Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Super No More: ‘Like ‘Black Adam’, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Won’t Hit Theaters in China

    Super No More: ‘Like ‘Black Adam’, ‘Wakanda Forever’ Won’t Hit Theaters in China

    Guard your pockets, Hollywood. China likes to hit where it hurts.

    It’s no secret that China is heavy on the control of the content that its citizens can access. Superhero movies are no different. The move to restrict these movies from hitting theatres costs studios tens of millions.

    Despite allowing the first Black Panther movie to be distributed, the latest installment is denied without much insight into the decision. Several in the industry suspect that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is facing backlash due to the depiction of the character Aneka, played by Michaela Cole and fellow Dora bodyguard Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba, in a gay relationship. Other movies like Thor: Love and Thunder and Pixar’s Lightyear have met the same fate.

    While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever likely survives without that revenue, Black Adam needed a serious boost. The film has earned $321 million globally, but production costs were a whopping $200 million. In addition, there is suspicion that this film is facing a battle because of the inclusion of Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan posted a photo two years ago with the Dalai Lama, a public figure viewed in Beijing as a “dangerous separatist.” In years past, the Chinese box office for superhero films worked out to be a significant portion of the global take. With

    It’s your move, Disney and Warner Brothers.

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Outpacing the Original at the Box Office After Thursday Night Previews

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Outpacing the Original at the Box Office After Thursday Night Previews

    As the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drew nearer, box office estimates for the film continued to rise. Most projections have the film pulling in between $175-185M domestically over the opening weekend, but last night’s previews may indicate those numbers are a bit on the low side. According to a trade report, the sequel opened with a massive $28M Thursday, good for 15th all-time at the box office.

    2018’s Black Panther took in $25M, which served as an early indicator that its opening weekend predictions may have been a bit low. That film eventually went on to rake $202M over its opening weekend, making Wakanda Forever’s first weekend worth watching. Critics have responded well to it overall and social media buzz around the film seems to be growing after early sentiment that audiences may lose interest following the death of Chadwick Boseman and the choice not to recast T’Challa.

    Though most estimates had it lower, there were some experts who felt Wakanda Forever could open close to $200M, which would put give it the largest opening weekend of 2022, topping Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film, which introduces one of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters, Namor, pits the nations of Wakanda and Talokan against one another in the wake of the loss of T’Challa, King and Black Panther of Wakanda.

    Source: Variety

  • Sylvester Stallone Says He’ll Return as King Shark

    Sylvester Stallone Says He’ll Return as King Shark

    James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad was a hit with fans when it landed in theaters and HBO Max last year. A soft reboot and semi-sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, the film was well-received critically, but much of its success was due to its zany cast of characters. Nearly every major member of the team proved to be a fun reinvention of their comic book selves and managed to capture the hearts of audiences everywhere. However, there was one antihero who stood out among the rest. Sylvester Stallone’s King Shark, performed physically on set by Steve Agee, was an instant favorite from the moment the film’s first trailer was released. Luckily for everyone, he survived the events of the movie and is alive to tell another story. The question is, will viewers ever see it?

    In a recent interview with Comic Book, Stallone seemed to confirm there are plans for more of his character on the horizon. During a press event in support of his new Paramount+ series, Tulsa King, the Hollywood icon was asked if he’d be reuniting with Gunn to reprise his role in the near future. His response was promising:

    Yes, for sure. I think James has been very generous… He and I are pretty tight. So if there’s an opportunity… I love him, he’s great. 

    Sylvester Stallone

    Gunn recently took over as the new co-head of DC Films, alongside business partner Peter Safran. This means that the creative has control over the entire future of DC’s cinematic universe, and could hypothetically find a spot for King Shark anywhere. Gunn has already teased more Suicide Squad-adjacent projects are in the works, so here’s hoping a Shark-themed event might be one of them.

