Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel TV

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 4

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 4

    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 and now, in its fourth week, the show decided to focus a bit on Jen’s love life.

    While mainly focusing on Wong, Donny Blaze, and Madisynn, episode four’s B-plot followed Jen as she tried to rekindle her love life through a dating app. While initially presenting herself as… Jennifer Walters, Attorney at Law (to dismal results), she quickly realized that She-Hulk could be a far more intriguing persona in the eyes of the opposite sex. This didn’t come without its setbacks as the one guy who seemed like a perfect fit, even if being a textbook cliché, lost all interest when Jen reverted to her natural form.

    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 4
    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 4

    This will undoubtedly become a learning experience for Jen, with one of two outcomes. In the future, she’ll either go out as herself so as not to surprise her dates when the morning comes, or she’ll try to keep up appearances and stay in She-Hulk form for as long as needed, while the guys are still around.

    In She-Hulk #1 (2014) she decided to take up the latter as she tries to avoid what she calls “The Look”. The “I-went-home-with-She-Hulk-but-woke-up-to-this.” look. This approach somewhat opposes what we’ve seen from Jen in the series so far, as it is being in She-Hulk form that makes her a bit uncomfortable and feeling not like herself.

    She-Hulk #1 (2004)
    She-Hulk #1 (2004)

    But, as in the show, her decision isn’t always the best. And while in the series she got rejected by Arthur for being Jen, in the comic she’s rejected by Mika for being She-Hulk and exuding a lack of depth that perhaps Jennifer herself wouldn’t lack. The fact that Mika was looking for something more while being an underwear model himself just made it sting a little bit more.

    She-Hulk #1 (2004)

    Another similarity between the comics and the show is how She-Hulk apparently manages to fascinate all sorts of men. What they all seem to lack is a real interest in who the actual person behind She-Hulk is. When deciding to focus on everything that makes her visually unique, they completely miss the mark on what Jen believes she brings to the table when it comes to being in a relationship. It is only when she lets her guard down and somehow lets herself be a bit more superficial that things evolve, only to bring herself to the previously mentioned early morning rejection.

    This, the fact that men seem to have little to no boundaries in terms of approaching She-Hulk just due to the novelty factor, either in weird ways or simply in the worst possible situations, is also a common situation in the comics. This highlights just how entitled some men can be when it comes to women, and also just how much women have to deal with in similar circumstances. And if She-Hulk definitively has the physical prowess to stick up for herself if the situation asks for it, that is definitely not always the case in the real world. The way the series allows Todd to simply utter the words “What a specimen.” right after Jen basically admits to being indestructible just makes everything completely transparent. Just another thing that both the show and the comics have in common. Considering this run is about to turn 20 years old and the subject matter remains incredibly pertinent is also worth highlighting.

    She-Hulk #1 (2004)

    At the end of the day, all these trials and tribulations are what eventually lead to Jen feeling more like herself both in and out of She-Hulk form. Understanding when each look better suits the situation and taking advantage of what each allows her to accomplish that the other one doesn’t, as we’ll soon see in the series as we approach the second half of the season.

    The first Four episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are now streaming on Disney+.

  • Don Cheadle May Have Hinted at Rhodey Being a Skrull in ‘Secret Invasion’

    Don Cheadle May Have Hinted at Rhodey Being a Skrull in ‘Secret Invasion’

    When Don Cheadle took the stage to talk about Secret Invasion at D23 Expo 2022, Kevin Feige mentioned that it wasn’t the series he was there to discuss. To that end, Cheadle and Feige gave an update on the Disney Plus streaming series Armor Wars, a project that fans have begun to wonder quite a bit about over the past few months.

    Feige and Cheadle assured fans that not only was the project still in the works but that it is on track to go into production next year and would connect directly to the events of Secret Invasion. With Secret Invasion set to explore an MCU where Skrulls have infiltrated every corner and with Rhodey set to play such a key role, one has to wonder if he’s been simmed himself, which would put one of the MCU’s most senior members in a very tough and surprising spot.

    In an interview with Phase Zero, Cheadle walked on eggshells while describing where Rhodey will be when Armor Wars kicks off, but left just enough room to make everyone unsure of his fate in Secret Invasion.

    At a very different place and in a way that is something I can’t really talk about but it’s going to be very surprising to a lot of people. And the great thing is that there’s going to be so much opportunity to learn about him and for him to learn about himself and for us, hopefully, to really be able to get behind what makes him tick.

    Don Cheadle

    With Secret Invasion being adapted to the MCU, it’s long been assumed that at least some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes would be Skrulls in disguise. With a small number of Avengers set to turn up in the series, unlike the comic event which involved all of Marvel’s heavy hitters, Rhodey is as good a bet as any to be an alien infiltrator. How long could it have been? And would he even be aware of his status as a Skrull spy (in the comics, many of the Skrulls are so deeply embedded in their infiltration that they don’t even know they aren’t the people they are swimming)? We’ll find out soon as Secret Invasion should hit Disney Plus early in 2023.

