Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel Studios

  • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’: Tony Leung’s Wenwu is an MCU Original Take on the Mandarin

    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’: Tony Leung’s Wenwu is an MCU Original Take on the Mandarin

    After a long wait, we finally got our first look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-American superhero, Shang-Chi. Chinese-Canadian Simu Liu will take on the role that introduced the world to the Ten Rings. They were a consistent part of the MCU since its inception back in 2008. Of course, it means that we’ll also meet the organization’s leader, the Mandarin.

    It looks like they might be taking a new direction for the villain from 1964’s Tales of Suspense #50. In the recent coverage by Entertainment Weekly, we got a few details on Tony Leung‘s mysterious character. He was formerly announced as Wenwu and teased to be the Mandarin. Yet, the recent interview may hint at a new approach to the iconic comic villain.

    They confirm that Wenwu is technically an original character for the film. As such, he isn’t a direct adaptation of the iconic character, who has gone through various aliases, such as Gene Khan or Zhang Tong. Producer Jonathan Schwartz and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige hint that he has gone through many names. Mandarin is just one of many. Director Destin Daniel Cretton pointed to how Leung brought a new level to the character’s portrayal. 

    A character like Wenwu could have easily been a one-dimensional villain with no heart. Tony opened this character up [so] this is an antagonist who has a deep ability to love

    Schwartz confirms that their approach to the character was to add more complexity. They didn#t want him to get shackled by its comic roots. The just dropped trailer offered some small glimpses at Wenwu. It even includes a comic-accurate inspired depiction of the original character. Shang-Ch wasn’t related to the Mandarin in the comics, as he was the son of the rather controversial Fu Manchu. Family drama will remain at the core of Shang-Chi‘s story, and it’ll be interesting to see how the legacy of the Mandarin may get expanded in the MCU. If you haven’t had the chance, check out the recent trailer release.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly, Twitter

  • First Look at ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Released

    First Look at ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Released

    It’s a bit day for Marvel fans. Black Widow may have taken over Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ original July slot, but it looks like the production company believes they can keep that September release date. To celebrate his birthday, Simu Liu released the film’s first poster with a closer look at Shang-Chi in all his glory. He took to Twitter to share the first look at the new poster that shows the Master of Kung Fu in all his glory:

    Now, that wasn’t all as Entertainment Weekly also released a few new images that offer a small glimpse at what we can expect from the film. It features some of the film’s major cast members, such as Tony Leung‘s Wenwu, Awkwafina‘s Katy, and Meng’er Zhang‘s Xialing:

     

     

    Not just that, it seems like shortly after Marvel Studios already released the first trailer for the film. It seems they didn’t quite coordinate with Simu Liu, who teased that it wouldn’t drop for another few weeks. Marvel Studios wanted to celebrate his birthday by releasing the trailer early and it offered a fantastic first look at the action we can expect from the film.

    https://twitter.com/shangchi/status/1384137506795319300?s=20

    Source: Twitter, Entertainment Weekly, Twitter

  • ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’: The Truth Of It All

    ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’: The Truth Of It All

    The landscape in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has shifted after the fifth Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode titled “Truth” was released. The stakes have been raised, and the pieces on the board get set up for the finale. So, let’s take a closer look at where our protagonists are.

    Sam Wilson

    Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson Trends After The Falcon And The Winter Soldier's Episode 5

     

    The journey for Sam has been about realizing why Steve Rogers gave him the shield. Through it all, Bucky questioned him, and he got confronted by John Walker. It got exacerbated by Walker’s actions in which he tainted the shield with blood. It was time to get it back. There was more to the lesson. His world view is similar to Barack Obama‘s when he said: “Yes we can.” He believes in his way of not only fighting but figuring things out. More importantly, he believes that there’s a better way to do so. It wasn’t until he speaks to Isaiah Bradley that the truth and the context push him forward. Isaiah is steadfast in his belief that:

    They will never let a Black man be Captain America. And even if they did, no self-respecting Black man would ever wanna be.

