. It seems the rights are still with Universal, who also holds the rights to Hulk and was the reason that character never got a sequel since the Edward Norton film back in 2008.

    As shared on Instagram, there’s already a The Marvels‘ shirt available that gives us a good look at the main trio of Monica Rambeau, Carol Danvers, and Kamala Khan. The biggest reveal from this merchandise is the costume that Monica will seemingly wear during her outing as a hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Kingpin actor Vincent D’Onforio made a comment about Daredevil: Born Again that had everyone speculating this week. Though he’s often been clear that he’d love to see Kingpin take on Spider-Man in the MCU, he’s also made it known that a Punisher vs. Kingpin battle is on his list of goals. With the rumors of Jon Bernthal’s return to the role continuing to swirl, perhaps D’Onofrio’s comments could give fans of the character a little more reason to hope he’ll be included.

    In the world of DC, James Gunn took to Twitter to shoot down reports about Henry Cavill’s alleged contract(s) with DC Studios to play Superman down the road after his return in Black Adam. Gunn made it clear that only he and co-head of DC Studios Peter Safran know anything about the subject, and any report out there is likely false.

    Any time a legendary filmmaker comments on superhero films, the internet discourse goes instance, and Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments ignited the discussion again. Tarantino is not a big fan of modern superhero films. The acclaimed director recently said he’s never helmed one because he’s “not a hired hand” and while “the writing’s not quite on the wall yet”, he believes the fascination with superhero films will eventually fade.” However, when asked about what type of comic book film he would be interested in making, Tarantino revealed it would be the 1963 Stan Lee and Jack Kirby series Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandoes, which actually inspired Inglorious Basterds.

    Despite Tarantino’s lack of interest in the superhero genre, we wrote about his long history with comic book movies, which you can check out here. While you’re at it, you can check out our feature on comics Avengers who are a bit “too wack” for the MCU.

  • [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    [SPOILER] Was Always Part of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Script

    In case you haven’t had a chance to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever yet, here’s a spoiler warning for one of the biggest moments in the film.

    Watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been quite an emotional experience, as you can feel that this film acts as a way for the cast and crew to digest the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. At the end of the film, not only does Shuri finally find a way to digest her grief but also uses it as a way to move on as Wakanda’s new Black Panther. Yet, that wasn’t the only big moment when the credit rolled and we were introduced to Nakia and T’Challa’s son, Prince T’Challa.

    This moment felt like something that pays tribute to their late friend while also building up the feeling that T’Challa lives on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; perhaps just not in the direct recasting way that some usually expect. Still, it was a powerful moment that definitely will stick with many after the final credits have rolled. Surprisingly, it does seem like this wasn’t something added after Boseman‘s passing but has been part of the script but the way he was revealed has changed according to film’s co-writer, Joe Robert Cole.

    T’Challa had a child in a previous iteration of the script prior to Chad’s passing. Him having a child was always in the DNA of what we wanted to do. We just weren’t sure, after he passed, about the best way to incorporate him. So there were various iterations of his son being in our new story. And we finally landed on the reveal at the end. There was a point where I think when Ramonda [Angela Bassett] goes to Haiti, we had talked about potentially having him be revealed there. So we knew we wanted him to be a part of the movie in some way, and landed, I think, on the best possible version.

    Joe Robert Cole

    It’s really interesting to find out that he’s always been part of the film’s script but there never was a clear point when they wanted to introduce him. The fact that they kept him for th ened was the most fitting, especially with how emotional it makes the reveal once we see for the first time. It was especially fitting that he carries on his father’s name which may be something they added later on potentially. Still, T’Challa lives on in more ways than one.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Shuri Wasn’t Always the Next Black Panther in ‘Wakanda Forever’

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever made a big deal out of who would take over the mantle moving forward, as director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole decided to honor their friend Chadwick Boseman by having his character T’Challa face a similar fate. The film has become a way for many to cope with the events that happened and the film became a beautiful tribute to grief and having memories of loved ones live on in our minds.

    Of course, there’s the challenge of finding who would carry on the mantle, and the film would eventually settle on Letitia Wright‘s Shuri. It makes sense given that she’s the next one in line for the throne, and is the only one that can recreate the herb that gives the mantle its powers. Still, it seems that according to Cole, they have played around with some others taking on the mantle, such s Winston Duke‘s M’Baku.

    We would kick around the ideas, and try to extrapolate where the story goes and what’s the most impactful choice — what’s the best journey? And where do you go after the film in terms of those characters. M’Baku certainly was someone that got kicked around a little bit. I think you’re correct because in the comics, Shuri is Black Panther and there’s a natural organicness, I guess is the best way to say it, to her becoming Panther. But you kick the tires on all sorts of ideas. And you just want to make the best decision and do what’s best for the story.

    Joe Robert Cole

    He does highlight that they also have considered passing the mantle to Lupita N‘yongo‘s character Nakia but settled on the more fitting decision to have the Black Panther remain in the family. They went through quite a few ideas early on, but the film also keeps the door open for someone else that can take it on in the future. And who knows what the future has in store, as we’re still in the Multiverse Saga that might feature some others wearing the mantle.

