Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • ‘What If’: Tom Holland’s Absence in Cast List May Confirm Spider-Man’s Leaked Identity in Disney+ Series

    ‘What If’: Tom Holland’s Absence in Cast List May Confirm Spider-Man’s Leaked Identity in Disney+ Series

    The official cast list for Marvel Studios animated series What If finally got revealed. It includes a long list of iconic MCU actors that are returning to the franchise to lend their voice to this new venture. Yet, there are some notable absences. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Brie Larson, and Scarlett Johansson are noticeably absent from the list. We’ve known that Tony Stark will get a new voice actor through the first trailer, but there never was a statement regarding why they didn’t join the production. Yet, there’s another absent actor in the list, whose character we know makes a return to the series, Tom Holland. Toy leaks confirmed a version known as Zombie Hunter Spidey. Yet, a leak hinted that it isn’t Peter Parker in the iconic role.

    There was a toy leak that first confirmed Spidey’s appearance in the series. Yet, it wasn’t Parker, but rather mentioned that Steve Rogers took over the role at some point. There’s a chance he took on the mantle after something happened to Peter during the zombie outbreak. He’s also wielding the iconic cape of Doctor Strange, which means the survivors of the outbreak are using all the weapons they have at their disposal. Yet, we know there’s a Zombie Captain America in the series, which opens up a lot of questions about how this zombie outbreak affects the multiverse.

     

    Das sind angeblich die 6 (!) Gegner von Spider-Man in seinem neuen MCU-Abenteuer - Kino News - FILMSTARTS.de

     

    It might connect to the issue regarding Sony’s rights to that specific version of the character. If you look closely, the costume provided in the animated series is different from the films, as the redesign is closer to the ones we see in Disney’s theme park. It’s the one used in the Worldwide Engineering Brigade attraction. So, it seems likely they had to fall back on this version of the character due to the rights.  The animated rights to the character returned to Disney and were the reason why Spectacular Spider-Man got canceled back in the day.

    So, they might’ve taken this unorthodox direction to include him in the series without requiring Sony’s input. Of course, it could also be a similar case to the absence of other actors. There’s a chance he simply couldn’t return to the role, but they still included a version of Peter Parker that becomes a zombie hunter. The leak teasing Captain America taking on the role could be from another storyline if it turns out true. The Zombie version of Steve Rogers would put a dent in this leak but with a series exploring the multiverse, anything is possible.

    Source: Polygon, Comic Book

  • Marvel Studios ‘What If’ Cast List Confirms Clark Gregg’s Return as Agent Coulson

    Marvel Studios ‘What If’ Cast List Confirms Clark Gregg’s Return as Agent Coulson

    Marvel Studios’ upcoming Disney+ series will explore the alternative realities of stories we’ve followed throughout the last few years. We’ve learned that quite a few iconic actors will reprise their iconic roles from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Surprisingly, there are some receptions as Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Black Widow, and Captain Marvel will get new voice actors as confirmed in the latest trailer. Yet, there are some great minor characters finally making their return to the franchise, such as the official cast list confirming Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson returning to the franchise. Here’s the complete cast list for the series as provided by Comic Book:

    Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Benicio Del Toro, Bradley Whitford, Carrie Coon, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Sullivan, Clancy Brown, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Danai Gurira, David Dastmalchian, Djimon Hounsou, Dominic Cooper, Don Cheadle, Emily VanCamp, Evangeline Lilly, Frank Grillo, Georges St-Pierre, Hayley Atwell, Jaimie Alexander, Jeff Goldblum, Jeremy Renner, John Kani, Jon Favreau, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Kat Dennings, Kurt Russell, Leslie Bibb, Mark Ruffalo, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Douglas, Michael Rooker, Natalie Portman, Neal McDonough, Ophelia Lovibond, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Rachel House, Rachel McAdams, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Gunn, Sebastian Stan, Seth Green, Stanley Tucci, Taika Waititi, Tilda Swinton, Toby Jones, Tom Hiddleston, and Tom Vaughan-Lawlor.

    It’s crazy to think how many actors returned to lend their voices to the animated series. Yet, some major actors did not return. If they continue the series with multiple seasons, it’ll be curious to see if they can keep this sizeable voice cast. Gregg’s return is a great one, as it also adds to the show, potentially connecting the franchise with the events of Agents of SHIELD, whose canonicity is always an open question. He’ll likely appear in the episode that is based on Fury’s Big Week, the first adaptation of the prelude comic.

