Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Max

  • DC Studios No Longer Moving Ahead with a Matt Reeves’ Gotham-Verse Series

    DC Studios No Longer Moving Ahead with a Matt Reeves’ Gotham-Verse Series

    Before James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reigns as co-chairs of DC Studios, Matt Reeves had quite the vision for bringing Gotham to life on the big and small screens. In addition to his trilogy of Batman films, Reeves had several streaming series in the works and while one of those, The Penguin, is set to debut on Max this September, news has come down that development on another series has been halted.

    According to Variety, the untitled Arkham Asylum streaming series will no longer move forward.

    The GCDP thing, that story has story has kinda evolved. We’ve actually now [moved] more into the realm of exactly what would happen in the world of Arkham as it relates coming off of our movie, and some of the characters… almost leaning into the idea of… it’s like a horror movie or a haunted house that is Arkham.

    –Matt Reeves on the evolution of his Arkham project

    Originally imagined as a Gotham City Police Department series to be written by Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter and set within Reeves’ universe, the premise of the project changed over time. By March 2022, the GCPD project became an Arkham Asylum-centric series that would involve horror elements with Joe Barton taking the reigns on the script. In the fall of 2022, Antonio Campos took over as showrunner and development continued. Now, the long-gestating project is no more.

    The idea, again the way that Gotham is a character in the movie, I really want Arkham to exist as a character. You go into this environment and encounter these characters in a way that feels really fresh. And so in our work on Gotham, that story started to evolve, and it started feeling [like], ‘Wait, we should really lean into this.’ And then that’s kinda where that’s gone.

    –Matt Reeves on the evolution of his Arkham project

    Even with the show not moving forward, Reeves‘ vision for Gotham still lives on. In addition to Colin Farrel’s The Penguin series, Robert Pattinson will return in The Batman Part II in 2026.

    Source: Variety

  • DC Studios’ Max Series ‘Lanterns’ Ordered Straight to Series

    DC Studios’ Max Series ‘Lanterns’ Ordered Straight to Series

    After a long black night, a bright day has finally come for DC’s Green Lanterns. After being announced as an integral part of the new DC Studios’ slate in January 2023, the Max streaming series Lanterns has been ordered straight to an eight-episode series by HBO.

    Following rumors that a writer’s room had been assembled for the series, DC Studios’ recently officially revealed that Ozark writer Chris Mundy would be the showrunner for the streamer. As previously reported, DC Comics writer Tom King and Watchmen and Lost creator Damon Lindelof will also help write the series which will focus on the Green Lanterns two most well known members, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.

    “We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm,” said DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran.

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.

    -James Gunn and Peter Safran on Lanterns

    Previously described as a “terrestrial-based investigation story” that “plays a really big role leading us into the main story” in the DCU’s first chapter of stories, Lanterns will revolve around the central characters finding an “ancient horror on Earth.” As of now, there’s no indication of when to expect the series on Max but casting is rumored to be underway for Jordan and Stewart.

    Source: THR

  • Danny McBride Rumored to Be Attached to a DC Studios Max Series

    Danny McBride Rumored to Be Attached to a DC Studios Max Series

    A year and a half after James Gunn and Peter Safran gave fans the first glimpse of DC Studios’ upcoming slate, most of the projects on the list have begun to take shape. Superman will complete production this summer and cameras are set to roll on Supergirl: Woman of  Tomorrow this Fall, giving fans a double dose of El to bring the all-new, all-different DCU to theaters in 2025 and 2026.

    Plenty of stories will be told through streaming series, as well, beginning this December when the animted Creature Commandos launches DC Studios’ Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Damon Lindelof, Chris Mindy and Tom King are working on putting together a pilot script for Lanterns, a terrestrial-based investigation story featuring Hal Jordan and John Stewart. And now, another the creative team behind another streaming series may be assembling.

    According to a report from Nexus Point News, the studio has brought in a team headlined by Danny McBride to write the Max series Booster Gold.

    According to the reports, McBride will team up with John Carcieri and Jeff Fradley for the gig. The trio have not only a long history of working together but also with HBO, having collaborated with the studio on the hit series Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones. Should the report prove true, the only question remaining will be what role they write for Walton Goggins.

    Described as an “outright comedy” by James Gunn, Booster Gold will tell the story of Michael Jon Carter, “a loser from the future who uses his basic future technology to come back to today to pretend to be a superhero.” While the studio has not yet cast an actor for Carter, Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You and Hitman actor Glen Powell has become a popular choice for the role among fans.

    Source: Nexus Point News

  • James Gunn Announces the Writing Team Behind DC Studios’ ‘Lanterns’

    James Gunn Announces the Writing Team Behind DC Studios’ ‘Lanterns’

    Among the first projects announced as part of DC Studios’ Chapter One: Gods and Monsters was the MAX streaming series Lanterns. Described by DC Studios’ co-chair Peter Safran as a “space opera” and  “terrestrial-based investigation story” in the vein of True Detective, Lanterns will play a “really big role leading us into the main story” of Chapter One. An interesting premise for sure and one that would require a top notch writing team…and it’s safe to say Safran and James Gunn put one together.

