Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel TV

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 9

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 9

    Welcome back to yet another From page to Screen focusing on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. In the show’s first week, we looked at the differences between the comics’ and series’ versions of Jennifer Walters’ origin story. The following week, viewers got a live-action introduction to Jen’s new legal job, taken straight out of Dan Slott’s and Juan Bobillo’s 2004 She-Hulk run—Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (GLK&H). Episode 3 introduced a reimagined version of comic book villains, in its fourth week, the show decided to focus on Jen’s love life and, the following week, on Jen’s nemesis, Titania. Episode 6, being a “self-contained wedding episode” was approached as its own thing while referencing a lackluster comic arc where Jen ended up being engaged herself. As for episode 7, with the introduction of Man-Bull, El Águila, and Porcupine, we took a look at other She-Hulk villains that could be showing up down the line before heading into episode 8 which gave us the long-awaited Matt Murdock / Daredevil appearance, which bore some similarities with The Good Old Days story arc featured in the 2014/15 Charles Soule She-Hulk run.

    The season finale was all about fourth wall breaking by doubling down on the few times Jen did just that in the previous episodes. She now literally breaks the fourth wall by breaking out of Disney+, going into the real Marvel Studios HQ all while demanding script changes from K.E.V.I.N., an in-joke for the Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.

    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 9
    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 9

    This, the breaking out not just to connect with the viewer/reader but going a step beyond and conversing with the creator itself, questioning his decisions and proposing something more to her liking, is fairly similar to what happened in the John Byrne’s The Sensational She-Hulk #37. Here, Jen, after getting into a dispute with the Living Eraser, mishandles his Dimensionizers and erases herself blaming Byrne for such a poor decision.

    The Sensational She-Hulk #37 (1992)

    This serves as a prime example of the kind of impact that Byrne had on the character since, at the time Stan Lee wrote her first issue, 1980’s The Savage She-Hulk #1, her ability to step out of the comics wasn’t yet a thing. It wasn’t until Byrne’s iconic 1989 run that she truly became one of the most distinct Marvel characters by gaining such power. But instead of just breaking the fourth wall, Byrne’s She-Hulk made use of it. She tore pages apart so she could skip ahead to the villain more quickly and when things weren’t going her way she would request to basically skip over a fight she knew she would lose. She would even try to convince Byrne and the Marvel editors to change her looks whenever she felt her hair looked bad. The Sensational She-Hulk really made a tremendous contribution to both establishing a comic paradigm shift and dismantling comic book physics.

    The Sensational She-Hulk #5 (1989)
    The Sensational She-Hulk #5 (1989)
    The Sensational She-Hulk #5 (1989)

    And the same can be said regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if K.E.V.I.N. identified the programming error that allowed Jan to step out of the show into the real world, making sure to say to her that this was the last time she would be able to do that, there is no denying that the level of self-awareness the character may yet instill into the MCU is substantial. That is, if the other characters actually believe her on that, something that both She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the comics hint at, as these panels from The Incredible Hulk #412 can attest to.

    The Incredible Hulk #412 (1993)

    If Marvel Studios ever decides to introduce a character that is also in on the gag, much as Marvel Comics did with her boyfriend Wyatt Wingfoot and the Blonde Phantom that decided to make a comeback as a She-Hulk sidekick while breaking the fourth wall herself, in The Sensational She-Hulk #4, there are surely a number of possible contenders. Even if this may somehow make Jen’s powers feel less unique, in the context of the MCU it is a concept that will surely thrive. With the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, why not introduce the idea of a universe where every single Marvel character grew bitter and disgruntled by knowing their free will, their freedom to do otherwise, and the power of self-determination was in the hands of a random writers’ room on Marvel Studios HQ?

    The Sensational She-Hulk #4 (1989)

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming, in its entirety, only on Disney+.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Discusses How ’70s Homage in Finale Came to Be

    ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Discusses How ’70s Homage in Finale Came to Be

    The big fourth wall break in the middle of the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law finale may be the most memorable part of the episode, but the very beginning was also iconic. The opening was a stellar homage to the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk television series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno that aired on network television in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was not too off-the-wall that the self-aware show would reference the classic Marvel show, but head writer Jessica Gao recently opened up about the somewhat surprising way it came about. Speaking to Comicbook.com, Gao said:

    One day, out of the clear blue — this was post-lockdown, so everyone’s just working from home — my fiance, Truck Torrence, just walks into the room that I’m in working. And just announces, ‘I think you should do an opening that’s like an homage to the 1970s Incredible Hulk. That is all.’ And then he just walked out of the room. And I thought, ‘That’s a great idea,’ and then it just snowballed from there.

