Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • Rumors Suggest Danny Rand Will Punch His Way Into ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

    Rumors Suggest Danny Rand Will Punch His Way Into ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

    It’s certainly starting to look as though the creative overhaul of Daredevil: Born Again wasn’t just about fixing Matt Murdock. With Marvel’s streaming skipper Brad Winderbaum making it clear that Daredevil will be the studio’s flagship series for the near future, it looks like Kevin Feige is using the show to systematically rebuild the entire Netflix-era Defenders roster. We’ve already got Jon Bernthal’s Punisher back in the mix, with his own Special Presentation coming soon, and Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones will return later this month. But today, the most divisive member of the team is stepping back into the spotlight.

    According to a report from Cryptic4KQual—a source that has become increasingly reliable regarding Marvel’s production schedules—Finn Jones is set to reprise his role as Danny Rand in the second season of Born Again…or at least be mentioned.

    I think this world is extremely rich, and there are many stories to be told on the streets of New York.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    The first season of Iron Fist is often cited as the low point of the Netflix era. But by the time The Defenders and Iron Fist Season 2 rolled around, fans have argued Jones had finally started to find the groove of the character and the character seemed to be headed in the right direction. If Marvel Studios is bringing him back, you can bet they aren’t interested in retreading the corporate boardroom drama of the old show.

    The rumor suggests that Danny’s return won’t just be a cameo. Instead, it’ll be a “tease” that sets up a more significant role. Perhaps suiting up as Daredevil while Matt Murdock is behind bars? Ed Brubaker’s “The Devil in Cell-Block D” continues to be a popular pick for quasi-inspiration for Season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again and might serve as the perfect way to reintroduce Danny Rand while making him more palatable to MCU fans.

  • Is Loki the Sacrificial Lamb of ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’?

    Is Loki the Sacrificial Lamb of ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’?

    For years, we’ve been tracking the God of Stories. We watched him go from the guy who lost to a “dull creature” in Stark Tower to the man literally holding the fabric of reality together at the center of the Multiverse, finally fulfilling his glorious purpose. It was a hell of an arc. But as we inch closer to Avengers: Doomsday, a new, darker theory is emerging—one that suggests Loki’s new job isn’t a permanent promotion, but a setup for the most violent transition of power in MCU history.

    Fans of Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars run know just how important Owen Reece was to the event. As Molecule Man, Reece was the battery of Doctor Doom’s machine. He was the source of Doom’s godhood, the “living bomb” that allowed Victor to shape Battleworld from the wreckage of the incursions. But in the MCU? We haven’t met Owen Reece. We have, however, spent twelve years with Loki.

    The Stand-In

    Marvel isn’t going to spend time introducing a complex new character like Molecule Man to explain Doom’s power. Instead, they’re looking at the man already sitting on the throne at the end of time.

    Loki’s position as the God of Stories, the man keeping the Multiverse together by sheer force of will, will reportedly make him a target of Doctor Doom. In an interesting adaptation of the Hickman beat, Doom is rumored  to strip Loki of his God of Stories powers effectively using them as the conduit to stabilize his own version of reality, making Loki a stand-in for Owen Reece.

    But Marvel reportedly isn’t stopping there. For those who remember Doom’s confrontation with Thanos in Secret Wars—the one where Victor casually reaches into the Mad Titan’s chest and pulls out his spine—there’s a growing belief that we’re going to see a remix of that moment.

    If Doom is going to establish himself as the undisputed big bad of the Multiverse Saga, he needs a moment, like Thanos had in Avengers: Infinity War, that establishes him as a threat. He needs to kill a fan favorite to show he’s not playing around. If reports are accurate, that will come at the expense of Loki once again. Loki doesn’t just lose his power; he loses his life in a way that mirrors that iconic Hickman panel as his heart is ripped out by Victor…even if it is reportedly off screen. Doom ending the God of Stories isn’t just a power move—it’s a declaration that the Loki Era of the Multiverse is over and that there can be only Doom.