    Source: Phase Zero

  • ‘Armor Wars’ Star Confirms Disney+ Series Plot

    ‘Armor Wars’ Star Confirms Disney+ Series Plot

    Marvel Studios has built up a reputation at this point for taking the iconic comics and giving them a unique spin. No matter where one lands if that works for them, it still gave them an opportunity to adapt iconic storylines to the recurrent timeline they’ve built over the years while also making it unique for new viewers. If Don Cheadle is anything to go by, they are going to keep this tradition with his upcoming Disney+ series Armor Wars.

    While he doesn’t give away any details, he does confirm that it’ll take inspiration from the original comic storyline in which Tony Stark’s technology lands in the wrong hands, and this time around forces his friend Rhodey to once again don his War Machine armor to ensure this doesn’t become a bigger issue. In an interview with ComicBook.com’s Brandon Davis, he does highlight though that Marvel will still “tip it on its head.”

    As Marvel does, it’s also an opportunity to take the mythology and tip it on its head a little bit and come up with different ways to tell the story. So, it’s doing that and doing that in spades.

    Don Cheadle

    Armor Wars was announced quite a while ago but seemingly got pushed back for some time. Cheadle teases that Rhodey is going to be at a very different place that he can’t reveal but hints that it’s “going to be very surprising.” He has a role in Secret Invasions as revealed in the Disney+ series trailer and it’ll be interesting to see how it ties into the bigger mythology.

    Source: YouTube

  • Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Did Not Turn Down ‘Loki’ Role: “I Wasn’t the One Who Was Chosen”

    Giancarlo Esposito Reveals He Did Not Turn Down ‘Loki’ Role: “I Wasn’t the One Who Was Chosen”

    Last month, a report circulated that beloved actor Giancarlo Esposito—known for his roles in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian, and more—turned down a role in Marvel Studios’ Loki series. It was speculated that perhaps Esposito sought a film role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than on television. After all, rumors spread last month that the actor was in talks with Marvel Studios to play the iconic character Professor X in the MCU. However, Esposito himself revealed that he did not turn down a role in Loki. In fact, he says he did not get the part. 

    Speaking to a crowd at Rose City Comic-Con on Sunday, Esposito answered a fan question about his rumored relationship with Marvel Studios. Not only did Esposito say he did not believe he was the one chosen for the unknown Loki part at issue, but he revealed he likely would have liked to have played that role. Esposito stated:

    The truth of the story Is this. about four years ago I met with Louis D’Esposito who [is] in the television unit of Marvel. And they had come to me to play possibly play Loki on the television side. And so I did not do [that part], and there were reasons for it. I think I wasn’t the one who was chosen [would] be the honest truth. But I would have maybe liked to do it.

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Interestingly, Esposito stated that not getting the Loki part is actually what led him to be interested in a film role within the MCU. He continued:

    And then I thought when I wasn’t selected for that, that it would be great if I could be in a Marvel movie, not just a television show because I like films a lot. I love television, obviously I had a great run in the television world, doing last year was four shows at one time and the year before five shows. 

    Giancarlo Esposito

    Only time will tell if Esposito joins the MCU. But one thing is certain: fans all over the world would celebrate the announcement.

    Source: Rose City Comic Con

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’s Disney+ Page Teases Special as a Comedy, First Plot Description

    ‘Werewolf by Night’s Disney+ Page Teases Special as a Comedy, First Plot Description

    D23 has come to an end but it still offered quite a few special surprises to keep us guessing on the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Among the many reveals was the confirmation that Marvel Studios’ first special will be the long-rumored Werewolf by Night adaptation. Not only did they confirm long-time MCU composer Michael Giacchino in the director’s chair but also gave us a trailer to get a feeling for what exactly the project might be. Besides teasing a classic throwback to horror movies from the black and white era, we also got a small glimpse of the story. Luckily, the new Disney+ page gave us even more details.

    As first noticed by ComicBook.com’s Adam Barnhardt, the detail page not only includes a great new visual teasing the atmosphere this project has in store for us but also includes the official summary for the project. That’s not all as it looks like the trailer wasn’t lying about the series taking these classic Universal era monsters and giving them a comedic twist as it’s been classified as a comedy, which always has been a great combination with horrors for many years now and makes us wonder how they’ll tackle the character of Werewolf by Night in the story.

    The description reads as:

    On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious sand deadly competition for a powerful relic – a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monsteer.

    It definitely sounds promising and it’s a great way to introduce various fodder characters while building up whatever the “dangerous monster” might end up looking like, as we know it’s the titular character. Though Man-thing has also been showcased in the trailer which means there might be more to this story than what the description may be hinting at. Whatever they have in store for us, it’s going to be a blast either way and hopefully, open up the possibility for more “Special Presentations” from Marvel Studios.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Won’t Be A Continuation of Previous Series

    Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Won’t Be A Continuation of Previous Series

    Charlie Cox made his first major public appearance last night since returning as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home when Kevin Feige presented Daredevil: Born Again to the rabid public in D23. Cox’s return was rapturous and was only made better standing next to Vincent D’Onofrio, who appeared for the Echo presentation.