    Source: Comic Book

  • RUMOR: 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Will Appear in ‘Deadpool 3’

    RUMOR: 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Will Appear in ‘Deadpool 3’

    Deadpool 3 is shaping up to be one of the great mysteries in Marvel movie history. Delayed for years by the Disney-Fox merger, development on the threequel is now fully underway, but more questions arise with every piece of information that emerges about the project. Despite being the third film in a series that began as part of Fox’s X-Men universe, the movie will be set firmly in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, a known fact complicated by the confirmed appearance of Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine – the face of Fox’s former franchise. As if that wasn’t enough, another recent rumor has Owen Wilson‘s Mobius M. Mobius, Agent of the Time Variance Authority, playing a large supporting role in the picture. All signs have been pointing to a grand, multiversal adventure for Ryan Reynolds‘ titular mercenary, and the latest whispers surrounding the movie are no different.

    According to industry insider Daniel RPK, the events of Deadpool 3 will see Wade Wilson re-visit Fox’s cinematic worlds. While many likely assumed audiences would get one last look at the X-Men universe, there is apparently also potential for the famed antihero to pop into other Fox-based properties as well. In particular, RPK mentions the world of 2005’s Fantastic Four as a temporary landing spot for Deadpool. It’s not made clear just how big of a role the universe would play in the story, or even if the team themselves will actually appear, but the idea of Deadpool running around a series of films long-forgotten by popular media is a fairly tantalizing one. It also would not be the first time the Deadpool films attempted a crossover with the Fantastic Four, as the team from 2015’s disaster reboot Fant4stic were once slated to cameo in Deadpool 2.

    Directed by Tim Story, Fantastic Four starred Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Ioan Gruffudd as the iconic superhero team. Several years before the emergence of the MCU, Fantastic Four was one of Marvel’s biggest financial hits and spawned a less-beloved sequel titled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. At the time, the adaptation was not a favorite among die-hard fans, but countless years of failed further reboots have gifted the film a renewed appreciation.

    Source: Twitter

  • James Gunn & Peter Safran are Mapping Out 8-10 Years of DC Stories

    James Gunn & Peter Safran are Mapping Out 8-10 Years of DC Stories

    James Gunn and Peter Safran officially took over DC Studios at the beginning of the month, and while they’ve been in charge for less than two weeks, the duo seem to have big plans for DC Studios. On Thursday, the duo joined David Zaslav on a Zoom call to formally introduce Gunn and Safran to their Warner Bros. Discovery cohorts in a virtual town hall.

    Safran noted that, like with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the hope is for DC Studios to tell an overarching story. “This was such a unique opportunity to tell one great overarching story. One beautiful big story across film, television gaming, live-action, and animation.”

    Safran is perhaps best known for producing the Aquaman films and the Shazam! movies. He’ll now work with Gunn in order to craft an overarching story that’ll span across theater, television, and animation. For Gunn, he was thrilled to help build the newly founded DC Studios in order to make DC great. “The opportunity to make DC as great as it can be and as it should be — that is the reason why I’m doing this job because I know that Peter and I can do that.”

    Gunn also noted that, he’s been working with some of the best “thinkers” in the industry recently along with Safran, although no names were noted. He also revealed that they’re mapping out a massive story to be told over eight to ten years. “We spent the past couple days with a group of some of the best thinkers in the industry, the best writers in the industry starting to map out that eight to 10 year plan of what it’s going to look like in theater, in TV, in animation, across the board for these characters.”

    Up next for DC on the big screen is Shazam! Fury of the Gods which hits theaters on March 17th, 2023.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Kicks Off Overseas with $10M+ on First Day

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Kicks Off Overseas with $10M+ on First Day

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is here to save the box office.

    The long-awaited sequel to 2018’s Black Panther began hitting theaters today, and current estimates have the film opening to $10 million overseas. For those curious about where that places the sequel regarding other superhero flicks, that’s well ahead of Black Adam (225%) and The Batman (45%). It is, however, lower than the original Black Panther by 27% and Thor: Love and Thunder by 31%. The original Black Panther, of course, was pre-pandemic and Love and Thunder had the summer box office working in its favor.

