Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Marvel

  • How Sokovia Continues to Shape the MCU Into ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ And Beyond

    How Sokovia Continues to Shape the MCU Into ‘Falcon and Winter Soldier’ And Beyond

    The first two series by Marvel Studios have a curious connection. They both heavily feature a former resident of Sokovia. The fictional country was the main focus during Avengers: Age of Ultron, where the titular villain turned the small European country into a meteor. Its fallout was felt throughout the series, as it leads to the introduction of the Sokovia Accords. In a way, this event still echoes to this day. WandaVision even offered a brief glimpse of Wanda’s youth in the war-torn country. We haven’t gotten a flashback to Zemo’s life, but it looks like he was a wealthy baron. We are learning a lot since we were first introduced to the country six years ago. Even after all this time, it looks like it’ll continue to impact the MCU moving forward.

     

    Where is Sokovia supposed to be? Real filming locations explored

     

    Now, we know that Wanda will potentially take on a unique role moving forward. The post-credit sequence of WandaVision hinted at her potentially breaking the multiverse to find her children, which will lead us into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The tragedy that she lived through was the catalyst for her path to becoming the Scarlet Witch. Even with a short glimpse into the life of Sokovia, we came to understand the hardships she went through. The event would set her down the road to joining HYDRA, fighting the Avengers before becoming one. Who would’ve thought a small girl from Sokovia could become the end of the multiverse.

    Zemo’s effects on the Avengers cannot be understated. The now-Baron was able to tear apart the superhero team from within. He still proves his influence in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as we see him pretty much take over Bucky and Sam’s mission. Zemo got showcased as a force of nature that finds a way out. In a way, I believe the whole opening of the latest episode showcases he doesn’t need help. He was waiting for something to do, as he once referenced that he is a man with time. We sadly never got a follow-up to his moment with T’Challa and how his actions may have given Zemo a new view on life. He might have some big plans once these events end. 

     

    Zemo seems like he's visiting a Sokovian memorial here : MarvelStudiosSpoilers

     

    It’s fascinating how we still feel consequences up to this day. They realized that it’s not just the Avengers’ inability to protect that country but also how its tragedies before their arrival shape people. Wanda and Zemo seem likely to continue down their respective paths of shaping the future of the franchise. A throwaway line that Sokovia does not exist anymore, as the neighboring countries seized its lands, could even imply the arrival of other threats. There is one iconic Eastern European fiction country that might be getting hinted at with this line. No matter how much time passes, Sokovia’s downfall will always be one of the Avengers’ biggest failures that will continue to haunt for years to come.

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals a Brand New Superior Iron Man Skin

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals a Brand New Superior Iron Man Skin

    We got another developer stream with Crystal Dynamics discussing some developments for Marvel’s Avengers. It was a shorter one again, but we still got some minor updates and one reveal. They revealed that a smaller update (1.4.1a) will be released probably next week. It will aim to fix various minor bugs. They also fixed the PS Plus Hawkeye issue for those that haven’t downloaded it yet. CD is actively looking at a way to correct it for those that got the wrong skin.

    Now, let’s get to the big guns. They revealed that we will get a roadmap update next week with potentially exact release dates for Tachyon Anomaly and the Black Widow-inspired Red Room Takeover. We also got a minor update for Omega-Level Threats, and it seems they were able to allocate some resources to fix the issues. They confirmed that one of the issues they faced was that also due to a part of their team being busy with other content. So, once the last bugs get squashed, they’ll test it one last time before rolling it out. CD also revealed a comic-accurate costume for next week’s marketplace inspired by 2014’s Superior Iron Man run. They didn’t only tease it but even “leaked” our first look at the design:

     

     

    We even got a short showcase video of the new skin in action. We have to keep in mind that it was shown on an older model of the game. So, it will change a bit once it officially releases:

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1378099040731213826?s=20

     

    It was a great stream, as they openly discussed patch fixes as they promised last week. The skin showcase was a great touch, which I hope we’ll see more of in the future. CD also hinted that they are still actively looking into their Reddit thread for the upcoming Wasteland Patrol Zone. If you are interested in getting your ideas to the developers, you can check out the Reddit thread by clicking here. Here’s hoping we get more details next week to prepare for the first Marvel’s Avengers event.

