Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • The Case for Marvel Studios ‘BLADE’ as the Fifth 2022 Film

    The Case for Marvel Studios ‘BLADE’ as the Fifth 2022 Film

    Like every other studio in the business, Marvel Studios reshuffled its 2020 and 2021 film slates more than once as the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted every aspect of production. Two weeks ago, at Disney’s Investor Day, the studio revealed the latest (and hopefully final) plan that saw it’s 2022 slate rearranged, moving Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther II and Captain Marvel 2 a spreading the release dates of its four films (Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is still set for a March 2022 release) a little more evenly throughout the year. Interestingly enough, the studio did NOT place a film on the October 7, 2022 date that they reserved late last year. That date has remained open, but reserved for a Marvel Studios film, though for many fans, it’s become increasingly hard to believe Kevin Feige would release a film on that date as it would mean going head-to-head with Sony’s animated Spider-Verse sequel, which was moved from April to October of 2022 during the pandemic. And while that logic holds up, an official Investor’s Day fact sheet presents the possibility that Marvel Studios may be at least thinking about dropping Blade, a FIFTH feature film, in 2022 and that October date makes sense for a lot of reasons.

    As you can see in the first image, the fact sheet indicates that the projects are listed in chronological order. The second image then lists Blade between Black Panther II’s July 8th release and Captain Marvel 2’s November 11th date. A quick check of the calendar shows that October 7th happens to fall in between those other two dates. An October 7th date would also put Blade, a film set to reintroduce Marvel’s premier vampire hunter, in theaters during the time of year when audiences are in the mood to watch films about such things. So while it’s a little hard to see Marvel Studios putting out 5 films in one year, the evidence is all there staring us in the face…how we chose to interpret it is up to us.

    11 Things You Never Knew About Marvel's 'Blade'

    Of course, there are quite a few obstacles in the way of Blade making that October 2022 release. Fiege did tease upcoming news about the project during the Investor Day presentation, but as of now, the only thing we know about the project is that Mahershala Ali will star in it. As far as we know, the film doesn’t have a creative team behind it at the moment, and Marvel Studios has historically liked to give the team about a year to work together before filming. They also tend to film about 12-16 months before release, which means they’d like to begin production on the film sometime between June and October of 2021. Now there are certainly exceptions to those rules on either side: sometimes the teams are together longer, sometimes shorter; sometimes films get started closer to expected release, sometimes further out (especially now with all the uncertainty). For example, Destin Daniel Cretton was brought on board to direct Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings just 10 months before filming was scheduled to begin. If Marvel Studios has a good idea of where the film is going and maybe an in-house outline of the script, it’s not impossible to believe that the film could be ready for an October start of production if they were able to get a team together sometime early next month. If such an announcement comes in early January, it could provide a couple more data points to help us make a decision. Of course, the best data point would be an official announcement and in these crazy times it’s best for all of us (even me!) to wait on one of those. But at this point, we cannot say with any certainty that we will not see Ali as Blade in the Fall of 2022.

  • Live-Action Spider-Verse Teased by Paramount Tweet

    Live-Action Spider-Verse Teased by Paramount Tweet

    The news came from the Spanish Paramount Network.

    With the casting confirmations of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, Jamie Foxx as Electro, and the MANY, MANY RUMORS surrounding the project, many fans grow more anxious and eager to hear any sort of news regarding the upcoming Spider-Man sequel. The biggest rumor that essentially condenses all others is that this film will in fact delve into the Spider-Verse and bring back the previous iterations of Spider-Man; Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, it seems that that rumor has just been absolutely amplified by a tweet sent out by the official Paramount Network Twitter account last week. Check the tweet here.

    For our non-Spanish speaking audience, the tweet translates “Marvel gives you their Christmas Gift. It’s a box that, if you open it, all 3 Spider-Men from the 21st century will appear in the same movie.” The picture also states that “Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will return to reprise their roles as Peter Parker” and that “Spider-Man 3 will explode the Arachnid Multiverse (Or Spider-Verse).” This is a similar scenario to that of when an official Latin American Sony Channel seemingly confirmed in a now-private YouTube video that all 3 Spider-Men are uniting for one single movie.

