Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios Held a Special Screening of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ in Support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts

    Marvel Studios held the purple carpet World Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever last week in Hollywood and early word is that the film is not only action-packed but serves as a touching emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman. To continue to honor the star, who passed away from cancer in 2020, director Ryan Coogler and several members of the cast were in Washington D.C. on Sunday, October 30th for a special screening of the film at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in support of The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts.

    WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright and Kevin Youngattend the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Red Carpet Screening at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on October 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Disney)

    Director Ryan Coogler and stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta and Angela Bassett attended the red-carpet event last tonight hosted by Walt Disney Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

    Disney

    Founded in 2020, The Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts is a non-profit organization with the mission “to encourage, support, and promote the intellectual, spiritual, and artistic growth of young people of the African Diaspora.”

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be in theaters beginning November 11th.

  • Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    Hugh Jackman on Return to Wolverine: “I’m Gonna Have the Time of My Life”

    The news of Hugh Jackman’s return to the role of Wolverine for Marvel Studios 2024 Deadpool 3 is still generating buzz even a few weeks after the news broke. Jackman is so beloved in the role and so well-associated with the character that the news was well-received by most all fans, something that seems almost impossible most of the time. While talking with the Associated Press, Jackman made it clear that it’s not only the fans who are excited.

    I can tell you I’m gonna have the time of my life. I can tell you that I’ve started back at the gym and I’m eating a lot and I feel bad for the cast of Music Men, the amount of protein shakes I’m having. But it’s a lot of fun. It’s been five years and I really never thought I’d come back and I’m really, really excited about it. Actually, I do know a bit about the script, but I’m not gonna tell you.

    Hugh Jackman

    While Jackman didn’t want to let any plot info out of the bag just yet, he was willing to answer one of the AP’s questions about whether or not his return to the role was going to bring with it a kinder, gentler characterization.

    There’s no choice. He’s definitely the angry and acerbic, grumpy…and he’s gonna take a lot of free shots at Ryan Reynolds, let me tell you. Physically, that is.

    Hugh Jackman

    Deadpool 3 is set to begin filming next year ahead of a 2024 release.

  • The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    Welcome to the first edition of the Murphy’s Multiverse Sunday Paper, where the biggest news of the past week is brought to you all in one place. Sit back, relax, and catch up before you have to deal with whatever the upcoming week has to offer. This past week had some pretty big news across the board, so let’s break it down by subject.

    Marvel Studios

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe had an active news week with multiple trailer drops and marketing for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in full swing. First, plenty of new footage and promos for Wakanda Forever have been released (check some out here and here), and critic reactions came out after press premieres this week (check out MM’s Hunter Radesi’s reaction here.) While the film does not hit theaters for another couple of weeks, you can listen to Rihanna’s first song in six years made for the film. 

    Marvel Studios

    The first teaser trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania also dropped this week, and William Jackson Harper has joined the cast. (Read more here). Marvel also released the film’s official synopsis: 

    “In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang. Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the film; Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard produce.”

    Marvel Studios

    That didn’t stop Marvel Studios from releasing a trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, set to hit Disney+ on November 25, 2022. It looks like Kevin Bacon will appear as himself, Cosmo the Space Dog will make her first appearance since the original Guardians of the Galaxy, and Michael Rooker will even likely make an appearance of some sort. 

    Marvel Studios

    It was also confirmed this week that Marvel Studios is developing a WandaVision spinoff titled Vision Quest, in which we will follow Vision on his path to regaining his memories and humanity, and it’s possible the Scarlet Witch makes an appearance. (Read more here.) Speaking of WandaVision spinoffs, Agatha: Coven of Chaos has a bit of news of its own. WandaVision staff writer Megan McDonnell is among the team of writers working on the upcoming Disney+ streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, (read more here) and a recent rumor suggests that the series may be adapting the Scarlet Witch-related Children’s Crusade comic book arc. (Read more here.)

    We’ve also gotten a better look at Ironheart this week as set photos offer a look at Anthony Ramos’ villain the Hood (see it here), and a wrap gift teases Ironheart’s new armor’s faceplate (see it here). After not appearing in the Thunderboltspromotion at D23, Baron Zemo actor Daniel Brühl teased the return of his character (read more here), and Charlize Theron also teased Clea’s return to the MCU. (Read more here). Speaking of teases, Hugh Jackman discussed his return as Wolverine and a likely title change for Deadpool 3. (Read more here.)