    Source: Twitch, Twitter

  • REPORT: Olga Kurylenko to Appear in ‘Black Widow’

    REPORT: Olga Kurylenko to Appear in ‘Black Widow’

    Black Widow will finally release in July. After all this time, we are so close to actually watching the film either in theaters or on Disney+. Of course, there is always the fear that the longer we wait, the more information hits the web. Well, it looks like that has happened as The Direct has exclusively learned that Quantum of Solace‘s Olga Kurylenko will have a role in the first film of Marvel Studios’ Phase 4. The Ukrainian actress is a perfect choice for the Russian-focused story with her history and fluency in Russian. So, there is a good chance she is playing one of the many newly introduced assassins of the Red Room that we saw in the trailers.

    Kurylenko has also appeared in 2013’s Oblivion opposite of Tom Cruise. Her latest projects include The Bay of Silence, The Translators, and Sentinelle. As The Direct points out, there are many angles they can take with her inclusion. She could be involved with a flashback to Romanoff’s upbringing. We could also potentially see her be one of the many trained assassins with them believing she is a prime candidate for the role of Red Widow.

    The film has been ready for over a year. We are still not certain who is behind Taskmaster’s mask. It is refreshing to know that there are still many surprises heading our way once it releases in July. Its release date may also finalize the future slate, as we hopefully get trailers that showcase upcoming projects like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals. The year isn’t over yet and there is a lot more Marvel heading our way in the near future.

    Source: The Direct

  • ‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’ Episode 3 Easter Eggs and References

    ‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’ Episode 3 Easter Eggs and References

    Episode 3 of Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier delivered on what we’ve all loved about the series so far. Fans got some intense fight scenes, some shit got blown up and it continued to give us character development, although in smaller doses this week. It also gave fans a nice basket full of Easter eggs and some references that could give some clues about where things might go in the future. Obviously, the rest of this article will go into spoiler territory, so if you haven’t watched it yet get out of here and come back when you have.

     

    That’s Baron Zemo To You, Peasant

    In what comes as a bit of a surprise to Sam and much of the audience who may not be familiar with the character, the episode reveals that Zemo, who was presented simply as a solider when we met him in Captain America: Civil War, is a Baron. In the comics, Helmut Zemo was the 13th Baron in a long line of Barons Zemo dating back to the late 15th century. While Zemo is on the side of our heroes for now (although our heroes aren’t acting very hero-y), it’s hard to imagine Marvel Studios brought him back to make him an honorary Avenger. We know that prior to the pandemic, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was set to film some scenes at Ploskovice Castle in Prague, a location that, as we speculated here, could be the perfect stand-in for the ancestral Castle Zemo. It’s unclear if they ever made it there to film or not, but this looks like the kind of place Zemo could head at the end of the series to plot and plan and even have a few friends get together…

    Was that a Snap Wilson Reference?

    marvel falconould In a line that could have easily been missed (and also led to a great response by Zemo), we got what seemed like a callback to the now retconned past of Sam Wilson in the comics. At one point in comic book history, Sam Wilson was actually a mobster, pimp and drug lord who went by Snap Wilson. A weird choice to be sure, since at this time, Sam had previously been established as a social worker who became a hero; fortunately, Marvel Comics saw fit to erase this from Sam’s official history in 2015 by writing it out of canon as false memories implanted by Red Skull via the Cosmic Cube.

    Smiling Tiger

    Smiling Tiger (Character) - WorldofBlackHeroes

    Once fans became aware that the series would be taking us to Madripoor, speculation about what characters associated with the lawless land we’d see and, quite frequently, Madripoor big-timer Tyger Tiger was among them. Looks like you could give yourself partial credit on that one because you got the last part right. Episode 3 gave us a reference to a much more obscure Marvel Comics character, Conrad Mack, aka Smiling Tiger. Mack was part of a really interesting group called the Folding Circle who had quite a powerful influence on Madripoor. Mack was also a part of the Thunderbolts Army during the Civil War arc.

