Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Movies

  • ‘The Marvels’ to Start Reshoots in August

    ‘The Marvels’ to Start Reshoots in August

    Reshoots have become a tradition for any Marvel project, and it looks like The Marvels has already mapped out when they return to give the production another go in the coming months. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Samuel L. Jackson has revealed that he’ll return to the set of the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel in August. He doesn’t offer any details, it’s good to get a feeling of when they might be tackling the project again.

    No, I’m not done, I’m on my way back to London, I guess at some point in August, but I got to go back to do stuff with The Marvels, and I got to do stuff for Secret Invasion.

    Samuel L. Jackson

    As mentioned previously, it’s pretty common for Marvel projects to enter some form of additional photography. It commonly is to help out the production team to add elements that either couldn’t get produced due to scheduling conflicts, or simply to add some elements to streamline the project. Modern blockbusters are screen tested and the teams get a chance to test out reactions to tweak the film slightly.

    The Marvel is an interesting type of sequel, as it technically continues what was set up with Captain Marvel back in 2019, but also introduces two characters that were featured in Disney+ shows. So, it’s going to be an interesting challenge to bring these projects together while still keeping the story focused on whatever threat they are about to face.

    Source: Jimmy Kimmel via The Direct

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Adds ‘Crazy Rich Asian’s Star

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Adds ‘Crazy Rich Asian’s Star

    It looks like one more cast member has arrived for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Deadline has revealed that Nico Santos of Crazy Rich Asians and Superstore fame will be joining the threequel. The plot for the third installment remains a mystery and there are no details on who he might be playing, but he’s joining a stacked cast that has added Will Poulter, Chuk Iwuji, Daniela Melchior, and Maria Bakalova in addition to the returning cast from the second entry.

    The film is turning into quite a collection of talented actresses and actors. We still don’t know many details about the upcoming project, but it does seem more and more likely that they’ll explore the Halfworld storyline. We saw set pictures that revealed humanoid animals and even teased the arrival of the High Evolutionary. So, we’ll see if the actors are playing some familiar characters from Marvel lore, or even new additions.

    There’s a lot of potential with the threequel, as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is pretty much the end of James Gunn‘s run with the iconic space pirates. Recent cosmic storylines have started moving into different direction while still staying true to what Gunn set up and we’ll see where the future might be heading with the team as well.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘The Incredible Hulk’ to Join Disney+ Japan in June

    ‘The Incredible Hulk’ to Join Disney+ Japan in June

    Just as we got the news that Spider-Man films are finally making their way to the Disney+ streaming service in the UK, it seems one more missing part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finding its way to the service. The official Disney+ Japan Twitter account has unveiled that they are adding The Incredible Hulk on June 17th, which is the first hint at the character’s solo film getting added to the Disney-owned service.

    Hulk was one of the last remaining external rights holders alongside Spider-Man, as Universal had the film rights for the character. As such, it’s a big move that the film entry is making its way to Disney+ especially as it was recently added to HBO Max in the United States. It made many question if the Edward Norton film would ever find its way home but with the announcement for Japan. It was pointed out to us by @jamesmutombo2 that the reasoning for these joining is likely due to them belonging to Sony Pictures in Japan and Spain (as listed in IMDb), where it’s also available on the service. @MarvelCineVerse also pointed out their availability in France.

    It should be noted that they are also only adding Iron Man now, as some of the distribution rights internationally are quite a bit different, especially for the first non-Disney produced entries due to Marvel Studios working with different distribution partners. The fact they are adding it could be a hint at the House of Mouse trying to get their hands on all streaming rights for the missing links in the franchise, as even with the addition of the Marvel Netflix series they call Disney+ the “Home of Marvel.” So, can’t have missing entries to make that claim.

    Source: Twitter, IMDb

  • BREAKING: First ‘Spider-Man’ Films Heading to Disney+ UK

    BREAKING: First ‘Spider-Man’ Films Heading to Disney+ UK

    The Marvel collection on Disney+ has been a highlight for many subscribers of the streaming service. An easy way to watch all entries of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even explore some legacy titles from the 20th Century Fox era. Sadly, there were still some missing, most notably Sony’s iconic Spider-Man franchises. When rumblings hit the web about a deal with Sony to acquire their library, many wondered when it might finally come to fruition. It looks like the first steps have finally been reached.

