Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • How The Pandemic May Lead to Spider-Man’s True Homecoming

    How The Pandemic May Lead to Spider-Man’s True Homecoming

    The first 2021 delays have arrived, which included Sony’s upcoming March release of Morbius until October. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to many film studios, as many 2020 releases got pushed back multiple times. Many films are already finished and just waiting to get released. The uncertainty has led to some companies embracing the streaming future, especially Warner Bros., who just outright mapped out every 2021 release to include a premiere on HBO Max simultaneously. It still has led to quite a few controversies, especially Wonder Woman 1984‘s Box Office, but these are uncertain times. Even Disney seems to be considering this option with Black Widow at this point. While everyone else is considering streaming services, why is Sony still delaying their films for many months?

    Let’s take a look back at 2019. Rumors were about that Sony Pictures was getting sold. The New York Post revealed that investor Dan Loeb was pitching to Sony a sales plan that included their Sony Pictures division. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos seemed quite interested in the purchase and led to some discussions. It is interesting to note, that there are also rumors surrounding the Spider-Man franchise rights. It seems they would automatically return to Marvel if Sony decides to sell their film division. Of course, this put the entire sales process on everyone’s radar. Marvel was able to regain the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four after Disney purchased Fox. As such, the sale could indicate Marvel once again acquiring almost all the rights they sold to avoid bankruptcy back in 1999.

     

     

    It seems that Sony needs the deal more than Marvel Studios does at times. Sony sold the merchandising rights to Spider-Man back in 2011, only a year before they rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man. They even confessed that the sale was short-sighted before claiming that they won’t sell the division after a $1 billion write-down in 2017. Of course, it led to the deal to co-produce films alongside Marvel Studios, which seemed to work out in both companies’ favor. There was a falling out that led to the partnership suddenly getting discontinued in 2019. Luckily, it got amended to continue with the Tom Holland-led franchise, but it certainly left people wondering what led to that decision. 

    Why am I bringing all this up? Well, if Sony Pictures has been facing potential bankruptcy as frequently as it does, 2020’s pandemic could not have done them any favors. Now, they are continuously postponing their films without any streaming service of their own. Last May, they did make a $70 million deal for Tom Hanks‘ Greyhound on Apple+, but they didn’t see a reason to continue this business model. Their latest delay – most likely to be followed by many more – is most likely to lead them to re-explore new options. In the end, Marvel Studios and Disney may end up being the actual winner in this scenario. If they try to discuss streaming options with Apple for their streaming service, it may put them in a bind with their Marvel-Disney contract.

     

     

    The logical conclusion would be to make a deal with Disney to add their family-friendly content on Disney+. Now, this dependency could give Marvel an advantage in future dealmaking for the character and every property surrounding him. The current situation may also lead to Sony Pictures re-evaluating the deals made to sell, especially if 2021 releases might not bring in the Box Office necessary to cover deficits from the constant delays. We will see how the next few months develop to see if Spider-Man may get his actual homecoming after all. This development is nothing more than speculation, but it does open up the question of what the future looks like for Sony Pictures in these uncertain times.

    Source: NY Post, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Invezz

  • ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Emma Caulfield Joins ‘WandaVision’

    ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Emma Caulfield Joins ‘WandaVision’

    WandaVision is so close, we can almost taste it. Friday will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s major return since July 2019’s release of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Yes, the wait has been really long, but Marvel Studios is about to return in style. It will be their first time attempting a television show. They also are looking into expanding the franchise in creative ways, such as the upcoming show forcing our favorite power couple to relive old sitcom shows. With only four more days to go, the news seemed to just get started with a variety of teases during the show’s press junket. Well, it looks like one more casting has been revealed to build up more hype. Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s Emma Caulfield took to Twitter to announce that she was cast in the series.

    Of course, she doesn’t give away any hints about who exactly she might be playing. Caulfield has been in a variety of projects since her last appearance on Buffy in 2003. She made some appearances in Disney’s Once Upon a Time, AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead, and even CW’s Supergirl. Of course, many will remember her from her run as Anyanka Jenkins/Emerson from 1998 until 2003 on the Sarah Michelle Gellar-led series. Her addition could be connected to set photos that we saw a while back featuring someone in a blonde wig. So, she may have a bigger role than we think. Right now, anything is possible with the show, so it’ll be interesting to see how all these pieces come together once it starts airing this Friday.