     

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Wer ist Isaiah Bradley?

     

    The heartbreaking tale of Bradley’s past would’ve deterred most men and maybe it should have, but Sam thought otherwise. He empathized with what he went through but understood that by avoiding the reality of things, he wouldn’t be able to make a change.

    But what would be the point of all the pain and sacrifice, if I wasn’t willing to stand up and keep fighting?

    It was time for Sam to become Captain America. He had to live his truth beyond what Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, or Isaiah Bradley thought. As Sam gets ready to take flight with an assist from Wakandan technology, he’s finally in a position to take on Karli and the Flag-Smashers. This time, he’ll do it his way on his terms.

    Bucky Barnes

    Sebastian Stan Hasn't Heard About Falcon & Winter Soldier Season 2

     

    Bucky has had to come to grips with his reality. Steve Rogers is no longer there to be his crutch to lean on. He’s not aimless, but he’s struggling to find his place in the world. Sam confronted him with the cold-heart truth to stop depending on others. Ultimately we’ve seen Bucky start to make his own decisions to varying results.

    The moment he freed Zemo to locate the super-soldier serum as a means to an end ended up as a betrayal. Ayo and Wakanda took care of Bucky at a very vulnerable time in his life. He’ll have to live with that decision. There’s still a part of him that believes it was the right movie. It’s why, even though Zemo gets taken into custody, Bucky’s path is more open-ended than Sam’s. There’s a chance that these two will eventually cross paths again. It feels like those two are destined to work together in some capacity.

     

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Bucky Barnes MCU History Recap | Den of Geek

     

    Finally, Bucky learned a bit about accountability. There was the ignorance that he had towards Sam’s plight and the complexity of becoming Captain America. There’s also the idea that just because you’re trying to make amends doesn’t mean you’re making them. As Sam advises: “Start with one.” We can surmise that in the finale, Bucky may try to give some closure to Yori. As Bucky promises to help Sam with Karli, we also know there’s always a bit of Winter Soldier inside of him.

    John Walker

    Falcon and Winter Soldier: John Walker's Fall Mirrors Steve Rogers Killing Baron Blood

    John Walker started the season as the face of propaganda. Now he’s the symbolism of Captain America’s values. They’re tainted, like the blood on the shield. After losing the fight to Bucky and Sam, John immediately got shunned. He loses his rank, title, and pension. The same government who trotted him out as the savior has discarded him like trash.

    After he met with the senate, what perhaps could be an important nod to his future, Walker is greeted by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) or “Val” for short. She offers him not only sympathy for what he’s done but a role in the future. In the comics, she’s known for a spell as Madame Hydra. In this iteration, she could be the Fury for a team of villains. So, we might finally get the Thunderbolts in the MCU. One has to think Walker will take her call.

     

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Why John Walker's Dark Turn Was Inevitable - IGN

     

    Walker’s dishonorable discharge also led to him lying to Lemar’s parents about getting revenge for their son. His lying dishonors Lemar’s legacy and continues his denial of truth. Walker isn’t down for the count, as we see him mid-credits creating his shield. It looks like John is going to be an agent of chaos.

    All roads lead toward Karli and the Flag Smashers in the finale. One can only wonder how our main characters handle their new personas as they try to live their truth.

  • Alfred Molina Confirms Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ And Shares First Set Details

    Alfred Molina Confirms Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ And Shares First Set Details

    Spider-Man: No Way Home might be the worst kept secret. We’ve seen countless reports on what characters are returning in their respective roles. Through various leaks, we learned that many of the iconic characters from past Spider-Man franchises will make a grand return in one way or another. One of the first to break was the return of Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus in the threequel. Now, it seems he gave up on keeping the secret, as he talked with Variety on his role in Promising Young Woman:

    When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret. But, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood

    So, he just went out of his way to confirm his involvement. Luckily, he even gave some insight about how it was returning to his role and reflecting on the fact he hasn’t played the character in almost 17 years.

