Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel TV

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 2

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 2

    Welcome back to another installment of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law From Page to Screen. Last week, we looked at the differences between the comics’ and series’ versions of Jennifer Walters becoming She-Hulk as seen in the first episode. In Episode 2, 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).

    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

    The Hiring/Firing

    Both She-Hulk #1 (2004) and She-Hulk Episode 2 feature a specific moment. In the comics, Jen is hired by Holden Holliway in a bar. There, she transformed back into Jen from She-Hulk after drinking and was immediately drunk. The live-action series adapted this moment, though not when she was being hired. Instead, Jen explains her “different metabolism” when drunkenly being fired from her job at the District Attorney’s Office.

    The series also interestingly reversed Jen’s presence in the GLK&H office. In the series, Holliway asks her to be in She-Hulk form to be the face of the division. Jen is upset because she feels more comfortable in her human form. In the comics, however, Jen is much more comfortable in She-Hulk form, but Holliway asks that she always be in Jen form for work. It makes sense that the series would want to spend more time with She-Hulk herself, so the reverse of the comics’ situation suits where Jen’s story is currently at.

    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

    Superhuman Law Division

    The most important aspect of GLK&H in all media is, of course, the fact that the firm has a superhuman law division. While it will likely change over the course of She-Hulk, a difference between the comics and the series is obvious through Jen’s first tour of the firm. In She-Hulk #1 (2004), GLK&H’s superhuman division has been flourishing for some time. Doctor Strange is involved in negotiations while Jen starts her first day. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s history with superhumans in society is much shorter than the comics’. She-Hulk seems to be actively moving the live-action world forward, but for the time being, GLK&H’s superhuman law division is relatively empty of superhumans. But Jen’s meeting with Emil Blonsky, aka The Abomination, is already showing the series’ potential to get as absurd as the comics.

    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk #1 (2004)

    Another GLK&H superhuman law division component appears on the page and screen. In Episode 2, Augustus “Pug” Pugliese introduces himself by walking in the door. Pug is a character directly from She-Hulk (2004), and he also introduced himself while walking into the room there too. It’s a minor detail, but nonetheless, something the mediums shared. Pug is another lawyer in Jen’s division at GLK&H, and has been a neighbor and roommate to her in the comics. It has yet to be seen how large of a role Pug will play in She-Hulk, but he becomes a close friend (and one-way love interest) during his comics story.

    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

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

  • REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk’: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2

    REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk’: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2

    After the first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law was dedicated to establishing Jen’s character and origin as the titular character, the second serves as a strong transition from that more traditional Marvel Cinematic Universe style of storytelling into what the series promised it would be—a half-hour episodic legal comedy.

    Episode 2 does not fully embrace new terrain, as the premise of the show is still laying the groundwork for future episodes. There are still elements of an origin story considering Jen is freshly She-Hulk and the story has to tackle the immediate consequences of that. But by the end of this episode, Jen is firmly established in her new job, formally setting the stage for more consistently-structured and individually-wrapped episodes and mini-narratives.

    The nature of Jen’s job as a lawyer practicing superhuman law is designed to take advantage of the wider use of known and new MCU characters that can come in and out of the series as if it were a revolving door. The foundation She-Hulk sits upon is—by MCU standards—an incredibly unique and fresh concept of a somewhat self-contained universe of story type and tone that simultaneously relies heavily on the greater universe to thrive. The beauty of the series concept is that the MCU as a whole has a somewhat unfettered ability to come into the show for the show’s own purposes. Consequently, how viewers see the MCU can be changed, but the consequences of a She-Hulk episode do not necessarily have to genuinely impact elements or characters in the larger narrative. Moreover, the series can tap into the MCU with reckless abandon, but by design, this does not force it to be anything but its own series.

    Tim Roth’s reemergence as 2008 The Incredible Hulk’s Emil Blonksy is a perfect example of this. Blonksy, aka the Abomination, was never a comedic character. In fact, after his debut 14 years ago, he has barely been any kind of character at all. But in this She-Hulk episode, he is hilarious. His mini-story about parole allows his character to be “changed”, but the real magic is in the series’ ability to take any character and reframe them in the show’s own comedic light.

    The huge character inclusions in She-Hulk, like Banner and Blonksy, also makes the show feel bigger and more exciting for everyone involved. Blonsky in particular connects the Hulk theme and invokes some of the purest MCU nostalgia there is. By being so connected, the series can be the universal hub of fan service, even if it is not the vessel one would expect it in.

    Presumably, the series could ultimately lean toward a more traditional MCU-specific plot like other series, which would naturally cause it to deviate from an episodic legal comedy. But the show could surprise and actually maintain its relatively closed-off structure for the sake of She-Hulk alone. Bruce’s departure back into space clearly beckons larger implications for She-Hulk. Whether those implications affect the series itself or just the character in the future is yet to be seen. 

