Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU News

  • ‘Avengers 5’ Rumor May Reveal the New Lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

    ‘Avengers 5’ Rumor May Reveal the New Lineup of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

    Rumors about Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars have been coming pretty steadily as of late. A recent rumor suggested that the studio had made some real progress on Avengers 5 and had begun reaching out to talent about scheduling. That same rumor also suggested that some major heroes, like the Fantastic Four, were left out of Michael Waldron‘s new script. On the heels of that, another MCU leaker has claimed to know the makeup of the new team of Avengers and it’s safe to say it’s not quite the one most fans imagined.

    According to My Time to Shine Hello, the new iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will only be comprised of five heroes and some of the choices may come as a surprise.

    No, it’s not QUITE the lineup we predicted in January 2023 (as seen above) but it’s not off by much. According to MTTSH, the new squad will feature Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, She-Hulk and Moon Knight! That’s quite an eclectic bunch and not one that too many had in its entirety on their bingo cards. However, since four of the five were on our “dream team”, we’ll give it an A for effort.

    At this point, there’s been no indication of just how much or how little Kang the Conqueror will factor into the film formerly known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. However, the composition of the rumored team–which features battle-tested vets and a pair of wild cards–could do a fine job defending Earth, even from the Master of Men, should Waldron’s script have kept a variant of Nathaniel Richards in play.

    Avengers 5 is reportedly heading into production early in 2025 with an eye on keeping its May 1 2026 release date.

  • First Details Emerge about Marvel Studios’ ‘X-Men’ Roster

    First Details Emerge about Marvel Studios’ ‘X-Men’ Roster

    Marvel Studios began the search for a writer for their X-Men reboot in late 2023 and according to a recent report, the studio is closing in on finding the scribe who will bring the team of mutant heroes into the MCU. As fans wait to find out just who that might be, a new round of rumors might give some insight into who will make up the new team.

    According to insider Daniel RPK, Marvel Studios’ team will be female-focused and though it will introduce some characters who have not yet appeared in live-action, the plan is to include “main characters we all know.”

    While RPK’s report doesn’t come with any specifics about who those characters might be, connecting the dots to some previously shared reports and sprinkling in a little guess work might provide some idea of characters who should at least be in the mix.

    Storm

    Outside of Cyclops, no X-Man was done dirtier than Storm was by Fox. Ororo has long been one of the team’s most beloved and best curated characters and deserves a proper live-action treatment.

    Kitty Pryde

    If your only exposure to Kitty comes from the Fox live-action films, you truly have no idea how great of a character she is. In the comics, Kitty has grown into one of the X- men’s greatest leaders. A no-brainer no matter what the focus is.

    Rogue

    Another victim of Fox’s Wolverine obsession, Rogue’s prominence in X-Men ’97 only makes it more likely she ends up on the team. As was the case when X-Men: The Animated Series ran in the ’90s, Rogue is one of the most popular characters and her portrayal is nearly perfect. It’s an easy move for the studio that should provide big results.

    Jubilee

    Like Pryde, Jubilee is a character that I once heard Kevin Feige thought highly of. Like Rogue, Jubilee is a prominent part of X-Men ’97. Like everyone else on this list, she was all but ignored by Fox.

    Dazzler

    As shared by Erik Davis, Dazzler is a favorite of Feige’s. Is there a need for two characters with light-based powers on the team? I don’t know but Feige likes them both and there are plenty of X-Men movies to make over the next 10-20 years.

    Of course, were not even scratching the surface here. Marvel Studios may still wish to include Jean Grey, Betsy Braddock, Emma Frost, Polaris or even Mystique. Then there’s the matter of what other “main characters” they chose to include. While one can only hope they finally do Cyclops justice, we’ll believe when we see it.

  • Director Sean Levy on the Required Reading for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    Director Sean Levy on the Required Reading for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    Like every Marvel Studios project, Deadpool & Wolverine has been the subject of some wild rumors. Given that the project will weave Ryan Reynold‘s Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman‘s Logan into the MCU and the trailers have already revealed the presence of quite a few other characters from the Fox X-Men films, many of the rumors have been centered around cameos of some major characters from those films. With the Time Variance Authority being used to connect those universes does make pretty much anything possible which means an Ultimate List of What to Watch before Deadpool & Wolverine could be pretty extensive. However, according to director Sean Levy, that’s not the case.