    The deal initially saw that Netflix will acquire the Sony projects before they would move on to Disney+, which has a multi-year deal for post-day-1-releases. While there’s no confirmation yet for when they hit the United States, the official Disney+ UK account has announced that Spider-Man: Homecoming will join the service on June 17th.

    That is not all, as they have also confirmed that the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 will be added alongside The Amazing Spider-Man films. The noticeable absence of Spider-Man 3 hints that it’s still part of the Netflix deal and will likely follow at a later date.

    The same will also go for Spider-Man: Far From Home and eventually No Way Home. The latter might take a year or so once it releases on Netflix before it’ll become available on Disney+. Sony has been playing a strategic game in the market as instead of carrying the weight of an entire streaming service, they simply are using licensing deals to make a profit off of these current developments rather than risk losing any investment directly.

    With this release, we may see other Sony films get added to the service in the near future, and we’ll anxiously await the US release window as well. The fact we’re finally seeing the fruits of a deal that was made back in April of 2021 is an exciting prospect for the future of Disney+ and the streaming market.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Gorr the God Butcher is One of the MCU’s “Most Sympathetic Villains”

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Gorr the God Butcher is One of the MCU’s “Most Sympathetic Villains”

    We’ve long been awaiting the arrival of Christian Bale‘s Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder. The marketing has been holding back quite a bit with our first look of the villain only arriving in the second trailer. While his look is quite a departure from the comics, it does seem like Taika Waititi has put in a lot of love for the character. Not only did the villain seemingly “tested the highest” of any Marvel villains, which also includes some heavy-hitters like Thanos, but he describes Bale’s characters as one of “the most sympathetic villains they’ve had” so far as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The director also highlighted that their work on Thor: Ragnarok seemingly has sparked the interest for Bale to venture into a comic book adaptation once more. It seems to have fun like they did bring the film to life was a big reason he wanted to give it a go, and Waititi‘s comedy definitely seems like it had a guiding hand for the actor’s venture into the MCU.

    What we did with Ragnarok made these movies appealing to other actors as well. Christian saw that and was like “I want to do something fun” and wanted to be part of this thing.

    Taika Waititi

    Not only giving the actor something fun to do but also offering the audience a sympathetic villain is definitely something that’ll still manage to leave a chill down their spine. We’ll see how the MCU continues to evolve and offer a fun playground for any actor interested in giving it a shot.

    Source: YouTube via Discussing Film, YouTube via Twitter

  • Deadpool Should Be the MCU’s LGBTQ+ Icon

    Deadpool Should Be the MCU’s LGBTQ+ Icon

    Pride Month is in full swing, meaning people, organizations, and even companies are celebrating or showing support for LGBTQ+ persons across the globe. Marvel is certainly one of those companies, and the brand is eager to highlight its queer representation in its properties. Previously, we have taken a look back at one of Marvel Comics’ milestones. And while the comics certainly have more history to draw from, the Marvel Cinematic Universe notably lags in LGBTQ+ representation across its franchise.

    The MCU is absolutely gaining momentum here, with recent additions such as Phastos in Eternals and America Chavez in Doctor: Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The franchise even promises more inclusion in the near future with characters like Valkyrie in Thor: Love and Thunder. As with any underrepresented group, there is always pushback from an unfortunate corner of the supposed fandom when any major (or minor) character is explicitly queer.

    While we can celebrate the progress the MCU has made and is continuing to make, there is room for the Disney-owned company to make a significant and bold statement in support of LGBTQ+ representation on screen. The MCU needs a strong queer icon, and there is no better choice than the Merc with a Mouth himself. Below are four major reasons why Deadpool should be MCU’s LGBTQ+ icon.

    Deadpool Has Long Been Established as LGBTQ+

    Important to any conversation about queer representation is an understanding of the character themselves. In Deadpool’s case, there is no question that Wade Wilson is an out member of the LGBTQ+ community. The comics antihero was first confirmed as pansexual by writer Gerry Duggan, though the terminology to describe Deadpool’s sexuality has fittingly been in flux—the character’s co-creator Fabian Nicieza emphasized this back in 2015.

    Deadpool has become well-known as a pansexual symbol for many, including Fox-universe Deadpool director Tim Miller, who previously expressed his support for showcasing Deadpool’s sexuality in the movie franchise. While the character clearly has a female love interest in the live-action franchise, any viewer simply has to pay attention to Deadpool and Deadpool 2’s dialogue to know that the character’s interests go beyond the opposite sex.