    Jessica Gao

    The idea luckily worked in practice at the end of the day. Even if some younger viewers did not immediately make the connection, most did and the aesthetic was absolutely on point. Gao continued:

    And I am so tickled that we actually got to do it…[i]t looks fantastic. Our second unit director, who is also our stunt coordinator, Monique Ganderton, directed that. And you could tell that Tatiana and Mark had so much fun in those ’70s clothes. In the scripts I wrote ‘Ruffalo is in a Bill Bixby wig.’ But what was great is Mark naturally has this beautiful curly hair, so we didn’t need to put a wig on him. Like his hair naturally could support that wonderful ’70s volume.

    Jessica Gao

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader Was Included in the Original Pitch for ‘She-Hulk’

    Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader Was Included in the Original Pitch for ‘She-Hulk’

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law ultimately ended without a major hook into the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. The tail end of the episode featured the brief introduction of Hulk’s son, Skaar, which will undoubtedly have ramifications down the line. But one common Hulk-related theory did not pan out for fans. However, apparently, the show’s original pitch had it in mind.

    Considering She-Hulk brought back major references to 2008’s maligned and often ignored The Incredible Hulk, many thought that additional characters from that movie might make an appearance. Specifically, some theorized that Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, who was last seen beginning his transformation into the supervillain known as The Leader, would be the overarching or background villain of the series, especially after he was announced to be returning in Captain America: New World Order.

    While The Leader was nowhere to be found in She-Hulk, head writer Jessica Gao says he was in her original pitch for the series. Speaking to Comicbook.com, Gao stated:

    In my original pitch, I did have The Leader in there. Just as an option, as a suggestion, you know?…[b]ut really, I can’t remember why [it was taken out]. I don’t remember if it was organically taken out, because we just came up with other stuff, or if we were told no. I honestly don’t remember. But there was thought about either bringing him back or doing some version of a new version of Leader, or some relation to him. But, I mean truly, this was three years ago, and the show has evolved so much that I don’t remember what actually happened.

    Jessica Gao

    Now having seen the full She-Hulk series, The Leader’s absence did not weighing heavily on the character or story. Still, Gao’s comments add fuel to the growing theory flames that Marvel Studios is plotting a grand and expansive Hulk-related plotline in the future.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • Charlie Cox Endorses Jessica Henwick as MCU’s Iron Fist

    Charlie Cox Endorses Jessica Henwick as MCU’s Iron Fist

    By now, it’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is bringing back it’s Netflix characters. Charlie Cox, who headlined the corner of Marvel Television that came to be known as the ‘Defenderverse,’ has slowly returned to his role as Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, in projects over the last two years, while Vincent D’Onofrio made a surprise comeback as his archnemesis Wilson Fisk in last year’s Disney+ series Hawkeye. There are even rumors swirling that the likes of Jon Bernthal and Krysten Ritter may soon reappear as their respective characters, Frank Castle and Jessica Jones. However, nowhere to be found are claims of Iron Fist‘s cast joining their fellow street-level heroes in the MCU sandbox.

    Fortunately for them, Cox stated in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he would ‘put in a good word‘ for some of his former Defenders castmates. Specifically, the actor mentioned Jessica Henwick as someone he thinks should get a second chance with Marvel Studios. The actress portrayed Colleen Wing, a New York City-based martial artist who begins as an ally of Finn Jones‘ Danny Rand before becoming the Iron Fist herself. When asked about the potential of her reprising the role, Cox stated:

    Yeah, she’s amazing. She’s amazing. Look, I agree with you, wholeheartedly. I could also say that about a number of people that I worked with not only on Daredevil, but also on the other shows we did there. So I don’t know what they’re thinking, but I will absolutely put in a good word. And you’re 100 percent right about that. [Jessica] is awesome. And I did get a lovely text from her the other day saying that she read the news and was thrilled for me.

    Charlie Cox

    Iron Fist was not loved by many, but Henwick was almost universally praised for her performance. With the way her story was left off, it seems plausible that she could end up taking over as the MCU’s main Iron Fist should she be contacted by Marvel boss Kevin Feige. At the very least, Cox seems to think she deserves the chance.

    Source: THR

  • Charlie Cox Praises Vincent D’Onoforio; Talks Reuniting with ‘Daredevil’ Co-Star

    Charlie Cox Praises Vincent D’Onoforio; Talks Reuniting with ‘Daredevil’ Co-Star

    With Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock both making their respective ways into the MCU, it’s just a matter of time before the two meet up. Whether that meeting is a reunion between the two characters or their first meeting in a vast multiverse continues to be a hot topic of debate, but one thing has been clear since Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onoforio worked together on Daredevil: they each have a great deal of respect for the other. The two shared the stage briefly at D23 to discuss Daredevil: Born Again, an upcoming 18-episode streaming series and fans have been thrilled at the prospect of seeing them together again since. Fans aren’t the only ones excited about the reunion, however.

