Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • ‘Loki’s Day One Viewers Surpassed ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ And ‘WandaVision’

    ‘Loki’s Day One Viewers Surpassed ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ And ‘WandaVision’

    It looks like Loki was already a major success for Disney+, especially if you consider that the series moved away from its usual Friday release schedule. The analytics company SambaTV reported that the premiere drew in around 890K households, which would make it Disney+’s biggest US premier for a Marvel Studios series. To offer a comparison, Falcon and the Winter Soldier premiered with 759K and WandaVision‘s 655K. It also beat out the release of Cruella, but it was locked behind the Premier Access service.

    The interesting thing about this trend is that it’s a sign of how Marvel Studios’ ongoing release strategy is actually paying off. Each entry in their Marvel Cinematic Universe projects builds up excitement for the next, especially as the various projects start to draw more and more attention. It’ll be interesting to see how its numbers develop over the weekend, as they recorded Falcon and the Winter Soldier racing 1.7M followed directly by WandaVision’s 1.6Mm over the course of three days. At this rate, Loki might even hit the 2M mark if positive buzz carries the show’s momentum.

    Now, we have to point out that these numbers may only showcase a small margin of its actual viewership. As such, they can only utilize their own data to compare and contrast its development. Disney+, like many streaming services, does not release its actual viewership numbers and it’s difficult to say how it truly performed. For now, we are dependent on external analysts to offer any insight into how well a streaming series or film is performing, but going by the hype build around Loki, Disney, and Marvel Studios had nothing to worry about.

    Source: Deadline, Twitter

  • REPORT: Jameela Jamil to Play ‘She-Hulk’ Villain Titania

    REPORT: Jameela Jamil to Play ‘She-Hulk’ Villain Titania

    It looks like there is no end to the news surrounding Marvel Studios’ future on Disney+. We’ve recently got a tiny glimpse behind the scenes of She-Hulk with a look at Mark Ruffalo donning his CGI suit. Now, it seems that Illuminerdi got their hands on some news, as they just shared the info that The Good Place‘s Jameela Jamil is playing the villainous Titania. She’s an interesting addition as the main foil for Jennifer Walter. Illuminerdi believes that she was the character that went under the code name “Lucy.” She was described as a Kardashian-esque social media influencer with a dark side. We don’t know exactly how the series will play out, but it certainly would be a unique take for the class Marvel villain. Jamil‘s addition will surely offer a lot of fresh comedy to the series and she could make for an interesting dynamic between the two unlikely villains.

    If they truly follow this social media-focused character, it could give us a glimpse at what role She-Hulk might have. We know from Avengers: Endgame that Hulk is a well-known hero. So, the existence of a female version of his would also get quite a bit of attention. She might end up becoming more famous than Tatiana, which pushes her over the edge to keep up with her unlikely enemy. Of course, she could also just end up being one of Jennifer’s clients throughout the legal comedy’s run.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • How ‘Loki’ May Have Decanonized ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ from the Current MCU Timeline

    How ‘Loki’ May Have Decanonized ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ from the Current MCU Timeline

    After the first Loki trailer teased the existence of the Time Variance Authority, it made us wonder how the Marvel Cinematic Universe will play around with the various timelines. It will finally explore the fallout from the events of Avengers: Endgame when Loki managed to escape his timeline and ends up in their timeless offices. We’ve hoped it may explore and explain what we can expect from the upcoming multiverse-focused Doctor Strange sequel. Especially if you consider that the film is written by Loki’s head writer Michael Waldron. Yet, the newly expanded introduction to time travel may have confirmed that Marvel TV’s first series may not be canon after all.

     

    A true Marvel: Agents of SHIELD is the hidden gem of the MCU | Agents of SHIELD | The Guardian

     

    The first Avengers film led to the death of Clark Gregg‘s Phil Coulson. After getting stabbed in the back, the SHIELD agents’ popularity led to a campaign that would see his grand return on the small screen. Marvel TV, independently from its film studio, developed an entire series that focused on the mystery of his revival. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went on to air for seven seasons. It started as a threat-of-the-week series before introducing magic, space, and even time travel. Of course, many wondered if these elements get explored in the time-focused Loki series. Yet, it seems that TVA agent Mobius, played by Owen Wilson, may have decanonized the series by just stating Coulson died. End of story.

