Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel

  • BREAKING: Iman Vellani is the MCU’s ‘Ms. Marvel’

    BREAKING: Iman Vellani is the MCU’s ‘Ms. Marvel’

    Last week we were flooded with Marvel Studios news and it looks like this week is off to a good start. Despite all the good news, surprisingly, we still didn’t know who as going to play Ms. Marvel. The first Muslim character to headline her own series has seen quite the surge in popularity lately. She is the main focus of the Reassemble campaign in Square-Enix’s Avengers game voiced by Sandra Saad. She has also been heavily featured in the Marvel Rising series. We were just waiting for the official announcement and it is finally here. Iman Vellani will be playing the titular character according to Deadline.

    There’s not much information out there on Iman Vellani other than that she’s a budding filmmaker herself. A newcomer in the truest sense, Vellani will surely become a star as soon as the show comes out. Marvel has always been incredibly on point with their casting and she certainly looks the part of Kamala Khan. It is also great to see Marvel Studios also bring in new and young talent for these major projects. We cannot wait to see her adaptation of the iconic superhero.

    Source: Deadline 

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Long-Term Endgame Potential

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Journal: Long-Term Endgame Potential

    The last few days have been crazy for Marvel’s Avengers. A lot of details have leaked for the game. We just recently got our first look at War Machine and Black Panther. Shortly after, visuals teased the Inhuman Royal Family and even a gear customization menu. We are only a month into the game’s lifespan. The potential of new heroes, villains, and missions every month is an exciting prospect. It is hard to deny that it has been a bumpy start. Some bugs were even game-breaking. Still, Crystal Dynamics has been very active. They have been releasing patches just within the first few weeks. It gives some hope that the game will start to develop from here on.

    I wrote up an article about what I was hoping would be added to the game, which you can find by clicking here. I am slowly getting into developing my builds within the game. While I did play Destiny briefly, I never got too into it, so this is the first time I am heading in with a deep dive. So, after finishing most of the endgame, I do have some more thoughts on how they can fix their current lack of engagement. Many hardcore players may already have invested 100+ hours into the game, so now it becomes a fight to bridge between content updates. I already made a wishlist a while back, so this is more focused on long-term ideas to expand the Endgame concept. They won’t solve current issues but would make the game stand out more among the growing Gaming-as-a-Service market.

    From Mjolnir to Stormbreaker

    So, in my wishlist article, I discussed the overall loot issue. Exotics are currently available either through the single-player Mega Hive or multiplayer Elite Hives. They aren’t that much different, so the chances of finding an exotic aren’t high. Crystal Dynamics also nerved the gear tier Legendary to only having two instead of three perks. Now, this isn’t uncommon as they are rebalancing the game. Understandably, this way will not get the best reactions. At first glance, the gear system is very by-the-numbers. We have different levels with a variety of perks. There isn’t much making it stand out, as visual flourishes aren’t applied here like with Destiny. I don’t mind it as I’d rather hate finding a gear I enjoy but have to switch it out for better perks. It probably also isn’t easy to balance with the skins. I started to think about how they could make both sides work and give the gear a better upgrade.

    So, I had the idea of adding a unique weapon menu. Most every Avenger has a weapon or unique charm. So, why not create a special gear system around different weapon types. Users can then switch between weapons that have unique functions. You can collect gear to upgrade and develop them. It can also add visual flourishes like Mjolnir’s handle. This would work in conjunction with the regular gear system. Let’s say Thor has the choice between his hammer Mjolnir, or the Stormbreaker ax. You can now outfit each with special runes you grind. They each add different perks. As you upgrade your weapon, more slots become available. Not only does it give them unique attributes but also gives you an incentive to grind.

    Plus, with different weapons, you can adjust your playstyle. Crystal Dynamics can also expand the gear system with new weapons per character that add some new ability or perk. Of course, this is just a simplified idea that could potentially add some more depth. It would at least offer a unique aspect to the Avengers gear system to make it stand out. Even Iron Man or Kamala, who don’t have weapons to have special items that could be used as the basis. It’s probably going to take time to program something like this so who knows if we would see this implemented soon.

