Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Marvel Studios Halting ‘Blade’ as Director Search Continues

    Marvel Studios Halting ‘Blade’ as Director Search Continues

    Marvel Studios is reportedly halting Blade, at least temporarily, as it continues its search for a new director. The news comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, with the outlet reporting the decision was made in order to further develop the movie and continue the search for a new director. The movie was expected to enter production in November. The crew is said to have been notified today that the production is temporarily shutting down.

    Bassim Tariq was originally set to direct the film starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, however, Tariq left the project a little over two weeks ago. With the production currently shutting down, it seems doubtful it’ll make the previously announced release date of Nov. 3rd, 2023. Marvel Studios is said to be keen to get the movie “right,” and Ali has been heavily involved in the creative decisions on the film with the actor reportedly having had say in hiring Tariq in the beginning.

    Following Tariq’s exit, it was revealed that Beau DeMayo had signed on to rework the script. With DeMayo’s hiring, it was expected that Marvel Studios would quickly fill the director position (ala Ant-Man), but instead, the studio has opted to slow down to “deepen the search” for a new director, while also ensuring they took time to further strengthen the movie.

    Blade was first announced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige in 2019 when Ali was brought on stage to reveal the project was in development.

    Source: THR.

  • Benedict Cumberbatch Pushed for “Darker” Scenes in ‘Doctor Strange 2’, Wrote Some of the Scenes Himself

    Benedict Cumberbatch Pushed for “Darker” Scenes in ‘Doctor Strange 2’, Wrote Some of the Scenes Himself

    It feels like an eternity ago that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was released in theaters. Time truly flies when you’re having fun, as we got a bunch of iconic new entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, there still is something special about the latest multiverse-focused storyline as Benedict Cumberbatch got to take on his iconic role in different variations, and as it turns out, he also got to write some of the scenes himself.

    I absolutely loved it, and it sounds so egotistical – but there we go, that’s what actors are – but I loved doing the scenes with myself because of the challenge of it. And I got to write some of those scenes … I suggested that it needed to get darker at a point. There was a slightly more saccharine version at one stage and I’m really happy with the way it evolved.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    He goes on to highlight in an interview with Prestige Online that director Sam Raimi and the film’s writer, Michael Waldron, were quite supportive of letting him add his own voice to the script as well. He also highlights his hope to further explore the multiverse and the many Variants that exist out there.

    Sam Raimi was so game for it and Michael Waldron really supported me to write it as well. We turned what was a very small combat between the two into a sort of very bizarre and inventive battle in that moment. I really loved it. It was how the original was pitched to me a long while back when Scott Derrickson was still working with us: Strange would meet versions of himself. It was something I wanted to lean into. We could have gone even further, and maybe it will go into the future. Who knows what other versions we might need in the multiverse chapter of the MCU? But it was very enjoyable to play all the variants of myself.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    It definitely would be a shame if we doesn’t get to play around with the concept of Variants further in the MCU. Loki‘s upcoming second season might take a crack at it again after introducing a few versions of Loki and we did get the iconic Spider-Men in No Way Home. Who knows just how much we’ll venture out into the multiverse once Phase 5 arrives?

    Source: Prestige Online

  • Concept Art of Brett Goldstein as Hercules Officially Released

    Concept Art of Brett Goldstein as Hercules Officially Released

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s post-credits cameos for Phase 4 haven’t been particularly exciting. The Blade voice cameo in Eternals was laughable while Charlize Theron‘s goofy random appearance as Clea at the end of Multiverse of Madness didn’t feel as impactful for the MCU’s future. Thor: Love and Thunder‘s stinger, however, breaks that mold as it introduced a major Marvel player in Hercules played by Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein.

    Marvel Studios artist Andy Park revealed on Twitter today the look they had for Roy Kent on paper.

    And like most Phase 4 costumes, this version of Hercules has a pitch-perfect accurate costume. From the headpiece down to the motifs, this rendering is a 1:1 recreation of the comic except with a real person’s face on it. Goldstein’s physique is understandably that of a normal man and not the hulking demi-god from the comics but nonetheless works. Hercules is a burly, hair, rugged man, and Goldstein pretty much fits the bill.

  • New ‘Madame Web’ Set Video Teases Fight With a New Spider-Man

    New ‘Madame Web’ Set Video Teases Fight With a New Spider-Man

    The star-studded and again-delayed Madame Web has not had a particularly secretive production. Recently, a batch of set photos allegedly show Tahar Rahim’s stunt double going up against Dakota Johnson’s and Celeste O’Connor’s characters. The photos clearly show Rahim’s stunt double dressed in what appears to be an alternate Spider-Man suit.

    Now, there is a new video of what appears to be O’Connor’s stunt double filming what could be the same or similarly-set scene. The double appears to be harnessed up to apparently “fight a new Spider-Man.” As previously noted, the “new Spider-Man” that appeared in previous photos may be Ezekiel Sims, a character who, in the comics, had similar powers to Spider-Man, wore a Spidey suit (that looked significantly different than the one seen on set), and occasionally clashed with other Spider-related people. Whether Rahim is Sims or not is yet to be seen.

