Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel TV

  • James Gunn Teases “Absolutely Ridiculous”Guardians of the Galaxy’ Holiday Special

    James Gunn Teases “Absolutely Ridiculous”Guardians of the Galaxy’ Holiday Special

    We’ve all wondered how the upcoming The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special might turn out. It’s very different from what Marvel has done before and we’ve already gotten a tease of a more lighthearted storyline with projects like Hawkeye. Its Christmas setting did offer something fun and if James Gunn is anything to go by, it seems that the next Guardians of the Galaxy special will be much of the same.

    He talks about the upcoming series in an interview with Deadline, where he reveals that we can expect a “very light and bubbly and fun” Disney+ special. Yet, what truly stands out is that he even describes it as “ridiculous.” So, it looks like he had a blast making it and we might get something very special that makes even the Guardians franchise stand out once again as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Yes, the Holiday Special is very light and bubbly and fun and just absolutely ridiculous, so I think that’s great.

    James Gunn

    It’s definitely going to be interesting just how James Gunn interprets a Holiday Special and just how insane it might get with a cast as the Guardians films have. He’s teased some new faces will also appear, and it’s unclear how it might lead into the third part, but it definitely feels like we’ll have a blast watching whatever he and his crew have put together. Who knows if he may accidentally redefine what makes a Holiday Special the way it is.

    Source: Deadline

  • BREAKING: ‘Shang-Chi’ Director Developing ‘Wonder Man’ Series

    BREAKING: ‘Shang-Chi’ Director Developing ‘Wonder Man’ Series

    Here’s a surprise it looks like Wonder Man is the next hero to get his own series, as The Hollywood Reporter has just shared that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ Destin Daniel Cretton is working alongside Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community writer, Andrew Guest, to develop a live-action series based on the popular character. Guest is the series head writer while Cretton will exec produce the series. Though, he is likely also set to direct the pilot episode. It’s currently eyeing a 2023 production start.

    the project is part of Cretton‘s new deal with Marvel Studios and will head to Disney+ like many Marvel Studios projects before it. Given the team behind it, it’s very likely to follow the comedy format that She-Hulk, Attorney at Law is going to use. That means we might get around nine episodes for a full season, though who knows if they might take a different approach as they adapt to the new format.

    Wonder Man almost appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at one point, as Nathan Fillion shot a few scenes as the character. For those that don’t know, Wonder Man is actually an actor known as Simon Williams. He’s the original blueprint for the brainwaves that created Vision in the comics. He also is more an actor than a superhero, who would eventually have various interpretations throughout the years due to his abilities. The potential of a look into Hollywood through the lens of a superhero has been an exciting prospect to explore for some time, something we even pitched a while back.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Twitter

  • ‘Good Girls’ Star Manny Montana Joins ‘Ironheart’ as Series Regular

    ‘Good Girls’ Star Manny Montana Joins ‘Ironheart’ as Series Regular

    The cast of Marvel Studios’ Ironheart continues to expand as Good Girls star Manny Montana boards the series. Montana’s role is being kept under wraps but the actor is slated to be a series regular in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series.

    Two of the characters rumored to appear in the series are crime boss The Hood and Iron Man baddie Obadiah Stane’s heir, Zeke Stane. Montana could very well be playing either of the two or someone unexpected. In addition to those rumored characters, one of the production’s casting calls hints at a “mystical role” to be played by a transgender actress. Whatever the role ends up being, Ironheart still continues to be a series shrouded in intense secrecy.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 2 Primer

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 2 Primer

    This first episode of Ms. Marvel, “Generation Why”, was incredibly relatable to most teens. The first episode introduced Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani girl, who is obsessed with the superheroes that saved Earth, especially Carol Danvers. She lives a typical teenage life and has a loving- and hilarious-family. While her mother is very conservative and her father is a bit disconnected, they love her very much. Kamala has two best friends, Bruno and Nakia, and seems to spend most of her time at school (all the time really) with her head in the clouds, daydreaming about and doodling superheroes. Day to day, she lives a pretty ordinary life and goes mostly unnoticed.