    She-Hulk’s second episode brings the series closer to where it will get comfortable in coming weeks. For now, it is still in some transition mode, but the humor and personality remain consistent throughout the first two episodes. The series’ has absolutely wild potential as a fan service machine, and the nature of the show is actually built to handle that type of giddy excitement without distracting from anything else. After this episode, She-Hulk is surely set to hit the ground running and embrace its concept from here on out.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Director Reveals Which Episode She is Most Excited for Fans to See

    ‘She-Hulk’ Director Reveals Which Episode She is Most Excited for Fans to See

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is set to bring the half-hour legal comedy genre to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because of the show’s premise and structure, the storytelling potential is broad. In episodic format, She-Hulk could bring individual cases to the forefront of each episode. Considering the series’ tone, the type of stories that may get told have the ability to be vastly different—and weirder—than previously seen in the MCU.

    Trailers for She-Hulk have already given away that some major cameos are yet to come in future episodes, including Benedict Wong’s Wong and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. Director Kat Coiro, who directed six of the series’ nine episodes recently revealed which episode she is most excited for fans to see. She told The Hollywood Reporter:

    I have to say, I am very partial to episode four at the Mystic Castle. Patty Guggenheim, who plays Madisynn, is a comedic genius, and her and Wong playing off each other is one of my favorite elements of the show. I also love Donnie Blaze and that whole setting. [Episode four’s] courtroom scene is just one of my favorites in the whole series, and it was written by a writer named Melissa Hunter. 

    Kat Coiro

    Fans will have to wait a couple more weeks to judge Episode 4 for themselves, but it certainly appears to be taking the courtroom comedy genre to heart.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s first two episodes are now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Addresses Fan Expectations for Major Cameos

    ‘She-Hulk’ Writer Addresses Fan Expectations for Major Cameos

    Marvel Studios’ newest series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, is already making a name for itself within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though only the first episode is currently available to stream on Disney+, the series and its promotional materials have caused fans to speculate or even expect some huge cameos and surprises in the rest of the series.

    To be fair, the first episode alone already includes Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner and a Sakaaran ship. She-Hulk trailers have also given away appearances by characters like Tim Roth’s Abomination, Benedict Wong’s Wong, and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil. All three of those inclusions are significant characters. The Abomination is an original 2008’s The Incredible Hulk character, Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme, and Daredevil’s introduction to the MCU is one of the most fan-hyped and discussed topics out there.

    Still, fan expectations for cameos and surprises have resulted in disappointment in the past, and the mixed reaction to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is proof of that. She-Hulk head writer Jessica Gao addressed these types of expectations for the series. Speaking with Life Hacker, Gao told fans:

    Do not set yourself up with big expectations to be disappointed.

    Jessica Gao

    Of course, Gao neither confirms nor denies future major cameos or big surprises in later episodes of She-Hulk. But she echoes general advice for the Phase 4 MCU fan to enjoy the project for what it is, not for whether or not certain rumors came true. Some series, such as Loki and Hawkeye, did end up treating fans to huge surprise cameos. Like any project, She-Hulk has plenty of unconfirmed rumors floating around. Only time will tell if it has more big reveals other than what has been seen in trailers and advertisements.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law releases new episodes on Thursdays on Disney+.

    Source: Life Hacker

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Viewership on Par With ‘Hawkeye’ in First Four Days

    ‘She-Hulk’ Viewership on Par With ‘Hawkeye’ in First Four Days

    It looks like the numbers are in and She-Hulk, Attorney at Law has pulled in 1.5M U.S. households in its first four days. While some will likely make a false equivalence with the recent record-breaking numbers by House of the Dragon, these numbers are nothing to downplay. She-Hulk is currently on par with Hawkeye, which was at 1.5M as the lowest viewest show before Ms. Marvel was the first to premiere below the million mark at 775K; though had a much stronger demographic win in that regard.

    What should be pointed out is that those counted for the first five days of its release, which means She-Hulk could actually rival WandaVision‘s 1.6M and Moon Knight‘s 1.8M five-day total. It is strange though that there’s no consistency on the day count used for the data provided by Samba TV, who is a third-party provider.