    In an interview with GQ following his appearance on She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Cox gushed about D’Onofrio’s talents:

    He’s obviously a lovely guy, but more than that, he’s just such an extraordinary performer. He’s such a great actor. To be able to work opposite him and show up for a day of filming and see what he brings to the scene-which is always so much richer and more nuanced and more interesting [than] you could even have imagined in your mind I probably learned more from him about acting than I have from anyone else I’ve worked with. I think he’s made me a much better actor. Hopefully, I can learn more as we can continue working together.

    Charlie Cox

    D’Onofrio’s investment into the psychology of Wilson Fisk has been well-documented and paid huge dividends over the course of his time on the Netflix series. The actor has made it clear that he’s bringing the same energy to the character as he enters the MCU, meaning that when it comes time for him to meet Daredevil on screen, fans can expect something special.

    Source: GQ

  • Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox is back as Daredevil and he’s ready to make a few improvements. The actor made his big return to the role of lawyer Matt Murdock in last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, before putting on the vigilante suit and seeing a little more screen time in Disney+’s latest series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. When fans finally saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Murdock take action, however, it looked a little different than the last time he appeared on Netflix. In She-Hulk, Daredevil was made to be a bit more acrobatic than he was in his own show, with additional CGI being used to more accurately reflect his comic book abilities. In a new interview with GQ, Cox revealed his hopes that this use of CGI continues in his next solo outing, Daredevil: Born Again.

    When asked about what he hoped to accomplish on Disney+ that he wasn’t able to do on Netflix, the former Stardust star gave the following answer:

    I guess what I would say is: hopefully, on the Disney+ show, Born Again, we will be able to use—and I hope that we do it sparingly, I believe it should be used sparingly—but we’ll hopefully be able to use a tiny bit more CGI in the action sequences. Just to emphasize his gymnastic abilities that have been basically impossible to do.

    Charlie Cox

    Marvel’s Netflix shows were known for their lower-budget feel, often resulting in the use of more practical action choreography that limited what Cox could do as the famously spry superhero. Of course, this doesn’t mean those fight scenes weren’t extremely well-done. Just that with a little added CGI, they might be able to do something more faithful to the source material. Also, to be fair, Cox prefaced his answer with a disclaimer explaining why he couldn’t give a more detailed response:

    I’ve learned that these questions are a little tricky because the problem with them is that if I start detailing things I’d like to do, then very quickly, it becomes a news story. It potentially gets in the minds of not only the fans but also the creators and the writers. I really want to be careful not to muddy those waters because if it turns out to be a good idea, it can be a shame because it robs the fans of that moment of discovery. So forgive me for being a little bit vague in this area.

    Charlie Cox

    Daredevil: Born Again is set to debut on Disney+ in the spring of 2024, with Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning to their respective roles of Murdock and crime lord Wilson Fisk.

    Source: GQ

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Star Tatiana Maslany Discusses a Potential ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Appearance

    ‘She-Hulk’ Star Tatiana Maslany Discusses a Potential ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Appearance

    Episode 8 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law saw Charlie Cox guest star as both Matt Murdock and Daredevil and fans ate up both his performance and the chemistry between his character and Tatiana Maslany’s Jen Walters. Since the episode debuted, fans have been clamoring to see more of the two together and while they got a few seconds of screen time with one another in the finale of She-Hulk, it didn’t quite satisfy the need of fans nor, apparently, Maslany.

    In an interview with THR, Maslany joked that she’s been texting Cox daily, trying to find a way to guest star in Daredevil: Born Again, which is currently set to stream in 2024.

    I keep texting him being like, ‘Am I required for set today?’ And he says, ‘We’ll let you know by lunch.’ But he just keeps putting it off. I’ve been waiting outside the set in my She-Hulk costume, so just put me in, coach.

    Tatiana Maslany

    While fans wait for word on a potential second season of She-Hulk and what future the character has in store in the wider MCU, it’s wonderful to see Maslany campaigning to keep the fire hot between Jen and Matt!

    All 9 episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law are now streaming on Disney Plus.