    While it is important to note that this tweet is sent by an official Paramount Twitter account (which is odd, considering that Sony Pictures is the one that owns the franchise), the tweet pretty much amplifies the rumor that many people are anxiously waiting for official confirmation from either Sony Pictures or Marvel Studios. There is also the timing of it all that we have to take into account. It mentions that it’s a Christmas gift from Marvel Studios. It’s a bit of a stretch and I highly doubt it will happen, but maybe Paramount might be hinting that we may get something on Christmas Day regarding Spider-Man 3? Who knows.

    That rumor wasn’t the only one that’s been spread around as of late. Allegedly, there’s word that we’ll also see the returns of some familiar love interests in the form of Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. And if that wasn’t enough, there is also the possibility that the film might introduce the Sinister 6 into the mix with some Multiverse villains, bringing back actors such as Willem Dafoe, Dane DeHann, Thomas Hayden Church to reprise a new take on their villainous roles. The running gag on social media is that everyone that has ever even been a part of the Spider-Man franchise is stepping in to take part of what seems to be a massive Spider-Verse film. We’ll just have to wait and see if this is the case when Spider-Man 3 rolls around December of 2021.

    Could Sony be hinting at Spider-Man 3 becoming the live-action Spider-Verse fans have been asking for? Only time will tell.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Should be Marvel Studios’ ‘Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law’

    ‘She-Hulk’ Should be Marvel Studios’ ‘Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law’

    She-Hulk is an exciting addition to the Marvel world. During Disney’s Investor’s Day, Marvel Studios president revealed that the upcoming story would be a half-hour legal comedy. It made me wonder how they would approach the story and tone of the show. There is one legal-comedy that seems like a perfect template that also suits the character quite perfectly. I am talking of none other than Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. The Adult Swim show re-used old Hanna-Barbera assets to create an adult comedy reinventing many of their beloved characters. Our titular hero is a criminal defense attorney that also acts as a parody, especially by making the various characters even more eccentric than they already were in their original renditions. You might be wonder, why would this type of comedy work for She-Hulk?

    Well, many tend to overlook that she is fond of breaking the fourth wall long before Deadpool was around. In 1989, John Byrne introduced a cross-dimensional awareness of the character. She would tear the page or walk through advertisements. Dan Slott‘s run in 2004 also took this aspect one step further. As every comic before 2001 got published with the Comics Code Authority of America, they are considered legal documents that she actively uses in court to represent her clients. She has her own unique blend of destroying the fourth wall, which would be a waste not to explore.

     

     

    She isn’t new to meta-humor and could mix up the formula we are familiar with in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the MCU faces an ever-expanding multiverse, they can introduce her “world-altering” abilities through Wanda and Doctor Strange’s adventures. Not only did she transform into She-Hulk, but also at a timing that gave her some self-awareness. We will probably see many characters show up throughout her show. So, each episode could focus on a different client. We could finally meet some of the most bizarre superheroes ever created by Marvel, such as Demolition Man, 3-D Man, or Frog-Man. They don’t have to hold back in mocking some of the hero’s mistakes throughout the last 10+ years. Deadpool offered us a more unfiltered look at the X-Men world, while She-Hulk can expand it in creative ways.

    Not just that, she also is forced to face a variety of cooky characters at her office. Stephen Colbert, who played Birdman’s boss Phil Ken Sebben, is a partner who makes her daily life a living hell. Not just that, she also is trying to adjust to the fact that her cousin’s blood transfusion gave her Hulk-like abilities. We can expect some accidental destruction. One episode can focus on Falcon, who is trying to ensure he can’t lose the Captain America title to the government again. His appearance would make for a great tribute to Birdman and makes for a great sequel to Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Plus, with hints at Charlie Cox‘s return in Spider-Man 3, she might drop a comment if he ever appeared in a competition streaming service before. These are just examples of how She-Hulk can tackle a similar structure to the Adult Swim series, while also making use of a similar type of meta-humor just to flip the entire MCU on its head.

  • LockeDown #2: Artifacts Near Wakanda May Prove Atlantis’ Existence

    LockeDown #2: Artifacts Near Wakanda May Prove Atlantis’ Existence

    Your host John Locke is back with more tales from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Earth is facing a culture shock, as it seems that Atlantis might be real? Not just that, New Asgard is finally opening up to the world while new findings in Egypt might open up the question: How many Gods are still out there?