    In an interview with the Associated Press, Levy gave some insight into what the film is and is not and what “homework” fans will have to do to enjoy it.

    “Audiences are hungry for a great time at the movies,” Levy told the AP. “They want to be delighted, transported and entertained. And when they are given that, whether it’s ‘Barbie,’ ‘Oppenheimer’ or any number of other recent movies, they show up. The movie is built for audience delight. I think that (they’re) in for a very fun ride.” And according to Levy, that kind of fun means not having to do homework in order to keep up with what’s happening on screen.

    “I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies,” said Levy. “I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.” While being a Marvel Studios know-it-all certainly can’t hurt, it won’t be necessary to enjoy the film. That’s good news for a studio that is often flamed for stories that are too interdependent and is looking for Deadpool & Wolverine to be a big hit as they try to return to their previous level of success both at the box office and with fans.

    Deadpool & Wolverine hits U.S. theaters on July 26th.

    Source: AP

  • Robert Downey Jr. The Odds on Favorite among Original Avengers to Return to the MCU

    Robert Downey Jr. The Odds on Favorite among Original Avengers to Return to the MCU

    The house always wins. And right now, the house has Iron Man and Avengers star Robert Downey Jr. as the odds on favorite among a trio of the original Avengers to return to the MCU. As Marvel Studios continues to try to right the ship in the middle of its Multiverse Saga, money is starting to roll in on them turning to the Downey Jr. to save the day.

    According to Best Payout Online Slots, Downey Jr. is outpacing Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson with 6/4 odds that he will return to the MCU as Iron Man.

    • Robert Downey Jr playing Iron Man @ 6/4 (40%)
    • Scarlett Johansson playing Black Widow @ 5/2 (28.6%)
    • Chris Evans playing Captain America @ 5/1 (16.7%)

    According to the site–which is not known for breaking Marvel Studios’ news–“sources close to Downey say the actor is in the middle of positive negotiations with Marvel over an Iron Man 4 film.” Whether or not Iron Man 4 is in the cards for Marvel and Downey, a return as Stark does make sense given the MCU’s current overarching plot involves time travel and alternate universes. If and when Downey does return, it’ll be imperative to the actor and the studio to not undo Tony Stark’s heroic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame. Thankfully, there are plenty of work around for that.

    Source: Best Payout Online Slots

  • ‘Avengers 5’ Rumored to Have Cracked Its Story, Sideline Major Marvel Studios Heroes

    ‘Avengers 5’ Rumored to Have Cracked Its Story, Sideline Major Marvel Studios Heroes

    Once upon a time, the Marvel Studios’ film formerly known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would have been either in production now or starting soon. Without detailing the litany of issues that have preceded it, it’s enough to say that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will likely never commence production because some portion of those issues have led Marvel Studios to rethink what the fifth Avengers film will be. A trifecta of changes left Marvel Studios without a writer, director and key actor for the film. Michael Waldron took over writing duties on the film last year and according to one insider, the scribe has cracked the story for Avengers 5. With the studio preparing for a 2025 start of production, a new rumor suggests they’ve begun reaching out to talent…but who’s being left out?

    According to reliable MCU insider Daniel RPK, while the studio has contacted multiple actors who will reprise their roles as Avengers in Avengers 5, the newly announced cast of The Fantastic Four is not expected to suit up again for the film.

    THE FANTASTIC FOUR, exclusively on Disney+. © 2024 MARVEL.

    On Valentine’s Day, Marvel Studios made a splash by revealing that Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach had been cast as Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, respectively. While each actor had been previously rumored to be associated with those roles, they were hardly alone in that regard, making it tough for fans to know what was real and what was just another scoop of rumor mill bullshit. Their exclusion from Avengers 5 would seem to indicate that the film will almost certainly be Earth-616-centric, making Avengers: Secret Wars the studio’s big crossover epic.

    As for the Avengers who might assemble in Avengers 5, there are certainly some bets safer than others. Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson, Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor, Mark Ruffalo‘s Hulk and Brie Larson‘s Carol Danvers are likely to be joined by Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man as the core team with another major assist by Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. According to RPK, other newcomers–which may include Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight–may not make the cut either. Given Bob Iger‘s recent comments about focusing on franchises and franchise characters, there may be some veracity to the idea that the newbies won’t lead what is most definitely a very important film for Disney.