    Source: Twitter

  • Latest ‘WandaVision’ Preview Adds to the Show’s Core Mystery

    Latest ‘WandaVision’ Preview Adds to the Show’s Core Mystery

    Something interesting is happening on the official WandaVision Instagram account: old posts are changing! Specifically, the first of six nine-image grids uploaded of the different TV sets posted back on December 29, which originally featured an image of Wanda and Vision in the 1950s on the TV set in the middle has had that picture replaced by a video clip from the show’s first episode:

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJZLE3Cg8Qr/

    The clip shows Vision (in his android form) noticing a heart drawn on a specific calendar date while asking Wanda about it. They believe that whatever the heart signifies could be important, but it’s clear that neither knows what that is (and they can’t admit it to each other). It may mark the couple’s anniversary, even though a previously-released preview showed them discuss that they have none. It could be that one of them noted their anniversary but managed to forget at some point. We also know the two host a dinner party in the first episode, so that could be the event marked by the heart. The wacky antics of forgetting about hosting guests for dinner and scrambling to work things out so none will the wiser certainly fits perfectly with the typical wacky antics of a 1950s sitcom.

    It also plays into something that got mentioned in the synopsis of the first episode. There is a chance this will surely be an essential part of the plot as the series moves forward: Wanda and Vision are in this idyllic world, but they can’t recall how they got there or their history within it. Perhaps the heart is connected to the overall mystery of the sitcom world. Something that is also noteworthy about the Instagram setup with the nine-image grid pictures is that today is the Monday of WandaVisions premiere week for which the 1950’s image changed into a video.

    There are five other TV grids posted on the account, but only three more days between now and Friday. Only three of the other pictures feature a picture of Wanda and Vision. I think Marvel will publish a 1960s clip on Tuesday, the 1980s will be on Wednesday, and Thursday will round it out with the 2000s before the first two episodes drop on Disney+ Friday. Be sure to check back here at Murphy’s Multiverse for more WandaVision updates as we head closer and closer to its launch!

    Source: Instagram

  • Frank Grillo Confirms Crossbones Return in ‘What If’

    Frank Grillo Confirms Crossbones Return in ‘What If’

    All eyes are on the upcoming Disney+ series. WandaVision is going to finally air this Friday. Falcon and the Winter Soldier is eyeing a release in March before Loki takes over in May. Those aren’t all the shows we can expect this year. 2021 is going to be huge for Marvel Studios after last year’s hiatus. Among them, What If is going to be their first venture into animation. The series is set to re-explore the films from the first three phases, but with a twist. They have teased that a wide variety of MCU actors will return to voice the characters they made iconic. Well, it looks like one more is joining the fray.

    In an interview with Collider’s Steven Weintraub, actor Frank Grillo revealed that he will be involved with the upcoming What If project. Of course, he didn’t give away what we can expect from his return as Crossbones, but he did give us a hint for how many episodes he’ll be around.

    CAA called, my agents called and said, ‘They’re doing this thing, What If…?, and they have four or five episodes planned out, you can do it all in one [day].’ I’m like, ‘Whatever, I don’t care what the money [is], it doesn’t matter, yes I’m going to do it. Absolutely. All day, every day.’

    Grillo‘s enthusiasm is certain infections. We still don’t know much about What If, which primarily seems to focus on different scenarios with simple twists. So far, we’ve seen an evil Doctor Strange, Peggy Carter replacing Steve Rogers, and a Zombie Captain America. There is a good chance he is involved with the Zombie episode, which could be connected to Crossbones bio-weapon that was originally meant to kill Cap during Captain America: Civil War. At this point, it is just pure speculation, but it certainly is going to be exciting to see how they’ll twist our understanding of the stories we’ve spent so much time with in the last twelve years.

    Source: Collider

  • Disney May Be Considering ‘Black Widow’ Disney+ Premium Access After All

    Disney May Be Considering ‘Black Widow’ Disney+ Premium Access After All

    The pandemic hasn’t been easy on Hollywood. Most of their 2020 releases got delayed as it was uncertain if worldwide quarantines would end anytime soon. Yet, there is the question if people would be willing to return to cinemas as long as that uncertainty remained. Marvel Studios had to push back its entire Phase 4 slate by a year. Most of the releases have been shifted around as a result as well. One of those releases was Black Widow. 

    It was supposed to kick off Phase 4 in May of last year only to get postponed into 2021. Now, WandaVision is officially taking over that duty in the next few days. Even after all this time, the pandemic still looms over our heads. Studios, as well as theaters, are still reeling from the heavy losses of 2020. So, there was still hope to hold the 2021 release dates. It seems that the latest strategy with Raya and the Last Dragon may be signaling a new direction after all.

     

     

    Raya will premiere in March simultaneously on Disney+ Premium Access and theaters. It isn’t too dissimilar from how Warner Bros. currently has mapped out their entire 2021 release plan. Still, Disney has denied that any such whispers but happened, but we’ve seen them deny such claims once before. Pixar’s Soul went through a similar development before getting released on Disney+. It’s not an easy decision for Disney, as constantly postponing their releases doesn’t help their current plans. It leaves many to wonder if Disney would be willing to pull the trigger and risk it all with a Hollywood blockbuster such as Black Widow come May 2021. Right now, there are too many factors to say if theaters will return to what they once were by May.

