Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel

  • What I Heard This Week: Two Potential Moon Knights

    What I Heard This Week: Two Potential Moon Knights

    Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. For instance, on February 19th, I wrote this piece relaying some rumors I’d heard about Marvel Studios updating its Disney Plus slate; the next day, the news broke that a special Disney Plus event would be held in London on March 5th where it is expected that Marvel Studios and Star Wars slates will be updated. I also shared information about Peyton Reed directing episodes of season 2 of The Mandalorian months before he made it official. With productions either underway or ramping up, information is starting to come back in and this time I heard something incredibly interesting about Marvel Studios Moon Knight.

    While rumors have persisted that Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Moon Knight will begin production in 2020, it seems like it’s destined to begin filming in early 2021 alongside She-Hulk. Like She-Hulk, however, it’s also been rumored for some time that the studio has settled on their lead actor. I heard whispers as far back as August that the studio had found their Marc Spector and have done everything I could to try to uncover the identity of the actor but ran into roadblocks at every turn. This weekend, however, a very trusted source shared a couple of names with me that he had heard associated with the role. To be clear, there is no evidence that one of these actors has landed the role and I was unable to confirm with a second source that these two actors were in the mix; however, with the absence of news about who Marvel Studios has chosen, I believe sharing some info about names they MAY have considered could generate some interesting discussion. According to the source, Marvel Studios showed interest in actors Daveed Diggs and Nick Kroll for the role of Marc Spector!

     

     

    Diggs and Kroll both fit the mold while breaking it at the same time. Given the prominent role that Spector’s Jewish background plays in the comics (his father is a rabbi), it’s been the popular opinion that Marvel Studios would seek out a Jewish actor to portray Spector and both Diggs and Kroll fit the bill there. On the other hand, Kroll is known as more of a comedian and it’s been Diggs’ vocal talents that have helped propel him towards stardom, though both actors have moved outside their comfort zones in their recent work. Kroll displayed his dramatic chops in 2018’s Operation Finale and Diggs received rave reviews for his role in the uber smash hit Hamilton, 2018’s Blindspotting, and more recently in the Snowpiercer series, a role in which he’s delved not only into some big-time action sequences but also into a world of loss and violence not altogether different from the one inhabited by Marc Spector.

    Again, there’s no indication that either actor sat down and had discussions with Marvel Studios about the role, much less signed on for it. Realistically, unless one of these actors gets the role, there’ll never be a way to “prove” they ever considered; however, if they were in fact on “the list”, it shows an impressive amount of non-paradigmatic thinking on the part of the Kevin Feige’s trusted casting crew led by Sarah Finn. While I’ve been on board the Shia LeBeouf for Spector hype train (I may have built it, if we’re being honest) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen is a popular fan cast, it seems the studio is at least considering some more “off-beat” actors rather than the “edgy” types we’ve all had in mind. The potential interest in the two also offers a little clarity on an age range for Spector and, like the two actors, it’s a little different than what I was thinking. I was surprised to see that Diggs is 38 (would be 39 by the time production ramped up) and Kroll is 42, so while we’re certainly going to see an origin story, we’re also definitely getting a Moon Knight who has served his time as both a Marine and a merc and who has been through the ringer a bit. With all that in mind, I’m even more excited than ever to find out who Marvel Studios has chosen for the role as my mind has suddenly been opened up to a whole lot more options that I was previously considering!

    Marvel Studios Moon Knight is headed to Disney Plus (eventually).

     

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘HAWKEYE’ to Film at Tyler Perry Studios

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘HAWKEYE’ to Film at Tyler Perry Studios

    Productions on the first two Marvel Studios streaming series, WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, are coming to a close and production on Loki has resumed in Atlanta following the COVID-related hiatus. Up next for the studio are Ms. Marvel and Hawkeye and with Spidey 3 also taking up studio space in Atlanta, Disney found themselves looking for some additional space and have found it! Marvel Studios Hawkeye will be using Tyler Perry’s Atlanta studios when it begins filming later this year.