    Source: Comic Book, Variety

  • ‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors

    ‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors

    Besides a few hints and plenty of rumors, we know very little about Doctor Strange’s travel through the multiverse. The aptly titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will build upon the events of Loki and will follow after Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, the multiverse opens up the franchise to what seems like endless possibilities. We know that Wanda Maximoff will return after the events of WandaVision, as she searches for her children throughout the multiverse. America Chavez will also make her MCU debut with the upcoming film. Yet, there are countless more rumors  So, let’s take a closer look at the multitude of cameos and appearances rumored for the sequel.

     

    WandaVision“: Das Ende von Folge 9 erklärt – Das steckt hinter den Post- Credit-Szenen · KINO.de

     

    Let’s start with those that might have larger roles in the film. A recent Funko Pop leak teases the addition of different Variants of Strange and Wong. There will be Supreme and Defenders versions, which may or may not be allies in their multiversal travels. It also included the naming of Rintrah, who Adam Hugill is reported to be playing. The iconic comic character will also get a Funko alongside the Variants, which may hint at them having a somewhat larger role in the story.

    The only hint at an overarching villain we got was the hint at the appearance of the multiversal being, Shuma-Gorath. The upcoming What If series may have hinted at his inclusion, and he seems like the perfect choice for this type of storyline. He’ll likely connect to the appearance of America Chavez, whose abilities may become the catalyst for the overarching narrative in the film. Now that we got the bigger roles out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the various teased or rumored cameos for the upcoming film:

     

    Doctor Strange 2: Does Shuma-Gorath Work For Mephisto? | CelebJar

     

     

    Bruce Campbell in 'Doctor Strange'-Sequel dabei?

     

     

    There are quite a few rumors and who knows what else might appear online in the coming months, ahead of its release. At one point, Mads Mikkelsen was rumored to make a grand return before it swiftly got debunked. It was a given that the moment Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange jumped into the multiverse that almost any possible appearance has become a possibility. So, if the rumors surrounding Spider-Man: No way Home turns out true, who knows if they may also connect with Strange’s upcoming adventure with his appearance confirmed. So, we’ll see if this list ends up growing as time goes on.

  • Report Hints at Internal Strife Between Kevin Feige and Disney Over ‘Black Widow’s Release

    Report Hints at Internal Strife Between Kevin Feige and Disney Over ‘Black Widow’s Release

    It looks like the Black Widow drama might leave its scars internally. There have been various hints that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was a strong contender for Disney to wait out the pandemic for a pure theatrical release. Yet, Disney moved forward with pulling it on their streaming platform. This decision has now recently led the film’s lead, Scarlett Johansson, to file a lawsuit against the company. Disney’s backlash by calling out her actions may have stirred up some discomfort within the company. Hollywood Reporter’s Matthew Belloni shared a “What I’m Hearing” newsletter that hints at Feige being unhappy with the overall release and seemed to have predicted the potential lawsuit.

    [Feige is] a company man, and not prone to corporate showdowns or shouting matches. But I’m told he’s angry and embarrassed He lobbied Disney against the day-and-date plan for Black Widow, preferring the big screen exclusivity and not wanting to upset his talent. And then when the sh-t hit the fan, the movie started tanking, and Johansson’s team threatened litigation, he wanted Disney to make this right with her.

    This report matches what has been talked about for some time and opens up the question about Disney and Marvel Studios’ relationship moving forward. It also doesn’t bode well for Disney CEO Bob Chapek‘s current run as the new head of the company, after only recently taking over from Bob Iger. The hope of utilizing the streaming service within the pandemic made sense, but it seems they simply moved forward without consulting internally.

    Of course, it’s not an easy decision to make, but this move could leave some scars between the house of mouse and its subsidiary. It also reveals the limitations of what Feige can decide and with backlash after backlash, Jungle Cruise may lead to similar events. It’s Disney’s hands to do the right thing, but their first legal and public action left a sour taste. So, we’ll keep an eye out on how this develops.