    The Long Game

    Hiddlestans aren’t going to like this. A Thor/Loki reunion would have been enjoyable, as would Loki the Avengers as Avenger Prime. But if the Russos are looking for maximum emotional impact, killing the man who is literally holding the Multiverse together is the fastest way to raise the stakes.

    It’s brutal. It’s efficient. And frankly, it’s exactly the kind of move that makes a villain legendary. As always, keep the salt shaker nearby, but don’t be surprised if the “God of Stories” ends up being the foundation upon which Doom builds his empire.

  • Sadie Sink Is Reportedly the MCU’s Jean Grey—and She’s Debuting in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    Sadie Sink Is Reportedly the MCU’s Jean Grey—and She’s Debuting in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    For over a year, the Marvel fandom has been playing a high-stakes game of “Guess the Redhead.” Since Sadie Sink was first reported to be joining the MCU back in early 2023, speculation has swung wildly from her playing Songbird in Thunderbolts to being a Multiversal variant of Mary Jane Watson.

    However, following a series of massive leaks over the last 48 hours, the mystery appears to be solved. Trusted scooper Cryptic HD QUALITY has doubled down on earlier reports from Jeff Sneider, explicitly stating that the Stranger Things star is portraying the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Jean Grey.

    The journey to this confirmation has been anything but linear. When Sink officially joined the cast of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in March 2025, she was famously cagey, calling the Jean Grey rumors “cool” but stopping short of a confirmation.

    As production moved through Glasgow and eventually back to Pinewood Studios, the “Insider Info War” reached a fever pitch. We saw theories ranging from Sink playing a Mark Millar-inspired Ultimate Jean Grey to a live-action version of Spider-Gwen from Earth-65. But as we noted back in August 2025, the sheer scale of Sink’s casting suggested someone much more pivotal to the MCU’s future than a one-off Spider-Man supporting character.

    Why Jean Grey? Why Now?

    The most common question among fans is: Why introduce one of the most powerful X-Men in a Spider-Man movie? According to the latest leaks, the answer lies in the Department of Damage Control (DODC) and the fallout of the Multiverse Saga.

    Reports from the Glasgow set suggest a sequence where Sink’s character is being hunted by the DODC. Insider Daniel Richtman has indicated that Sink’s character utilizes telepathic mind control—a hallmark of Jean Grey’s power set—to manipulate guards and potentially even turn Bruce Banner into the Hulk. And then, there are on-set descriptions that have consistently noted Sink wearing green and yellow—the signature colors of Jean Grey’s Marvel Girl.

    By introducing Jean as a street-level mutant being persecuted by the government, Marvel Studios is effectively setting the stakes for the Mutant Saga before the X-Men even have a team. This grounds Jean in the 616 reality, making her a sympathetic figure Peter Parker feels compelled to protect. And it also makes one ask what might have happened to the Jean Grey from whatever universe the X-Men appearing in Avengers: Doomsday are native to.

    The Road to Avengers: Secret Wars

    Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence for the Jean Grey reveal is Sink‘s reported future in the franchise. It has been widely reported that Sink will reprise her role in Avengers: Secret Wars, which begins filming in London later this year.

    Casting an actress of Sink’s caliber for a multi-film arc—especially one that leads into the climax of the Multiverse Saga—only makes sense if she is playing a true heavy gitter. Jean Grey isn’t just a mutant; she is a cosmic entity. If the MCU plans on adapting the Phoenix Force in a post-Secret Wars world, Sink is the perfect anchor for what could unfold as a decade-long narrative.

  • The “Wizard Sidekick” — Is Strange Truly Breaking Bad in Doomsday?

    The “Wizard Sidekick” — Is Strange Truly Breaking Bad in Doomsday?