    The Princess Bar

    As you first saw in our exclusive set photos, the set that was Lowtown, Madripoor was essentially a giant Easter egg. This episode showcased quite a few of the ones from those set photos,  including The Brass Monkey, but the best Easter egg of the episode came when Sam’s eyes took us to the neon sign for The Princess Bar. We never made our way inside and that’s probably for the best. The Princess Bar, owned by the aforementioned Tyger Tiger, is one of Lowtown’s seedier joints and is oft-visited by Wolverine when he’s doing business in Madripoor as Patch.

    Selby…like the Mutant Liberation Front One?

    While the episode didn’t give us Wolverine, we did meet a character who is likely based on another mutant. Zemo leads Bucky and Sam to Madripoor to meet with a fence named Selby. In the comics, there are a few Selbys, but the only one that would make any sense here is one that was a part of the Mutant Liberation Front founded by Stryfe. Obviously this one didn’t have much in common with the comic character and won’t be around for any MLF activities in the future, but there you go!

    Wilfred Nagel

    This one is awesome and convoluted and just plain crazy. In the episode, we meet Dr. Wilfred Nagel and learn that after working for Hydra on the Winter Soldier project in the early 1990s, was brought into the fold with the CIA where he used the blood of Isaiah Bradley to ultimately recreate a new version of the Super Soldier Serum. We first told you about Nagel’s appearance in the film right here and speculated that his inclusion might lead to the inclusion of Isaiah and Elijah Bradley, but upon seeing the episode there could be a LOT more to it.

    10 Most Paused Moments In Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies – Page 3

    In the comics, Nagel’s story was a little different as he worked on Project Rebirth with Dr. Erskine and picked up the work after Erskine’s death. What’s interesting is that while working there, he went by the codename “Dr. Reinstein”, a name we’ve seen in association with the Weapons Plus program in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. It’s totally retconnable for Nagel to have been working for the US Department of Defense via the CIA as Reinstein. What’s even more interesting is that as a CIA agent herself, Sharon Carter would have potentially had access to information about Nagel’s work, making it quite the coincidence that they are both on Madripoor together.

    There are some other nice nods here. Some are obvious, such as Zemo’s mask and the appearance of Ayo (whose appearance we first speculated on here and here) and some less subtle like Sharon briefly battling with a weapon similar to her comic book weapon of choice. This episode definitely highlighted the globe-trotting espionage that we’ve been waiting for and, in doing so, gave fans a lot to think about going forward.

  • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Leaked Marvel Legends Offer Closer Look at Mandarin’s Ten Rings

    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Leaked Marvel Legends Offer Closer Look at Mandarin’s Ten Rings

    We’ve all been anxious about the future of Marvel Studios films. Black Widow was postponed and took over the July spot, but that meant that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was pushed back once again. We still haven’t seen a single trailer for the film. So far, we can only make guesses on what to expect based on leaked toys. Our first real look at Shang-Chi’s costume came from a Lego leak some time ago. It now looks like we’ll finally get a closer look at the various characters through Twitter user @SpideyParker24.

    Of course, we have a good look at Simu Lu‘s Shang-Chi, who seems to come with a staff of some kind. Meng’er Zhang‘s Xialing comes equipped with a rope, which could be a Kyoketsu-shoge. It is a double-edged knife that is attached to the end of a rope. Death Dealer seems to come equipped with Kunai, which is the classic weapon of Japanese ninja. Now, the big reveal here is connected to the character of Wenwu, the real Mandarin.