    It was wonderful. It was very interesting going back after 17 years to play the same role, given that in the intervening years, I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet, and a slightly a slightly dodgy lower back.

    He even revealed that director Jon Watts confirmed that his character is picking up where he died in the original Spider-Man 2. After tampering with a fusion reactor that was about to blow, he sacrifices his life to save his former student and New York City. What stands out in the interview is that he confirms Doc Ock will be de-aged in the film after he questioned how they would continue his story now that he is 67. The actor even references The Irishman, as he feared that he may look young but not able to move fast enough. Luckily, the good doctor has some helpers to keep him moving around without a problem.

    I then remembered that it’s the tentacles that do all the work! My basic physical move as Doc Ock, as the actor, is just this. I just do that a lot, and the arms are doing all the killing and smashing and breaking. I’m just going —” he glared again — “with a kind of mean look on my face.

    It sounds really exciting and that they considered the differences between the last times they played these characters. Now, the question is how this will tie into the universe and why Doc Ock will return from the dead. His teases offer our first real glimpse into what happened on the set. Now, we will wonder how it will all tie together.

    Source: Variety, Variety (Interview)

     

  • EXCLUSIVE: Jon Favreau Returning for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    EXCLUSIVE: Jon Favreau Returning for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    After having appeared as one of the more prominent mentor characters for Peter Parker throughout his series of solo films, we can exclusively confirm that Jon Favreau will indeed be returning as Happy Hogan for Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was almost certain that Favreau would be returning alongside the main cast of the previous two films, but due to COVID-19 and filming schedules, there were always doubts regarding his return to the franchise’s next installment. The full details regarding his role in this film remain unknown. However, he could certainly have a considerable supporting role similar to that of Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    Happy Hogan had a rather interesting side story in Far From Home, where both Happy and Aunt May (played by Marisa Tomei) developed a relationship that was played for laughs. At the end of the film, when confronted by Peter about the situation, Happy confessed that he actually did have feelings for Aunt May and believed that they were dating, while Aunt May only described the relationship as a “summer fling.”

    It’ll be interesting to see how the dynamic between the two characters develops as well as knowing how Happy will react to the events of the post-credit scene in the last film when Spider-Man identity was outed to the world. Nevertheless, we can always count on Happy to be the man with a plan and we can’t wait to see more of him when Spider-Man: no Way Home hits theaters this coming Christmas season.

  • ‘What If’ Concept Art Leaks Online Teasing the Return of Ultron

    ‘What If’ Concept Art Leaks Online Teasing the Return of Ultron

    It looks like some concept art for the upcoming What If series has found its way online teasing some iconic characters in new designs. It isn’t the first time something related to Marvel Studios’ first animated series finds its way online, as recently a poster was released prematurely featuring our first look at various characters. The art teases some recognizable faces, such as Loki in his Thor get-up and Tony Stark riding a makeshift Hulkbuster. To be fair, we can’t make out his face so anyone could be in that suit.

    We even will have the return of Benicio del Toro‘s Collector. Now, what stands out is that it showcases Gamora in Thanos’ armor. It would hint at her embracing the legacy her adoptive father decided to pass on to her rather than running away with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Yet, the biggest reveal is the return of Ultron, who hasn’t appeared since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron.

    Now, it doesn’t confirm if James Spader will return to take on the character, but if you consider most of the MCU staff are returning for their characters it is rather likely. His design seems to imply he has become a ruler and could hint at a story if he won the battle for Sokovia. Now, that would imply that his meteor did exactly what it was intended to do and the world was reshaped in metal.

    Now, that is a fun idea to play around with as it would be the MCU’s way of introducing the Wasteland from the Future Imperfect and Old Man Logan series. It recently introduced in the Marvel’s Avengers game as part of the Hawkeye DLC. What If is starting to shape into a must-watch once it releases some time this summer.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’: Who is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine?

    ‘FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’: Who is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine?