    Source: What I’m Hearing Newsletter via Comic Book

  • What ‘Black Widow’s Third Act Could’ve Learned from Marvel Studios’ Phase 1

    What ‘Black Widow’s Third Act Could’ve Learned from Marvel Studios’ Phase 1

    Marvel Studios has come a long way from where it started. In 2008, they introduced the world to Iron Man and slowly started expanding into the entertainment behemoth they are today. Even among Disney’s many star IPs, Kevin Feige‘s work has reestablished what it means to be a comic book fan. Even to this day, they still try to test out new genres to reinvent their approach to films. Disney+ has become a new playground, with WandaVision and Loki offering very distinct storytelling among the many heroic tales.

    Yet, the recent release of Black Widow has also showcased that it’s hard to avoid your own trappings. After a visceral and grounded first two-thirds, the grand finale falls back into some bombastic and over-the-top action sequences. In a way, in the studios’ early days, they didn’t have the budget for it. So, they were able to keep the main battle focused on the protagonist and antagonist.

     

    Scarlett Johansson: Black Widow Star verklagt Disney

     

    Even if Marvel Studios’ first phase was a bit simpler. Iron Man’s final battle was a simple confrontation between Tony and his former mentor. Yes, they were in mechanical suits, but the backdrop didn’t take away from the confrontation. Even the first Thor film ended on a magical rainbow bridge in space, but it was a battle of hesitance. If the God of Thunder had a choice, he wouldn’t even be fighting his brother.

    We technically get a similar emotional core with Romanoff’s confrontation against Taskmaster. Her regret pushes her to free her and leads up to the final confrontation on the ground.  The collapse of the Red Room, which fits right in with other James Bond inspirations in the film, makes for a fantastic backdrop. Yet, the final battle doesn’t happen until they safely land.

     

    Neues Bild beweist: Darum ist der neue Marvel-Bösewicht Taskmaster so gefährlich · KINO.de

     

    It felt like a waste of having the confrontation be on the floating fortress. It would’ve added a sense of urgency as they lose footing. In a way, it would even be the way to give Natasha an advantage against the soldier capable of copying everything she does. It would’ve allowed for a more creative fight sequence. Taskmaster can copy all her abilities, but might not take the environment into account. So, like the Arc Reactor in the first Iron Man and Thor‘s rainbow bridge, the backdrop adds urgency and becomes an integral part of the core fight sequence and character’s arc.

    The Red Room falling apart is a physical visual of Natasha finally breaking free from the past, but it doesn’t feel quite fully realized. Integrating the fight into its fall would add more suspense to her decision. Once they were safely on the ground, the result of their fight felt simple. We’re not as connected with the moment like we were when Thor tried to save his brother. There’s no real sacrifice for Natasha, and neither is it a difficult decision to make. We have stakes, but they feel disconnected from the rest.

     

    Black Widow-Stars teilen Details zur Produktion des Films - Warnung: Spoiler sind jetzt in Sicht

     

    It’s something Marvel Studios’ first phase did quite well and is hopefully something they return to with future installments. They’ve learned a lot over the years, and after their massive release of Avengers: Endgame, it seems like the perfect time to take a step back. We’re about to meet a whole new world, and the Disney+ ventures are already exploring these smaller, more personal stories. Here’s hoping the films don’t forget that is what drew us to this universe in the first place.

  • Disney Fights Back Against Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit

    Disney Fights Back Against Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Black Widow’ Lawsuit

    It’s not every day we get to discuss legal actions on this site. In a sudden move, Scarlett Johansson sued Disney for breaching her contract on Black Widow being a theater-only release. The claim is that this would keep her from gaining the benefits written within her contracts. The film was released in theaters, but also on Disney+ Premier Access. We don’t know if she originally was set to receive a specific type of percentage from the Box Office income, which has been hampered by the digital release.

    It looks like Disney wasn’t going to sit there and take it, as they already gave a public statement in regard to this legal action. It confirms that her bonuses were tied into its Box Office earnings. They offered a public statement regarding their contractual obligations and that she received $20M for her work with additional compensation on top of the digital release. Disney’s statement is as follows:

    There is no merit whatsoever to this filing.  The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Of course, we have no further details on the matter. To some degree, it seems like a public display rather than an actual lawsuit. We’ve seen open discourse regarding contracts and combined releases. HBO Max and Warner Bros. are no strangers to this discussion. The bigger question is if this will end the working relationship between Disney and Johansson for future projects. It seems very unlikely we might see her return in any capacity if they burn bridges with this lawsuit. Here’s hoping they come to a consensus, and it doesn’t put the final nail in the coffin on Natasha Romanoff’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Source: Variety, Variety (Disney)

  • ‘Hawkeye’: Jeremy Renner Teases Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop’s Motivation in the Disney+ Show

    ‘Hawkeye’: Jeremy Renner Teases Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop’s Motivation in the Disney+ Show

    After a long wait, we finally got the official release date for Marvel Studios Hawkeye series. It’ll take inspiration from the famous My Life as a Weapon run by Matt Fraction. In addition, it’ll see the return of Black Widow‘s Yelena Belova. We still know very little about the story, but luckily Entertainment Weekly got a chance to talk to Jeremy Renner. He offered some insight into Clint Barton’s new protégé, Kate Bishop.