     

     

    If you enjoyed the episode, don’t miss out on getting early access by subscribing to our Patreon to be one of the first to listen to the next entry:

     

  • RUMOR: Martin Starr and Hannibal Buress Returning for ‘Spider-Man 3’

    RUMOR: Martin Starr and Hannibal Buress Returning for ‘Spider-Man 3’

    It has been quite a wild ride when it comes to the upcoming Spider-Man 3 film. We had one casting rumor after another. So far, we have heard that Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, Andrew Garfield, and so many more are joining the cast. Just a few days ago, Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church were also added to the list rounding out even more iconic characters from the franchise’s past to make a return. Not even the Netflix series was safe, as Charles V. broke the news on Daredevil actor Charlie Cox also making an appearance. It seemed at this point that the film wasn’t really about Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man, or would even include any of his main supporting cast. Luckily, Illuminerdi comes in with some news on MCU-based characters making a return. Hannibal Buress and Martin Starr will reprise their respective roles.

    Some of the funniest moments in the films were from the teachers. Starr‘s Mr. Harrington dropped some of the best lines throughout both films, so I am glad to see him return. The character made his debut in 2018, as he had a brief appearance in The Incredible Hulk. Buress also lent his humor perfectly to his brief appearance in the first, so very curious to see if he also only has a minor role this time around.

    Sadly, no mention of fellow teacher Julius Dell, who was played by J.B. Smoove. The actor got the role after his performance in the Audi commercial featuring Holland. We don’t know how they will fit into the film, but the best guess would that one of the action sequences takes place at their school. Mr. Harrington was also shown to be quite a kind soul, so I could see him try to keep Peter safe while he is on the run. Maybe Peter accidentally interrupts the teacher’s during a poker game while fleeing one of the million villains that are rumored to appear.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • Iron Man’s Legacy: How ‘Armor Wars’ Can End Tony’s Open Threads

    Iron Man’s Legacy: How ‘Armor Wars’ Can End Tony’s Open Threads

    Disney’s Investors Day has unveiled a variety of brand new shows. Among them, we got the unveiling of an adaptation of Armor Wars. After Tony’s death during the events of Avengers: Endgame, it seems that his technology was still being shared across the world. Now, it is up to Rhodey in his War Machine suit to make things right. Now, the only question is how exactly they will tackle this iconic story without the hero that defined it. Well, Spider-Man: Far From Home kind of kicked off the question if there is a necessity for a new “Iron Man”. Peter learned the importance of growing into his own as Spider-Man, taking the lessons he learned from Tony but not letting them define him.  In a way, Armor Wars may carry that message forward to the rest of the world.

     

     

    We have no idea what exactly this story is going to explore. The original storyline ran from 1987 to 1988 over seven issues. David Michelinie and Bob Layton developed a story about Tony’s technology getting stolen by his worse enemies. Justin Hammer, who many might remember from Iron Man 2, enlisted Spymaster to steal his technology and create brand new armor designs. Iron Man starts a war with many armored villains to ensure no one can use his technology. Even SHIELD created an armored unit called Mandroid’s, which certainly didn’t leave a great impression on Tony. He also comes into conflict with Jack Taggart, also known as Firepower. We met this character in Iron Man 3, who exploded due to an overdose of Extremis at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

    There aren’t many players left to flesh out the original storyline. SHIELD hasn’t been around in the mainline MCU since Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Taggart blew up in the last solo film for the character. So, only Hammer remains, who was last seen in the short All Hail The King. It wouldn’t be a surprise he has already left prison and restart his company as the primary weapon’s dealer, as Stark Tech is still exploring other markets. Now, I believe he will have a new partner that helps him rebuild Hammer Industries, the son of Obediah Stane, Ezekiel.

     

     

    Ezekiel, or Zeke as everyone calls him, is pretty much the MCU’s Mark Zuckerberg. He is a young entrepreneur, just started his company straight out of college. Even with his father’s legacy, many did not expect his sudden rise in popularity and fortune. He would never give away his secret, but he seemed oddly fascinated with entering the weapon’s market. After reviving Hammer Industries, he suddenly introduces the world to a brand new type of armor, something familiar. He says it is to keep Tony’s legacy alive, but Rhodey knows something is up. Suddenly, various armored criminals are starting to cause havoc across the world, and War Machine is forced into action to ensure they do not stain what was left behind by his best friend.