    There is also the concept of the Sacred Timeline that may have pruned it from the current MCU. It seems that the universe currently exists in one singular timeline that is kept in unison by the timeless bureaucrats. Things happen because they were meant to happen, as Loki learns painfully by witnessing his futile future. Now, we believed that there was a chance it took place in an alternative timeline. At the end of the final season, we see the complete resurgence of SHIELD yet hints that the Snap never happened in their timeline. Yet, the TVA confirms that the timeline tends to repeat over and over again. So, the events from the MCU so far don’t match up with that season’s finale to even confirm it canon in the main timeline.

     

    Loki Trailer Hints How Many Post-Endgame Timelines Exist In The MCU

     

    So, is Agents of SHIELD officially not canon? Yes and no, as there is one possible way it becomes canon once again. The brief video introduction to the organization by Miss Minutes explains there was once a multiverse war that broke all timelines before they got restored into the Sacred Timeline. They also warn of the events that unfold when the multiverse comes into existence. It’ll be the focal point of Doctor Strange’s film, where he explores the madness resulting from it falling apart. As such, that nexus event could happen in Loki, as teased in one of the trailers when we see the timeline breaking apart at different points in time. The Variants in the upcoming What If series are our first indicator that this single timeline wasn’t going to last. For now, Agents of SHIELD do not seem to be part of the singular MCU timeline, but upcoming events could end up changing it. It may even be intentional if we consider other Marvel-related content. All we know is that the multiverse is inevitable and things can always change moving forward, but it seems the next multiversal war is a definite.

  • Latest ‘What If’ Merchandise Offers a Closer Look at Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse

    Latest ‘What If’ Merchandise Offers a Closer Look at Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse

    It always seems like Marvel Studios’ biggest enemy for leaking information is toys. What If was no exception to this rule, as our first look at various characters came through an early released poster featuring the now-titled Guardians of the Multiverse. Just recently, an image from LEGO found its way online revealing Tony Stark on Sakaar building what seems to be a Hulkbuster out of scrap metal. There even was another set, which names reveal the name of Steve Rogers’ mech that was teased throughout the first trailers.

    Now, Walmart released some merchandise that offers some closer looks at the design of Uatu the Watcher and the Guardians of the Multiverse. It is interesting to note that Uatu is simply called The Watcher with an Avengers-inspired logo. It makes sense as it might be more recognizable for non-comic readers buying these coin purses or wallet covers.

     

    The merchandise offers us our closest look at Uatu’s design which seems like the perfect combination of his comic design, which got featured briefly in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and his voice actor Jeffrey Wright. Interestingly, Peggy Carter’s character is named Captain Carter rather than Captain Britain. She held the title in the leaked LEGO set. It might also just make the marketing easier as Party Thor will not go by that title. A few known members are missing, such as Gamora, Black Widow, and Killmonger. Zombie Captain America is also missing though leaked merchandise has featured him prominently. We might see more merchandise get released soon featuring the rest of the cast with hints of their potential storylines.

    Source: Walmart (Watcher), Walmart (Captain Carter), Walmart (Party Thor), Walmart (T’Challa)

  • 5 Non-Time Travel Films to Watch Ahead of Disney+’s ‘Loki’ Premiere

    5 Non-Time Travel Films to Watch Ahead of Disney+’s ‘Loki’ Premiere

    Loki will premiere this week on Disney+. A large part of the conversation surrounding it has been about all the various (and sometimes out-of-left-field) other shows and movies that influenced it, which includes the likes of Blade Runner, Mad Men, Teletubbies, and many more. There are also all the beloved time travel TV series that people have been attempting to marathon before the series starts. Of course, that doesn’t include all the Marvel movies the God of Mischief has appeared in. As such, this list is for those looking to watch something that wouldn’t be the first thing they would consider being an inspiration, but are fun to take a look at and compare in different ways. So, I’m ruling out all movies based on comic book properties or anything that involves time travel. Without further ado, let’s jump into the potential inspirations behind Marvel Studios’ next Disney+ entry.