    Lastly, there are a few more rumors making the rounds. Blade may have found its new director in Elegance Bratton, a relatively new director. (Read more here.) Believe it or not (it is a rumor after all), Dr. Doom may not be the main villain of the upcoming Fantastic Four film (read it here), and an official Disney site listed Emilia Clarke’s character in Secret Invasion as Abigail Brand, though the Skrull possibilities are endless. (Read more here.)

    Star Wars

    If a new rumor proves true, Ezra Bridger, the beloved protagonist of Disney XD’s animated Star Wars: Rebels, may receive a solo live-action series after the character’s appearance in the upcoming Disney+ series Ashoka. It is unclear clear if the rumored solo series, led by actor Eman Esfandi will be a direct sequel to Rebels or not. (Read more here.)

    Oscar Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who recently directed a couple of episodes of Ms. Marvel, has been chosen to direct what’s being described as a “secret” Star Wars film based on a script from Damon Lindelof and an as yet unnamed co-writer. Though the film is still in the early stages of development, the report indicates that it has gained steam at Lucasfilm and is among its top priorities on its theatrical slate (Read more here.) The Star Wars film is also apparently set to take place after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and could possibly bring back some of the sequel trilogy’s characters. (Read more here.)

    Last but not least, a teaser trailer for Tales of the Jedi dropped. (Watch it here.)

    DC

    While Black Adam flew through its first full week in theaters with strong box office numbers, DC has a much bigger week in the news than anyone would have predicted. Of course, the Superman cameo in the film was turning heads before it was even released. However, Henry Cavill himself on Monday took to social media to confirm his return as Superman. He posted a video for his fans along with the caption, “A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded. #Superman.” (Read more and check out his full Instagram post here).

    In fact, this week seemed to signal a new era for DC Entertainment on an even bigger scale, as it looks like Warner Bros. has finally found its Kevin Feige(s). In a surprising announcement, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been tapped to lead the DC’s future film, TV, and animation slates. They will act as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, which was recently led by Walter Hamada under the title of DC Films. (Read more here.)

    dc studios

    DC also left bits and pieces of news floating around throughout the week, though perhaps less exciting than the big hitters above. Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s Joker, is reportedly set to start production soon. According to cinematographer Lawrence Sher, the film will begin filming “in five- or six-weeks’ time.” Additionally, the film will “largely be shot in sound stages in Los Angeles, as well as on location in New York, where the project is set.” (Read more here.) On the other hand, The Batman 2 won’t be headed to theaters until 2025 at the earliest. (Read more here.) However, it looks like the film will not be associated with the new DC Studios, and it is unclear if The Batman franchise will be either. (Read more here.) In other words, DC’s universe will still remain, to some extent, in its oddly organized, splintered form we all know and love.

    Speaking of the Wild West of DC, there is more. The Batman universe untitled Arkham Asylum spin-off series is finally moving forward. Variety has shared that the creator of The Staircase, Antonio Campos, has joined the production as its showrunner. (Read more here.) Set photos from the filming of The Flash’s ninth and final season have seemingly confirmed that actress Javicia Leslie—who previously played an original character on Batwoman–will return to The CW as the multiversal villain Red Death, (read more here), and actor Elijah Rashad is set to join Doom Patrol’s fourth season. (Read more here.)

    HBO Max is looking to redevelop its previously announced Green Lantern series. The show, which hailed from producer Greg Berlanti and writer Seth Grahame-Smith, was originally set to star Finn Wittrock (Ratched) and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) as the respective Green Lanterns. Reportedly, the new series will instead turn the focus over to John Stewart, one of DC’s first black superheroes. (Read more here.)

    In Other News

    Some other news worth noting—Henry Cavill is departing The Witcher, with Liam Hemsworth to take on the role. (Read more here.) Andy Serkis apparently will not be back to direct Venom 3 and writer Kelly Marcel will helm the film instead. (Read more here.) Avatar: The Way of the Water might have a whopping 3 hours and 10 minutes run time, and House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condol discussed the season finale and about the direction the series will take in the future. (Read more here.)

  • RUMOR: ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Will Adapt a Major Scarlet Witch Comic Event

    RUMOR: ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Will Adapt a Major Scarlet Witch Comic Event

    Amid word that Paul Bettany is set to return as White Vision, who was last seen in WandaVision, in a Disney Plus streaming series currently being called Vision Quest comes an interesting rumor about another WandaVision spinoff. According to a sensationalist YouTube pundit, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, which is reportedly headed into production this November, may adapt the nine-issue Marvel Comics’ event series Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade.

