Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • The Fourth Host: ‘Eternals’ Proves Divisive in First Wave of Reviews

    The Fourth Host: ‘Eternals’ Proves Divisive in First Wave of Reviews

    Marvel Studios Eternals will open up for Thursday night previews in just 10 days and the first wave of reviews from the New York and Los Angeles press screenings and premiers are now online. You can read our review right here, but it is safe to say that the reviews to Marvel Studios 26th film are as divided as any film since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

    Too Much Talk

    A common criticism of the film is that large portions of it serve as actionless exposition. While that might be expected of a film that attempts to explain the origins of an entire universe, it didn’t land with everyone:

    Peri Nemiroff (YouTube): “The weight of complicated exposition weakens the energy of Eternals a little too often.“

    Rodrigo Perez (Inverse): “Eternals is a chore to explain too, and even comes with an opening “Star Wars”-like crawl—it is by far the Marvel movie with the most mumbo jumbo backstory explaining the setup of things.“

    Different is Good

    Some critics believed that director Chloe Zhao accomplished something truly unlike anything the MCU put to screen before:

    Don Kaye (Den of Geek): “… Marvel Studios’ Eternals doesn’t feel much like the “typical” Marvel movie, whatever that may be.“

    Robert Abele (The Wrap): “But what makes “Eternals” feel special is that, for once, the director genuinely cares as much about the character within that spectacle, as the spectacle itself.“

    Different is Bad

    Other critics believe that Eternals fell short, in part, by moving away from the Marvel formula.

    Steve Rose (The Guardian): “It’s not exactly boring – there’s always something new to behold – but nor it is particularly exciting, and it lacks the breezy wit of Marvel’s best movies.“

    David Ehrlich (Polygon): “By making such an unadventurous movie about how crisis breeds creativity, Marvel effectively illustrates why even the most independent-minded of filmmakers are powerless to evolve an apex predator franchise that doesn’t have any Darwinian impetus to adapt.“

    Reading through a dozen or so reviews, you’ll see some critics praise the use of locations over CGI backdrops and see others cite it as a fault; you’ll see some praise the plot, while others say it’s too dense and complicated. On the whole, the reviews are just as divided on Eternals as the team of Eternals within the movie have become over 7,000 years. As always, the best way to determine how you feel about a film is to see it yourself.

  • Tom Holland Hints at a Mystery Character in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Tom Holland Hints at a Mystery Character in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Empire Magazine’s coverage of Spider-Man: No Way Home has been full of interesting quotes but none to date are going to cause as much of a conversation as this one. While discussing his time on the Spider threequel, Tom Holland described “one of the coolest scenes” he’s ever shot and noted that he shared the scene with Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau and an unnamed actor.

    The scene, as described by Holland, includes his Peter Parker sitting at a table with his Aunt May, Happy Hogan and the unrevealed character discussing what it’s like to be a superhero. Given Holland’s hesitancy to reveal anymore info about the scene, it’s pretty clear he’s not talking about Doctor Strange, meaning Holland is confirming that there are some “surprises” still in store for the audience.

    For close to a year now, the worst kept secret in Hollywood has been that the film would see characters from the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield Spider-films enter the MCU, including those versions of Peter/Spidey. The first trailer showed us Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock and hinted at Willem Dafoe’s Goblin and Emprire’s coverage has mentioned the multiversal nature of the new film, so it’s easy to imagine the scene Holland described being one in which an older Parker (Maguire or Garfield) sits down to discuss the superhero business. Such a conversation would be a fantastic time to have a philosophical discussion about the interpretation of the Uncle Ben’s advice and provide an opportunity for one of the other Spideys to shine.

    With a new trailer expected sometime soon, maybe we’ll get answers to some of these questions…then again, maybe Sony will just keep us guessing until Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17th.

    Source: Empire Magazine

  • First Look at a New, Out-of-this-World Logo for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    First Look at a New, Out-of-this-World Logo for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    Production on Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has been ongoing for several months now and very little has been revealed from the set…until now. Last night, we got our first look at an all-new, all-different logo for the film. As you can see below, the new logo includes some very stylized, alien-like text for the subtitle.