    Source: Variety (Raya), Variety (2021)

  • Marvel Studios’ ‘X-Men’ Still Being Actively Discussed

    Marvel Studios’ ‘X-Men’ Still Being Actively Discussed

    Disney Investor’s Day was filled to the brim with major announcements. We got the reveal of some new Disney+ shows, such as Secret Invasion and Armor Wars. However, probably the biggest surprise was the announcement of a Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four film. There was still no sign of their take on the X-Men, however. We do have the confirmation that Deadpool, who is closely tied to the franchise, will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in his upcoming third film, but no word if we can expect, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and all the other mutants to make their appearance any time soon. Now, with the WandaVision press junket underway, ScreenRant used this chance to ask him if there is anything he can say about the franchise:

    You know how much I love the X-Men. I already said that’s where I started. I can’t tell you anything before we actually announced it, but rest assured, the discussions have been long and ongoing internally.

    Well, it looks like there is still some time before they will explore that aspect of the MCU. It does make sense, as they will not want to rush these characters out while they map out what will make their version of the characters unique from 20th Century Fox’s run. There is also the question if they will focus on the Inhumans for a few years, who might make their reappearance in the upcoming Ms. Marvel Disney+ show. There has been no confirmation on their appearance, however, so anything is still possible. WandaVision may also open up the introduction of mutants, as there were teases that the Mind Stone released dormant abilities within Wanda. Whatever Marvel Studios decides, it is good they are not rushing out the characters after only just getting the rights. There is a chance some of them might make cameo appearances early on before rolling out into their own film. Marvel’s future is bright, so why rush it now.

    Source: ScreenRant

  • Jimmy Woo: The Story So Far

    Jimmy Woo: The Story So Far

    Agent Jimmy Woo is one of the more recent characters introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He made his on-screen debut in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. We got introduced to the cheerful FBI agent, who was assigned to oversee Scott Lang’s house arrest. Beyond that, we know very little about Jimmy Woo’s backstory. Going by his comic origin, there might be quite a lot more to unpack that the films have yet to explore. Especially, as we now know about his involvement in the upcoming Disney+ show, WandaVision, it might be a good time to take a look back at his short-lived story so far.

     

     

    We are first introduced to the character officially when he checked in on Scott Lang, who accidentally broke through his fence. He arrived shortly on the scene after Lang’s house arrest ankle monitor accidentally exited his house’s perimeter. Here we learned that Woo doesn’t know how to talk with kids, as he tells Cassie Lang her father’s legal rights in full detail. He is fascinated by Scott’s magic tricks before warning him that violating the rules would get him sent to prison for twenty years. Throughout the film, we see Woo hot on Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne’s tail, as they get an anonymous tip about their whereabouts at Berkely. He has a brief interaction with Bill Foster trying to get information out of him.
    During this time, he is unaware that Scott had escaped his home. Meanwhile, a giant ant is copying his daily routine to get the FBI off his trail. At one point, he checks in on Lang. Cassie delayed him long enough for her father to get back in time. Woo was also part of the team that captured Hope and Hank during their confrontation with Ghost, which he called his first win in a long time. Later on, the FBI would see Giant-Man on television and assume it was Lang. After another goose chase, he ends up running into Scott one last time at his place. So, he took his ankle bracelet and was just about to ask him if he wanted to hang out before leaving again.

     

     

    Funny enough, Jimmy Woo got briefly mentioned in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It seems he used to work for the spy organization and worked alongside Melinda May. As the show’s canonicity is uncertain, we do not know if that will remain part of his background. He was a member of Agents of Atlas alongside Shang-Chi at some point in the comics, so it could be in his future. For now, he will return in this week’s WandaVision. Still, his appearance is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one. With his appearance in the show, chances are he will be one of the more prominent federal officers that will be in charge of “strange occurrences” in the town of Westview. And he’ll be working with the likes of the FBI and S.W.O.R.D., who we know will be present in the show. Whatever his role may be, we’re sure this agent is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way.

     

  • Kevin Feige Teases Multiple Seasons For Upcoming Disney+ Shows

    Kevin Feige Teases Multiple Seasons For Upcoming Disney+ Shows

    We are only a few days away from WandaVision finally airing. It’ll be the first in a wide variety of new shows that will kick-off Marvel Studios’ expansion into long-form storytelling. At first glance, it seemed like they were focusing more on mini-series than trying to focus on a yearly seasonal turnout. Disney+ is no stranger to it, as The Mandalorian just released its second season. However, that show also proved how flexible the streaming service is, as the upcoming third season will release later after a new show titled The Book of Boba Fett takes over its yearly release date. So, it made us wonder if Marvel Studios may embrace multiple seasons after all. Luckily, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed this is very much a possibility:

    It will vary. There are some shows that have been built to further expand our storytelling and then go into features. We’ve already announced Lizzie Olsen being a part of “Doctor Strange 2.” We’ve announced Teyonah Parris being part of “Captain Marvel 2.” There are some shows that, while always interconnected, are being built with multiple seasons in mind. So it’ll vary the way a lot of I think great TV now varies, whether it’s a couple of years between seasons of “Game of Thrones” or “Stranger Things,” or one offs like — what did I just watch? — “Queen’s Gambit.” One of the fun things about streaming is the rules are loose, which allows for you to just follow creatively, where you want to go.