    When discussing these numbers we always have to keep in mind that they don’t showcase the full picture surrounding these projects. the number is likely higher due to them only being able to pull their data from a settings panel. Plus, they also do not have any mobile data which could’ve worked in Ms. Marvel‘s favor given its younger audience focus. There’s still a lot we don’t know about what Disney+ considers a “success” for their Disney+ line-up. So, we can only theorize based on external data sources but luckily we have something to get an idea.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Showrunner Says Charlie Cox Was “Very Game” to Play “Funny” Daredevil

    ‘She-Hulk’ Showrunner Says Charlie Cox Was “Very Game” to Play “Funny” Daredevil

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has finally premiered on Disney+, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe series has already generated a lot of discussion outside of its first episode. One of the most talked-about characters in the entire franchise is set to make his MCU debut at some point in the half-hour comedy show. As seen in She-Hulk’s trailer, Charlie Cox will reprise his role of Daredevil in the series.

    After appearing as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the alter ego of Cox’s character on the beloved Netflix Daredevil series is confirmed to be officially entering the MCU in She-Hulk. Considering both Jennifer Walter and Matt Murdock are lawyers, it makes sense to bring the two together in a legal show. However, fans of the dark and gritty Daredevil show will have to adjust to a different side of the character, as writers have confirmed that in She-Hulk, Daredevil will be lighter and funnier than he previously has been portrayed.

    She-Hulk head writer and showrunner Jessica Gao spoke to Collider about Cox’s reaction to the role, describing him as “very game to play around” with the lighter side of the character. She also explained why he “fit into the show so perfectly“:

    He has such reverence and love for that character. It’s clear that the character meant so much to him, but he also came very game to play around. He was totally up for more funny banter and having this fun dynamic with Jen and She-Hulk. It really feels like the character from the comics. It was so fun because he really does fit into the show so perfectly. They’re both lawyers, and they’re both superheroes. Who else can say that they have that in common? It was just very fun thinking about what their dynamics would be, based on the personalities of these two characters.

    Jessica Gao

    Fans of Daredevil and the character will finally see the dream of Cox’s return become reality in the coming weeks. While he may come across differently in She-Hulk than in the Netflix show, Gao has previously discussed how any MCU character the series used is framed in a comedic light to fit the show. So Daredevil’s first official appearance in the MCU may say little to nothing about how he will be portrayed in the future, including in the eventual Daredevil: Born Again series.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is currently streaming on Disney+, and new episodes are released weekly.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 1

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 1

    Another Marvel Studios Disney+ series, another installment of From Page to Screen. Each week, we will compare Marvel comics’ elements to the live-action episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. You can check out previous From Page to Screen series for Hawkeye, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel. With the first episode of She-Hulk streaming, it is the perfect time to look at the character’s origin in comics and on screen.

    In the comics, as laid out in Savage She-Hulk #1 (1980), Jennifer Walters was a prosecutor who also happened to be the cousin of Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk. Jen was an ambitious lawyer who took her job very seriously. One day, Bruce came to visit her and revealed to her that he was the Hulk, which at the time was more or less a secret to the public. At the time, Jen was eyeing bringing criminal charges against Nicholas Trask, a notorious crime boss. Trask’s goons followed Jen and Bruce as they were driving. When they got out of the vehicle, Trask shot and seriously wounded Jen. Bruce, deciding there was not enough time to get Jen to a hospital, gave her a transfusion of his own blood. The transfusion saved Jen’s life, but gamma radiation in Bruce’s blood caused her to transform into the She-Hulk.

    Savage She-Hulk #1
    Savage She-Hulk #1
    Savage She-Hulk #1
    Savage She-Hulk #1

    How the Series Handled the Origin

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s first episode focused on Jen’s origin as She-Hulk. While the fundamentals of the character’s comics origin are still in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the live-action version of her origin is undoubtedly significantly different. Still, the basic concept of Jen becoming a Hulk because Bruce’s blood entered her veins made it into the series. Instead of a transfusion, however, their blood accidentally comes into contact after a car wreck. Jen, whose arm is leading from slicing it on some vehicle wreckage, pulls Bruce (who is also bleeding) from the car. Bruce warns her to stay away, but it is too late.

    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Attorney at Law Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Attorney at Law Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Attorney at Law Episode 1

    Another interesting component that is present in the comics and series is the car ride. It seems relatively insignificant to the greater story, but both involve tragedy after Bruce visits his cousin. How the car ride turns out, though, is obviously very different. In She-Hulk, Jen is still a prosecutor, but there is nothing about her targeting a crime boss. Instead of being shot, the car goes off a cliff to avoid a Sakaaran ship that blocks the road.

    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Attorney at Law Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Attorney at Law Episode 1

    Considering She-Hulk is being introduced, essentially from scratch, in the MCU, it makes sense that her origin would be updated to reflect the established universe and also benefit the series. As a half-hour comedy, a more elaborate crime boss backstory could take up too much time if it isn’t particularly relevant. The accidental blood mix-up also streamlines Bruce’s role in Jen’s transition—he may have a lot less emotional investment or guilt surrounding the event if it didn’t involve an intentional choice by him.