    Source: THR

  • Tatiana Maslany Says She-Hulk Isn’t Serious About Dating Daredevil

    Tatiana Maslany Says She-Hulk Isn’t Serious About Dating Daredevil

    In an interview with ExtraTV, She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany dished on one of the show’s biggest talking points: Jennifer’s blossoming relationship with Matt Murdock. Upon watching the conclusion of the series where Jen introduces Matt to her family, a portion of the fandom wondered whether this romance would carry on to future installments. Maslany thinks that isn’t the case:

    Tatiana also shared her take on the relationship between Matt, aka Daredevil, and Jen, saying that their relationship isn’t serious “at all.” She added, “I think Jen is half, like, trolling Matt… I think also there’s something about the way Matt is with her, where it seems like he’s just cool with who she is.”

    Charlie Cox has expressed his desire for Maslany to appear in his upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series. While it certainly would be great to see the actor crossover to a darker show like Born Again, her larger-than-life presence might sully what fans are hoping to be a grounded, realistic vision of Matt Murdock’s story. The character has had his fill of romances in his Netflix show but this new one he has isn’t too bad either so we’ll let K.E.V.I.N. decide.

    Source: Extra TV

  • RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    RUMOR: ‘Ironheart’ Adds Another Magic User and Ally of Doctor Strange

    Marvel Studios upcoming Disney Plus streaming series Ironheart continues to shape up to be the MCU’s first really magic vs. tech battle. Kevin Feige announced Anthony Ramos as the series’ main antagonist, Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, at D23 and a recent rumor that Sacha Baron Cohen will appear as Mephisto continues to gain traction as more sources chime in on its legitimacy. With two major magic users in her way, it would stand to reason that Riri Williams might need some help understanding just what she’s up against and a new rumor might point in the direction of just that kind of ally.

    According to Geek Vibes Nation, actress Regan Aliyah, who joined the cast at the end of August, is set to play Zelma Stanton in Ironheart. Stanton is a relatively recent addition to the Marvel Comics’ universe, having been introduced in 2015 at the beginning of Jason Aaron’s run on Doctor Strange. Shortly after meeting Strange, Zelma agreed to work at the Sanctum Santorum as his librarian. More recently, Zelma has appeared in Strange Academy, a series in which Strange and some of the most powerful magicians in the Marvel Universe have opened a school for young magic users.

    https://twitter.com/GeekVibesNation/status/1581619861540986880?t=tR1vZCaIZRAdqr-l091W7Q&s=19

    At this point, we can only speculate as to what Zelma’s role in Ironheart might entail, but it does seem likely she will be assisting Riri as she learns about magic and takes on The Hood and the powerful demon Mephsito. As is often the case for characters adapted into the MCU from the comics, Zelma’s origin story might be changed a bit to allow for her to hop right into the action. Whatever the case, for a show featuring a tech genius, Ironheart is becoming very magic-heavy and very interesting.

  • A Fun New Rumor Suggests a Much Talked About Character Will Debut in ‘Ironheart’

    A Fun New Rumor Suggests a Much Talked About Character Will Debut in ‘Ironheart’

    Marvel Studios Ironheart will introduce one of Marvel Comics’ most ruthless villains to the MCU: Parker Robbins, aka The Hood. Anthony Ramos will be playing Robbins and was introduced at D23 by Kevin Feige, though little was revealed about his origins or motivations. Footage from Ironheart did, however, show a very comic-accurate-looking cloak on The Hood and a new rumor indicates that its origins may be a bit less comic-accurate.

    According to My Time to Shine Hello, Robbins’ cloak, which is the source of many of the magical powers he wields in the comics, will be connected to the demon Mephisto. In the comics, the cloak originally belonged to Dormammu, who used it to possess Robbins at one point. With Mephisto filling the role, it’s likely that Ironheart will feature Mephisto, the Great Corrupter, sinking his claws into Robbins and making a deal for his soul, as he does.

    Fans have believed Mephisto was going to appear in every Marvel Studios’ project for the last several years and no doubt some of them will pound their chests to tell you that they were right; however, finally introducing the Master of Malice to the MCU opens up a wealth of new stories that can be told, including the long-gestating Ghost Rider project and a comic-accurate origin for the Silver Surfer!

    An additional rumor suggests that the actor bringing the Dread Persuader to life in the MCU will be Sacha Baron Cohen. While Cohen is most well-known as his wild antics Borat, Ali G. and others, he recently received praise for more serious work in Netflix’s The Spy and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Trial of the Chicago 7, his third nomination as he was also nominated for the screenplay of both Borat films.

    https://twitter.com/MStudiosNews/status/1581268062497800193

    Cohen’s versatility as a performer makes him a fascinating choice for Mephisto, should the rumor prove to be true. A deal to play Mephisto would likely keep the Cohen busy for quite some time because, as comic fans know, Mephisto has found himself in just about everyones’ business at one time or another.