    Episode 5 of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier has debuted and we can all stop guessing the identity of the mystery actress and character that we’ve been teasing for over a year and has been the source of quite a lot of buzz since showrunner Malcolm Spellman first teased the appearance several weeks ago. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by 11-time Emmy Award-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is now in the MCU and unless you’re a pretty dedicated reader of the comics, you might be wondering just who she is. Fortunately for you, we’ve got your back.

     

    Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel

     

    First appearing in a couple of panels in 1967’s Nick Fury story in Strange Tales #159, Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine has undergone a few retcons over the years that have made her one of Fury’s most acquaintances. The Contessa made her debut as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who, over the years, had an on-again, off-again relationship with Nick Fury. She has an incredible tactical mind, is a formidable fighter, and became one of Fury’s most trusted allies over the years.

    Her story took a turn for the more interesting during the Secret Invasion event and the subsequent Secret Warriors series, written by Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman. Early in the series, Fury meets with a “retired” Val with the hope that after he does one last job, the two of them can finally be together. As the series goes on, Val’s true past is revealed. After joining Hydra as its new Madame Hydra, Val betrays them, joins Leviathan, and reveals that she and her parents were long-term Russian sleeper agents working as plants. She currently resides in a prison somewhere and hasn’t emerged in the comics for some time.

     

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus Does Own Makeup During Stay-At-Home PSA — Video | Allure

     

    While her comic book story is currently in an interlude, her MCU story could just be getting started and, should the Marvel Studios Parliament wish it to be, could tie into a number of properties old and new. In The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, she’s certainly connected to some big names and helps Walker with his post-Captain America career. If that’s all we see of her, it will have been a nice cameo by a big-time actress in Dreyfus; however, should Dreyfus be open to continuing on with the character, we could see her again very soon. As a friend of Fury, the Contessa could play a role in Secret Invasion, perhaps as an old ally of Fury’s that he thinks he can trust. Perhaps more interestingly, should the MCU writers make her a triple agent, Val’s story could tie into even more projects.

    If Leviathan sounds familiar to you, it’s because it has already appeared in MCU continuity in Agent Carter where it had deep ties to the Red Room and the Black Widow program. If she has ties to Leviathan in the MCU, it’s possible she could be referenced or even show up in Black Widow (who knows what they got up to during all these delays). Of course, we also know that Marvel Studios is developing a Secret Warriors project which would be the BEST place for us to see more of JLD as Val. At this point, we’ll have to wait and see what direction they are taking her in the MCU before knowing more but it must be nice for them knowing they have the talents of Louis-Dreyfus on deck whichever way it goes.

  • ‘DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS’ to Wrap Filming This Week

    ‘DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS’ to Wrap Filming This Week

    With so many Marvel Studios productions going on simultaneously, it’s often hard to keep track of which project is at what point. Thankfully, Marvel Studios The-One-Above-All has our backs. In an interview with The Undefeated, Kevin Feige mentioned that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will complete principal photography in the UK this week.

    Production on the sequel began last November and was, at one point, delayed by a COVID surge in London. As noteworthy as the impending end of production is the new hat being sported by Feige. The Sanctum logo on the front looks to be an allusion to the multiverse and perhaps the idea that the Sanctums are focal points of it; additionally, the star on the side of the hat is a clear nod to America Chavez’s role in the film and the star-shaped portals she uses to travel through the multiverse. The film’s working title, Stellar Vortex, seems to also have been in reference to Chavez’s unique abilities.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong and Xochitl Gomez and is currently slated to hit theaters on March 25, 2022. Find out everything we know about the film right here!

    Source: The Undefeated

  • ‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’ Episode 5 Primer

    ‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’ Episode 5 Primer

    I still have yet to be disappointed with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The new episode was wild! I said in last week’s primer that John Walker would go crazy if something happened to his friend and partner…and he definitely did. They did a great job of showing him breaking down after each shortcoming up until he killed a Flag-Smasher with the shield! He did it right in front of everyone with their phones out and there have to be consequences. He wanted to be a hero so badly that he couldn’t sit back and let Sam do what he needed to do. There are TOO many problems that they are dealing with right now, including… Zemo running away, the death of Hoskins, Wakanda is not happy at all with Bucky, and Sam losing his one chance to actually talk with Karli. They are going to have a lot to work out in the next couple of episodes.