    There has been much debate on whether Daredevil: Born Again serves as a fresh start for the franchise, as the title suggests, or rather a continuation of where the Netflix series ended. During the press line, Cox revealed that Feige had iterated to him that the show would be different and be about “new stories and new ideas.” Cox went on to affirm this.

    It is a Season 1. It is not Season 4, so it is a whole new thing. Which I think is the way to go. If you are going to do it again, do it differently.

    Fans looking to see what happens next following the defeat of Kingpin and Bullseye will be disappointed by this quote but the decision to do a whole new thing isn’t surprising. As beloved as the cast of the show is, Feige may not share the same feelings about how certain plot points developed. At the most, Born Again may likely end up being a soft reboot where elements such as casting are continued and loose ends are completely ignored. Much like any new comic run where a new creative team takes over, Born Again’s situation is essentially the same thing.

  • D23: ‘Werewolf By Night’ Star Calls the Special “Genuinely Unique to the MCU”

    D23: ‘Werewolf By Night’ Star Calls the Special “Genuinely Unique to the MCU”

    Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for their upcoming Halloween Special, Werewolf By Night, at D23 Expo in Anaheim. The black and white trailer for the special, directed by Michael Giacchino, captivated the D23 audience with its pulpy, grindhouse feel, something Giacchino said he worked hard to achieve as an homage to classic 1930s and 1940s horror films.

    Werewolf By Night stars Gael Garcia Bernal and Laura Donnelly joined Giacchino in Anaheim to discuss the project. Donnelly, who plays Marvel Comics monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, was heavily featured in the trailer, which set up the premise of a group of monster hunters coming together after the passing of Elsa’s father, Ulysses, for a hunt. Following the trailer premiere, Donnelly spoke with Deadline in the D23 press line, giving some insight into the project.

    I think that we can expect something that is genuinely scary and really thrilling, but also something that has a really beautiful heart to it. It’s a really human story. And I think that it is genuinely unique in the MCU.

    Laura Connelly

    Given what fans have seen of the project to this point, it’s clear that Donnelly’s comments on the uniqueness of the project are on point. Giacchino certainly reached his goal of paying homage to classic horror films like The Wolf Man. Now it remains to be seen how fans of the MCU take to the pulpy project when it streams on October 7th.

  • D23: ‘She-Hulk’ Won’t Help Set-Up ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Disney+ Series

    D23: ‘She-Hulk’ Won’t Help Set-Up ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Disney+ Series

    Daredevil is making his grand return in She-Hulk, Attorney at Law with a brand new look. There was a lot of fanfare since he first appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home for a brief cameo and is now set to get his own revival series Daredevil: Born Again. It got a brief showcase during D23 but no further details on what to expect and how it may tie into his overall development as part of the MCU.

    Well, if you’ve been hoping that his appearance in She-Hulk will see the first hint at his series, or even act as the initial spinoff but that’s not the case according to Charlie Cox. When asked after the big D23 panel, he revealed that the series won’t tie into his upcoming spinoff and it seems like it may just be a fun re-introduction to also highlight how Daredevil will be in the MCU.

    Of course, we’ll likely get an actual setup in Echo as it has also been confirmed that Kingpin will make his return in that series. So, it’s very likely that this is more of a set-up for his eventual return in the MCU. Plus, he’s not in New York City for some reason, and taking him out of his usual environment might just serve that very purpose.

    While Netflix’s Daredevil was quite a massive show for the streamer, there still are people not too familiar with the character who get a chance to meet him before fully investing in his story and place in the MCU moving forward.

    Source: Twitter

  • D23: First ‘Echo’ Footage Confirms Vincent D’Onofrio’s Return, Explores Native American Culture

    D23: First ‘Echo’ Footage Confirms Vincent D’Onofrio’s Return, Explores Native American Culture

    We’ve all theorized that Echo would see the return of Vincent D’Onofrio‘s Kingpin and even Charlie Cox as Daredevil. While it’s a spinoff from Hawkeye, it will set the stage for more grounded storylines. During D23, it seems that the first footage showcased at D23 includes the return of Kingpin with an eyepatch, which is a follow-up from the last time we saw him.

    That isn’t all, as they also hinted at a lot of exploration of Native American culture, which is fitting given the character’s background.

  • D23: First ‘Ironheart’ Footage Teases Tech vs. Magic, Anthony Ramos Confirmed as The Hood

    D23: First ‘Ironheart’ Footage Teases Tech vs. Magic, Anthony Ramos Confirmed as The Hood

    D23 has kicked off its Marvel panel in style and it seems that director Ryan Coogler wanted to jump right into his next Marvel project, the Disney+ series Ironheart. Not only that, it seems they even brought some footage for attendees to tease what the new project has in store alongside a (finally) updated loog for the series.

    Anthony Ramos is also confirmed that he’s playing The Hood but teases he’s not quite an evil character. It seems he may have a good heart but ends up taking a deep dive into a dark place at some point in the series. The series is still being shot and people are highlighting that it looks great from the showfloor.