    On the surface, The Children’s Crusade provides the perfect opportunity to continue the story of Wanda Maximoff in the MCU. Following her multi-year arc as a villain which concluded in House of M, Wanda Maximoff lived powerlessly and without her memories for years. It wasn’t until her son, Billy Maximoff, aka Wiccan, began to lose control of his own immense powers that a search began for her in earnest. While it’s hardly the same sequence of events, Wanda’s heel-turn as the Scarlet Witch over the course of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and her apparent death in the final act of the latter provide the opportunity for a similar story to be told within the shared tapestry of the MCU.

    The possibility of an aged-up Billy appearing as a lead character in Agatha: Coven of Chaos certainly advances the opportunity for the series to, at the very least, tell the story of the search for the Scarlet Witch. Despite the fact that the Scarlet Witch was last seen seemingly trapped inside the collapsing Mount Wundagore, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige has promised that there is “so much more to explore“ with Wanda, adding that they “still haven’t touched on many of her core storylines from the comics.” Given that Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade falls within the recently revealed 10-year page-to-screen rule, it’s very likely that Agatha: Coven of Chaos could serve to adapt what is unarguably a core Wanda storyline to the MCU.

    Interestingly enough, this rumor of a potential adaptation of Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade (and a potential Scarlet Witch solo series follow-up) fall directly in line with word that Murphy’s Multiverse has shared before. Using Agatha: Coven of Chaos as the vehicle for The Children’s Crusade provides the perfect gateway for a solo The Scarlet Witch project to make its way into the MCU before the end of The Multiverse Saga. Of course, not every part of The Children’s Crusade is adaptable to the MCU, but the concept of Wanda suffering from amnesia in the aftermath of her actions and then found in the company of another incredibly powerful sorcerer has been put on a tee for Jac Schaeffer and the creatives behind Agatha: Coven of Chaos. The only question is whether or not Marvel Studios will take the swing.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘WandaVision’ Scribe Joins Writer’s Room of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    ‘WandaVision’ Scribe Joins Writer’s Room of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    According to her Writer’s Guild profile, WandaVision staff writer Megan McDonnell is among the team of writers working on the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos. McDonnell joins fellow WandaVision writers Peter Cameron, Laura Donney and Cameron Squires in the writer’s room with creator and executive Jac Schaeffer, who also worked on WandaVision, overseeing the project.

    According to the WGA, McDonnell is credited with writing Episode 3 of WandaVision, “Now in Color”, and co-writing Episode 4, “We Interrupt This Program”, with Bobak Esfarjani. Neither of those episodes heavily featured Kathryn Hahn’s Agnes/Agatha.

    According to Hahn, production on Agatha: Coven of Chaos should kick off “in about a month.” The series was officially announced by Marvel Studios and is expected to stream on Disney Plus sometime in late 2023 or early 2024. Though little is known about the plot of the series, casting calls may hint at it introducing an aged-up Billy Maximoff and his boyfriend, Hulkling, to the MCU.

    Source: Writer’s Guild via Reddit

  • Daniel Bruhl Teases the Return of Zemo

    Daniel Bruhl Teases the Return of Zemo

    When Marvel Studios introduced the roster of characters set to appear in their 2024 Thunderbolts film, fans were immediately stunned by the absence of Baron Zemo from the team. In the Marvel Comics, the first iteration of characters to take on the mantle of Thunderbolts (like every Marvel Comics team, the roster has changed many times over the years) were led by Zemo under the guise of a hero known as Citizen V. With Zemo nowhere to be found among the members of this MCU-based team, fans began to wonder if Marvel Studios was simply withholding him from the public reveal to serve as a surprise later. After all, following the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, there’s no readily recognizable reason that fans shouldn’t expect Zemo to return to the MCU.

    Actor Daniel Bruhl took his performance as Zemo up a notch in the Disney Plus streaming series and was given much more to do than in his previous turn in the role, making the lack of Zemo even a little more confusing to fans. He danced, he fought, he betrayed, he came back…by the end of the series, it would be hard to argue that Zemo wasn’t among the highlights of it. With fans anxious to have him back in the role and no news about him being attached to any upcoming projects, Radio Times asked Bruhl if he could say whether or not fans might expect him to turn up in Thunderbolts when it hits theaters. Bruhl, unfortunately, didn’t give much away.

    Even if I could… I couldn’t, you know. The only thing I can say, everybody knows – is I’m not dead!