    Hawkeye Concept Art Reveals First Look at Marvel Disney Plus Show | Collider

    Pre-production on the series has been ongoing for the past month and the studio is currently taking aim at a post-Thanksgiving start of filming and hoping that the series has the same good fortune as the others that recently resumed filming without any further delays. Expected to explore the fallout of the Avenging Archer’s time as Ronin, Hawkeye will introduce Kate Bishop, Maya Lopez and, most importantly, Lucky the Pizza Dog to the MCU and is also rumored to bring in classic Marvel villain Madame Masque. The series is said to be heavily influenced by the award-winning 2012-2015 run on the book by Matt Fraction. Should filming avoid any significant delays, the series could debut in the second half of 2021.

     

  • ‘SHANG-CHI’ Wraps in Australia as Simu Liu Heads to San Francisco

    ‘SHANG-CHI’ Wraps in Australia as Simu Liu Heads to San Francisco

    UPDATE: Turns out SF was just a stop on Liu’s trip home and he will not be filming any scenes there.

    Principal photography on Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings wrapped in Australia over the weekend but it’s possible that the film’s star, Simu Liu, might not be done just yet. Liu recently left Australia and in the video below, taken from his Instagram story, is headed to San Francisco where stunt scenes for the film have been ongoing for the past week.

    The stunt scenes have involved what appears to be a runaway SFT bus headed toward the waterfront near the Lower Nob Hill neighborhood. Over the course of the week, we’ve seen the bus reduced from two cars down to one and cause quite a bit of damage, as seen in the set photos below courtesy of @ShangChiBR:

    It’s possible that Liu is headed to San Francisco to film some pick-ups for the scene as it does seem a little too coincidental that the Toronto resident would happen to end up in the same place as these scenes have been being filmed. We’ll keep our eyes peeled and ears open over the next few days.

    Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings is currently set to hit theaters on July 9, 2021.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ is Square-Enix’s Second-Biggest Digital Launch

    Marvel’s Avengers player base has been in question for quite some time. Shortly after the launch, it’s Steam player numbers were dwindling. It currently sits at around 2,000 players, which is a far cry from the initial 29K that started playing it. Still, the game was the best seller in the United States during September, even beating out nostalgia-driven releases like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. It was hinting at the game’s core player base primarily being on console. Now, another release on the numbers may have confirmed that suspicion.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first attempt at a Games-as-a-Server was a hit digitally. According to SuperData, the game has sold 2.2 million digital units in September alone. As such, it is now the second-biggest digital launch for Square-Enix. It is only beat by this year’s Final Fantasy VII Remake. They were even on-par with PlayStation 4-exclusive’s Spider-Man release. They also compare it to the release of other shooters, which puts it between Destiny 2 and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, which is some great company to be in from a sales perspective.

    These are great numbers if you considering the controversies surrounding the game. Of course, this does not reflect how many people actively are playing the game. It also doesn’t showcase how many purchased skins through microtransactions. Its main selling point was on consoles, being placed behind NBA 2K21 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2‘s worldwide success. Those are two massive successes of this year, especially NBA 2K21‘s spike after the delayed postseason.

    Tony Hawk‘s remake was also a massive nostalgia-driven sale, as pointed out by SuperData beating out both Crash Bandicoot and Spyro’s remakes. Super Mario 3D All-Stars was also the biggest launch for a Mario-related title on the Switch. So, we should underestimate the success that is Marvel’s Avengers. These sales numbers could bode well for the game once more content is released, as console players can jump in with future additions. Still, it depends on Crystal Dynamics, who have been rather back-and-forth on when we can expect updates.

    Source: Steam Charts, SuperData

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Spider-Man DLC Eyeing January Release

    There was a lot of drama this year when it was announced that Spider-Man would be an exclusive character for Crystal Dynamics’ Marvel’s Avengers game. As the character’s latest single-player game was a PlayStation exclusive, Sony jumped at the chance to keep that brand consistency. Of course, we have no idea how exactly this would work with consistent updates promised for all systems. We have no idea when he would be released with some rumors pointing him to being a March addition. Well, an eagle-eyed reader of the PlayStation magazine noticed a little detail during their Spider-Man: Miles Morales coverage. u/icematt12 noticed that a small section on the Avengers game states that Spidey will release in January.

    Avengers PS5 paragraph in latest UK PlayStation Magazine
    byu/icematt12 inPlayAvengers

    This is actually a huge reveal, as we were uncertain when he would release. Also, this is from the official PlayStation Magazine, so there is some validity to it. So far, the only confirmed characters are next month’s Kate Bishop, Hawkeye, and Black Panther. The latest State of the Game hinted at a War Table coming next month that will give us a clearer picture. Keep in mind that anything can also change, as CD is currently facing delays due to the first month being quite rocky.