    Wenwu comes equipped with a weapon that many Mortal Kombat fans will recognize. However, the big surprise is what you may notice on his arms. It looks like he has exactly ten rings wrapped around both. Now, the Legend of the Ten Rings will be a major focus of the film, as the title implies. It looks like they are taking a unique approach by adapting the rings in a way that would make them interesting in combat. It reminds me of the film Kung Fu Hustle, where a man strengthened his strikes through the usage of rings around his arms. I like the approach of connecting them to the Chinese heritage, which will surely have a major role in the film. Here’s hoping we get a trailer soon that finally reveals Simu Liu and the cast in action.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ Episode 3 Primer

    ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’ Episode 3 Primer

    We all really liked the latest episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Sam and Bucky obviously are hurting after seeing John Walker become the new Captain America; they definitely don’t like the fact that he is taking over Steve’s job. Things get crazy when Sam and Bucky follow the Flag-Smashers and have an awesome fight scene! Sooner rather than later, Captain America and Battlestar show up and we realize that the government is tracking Sam through Redwing. Later on, Bucky takes Sam to meet Isaiah. This makes things a whole lot more interesting because it seems like the Flag-Smashers might only exist as a result of running tests on Isaiah whilst he was in jail. On another note, Sam and Bucky refuse to work with Walker building tension between them. As the episode ends, we learn Bucky and Sam are on their way to talk with Zemo to figure out if Hydra has anything to do with the serum getting out.

    Them going to see Zemo is VERY dangerous because Zemo is the one who brainwashed Bucky and reactivated The Winter Soldier. Bucky’s mind is supposedly better and with the trigger words from Captain America: Civil War being cleared from his mind, Zemo shouldn’t seem like a threat. However, if the comics are any indication of what could happen in the show, there is one word that could cause some real commotion: Sputnik. Zemo is ALWAYS full of surprises. Additionally, Walker obviously got his butt kicked by the Flag-Smashers, could he possibly try to even out the playing field by trying to get his hands on the serum?

    Arlyn’s Assumptions

    We have no idea how Zemo gets out of jail and goes to Madripoor with Bucky and Sam or why they go to Madripoor. They have to run into somebody there and my best guess would be Sharon Carter. Look at the facts, she hasn’t been in the show yet but has been in most of the marketing for it. She has to come on the show at some point in time. In the comics, Madripoor is a CRAZY place. My guess would be that Hydra is secretly alive and well in Madripoor.

    The next episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier streams tomorrow!

  • Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

    The many corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are expanding. As such, Marvel Studios has shifted its focus on exploring beyond the boundaries of the main timeline. With the upcoming expansion into the Multiverse and subsequent exploration of it, I want to talk about a specific organization. Their sole purpose in the comics was to guard that very Multiverse and why, moving forward, Marvel Studios should introduce an iconic organization from the comics and, more importantly, the hero connected to it.

     

    A Brief Comic History Lesson

     

    We all know the name Merlin. The sorcerer from the Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He helps the king in battle and aids him with his magic. Did you know that he has a very prominent role in Marvel Comics? He is the one who ends up coining the term “Multiverse” and established the Captain Britain Corps. The reason is that Great Britain serves as the nexus of all dimensions. As such, he once protected the veil between realities as the Sorcerer Supreme before the Ancient One took the title. To ensure the Multiverse’s safety, he ensured that each universe had a man holding the Captain Britain title.

     

    The MCU Connection

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will arrive in 2022, and it’ll give Marvel Studios the perfect opportunity to sneak in a reference or two to the multiversal organization. Of course, it would be a waste not to talk about its founder, whose history as the Sorcerer Supreme makes him a perfect candidate for an appearance. Luckily, the ever-expanding universe has also added another brief mention that connects to the multiversal protection corp. It may not be a coincidence that Britain is not only a Nexus point but also the filming location for the sequel may not be a coincidence.

     

     

    Do you remember the final commercial in the seventh episode of WandaVision? Almost every single commercial in the show was a direct reference to something in Wanda Maximoff’s grief. Yet, the only commercial that many of us didn’t recognize was the Nexus pills. In a way, it could imply an event that has yet to occur. I suspect that it references “The Nexus of All Realities,” which first got referenced in the MCU by Dr. Erik Selvig during Thor: The Dark World. At the time, it connected to the Nine Realms, but it looks like that was just the beginning.