    Source: Rolling Stone

  • Fan-Favorite Character Confirmed to Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Fan-Favorite Character Confirmed to Return for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set to kick off Marvel Studios Phase 5 when it releases in theaters in February. The third film in the Ant-Man franchise, Quantumania is set to take the Ant-family into the Quantum Realm where they’ll meet the big bad not only of their film but also of the Multiverse Saga: Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror. The first two films in the franchise were smaller in scale, which means Quantumania will take the family into uncharted territory as the film will have “a profound effect on the MCU“, according to returning director Peyton Reed. However, heading into uncharted territory doesn’t mean some familiar faces from the franchise won’t return for the adventure.

    A new theater standee shared on Twitter by user @charlestrotter has indicated that in addition to the main cast of Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas returning for the film, one other actor is set to return for his third MCU film.

    As can be seen just below Kang’s pinky finger, David Dastmalchian is credited with an appearance in the film. Dastmalchian has played Kurt Goreshter in the previous two Ant-Man films and along with Michael Pena’s Luis and T.I.’s Dave was a frequent source of comedic relief. At last check during the events of Ant-Man and The Wasp, the trio was now successfully running their business venture, X-Con Security Consultants. While Dastmalchian’s return for the third film may seem like it was a slam dunk, the actor did not believe he had a role in the film as recently as March of 2022.

    Just how big of a role Kurt will have in the third film remains to be seen but, at the moment, he’s the only one of the “Wombats” who looks to be in the film. Trade reports confirmed that T.I. would not be returning for Quantumania and Michael Pena refused to comment on whether or not he’d return. While Pena’s name does not appear on the standee, be cautious in taking that as confirmation that Luis will not be in the film.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is set to hit theaters on February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Concept Art Reveals Alternate Designs for Namor

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Concept Art Reveals Alternate Designs for Namor

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced one of Marvel Comics oldest and most conflicted characters to the MCU in Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. Writer and director Ryan Coogler wanted to give Namor, who is the Prince of Atlantis in the comics, and his underwater kingdom a unique makeover. The result was the underwater city of Talokan, a Mesoamerican-inspired twist on Atlantis.

    While fans only see the finished look of Namor, Talokan and its people in Wakanda Forever, the design process takes hundreds of people thousands of hours with the majority of that work never being seen. Ultimately, dozens of designs don’t make the final cut of the film for whatever reason despite having just as much work put into them as the ones that do. Concept artist Anthony Francisco, whose look for “warrior” Namor was chosen for the film, released a series of alternate designs for the character via Twitter.

    Francisco’s tweets detail the incredible amount of work the artist put into the character, including researching multiple cultures and their histories. His description of how he finalized the design for Namor’s necklace, which was featured throughout the film, provides a fascinating insight into the creative process.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now in theaters.

    Source: Anthony Francisco Twitter

  • Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    Marvel Studios Can’t Produce a ‘Black Panther’ Spinoff Focused on Namor

    There’s been a lot of hype around Tenoch Huerta‘s incredible performance as Namor, the leader of Talocan and antagonist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Many have hoped that this performance would kick off interest from Marvel Studios to get this character his own solo project, but sadly it seems that rights are still an issue for some of the Marvel characters.

    According to The Wrap, the rights are still not fully with Marvel Studios and are something from the pre-Disney era. When Marvel Comics was about to go bankrupt, they sold the rights to their characters to studios that would work on films. That’s how Sony and Fox originally got access to the pantheon of popular characters long before Marvel Studios was even a thought.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore has confirmed to The Wrap that the character can definitely return in a future project, but Disney is not able to produce a standalone project based around the character. It seems the rights are still with Universal, who also holds the rights to Hulk and was the reason that character never got a sequel since the Edward Norton film back in 2008.

    Sadly, this means we shouldn’t expect any further exploration of Talocan in a solo outing in cinemas or even Disney+. Perhaps they’ll find a way to bring the characters back as part of another project where he isn’t the main character but still has a major role. Of course, there’s also the chance that Disney sees the potential and is open to repurchasing the rights to the character; though that may be more difficult with a potentially higher price given his newly found popularity.

    Source: The Wrap

  • CCXP Confirms Marvel Studios Plans for Next Week’s Event

    CCXP Confirms Marvel Studios Plans for Next Week’s Event

    Brazil’s annual comic-con experience, CCXP, has more often than not proven a source of self-made disappointment and frustration for Marvel fans. Returning as a live event in 2022, however, CCXP looks to be set to make at least a little noise that should satisfy those same fans. A tweet from the official CCXP account has confirmed that not only will Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige be in attendance on December 1st, but he’ll also be bringing some friends and some info on at least a couple of projects with him.

    According to the tweet, Feige will be joined at the event by Peyton Reed, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly and Jonathan Majors to hype Marvel Studios’ next theatrical release, Ant–Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. The third film in the franchise, Quantumania is set to hit theaters on February 17th, 2023 and although the first trailer for the film hit social media at the end of October, it’s possible that a new look at the film debuts at CCXP. However, as often is the case, it’s possible that any new footage released may be a con exclusive and not be shared publicly for some time.