    We know that a Variant of Jonathan Majors He Who Remains will be in the film, so the text could be a reference to his 31st century origins; on the other hand, we also have plenty of reason to believe a portion of the film will take place in the Quantum Realm, a dimension that’s to date only been explored by Janet van Dyne, so it’s possible that the text could be a reference to some of its residents. Of course, it’s also entirely possible that it was just a pretty cool looking logo. Regardless, we might have to wait quite some time before we find out as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania isn’t set to hit theaters until July 28, 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • The Pulse: Collecting the Biggest News of the Week of October 17th-23rd

    The Pulse: Collecting the Biggest News of the Week of October 17th-23rd

    ‘Y: The Last Man’ gets canceled but might find a new home

    y last man fx

    FX’s Y: The Last Man, the adaptation of the iconic comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra got canceled before its first season came to an end. Showrunner Eliza Clark announced it through her Twitter account, all while maintaining hope that this wouldn’t be the end of it. Just a couple of days later a rumor emerged that the show might find its next home at HBO Max, something that, in a way, would bring the show back under the Warner Bros. umbrella, as the source material was published through DC’s Vertigo imprint.

    Marvel Studios reshuffles upcoming theatrical release dates

    Marvel Studios, hopefully for the final time, decided to push back a few of its upcoming theatrical releases. Every movie starting with Thor: Love and Thunder was moved forward by a few months, with a couple of the previously announced 2023 dates removed altogether from the schedule. Kevin Feige referred to these changes as being due to “production shifts and changes” and since Marvel has several slots at their disposal it’s something that can easily be decided upon.

    Harry Styles joins the MCU

    Variety senior writer Matt Donnelly confirmed that Harry Styles had joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe on a viral tweet posted the night of the Eternals World Premiere. Styles is said to be playing Eros, the brother of the Mad Titan Thanos on a post-credit scene in the upcoming MCU feature. It came as a surprise to most that someone working for a major trade could so carelessly spoil such an important introduction, depriving fans of the surprise they would surely get at the end of their first Eternals viewing.

    Thanagarians to appear in new CW series ‘Naomi’

    Naomi seems to be adapting the Raanian / Thanagar War plotline from the comics. A recent clip from Naomi has made its way onto the internet giving us our very first look at Alexander Wraith as Dee, the mysterious mechanic in town who Naomi believes is holding a secret the could solve the mystery of her origin. Dee is a Thanagarian war deserter, who planned to run from the conflict with his wife who didn’t make it to earth. Naomi’s adoptive father is the one who came to earth in search of Dee but ended up falling in love and staying on Earth.

    Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ continues its meteoric rise

    After just four weeks in release, Netflix’s Korean drama Squid Game pulled in a stunning 142 million views by member households globally. The numbers were released by Netflix on Tuesday as part of its third-quarter earnings report in a letter to its investors. “A mind-boggling 142m member households globally have chosen to watch the title in its first four weeks. The breadth of Squid Game’s popularity is truly amazing,” the letter read.

    ‘World War Hulk” project in development at Marvel Studos

    It’s been thoroughly reported that Mark Ruffalo has, over the years, often pitched Hulk solo storylines to Marvel Studios’ president Kevin Feige. Even though World War Hulk probably won’t turn out to be a Hulk solo outing, you can’t get more Hulk-centric than this. Fans rejoiced at the prospect of bringing the iconic comic storyline to the big screen where the MCU will have to deal with the implications of such a world-altering event.

    Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ might get its expected sequel

    dune sequel

    Dune: Part One is already being described and one of the biggest cinematic achievements of the past decade. Many have left theaters clamoring for the studio to deliver the sequel, as the future of the franchise seems brighter than ever before. Following the massive positive reaction to part one of director Denis Villeneuve‘s passion project, WarnerMedia Studios CEO seemingly confirmed that plans for a ‘Dune’ sequel are already being put into place.

    Anakin Skywalker returns. Again.

    ahsoka darth vader

    After confirmation that Hayden Christensen would return to the Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader role in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, a trade report announced that he would also make an appearance in the upcoming The Mandalorian spin-off, Ahsoka. Star Wars continues to move forward while leaning on a number of characters from its past, from Anakin to Kenobi and Boba Fett.