    She will be played by Hailee Steinfeld and bring new energy to the retired archer’s life after the Avengers. He offered some insight and confirmed she will retain her Hawkeye fandom from the comics when they first meet.

    [Kate is] a 22-year-old kid and she’s a big Hawkeye fan. She has a wonderfully annoying and equally charming manner about her, because she’s such a fangirl of Hawkeye. The relationship grows from that, but the biggest problem for Clint is Kate Bishop and the onslaught of problems that she brings into his life.

    He also shared that he took Steinfeld under his wing to introduce her to the world of working in the Marvel Cinematic universe. It also seems to hint that her entering Clint’s life is what drags him out of his never-beginning retirement. We’ll find out what trouble is haunting her when it releases on November 24th on Disney+. With the official announcement, there’s a good chance we’ll get a trailer shortly after What If‘s August premier.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘Hawkeye’: First Look at Disney+ Series Released as Marvel Studios’ Confirms November Premiere

    ‘Hawkeye’: First Look at Disney+ Series Released as Marvel Studios’ Confirms November Premiere

    Marvel’s mighty marketing machine is finally revving up its engines for Hawkeye. Entertainment Weekly has released the first official image of Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner as Kate Bishop and Clint Barton in the upcoming Disney Plus series. The image doesn’t reveal much in the way of the plot for the Disney+ show, but it does give us a look at what appears to be some sort of Hawkeye hideout or training ground.

    Clint Barton is wearing the same outfit that Murphy’s Multiverse exclusively captured in the series’ first leaked set video, which would indicate the room is located in New York City and belongs to Bishop herself. The tweet by Marvel Studios with the image also confirms a November release date on the 24th.

    Marvel’s Hawkeye is set to draw heavily from Matt Fraction’s iconic 2012 run on the character. Not only will we see Barton form a mentorship with Bishop, but villains like Fra Fee’s Clown and the rumored Madame Masque will help bring the series to life as well. Other cast members confirmed to appear are Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Tony Dalton as the Swordsman, Vera Farmiga as Bishop’s mother, and Alaqua Cox as the deaf assassin Echo.

    Also, soon-to-be-superstar Jolt will appear as the fan-favorite Lucky the Pizza Dog. The series will be helmed by Rhys Thomas and the directing duo of Bert & Bertie. The script comes from Jonathan Igla, filling the controversial “head writer” position Marvel has embraces as opposed to the traditional showrunner.

    Source: Twitter

     

  • 7 Anime Studios Perfect for a ‘Marvel Studios: Visions’ Collaboration

    7 Anime Studios Perfect for a ‘Marvel Studios: Visions’ Collaboration

    As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, Marvel Studios is exploring new ways to tell their stories. One of their focuses for the future appears to be towards animation. What If…? is only the beginning of what Marvel Studios has planned for the MCU’s future. It got confirmed by Variety in an interview with Victoria Alonso. Now, while what the future holds remains to be seen, we wanted to explore what could potentially be one of the ideas that Marvel Studios could be looking at as we speak.

    Anime is currently one of the most dominant corners of pop-culture media in the world. Having an anthology series of short films similar to Star Wars: Visions, with multiple anime studios tackling Marvel characters, could provide a new take on characters we all know and love. So with that in mind, here are seven studios and characters we would love to see for a potential Marvel Studios: Visions anthology series.

     

    1. Studio Bones – Avengers

     

    Kicking off the list, we have Bones, the studio responsible for hit series such as My Hero Academia, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and Mob Psycho 100. Bones’ seems to love exploring large-scale fights with multiple characters. Yet, they also manage to focus on character interactions that best fit the overall story. So having a shot anthology film of the Avengers facing off against a common threat could potentially be an absolutely interesting concept for a studio like Bones to tackle.