    Sadly, Feige is as tight-lipped as ever and did not give away which season could potentially be mapped out with multiple seasons. Interestingly enough, almost a whole year ago, our very own Charles Murphy did break the news that Loki was very likely to get a second season. It seemed like many of the lead and supporting roles were given options to return. A few days ago, the news broke that Loki showrunner Michael Waldron was also inking up a massive deal with Disney that would include a potential second season. So, it seems very likely that at least the God of Mischief was going to explore this. As Feige points out, they aren’t as restricted with their seasonal turn-out so they will adapt each show’s future season to fit within the overarching storyline, as they switch between Disney+ and feature films. So, we’ll see if WandaVision, Hawkeye, and the many other series might also return for multiple seasons.

    Source: Variety

  • Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Deadpool 3’ as an R-Rated MCU Film

    Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Deadpool 3’ as an R-Rated MCU Film

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe is ever-expanding. Avengers: Endgame ended the era of the first three phases with quite the bang. Now, we are opening up new avenues for Marvel Studios to explore. The first major addition is the expansion into long-form storytelling through Disney+. WandaVision will kick-off this new direction in just a few days, which will highlight the franchise taking new chances with its stories. It also looks like they are opening up to also introducing characters from other franchises, as is the case with Ryan Reynolds‘ Deadpool. When it was announced that the third film was moving forward, many wondered how it would fit into Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige‘s master plan. Looks like

    In an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Feige revealed that the third entry of the Deadpool franchise is indeed part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not just that, he also said that the film will keep its R-rating. So, those worried that Deadpool becoming a part of a larger universe could change his rating can breathe a sigh of relief. He did confirm that Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin and Wendy Molyneux are still hard at work on the script alongside Reynolds, but it will not enter any form of production until 2022. Here is his comment:

    It will be rated R and we are working on a script right now, and Ryan’s overseeing a script right now… It will not be [filming] this year. Ryan is a very busy, very successful actor. We’ve got a number of things we’ve already announced that we now have to make, but it’s exciting for it to have begun. Again, a very different type of character in the MCU, and Ryan is a force of nature, which is just awesome to see him bring that character to life.

    Deadpool will certainly shake-up the Marvel Cinematic Universe in major ways. It will be interesting to see how they integrate the third entry for the character into the larger MCU. There could be a good chance that he has a multiverse story of his own, or his time travel actions from the last sequel led to him crossing dimensions. Either way, it’ll be interesting how they will balance his fourth-wall-breaking while still trying to keep the existing franchise as grounded in its own reality.

    Source: Collider

  • Monica Rambeau: The Story So Far

    Monica Rambeau: The Story So Far

    Finally, we have only a few more days until WandaVision gets released on Disney+. So, we thought it would be the perfect time to catch you guys up on some of the essential players in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the upcoming series. To kick it off, we’re taking a look at a character that appeared around two years ago on the silver screen for the first time. Canonically, she has been in the MCU for over 20 years, so she’ll be quite different when she makes her return to the franchise. So, let’s not waste time and take a closer look at Monica Rambeau.

     

     

    Monica Rambeau made her debut in 2019’s Captain Marvel. She grew a close relationship with Carol Danvers, who she saw as part of their family. Monica would often refer to her as Auntie Carol. She, however, got the adorable nickname Lieutenant Trouble. When Carol was presumed dead after the accident with Lawson’s plane, young Monica refused to believe that her aunt died that day. She kept all of Carol’s things, so it would be ready when she made her eventual return. A few years later, they were finally reunited. Monica was essential to help jog Carol’s memories, which got jumbled after the explosion and her time with the Kree. Even at the age of eleven, Monica had quite a lot of insight and handled the sudden introduction to aliens almost better than her mother. Carol gave her the honor of choosing which color she should use for her former Kree uniform, which ended up being the iconic colors we know from her comic run.

    All these events happen in 1995, so we won’t see her again until she’s all grown up. As far as we can tell, she is working for a government agency known as S.W.O.R.D. We’ll get a chance to possibly delve more into her personal history and story once we get into WandaVision. Lieutenant Trouble’s past experiences as a child and her interest in the bizarre make her the perfect character to help pull Wanda out of whatever strange sitcom-inspired dimension she is trapped in. Going by her comic origins, her inclusion might also tease a bright and heroic future for Rambeau.