    This is a story of a couple of Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan.

    -James Gunn on Lanterns

    Gunn took to Instagram to announce a few members of an all-star writers room behind the project. Tom King, Chris Mindy and Damon Lindelof will headline the “crack team” of writers on the project.

    Lindelof has long been rumored to be attached to the project and recently liked an Instagram post by Gunn related to it. This is the first indication of Mundy’s involvement but with experience on True Detective and the Netflix series Ozark, he seems the perfect fit for the direction indicated by DC’s top dogs.

    We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there but this is really a terrestrial based TV show which is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over Precinct Earth in it they discover a terrifying mystery that ties into our largest story of the DCU.

    -James Gunn on Lanterns

    While iconic Lanterns Jordan and Stewart will lead the series, they won’t be the first members of the Corps fans meet. That honor will go to the Corps’ biggest asshole, Guy Gardner, who will be brought to life by Nathan Fillion in Gunn’s Superman. Lanterns currently has no timeline for release.

  • Mark Strong Confirmed to Appear in a Mystery Role in ‘The Penguin’

    Mark Strong Confirmed to Appear in a Mystery Role in ‘The Penguin’

    In a now-deleted Instagram post, Mark Strong‘s personal trainer, Giacomo Farci, confirmed that the star has a role in the upcoming MAX streaming series, The Penguin. While it’s not the first time the actor’s name has been associated with the project, Farci’s comments are much more believable than when Strong was listed as part of the cast on IMDB a couple of months ago. Now, the real question is, of course, who will the actor be playing?

    With Shazam! baddie Doctor Sivana and Green Lantern goober Sinestro among the roles on his resume, Strong already has a notable history portraying DC villains. While there’s no indication by Farci who Strong will be playing in The Penguin, it seems more likely than not that it will be yet another villain given what’s known about the project. Given that the streaming series will serve to bridge the gap between 2022’s The Batman and 2026’s The Batman Part II, it’s also possible Strong’s character could appear in the Matt Reeves‘-helmed sequel and though he didn’t share the identity of Strong’s character, Farci did leave one hint for fans to decipher.

    When asked which character his client was playing, Farci said he was unable to answer the question but then encouraged the fan who posed the question to “watch Gotham” which he then said was “a good series for DC lovers.” Then, to make sure the fan caught the hint, Farci capped off the sentence with a cute winky face emoji.

    Over 5 seasons, the Fox series Gotham used a whole slew of villains from Batman’s rogues gallery. Some of those make more sense for Strong than others, such as psychopath Victor Zsasz, Mr. Freeze, Hugo Strange or even Clayface; however, given that The Penguin seems very mob-centric, it’s also possible Strong might play any number of mafioso types who could be vying for power after Carmine Falcone’s death. We’ll all find out together when The Penguin streams on MAX later this year.

  • Frank Grillo Joins the Cast of DC Studios ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2

    Frank Grillo Joins the Cast of DC Studios ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2

    Having been cast as Rick Flag Sr. In the upcoming streaming series Creature Commandos, Frank Grillo is already a part of the all-new DCU. And as audiences wait for the animated Max series to debut, they can also look forward to Grillo’s first live-action appearance, too.

    As revealed on Instagram by DC Studios’ co-chair James Gunn, Grillo has joined the cast of Peacemaker Season 2.

    As is expected to be the case with the entire cast of voice actors on Creature Commandos, Grillo will portray the live-action iteration of Flag Sr. in the John Cena lead streaming series. Production on the second season of Peacemaker kicked off last month.

    Gunn created the series and directed five of the first season’s eight episodes. While he will be unable to carry that load on Season 2 due to his commitment to Superman, Gunn will still direct some episodes. Though no release window has been set, Peacemaker Season 2 is expected to stream on Max in 2025.

  • Disney and Warner Bros. to Release Streaming Bundle

    Disney and Warner Bros. to Release Streaming Bundle

    It was inevitable, but the time has officially arrived. Netflix has long dominated the streaming market and to remain competitive, we’re going to see the first cross-company partnership in the streaming market as Disney and Warner Bros. announce a Disney+, Hulu, and Max package. There is no exact release date outside of plans to have it available by the summer, though it’ll support ad-free and ad-supported models.

    There’s a lot of streaming services out there, which is going to continue reshape the way we view the offerings. While many still love comparing it to basic cable bundles, this was an inevitable development to push forward on their hopes to make these cost sinkers profitable. Plus, Netflix remains dominant in the market and the challenge is an open invitation to the major companies to do something to gain a higher churn rate and subscription growth.