     

    2. Studio Sunrise – Guardians of the Galaxy

     

    With projects such as Code Geass and Cowboy Bebop, Sunriseseems like a perfect fit to tackle a Guardians of the Galaxy story for this anthology series. Imagine a new take on the Guardians with the jazz-infused stylings of Cowboy Bebop. The art style of that particular show also could be applied to this Guardians story for a more retro feel for these versions of the characters.

     

    3. Studio Trigger – Captain Marvel

     

    The aesthetic and style behind the studio Trigger is one that is uniquely colorful and pleasing. This reason alone is why Captain Marvel could potentially be a good fit for a story animated by this studio. With shows like Promare, BNA, and Kill La Kill under their belt, a one-shot story with the space adventures and cosmic abilities of Carol Danvers could easily translate well into the art style of this studio.

     

    4. Ufotable – Black Panther

     

    Ufotable has provided anime fans with one of the most incredible and popular anime adaptations in recent history: Demon Slayer. The way they animate action and motion with a perfect blend of colors put them on the map. With that in mind, I believe that a story with Black Panther could perhaps be an incredible combination for this series. A story set within the boundaries of Wakanda and their culture applied to the artistic styles of Ufotable could bring forth some of the most imaginative and unique visuals with some incredible hand-to-hand combat.

     

    5. Madhouse – Ant-Man and The Wasp

     

    Perhaps you’d recognize Madhouse for their work in multiple series such as Overlord, One Punch Man, Death Note, and Hunter X Hunter. But, perhaps, one of the most curious things relating the studio to this pitch is that Madhouse is one of the studios that has already adapted Marvel as an anime before, including characters such as Wolverine, X-Men, Iron Man, and Future Avengers. Rather than have them rework one of these concepts, however, it would certainly be interesting to see Madhouse develop a story with Ant-Man and The Wasp told in the anime format, as their micro-scale dimensions could hit big in this world.

     

    6. Mappa – Doctor Strange

     

    If you’re a big fan of Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, then you’d know why MAPPA is an excellent studio to tackle the magical antics of the Sorceror Supreme. Doctor Strange uses some elements and aesthetics that would fit right in the anime domain. MAPPA’s skill in designing memorable action sequences with unique visuals makes them the perfect fit. In addition, they offer the kind of creativity that would make Strange’s magic stand out even more amongst his Marvel brethren.

     

    7. A-1 Pictures – Spider-Man

     

    Lastly, but certainly not least important, you have the studio behind works such as Sword Art Online, Blue Exorcist, and The Seven Deadly Sins (Let’s just pretend that last season didn’t happen). A-1 Pictures tackling a character like Spider-Man is one of the most out-of-the-box choices on this list. Yet, I feel like Sword Art Online draws parallels in the form of the series’ main character and our famed web-slinger. Plus, the fluidity of Kirito’s movement shows what would be possible if A-1 brought the web-slinger to life in animated form.

  • Jeffrey Wright Confirms Some ‘What If’ Episodes Were Recorded During the Pandemic

    Jeffrey Wright Confirms Some ‘What If’ Episodes Were Recorded During the Pandemic

    It’s crazy to think that Marvel Studios is heading into animation. The once small production company grew by quite a bit. Disney+ was just the beginning of their next big step. WandaVision kicked off a new era for the company that will soon enter its next phase. What If will expand the franchise into animation and introduce us to the multiverse. As one question can change everything, Jeffrey Wright‘s Uatu will guide us through the various episodes.

    The actor had a chance to sit down with Entertainment Weekly to talk bout recording for the series and getting to work on the project alongside Chadwick Boseman, as the animated series will be his last performance within the MCU. He also got to share how he decided on what voice to use, as he has experience with doing voice work. he revealed that a few of the episodes were recorded during quarantine from his closet.

    We recorded some of these episodes during lockdown during the pandemic last year. I recorded a bunch of stuff in my closet in Brooklyn. [Laughs] So the preparation was setting up the little mini recording studio and closing the closet door, and banging it out next to my underwear drawer. But it worked out! Good acoustics in there.

    It’s become the norm that many actors that do voice work started building recording booths in their homes. Christopher Judge shared some insight into how he did all his work from home while voicing Marvel’s Avengers version of Black Panther. Luckily, it’s gotten easier than ever to work from home. So, they don’t require a fully built booth to do voice work, and actors have gotten creative to solve this issue. Wright shares his excitement about getting to work in his pajamas.

    Source: EW