    Not your Usual Raid

    So, we are still waiting for our first official Raid within this game. The A.I.M. Secret Lab will be the first time we have a brand new mission and story element post-launch. It will consist of multiple floors and, hopefully, unique environments. We hope to see more of these kinds of events shortly but so far, this is the only one we are aware of. So, I was wondering what kind of Raid events can we expect. Especially if they would include unique villain encounters beyond the existing Villain Sector missions. At one point, Crystal Dynamics will have to face the challenge of implementing larger enemies like Galactus, Fin Fang Foom, or even the Kree army. So, how do they add something new to make these events stand out while pushing multiplayer.

    It could connect to my earlier idea surrounding the Chimera. Right now, it is just a hangout spot for your Strike team. Outside of your shops, there isn’t much to do at them. So, it would be great if you get a chance to develop and individualize your Chimera. You can upgrade it throughout your journey. You can even adapt it to how you want your Helicarrier to function. I would love it if you can also develop a team that is available through your actions with factions. This function can even be used at the various Outposts that you support in the game.

    So, why go through all this? Well, what if a Raid sees an attack on the Anthill or the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. base? If you spent time helping them build it, they will give you more time to complete the mission. Also, the mission is unique if you join another person’s strike team. It creates an incentive to revisit raids that could offer different challenges. Raids could also involve multiple teams taking on massive enemies onboard of your Helicarrier. Each one would create a unique focus and support your team throughout the battle. You upgraded your Chimera to be cryo-focused, so it can temporarily slow down Galactus as he attacks. It would add diversity in the gameplay and also incentivize your work to upgrade your Outposts.

    Long-Term Ideas

    Right now, these ideas are more about the long-term potential this game has. Right now, Crystal Dynamics needs to focus on adding content to keep people playing. These are major additions that could expand the base game later down the road. We still do not know what the plan is for this game and how it will change in the coming months. Right now, its biggest issue is a lack of content once you finish the last major mission chain. It’s an issue for those that want to stick with the game long-time. I enjoy jumping in for a few rounds now as I enjoy the base gameplay. There are rumors of additional skill trees, which is an exciting prospect. It just shows that we are only at the beginning of what is to come in this game’s future. Hopefully, the wait is not that long as we enter the game’s second month.

  • Disney Dates Next D23 Convention for 2022

    Disney Dates Next D23 Convention for 2022

    2020 saw the pandemic force the cancellation of almost every major convention that we have grown accustomed to as fans. While many cons opted to do some sort of online option, including the very well-watched DC FanDome, the general consensus was that fans and talent alike missed the con experience and couldn’t wait to get back. However, as we head into the Fall and COVID cases continue to creep back up around the world, it seems that at least one con we all expected next year won’t be there: Disney has announced the date for the next D23 and it looks like they’re sitting out next year.

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    The D23 Expo is a biennial event that began in 2009 and taken place every 2 years since. Last year’s Expo was a huge hit for Marvel Studios fans as Kevin Feige showed up to announce some unexpected new streaming series and casting info and setting fans abuzz. The expectation would be that they’d be back next year sometime but as experts continue to inform us that life won’t be quite back to normal by next summer, it seems Disney is taking the safe approach by delaying its next D23 Expo until September 9-11, 2022.

    While this news may come as somewhat of a shock to fans, it’s good to see Disney, who recently took Marvel Studios entirely off the 2020 theatrical slate, take a proactive approach. We’ll have to see what other changes are yet to come to the film slate, but as of right now we can expect 2022 to be an absolutely wild and jam-packed year for Marvel Studios with at least 4, if not 5, films set to release. Imagine them capping it off with a huge info drop of what to expect in 2024 and beyond (X-Men anyone!).