    The Multiverse is a fickle beast, and if the latest round of rumors circulating about the plot of Avengers: Doomsday are to be believed, its greatest protector might just be its new enforcer. While Benedict Cumberbatch has spent the last year playing coy with the press—famously telling Variety that Doctor Strange is taking a “hiatus” because the character “didn’t align” with the new post-Kang pivot—insiders are spinning a different yarn.

    The Third-Eyed Sheriff

    Fresh reports from industry insiders Daniel Richtman and Jeff Sneider suggest that Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom won’t be conquering the Multiverse alone. According to Richtman, Doom is flanked by a “Wizard Sidekick” who wears a variation of the Latverian mask, featuring a distinct slot on the forehead for a third eye.

    This wizard reportedly wields a Sling Ring with lethal precision, acting as Doom’s primary enforcer and multiversal navigator. While Cumberbatch’s name wasn’t on the initial official cast list, multiple sources now claim he has filmed “pivotal, high-security scenes” in the UK under a production codename.

    Why the Betrayal?

    To understand why Stephen Strange would align with a tyrant like Doom, we have to look back at the ending of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Strange ended that film with a third eye, a physical manifestation of Darkhold corruption), and left with Clea to fix an Incursion he caused. Perhaps during their adventures, Strange and Doom crossed paths and a corrupted Strange chose to team up with Victor.

    On the other hand, in Jonathan Hickman‘s 2015 Secret Wars, Strange serves as the “Sheriff of Agamotto” under God Emperor Doom because he believes Doom is the only one capable of saving any reality from total collapse. If this is the case, Avengers: Doomsday would likely include a flashback that might show us how the unusual pairing of sorcerers came to be.

    Of course, there’s also a strong possibility that the “Wizard Sidekick” isn’t 616 Strange at all, but a variant—perhaps the “Sinister Strange” we met in the Incursion-ravaged universe—who survived and found a new master in Doom. But having such a character hidden behind a mask only to reveal he’s not “our” Strange wouldn’t really drop much of a hammer on the audience.

    Murphy’s Theory: The Secret Wars Setup

    If Strange is indeed the “Wizard Sidekick,” it reframes the entirety of Avengers: Doomsday. Instead of a standard hero-vs-villain romp, we are looking at a tragedy. The Avengers won’t just be fighting a man who looks like Tony Stark; they’ll be fighting a man they fought side-by-side with and trusted to hold the fabric of reality together.

    This betrayal likely serves as the cliffhanger for the film. Imagine the Avengers finally unmasking Doom’s right hand, only to find a corrupted, third-eyed Stephen Strange staring back at them. It sets the stage for a redemption arc in Avengers: Secret Wars, Strange must answer for his choices…just like in Hickman’s Secret Wars.

  • Rumor: Stephen Strange to Serve as Doom’s Right Hand in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

    Rumor: Stephen Strange to Serve as Doom’s Right Hand in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

    As the Marvel Cinematic Universe hurtles toward the collision of realities in Avengers: Doomsday, the power vacuum left by the Multiverse’s decay is beginning to fill with some familiar, yet formidable, faces. While fans have been catching up on plot leaks detailing Victor von Doom’s plans, a new report from industry insider Daniel Richtman suggests that Doom won’t be ruling alone.

    According to Richtman, Stephen Strange is set to serve as Doom’s primary lieutenant—a move that mirrors one of the most iconic dynamics in modern Marvel Comics history. Richtman’s report claims that “Doom’s right-hand man is “a wizard who can use a sling ring. He wears a mask similar to Doom’s, but with a slot for a third eye on his forehead.”

    For those well-versed in Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars, this development feels like destiny. In that storyline, Strange takes on the mantle of Sheriff Strange, the high justice of Battleworld who serves at the right hand of God Emperor Doom. Strange’s decision wasn’t born of a heel turn, but of a desperate pragmatism; he believed Doom was the only being capable of stitching together the fragments of a dying multiverse. If this rumor holds true, Avengers: Doomsday may find our Master of the Mystic Arts making a similarly impossible choice—sacrificing his morality to preserve what’s left of existence.