    Along the way, he runs into Riri Williams, who he believed to have also stolen Stark Tech to build her Ironheart armor. She unveils that it is her technology, so he takes her under his wing to ensure her safety as an onslaught of these tech-based villains is after her. They seem to be gathering all kinds of technology for some reason. Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, Beetle, Spymaster, and many more seem to be popping out of the woodwork. The armors keep regenerating with nanotech, so they keep regenerating. It also seems their pilots have the Extremis equipped, as their limbs grow back instantly. After a long battle, Rhodey and Riri finally won. They can pry open one of the armors only to realize they have been empty all this time. It wasn’t the Extremis healing them. The whole thing was just a ruse. Each and everyone was fake. At that moment, a familiar voice starts to echo out of the armor’s speakers.

     

     

    Ezekiel wasn’t the wunderkind we all assumed he was. He wasn’t able to carry on his father’s legacy. Well, that was until he found a discarded piece of armor still containing the remnants of Ultron. Together, they started to find a way to get their revenge on Tony even after his death. They would use his armor tech, which was ingrained into Ultron, to undo everything Stark Tech has done. To besmirch his legacy, they revived the House Party Protocol from Iron Man 3, which was still active on suits that Tony constructed as a way to cope with the fight against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Luckily, Rhodey realized that they are still connected to the Clean Slate Protocol, but Ultron took control over his armor.

    However, Riri’s armor was the only one not connected to Stark Tech, which meant she was unaffected. As such, she was their only hope to activate the protocol before Ultron could enable his Imperative. He wasn’t there to help Zeke. Ultron just used him to enact his plans of a metallic future, but he underestimated that someone would be able to keep up with Tony’s tech. In a way, he underestimated the next generation that would continue the legacy in their way. Rhodey finally can take a break and decides to support Riri in forging her path.

  • ‘WandaVision’ Could Set Up a ‘One More Day’ Storyline in ‘Spider-Man 3’

    ‘WandaVision’ Could Set Up a ‘One More Day’ Storyline in ‘Spider-Man 3’

    So, yesterday I was trying to figure out who the strange Beekeeper might be in the latest WandaVision trailer. There I stated that I believe the main antagonist might end up being Mephisto. So far, we haven’t explored the character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also has much potential connection to other franchises, such as his cameo in Loki‘s trailer. There, we can see a devil-like person in a stained-glass window in the background. So, it seemed like a good guess that these shows might be connected. Yet, it started to make me wonder if he’ll have a major role throughout the series.

    To some degree, I think Nightmare and Mephisto will become one character. He might serve as the primary antagonist in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now, he may also jump from this film into another, the still-untitled Spider-Man 3. Now, why is it noteworthy connecting Spider-Man with Mephisto? Most might have already realized it the moment the webhead was mentioned, as he was featured in the storyline One More Day. It is one of the most unpopular stories told in comic history, but the set-up might already exist for it.

     

     

    Now, they won’t be adapting the story one-for-one. WandaVision seems inspired by multiple storylines, such as House of M, Vision, and the Scarlet Witch, as well as the suburban storyline of Vision. So, One More Day may play a small part in the story. Plus, the whole point of the original was that Mephisto made a deal with Peter. He took off his mask in front of the world during the Civil War storyline. It ended up getting Aunt May shot in the process. It came at the cost of his marriage to Mary Jane. MJ also makes sure that Peter’s identity would remain a secret. Now, I believe if they adapt aspects of One More Day, they will only focus on two things: his secret identity and a deal with the devil.

    So, how would the story come together? Mephisto was free the moments the Infinity Stones got destroyed by Thanos. Without a body and waiting for those that inherited their powers to return, he remained in hiding. Now that Wanda was brought back through the Blip, he was able to enact his plan. She inherited the abilities of the Mind Stone, so she would also be connected to her other half, Vision. He manipulates her, which leads to the events of WandaVision. He manages to regain a physical body and his strength, so he enacts his plan. He aims to let horrors from the multiverse infiltrate the mainline universe, which ends up as the main plot for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Yet, his actions also create a Spider-Verse event that forces Peter to face an onslaught of enemies from different universes.

     

     

    Peter reaches his breaking point. After having faced various enemies, he ends up coming across Mephisto. So, in his desperation for a normal life, he made a deal with the devil. He wakes up in his bed. Aunt May and Ned are all here, but something feels off. The radio talks about incidents that he can’t seem to recall. Spider-Man is still called a menace by J. Jonah Jameson, but no one mentions his real name anymore. He comes to realize that no one has ever heard of Tony Stark or the Avengers. The deal he made came at a price. He was in a completely different universe that was similar to his own. Now, he either had to accept his new reality or try to find a way back to the place he once called home. The movie ends with a fitting title: Spider-Man: Home One Day.

