Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Reveals Chilling Scrapped Sequence

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Reveals Chilling Scrapped Sequence

    Usually released soon after theatrical debuts and season finales, concept art for projects frequently reveals early editions’ subtle deviations. For Thor: Love and Thunder, it appears that they have let fans witness a few of the movie’s deleted scenes, including one involving abandoned plot elements that involved Asgardian children. More information on that potential story component has been revealed in recently published concept art.

    Concept artist George Hull posted concept paintings on Instagram from Thor: Love and Thunder that were “for the director & team as they considered different options for the final act in the film.” The first painting depicts an early version of the Gates of Eternity, as Thor, still holding Stormbreaker, witnesses hundreds of children being brought to Gorr. Hull also revealed that “the early script had the children’s souls as necessary to enter Eden,” but that director Taika Waititi decided to streamline the story instead, limiting Gorr to just needing Stormbreaker.

    However, the final piece depicts Stormbreaker being used in a manner similar to the film’s final cut, but this time a child is in the path of the beam, possibly to depict Gorr’s need for the children’s souls to enter Eternity’s realm. Gorr’s need for their souls was clearly not present or even alluded to in the final film.

    For some, this raises the question of why Gorr even needed the children at all in the final film. Given the possibility and likelihood that a lot of material was taken out of the final cut of Love and Thunder, there may or may not be a satisfying answer to that question. One thing is certain: avoiding sacrificing the souls of children undoubtedly limited how dark the film became.

    You can check out the concept art below:

    George Hull Instagram
    George Hull Instagram
    George Hull Instagram

    Thor: Love and Thunder begins streaming on Disney+ on September 8, 2022.

    Source: Instagram

  • Ratings for Second Seasons of ‘Loki’, ‘What If…?’ Confirmed

    Ratings for Second Seasons of ‘Loki’, ‘What If…?’ Confirmed

    Aside from outliers like Ms. Marvel’s TV-PG rating, the standard rating for Marvel Studios Disney+ shows has remained TV-14, essentially PG-13. Marvel Cinematic Universe films, of course, have also traditionally held the PG-13 rating since the MCU began in 2008’s Iron Man.

    Still, fans lately have been keen on tracking ratings for projects as the MCU expands past the Infinity Saga. For example, all hopes and expectations are on an R-rated Deadpool 3, Marvel Studios announced that the animated series Marvel Zombies would be its first TV-MA-rated show at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.

    Unsurprisingly, though, the traditional trend continues with newly revealed ratings for Loki’s next season and What If… ? Season 2. Ahead of Disney+ Day and D23, the ratings for both shows have been revealed to be TV-14. Again, given that this is the second season of an ongoing show, these ratings shouldn’t be shocking. But at least fans won’t have to worry about them being less or more mature.

    It will be interesting to watch whether and when Marvel Studios creates other shows outside of its TV-14 comfort zone, like Ms. Marvel and Marvel Zombies. Fans of traditionally more mature characters like Deadpool or Blade, and fans of the darker Netflix Marvel television series like The Punisher are eager to see how Marvel Studios expands its audience going forward.

    For the time being, fans will have to wait until Disney+ Day on Thursday, September 8 and Marvel Studios’ D23 presentation on September 10 to find out more.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘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+.

  • RUMOR: ‘You’ Star Penn Badgley In Talks to Play Mr. Fantastic

    RUMOR: ‘You’ Star Penn Badgley In Talks to Play Mr. Fantastic

    Update: Devin Faraci has taken to Twitter to clarify that he has no inside information on this rumor, which is still a rumor, just one with even less to hold onto than before.

    https://twitter.com/devincf/status/1564117254727315456

    Fantastic Four, which was formally confirmed to launch Phase 6 during Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con presentation, has been a topic of discussion among fans more frequently than almost any other MCU film in recent months. With WandaVision filmmaker Matt Shakman reportedly in talks to helm the film, the biggest question remaining is who will be cast as the First Family of Marvel.

    Only a few months ago, John Krasinski brought a Marvel Cinematic Universe Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, to life in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, it appears more and more unlikely that he will come back to play the Earth-616 version of Mr. Fantastic in the MCU’s first Fantastic Four solo film after providing quite a lot of fan service with his Doctor Strange role.

    On the Marvelvision Podcast, former “Birth. Movies. Death.” editor-in-chief Devin Faraci reported that Marvel Studios had spoken with You star Penn Badgley about playing Reed Richards in the upcoming Fantastic Four film. Faraci had hopes for a Black actor to play Mr. Fantastic, but stated that Marvel Studios was likely going to be “very traditional” instead:

    The guys that [Marvel Studios] been talking to about it are all white guys. That guy [Penn Badgley] from the show You, who probably has the role already, frankly, he’s a white guy. They’re going with the standard… And he’s terrific, by the way, that’s a good choice. But, they’re going very classical.

