Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • Wild New Rumor Has The Rock Joining the MCU as a Major X-Men Villain

    Wild New Rumor Has The Rock Joining the MCU as a Major X-Men Villain

    Dwayne Johnson‘s first efforts as a superhero certainly didn’t work out as the star hoped. Black Adam was a critical and commercial miss and with an all-new DC Studios emerging as the film was in theaters, there was no future for the character or for Johnson. Now amidst his return to professional wrestling as a full-blown WWE heel, a new rumor has him joining the MCU as one of the X-Men’s deadliest villains.

    According to one of the online community’s most active leakers, My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios is interested in casting Dwayne Johnson as En Sabah Nur, better known as Apocalypse.

    The character–played by Oscar Isaac–was the antagonist of Fox’s 2016 debacle X-Men: Apocalypse and has been one of the X-Men’s most formidable foes over the years in the comics. Writer Jonathan Hickman recently made some significant changes to the character’s history which not only made him more interesting but also provided a path forward in the MCU without retreading too much ground covered in the horrific Fox film.

    Given he’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, there’s a pretty good chance that Marvel Studios would like to work with Johnson at some point, casting the star as Apocalypse seems like a terrible idea at best. Outside of the sheer horror that could come from The Rock revisiting ancient Egypt and reminding audiences of The Scorpion King, there’s also the matter of Johnson’s staunch refusal to play villains. Perhaps his heel turn in the WWE represents some movement on this front but that remains to be seen.

    Who is Apocalypse?

    Marvel Comics’ Apocalypse, also known as En Sabah Nur, stands as one of the most formidable and iconic villains in the X-Men universe. With his ancient origins and insatiable thirst for power, Apocalypse is a force to be reckoned with.

    Born thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, Apocalypse is an immortal mutant with godlike powers and an indomitable will. Possessing advanced technology and genetic manipulation abilities, he is revered as the world’s first mutant, wielding immense strength and intelligence.

    Apocalypse’s primary goal is the survival of the fittest, believing in the principle of mutant superiority through strength. Throughout history, he has sought to cull weaker mutants and shape the world in his image, often unleashing chaos and destruction in his wake. From assembling his Four Horsemen to manipulating global events, Apocalypse stops at nothing to achieve his vision of mutant domination.

    Encounters with the X-Men

    The X-Men, led by stalwart heroes like Cyclops and Wolverine, have repeatedly clashed with Apocalypse in epic battles of will and power. His encounters with the X-Men often result in cataclysmic showdowns, testing the limits of their strength and resolve. Apocalypse sees the X-Men as both worthy adversaries and obstacles to his grand design, making their conflicts legendary in the annals of Marvel Comics.

    Apocalypse’s legacy extends beyond mere villainy, influencing the course of mutantkind and leaving a lasting mark on the Marvel Universe. His actions have shaped the destinies of countless mutants, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair. Despite facing defeat on numerous occasions, Apocalypse’s influence looms large, a reminder of the ever-present threat posed by those who seek absolute power.

    In the realm of Marvel Comics, Apocalypse stands as a testament to the enduring allure of villainy and the eternal struggle between good and evil. With his ancient origins, godlike powers, and relentless pursuit of dominance, he remains a dark and ominous figure, casting a long shadow over the world of the X-Men.

  • How Bob Iger’s Mandate Could Reshape Marvel Studios Future Slate

    How Bob Iger’s Mandate Could Reshape Marvel Studios Future Slate

    Though it had long been clear that Marvel Studios was dialing back on the number of projects to be released each year, Disney big wig Bob Iger quantified what fans should expect in a recent investor call. According to Iger, the plan moving forward is for Marvel Studios to slowly get to a point where they release 2 streaming series and 2-3 movies each year. Given the most recent updated slate from the studio still had 4 films set to release in 2025 and 4 more in 2026, it’s easy to see how that might be a problem. While it’s possible Disney will roll out a new Marvel Studios slate at this year’s D23 in August, all we can do for now is speculate as to what the future may hold…and so we will, operating under the assumption that Iger was referring to live-action series given Marvel Animation has several series that could easily be released in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

    2025

    During the investor conference call, Iger only mentioned two 2025 releases by name: Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. Both of those films will definitely be ready to roll out in 2025, though there has been some doubt expressed that Brave New World will be ready for its February 14, 2025 date as it has some significant work to do via reshoots. However, both The Fantastic Four and Blade are also on the 2025 theatrical slate and if Iger sticks to his plan, only one of those would hit theaters next year and that’s only IF the studio decides to go with a third film. Of those, The Fantastic Four is the best bet as it will begin production soon enough to make it out before the end of 2025.