    We will keep analyzing how the comics are adapted in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law as the series continues. The first episode is now streaming on Disney+.

  • ‘Moon Knight’s Costume Designer Teases a Few Hidden Details

    ‘Moon Knight’s Costume Designer Teases a Few Hidden Details

    It feels like forever ago that Oscar Isaac‘s passion project, Moon Knight, was released on Disney+. The series took a deep look at the character’s Egyptian ties and what it’s like living with DID; not letting the superheroic aspect of the character overshadow the topics it explores. The project also gave costume designer Meghan Kasperlik a curious challenge with a hero that is mostly covered in white cloth.

    She got a chance to sit down alongside Isaac to discuss how she tackled the project. She highlights that Egyptian director Mohamed Diab wanted to keep the characters grounded, which she took into the design. Not only that, she even added that she hid a few interesting details in the clothing. In addition to the expected Egyptian symbols, she also wanted to give Isaac‘s Guatemalan heritage a callout with some hidden Mayan symbolism.

    Oscar Isaac also reflected on how important these details are, especially when you “pour your heart” into a passion project like this, as he highlights with the following quote:

    You kind of pour your heart into the things that you do just for the sake of doing it — not even for the result. You put that stuff in there out of a sense of play, and a sense of fun and excitement because it means something to you, and whether that shows up literally on camera is kind of beside the point.

    Oscar Isaac

    He adds the importance of why they add detail and texture to these heroic costumes; a counterpoint to many that complain about Marvel Cinematic Universes’ attention to detail in its costumes which is criticized as being “overdesigned.”

    I think the idea is that it infuses depth. You just feel the depth of it. All the detail, all the texture, all of that stuff, someone in a rush — which you definitely were always in — you could kind of let that stuff fall to the side, especially when you have six hours of show to make, which is always just so wild. And to still find the space and the interest to infuse everything you could with some sort of meaning, it’s just so great.

    Oscar Isaac

    It definitely is an important touch, and the way design is adapted into live-action requires different elements and more. You want to make the costume pop, the complexity which is highlighted in Mr. Knight’s design. In the comics, a straightforward white suit would just not translate as well to live-action as many wished it would. So, they add personal touches to make these designs stand out from their comic predecessors.

    Source: Deadline

  • First Look at ‘She-Hulk’ Funko Pops Revealed

    First Look at ‘She-Hulk’ Funko Pops Revealed

    The tradition continues as with each new episode of a Marvel disney+ show, or any Disney+ show to be fair, we also get a batch of new Funko Pops. With She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘s release, we have our new batch of characters and it’s quite the collection. Not only do Jennifer Walters and Nikki Ramos get their own Funkos, but so did the returning Hulk. It is rather surprising that they aren’t including one for She-Hulk, the character in the title of the series.

    What also stands out is that the outfit worn by Hulk isn’t actually yin the premiere episode. So, it might actually be a tease for something he wears at a later point in the story. Perhaps he gets the chance to put on this new jumpsuit as he takes on an unexpected foe. With the return of Emil Blonsky’s Abomination, who knows if he might end up back to his old ways after all.

    It seems like we’ll have to wait until we can get our hands on a She-Hulk Funko, but there’s a chance that they have a second wave already planned ahead of the next episode’s release. Of course, we still have eight more episodes heading our way, which will give us enough opportunity to get our hands on some new Funkos for our collections.

    Source: Twitter

  • Idris Elba Teases Mystery Project With Marvel

    Idris Elba Teases Mystery Project With Marvel

    Idris Elba might still have a future with Marvel. The actor, who has played Asgardian warrior Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2011’s Thor, was thought to have exited the franchise when his character died valiantly in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. However, a surprise post-credits cameo in Thor: Love and Thunder revealed Heimdall still exists in the halls of Valhalla and has renewed interest from fans in seeing Elba take on the role again.

    Speaking with SyFy in support of his new movie Beast, the multifaceted performer was asked about the potential of a return to Marvel after Phase 4. While Elba has leaned more towards the DC side of the aisle in recent years, he wasn’t quick to deny a future with Heimdall. Instead, the actor hinted that there may be a new project in the works that would see him wear the golden helmet once more:

    Heimdall is a beloved character, I love playing him. There may be something cooking.

    Idris Elba

    When asked to elaborate on what he meant, Elba shied away. However, he still left a lot of room for interpretation with his response:

    I don’t know, I would tell you if I did. Well, probably not…

    Idris Elba

    The last time audiences saw Heimdall, he was welcoming Jane Foster to the afterlife. There is a recent comic book run by writer Jason Aaron that features those two characters adventuring from beyond the grave, so perhaps Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel Studios will find space in their busy schedule to make an adaptation happen.

    Beast is now in theaters.

    Source: SyFy