     

    Brazil (1985)

    13 Fascinating Facts About 'Brazil' | Mental Floss

     

    The science-fiction black comedy film, which was directed by Terry Gilliam of the comedy troupe Monty Python, is about a man who has dreams at night of being a warrior. He also imagines being with a certain woman who he soon spots in real life. Unfortunately, they both live in a totalitarian, bureaucratic society, which soon becomes an obstacle for them to escape. The society in question is not unlike the Time Variance Authority central to Loki, and the film has actually already been confirmed to have been an influence on the series. It’s easy to tell just from the trailers alone, as it appears to be a labyrinth of whimsical order, much like the dystopian future depicted in Brazil.

     

    Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

    How 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' Became One of the Best High School Films Ever - ABC News

     

    This is the only movie on the list not to have any elements of magic or science fiction, but it may be the one with the spirit closest to that of Loki. Ferris Bueller is a high school senior who tricks his parents into believing he is sick. All this so he can ditch school for a day, bringing his best friend and girlfriend along for the ride. This John Hughes coming-of-age movie is all about the excitement and motivation behind getting up to mischief simply for the thrill of it, and that’s certainly a major side of Loki’s character.

     

    Defending Your Life (1991)

    Defending Your Life (1991) - YouTube

     

    Defending Your Life is another movie that has been confirmed as an inspiration for Loki. Director and actor Albert Brooks, who is co-starring alongside Meryl Streep, explores the story about another organization similar to the TVA, Judgement City. It is where people go after they die and are put on trial to receive a judgment on whether they were brave enough during their life on Earth to be deemed fit to move on to the next phase of existence or if they will be sent back to Earth to begin a whole new one.

    Much like Judgement City, the TVA is inaccessible from the “regular” world as it can only be found on its own plane of existence. However, the element of this film’s world that Loki’s creative team seemed to take direct inspiration from is the courtroom in which the main character’s trial is held. The room contains a large screen on which scenes from the defendant’s life are played, and the time theater seen in Loki’s trailers is essentially the same thing. 

     

    Jurassic Park (1993)

    Jurassic Park Filme in der Reihenfolge: Die vollständige Zeitle

     

    Jurassic Park is sort of like a reverse time travel film. Instead of the characters visiting a different era, the different era is brought to them. It’s a cautionary tale about science as just because something can be done, doesn’t necessarily mean it should be done. Yet, this isn’t the reason why the movie is on this list, though. That honor goes to a scene early in the film in which the characters watch how soon-to-be-opened dinosaur park came to be. The intro features an animated anthropomorphic DNA sequence, which is appropriately named Mr. DNA.

    The TVA has its own Mr. DNA in the form of Miss Minutes, an animated and anthropomorphic clock. She prepares time criminals for their trials at the organization. Both are upbeat as they deliver messages (technically exposition for the audience) with sinister undertones. They even have some level of an American southern accent. Universal Studios may be trying to give Mr. DNA a comeback in the queue of their new Jurassic Park ride, but Miss Minutes may very well end up giving him a run for his money in terms of modern-day popularity.

     

    Midnight in Paris (2011)

    Midnight in Paris | Film-Rezensionen.de

     

    Okay, so this one is a rule breaker because time travel is at play here. But if you’ve seen this movie you know exactly why it’s on the list. And no, it’s not because of the changing of different eras. Midnight in Paris is about a screenwriter who gets wrapped up in nostalgia while in conflict with his fiancée and her family. He ends up in various time periods of the past reliving the days of the great writers. The screenwriter is played by Owen Wilson, and he runs into various historical figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald, played by Tom Hiddleston. Again, I’m breaking my own rule here by including this film, but this is the only other project the two leads of Loki worked on together. So, I couldn’t help myself. And besides, would this truly be a Loki watchlist if it completely stuck by the books?