    So, for now, take this as a potential release window and no official confirmation until the developers actually give us a date. Still, it is helpful to get a feeling for when we can expect him, and early 2021 is a good estimate for now. Our best guess is to wait for next month’s War Table video to give us some insight into what Crystal Dynamics is working on and when we can expect it. Hopefully, things will be much clearer for the coming months.

    Source: Reddit

  • ‘Spider-Man 3’ Revving Up for Early November Production Start

    ‘Spider-Man 3’ Revving Up for Early November Production Start

    We are anxiously waiting for the production of Spider-Man 3 to start in November. There is still no sign of the official title for the film, as many rumors start to pile up. All we know is that the story will pick up where Far From Home left off. Mysterio has revealed Peter Parker’s secret identity to the world. That is not all, the former Stark employee has now pinned his death on the young superhero.

    Now, he is the center of attention, as the police and some villains might be out to get theri revenge for the kid that put them behind bars. It will be a challenging time, as he will have to keep a cool head while being faced with his biggest challenge yet. As the film has been in pre-production for some time, Holland‘s stunt double Greg Townley has shared a first look at what kind of action we can expect.

    It looks like they are going one step further with the action. The way Townley landed could also highlight that he will be quite frantic in his escape. It wouldn’t surprise me if he manages to get even more banged up throughout the story. Stuntwork is an amazing aspect of film making, which really deserves more attention with how much work they put into it. I cannot wait to see if I recognize this short sequence once the film releases hopefully next year.

    Spider-Man 3 will be quite an interesting film to keep an eye out for. Recent reports have revealed that the film will also include Jamie Foxx‘s Elektro and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Foxx already played the characteer in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, so this may hint at the multiverse having some role in the story. We still don’t know who the main villain is, so hopefully next month’s early production start will also signify that we will get some reveals in the coming weeks. We have gotten so many teases of what this crazy film might end up being that I cannot wait until we get our first look.

    Source: Instagram

  • ***UPDATED*** Alejandra López NOT Tapped to Helm Upcoming Marvel Studios Project

    ***UPDATED*** Alejandra López NOT Tapped to Helm Upcoming Marvel Studios Project

    Update: We learned today that Lopez was working with Marvel on an audiobook project and not an upcoming project for Marvel Studios as first reported.

    “DEJANDO LA MANCHA DE PLATANO Y AGRADECIENDO A DIOS.”

     

    That is how Ms. López responded to her breaking the news that she will be directing a project at Marvel Studios. Puertorrican born-and-raised director, Alejandra López let everyone know via her social media that her next project would take her to Burbank, California, where she has confirmed that the news.

     

     

    Alejandra López has worked on multiple projects before, her most notable work being the short film The Blue Cape (2019). It’s a touching story of how a young boy in a hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico goes beyond his limits to help acquire medicine for his grandfather. As a Puertorrican, this news makes me so happy and proud of her accomplishment. I wish her the best and cannot wait to know more about which project she’s been tapped to direct.

  • ‘Spider-Man 3’ Should Introduce Inter-Dimensional Hunter Morlun

    ‘Spider-Man 3’ Should Introduce Inter-Dimensional Hunter Morlun

    Spider-Man 3 is shaping up to be quite a unique entry in the ever-growing Spider-Man franchise. Recent rumors are starting to pile on that this will end up the opening to the greater multiverse. Doctor Strange was confirmed to appear in the film. Now, some rumors are also pointing to some other Spider-Men getting added to the film. This storyline could be our first live-action adaptation of the Spider-Verse if they dive deep into the larger multiverse. Still, it opens up an important question about who the main villain would be that ties it all together. Kraven has been on everyone’s list, but with the multiversal aspect of the story, there is another hunter that may take center-stage. I believe that Earth-001’s Morlun might become the main focus of the story.