    The movie opened in France, Germany, Italy and Korea – among other markets – on Wednesday and opened in the top spot in all markets. France led the way with $2.2 million, which makes for the 3rd highest opening day of 2022, while it opened to $1.4 million in Korea. Indonesia and Germany both saw the film pull in $900k, while Thailand took in $800k.

    The film hits Latin America markets today, and so far, it’s doing good business with $4 million — which is not included in the $10 million total above. The film, still in previews, is currently No. 1 across the region, including both Brazil and Mexico. 

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever kicks off its run stateside tonight via previews, with a wider release set for Friday. The latest estimates have the film looking at a $365 million opening at the worldwide box office, although that could always change.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Lewis Tan Teases Insane ‘Mortal Kombat 2’

    Lewis Tan Teases Insane ‘Mortal Kombat 2’

    New Line’s Mortal Kombat reboot was a hidden gem in 2021, releasing simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max during a time when the future of the theatrical experience was very much in doubt. Although fans found some of the changes to the lore controversial, the movie was a success with audiences, finding enough financial gain for Warner Bros., New Line’s parent company, to greenlight a sequel. Since its announcement, however, very little has been revealed about the status of Mortal Kombat 2 or its plot details.

    The first film saw original character Cole Young, a descendant of Hiroyuki Sanada‘s Scorpion played by Lewis Tan, fending off attacks from the villainous forces of Chin Han‘s Shang Tsung alongside other heroes from Earthrealm. The ending tees up a sequel on a much larger scale, with Shang Tsung promising to retaliate his defeat with armies and a victorious Young heading off to find Hollywood movie star, Johnny Cage. Speaking exclusively with Comic Book, Tan confirmed that Mortal Kombat 2 would be a grander tale than the first installment and that the film was still in development despite the many recent shake-ups at Warner Bros.:

    Well, it impacts a lot, but not really us in particular because New Line is the studio that is under the branch of Warner Bros. But they’re very happy with the movie, and obviously, it performed really well. It’s one of the most-viewed films of their Warner Bros. slate, even though it came out at the worst time ever possible. But no, we’re full steam ahead. And now, we have Ed Boon with us as well, so we got the stamp of approval from the legend himself. [Number 2] is just going to be absolutely insane. Way bigger.

    Lewis Tan

    Tan also mentions that franchise creator Ed Boon is now on board with the film series, after not being much involved with, or super supportive of, the 2021 adaptation. That would indicate that Boon likes what he sees from the sequel, and hopefully means the future of the films is very bright. Simon McQuoid will return to direct Mortal Kombat 2, with Moon Knight scribe Jeremy Slater working on the script.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Simu Liu Discusses ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel Plans

    Simu Liu Discusses ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel Plans

    As Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to a close with the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, discussions are being had about which projects stood out the most during this new era for Marvel Studios. Generally speaking, one of the largest successes on the theatrical side was Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. After being one of the best critical and commercial performances of 2021, a direct sequel, to be written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, has been announced. Though it’s far too early for any plot details to be known, star actor Liu has some thoughts about what could transpire for the sequel film.

    I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings. Just this idea of all of a sudden being gifted something that’s so powerful but also so dangerous. And then the other big question I have is, you know, in what way does Shaun fit in with the rest of the MCU? Who are you going to see? What kind of crazy team-ups? What kinda tie-ins, Easter eggs? I’m just as much in the dark as everyone else, so I don’t know anything, but I’m excited to dive into that process.

    Simu Liu

    The notion of focusing on the younger generation and comparing it to the reign of Wenwu certainly opens the door for interesting story potential. Tony Leung’s character quickly has become one of the most well-received antagonists of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and finding a way to continue his legacy would be fruitful for the sequel. In addition, folding Shang-Chi into the greater universe would be a logical move as a character that feels primed to be a key part of a hypothetical Avengers roster for their upcoming films. There are certainly various different avenues of existing and new concepts that would work well to connect the popular hero to various stalwarts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When it comes to the idea of being a fixture at Marvel Studios, Liu has a positive outlook on wanting to stay as long as Kevin Feige and company will let him.