  • Tom Hiddleston Teases That ‘Loki’ Will Explore the Meaning of His Iconic Horns

    Tom Hiddleston Teases That ‘Loki’ Will Explore the Meaning of His Iconic Horns

    Having portrayed Loki Laufeyson since 2011’s Thor, there are few individuals with better knowledge of the cinematic version of the character than Tom Hiddleston. Whereas production teams, writers, and directors have often come and gone throughout the history of the Thor franchise, Hiddleston has been there since the start. Because of this, it’s only natural that when developing a Loki-centered series, he would be a great source of information for the current production team. It was even the focus of the latest featurette where they revealed that they were called the Loki Lectures.

     

     

    Besides the obvious issues like his character’s dramatic arc, Hiddleston told us that even Loki’s fight choreography and costumes have been the subject of a few conversations while developing the show. The production wanted to understand how Loki has evolved thus far to take the proper steps forward with the character. An interesting subject of discussion, one that by being mentioned in such specifics might hint at it being focused on in the show, was Loki’s headpiece. Hiddleston had this to say:

    People wanted to know about the horns. I do remember that. There was a question of when does Loki wear the horns? Why does he wear them? Is it a ceremonial thing or are they somehow an extension of some emotional intention? Is he particularly malevolent at those times? It was kind of interesting to be asked these questions from outside, I guess, from outside this experience. All will become clear in time.

     

     

    Throughout Loki’s history, the mentioned headpiece is an Asgardian symbol for the sorcery he wields. So, it would be fair to think that it does indeed serve a sort of ceremonial element, conferring to his figure some extra authority and power. With images released by Marvel Studios of Loki wearing a smaller headpiece on the show, we might probably see him work to regain the status he once held, making his way into a bigger headpiece as he reacquires his title of God of Mischief by the end of the series.

  • Michael Waldron Talks About the Jump From Writing ‘Rick and Morty’ To ‘Loki’

    Michael Waldron Talks About the Jump From Writing ‘Rick and Morty’ To ‘Loki’

    For the past few years, Rick and Morty has become popular through its outlandish nature. The series is most known for its unique approach to comedy and going against the grain. Michael Waldron, the head writer of Loki, is best known for his work on Rick and Morty. As such, he had the perfect background to work on a show that explores the effects of time travel and the multiverse. In the show’s press junket, he explained the difficulties of adjusting from the comedy to a more drama-focused live-action series.

    I was coming off of Rick and Morty. I think, out of the gate I was trying to step on the gas of the comedy perhaps too much and I had to recalibrate and shift this thing to a more dramatic place.

    Following that, Waldron explained what he loved about the character and how he found his groove while writing Loki.

    And thats the great thing about this character, you dont have to write jokes. Loki is going to make regular exchanges funny, fun and engaging just with the way he interacts. So, that was how we approache it. We just trusted Tom to do all the work.

    Waldron‘s work on Rick and Morty must’ve definitely helped. Rick and Loki are two characters who are different yet similar in the way they act and their attitudes toward those closest to them. The characters both exude dry wit and a god complex, holding themselves above everyone else and constantly getting themselves into trouble. Loki is surely going to bring back that classic nature we see in the character’s early days and will surely please many fans of the character.

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ Was Almost a Marvel One-Shot Short Film at One Point

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ Was Almost a Marvel One-Shot Short Film at One Point

    Marvel Studios has entered a brand new territory with their Disney+ shows. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was already constantly changing but this service opened up new doors and allowed them to explore beloved characters in new ways. So far, we’ve seen Wandavison and Falcon and The Winter Soldier show us a new side to heroes we watched on screen for years. Now, with the premiere of Loki approaching, fans might be interested to know that the trickster had a spin-off planned early on in his time in the MCU. With the recent strides in storytelling, it seems Marvel Studios always played around with the idea of exploring the trickster in a different timeline.