  • Marvel Studios ‘X-Men’ Reboot Gets an Extremely Encouraging Update

    Marvel Studios ‘X-Men’ Reboot Gets an Extremely Encouraging Update

    X-Men ’97 is the best thing going for Marvel Studios at the moment. After some dismal projects and a few that lacked consistency, Marvel Animation’s revival series has been a weekly reminder of just how great Marvel’s mutant heroes can be. Now, on the heels of the success of X-Men ’97, word that the studio is making some serious headway with their live-action reboot has emerged.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Marvel Studios search for a writer for The Mutants/X-Men film is winding down. Sneider reported that the studio is “pretty close” to nailing down the scribe for the project and that they could finalize a deal in the “next few weeks.”

    Marvel Studios began the search for a writer for the project late in 2023 as rumors popped up that the studio was looking to expedite the arrival of the uncanny group of heroes. Should a writer be in place by soon, it is possible the film could be ready for theaters by summer 2026.

  • ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Star Explains Why the Series Has Not Been Canonized

    ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Star Explains Why the Series Has Not Been Canonized

    Following the creative retooling of Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel Studios made the decision to retroactively canonize the events of Netflix’s Defenders-verse series. That move led to Daredevil stars Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Wilson Bethel and Ayelet Zurer all being brought back to reprise their respective roles after previously having been recast or left out entirely. With the studio showing a willingness to add several projects to their carefully curated Sacred Timeline, fans of another popular TV series, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., believed the network melodrama would be adopted as canon as well; however, that’s still not the case and one of the series’ stars thinks she knows why.

    During an interview with Katee Sackhoff, AoS star Ming-Na Wen said the show’s status as a network project is the underlying reason it isn’t part of the Sacred Timeline.

    Wen’s explanation came after Sackhoff asked the actress if she’d been approached by Marvel Studios to reprise her role as Melinda May, also known as The Cavalry. “No, they have not…it’s weird,” explained Wen. “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. sort of became a separate entity for whatever reason,” she continued, “because it was on the network as opposed to streaming. I think there’s some – and this is where my obliviousness also helps because I don’t understand it, so you’re asking the wrong person, I just know that there’s some sort of division.“

    Like the Defenders-verse series that streamed on Netflix, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was developed and produced by the now defunct Marvel Television, a branch of Marvel Entertainment Following a 2015 rift between Ike Perlmutter and Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios essentially became its own entiy with no ties to Marvel Entertainment or Perlmutter. This is almost certainly the “division” to which Wen is referring, though it’s interesting that she believes S.H.I.E.L.D.S’s status as a network show may play a further role in that division.

    The reality is that with Marvel Studios deep into their Multiverse Saga, everything is canon to the Multiverse. So while shows like Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are all firmly set on the Sacred Timeline, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and X-Men ’97 are still part of the Marvel Multiverse. If Deadpool & Wolverine can find a way to incorporate Channing Tatum‘s Gambit into the Multiverse, surely there’s room for Fitzsimonns as well.

    Source: The Sackhoff Show

  • Marvel’s ‘X-Men ’97’: Revealing the Big Bad Behind the Mutant Massacre

    Marvel’s ‘X-Men ’97’: Revealing the Big Bad Behind the Mutant Massacre

    A common theme with many of Marvel Studios’ streaming series has been a concern that they would need to “stick the landing” in order to ultimately be considered successful. At this point, it seems as though X-Men ‘97 could not only wobble a little bit on the landing but perhaps miss the mat entirely. With 7 strong episodes now under its belt, Marvel Animation’s revival series has been a weekly topic of conversation. The latest episode, Bright Eyes, not only gave Rogue center stage to express her rightful rage but also finally revealed the big bad behind the mutant massacre on Genosha…and it’s exactly who we thought it was…the second time around at least.

    Bright Eyes revealed that as far as X-Men ‘97 goes, there’s an even bigger fish than Mister Sinister. As speculated here (and hinted at heavily over the course of the series), the cyborg known as Bastion was indeed behind the Wild Sentinel’s attack on Genosha and it looks like he’s just getting started.

    Who is Bastion?

    Bastion, a formidable antagonist within the Marvel Comics universe, embodies the relentless pursuit of mutant extinction. As a Sentinel mastermind, Bastion represents the pinnacle of anti-mutant technology, leading the charge in hunting down and eliminating mutant-kind. His origins trace back to the depths of Nimrod and the Sentinel program, where he emerged as a genocidal force determined to eradicate all mutants. With Trask Industries backing his efforts, Bastion wages a relentless campaign against mutants, employing advanced AI technology and ruthless tactics to achieve his goal of mutant eradication.