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Casting Four More Supporting Characters Including Sheikh Abdullah

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Casting Four More Supporting Characters Including Sheikh Abdullah

    Looks like the upcoming Disney+ show Ms. Marvel is still getting its supporting cast together. We are still anxiously waiting for the reveal of the main character’s casting. Still, Kamala Khan has such an extensive cast of supporting characters that it will help flesh out the world of our young hero. Not many of the Avengers we’ve met so far have to deal with family drama. In addition, her religious background will play a key factor in her character and growth. As such, it isn’t surprising that one of the best characters from the comics will appear, Sheikh Abdullah, according to a new report from The Direct.

    SHEIKH, Male, 50 – 70s, Middle Eastern, he’s the Sheikh at the local Mosque. Warm, kind, and understanding, he’s always there to lend an ear. 4/6 eps

    He will most likely have the same role as in the comics. Kamala will most likely confide in him regularly throughout the show’s runtime. It is interesting that his episode count isn’t determined, as they may film additional sequences in case they need to shift it around.

    Of course, we have three more characters that will support Kamala in her journey. There is the mention of a character known as Auntie Ruby. In the comics, Kamala has an aunt named Ayesha but the character is cast to be between 50 – 70. As such, it could be that she is just another person from her mosque or a family friend that Kamala talks to about her problems. There are also the characters Fariha and Aadam included, who are both to be from Sudanese backgrounds and in their 30s. These may also be family friends, especially with Aadam being described as comedic, funny, and smart. Hopefully, this is getting us closer to the official casting of our heroine, as the show is about to enter production soon.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Teases Dum Dum Dugan for Future Update

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Teases Dum Dum Dugan for Future Update

    There truly is no rest for the wicked. In the last few days, we have been getting a lot of unofficial leaks for upcoming characters. Don’t worry, this time it actually is an official tease by the developers. Now, it seems that Marvel’s Avengers’ official Twitter account is starting to be subtle about future updates. In an official tweet, they asked players what their favorite quote was and included a GIF from the game. Nothing too big about it. Yet, the moment it starts repeating you realize that two areas are being shown off. The first is the underwater base that is the focus of Black Widow’s mission chain. It’s the last few seconds that really grab our attention.

    Yeah, that is Dum Dum Dugan in the green sweater and bowler hat. We haven’t seen this character in the Avengers game outside of a short tease. The first joint mission in the Snowy Tundra reveals that Nick Fury has vanished. He left messages for the remaining members of S.H.I.E.L.D. So far, we’ve only met Hill through mission briefings and she will be the main focus of the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. Substation Zero that was featured in the last major War Table video. If we compare the teases from that video, this area in this GIF are definitely the Substation. The overgrowth in the background is the dead giveaway.

    So, why does this matter? Well, this confirms that the character will be around in the Substation rather than as his own faction. He was a prominent face during Fury’s speech so many of us thought he would be splintered off into his own section. Even the recent leaks of UI visuals teased a War Council faction that seemed fitting for the Howling Commando. There is still a chance he splinters off into his own storyline so this might be a set-up. It is just interesting that the character only showed up now after being teased early on in the Reassemble campaign. Also, it is strange to include him in a random GIF. There is a good chance they are teasing an upcoming update to officially build some hype for the Outpost and A.I.M. Secret Lab update.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Artwork Teases the Coming of the Inhumans

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Artwork Teases the Coming of the Inhumans

    You’d think the tease of Black Panther’s design would be the highlight of the day for Marvel’s Avengers news. We’ve been anxiously waiting for the reveal of the game’s roadmap. It would finally confirm when we can expect various heroes and new mission types. The last War Table video was released during the launch at the beginning of September. Now, as most have gotten to the Endgame we are wondering what the future may hold. It’s not just about characters but mission types, customization options, and many more. Luckily, it seems that Senior UI artist Rick Stalder released some images of his work on the game. They offer a variety of looks at the early stages of the game’s User Interface development. There is, however, one aspect that truly stands out. We might get an expansion to let us create our own gear at some point.