    In a press junket for Loki, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed that the studio danced around the idea of developing a short film for the character. He even references the former disco nightclub Studio 54 that went on to become a Broadway theatre.

    There were ideas, as Tom will remember, for a short film going back almost a decade for Loki in the 70s. Like running a Studio 54 in the 70s. I think we had some concept art of him on a horse.

    The project didn’t get much further than that. It wasn’t until director Kate Heron and head writer Michael Waldron joined the project that it had become “Infinitely more interesting” according to Feige through their ideas on how to spin the project. Marvel did explore the concept of short films with their Marvel One-Shots. These were included in their blu-ray releases that offered smaller stories in the MCU. It included the Agent Coulson-focused stories The Consultant and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer. Of course, the big standout was Ben Kingsley‘s return as Trevor Slattery in All Hail the King. It’s crazy to think how far the franchise has come now that we have high-budget series doing what these One-Shots originally were meant to do.

  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw Reveals That ‘Loki’ Will Explore Ravonna Renslayer’s Origin

    Gugu Mbatha-Raw Reveals That ‘Loki’ Will Explore Ravonna Renslayer’s Origin

    It was revealed two months ago that Gugu Mbatha-Raw‘s character is actually Ravonna Renslayer. Now, the significance of this role is huge for comic fans, as she is the love interest of the one and only Kang the Conqueror. Now, we know that Jonathan Majors will play the character in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but his casting was already nine months ago. This led to a lot of speculation on him potentially appearing in an earlier storyline. The introduction of the Time Keepers and the Time Variance Authority in the upcoming Disney+ Loki made it seem like the perfect place for him to appear. In the show’s press junket, Mbatha-Raw revealed that the upcoming season will act as an origin story for the comic character.

    Well, luckily or unluckily for me, Kate explained to me that this was sort of more of an origin story for Ravonna Renslayer. You know, sort of predating some of the stuff in the comics. All that stuff is there, but theres also the opportunity to feel like starting with something fresh with the TVA that hadn’t been seen before by fans on screen.

    Interestingly enough, she also teases that there might be a bright future ahead for the character beyond Loki.

    There’s so much there, that I’m, you know, I feel like there’s plenty of potential for her in the future as well.

    Now, the implications are huge if you consider that this also means we might see her first meeting with Kang. In an earlier interview with Vanity Fair, he did hint that the series will also play around with romance in an interesting way. Perhaps we’ll get a star-crossed romance between Kang and Ravonna throughout the Disney+ series that builds up his character before he takes a darker turn once Quantumania releases 2023. Who knows if Loki might also be the reason why Kang becomes the Conqueror we all know him as from the comics.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Season 1 Will Be a Standalone Season

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Loki’ Season 1 Will Be a Standalone Season

    There has been one major rumor circling the Disney+ series Loki. Okay, there are quite a few but one of the standouts was the potential of it receiving a second season. Almost a year ago, there seemed to be rumblings of it happening, but we never got any confirmation. There was the report that head writer Michael Waldron signed up a deal with Disney that included his work on Kevin Feige‘s untitled Star Wars film. It also confirmed a reference to a potential second season. Charles Murphy got a chance to ask Waldron if he could say anything on the rumors, but he swiftly played coy on the fact but did tease that the upcoming season will tell a complete story.

    It was really always my hope and intention with this to tell a complete story with this season. Season 1 would stand on its own and, you know, is there more story to tell in the future? I don’t know, time will tell.

    There are a lot of hints that there is something happening and we hope to see a lot more TVA in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Waldron also teased the potential of a Secret Wars connection. So, even if they don’t move forward with Loki, there is always a chance that they explore another Variant of a popular Marvel character. There are a lot of creative ways to utilize this simple premise and continue building upon the TVA mythology we can expect from the upcoming series. Now that they are opening up the rest of the multiverse, it feels like there is no more limit to what stories they may tell.