    As far as when I think that’s just a question of timing and how well my back holds up through the years. I’ll make 40 of them if we can.

    Simu Liu

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently available to watch on Disney+. There has been no official announcement made on when the sequel film will release theatrically.

    Source: Complex

  • Chris Evans Misses Playing Captain America

    Chris Evans Misses Playing Captain America

    When Avengers: Endgame hit theaters in 2019, it was a bittersweet moment for both the cast and their countless fans. The film was a triumph, but it was also a goodbye to many of the stars that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe a hit in the first place. Among those who made their final appearance was People Magazine’s current Sexiest Man Alive, Chris Evans. The actor had been playing Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, and capped off his nearly decade-long journey with the character in an emotional finale that saw him reunite with Hayley Atwell‘s Peggy Carter and travel back in time. Now an elderly man, Evans‘ hero officially retired and gave his shield to Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson, who has since taken on the mantle of Captain America in the MCU.

    At the time, Evans seemed very ready to hang up the tights and move on with his career. However, a recent interview with People Magazine revealed he may be having some minor regrets only three years into retirement. Speaking about his time as a Marvel superhero, Evans finally admitted to missing the experience, saying:

    They’re challenging, but the beauty is the movies are great. You get out what you put in. It’s been a wonderful, very symbiotic relationship, so I’ve been thrilled to do it. I think when the movies end you’re very happy to have a break. But very quickly, you miss it. I miss it now. But yeah, I’m very grateful and very happy to have been a part of them.

    Chris Evans

    It’s actually still likely that Evans returns to his role at some point in the future. His character has not yet died, and an elderly Steve Rogers could easily pop up to give some sound advice in another project. Furthermore, Marvel boss Kevin Feige recently revealed the MCU’s sixth phase is scheduled to end with an adaptation of Avengers: Secret Wars, a multiverse-hopping storyline with endless possibilities. It wouldn’t be the craziest turn of events to have an alternate-universe Rogers make a surprise appearance. Until then, and after, fans should remain supportive of Mackie in the Captain America title. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier indicated the actor has a bright future in the patriotic costume.

    Source: Screen Rant

  • ‘Black Panther 3’ No Sure Thing for Director Ryan Coogler

    ‘Black Panther 3’ No Sure Thing for Director Ryan Coogler

    Early word on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would seem to indicate that director Ryan Coogler followed up 2018’s Black Panther, which stands as Marvel Studios greatest critical success, with another well-received blockbuster. To follow up the beloved first film with another hit after losing star Chadwick Boseman to cancer would be no small feat. According to Coogler, who had to start from scratch after the death of his friend, the process has been difficult.

    In an interview with Variety, Coogler spoke about the process of making Wakanda Forever and what the future holds.

    This movie got everything I have. I’m at that place where I think I’ve got this press tour in me and then I’ve got to sit down and reflect. Probably cry a lot, because I’ve been holding that back. And then from there, figure out whatever’s next.

    Ryan Coogler

    A third Black Panther film might seem like sure thing, especially given the nature of the plot of Wakanda Forever, but at the moment, Coogler isn’t sure if he’s ready to take it on, “I have no idea what I’m doing next as a writer and director.” Though finishing the trilogy without Coogler doesn’t seem possible, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige admits that it has to remain a possibility. “I go back to what I said when we decided to make ‘Wakanda Forever’ after losing Chad,” said the head honcho of Marvel Studios. “This mythology and this ensemble and these characters deserve to continue and will continue after all of us are gone, I hope, and will continue forever in movies the way it has in comics for 50-plus years.“

    However, with so much time and effort invested into building the World of Wakanda for the MCU, it’s impossible to imagine that Coogler doesn’t something in mind for a third film. Feige confirmed that he and Coogler have has some “ideas pitched back and forth” and that conversations have taken place about the director returning to helm a third film. As Feige says, though he’s open to continuing without Coogler, it “wouldn’t be the preference.“

    With so much of Marvel Studios slate over the next 3+ years already determined, the good news is that there’s no rush for Coogler to make the call.

    Source: Variety