     

     

    There isn’t much to go by with different visuals. It seems that there are four layers that might be connected to the four gear slots of each character. We know this must’ve been early on as J.A.R.V.I.S. design is quite different in the main game. The dead giveaway is the different menus of Create, Customize, Quantize, and Key Forge. The resource designs are a bit unique in this version but there is a good chance this is still part of the development. Most players, including myself, are hoping to create their own builds. For example, I am trying to create a Thor that uses cryo, or freeze-based technology. This would make this a much easier process and incentivize using old gear.

    That’s not the only thing this showcase includes. The UI designer also uploaded character and faction symbols. What stands out are the two symbols for Black Panther and War Machine. These were leaked early on by @mmmmmmmmiller, who provided us with the War Machine design leak. So this also confirms that the Royal Inhuman family would become an additional faction within the game.

     

     

    The symbols are mixed and if it was a specific member of the Family it would most likely be Black Bolt. The story focuses on the new era of Inhumans after the A-Day incident. Now that A.I.M. has been shaken up, it makes sense to introduce the Royal family. Hank Pym is currently leading the Inhuman faction but he can only help them so much. I really hope they get included sooner rather than later, as they would be an amazing addition. Black Bolt or Crystal would also be great additions with their unique attributes. I must point out that both the current Inhuman faction and the S.H.I.E.L.D. faction isn’t included. It is uncertain if the New Coalition Alliance, War Council Military, or Dual Helix Science might be future additions down the road.

    It also looks like there was a plan to introduce missions at the Gold Coast. In an image of an older War Table, we see some familiar set pieces with different names. The Gold Coast is only revisited in the final story mission at the ruins of the A-Day incident. There might have been plans for you to revisit that location at some point. The Golden Gate bridge is shown to be unharmed so who knows how much the story has changed throughout the development.

     

     

    There are many more images in this collection. We see some of the UI during action sequences. They don’t look much different from our final results. The one thing that really stands out is that the main menu seems to have only been adapted slightly. The marketplace and news were adjusted but there always was the plan to split up the single- and multiplayer elements. The only thing is that at some point the Avengers Initiative was to be titled “Sky Watch” which could be a temporary name. Also, the visual includes a comic-accurate Maestro skin for Hulk that I haven’t seen in-game yet. So, we might expect a lot more comic-accurate skins coming our way in the future.

     

     

    If you’re interested in checking out more be sure to click here to Rick Stalder‘s ArtStation entry on the game. There is a surprising amount to take away from here and I cannot wait to see what is coming our way. Crystal Dynamics released the game buggy but has been very active in getting it where it needs to be. Sadly, we are still waiting for that official road map. We do not know how detailed it is but it will be an indicator of what the coming months or even year have in store for us. These leaks have been great to hype up what may be coming our way and I hope these elements like the gear customization and the Inhuman Royal Family will be early additions.

    EDIT: Here’s a shoutout to @spyder4lyfe1994 for finding the info before me!

    Source: Art Station

  • EXCLUSIVE: New Details on Fin Fang Foom’s Lair in ‘SHANG-CHI’

    EXCLUSIVE: New Details on Fin Fang Foom’s Lair in ‘SHANG-CHI’

    A couple of months ago, prior to the production on Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings getting back underway, set photos made their way around the usual channels of a huge set being built in Sydney. Seen below, the set features around a dozen smaller huts surround one larger, central hut all partially surrounded by a large green screen. Murphy’s Multiverse has learned some exclusive details about this set which we now believe to be The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon!

    First seen in Iron Man #261, The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon is exactly what you expect it to be: the resting place of Fin Fang Foom. In the comics, the Valley of the Sleeping Dragon has been the resting place of Foom, “He Whose Limbs Shatter Mountains and Whose Back Scrapes the Sun”, since he and his fellow Makluans came to conquer Earth. Since then, it has been the job of a group of warriors to keep his terrible power at bay by keeping him asleep. This job has been passed down from one generation to another throughout the ages.