    In any event, the fact that Deadpool is already a well-known queer character in the comics and has the support of many of the films’ creators, including actor Ryan Reynolds (see below), to bring that aspect of the hero into live-action is a perfect starting point for the character to further embrace that when he makes his MCU debut.

    Deadpool Is High-Profile

    When any franchise begins to embrace and increase diversity among its characters, those characters tend to often get assigned more minor roles. It does not take rocket science to understand why, but it is another reason why the MCU should wholeheartedly embrace Deadpool as LGBTQ+. Of course, the more prominent a queer character is, the more backlash they will receive. But frankly, Deadpool is already beloved across wide demographics. While he has not made his MCU debut yet, the character is established in the greater Marvel film universe, so opinions of the super-powered mercenary have already been formed. If Deadpool were to act as one of the leading LGBTQ+ characters of the MCU, it would give the character a huge platform for representation that other characters simply do not have yet.

    Deadpool’s Fan Base Spans a Wide Demographic

    It goes without saying that LGBTQ+ people—and fictional characters by extension—are subject to a wide range of stereotypes and discrimination based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Certain segments of the population, including MCU fans, support queer inclusion less than others. When new LGBTQ+ characters are introduced, it is quite easy for those people to immediately be hostile toward the idea that a single character in a movie may make them uncomfortable. For example, both Phastos and America Chavez were queer characters of color, which led to hatred and accusations of “wokeness” long before their respective films were ever released.

    Make no mistake, all LGBTQ+ characters—including women, trans, and those of color—should be fully supported by the MCU, Disney, and the vast majority of fans who have no issue with characters reflecting the real world. But in an age where the ignorant backlash is so common, Deadpool is a character that, for several reasons, has the advantage to cut through much of that in the MCU. That can be a win for the character, but it should be recognized that it could help pave the way for other queer characters.

    Deadpool is well known for being vulgar and hyperviolent among plenty of other traits. He is loved for his mature themes as well as his basic charisma and humor. The character is a hit across nearly all adult and teen demographics, and that includes demographics that may otherwise not be so supportive of LGBTQ+ representation. If the MCU’s Deadpool 3, for example, made the hero’s sexuality explicit and left no room for audiences to argue whether or not he is queer, Deadpool then becomes a symbol or icon for LGBTQ+ people across the board. In addition, it may force certain groups of people to question their assumptions and biases if one of their favorite characters also happens to not be straight.

    Deadpool’s LGBTQ+ Identity Has Ryan Reynolds’ Support

    There is no dancing around the fact that actor Ryan Reynolds, the epitome of Deadpool, is well-loved and respected in the entertainment community generally as well as for his embodiment of Wade Wilson. Reynolds has several times made it clear that he would love for the Deadpool franchise to explore Deadpool’s pansexuality, and very much wants Marvel to let the character be explicitly queer in the future. Deadpool 3 will actually be Marvel Studios’ first non-Spider-Man co-production, with Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Productions also in the producer’s role. While Reynolds will not have unilateral control over the character’s future, he undoubtedly has a lot. With the support of someone as powerful as the actor/producer/businessman is, though, the amount to which MCU could push the envelope with Deadpool’s LGBTQ+ identity could be significantly increased.

    In conclusion, no one character is the perfect icon for an entire group, including the LGBTQ+ community, nor should they be. Queer MCU fans, and queer people in general, deserve to have major franchises better represent them and better represent reality. If the MCU were to fully embrace Deadpool’s LGBTQ+ identity, whether it is explicitly pansexual or described/defined in some other way, it could be one of the strongest moves Marvel Studios could make in terms of supporting the diversity of their characters and audiences.

    The character is already well-known to be queer; the Deadpool franchise creators, producers, and actors strongly support the move; and the character’s more formal cinematic coming out would have a ripple effect through numerous groups and demographics that would almost certainly strengthen the general MCU fanbase’s support, acceptance, and love for LGBTQ+ characters.

  • ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Footage Description Reveals New Cast, Plot Details

    ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ Footage Description Reveals New Cast, Plot Details

    After what feels like a lifetime of waiting, fans are finally getting more news on Sony Animation’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The animated sequel to 2018’s surprise hit held a presentation at the annual Annecy Festival, where a series of new clips revealed a few more famous faces will be joining the film’s cast. Jason Schwartzman was formally announced as the main villain of the project, voicing lesser-known baddie The Spot in another inter-dimensional conflict for Miles Morales. On top of this, a few other classic Spider-Man characters were confirmed to be making appearances in his latest cinematic outing.