    In addition to Quantumania, CCXP will also feature something Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 related. A recent rumor indicated that Disney may be angling to have the first trailer for Vol. 3 ready to be in theaters by mid-December to play in front of Avatar: The Way of Water. While that hasn’t been confirmed, it makes sense that the studio would use the sequel, which is expected to have a monster opening weekend, to hype what’s likely to be one of 2023’s most anticipated films in Vol. 3.

    Given the panel will likely run nearly an hour, it’s also possible Marvel Studios might use it to hype other projects set to debut in the first half of 2023 such as Secret Invasion and Loki, which are slated to stream on Disney Plus in Spring and Summer, respectively.

  • Kang the Conqueror is Trapped in the Quantum Realm

    Kang the Conqueror is Trapped in the Quantum Realm

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is only a few months away, as it introduces us officially to our next major threat to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Kang the Conqueror. Jonathan Majors is taking on the iconic role after a brief introduction of his Variant in Loki, whose death leads to unlocking the many others from across the multiverse that has been kept hidden through the TVA’s ventures. While we don’t know if this is the same version we were teased by the Disney+ series’s final moments, a new article from Empire Magazine reveals how Kang ended up in the Quantum Realm.

    As it turns out, he is not there on purpose but is trapped. There are no details offered on what may have ended up leading to him getting stuck in the sub-atomic realm, but it does open up a rather interesting question. Perhaps an Ant-Man from across the multiverse is the cause of it, or his time in the Quantum Realm is what lead to his ability to time travel. The events from Avengers: Endgame could also be at play here, or with multiple Variants out there, a different version of himself may have led to it.

    We do see in the trailer that he made this place his home, and has seemingly built up an army. He also hints during the D23 footage that he’s actually killed an Avenger in the past. Perhaps this version of Kang has already defeated all the heroes that opposed him and they may have pushed him into this realm as a last-ditch effort. Whatever he may have planned for Ant-Man could also be a way to help him to find a way out.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Quantumania’ Director Reveals Why Ant-Man and the Wasp are Facing Kang the Conqueror

    ‘Quantumania’ Director Reveals Why Ant-Man and the Wasp are Facing Kang the Conqueror

    When the announcement dropped that Jonathan Majors would play Kang the Conqueror in the Ant-Man and the Wasp sequel, many were a bit perplexed about why his first true arrival would be against that specific Marvel hero. It seemingly created the vision of an instant loss for the character, though the more we see of the project it seems like it won’t be as straightforward as one might expect. Still, the main antagonist of the Multiverse Saga as part of the third entry in the franchise the internet loves to call “filler” may have become one of the most important entries.

    Surprisingly, it seems that Quantumania‘s director Peyton Reed had the very same idea, as he had some joy in visiting this idea of the “weakest Avenger” taking on this villain that is more than just your typical villain but rather what he views as an “absolute force of nature.”

    That’s interesting to me: to take the tiniest, and in some people’s minds weakest Avenger, and put them up against this absolute force of nature.

    Peyton Reed

    With the reveal that the character is also trapped in the Quantum Realm, perhaps he could use Ant-Man’s unique ability to find a way to escape. It would definitely make him an antagonist but not the main threat to the character. It seems obvious that no one would take him on directly, but with the confirmation of MODOK as part of the film, we may see our favorite group of ant-themed heroes stuck between two sides vying to conquer the Quantum Realm.

    Source: Empire

  • Latest ‘Marvel Studios’ Legends’ Confirms Star-Lord Has a [SPOILER]

    Latest ‘Marvel Studios’ Legends’ Confirms Star-Lord Has a [SPOILER]

    Well, this is a surprising reveal that confirms a long-time theory. Marvel Studios has started the tradition of creating small supercuts to share the adventures the various Marvel Cinematic Universe characters have gone through in the past few years. Marvel Studios’ Legends is a great little guide for those that don’t actively follow every project the studio puts out. With the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on the horizon, we got a new entry recapping our favorite ragtag group of space heroes. Surprisingly, it includes a deleted scene that confirms a surprisingly familiar connection.

    As it turns out, Pom Klementieff‘s Mantis is actually Star-Lord a.k.a. Peter Quill’s sister. There have been some theories that this might be the case when we first meet Mantis with his father, Ego. There was a short showcase of his many lovers from across the galaxy, which included someone that looked quite similar to Mantis’ race. Plus, Ego has collected his children for one purpose and there always was the question of why he kept her around. With her being his daughter, it makes sense he kept her around just in case she might become useful.

    It’s interesting that she shared this with Drax, who’s the one to reveal it with the line “he should know you are his sister” and that they’d go out of their way to set up this connection as part of the recap. So, we’ll see if this might be something James Gunn explores further in the upcoming Holiday Special and third entry of the trilogy. Also, it’s nice to see someone find out they have a sister that isn’t seemingly planning on killing them; Thor could give him some pointers.

    Source: Disney+ via The Direct