Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • REPORT: Fox Contracts Delaying the X-Men’s MCU Introduction

    REPORT: Fox Contracts Delaying the X-Men’s MCU Introduction

    In 2019, Disney officially completed its acquisition and merger with 20th Century Fox, one of the biggest such mergers in entertainment history. What many fans focused on, however, was the idea that Marvel Studios gained the live-action rights to many beloved characters from the Marvel universe, such as the X-Men and The Fantastic Four. Three years removed from the excitement, we’ve yet to really see much happen aside from X-Men ’97 being made, Deadpool 3 being green lit and Kamala Khan retconned as the MCU’s first mutant and it seems there may be a reason behind that.

    In a recent podcast at his Patreon, CInema Sangha, journalist Devin Faraci shared some information about the situation behind the scenes with the delayed introduction of the mutants in the MCU.

    Despite the introduction of mutants at the end of Ms. Marvel, there’s no mutants in Phase 5. I know why. I know why there’s no mutants. I know why this is going to take a while. There might be individual mutants, there might be other characters that show a certain interest. The reason why is the contractual situation with the original Fox stuff is going to be in effect until 2025. So, if they don’t want to use those actors, then they have to wait until that contract all expires.

    Devin Faraci

    It seems like fans are gonna have to wait a while to see quite a few of the big names that they’re looking forward to seeing pop up in the MCU. The problem seems to be that some of the talent brought on by Fox have contracts that are still in effect and carried over following the acquisition of 20th Century. These actors cannot be recast until the contract concludes in 2025. This will most likely result in an X-Men likely not coming till 2026 once Phase 7 begins.

    If they’re going to have stuff hitting in 2025 at the end of the contract, then they’ll announce it. But I think they actually can’t go into production until the contract’s up. So it’s not even a release – it’s the same thing with Superman. So they’re going to be Phase 7. So you’re not going to see mutants until Phase 7. There are going to be mutants that will show up after the Multiverse Saga is over.

    Devin Faraci

    The Illuminerdi was able to back up this claim, saying that their own sources reported that Marvel Studios is holding off on the X-Men due to talent and producers still being contractually attached to anything regarding that group of characters. Feige and company obviously would like to move in a different direction with these characters following the films produced by Fox, and would like a fresh slate to revamp many that may have been mischaracterized and underutilized in the Fox era.

    For now, fans will just have to wait for X-Men ’97 to hit Disney+ next year to get their mutant fill.

    SOURCE: Illuminerdi

  • Jamie Alexander Wants Fan Support For Lady Sif Series 

    Jamie Alexander Wants Fan Support For Lady Sif Series 

    Marvel Studios’ Thor franchise refuses to stop growing. When the first installment released in 2011, many assumed it would only spawn a trilogy, but now it’s a decade later and the series is four films deep with no signs of slowing down. At this point, it seems like the adventures of everyone’s favorite Asgardians are destined to spill over into television, the same way many of Marvel’s other cinematic tentpoles have spun off on Disney+ in the last few years. If this does end up being the case, actress Jamie Alexander has a pretty good idea of what she’d like to see happen.

    The former Blindspot star has revealed she’d like Marvel Studios to make a series starring Lady Sif, a fierce warrior and close friend of Thor. Alexander has portrayed Sif in three of four Thor films and has also brought the character to life in guest spots on the shows Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Loki. Now, she’d like fans to help in getting her a show of her own. She pleaded publicly via Variety:

    Listen up, guys — if you want to see a Lady Sif series, start pitching your ideas and we’ll put something together and make it happen. It would be so much fun continuing this.

    Jamie Alexander

    While Sif has been mostly relegated to supporting status in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she has a long history in the original comics that could offer plenty of material for a solo outing. The character has often been linked romantically with Thor but also has a fun past with fan favorite hero Beta Ray Bill. Perhaps a Disney+ series starring Alexander’s Sif could be the best place to introduce Bill to the wider MCU? Only time, and according to Alexander – the fans – will tell.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Toys Reveal Major Changes to Namor’s Origins

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Toys Reveal Major Changes to Namor’s Origins

    On stage at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios finally gave the world its first look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The highly-anticipated sequel had been the subject of rumors for quite some time, but with a trailer now online and the full cast revealed, the film’s biggest secret is out in the open. Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta, and his Atlantean army will serve as the project’s main antagonists, finally bringing Marvel’s first major character to the big screen. The only thing is, Namor and his army might not be Atlantean at all.