    Bastion’s attributes are as ruthless as they are deadly, with a fanatical devotion to his cause and an indomitable will to succeed. As the leader of Humanity’s Last Stand, he commands an army of Sentinels and Purifiers, relentless in their mission to exterminate mutants. His actions provoke confrontation and opposition from the X-Men and other mutant groups, who view him as a persistent threat to their existence.

    In the ongoing struggle between mutants and their adversaries, Bastion remains a formidable adversary, challenging the X-Men and testing the limits of their resilience. His genocidal agenda and advanced technological capabilities make him a persistent menace, driving the X-Men to confront him time and time again in a battle for survival.

    Who is Voicing Bastion?

    As theorized in a recent Connecting Imaginary Dots piece, Bastion was voiced by Theo James. James has made quite a name for himself as a voice actor and has had a solid career renaissance of late by taking on villainous and somewhat shady roles. James knocked it out of the park in his debut as Bastion, especially in the way he comfortably and easily knocked Mister Sinister down a peg.

    With three episodes left to go that seem to all be inspired by Bastion’s first major comic book arc, Operation: Zero Tolerance, the good news is that James is just getting started as Bastion and we’re likely to be treated to a delicious performance that will give fans a new face to hate.

    The first seven episodes of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 are now streaming on Disney Plus.

  • Two Characters Missing from the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer Rumored to Play Significant Roles in the Film

    Two Characters Missing from the ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer Rumored to Play Significant Roles in the Film

    A new look at Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine was certainly full of goodies for eagle-eye (and not-so-eagle-eyed fans). From a Giant-Man’s head being used as a base for Cassandra Nova’s Void wasteland crew, to quick peeks at Azazel and Lady Deathstrike to Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine Variant wearing the classic, sleeveless uniform, the trailer seemed to catch the fancy of most fans. However, given everything that’s (mostly) public knowledge about the film, it’s hard not to feel like through two trailers there’s a whole lot more we have not seen…and that’s a good thing! And according to one scooper with a very solid track record on Marvel Studios’ projects, two characters who have been rumored to appear but have yet to be seen in any footage or promo art for the film are set to play a surprisingly larger role than most expected.

    Potential spoilers for the film from here on out…

    Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    According to Daniel RPK, Dafne Keen‘s X-23 and Channing Tatum‘s Gambit both have “decent-sized” roles in the film rather than just cameos. Tatum’s potential role in the film was the subject of a recent rumor that indicated the actor would finally get to try out his Cajun accent after his solo Gambit project was scrapped following the Disney/Fox deal. Given the presence of the 20th Century Studios sign in the Void, there’s plenty of room for some jokes about how the film–which was in development for 3+ years–was pruned from some timeline out in the vast Multiverse.

    The inclusion of Keen‘s X-23 has been rumored for as long as the film has been in production. Interestingly enough, an adult Variant of the character, played by Natalia Teena, was recently rumored to appear as well, causing fans to question if Keen’s version of the character would still appear. RPK’s apparent confirmation of Keen’s involvement comes on the heels of some strong speculation that a scene from the trailer for the film may be from a larger portion of the film that features Wolverine talking to X-23, who is off-screen in the trailer.

    Given that the Void is the primary setting for the project, there’s no doubt that any number of characters and Variants of them from the Fox X-Men films (made and unmade) could show up in Deadpool & Wolverine. We’ll all find out together which characters made the cut when the film hits theaters on July 26th.

  • New ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer Reveals Logan is a [SPOILER]

    New ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer Reveals Logan is a [SPOILER]

    Marvel Studios’ only 2024 theatrical release, Deadpool & Wolverine, hits theaters in just 3 months and while plenty about the film’s plot has made its way online through leaks, the latest trailer for the film just revealed a pretty big piece of information about one of the titular characters.

    While most of the speculation around how Wade Wilson and Logan end up working together revolved around Wade plucking Wolverine from the timeline seen in 2018’s Logan, it turns out that the Wolverine in the film is a Variant that, as far as we can tell, from an alternate universe that we haven’t seen before.

    As revealed during the trailer by Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Paradox, “this Wolverine let his entire world down.”

    Updating…