    That all begins to change quickly once Kamala finds this a bangle that her Grandma gifted her. Kamala and Bruno have been looking forward to AvengerCon and Kamala has spent a lot of effort on her Captain Marvel costume. She needs just one final piece of flair and the bangle is it! Unfortunately, while Kamala’s mother is fine with Kamala going to the Con, she has a problem with her costume: she thinks that it is too skimpy. Because of this, her mother refuses to let her go, so Kamala had to sneak off to the convention. During the convention, Kamala went on stage for a costume contest. As soon as she puts the bangle on, her powers start to show and she immediately has what’s maybe a vision (?) of what looks like hundreds of people walking in a crowd. On stage, her powers are totally unleashed and since she has no control of them, she accidentally puts one of the “cool kids” from her school in danger before saving her with a pretty cool “stretchy arm” that looks like her powers from the comics.

    The big question is obviously why Kamala’s grandmother had a bangle that unlocked super powers just sitting around in a box of stuff. Does the bangle give Kamala the powers? Does the bangle activate powers Kamala already had? In the comics, Kamala was an Inhuman whose powers were activated accidentally. While she’s different in the show, it seems like that part could stay the same. It definitely feels like there’s some connection between the powers and Kamala’s heritage.

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    The next episode will definitely see Kamala explore her powers a little more. I’m a teenage girl who loves Marvel movies and the heroes. If I suddenly had powers, I’d spend all kinds of time trying to figure out how they work and see what cool stuff I could do! I also think that she will be in quite some trouble for sneaking out to the convention.

    Episode 2 of Ms. Marvel streams tomorrow on Disney Plus.

  • Eugene Cordero Confirms Return to the TVA in ‘Loki’ Season 2

    Eugene Cordero Confirms Return to the TVA in ‘Loki’ Season 2

    There was so much to love in the first season of Loki but for many, Eugene Cordero‘s Casey was a hilarious standout. The Time Variance Authority secretary was a charming member whose deadpan reactions to Tom Hiddleston’s Loki were a highlight in the earlier episodes. Also, it takes a truly powerful person to use Infinity Stones as paperweights. Plus, he offered a clear look into how exactly the TVA worked and hinted at the eventual revelation of their identity as Variants from older dimensions.

    The reveal of his return comes in an interview with the actor from ScreenRant. When asked on his potential return to the franchise, he was surprisingly open about it and just confirmed that we’ll see more of Casey in the upcoming second season. Yet, he didn’t confirm in what capacity or what we can expect.

    Yes, yes, you can [look forward to more Casey]. You know, I can’t [tease anything], because I don’t even know. There’s so many passwords and passcodes that I have to fill out just to even look at the pages that I’m on, and the way that it works is things constantly change in a great way. There’s so many moving parts in that universe that things keep changing, so I can’t really nail it down, but I’m excited. I’m excited to do more and I don’t know to what capacity I’ll be able to be a part of it, but I’m excited to do it. So yeah, get ready, it’ll be fun, I hope? No, it will be, it’ll be great. [Chuckles]”

    Eugene Cordero

    He certainly sounded like he was having some fun teasing the eventual return and what the second season has to offer for fans of the series. Loki was its most-watched series and it definitely isn’t an easy task to follow up on one of Marvel Studios’ strongest seasons. With a new creative team involved and the arrival of Kang the Conqueror, it’s definitely going to be exciting to see what the future has in store for Disney+ subscribers.

    Source: ScreenRant

  • ‘Loki’ Season 2 Production Kicks Off With Set Photo

    ‘Loki’ Season 2 Production Kicks Off With Set Photo

    It looks like the first of hopefully many second seasons of any Marvel Studios Disney+ show has finally started production. Cinematographer Isaac Bauman took to his personal Instagram account to share that they have started production on the second season of Loki (as shared by Twitter user @enchantcs due to Bauman deleting the post). He shared the first look from the set which doesn’t reveal too much but does tease with the sentence “Just the beginning.”

    https://twitter.com/enchantcrs/status/1536356800899035137

    As Michael Waldron went on to continue his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Eric Martin is taking over as Loki‘s head writer. It’s unclear how they will continue the franchise and if the second season may be a bit removed from what came before. We know that the Time Variance Authority will make its return, but with a new creative team on board, they may make some changes to make the season stand out from the previous one.

    Even director Kate Herron has moved on from the project to tackle new ventures with Moon Knight directing duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead taking on the duties. So, it’ll be interesting to see just how they continue the look and feel from the previous season while still adding their own twist moving the franchise forward.

    Source: Instagram via Twitter, The Direct

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 1

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 1

    Ms. Marvel has finally premiered its first episode, which means it is time for another round of our From Page to Screen feature. Previously, we compared the comics to their live-action counterparts for each episode of Hawkeye and Moon Knight. Now, it is Ms. Marvel’s turn. Despite making headlines for significantly changing Kamala’s powers and origins for live-action series, Episode 1 has revealed that the show may be much more comics accurate than some would have guessed. Here, we look at how the first episode adapted the moment Kamala discovered she had powers from the comics.