    Devin Faraci

    Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige previously stated that the hunt for the ideal stars will be long and that the crew would look for “the best actor for the position(s)” in Fantastic Four, regardless of popularity. While this is currently just a rumor, an official announcement of the film’s cast could come as early as Marvel Studios’ presentation at Disney’s D23 Expo on September 10, 2022.

    Fantastic Four will make its theatrical debut on November 8, 2024.

    Source: Marvelvision Podcast

  • 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’ 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+.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Head Writer on Jennifer Walters’ Future in the MCU

    ‘She-Hulk’ Head Writer on Jennifer Walters’ Future in the MCU

    With the debut of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest superhero has been introduced into the franchise. As the final Disney+ series of the MCU’s Phase 4, plenty of fans are curious where Jennifer Walters could be headed in Marvel Studios’ explosive Phases 5 and 6.

    Recently, Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner aka the Hulk, stated that “there’s not going to be another Avengers without [She-Hulk],” suggesting that the new hero will be a consistent presence in future films like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. Now, She-Hulk head writer Jessica Gao has further emphasized the likelihood of Jen appearing in those two Avengers films. When asked on Deadline’s Hero Nation Podcast if She-Hulk would appear in Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars, Gao said:

    I would be shocked if they didn’t start putting her in the movies, especially the group team-up movies.

    Jessica Gao

    Of course, even the series’ head writer’s comments are no guarantee of She-Hulk’s future in the MCU, as creators are notoriously kept in the dark about the future of their characters beyond the current project. Gao explained her approach to making one season of a show while knowing that the superhero may have a larger future down the road:

    Coming from television, you can never guarantee that you’re going to get another season with a first season show. So it’s kind of been trained into my head that, on a first-season show, you really have to tell a complete story that you’d be satisfied with if this is only a one-and-done. Just because there’s never a guarantee, you just never know if you’re going to get another season, so you can’t really hold back and just leave things open-ended. You do have to tell some sort of satisfying arc in one season just in case, and then of course you leave the door open for possibilities for a second, third, and fourth season. So that was kind of my mental approach to it.

    Jessica Gao

    The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming on Disney+.

    Source: Hero Nation Podcast

  • Head Writer Explains Why the Disney+ Series Changed ‘She-Hulk’s Origin

    Head Writer Explains Why the Disney+ Series Changed ‘She-Hulk’s Origin

    Marvel Studios’ latest series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, recently premiered to critical acclaim and positive reception from fans. The series explores Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who becomes a Hulk after being exposed to the gamma radiation-infected blood of her cousin, Bruce Banner. In She-Hulk, Jen ends up gaining her powers due to accidental blood contamination after she and bruce were in a car accident.

    Those familiar to She-Hulk’s origin in comics noticed that this scene plays out differently in the source material. In Marvel comics, Jen’s life is put in serious jeopardy after members of a mob she was prosecuting attempt to murder her. In order to save her life, Bruce decides to give her an transfusion of his blood. After Bruce’s Hulk blood is in her system, Jen begins to transform into the She-Hulk.

    In an interview with Gizmodo, the show’s head writer Jessica Gao commented on why the show settled on the car crash and a large mysterious spaceship as the catalyst for Jennifer’s origin instead of a mob hit:

    Well, there are several factors. First, the head honchos at Marvel specifically didn’t want it to be the mob hit… it just didn’t feel like it fit with everything. But for me, having watched this Bruce Banner, this Hulk, through all the years and all the different MCU movies, it just felt like we saw him be really tortured by this. This was not a gift. He really saw it as a curse. It forced him to not have any relationships. He spent several years, like really, really tortured by it and not viewing it as a good thing. And it took him that long to get to a place where he can just accept it and learn to live with it. So to me, it didn’t make sense for that guy to then willingly give this curse to somebody that he cares about. His cousin, who he really loves. It just didn’t seem right and true to the character and it didn’t make sense to me. So I didn’t want to do that.

    Jessica Gao

    Omitting the backstory of a mob hit also allowed She-Hulk to essentially start from scratch and avoid unnecessary backstory. Removing the blood transfusion element also impacted Bruce’s character after Jen turns into a Hulk. Gao explains these practical reasons the origin was changed for the live-action series:

    From a practical angle, we just needed to be able to start the origin story very quickly… I didn’t want to have to spend half an hour setting something up…If you do a mob hit, it’s like, ‘Well, then why? What happened?’ Let’s just get to the meat of everything. And also the nature of making it an accident takes a lot of the pressure off of the guilt that Bruce would feel having given this to Jennifer because, in the show, we really see how she struggles with it and how she also, like him, doesn’t really view it as a gift at first. So I think that would really change their dynamic if he was completely responsible and that he made the choice for her.

    The first episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is not streaming on Disney+.

    Source: Gizmodo