  • Upcoming Marvel Studios Animation Projects to Explore 2D Art Styles

    Upcoming Marvel Studios Animation Projects to Explore 2D Art Styles

    Ever since we’ve heard that Marvel Studios might expand its animation department, it opened up the floodgates of how they might tackle future projects. What If…? was our gateway into that very mission with its 3D style that brought iconic actors from previous projects to life. Of course, as they expand it opened up the question of how Marvel Studios may approach future animation projects. Would they stick to the one established in the Disney+ series, or might they take a unique take with each project? Well, a new job listing might give us a better hint at an upcoming project.

    What If...? | Disney+ Originals

    Disney and Marvel Studios are actively seeking a 2D/3D FX Designer. What makes this listing interesting is that there’s a strong emphasis on 2D FX work throughout, such as asking to showcase hand-drawn 2D FX abilities, general design work, and general familiarity with 2D animation principles as well as high-end anime 2DFX style. It’s great to see that Marvel Studios isn’t being restrictive to a specific type of animation. It’s one of the advantages of this new venture, as every artist can add their own distinctive style. So far, the only other animation style we heard of was for the upcoming I Am Groot Disney+ series, which supposedly is going for a photo-real 3D style.

    Of course, the implication of familiarity with anime animation is noteworthy but doesn’t mean we’ll get a One Piece or Naruto-styled series. Series like the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles utilized specific animation queues popularized in Japan to bring its action to life. It’s also generally become a trend to make use of its stylized approach to animation in the West. Some classic examples would be Teen Titans, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Samurai Jack, and even Marvel’s own Ultimate Spider-Man. So, it’s not uncommon for the popular genre to be part of 2D artists portfolio in the West nowadays.

    The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Season 2 Ep. 8 - Clip 1 - YouTube

    This isn’t comparable to Star Wars: Visions, which included actual Japanese anime studios to develop its episodes. Yet, there’s always a chance that kind of cooperation is in the cards eventually for other Disney projects. They most likely simply are trying to find talented artists in the industry that have intimate knowledge of the different genres of 2D animation that are currently popular.

    Source: Disney Careers

  • Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Penny Dreadful Alum Sir Simon Russell Beale Joins ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    According to a playbill for his new gig, The Lehman Triology, British stage actor and Penny Dreadful alum Sir Simon Russell Beale has joined the MCU and will be making an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder.

    https://imgur.com/gallery/2uMrQOM

    Beale has portrayed Shakespearian icons such as Malvolio, Hamlet, Iago and King Lear during his nearly 30 year career that has stretched from stage to big screen. He also memorably portrayed Egyptologist Ferdinand Lyle over 3 seasons of Penny Dreadful.

    It’s not known what role Beale has taken on in Thor: Love and Thunder, but given his pedigree and the rumors that gods and goddesses from other pantheons may appear, it’s not too far fetched to think he might be portraying one of them.

    Thor: Love and Thunder will be in theaters on July 8th, 2022.

  • New ‘Hawkeye’ TV Spot Provides a First Look at The Clown

    New ‘Hawkeye’ TV Spot Provides a First Look at The Clown

    Marvel Studios Hawkeye will be streaming on Disney Plus in just over a month and while we’ve seen a trailer and some other spots, there are still some pretty secrets yet to be revealed, including the faces of the big bads the Hawkeyes will go up against in the series. Sure, we’ve seen the Tracksuits, but they’re mostly there to beat up and provide comic relief; however, a new TV spot has given us our first look at one of the projects real threats alongside a surprising partner.

    The spot reveals the first look at Fra Fee‘s Kazimierz Kazimierczak, aka the Clown, alongside Alqua Cox‘s Maya Lopez. While teasers and footage can be edited to trick fans, it seems clear Lopez and Kazi are working together and, when the series streams beginning November 24th, it’ll be interesting to see exactly who the duo are working for since they both have comic book ties to Wilson Fisk, who is heavily (get it) rumored to appear in the series.

    Fee doesn’t look too clown like in the new footage, nor does Lopez look very Echo-y, but they both look to be out to cause someone some harm. We know Echo is likely to come around and join the good guys before moving on to her own series, but it seems far less likely The Clown will have a similar transformation.

    The first two episodes of Hawkeye will stream on Disney Plus on November 24th.