    Cracking the potential lineup for the streaming projects is actually quite a bit simpler. After recently completing filming, Season 1 or Part 1 of Daredevil: Born Again will almost certainly hit sometime in 2025. It’s most likely to be joined next year by Ironheart, which has more or less been in the can for nearly two years.

    Ultimately, a scenario like the one we predicted back in mid-January might just work.

    Films

    Captain America: Brave New World
    Thunderbolts
    The Fantastic Four

    Streaming

    Daredevil: Born Again
    Ironheart

    2026

    Since the project should begin production in 2025, it becomes easy to slide Blade into 2026. After that, projects such as Armor Wars, Spider-Man 4, Shang-Chi 2 and Avengers 5 are all rumored to be headed into production at various points in 2025. While Marvel Studios will produce the new Spidey film, they have no control over its release date so we won’t waste time and energy thinking about that one for now. Iger also sounded very eager to get to another Avengers film so if we had to pick 3 for 2026, we’d go with Blade, Armor Wars and Avengers 5.

    Again, the streaming slate seems far easier to work with simply because there are far fewer projects to think about. Wonder Man seems like a sure bet for 2026. And while the second season/second part of Daredevil: Born Again used to seem like a good fit, it’s possible Vision Quest might beat it to the punch should its rumored October start date hold.

    Films

    Blade
    Armor Wars
    Avengers 5

    Streaming

    Wonder Man
    Vision Quest

    2027

    Breaking the pattern here for a beat, by 2027 the number of known live-action projects in development is reduced to Daredevil: Born Again. Sure, there are a number of rumored projects but given Iger’s comments, how many of those can truly be counted on to make it to the screen?

    Theatrically, 2027–which as of now only has a date set aside for Avengers: Secret Wars–could include Shang-Chi 2, Doctor Strange 3–which has not been confirmed to be in development by the studio or any trades. Our best guess is that by the time 2027 rolls around, we’ll only get two films and Secret Wars will get pushed down the road a bit.

    Films

    Shang-Chi 2
    Doctor Strange 3

    Streaming

    Daredevil: Born Again Part 2/Season 2

    As we wait for the studio to officially address the slate (or for a trade to break some news), it’s best not to take any of this too seriously and to understand we are in a time of ever-increasing uncertainty. Iger did say they would slowly change things around which might mean fans can look forward to 4 films a year in 2025 and 2026 before things slow down in 2027 and beyond. Either way, Iger’s comments point to fans having 4-5 Marvel Studios projects a year to enjoy which is great any way you slice it.

  • Bob Iger Reveals New Plan to Cut Back on Marvel Studios’ Content, Reshape Slate

    Bob Iger Reveals New Plan to Cut Back on Marvel Studios’ Content, Reshape Slate

    For the first time since returning to Disney, Bob Iger has provided details on his vision to scale back on Marvel Studios’ content. Via Variety, Iger’s plan is to dial back on streaming series (2 per year) and films (2 or 3 per year) in the near future. Iger said the company-wide decision to reduce output and increase the quality of what is produced is “particularly true with Marvel.”

    “We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three,” said Iger during the company’s quarterly earnings call Tuesday. “And we’re working hard on what that path is.”

    Though four films are currently slated to release in 2025, Iger stated that has a “couple of good films in ’25,” before mentioning Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. However, The Fantastic Four and Blade are all currently listed on Disney’s most updated slate as 2025 releases, but many questions have been raised about the latter two being ready for release next year.

    “Overall, I feel great about the slate,” said Iger, who also added that following the 2025 films the studio would be “heading to more Avengers.” Iger added, “It’s something that I’ve committed to spending more and more time on. The team is one that I have tremendous confidence in and the IP that we’re mining, including all the sequels that we’re doing, is second to none.“

    Of note on the streaming side, Iger referred to the “WandaVision spinoff Agatha” as “a vestige of basically a desire in the past to increase volume.” Though the series has already generated positive buzz, a streaming series being referred to as vestigial doesn’t seem like a vote of confidence for many of the other TV series rumored to be in development.

    Updating…

    Source: Variety

  • Fede Álvarez Rumored to Be a Candidate to Direct a Major MCU Team-Up Film

    Fede Álvarez Rumored to Be a Candidate to Direct a Major MCU Team-Up Film

    Deadpool & Wolverine will be Marvel Studios’ first R-rated project when it hits theaters this July but it certainly won’t be it’s last. Even though horror films can do just fine as PG-13 projects, Mahershala Ali‘s long-gestating Blade project has already been deemed an R-rated film. That film, which is currently slated to hit theaters in 2026, has already been rumored to set up another, major team-up flick and a new rumor indicates that Marvel Studios may already be eyeing some candidates to helm it.