    The Comics

    Kamala’s power discovery or power activation moment comes across the first two issues of Ms. Marvel (2014). In Ms. Marvel #1, Kamala is exposed to Terrigen mist from the Terrigen Bomb as she is leaving a party that her parents would not have allowed her to be at. After being exposed, she has a vision of some Avengers, including her hero Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. After breaking out of her cocoon, she discovers she looks like Carol Danvers in her old Ms. Marvel costume.

    Ms. Marvel #1 (2014)
    Ms. Marvel #1 (2014)
    Ms. Marvel #1 (2014)

    Ms. Marvel #2 reveals the rest of the story. While wandering around after being exposed to the mist, Kamala realizes she has the ability to shapeshift and stretch and elongate parts of her body. She witnesses Zoe Zimmer fall into the water and not come back up. She rushes in—as Carol Danvers Ms. Marvel—to save her. She scoops Zoe out of the water with a giant and elongated arm and hand. 

    Ms. Marvel #2 (2014)

    There are people around who take photos and videos of “Ms. Marvel” saving Zoe, which leads people in Jersey City to think that Carol Danvers was around and saving the day in her old costume. Kamala tries to sneak back into her room late, but she is caught by her family. 

    What They Kept

    Ms. Marvel #1 (2014)
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    Despite the MCU’s Kamala seemingly having a very different origin in terms of her powers, this “power discovery” moment for the character is, perhaps surprisingly, notably comics accurate. While AvengerCon is certainly no traditional high school party, Kamala’s mom calls it a “party” when she forbids her from going. 

    Ms. Marvel #2 (2014)
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    At the “party”, Kamala’s powers get activated, but the differences in that aspect are discussed more below. In any event, she still has what appears to be a vision (or something vision-like) as they are awakened. Even more, she ultimately uses her newfound powers to save Zoe from danger. The moment she breaks Zoe’s fall from the giant replica Mjolnir, her powers create a light construct that looks like a giant extended arm and fist in a clear homage to the comics.

    People at AvengersCon took photos and videos of Kamala saving Zoe which go on to make Kamala go viral. Her identity is not known and all that is known about her is that she was dressed as Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers. Afterward, Kamala tries to sneak back home, but her mom catches her.

    Ms. Marvel #2 (2014)
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    What They Changed

    The general narrative structure of Kamala’s power discovery moment is the same, but the MCU of course made significant changes. Obviously, the setting of AvengerCon is different, although this is likely to give Kamala a reason for looking like Captain Marvel when she first acts as a hero. Similarly, in Ms. Marvel Kamala is merely dressed like Captain Marvel rather than actually shapeshifting into Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel. In that way, there is no confusion as to the fact that Kamala is not Carol, but she is still sort of “stuck” with that costume and association after getting attention for saving Zoe. Of course, she does not dress like comics Ms. Marvel because the MCU never had that mantle, though Zoe’s cosplay with that classic costume is another homage to the comics.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    The reason Kamala’s moment comes at a time when she happened to be dressed as Captain Marvel is a product of the changes Marvel Studios made to her powers. In live-action, she is not exposed to Terrigen mist and does not appear to be Inhuman, but instead, the bangle is what appears to awaken her abilities. Her “vision” is not of the Avengers but remains a mystery. Instead of having stretchy, embiggening, or shapeshifting powers, she appears to be able to create energy or light constructs that are crystal-like and breakable. She uses them to save Zoe, although her lack of control of her powers is what caused the danger in the first place. 

    Ms. Marvel #1 (2014)

    We will keep analyzing how the comics-inspired Ms. Marvel as the series continues. The first episode is now streaming on Disney+.

  • ‘Spider-Verse’ Producers Offer Update on ‘Silk’ Series 

    ‘Spider-Verse’ Producers Offer Update on ‘Silk’ Series 

    Sony’s Spider-Verse continues to expand, and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller are steadfastly at the helm of it all. Not only are the duo hard at work on the next two animated Spider-Man entries, Across the Spider-Verse and it’s sequel, they’re also currently developing several spin-off projects. One of their top priorities is Silk, a live-action series based on the Korean-American hero of the same name. The show, set to debut on Amazon Prime, was announced nearly two years ago with little-to-no official word since.