    Daniel Bruhl

    Not only is Zemo not dead, his last scene in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier showed that he was still able to orchestrate large-scale operations from inside his prison cell in The Raft. Zemo, of course, is a man of great patience, so while he may not appear in the Thunderbolts, at least not as a member of the main team, it’s very likely there’s still some use for the character down the road which means fans will have to adopt his patience while they wait. But it does sound like Bruhl expects to revisit the character sometime soon.

    Source: Radio Times

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios Developing a ‘Vision Quest’ Series

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios Developing a ‘Vision Quest’ Series

    As Marvel Studios readies for the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the studio seems to be looking ahead to its future. A new rumor from Jeff Sneider suggests that Marvel Studios is developing a Vision Quest series. He dropped the news while on The Hot Mic with John Rocha. Sneider also revealed that Marvel Studios is set to open a writers’ room for the series beginning next week.

    “I’m told that next week, Marvel will be opening a writers’ room for a Vision show titled ‘Vision Quest’.”

    Sneider

    When asked whether or not the series will follow the comic storyline of the same name, Sneider seemed uncertain. It could simply be another case of Marvel Studios using a title from the comics for a loose adaptation.

    Earlier this year, we explored how Vision Quest could be the perfect follow-up to one of Marvel Studios’ best television shows, WandaVision. That series offered up the perfect jumping off point, following White Vision as he came to accept his true identity. The original comics storyline hailed from John Byrne and introduced a kidnapped and memory-wiped version of the Synthezoid.

    As of now, a head writer/showrunner hasn’t been announced for Vision Quest.

  • Marvel Studios Wanted to Adapt Namor for 18 Years

    Marvel Studios Wanted to Adapt Namor for 18 Years

    Namor is finally making his Marel Cinematic Universe in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the character is known as one of the first ever introduced into the Marvel canon, it still took Marvel Studios some time to finally get the right project together that would introduce the character to the world. As it turns out, Marvel had the character on their list for almost 18 years and was hoping to get the character to live-action even in the days before the current MCU was formed.

    Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige doesn’t go into details during the red carpet event for Wakanda Forever but does highlight that they’ve been trying to find the right idea to bring the character to life. Luckily, it seems that Ryan Coogler already pitched the idea of a war between kingdoms during the first Black Panther film and went on to develop the more culturally distinct take on the character for this sequel.

    Forever it’s been on our list. I remember 18 years ago putting together a list, I think we even commissioned a script 18 years ago. And the timing was never right and the idea was never right. Ryan Coogler on the first movie started pitching wars between kingdoms. And if you actually added a cultural specificity to Namor, and that’s certainly what he has done in this movie. It’s not Atlantis, it’s Talokan.

    Kevin Feige

    It definitely seems like the wait was well worth it, as it both only did it lead to a very distinct take on the character but a powerful performance by Tenoch Huerta going by early reactions. We still have to wait a little longer for the film’s release but it’s definitely going to be quite the experience once it hits theaters on November 11th and who knows what the future has in store for the character moving forward.

    Source: Twitter

  • First Reactions to ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Hit Social Media

    First Reactions to ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Hit Social Media

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to premiere worldwide earlier next month but select members of the press have now been able to experience the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel and are making their thoughts known. With the social media embargo lifted, here are some of the early reactions to, what seems to be, another Ryan Coogler masterpiece:

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuts in theaters November 11th.

  • Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Kevin Feige Teases Marvel Studios ‘Young Avengers’

    Marvel Studios Phase 4 has seen the introduction of Billy and Tommy Maximoff, Elijah Bradley, Kate Bishop and America Chavez. Those characters join Cassie Lang as members of the comic book team knowns as the Young Avengers who are currently making their respective ways through the MCU. With fans now familiar with the members of the core team, it seems just a matter of time before they find themselves assembling and avenging. At last night’s premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige was asked what he could say about the potential future for the Young Avengers.

    I think people pick up what we’re putting down, sometimes, and we take our cues from the comics. And yes, introducing as many characters as we can from the comics is what I’ve spent the last 22 years doing and those are among the many that we’ve introduced.

    Kevin Feige

    It’s no secret that Marvel Studios was looking to develop a Young Avengers project not too long ago. As the Multiverse Saga goes on, it’s not clear if that project will be part of Phase 6, which now looks to begin in 2025 with Fantastic Four, or if their first team-up might take place in another live-action project. But given Feige’s response, it feels like fans should feel good about the chances of seeing them together sooner rather than later.