    According to social media scooper My Time to Shine Hello, Marvel Studios may be interested in working with Fede Álvarez on the rumored Midnight Sons project.

    While theres never been any official word or even so much as a tease from Marvel about a Midnight Sons project being in the works, it’s been a hotly rumored project for some time. Recently, Michael Giachhano, who helmed Werewolf By Night for the studio, was rumored to be attached. Having just worked with Disney on Alien: Romulus, which is exoected to be a big hit for the studio, Álvarez is at the very least a logical guess to be on a list of potential directors should the project ever move forward.

    Should the studio truly be interested in Álvarez, it would almost certainly indicate at least a willingness to consider crafting Midnight Sons as another R-rated project. Álvarez has exclusively worked in R-rated or TV-MA content as a director and the type of stories that the supernatural team-up film might draw from almost all certainly could lend themselves to a more mature adaptation.

  • New Official Look at Sam Wilson’s New Cap Costume from ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    New Official Look at Sam Wilson’s New Cap Costume from ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    Whether from behind-the-scenes set photos, marketing materials and merchandising leaks, there have been plenty of “first” looks at the new costume Anthony Mackie will be wearing in Captain America: Brave New World. However, with the film about to head into significant reshoots, Marvel Studios has provided the best “official” look at the costume via Empire.

    Photo Credit: Empire Magazine

    In what director Julius Onah calls Sam’s “coming-out show” as Captain America, the 2025 film will see Wilson step out of the vibrant white costume he wore in the final episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and into a predominantly blue costume that looks a bit like the one sported by Chris Evans in Avengers: Endgame.

    Much like the previous trilogy of Cap films, Brave New World will dive directly into the realm of politics as Sam steps into the role of Captain America. “Part of the challenge for Sam as Captain America, working within the government, is the way he’s going to make decisions,” explained Onah, who took care to point out that like Steve Rogers, Sam won’t be a yes man for the United States. “The point of view he’s going to have will at times put him at odds with the President,” explained the director, teasing the relationship Wilson will have with Harrison Ford‘s Thunderbolt Ross.

    (L-R): Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross and Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America in Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD. Photo by Eli Adé. © 2024 MARVEL.

    And though it seems Ross will have his own very interesting arc, it’s Samuel Sterns’ The Leader, played by Tim Blake Nelson, who will be the true antagonist of the film. “Sam finds himself almost standing between Samuel Sterns and what he thinks the government owes him, and how he wants to go about getting that,” said Onah of the villain who first appeared in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. As fans of the comics know, being at odds with Sterns isn’t a great place to be and it sounds as thought that’s something Wilson will learn the hard way in Brave New World. “The action in this movie is incredibly exciting because this is a guy who can break, this is a guy who can bleed,” explained Onah. “We get to have a lot of fun pushing him to the limit.”

    We’ll see just how far the new Star-Spangled Man with a Plan can be pushed when Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, 2025.

    Source: Empire

  • Kevin Feige Clarifies a Key ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Plot Point

    Kevin Feige Clarifies a Key ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Plot Point

    The most recent look at Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine seemed to pretty clearly indicate that Hugh Jackman‘s Logan is a Variant that had not yet been seen in any of the Fox X-Men films. The new trailer had plenty enough dialogue and context clues to deduce that Jackman was not resuming the role so much as reinventing it through an all-new, all-different Variant but the internet, of course, remained skeptical. Thankfully, Marvel Studios’ One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, has put that skepticism to bed.

    In an interview with Empire, Feige revealed that he was initially opposed to Jackman’s return to the role but came around to the notion once it was settled that he would not be playing a version of the character he had played before.

    Phot credit: Emprire Magazine

    Recalling a conversation he had with Jackman, Feige told Empire, “I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back. You had the greatest ending in history with Logan. That’s not something we should undo.’” And so the studio found a way to avoid undoing it by using the concept of the Multiverse to create a new version of the character (When asked by Empire to clarify if Jackman was playing version of the character that fans had not met before, Feige simply said “Correct.”), something Jackman himself wasn’t quite sure of himself until he went for a drive.

    “I was about an hour into the drive,” recalled Jackman. “And that question came into my head: ‘What do I want to do?’ And as soon as I asked the question, I wanted to do Deadpool & Wolverine. I just knew it. I drove for another hour. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. And I got out of the car, called Ryan, and said, ‘Ryan, if you’ll have me, I’m in.’”

    Whatever skepticism either Feige or Jackman had has certainly been assuaged by the reception to the two trailers for the film. Deadpool & Wolverine looks like it’s exactly what Marvel Studios needs to reestablish itself at the box office. The film hits theaters in the U.S. on July 26th.