    Strange’s absence from the recent round spoilers left many with questions about why the only 616 hero with intimate knowledge of Incursions was nowhere to be found in the action. Richtman’s report would go a long way in explaining this, while setting up what would likely be a key reveal either late in Avengers: Doomsday or in its follow up, Avengers: Secret Wars.

  • Jack Mulhern Joins ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 as Mystery Villain

    Jack Mulhern Joins ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 3 as Mystery Villain

    With principal photography on Season 3 of Daredevil: Born Again set to get underway this month, the first bit of news about the new batch of episodes has emerged and it may well tie to one of the most prominent theories about what to expect from the third season.

    According to Nexus Point News, 31-year old Jack Mulhern (Painkiller, Mare of Easttown) has joined the cast as a character named Phillip.

    While NPN’s own speculation is that the character–who is described as “a smart and scrappy New Yorker who’s sweet and lovable with a hidden rageful side”–might be one of Wilson Fisk’s children, another interesting option might be considered.

    Though he’s hardly one of Daredevil’s primary antagonists, Phillip Sterling caused plenty of problems for the character after being introduced in  Daredevil #39 (1968). While it’s unlikely showrunner Dario Scardapane would choose to directly adapt the character, whose comic book resume is full of some odd bits that won’t fit at all with the studio’s vision for Daredevil: Born Again, one particular arc featuring Sterling would  match well with the anticipated direction of Season 3.

    Sterling had a long standing field with The Man Without Fear and went by a few aliases, including Death-Stalker, and was one of the few early Daredevil villains to know the heroes true identity. It’s been widely theorized that Season 3 will involve Murdock being exposed as Daredevil in an adaptation of Ed Brubaker‘s “The Devil in Cell-Block D.” Sterling also has comic book ties to both Karen Page, whom he kidnapped.

    Scardapane recently revealed that fans should expect an abrupt narrative shift in Season 3, and introducing a villain like Sterling (if they stay away from his more…unusual powers) would make for a nice transition back to the street-level story the showrunner has teased.

    Source: NPN

  • Mhor Thor: Chris Hemsworth Teases Life Beyond the Multiverse Saga for the Odinson

    After a series of projects took everything away from him, Thor saw the tide begin to turn in the final act of Thor: Love and Thunder. Though he lost Jane Foster following a brief reunion with his old flame, the God of Thunder found a renewed purpose, choosing to watch over Love, the daughter of Gorr, as his own.

    As seen in one of four teasers for Avengers: Doomsday, that relationship looks to be central to Thor’s arc. The prayers said by Chris Hemsworth‘s character in the short look at the upcoming film have led to fans theorizing that the upcoming film will be the final chapter for the MCU’s Thor, however, a new interview with Hemsworth would seem to offer some hope for further adventures.

    “I was talking to Kevin Feige about it, and he said it’s cool because the audience now expects dramatic turns with the character,” Hemsworth told the SmartLess podcast. “And whatever we do next—we’ve got some ideas to do something pretty unique again and hopefully be [different].“

    While it’s certainly far from official confirmation that Thor 5 will ever make it to the big screen, Hemsworth seems to be fully invested in finding a way to continue on in the role, adding that after the critical and fan response to Thor: Love and Thunder, he’s learned “you need to be careful” with the direction of any new projects. However, given how much of Thor’s comic book history has yet to be explored in the MCU, Hemsworth and whoever comes on board to write and direct any further installments, will have plenty of material from which to choose.

  • Scorpion’s Mech Suit Revealed as ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Leaks Continue

    Scorpion’s Mech Suit Revealed as ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Leaks Continue

    Nine years after teasing Mac Gargan’s vengeful vendetta against Spider-Man, Michael Mando is returning in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and it looks like hell is coming with him!

    Following recent leaks which teased Gargan’s Scorpion suit, a fully detailed look at Mando in his new gear has finally emerged online.