  • Brian Tyree Henry Comments On Race And Body Image Informing His Role in ‘ETERNALS’

    Brian Tyree Henry Comments On Race And Body Image Informing His Role in ‘ETERNALS’

    Marvel Studios’ Eternals features a sprawling and diverse cast, with people of multiple ethnicities and backgrounds working both in front of and behind the camera. During a global press conference earlier today, actor Brian Tyree Henry was asked about his knowledge-driven character’s relationship with Earth’s population and what may have had an effect on Phastos’ view of humanity. His intricate response discussed the role race most likely played in Phastos’ view of the world:

    The thing that really attracted me to this part was that I just think about all the images of Black men out there and how we are portrayed. And what I loved the most about Phastos is that, one, he’s an ancestor. All of us are ancestors technically, so Phastos predates everything and had to probably go through all these things which could actually make someone lose faith in humanity very quickly.

    He continues:

    I remember when I was coming to this project that I, Brian, had kind of lost faith in humanity…what the images of black men were and how we were being portrayed and how the power was taken from us. The lack of power, and what I love the most about Phastos is that through all of that, him being Eternal, him never being able to die, he still chose love. He still decided to have a family even though he may have to watch them perish. He still tried to find a way to bring heart and love to everything he did… It just really resonated with me, it really resonated a lot with how I felt my place in society was. Y’know, we can be kings and queens and at the same time they’ll take our pedestal and take our superpowers from us like that. What I love about Eternals is that Chloe and Nate really just re-instilled that power back in me again.

    Henry finished his comments by explaining how much he appreciated not being required to change his body image for the role, something many actors and actresses have had to do in the past:

    I remember the first time they were like “So we want you to be a superhero”, I was like “Well, how much weight do I have to lose?” and Chloe was like “What are you talking about? We want you exactly as you are.” And to be a black man and have someone look at you and say “We want you exactly as you are” is unlike anything I have ever felt.

    Marvel’s Eternals releases in cinemas soon, on November 5, 2021.

  • Richard Madden Calls Ikaris A “Soldier Driven By Love” In Marvel’s ‘ETERNALS’

    Richard Madden Calls Ikaris A “Soldier Driven By Love” In Marvel’s ‘ETERNALS’

    Marvel Studios’ Eternals is set to release to the public in cinemas on November 5, but the press train has already begun to chug down the tracks. In a global press conference earlier today, actor Richard Madden spoke about the internal conflict of his character, Ikaris, as it’s portrayed throughout the film. It’s been known for some time that Eternals would be heavily influenced by the love story between Madden’s hero and Gemma Chan‘s Sersi, and now the leading man has commented directly on how it’s made the experience playing Ikaris different from his previous roles:

    I really loved it. I’m kind of used to playing lovers often, and to play someone who’s such a soldier but is completely driven by love. All his decisions are driven by love and it’s actually him that’s wrestling with that. I’m used to characters who are very focused on their love and that comes out, and with Ikaris it’s the opposite of that. He’s kind of trying to bury that love because it gets in the way of his duty and he’s constantly wrestling the two.

    The former Game of Thrones star continued with an explanation of how this direction for the character made an impact on his portrayal of the role:

    And that’s kind of what made it really interesting for me to pull out that relationship with all the characters, from Sprite to Sersi, and kind of work out what this relationship is when you’re trying to stick to duty but feelings get in the way.

    These quotes go a long way in hinting at the idea that Eternals could be an overwhelmingly human experience, despite focusing mainly on gods and monsters. The film releases shortly, so we won’t have long to find out.

  • Report: Harry Styles Joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Report: Harry Styles Joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Rumors about British star Harry Styles joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe have circulated for months and now, according to Variety senior writer Matt Donnelly, those rumors are true as Styles portrays Eros, the brother of Thanos, in Eternals.

    Eros first appeared alongside Thanos in 1973’s Iron Man #55. When things on Titan began to fall apart, the carefree Eros left the planet in search of more hedonistic pursuits. After travelling the cosmos, sometimes in the company of Pip the Troll, Eros traveled to Earth and eventually became an Avenger where he took on the name of Starfox.

    Starfox’s power set and comic book backstory will certainly be in need of an update as he make the jump to the big screen, but Styles is certainly just the right kind of handsome for the character whose appearance has always provided a stark contrast to his brother’s Deviant countenance. Styles is reported to appear in the post-credit scene of Eternals, but the nature of his appearance and what it might mean for future appearances aren’t news stories, but rather major spoilers best saved for when you see the film.

    Eternals hits theaters November 5th!