    Disney and Warner Bros. is also quite an interesting combination given there are quite a few challenges for whatever they plan growing outside of the United States. Max isn’t available in many countries and it’s shows are available through services like Sky in some European countries. So, it’s uncertain if perhaps there are plans on how they want to grow their worldwide growth or rather this is a pure US-centric move like with Hulu.

    Source: Deadline

  • DC Studios’ Co-Chair’s ‘Lanterns’ Tease Has Reignited a Very Exciting Rumor

    DC Studios’ Co-Chair’s ‘Lanterns’ Tease Has Reignited a Very Exciting Rumor

    James Gunn may still be very busy working on making sure Superman is ready for theaters in 2025 but as the man in charge of the entire creative vision of the DCU, he has to make time for other projects as well. He’s already done some work behind the camera on Season 2 of Peacemaker and helped get Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow up and running for a 2024 start of production but a new tease on social media may indicate he’s also making some headway on another project.

    At various times across multiple social media platforms, Gunn posted a relatively innocent piece of art featuring the Power Ring of a Green Lantern. However, what’s more interesting is who was paying attention to the post.

    While not much is known about Lanterns, one of the more intriguing rumors about the series was that it was set to be written by Tom King while Damon Lindelof would serve as an executive producer. While we’re certainly in no position to confirm anyone’s involvement, it is of note that Lindelof made a point to like the post.

    Described by DC Studios’ co-chair Peter Safran as a “terrestrial-based investigation story” in the vein of True Detective, Lanterns certainly sounds like a project right up King‘s alley. According to Gunn, the show will feature Lanterns who “find this ancient horror on Earth, and these guys are basically supercops on “Precinct Earth.” With a premise like that, Lanterns would certainly be within Lindelof’s range if not his sweet split as a creative.

    Whoever does end up making it, Lanterns will stream on Max when it’s ready to roll out.

  • James Gunn Confirms Production Has Begun on His Next DC Studios’ Project

    James Gunn Confirms Production Has Begun on His Next DC Studios’ Project

    Despite a dozen known projects being on it, DC Studios’ DCU slate is fairly undefined. Though Creature Commandos has been confirmed for a 2024 streaming debut, the only project with a known release date is Superman, which is currently in production ahead of its July 11, 2025 bow. It was originally believed that the streaming series Waller would hit Max in 2024; however, the 2023 WGA strike put a dent in those plans. With the scripts for Waller still being written by Jeremy Carver and Christal Henry, Season 2 of Peacemaker became next in line. Peacemaker star Jennifer Holland recently revealed cameras were set to roll on the John Cena-led series this summer but DC Studios co-chair James Gunn just surprised everyone with an update on the project.

    Production Is Underway on Season 2 of Peacemaker

    As is his way, Gunn–who confirmed he is directing some episodes of Peacemaker Season 2–took to social media to announce that production on the sophomore season of the streaming series had begun.

    The announcement comes as a bit of a shock as principal photography on Superman is ongoing; however, there’s no arguing with the man with the plan.

    Could Superman Appear in Peacemaker Season 2?

    One interesting possibility that arises from Peacemaker and Superman filming in the same spot at the same time under the watchful eye of the man directing both and in charge of the shared universe is a potential crossover. At some point, Peacemaker’s presence in the new DCU will have to be explained since the events of Season 1 predate the existence of the all-new, all-different universe. Given Gunn is the boss, having all the principal actors available together provides the perfect opportunity for the director to cross major task off his to-do list.

  • DC Studios Shifts Its Streaming Slate

    DC Studios Shifts Its Streaming Slate

    Later this year, DC Studios will release the animated streaming series Creature Commandos, the first project of the all-new, all-different DCU. It’s been expected for some time that the next in-universe streamer would be Waller, which was originally on track to debut in 2024; however, according to an update from DC Studios co-chair James Gunn, that’s no longer the case.

    Following an interview in which Peacemaker co-star Jennifer Holland revealed that casting on the second season of the Max streaming series was set to kick off this Summer, Gunn took to Threads to clarify how production on the series would fit into his busy schedule. As was the case with the first season of Peacemaker, Gunn wrote the scripts for the second season which he confirmed have been completed. And though he’ll still be working on finishing up Superman, Gunn will still direct some episodes of Peacemaker Season 2, though likely not as many as he did in the first season where he helmed 5 episodes. The bigger news, however, was that due to the 2023 strikes, Waller is still being written by Jeremy Carver and Christal Henry and will now be released–and be set–after Peacemaker Season 2.

    Originally described as Peacemaker Season 1.5, Waller now finds itself in a new spot. With both Peacemaker Season 2 and Waller set within the same continuity as Creature Commandos and Superman, fans had been theorizing that Waller would serve to explain how characters such as John Cena‘s Peacemaker, John Economos and Waller herself made the jump into the new DCU. While it remains to be seen how that will be addressed if at all, it looks like that ball may now be in Peacemaker’s court.