  • RUMOR: Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror To Appear in ‘Loki’

    RUMOR: Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror To Appear in ‘Loki’

    A while back, we got the announcement that Lovecraft Country‘s Jonathan Majors was cast as Kang the Conqueror. Now, the interesting thing was that he was set to appear in Ant-Man & the Wasp sequel, which now has the subtitle Quantumania. It was a bit strange that they announced his casting this early, which had many people speculate if he may show up early on. Well, it looks like our theories might’ve been right as the latest podcast @PostCredPod featuring DisInsider’s EIC Skyler Shuler may have confirmed he will show up in the upcoming Disney+ show Loki.

    His potential appearance makes absolute sense with the Time Variance Authority’s heavy involvement. We’ve seen some visuals that already led to a theory that he may have some kind of role in their foundation, which you can check out here. Loki might only introduce the character, so we shouldn’t expect him to appear in multiple episodes anytime soon. We just recently also heard rumblings of Jaimie Alexander‘s Sif returning in the upcoming show, so it’ll be interesting to see who else might show up throughout the show’s series.

    The recent trailer gave us an overall better glimpse of the Disney+ show’s story. We will see Loki mess around throughout history while working together with the TVA. The first trailer alone promises a visual spectacle that will dive into some aspect of the multiverse. So, the series builds upon the multiversal throughline in Phase 4 and could even have some influence over the events. After the Avengers played around with time in Endgame, he might be here to correct what they may have screwed up.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Studios Reveals New “Legends” Disney+ Series

    Marvel Studios Reveals New “Legends” Disney+ Series

    Looks like Marvel isn’t done just yet.

     

    Fresh off their massive panel from Disney’s Investor Day last Thursday, with dozens of new shows and projects in development, it looks like we’re also getting one more additional new series for Disney+. In an official tweet, they revealed Marvel Studios: Legends, which will recap the most iconic moments from various character’s history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We can also expect the show to be added soon, as it is slated for a January 8th release with two episodes.

    Based on the description, it seems that this is going to be a highlight reel for the MCU characters. It could also showcase their comics origins, the MCU adaptation, their journey across the Infinity Saga thus far, and what the future might hold for them. Since the first two episodes are about Wanda and Vision just a few days before the premiere of WandaVision, Marvel’s strategy for this could be that it acts as a quick recap for those catching up on the franchise’s 10+ year history.

    So, there is a good chance that we can expect the next episodes to focus on Falcon, Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Loki, and Hawkeye. They could also use this to highlight characters connected to newer introductions, such as Carol Danvers getting featured shortly before Ms. Marvel airs. We have no exact info on the format or length of these episodes, but they probably are kept short going over the character’s biggest moments. We will find out more once the first two episodes air next year on January 8th.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church in Talks to Return for ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    RUMOR: Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church in Talks to Return for ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    Just in this past month, the cast of Spider-Man 3 has grown exponentially, with reports of actors such as Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina and even Charlie Cox set to reprise their respective roles from Marvel’s past, exciting fans across all social media platforms. It was recently announced by the man himself, Kevin Feige, that Spider-Man 3 would tie directly into what transpires in the events of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in The Multiverse Of Madness, so it seems incredibly likely that the multiverse plays a key role in the story of this third film. Basically, all plot details have been kept under lock and key, with the film noticeably absent from the Disney Investor presentation, likely because of the ties the film has to Sony. It seems some old dogs may be jumping back into the fray, with a few more Raimi era characters rumored to be on their way.

    It’s being reported that Spider-Man and stars Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church are currently in talks to reprise their roles from the original films that saw Tobey Maguire star as the titular character. The two played the previous antagonists of the web-slinger films with Dafoe making an iconic performance as Norman Osborn and Church playing the role of Sandman in the third and final installment in the franchise. Both characters met their fate at the end of their respective films so it’ll be interesting to see if they’re indeed from the multiverse or will be in a similar situation to that of J.K.  Simmons, who reprised his iconic role of J Jonah Jameson for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    Spider-Man 3 will be directed Jon Watts and will feature the return of Tom Holland as Peter Parker who’s presumably on the run considering how we last left him in Far From Home. Peter won’t be alone however as Benedict Cumberbatch will lend a hand to peter in his time of need. Spider-Man 3 is set to release on December 17th, 2021 however most dates set these days should be taken with a grain of salt considering the current state of the industry.

    SOURCE: Illuminderi