    The first clip played by Sony took place in the world of Hailee Steinfeld‘s Spider-Gwen. Her universe is described as being beautiful, designed with watercolors, paper textures, and layered brush strokes. There, we finally see Gwen’s father, the revered police Captain George Stacy, responding to a disturbance at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The elder Stacy will be voiced by veteran actor Shea Whigham. However, Gwen beats her pops to the scene, where she bumps into a couple surprise guests.

    Two other Spider-People are already there, in the form of previously announced cast members Oscar Isaac and Issa Rae. The former’s Spider-Man 2099 is described as not having spider-sense or natural powers, and instead relies on a heavily technological suit. He has claws for climbing, super strength, a flying wing suit, and “a giant laser web.” Rae‘s Spider-Woman, on the other hand, is called “a certified badass.” Jessica Drew is also shown to be pregnant, confirming the movie will lift an element from Dennis Hopeless‘ recent comic book run on the character.

    Also there is an “anachronistic” version of The Vulture, voiced by Jorma Taccone. It’s implied this Vulture is from a separate timeline, though not specified which. This will be the third character played by Taccone in the franchise, after giving life to the Green Goblin and Spider-Man ’67 in the first entry. Another brief clip played after this features Miles running late for a meeting with his parents and his school counselor, set to be played by the incomparable Rachel Dratch. Unfortunately, his day is ruined when the aforementioned Spot shows up to throw a wrench in all of reality.

    More will be revealed when Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2nd, 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • How ‘Thunderbolts’ Could Setup MCU’s ‘Dark Reign’

    How ‘Thunderbolts’ Could Setup MCU’s ‘Dark Reign’

    With the official announcement of a Thunderbolts film in the upcoming film slate of Marvel Studios, many have begun to theorize how both the film and the team will fit into the developing landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though after some time reflecting on the news, it seems possible that Thunderbolts will not simply just “fit into” the landscape of the MCU, but rather become a critical lynchpin for the narrative direction of many franchises within the shared universe.

    From my perspective, Thunderbolts will be the coup de grace in ushering in an interpretation of the comic-inspired Dark Reign storyline to the film version of Earth-616. In this piece, I will be mapping out the road that hypothetically leads to the formation of this massive status quo change, how the team can function in the midst, and the catalyst of their downfall.

    Origins

    This part of the MCU storyline is the easiest to trace as it has already begun. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has very much been positioned to become the figurehead of this new arc. This is especially the case with the passing of Thaddeus Ross’ actor William Hurt and the impossibility to have Norman Osborn exist outside the Spider-Man bubble of the MCU. As seen in Black Widow and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Val is in the midst of forming partnerships with characters that have morally gray allegiances in Yelena Belova, John Walker, and (potentially) Helmut Zemo. Logic greatly dictates that these are the first steps towards the formation of the Thunderbolts team, and is seemingly all but confirmed with the film announcement earlier this week. 

    Audiences should absolutely expect to see Louis-Dreyfus back in the numerous Marvel Studios projects throughout 2022. Ms. Marvel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and especially She-Hulk (a superhero legal-based series that is bound to have ample amounts of morally gray characters) feel like natural points for where Val could show up next. One specific concept in my mind is Julia Louis-Dreyfus making a surprise appearance in a Thor: Love and Thunder post-credit scene to recruit a scorned Ares after the decimation of Olympus at the hands of Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher. While Val can certainly be involved in recruiting more characters beyond 2022, there needs to be a turning point for this storyline at some point and there is a natural point at which this can occur.

    The Catalyst

    The MCU has often made major alterations to their interpretations of comic storylines but ultimately kept similar ramifications to the future of their stories. With that in mind, Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to use the upcoming Secret Invasion as a means to launch their version of a Dark Reign like the comics. No matter what direction Marvel takes with this series, it would be a logical decision for it to end with Val and her fully actualized team of “approved” heroes taking the place of Norman Osborn in the comics and being the ones who very publicly eradicate the threat of Skrulls.

    This event can serve a two-fold purpose for the immediate future of the MCU. Firstly, Secret Invasion could very well be seen as the last straw for the world as its citizens have had to deal with growing dangerous threats to their lives since “The Blip” and have officially turned on the superheroes that have saved them many times before on a large-scale level. Secondly, people within positions of power would only trust and allow the government-sanctioned Thunderbolts team to regulate the issues that arise on Earth.