    Following the film’s formal unveiling at Hall H, Hasbro began its official marketing push for its release. The company’s website is now accepting pre-orders for all Wakanda Forever-related merchandise, including a Marvel Legends action figure of Namor himself. The description of the Sub-Mariner’s figure describes him not as the King of Atlantis, but as the ruler of a hidden undersea civilization called “Talocan” instead. While this change may seem strange at first, it actually makes a lot more sense with a dive under the surface. Marvel Studios likely wants to differentiate their underwater kingdom from the popular depiction of Atlantis shown in Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman franchise, and they’re doing so by tying it to real-world mythology.

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Namor and his people appear to be connected to Aztec and Mayan culture, and the name “Talocan” is further proof of this. In Aztec legend, Tlālōcān is a mythological realm of paradise ruled by the rain god Tlālōc. Marvel Studios has seemingly designated this hydro-heaven as their version of Atlantis, with Namor and his Royal bloodline possibly filling the Tlālōc role. Interestingly, Talocan does exist in the comics, as the home of the Tēteoh pantheon of gods. With so many recent God-based projects, like Moon Knight and Thor: Love and Thunder, it will be curious to see if Marvel claims Namor and his society as Gods themselves, or if they just really wanted to use the name.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th.

    Source: Screen Rant

  • Marvel Studios Sets Eight New Theatrical Dates for Phases 6 & 7

    Marvel Studios Sets Eight New Theatrical Dates for Phases 6 & 7

    Marvel Studios laid out an impressive road map during their Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, giving fans a comprehensive look at what’s now officially known as the Multiverse Saga. The Multiverse Saga will consist of three phases and is set to wrap up with Avengers: Secret Wars in November of 2025.

    While Marvel Studios One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, gave the beginning and end points of the Saga, he also left plenty of blanks to fill in over the next couple of years including what look to be 3 projects in the Fall and Winter of 2024 and 5 more over the course of 2025. While it wasn’t made entirely clear during the panel, it seems that all 8 of those projects are destined for Disney Plus. With Agatha: Coven of Chaos beginning in 2023 and ending in 2024, Daredevil: Born Again is currently the only D+ series on the slate for 2024. Adding in the other dates would bring the 2024 D+ tally to 4.5, which is in line with what the studio is doing in 2023. Moving to 5 series in 2025 wouldn’t be too much of a leap, at that point.

    Adding to the likelihood that all 8 unannounced projects might head to Disney + was some news that got lost in the excitement: Marvel Studios 2025 and 2026 theatrical dates.

    In addition to dating Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Studios has dated two other untitled Phase 6 films in February and July of 2025.

    • February 14, 2025: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • May 2, 2025: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
    • July 25, 2025: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • November 7, 2025: Avengers: Secret Wars

    And with Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga coming to a conclusion in 2025, the studio has already turned their attention to the beginning of Phase 7 with 4 untitled films set for 2026.

    • February 13, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • May 1, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • July 24, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • November 6, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film

    With the Fantastic Four set to arrive just in time for Avengers: Secret Wars and Marvel Studios yet to reveal any long-term plans for mutants in the MCU, it seems like Phase 7 could belong, at least in part, to the studio’s plans for them.


  • SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases the Role of Post-Credits Scenes in MCU Phases 5 and 6

    SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases the Role of Post-Credits Scenes in MCU Phases 5 and 6

    Marvel Studios did not disappoint fans with its reveals and announcements of upcoming projects at its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con ’22. Not only did president Kevin Feige surprise the audience by revealing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 is nearly over, but he revealed Phases 5 and 6. Perhaps the biggest news of the event was that Phases 4-6, officially named the “Multiverse Saga”, will culminate in two Avengers films in 2025 entitled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Of course, Marvel Studios and Feige are now being bombarded with questions about the MCU’s future, specifically regarding the new information given at SDCC. Feige discussed one of the MCU’s most defining elements with Comicbook.com after the panel. When asked about how Marvel Studios plans to use its projects’ famous post-credits scenes to build up to The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, Feige had this to say:

    The truth is, all of the tags are never just about the future. There are tags that are eating shwarma, Captain America saying you know you gotta learn patience, sometimes, you know, you wait for something that’s not worth it. So they are always fun for us. We don’t want everything to feel the same. So some of the tags will connect and some of them won’t. Some of the films and shows will connect; some of them won’t. I think it’s just as important that we can have standalone introductory stories like Ms. Marvel, like Moon Knight, in addition to things that interconnect and build towards the larger story. A lot of what we’ve been doing has been building to this larger story, obviously with The Kang Dynasty and the Multiverse Saga, and now I think people will, I hope, come along for the ride. Both where it’s you’re on the express train to the finale, also when it’s fun, as many of our Phase 1, 2 and 3 films were.