    The 20 greatest (and 10 worst) Spider-Man villains of all time - Page 16

    Let’s start with a quick recap on who Morlun is. He was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2 #30. He is from an alternative Earth and is part of a family known as the Inheritors. They hunt down totems of heroes that exist throughout multiple universes. They have an obsession with hunting down Spider-Totemic avatars. These consist of the many incarnations of Spider-Man across the multiverse. At one point, he even tried to take on Black Panther as he hunted down Panther totems. The reason for his hunt is to absorb the life of the totems, which give him superhuman abilities. With the help of Master Weaver, they can transport to different dimensions to prolong their lives for eternity. As such, he is described as a vampiric cosmic entity, especially after the Inheritors were the main villains in Spider-Verse.

    Why do I believe Morlun will be the focus of Spider-Man 3? Well, Spidey is on the run from the government. His identity is out there, so he has no place to remain safe. He will have to outrun the police and maybe even the government. His home turf of New York City isn’t as safe as it uses to be. All of a sudden, Wanda’s actions in WandaVision have broken the barriers between the multiverse. Suddenly, Peter is fighting enemies he has never seen before but seems to recognize him. Among them was the recently confirmed Elektro that has some history with him. Suddenly, ta new menace shows his face, who seems to be the one guiding these villains to Peter’s dimension.

    The mastermind turns out to be no one else but Morlun. The interdimensional hunter is after the various Spider tokens. He was previously after two distinct versions of Spider-Man that seemed to have escaped into this dimension. Holland‘s incarnation ends up getting cornered by the various villains. Morlun uses this chance to suck out his life. Yet, he gets interrupted by other Spider-Man. in a perfect world, this could mean the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Just for fun, why not also bring in Jake Johnson to reprise his role from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Together they fight Morlun and defeat him. Doctor Strange appears to help them to make sure they can return home safely, but in the process, Holland‘s Spidey ends up falling into a different dimension before. Now, he is trapped in an unknown world. He will do his best to find a way back home while facing new challenges. Little does he know, Morlun has resurrected and is ready to hunt them down once more.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    There has been a lot of focus on Marvel’s Avengers steam performance. As people have faced bugs and the post-games repetition, it has fallen below 1,000 at times. Still, this is just one of the three releases. Furthermore, these numbers hopefully increase as the game starts rolling out new content. We already saw a slight uptick with the recent Tachyon Missions that will keep people busy for a bit. It will be a challenge to build up its audience, but there is a sign that it will grow once more content added, as going by NPD, the game was the best-selling game of September.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first foray into GaaS was a bumpy one, but it seems the game still paid off. It is now the second-best-selling Marvel game after PlayStation’s Spider-Man. The character’s popularity was probably also a factor in the exclusivity deal for him to appear in this game. Also, keep in mind that the game went up against Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which was Nintendo’s second-best Switch launch. The list included a lot of newcomers with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, NBA 2K21, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

    Marvel is a popular franchise, but it still kept up its sales in September even as it faced media controversies. Its sales will calm down in the coming months, but the reception has been more positive online since the last update was released. It will still be an uphill battle for CD to regain its player base, but character updates will get them the attention they need. These sales numbers at least showcase that there is interest once the game starts getting into gear. In a recent podcast, we got a tease of that the Black Panther-focused Raid will offer. Its size could work as a new way to soft launch the game in 2021. You can read a recap of it right here. I am optimistic about the future of this game and cannot wait to see how it grows over time.

    Source: GameRant (Sales), VG247, GameRant (Mario)

  • ‘The Falcon And the Winter Soldier’ Adds ‘On My Block’ Danny Ramirez

    ‘The Falcon And the Winter Soldier’ Adds ‘On My Block’ Danny Ramirez

    Looks like there were still some new actors that haven’t been revealed for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that up-and-comer Danny Ramirez will be joining Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie‘s Disney+ series. They do highlight that his role has not been revealed as of now but that it will be an important one. Production is still underway, as some videos from the set revealed the new Captain America taking someone out in brutal fashion. It is uncertain when we will see the series released next year, as production continues but hopefully we could see it early 2021.

    Ramirez has been slowly garnering attention. he appeared in Netflix’s On My Block and the Fox show The Gifted. His credits also include Assassination Nation and Valley Girl, as well as the highly anticipated Top Gun: Maverick. He will be joining an extensive cast that will see the return of Daniel Bruhl, and Emily VanCamp. The cast is truly shaping up to be one of Marvel’s best. This year’s WandaVision will offer us some crazy antics in multiple dimensions while Falcon and the Winter Soldier will stick to the more grounded realism that Captain America introduced us to.