    Source: Empire

  • Holy Mole-y! Paul Walter Hauser Climbs Aboard ‘The Fantastic Four’

    Holy Mole-y! Paul Walter Hauser Climbs Aboard ‘The Fantastic Four’

    With stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach firmly in place as the First Family and the start of production just a few months out, Marvel Studios has begun rounding out the cast of The Fantastic Four. One month after Ozark‘s Julia Garner joined the cast as the Silver Surfer, a star from another one of Netflix’s most popular series has boarded the project.

    According to Deadline, Paul Walter Hauser has agreed to join the film in an unknown role. Hauser is a familiar face to many, having been featured in Cobra Kai and Cruella and starring as the titular character in the Richard Jewell biopic. The actor has recently signed on for two other major roles in the reboot of The Naked Gun and as Chris Farley in an upcoming film about the late comedian.

    Though Deadline’s report indicated that Hauser’s role was kept under wraps, there’s plenty of speculation (and it’s all rather reasonable) that he’ll be playing classic Fantastic Four villain Harvey Elder, aka The Mole Man. In April, the character’s appearance was teased by Marvel as part of a viral marketing campaign which featured Fantastic Four #1 which not only introduced the Marvel’s First Family but also the Mole Man! Following Hauser’s casting, insider Jeff Sneider revealed that he’d heard the character will indeed make an appearance in the beginning of The Fantastic Four.

    Now before I slay you all, behold my master plan! See this map of my underground empire! Each tunnel leads to a major city! As soon as I have wrecked every atomic plant, every source of Earthly power, my mighty mole creatures will attack and destroy everyting that lives above the surface!

    Harvey Elder, Fantastic Four #1

    Though Hauser’s casting as Elder is only theoretical, it’s also theoretically perfect. Though he evolved a bit over time, the Mole Man was originally incredibly campy. Hauser might just be the best bet in Hollywood to deliver the cheesy lines spewed by the Mole Man over the years.

    The Fantastic Four is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ & ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Composer Teases His MCU Return

    ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ & ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Composer Teases His MCU Return

    Alan Silvestri‘s score has been the heartbeat of the MCU for well over a decade. As the composer behind Captain America: The First Avengers, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Silvestri‘s work has brought the extra thrill to scenes like Thor’s arrival in Wakanda and Cap stepping out of the shadows in Edinburgh. Silvestri has had plenty of work in the past five years but has not collaborated with Marvel Studios since Avengers: Endgame. Now it seems that’s about to change.

    In an interview with Games Radar, Silvestri teased that he may be returning to score an upcoming MCU film. When asked if he was willing to return to work on a Marvel Studios project, he said “Well, it looks like that could be happening, I just can’t talk about it [laughs]. I love that universe, for sure.“

    While he’s currently working on scoring Joe and Anthony Russo’s The Electric State and Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Silvestri refused to share what upcoming MCU project he might lend his talents to. There are certainly plenty of options that would seem to be good fits for the legendary composer. Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four looks to be shaping up as a major part of the Multiverse Saga and, of course, a pair of Avengers films are in development as well. Or, perhaps, Silvestri will take a crack at scoring Marvel and Sony’s next Spider-Man film given he’s yet to work on a project featuring the Web-Slinger. Whatever project he does agree to work on, it will certainly be better because of him.

    Source: Games Radar

  • Joaquin Torres and Sam Wilson’s ‘Captain America 4’ Costumes Caught in 4K

    Joaquin Torres and Sam Wilson’s ‘Captain America 4’ Costumes Caught in 4K

    Marvel Studios loves a new costume. Unfortunately, they love it so much that even though Sam Wilson’s first Captain America costume, seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, may have been as good of a costume as they’ve ever thrown together, they will move on in Sam’s next appearance in Captain America: Brave New World.

    Courtesy of CanWeGetSomeToast, a hi-res look of Sam’s new Cap costume and the reworked Exo-7 gear he gave Joaquin Torres have made the rounds online.

    https://twitter.com/CanWeGetToast/status/1785203931968360604

    While Torres’ new Falcon get-up is incredibly accurate to the character’s look in the comics, it certainly isn’t something that would seem to make for a big seller on an action figure which, whether you like it or not, is a major part of the choices the studio routinely makes with costume design. On the other hand, though it’s not the vibrant white costume he wore in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam’s new look is far sharper.

    Though the first look at these costumes came from set photos shared online nearly a year ago, these new looks–taken from a McDonald’s promo–provide much more vivid detail of the changes fans can expect when the film hits theaters. The fourth installment in the Captain America franchise is expected to undergo some significant additional photography this summer before hitting theaters on February 24, 2025.

  • ‘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.