    Kevin Feige

    Feige is not one to give away any major surprises or specific tidbits about upcoming post-credits scenes, but his quote seems to indicate that the MCU’s post-credits scenes will remain relatively status quo to what fans have seen thus far. With a multiverse focus, though, it would not be surprising if these scenes ultimately become extremely helpful in tying different projects, some standalone, to the overarching storyline of the Multiverse Saga.

    Avengers: Secret Wars is set to end the Multiverse Saga on November 7, 2025.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases Harry Styles’ Marvel Cinematic Universe Future

    SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases Harry Styles’ Marvel Cinematic Universe Future

    Over the course of Phase 4, Marvel Studios has taken to introducing new characters as part of its post credits scenes. One of the characters introduced was none other than Harry Styles‘ Eros at the end of Eternals. While the singer turned actor’s role as Eros was teased for a long time before Eternals hit theaters, his screentime was minimal. So, while talking to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige following the studio’s Hall H presentation, MTV News had to ask if we can expect more of Styles as Eros.

    “Yes, the adventures of Eros and Pip is something that is very exciting for us,” Feige responded. “You’re talking about Ghost Rider, we’ve got Blade, we’ve got Doctor Strange with the supernatural angles. We’ve got the street level with our announcement of Daredevil, and of course, Spidey going into the street-level heroes, and cosmic, and that’s where our friends Eros and Pip live.

    Feige’s comments, of course, don’t specify when and where fans can expect to see Eros. He just states that they do have plans for Styles to return at Eros. With such a packed slate and no mention of the Eternals returning in Phase 5, we’ll have to wait and see what the studio has planned. After all, there are a slew of projects still to be announced for Phase 6.

    Eternals is now streaming on Disney+.

  • SDCC: Kevin Feige Explains How Kang and Thanos Are Different

    SDCC: Kevin Feige Explains How Kang and Thanos Are Different

    Marvel Studios blew the roof off San Diego Comic-Con with some major reveals. Perhaps the biggest piece of news was the confirmation that Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror would be the franchise’s next big bad, with the freshly-dubbed Multiverse Saga culminating in two Avengers films, sub-titled The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, in 2025. Speaking with Comic Book, studio boss Kevin Feige explained why he’s so excited to have Majors terrorize the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a time-hopping warlord for the next few years:

    It comes down to the cast and with Jonathan Majors, who I think took over the Hall H stage, you know, in the three minutes he was up there. It’s amazing, and I said to him there’s nobody’s shoulders I’d rather be putting the multiverse saga on than his. It’s really impressive what Jonathan Majors is able to do and all the different incarnations, variants, if you will, of Kang that we will see him do. It’s really pretty cool.

    Kevin Feige

    Majors made his first MCU appearance as He Who Remains in last year’s Loki, playing a weirdly charming variant of Kang who held the original multiverse together. As referenced by Feige, that character’s death came with a warning that multiple variants, including the Conqeuror, would soon be on their way. Marvel Studios’ President continued to explain how this diversity in performance will set Majors’ Kang apart from the previous MCU big bad – Josh Brolin’s Thanos:

    What I love is that he’s totally different from Thanos. That he is completely different. That it’s not just how about there’s a bigger purple guy with a helmet? That’s not what Kang is. Kang is a very different type of villain and the fact that he is many, many different characters is what’s most exciting and most differentiates him.

    Kevin Feige

    Kang will make his grand debut when Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17, 2023.

    Source: Comic Book

  • SDCC: ‘Armor Wars’ Writer Promises Series Will Still Happen 

    SDCC: ‘Armor Wars’ Writer Promises Series Will Still Happen 

    Marvel Studios brought their very best to yesterday’s Hall H panel, but for some, it still wasn’t enough. Company President Kevin Feige took the stage to reveal the next three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, complete with titles both old and new. Unfortunately, there were some previously announced projects left out of the mix, causing fans to worry that certain releases may never be coming. Armor Wars, a Disney+ series announced way back in 2020, is chief among them.