     

    Our source describes the Valley of the Sleeping Dragon set as a hilly, seaside location with a temple at its center with the greenscreen serving as the seashore itself. The other huts each serve their own purposes but the other noteworthy feature is the large, bamboo structure known as the battle dome which is surrounded by an area where the village’s warriors hone the skills necessary to protect Fin Fang Foom.

    As mentioned here by MCU Cosmic, it does seem that Foom is central to the plot of Shang-Chi; however, we’ve been able to dig up some additional details that give quite a bit more context. As in the comics, The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon has been under the protection of the descendants of a group of warriors dating back hundreds or perhaps thousands of years, giving a little more context to why the production was casting for ancient warriors as detailed here.

    These elite warriors have devoted their lives to keeping at bay what is described as an ancient evil bent on the destruction of mankind. But, it seems, they are not alone in keeping this ancient evil asleep as our source indicates that while they are keeping a shapeshifting alien that looks like a dragon tucked away they might just have their own dragon to help them fight off invaders! The warriors wield shields and spears made from dragon scales (see our staff artist’s rendition of them below) in addition to one more incredibly powerful weapon: chi. The MCU Cosmic report mentioned we might see some magic users in Shang-Chi and, from what we can understand, these elite, ancient warriors, much like the Masters of the Mystic Arts, have learned to harness energy through a series of movements but instead of it being magic, it is chi.

     

     

    In addition to the set description, our source adds that the village is led by an elder known as “Huang Bo” (this may or may not be his actual name but it most certainly is the character described in an old casting call searching for a male, 40-60 known as a wise, old statesman and the leader of his village) and he is joined in the village by another fierce protector: Michelle Yeoh’s character. It’s not hard to imagine this location being central to the Mandarin’s end goal, with a living weapon of mass destruction sleeping beneath it and all.

     

    How to trek to Vietnam's Hang En and Hang Son Doong caves

    We’ll stop here as going any further into detail will certainly tread into spoiler territory, but it’s absolutely fantastic to see Marvel Studios mining the comics and bringing The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon to life in an absolutely incredible practical set with a touch of green screen. Perhaps the seaside set will include a nice, dragon-sized cave like the Hang Son Doong cave pictured above. Either way, the hype dial for this film better go to 11 as this set will feature some of the best action sequences in an MCU film to date. We can’t wait to see it in person when Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings hits theaters on July 9, 2021.

     

     

  • First Glimpse at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Leaked

    First Glimpse at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Panther Leaked

    Crystal Dynamics can’t really get a break. Their potential Marvel’s Avengers DLC line-up gets leaked during the Beta with around 16 characters revealed. Just yesterday, their War Machine design leaked online. We thought that might be it until the next major update by the developers. Well, looks like we were wrong as one more character has been leaked. Sadly, it isn’t as detailed as War Machine was but it does offer a glimpse of what a major upcoming character will look like. The Twitter user @Jleffel22 was so kind to share with us two images that tease what Black Panther will look like in the game. They’ve started circulating recently without a specific source being named.

    There is not much to go by with these images. They are very small but it is easy to make out that it is Black Panther. The ears and eye design are a dead-giveaway. Still, it was hard to say if this was actually official from the game. Well, that changed pretty quickly as this leak has been confirmed by @mmmmmmmmiller. This user is the one who originally released the image that featured War Machine and many other smaller leaks.

    https://twitter.com/mmmmmmmmiller/status/1310009260961656832

    Black Panther was originally going to be revealed in the last War Table. Crystal Dynamics chose to postpone this reveal in honor of Chadwick Boseman‘s tragic passing. So, we were expecting our first look with the release of the next one that will include a roadmap for the game. Interestingly to note, a while back Miller also released an image of what Wakanda might look like in-game. He pointed to it being the first big addition that will feature a variety of new missions and a raid. That raid would lead your Avengers team into the Vibranium mines to fight Klaue. We cannot wait for the official reveal of what is to come.