     

    Just the Beginning

    The Captain Britain Corps Has Been Reborn in Marvel's Universe

     

    As such, I believe that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will explore Sorcerer Supremes of the past. It’ll also lead to the introduction of the Captain Britain Corps. The Scarlet Witch’s involvement with the film and her connection as a “nexus being” may also cause a crack in the Multiverse in Great Britain. Once Strange escaped the horrors of the Multiverse, the Nexus may remain unguarded. Someone will take on that role, which will allow Marvel Studios to introduce Captain Britain into the MCU.

  • ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Takes Over ‘Attack on Titan’s Spot As The Most Popular Show

    ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Takes Over ‘Attack on Titan’s Spot As The Most Popular Show

    Unlike cinema releases, we will never truly know how successful a show or film is on a streaming service. They refuse to publicize any information that would allow analysts to get a good idea of how a project is doing. Luckily, there are a variety of companies that analyze data to offer a glimpse of a show’s performance. Well, it seems that Falcon and the Winter Soldier may have already gained the title of “most popular show” beating out the last owner of that title, the anime series Attack on Titan.

    Keep in mind, with only its second episode, the show managed to beat out the finale of the highly popular manga adaptation. Not just that, it is also tracking ahead of the previous Marvel Studios entry, WandaVision after its first week with two episodes. Now, Parrot Analytics does point out that the show is behind The Mandalorian‘s demand, but it makes sense if you consider that the show was one of the major selling points of the streaming service when it was released. They do not include a comparison to the second season.

    Of course, the show’s demand grows with each week and it has already managed to do what WandaVision didn’t accomplish until its fifth episode. Of course, we have to keep in mind that these aren’t actual numbers. They are based on external analysis. So, we need to accept a potential margin in tracking errors, but it certainly proves the show’s popularity. It’s going to be interesting to see if they continue this trend once Loki releases in June.

    Source: Forbes

  • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’: ‘Pen15’s Dallas Liu Joins Cast in an Undisclosed Role

    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’: ‘Pen15’s Dallas Liu Joins Cast in an Undisclosed Role

    It’s been quite a chaotic beginning of the year. We finally got the finalized release for Black Widow, but it ended up pushing back the original July release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Well, it seems that something found its way online, as Deadline has revealed that the actor Dallas Liu, who many might recognize from Hulu’s Pen15, is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His role is still being kept under wraps and Marvel Studios has declined comment on whatever role he may have.

     

    shang-chi dallas liu

     

    Liu has been appeared in the Snapchat series Players but is well-known for his role Shuji Ishii-Peters in the previously-mentioned Hulu series. He has also appeared in Nichole Bloom‘s drama short Ella. It’s uncertain how large a role he’ll have in Daniel Cretton’s upcoming MCU adaptation. He will join an outstanding cast that includes Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, and Ronnie Chieng.

    The film is currently set to release in September and we still have not seen a single trailer for the film. The current uncertainty seems to have caused many film production companies to focus on short-term advertising. So, we might not even see the first trailer until around three-to-two months before its official release. Hopefully, Godzilla vs. Kong‘s current revitalization of the Box Office could kickstart a return to form that may see an earlier trailer release in the usual six-month window that we’re used to from the times before the pandemic.

    Source: Deadline

  • No Seriously, There’s Going to Be Carnage Eventually, We Promise: Sony Bumps ‘VENOM’ Sequel By One Week

    No Seriously, There’s Going to Be Carnage Eventually, We Promise: Sony Bumps ‘VENOM’ Sequel By One Week

    Despite having wrapped production prior to the pandemic, Sony’s follow-up to 2017’s Venom has yet to be seen and, yesterday, got just a little further away. After originally being set for an October 2020 release, Venom: Let There Be Carnage moved to June 2021 before recently getting pushed back to September 17, 2021. Now, the studio has slightly adjusted the date again, moving the Tom Hardy vehicle to September 24, 2021.

    The sequel is set to see Hardy reprise his role as Eddie Brock/Venom with Woody Harrelson back in an expanded role as serial killer Cletus Kasaday. The film was directed by Andy Serkis, who recently teased we might get a first look at the project sometime soon.