    The Dark Reign

    And from there, the MCU version of the Dark Reign can commence and could play a major role in a large swath of future projects. The Thunderbolts team can and should be present in different forms in essentially any project-based predominantly on Earth. For instance, the Thunderbolts should be the main opposition for the Hulk(s) on Earth within the World War Hulk film rumored to be in development (assuming it takes those cues from the comic event).

    As well, they should serve as a foil for whatever political espionage mission Anthony Mackie’s upcoming Captain America film. Essentially, the new status quo for pure heroes post-Secret Invasion should be dealing with their ostracization from societal acceptance and working towards proving the trust they should deserve from the general public. 

    Another angle I would further develop in this Dark Reign is the bureaucratic mission to prevent young heroes from becoming active in the world as has been developed in the likes Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel. This would set the stage for the Young Avengers to form as a counter-response towards the world generally losing faith in the Avengers team that has been instrumental in saving the world numerous times.

    Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts film can serve as an exploration of the core team of reformed villains as they deal with the very public spotlight attached to them and how they react to it. Some fully buy into the Kool-Aid of their role as heroes, while others grow skeptical that what they’re doing is actually the “right thing”. There is certainly lots of room to play with this type of social commentary through the lens of bombastic superhero action within the MCU, both in the film itself and in the duration of this phase of the MCU.

    Endtimes

    However, this storyline won’t last forever as the status quo and much like the comics, a new Heroic Age can rise in its aftermath. In terms of how Marvel Studios should sunset Dark Reign, I would use the formation of a new official Avengers team and film (not to be confused with the Young Avengers) as the means to end this phase. Specifically, the Siege comic storyline should be adapted with Val completely breaking bad and using her influence and team to begin an attempted conquest of places that serve as “threats” to the safety of the rest of the world (i.e. New Asgard, Wakanda, and Ta Lo).

    At this point, the world needs the Avengers and their reuniting with a fresh line-up could serve as a massive event that would be satisfying both emotionally and commercially. From there, the stage can be set with an Avengers team leading the charge in whatever the endgame of the multiverse saga will be within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As well, the Thunderbolts team could still exist within the framework of the MCU as a place for villains and anti-heroes looking to reform their image, but this time without the baggage of being a front for Valentina’s nefarious scheme.

    In addition, the idea of a prejudiced world against super-powered individuals can still ruminate beyond the end of Dark Reign and into the introduction of mutants in the not-too-distant future. Ultimately though, no matter what specific direction they take when it comes to Thunderbolts and its surrounding future projects, the stage is set for Marvel Studios to transition its universe into a new long-term dynamic that can be as defining as the Infinity Saga.

  • The Spot Confirmed as ‘Into the Spider-Verse 2’ Villain, First Look at New Design

    It was all the way back in February of 2021 that we first heard rumblings that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse may feature the obscure Spider-Man villain The Spot. And now, the official Twitter page has not only confirmed he’s the antagonist bur also offered a first look at his Spider-Verse design.

    That is not all, as they have also confirmed that Jason Schwartzman will voice the new antagonist.

    UPDATING

    Source: Twitter

  • AMC’s New Runtime Hints at ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Being Among the MCU’s Shortest

    AMC’s New Runtime Hints at ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Being Among the MCU’s Shortest

    There’s been a lot of discussions on what the runtime exactly would be for Thor: Love and Thunder. Previous listings hinted at a two-hour and 30 minutes runtime, but now AMC has updated the runtime on their website that is no longer even reaching two hours. According to the site, it’s going to run for one hour and 59 minutes. That would put it on the shorter end of the MCU runtimes as it’s even shorter than the first Iron Man which ran for around two hours and eight minutes.

    It’s certainly going to be interesting how they manage to keep the many teased storylines in a shorter runtime but it highlights a more concise experience. Director Taika Waititi is no stranger to offering fast-paced comedies and it may be the direction the sequel is taking. Plus, the film is seemingly inspired by romantic comedies, which aren’t strangers to shorter runtimes.

    Whatever the direction the film will take, it’s going to be great to finally see the film in theaters in July. Waititi has always left his imprint on the various film she worked on and it’s going to be interesting to see how he handles a sequel like Thor: Love and Thunder.

    Source: AMC