    Source: Twitter (Leak), Twitter (Confirmation)

  • First Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ War Machine Leaked

    First Look at ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ War Machine Leaked

    Marvel’s Avengers had a rough start but finally was able to clean out most of the major bugs. Sadly, this is a standard release for games of this kind. Still, we are not here to rest on the past but look at what the future may bring for this new gaming franchise. During the last War Table, Crystal Dynamics promised the reveal of a roadmap for their content. Sadly, we are still waiting for the official reveal as the developer focused on bugs and Quality-of-Life improvements. There was one glimmer of hope in the form of data miner @mmmmmmmmiller who shared a first look at the upcoming Wakanda expansion. Now, he went all out to give one more major reveal in the form of the War Machine design.

    https://twitter.com/mmmmmmmmiller/status/1309659441789374464

    That is a beautiful design for Rhodey’s armor. War Machine is a heavier tank than Iron Man so they hopefully will lean into that fact. His ultimate might most likely be a barrage that we have seen in the films. It will be interesting to see how much he differs from the existing character. The inclusion of these echo characters is most likely so they can keep the meta alive in the game while two players can play a variant of the same character. He will also come with his own set of missions and a continuation of the existing storyline. We will see if they reveal him as part of the road map, as theories are he won’t be added until 2021. Still, it is great to have a hint at what is to come in this ever-expanding game.

    Miller did also share some smaller tidbits in the form of audio files. He seemed to share files that confirmed that they already recorded reactions of Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and Winter Soldier. There is one that he hasn’t revealed that seems to sound like what could be Vision. Yet, it also uses the word “win” which could potentially hint at some kind of PVP mode coming to the game. In my last journal entry, I stated that the game is a bit barebones. So, all we really need is more content with new mission types, environments, and loot to offer some more variety to the game. These service games can become an exciting prospect once it gets starting and we hopefully will get the reveal soon.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘WandaVision’ 24-Hour Traffic Surpasses ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Super Bowl Trailer

    ‘WandaVision’ 24-Hour Traffic Surpasses ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Super Bowl Trailer

    It has been a very dry year for Marvel fans. Suddenly, the Emmys gave us a glimpse of hope as it dropped the first trailer for WandaVision. It was the first new trailer we’ve seen from the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the last Black Widow trailer dropped back in April. We didn’t know if the Disney+ shows would even see a 2020 release. Originally, August was the starting point for this new venture with Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Somehow, the craziest of Marvel Studio projects were able to stick to its 2020 plans. Our first look at the trailer teased the unlikeliest of couples battle in an alternative dimension filled with sitcom tropes. It teases a completely new direction for the franchise and it looks like people are already all in.

    Even though the Emmys sank to a new low of 6.1 million viewers, the trailer has been the talk of the town. Within 24 hours the trailer has garnered around 53 million views. According to the social media monitor RelishMix, this is in the same league as any Avengers or Fast & Furious trailer. It has reached 302.6K mentions which are numbers that are tentpole even pre-COVID. To put this into perspective, it beat out any of the major draws from the Super Bowl. Black Widow at the time garnered 18.7 million followed by Mulan and No Time to Die. Hell, it even beat out Avengers: Infinity War‘s 30.9 million after its Super Bowl reveal.

    This is why Marvel Studios was quiet all this time. They knew that they needed to wait for the perfect moment. People were aching for some kind of life for the franchise. WandaVision not only filled that void but also changed our perception. We have learned to expect specific things from a Marvel Studios trailer. We get some comedy, action, and amazing effects. Yet, this trailer shows that the studio is venturing out into completely new territory that will break our understanding of the franchise’s future. It is an exciting time to be a Marvel fan and cannot wait until they finally reveal the official release date.

    Source: Deadline