    The show was initially revealed as part of Disney’s 2020 Investor Day meeting, alongside Secret Invasion and Ironheart. Those other two projects were included in this year’s Comic-Con presentation, but very little has been heard about Armor Wars since it’s conception. One thing that is for sure, however, is that The Carmichael Show’s Yassir Lester will serve as the series’ head writer. Following Marvel’s big panel, Lester seemingly took to his Instagram to reassure fans that Armor Wars would still happen at some point:


    Armor Wars is set to star Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, in an adaptation of the famous 1987-1988 comic arc. Written by Bob Layton, the story concerns Stark rival Justin Hammer stealing Tony’s tech and distributing it to a variety of villains across the world. In the book, Iron Man goes on a rampage to get his tech back, but since the hero died in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, the MCU’s take will instead have War Machine protecting his deceased friend’s legacy. As stated before, there is currently no release window for the project.

    Source: Twitter

  • SDCC: James Gunn on Saying Goodbye to ‘Guardians of The Galaxy’

    SDCC: James Gunn on Saying Goodbye to ‘Guardians of The Galaxy’

    Those in attendance at Hall H were treated to quite the surprise when James Gunn popped up with the cast of Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3, where they debuted the first footage of the upcoming film. Reactions to said footage were reportedly quite emotional, as the footage included a young Rocket Raccoon, the return of Gamora, and the reveal of the High Evolutionary.

    We’ve known for quite some time that Gunn would be wrapping up this iteration of the Guardians of The Galaxy, a team he brought into the spotlight back in 2014, and following the panel, he briefly discussed what it was like saying to conclude their story. Variety caught up with Gunn following Marvel Studios’ big Hall H panel and talked about how hard it was to say goodbye to something he’d been a part of for so long. 

    “I really like sorta blocked myself off to it till the last day and Chris Pratt gave a very emotional speech and I got teary-eyed, he had prepared it, it was really funny. He was reading off all of the people, he went back, and he looked at all the people that said the first movie was gonna be a huge bomb, and all the people that said a bunch of negative stuff about how bad the movie was fail and read all the stuff and went into a bunch of stuff about how much we all love each other.”

    James Gunn

    Gunn continued on to talk about another speech given by a veteran Guardians of The Galaxy cast member, Zoe Saldana.

    “Zoe Saldana gave a speech that just crushed me and like I just lost it, like I really cried, you know? And I’m a big tear guy, not a cry guy, a tear guy. You know, I get the little tears, I’m sitting with my fiance and we’re watching some movie and I get teary-eyed, all the time, real easy with the tears, not easy with the cry, and I cried, it was really beautiful.”

    James Gunn

    Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3 is set to hit theaters on May 5th, 2023.

    SOURCE: Twitter

  • SDCC: ‘Blade’ Officially Starting Production in October

    SDCC: ‘Blade’ Officially Starting Production in October

    We got shockingly little information on Blade at Marvel Studios’ presentation in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. We saw it listed on the Phase 5 slate, where it was officially given a November 3rd, 2023 release date, but any sort of casting announcement was absent from the presentation. The bright side is that we have a confirmed start window for production on the film thanks to a press release from Disney following the panel.

    Disney has confirmed that Blade will indeed begin shooting this fall, officially starting production in October of this year. The film was originally believed to begin filming sometime this summer, but seems to have hit some sort of delay resulting in a fall start date now.

    ““BLADE,” which begins shooting this October and opens in theaters Nov. 3, 2023.”

    Disney

    We can definitely assume that Marvel Studios will feature the film much more come September when the D23 convention rolls around and we have a whole bunch of new announcements from the house of mouse. While little remains known about the film, the cast has begun to grow quite a bit in the past few months, as Marvel Studios prepares to bring the Daywalker into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The cast for Blade includes Academy Award winning actor Mahershala Ali, Delroy Lindo, and Aaron Pierre, with Milan Ray also reportedly joining the cast. Plot details for the film are still currently under wraps along with the roles for Lindo, Pierre, and Ray who have yet to be officially announced by Marvel Studios.

    SOURCE: Disney