    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 4 – What Did You Think?!

     

    The new trailer shows Walker is fighting Bucky and Sam picking up where they left off in episode 4. Now that Walker has the Super Soldier serum, the fight will be a little bit more interesting. Either way, I think that Bucky and Sam are going to win because why else would Sam have the shield? Walker is clearly not going to just give it up.

    What’s going to happen with Zemo, seeing that he’s escaped? We know he hates the idea of Super Soldiers and we know he and Bucky aren’t quite done with one another. Karli and the Flag-Smashers have one big attack left, according to the trailers, but they have Walker, Bucky and Sam, and the Power Broker on their tails. They have a lot coming at them and they may not be able to handle it.

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    Falcon and the Winter Soldier Spoilers Reveal Major Change to Captain America Villain

    There are a lot of things to wrap up over these next two episodes. John Walker’s actions are going to have to be dealt with because Captain America can’t be murdering people all over the world. Leaks have indicated that he will become the U.S. Agent by the end of the series. With Hoskins gone and his reputation damaged, someone else will have to help him out and have his back. We also know that Batroc will team up with the Flag-Smashers to help them with their final plan. They are definitely desperate now with the serum destroyed and I think they’ll turn to even darker tactics to get their way. I don’t think Sam has given up on Karli though and won’t stop trying to save her.

    The next episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier streams tomorrow!

     

  • RUMOR: First ‘Ms. Marvel’ Costume Tease Could Hint at Her Gaining a New Ability

    RUMOR: First ‘Ms. Marvel’ Costume Tease Could Hint at Her Gaining a New Ability

    Here’s a rather interesting coincidence. One of Ms. Marvel‘s directors, Bilall Fallah, shared a drawing of the young superheroine on his Instagram. He is taking over directing duties for at least one episode alongside his Bad Boys for Life co-director, Adil El Arbi. Now, the design of Ms. Marvel is pretty iconic and is easily recognized by many fans. So, we were rather surprised when the character is sporting a purple scarf in the latest image rather than her usual red one. Luckily, user @sayyidbentley was able to grab the Instagram Story image before it expired.

     

     

    Now, purple is a rather curious choice that is new to her usual color palette in the comics. It could be a visual decision that might tie to something in their story. We also see that she has her golden bangle on the arm. It just seems to be slightly smaller than the usual designs, but that could be out of practicality. Now, a recent rumor in combination with this purple scarf may be hinting at a considerable change for the character and add some validity to it We have to take every rumor with a grain of salt, but it hints at Kamala gaining a new ability. She will use a variety of constructs that connect to her bangle in some form or another.

     

    Canadian actress cast as Muslim hero Ms Marvel

     

    Now, Kamala doesn’t have these abilities in the comics, and it would be in addition to her Inhuman Embiggen powers. We do see the mentioned bangle in the design. Her purple scarf could add to the rumor, as these constructs supposedly also have the same color. Its validity is a bit questionable, but the director’s tease of the costume could give it some credence.

    There is one more hint that purple will play a key role in the Disney+ series. During Disney’s Investors Day, we got a brief sizzle reel for the project. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that the newly designed “S” in the logo switches from purple to gold at the end of the sizzle reel. She also actively wears the color during some of the footage.

     

    Everything We Know About MS. MARVEL on Disney+ - Nerdist

     

    Ms. Marvel will release in 2021. So, we might get our first look at the series in the upcoming months, which will hopefully offer a glimpse of these new abilities and how they might tie into the character. It would be a rather daring move to move away that far from the character’s comic depictions. For now, we can only take it as a rumor and see if we get more hints in the future.

    Source: Instagram via Twitter, YouTube