    There may be a possibility that yet another “new Spider-Man” is off-screen in the leaked set video. Not a lot is known about Madame Web, but many rumors and theories point to a multiversal connection. That is not too surprising given the titular character’s connection in the comics, and Sony’s attempts to get audiences excited about its own universe of specifically Spider-Man-related characters apart from the much more popular Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse probably already did it better, Sony may be introducing a type of live-action Spider-Verse of its own. After the Spiderpeople crossover in the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, there is no ruling out that Sony’s characters may pop up at some point in Phases 5 or 6 of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.

    Madame Web is scheduled to hit theaters on February 16, 2024.

    Source: YouTube

  • Vin Diesel Says Marvel Studios Interested In a Groot ‘Planet X’ Movie

    Vin Diesel Says Marvel Studios Interested In a Groot ‘Planet X’ Movie

    Fans are preparing to bid farewell to everyone’s favorite band of intergalactic misfits, with Summer 2023’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 potentially marking the end of the Guardians as we know them. However, one of the group’s stars may believe that the end of the road for Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not yet arrived.

    Guardians of the Galaxy’s Groot actor Vin Diesel shared a post on Instagram where he seems to indicate—or joke—that he believes Marvel Studios has plans to develop an MCU movie based on the talking tree’s homeworld. 

    After noting his niece’s love for the recent I Am Groot Disney+ shorts, Diesel ended the post on an interesting note:

    “So my niece called me and said… thank you uncle Vin for making I Am Groot, haha… the shorts written and directed by the talented Kristin Lepore. It was a blast making, but it’s also a blast watching it with my angels. No wonder Marvel wants to make the Planet X movie. All love. #FloraColossi #AlphaGroot #PlanetX”

    Vin Diesel

    Planet X is the homeworld of the Flora colossus, the alien race from which Groot is descended, where the simplistic but loveable language of Groot is spoken. Fans may also recognize “Planet X” as the X-Men comic storyline by the same name, or the mutant safe haven also coined Planet X. While fans gets excited about an X-Men news, it is unclear how Diesel’s post would relate to mutants at all. 

    Diesel easily could have been joking about the potential for a Groot-centered film, as a solo film starring the loveable character seems unlikely in the currently known MCU slate. Still, nothing can ever be ruled out as a future installment given the rapid expansion of the MCU in the past couple of years.

    Source: Instagram

  • Keanu Reeves Wants to Play MCU’s Ghost Rider

    Keanu Reeves Wants to Play MCU’s Ghost Rider

    Marvel and Keanu Reeves have long been looking for a chance to unite in an upcoming project. While there’s still no confirmation on how they’d find the right role for him, it seems he’s already gotten his eyes on one. During an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actor shared what role he’d love to take on and it turns out he wants to play the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider.

    Not only that, but he also went on to praise the work of Marvel Studios and how they’ve started to develop their films. It certainly sounds like the actor wants to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and while others have also been eyeing the role of Ghost Rider, there are enough versions he could choose from.

    It’s really cool. I think the way that the Marvel films have developed and what they are is really spectacular and it would be great to be a part of that.

    Keanu Reeves

    We’ll see if Reeves makes his MCU debut at some point in the near future, but it’ll definitely make headlines once he’s finally confirmed to be a part of this franchise. John Wick was a new starting point for the actor and it’ll be interesting to see what his future looks like in the world of nostalgia.

    Source: YouTube via EW

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Makes a Major Change to the MCU Landscape, Hint at Possible Cap 4 Connections

    ‘She-Hulk’ Makes a Major Change to the MCU Landscape, Hint at Possible Cap 4 Connections

    Billed as a legal comedy and delivered pretty much along those lines, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law didn’t seem like the type of show that would have far-ranging implications for the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, with one episode left to go, it seems that quite a bit of potential has been packed into these shorter episodes. Bruce Banner has left the planet for personal business on Sakaar; Jen’s blood has fallen into the hands of the HulkKing; and a man is running around in a frog suit! As big of a deal as Leap-Frog might seem to have been in Episode 8, “Ribbit and Rip It”, another revelation might end up being a bigger factor down the line.

    During Jen’s brief and slightly embarrassing court battle with Matt Murdock, Murdock casually revealed that the Sokovia Accords, which have governed the vigilantism of superheroes since the United Nations adopted them in 2016 following the events in Lagos, Nigeria, have been repealed. The Accords were intended to put an end to the unsanctioned acts of powered individuals and groups, such as the Avengers, by establishing an agreed-upon set of regulations.

    The Accords have been addressed in several projects over the years after having been established in Captain America: Civil War. WandaVision saw a government agency defy them and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which was set in 2024, saw them on display in the Smithsonian. So while they might have seemed like a relic of the Infinity Saga, they’ve been kept alive for a reason before being tossed out there again in She-Hulk, which is set in 2025. What good comes from keeping them on the minds of the audience, though, when they’ve largely been ignored since their creation? The answer might be in the fine print.