    Though it’s not an exact replica, the suit looks to have taken some inspiration from the one worn by the character during the “Big Time” arc of Dan Slott‘s Amazing Spider-Man. Following his time as one of Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers, Gargan was serving a prison sentence on the Raft. He was broken out by Allistaire Smythe and given an all-new, all-different Scorpion suit and turned loose with other newly-created Spider Slayers to take down J. Jonah Jameson. And of course, Spidey intervened…

    Notably, Gargan’s Brand New Day mech suit is represented here without a helmet but rumors and reports that came before the leaked image indicated that one will indeed be present when the character is fully suited up in the film.

  • First Look at Several ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Villains Emerge Ahead of Rumored Trailer Release Date

    First Look at Several ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Villains Emerge Ahead of Rumored Trailer Release Date

    Without even having seen an officially released trailer, fans are starting to believe Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be something special.

    It’s long been known that the fourth installment in Marvel Studios and Sony’s collaborative Spider-Man franchise will feature a multitude of villains but in recent days, merchandise and promotional art for the project has emerged, providing first looks of various quality for some of the key antagonists. A backpack teased the designs of Boomerang, Scorpion and the Hulk–all present as shadowy background figures behind a clear look at Spidey. Now, new art has been uncovered, providing a more detailed look at many of the film’s baddies.

    Possibly the most impressive reveal comes from what looks to an unfinished shot from the film, providing the first look at  Tombstone, played by Marvin Jones III. Though fans are skeptical, multiple accounts are standing behind its legitimacy.

    Additonally, artwork for Brand New Day surfaced revealing the designs for Tarantula, Boomerang and the new-look Hulk, who will reportedly become a big problem for the Webhead.

    In other news, fans won’t be waiting too much longer for the first teaser, according to director Destin Daniel Cretton. “I think it’s so funny how people really want a trailer. Of course it’s gonna come. It’s gonna be really good when it comes. It’s coming,” said Cretton in an interview with Majic 102.1.

    When will then be now? Insider Cryptic HD Quality, who has long been a reliable source of intel on trailers, shared that he’s heard rumblings of a March release for the teaser.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day is slated to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

  • Hi-Res Look at Merch Provides First Look at Troublesome Trio from ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    Hi-Res Look at Merch Provides First Look at Troublesome Trio from ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

    With just over five months until the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Sony has yet to release so much as a teaser trailer for the all-new, all-different fourth installment in the franchise. Fans have been treated to plenty of photos and videos from the set, however, and now as retailees begin to prepare for merchandise hitting their shelves, a first look at three of the film’s characters has found its way online.

    After low-res photos of a backpack made the rounds recently, Twitter user @JuanEditzs provided a higher-resolution look at the bag, which provided clear-but-shadowy first looks at a trip of characters set to cause trouble for Peter Parker in the upcoming film.

    Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Michael Mando’s Scorpion and Boomerang–recently rumored to be played by Tom Holland‘s brother, Harry–can all be seen by zooming in on the pack.

    Mando‘s Mac Gargan–who will return to the series for the first time since Spider-Man: Homecoming–has been rumored to be sporting a suit that’s a mix of the classic comic book Scorpion suit and the one seen in Insomniac’s Spider-Man video game franchise. The tail on the suit from the film can clearly be seen to have some significant mechanical structure to it.

    The appearance of Boomerang on the bag confirms the character will appear after he was first reported to be in the film in May 2025. It will be interesting to see if first-time franchise director Destin Daniel Cretton has chosen to the recent relationship dynamic between Parker and Boomerang that saw the two as roommates with Boomerang unaware of Parker’s alter ego.

    And as for the Hulk, it’s long been reported that Brand New Day will feature a more savage Green Goliath doing battle with Spidey. A recent Lego set leak seems to have confirmed this and the shadowy appearance of the character on the bag, where he looms behind Spidey, hardly makes the case he’ll be a hero.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st!