    However, in a recent interview with Deadline’s Crew Call podcast, Lord and Miller offered a promising update on the series’ production. The creative team confirmed the project is still in the works, and fans should expect more information soon:

    We’re developing all that stuff with great care and there’s a really exciting start for Silk. It’s coming along. There’ll be news someday soon.


    Phil Lord

    Silk revolves around Cindy Moon, a former classmate of Peter Parker who is bitten by the same spider that gave him his spectacular abilities. Tiffany Espensen previously played a character named “Cindy” in the MCU, though it was never confirmed if this was intended to be a version of the hero or if she will reprise the role for Sony’s upcoming series. Hopefully, Lord and Miller are true to their word and more news drops sooner than later.

    Source: Deadline

  • Sana Amanat Dispels Early ‘Ms. Marvel’ Cameo Rumors (EXCLUSIVE)

    Sana Amanat Dispels Early ‘Ms. Marvel’ Cameo Rumors (EXCLUSIVE)

    Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney Plus, but prior to Hollywood shutting down due to COVID in 2020 and the fallout that followed, it was once intended to debut in late 2021, ahead of Hawkeye. While the full story of just how much COVID impacted Marvel Studios’ productions may never come to light, it’s clear that it was enormous.

    Streaming series WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier had to shut down mid-production while other shows, like Ms. Marvel, found themselves pushed back as part of a domino effect. Before all those delays, however, I heard and interesting rumor that would tie two of those shows together: Kamala Khan was set to make her MCU debut in a short cameo that would take place in the aftermath of the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Once the COVID delays hit, we were told the idea was scrapped as the focus shifted to finding a way to safely finish the show.

    Charles Villanueva had a chance to talk with Ms. Marvel producer Sana Amanat recently and asked about the rumor and if she was always intended to debut in her own show. As many of the best answers are, Amanat’s was short and to the point saying, “Yes. As far as I know. [Ms. Marvel] was always going to be her first appearance.”

    Ms. Marvel was first announced to be in development by Marvel Studios in August of 2019 during the D23 celebration. At that time, production on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was just about to kick-off and the studio had just begun their search for the actress to play Kamala Khan. As we know, COVID shut down that search and it wasn’t until September 2020 that Iman Vellani was cast in the role. By that time, production on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier had moved to the Czech Republic and was nearing completion.

    With all that in play, getting Kamala into a cameo for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier would seem all but impossible. More than that, a cameo appearance wouldn’t do serve the character’s story in the way that her brilliant introduction in her own show has.

    Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney Plus.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Star Worked With VFX Supervisors to Bring New Powers to Life

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Star Worked With VFX Supervisors to Bring New Powers to Life

    There was some controversy surrounding the decision to change Ms. Marvel’s iconic abilities. While people have warmed up to the idea, especially as it still keeps the door open for further exploring, Iman Vellani offered some insight into how they brought her new powers to life for the Disney+ series. In an interview with Variety, she talks about how they tackled the new MCU ability and the challenges of doing so, especially as she had to coordinate with the series’ VFX supervisors.

    A lot of it was having conversations with our VFX supervisors, [asking] “How heavy is it? How hard is it for me to manifest it? How big is it? How much space do I have to leave in a frame?” Because if my hands here [motions to the outer corner of the Zoom frame] then you’re not going to be able to VFX anything in there.” We had to be super specific about it. It’s an amalgamation of a lot of people’s thoughts and opinions, and now Kamala has these really cool powers.

    Iman Vellani

    She also highlighted how she approach the way her character moved. As she’s a ser fan of the various superheroes, sh based a lot of her abilities on how others moved, such as Captain Marvel and Black Widow. Yet, she highlights that she’ll eventually also grow into her own kind of hero.

    She’s a 16-year-old kid, probably doesn’t know martial arts or any sort of fighting, so she’s probably copying everything she sees the rest of the Avengers do. So, we wanted to incorporate like a lot of Black Widow callbacks and Captain Marvel poses because this was really the only show where we could be as cheesy as possible and it’d be okay. This is Kamala’s life. She lives in fantasy land and she finally gets this fantasy — of course, she’s going to take full advantage of it. Over the course of time, she becomes her own version of a superhero — still clumsy, because she’s not perfect — but more unique poses.

    Iman Vellani

    It definitely sounds like they put a lot of work into bringing the character to life while keeping her core traits in mind. She’s a fan of superheroes and will have the habit of trying to copy them rather than do her own thing. Her family might be a big reason she starts to learn her own place and also further develops these abilities that may redefine her life as a teenager and hero.

    Source: Variety