    By signing the Accords, heroes agreed to a whole mess of things, including:

    • providing a DNA sample
    • revealing their secret identities/legal names
    • power analysis
    • the use of tracking bracelets

    The Accords also prohibited governments from sending powered heroes to other countries without the approval of that country; outlawed the creation of self-aware AIs; outlawed the creation of further superhumans without strict oversight.

    For a line that was interjected into the middle of a fairly fast-paced bit of dialogue by Murdock, the revelation that the Accords no longer govern not only the actions of powered individuals but the CREATION of them seems incredibly important given the fact that Jen’s “better blood” is in the hands of, presumably, the Intelligencia which, presumably, is lead by The Leader. With The Leader recently announced as the villain of Captain America: New World Order, Jen’s tease of a Red Hulk and the long-standing rumors of her blood being used to create multiple Hulks that might face off in a World War Hulk project, the fact that there are now no universally accepted regulations on how to handle these types of situations seems like it is setting the stage for chaos to ensue…and a new order to be established.

  • New ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Concept Art Offers First Look at Daniel Craig’s Scrapped Cameo

    New ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Concept Art Offers First Look at Daniel Craig’s Scrapped Cameo

    While Doctor Strange‘s travel through the Multiverse of Madness wasn’t as cameo-filled as many hoped, it still gave us some great bloody cameos. The return of Patrick Stewart as Chares Xavier stole the show alongside the fan-casting-turned-reality with John Krasinsky as Mr. Fantastic. Still, there’s always a little sense of what might have been when first teases came of what sadly had to get scrapped due to the pandemic.

    Among them was the MCU debut of Daniel Craig as Balder the Brave. Not only would he have been the Illuminati’s stand-in for Thor but also open up the Norse mythology. Of course, the biggest shame is that we almost had 007 but luckily concept artist Darrell Warner has given us a first look at what the character would’ve looked like if they managed to go through with it.

    While it seems like a one-time chance to make it a reality, we’re still in the middle of Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga. So, there’s still a chance they might revisit the character in a future entry such as through Secret Wars. We still don’t know if this character actually ever existed in the mainline MCU.

    So, we’ll see if they’ll potentially use him as a way to force Thor to explore more secrets that his father has kept from his family. Considering he got a surprise sister in Thor: Ragnarok, maybe a new half-brother is the perfect addition to pushing him further off the cliff after all the loss he had to endure up until now. Only time will tell if they will make this a reality after all.

    Source: Instagram

  • Christian Bale Reflects on First Time Working on ‘Thor 4’s Green Screens, Calls it “Monotony”

    Christian Bale Reflects on First Time Working on ‘Thor 4’s Green Screens, Calls it “Monotony”

    While the title of this article may be the perfect fuel for those calling out Marvel Studios’ use of the green screen, Christian Bale shared his experience on what it’s like working on the set of Thor: Love and Thunder. He famously took on the role of Gorr the God Butcher in the film, and it seems like he had a hard time differentiating between sets early on, especially with this being his first attempt at working with a more green-screen-heavy production.

    That’s the first time I’ve done that. I mean, the definition of it is monotony. You’ve got good people. You’ve got other actors who are far more experienced at it than me. Can you differentiate one day from the next? No. Absolutely not. You have no idea what to do. I couldn’t even differentiate one stage from the next. They kept saying, ‘You’re on Stage Three.’ Well, it’s like, ‘Which one is that?’ ‘The blue one.’ They’re like, ‘Yeah. But you’re on Stage Seven.’ ‘Which one is that?’ ‘The blue one.’ I was like, ‘Uh, where?’”

    Christian Bale

    He also highlights how he struggled to stick to his usual method acting due to the makeup process with his character. It certainly highlights that Bale attempted something new with this production; though he highlighted he had fun with it as well.

    He highlights in his statement that other actors have more experience with it and it certainly shows that it was quite an adjustment for Bale. We’ll see if this has made him uncertain about returning to that type of film in the future, or if he might still have enough fun to return one day. Perhaps Gorr has a future in the MCU’s multiverse.

    Source: Variety

  • Bad Bunny’s Marvel Film Lands Director and Writer

    Bad Bunny’s Marvel Film Lands Director and Writer

    El Muerto is the latest in a long line of Spidey-less Spider-Man movies Sony threatens to unleash upon cinemas. Music superstar Bad Bunny is slated to lead the film, a story about a luchador who gains mystical powers. According to the Wrap, the film has found its director and writer, Jonas Cuaron and Gareth-Dunnet Alcocer, respectively. Cuaron is best known for his acclaimed film Desierto and being the son of legendary director Alfonso Cuaron while Alcocer recently penned DC’s Blue Beetle film.

    As unexciting as a Spidey-less Spider-Man cinematic universe sounds, El Muerto does have the tremendous distinction of being the first Marvel film led by a Latino character. Having huge names such as Bad Bunny, Cuaron, and the burgeoning Alcocer behind the film gives the project legitimacy and prestige. It’s hard to imagine how this film will tie in to Sony’s other Marvel properties but the pedigree attached to the project should keep fans hopeful that the studio gets a superhero movie correct after Morbius and Venom.

    Source: The Wrap