Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson Calls ‘Kraven the Hunter’ a Personal Story

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson Calls ‘Kraven the Hunter’ a Personal Story

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson can currently be seen in Sony’s Bullet Train, which is set to top the box office once again in its second weekend, but he can next be seen as the Spider-Man villain, Kraven the Hunter. Production on the Spider-Man offshoot recently wrapped production and for the former Quicksilver actor, it’s exciting because it filmed entirely on location.

    In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Taylor-Johnson discussed the differences in filming both Bullet Train and Kraven the Hunter. The former, of course, was filmed almost entirely on a soundstage, while Kraven was filmed on location which the actor believes will make a huge difference in the way the story is told. “Kraven being shot entirely on location is going to make all the difference. It’s going to add something really beautiful to our personal story,” Taylor-Johnson said. “It also sets Kraven apart from that Marvel stage look. It’s important for this character to be in the real world. It’s important for the authenticity of the story.”

    As the actor notes, it’s important that for a character who is mainly running barefoot on the streets, it’s important to use the elements in the storytelling. It’s a far cry from the actor’s work on Avengers: Age of Ultron, where most of his work as Quicksilver was done on a soundstage, but it remains to be seen whether or not filming on location gives Kraven the Hunter a much-needed push. After all, Sony’s most recent Spider-Man offshoot, Morbius, was both a critical and box office failure.

    Kraven the Hunter will hit theaters on Jan. 13, 2023. It’s directed by J. C. Chandor and stars Taylor-Johnson as the titular character, alongside Russell Crowe, Ariana DeBose, Christopher Abbott, Levi Miller, and Alessandro Nivola. The screenplay was written by Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Rogue One’ Returns to IMAX With ‘Andor’ Sneak Preview

    ‘Rogue One’ Returns to IMAX With ‘Andor’ Sneak Preview

    It looks like Lucasfilm found the perfect way to promote the upcoming release of Andor. While it was postponed to September 21st, it does look like they will build up to its release with a re-release of the Star Wars film, Rogue One. It is currently eyeing an August 26th release in select IMAX theaters as revealed by Fandango, which included the following tease as it’ll also include a special preview of the Disney+ series Andor.

    Experience Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in select IMAX theatres. Plus, get an exclusive look at the new Disney+ Star Wars series, Andor! In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

    Image

    So, it’s quite the treat for fans of Rogue One that are excited to see what the upcoming prequel series has to offer. Andor will explore the earlier days of Diego Luna‘s character Cassian Andor. There are still no exact details on how the story will evolve, but the first trailers have teased that they are sticking to a similar vibe from the spinoff film.

    It’s still crazy to think that we haven’t had a film release in the franchise since 2019 and there is currently not a single one in production. Lucasfilm has focused all its efforts on Disney+, which still offers some exciting and sometimes even experimental projects but it does feel like something is missing when it comes to whatever their plans are on expanding the franchise.

    Source: Fandango

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Retains the Top Spot at the Box Office for Second Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Retains the Top Spot at the Box Office for Second Weekend

    After opening with $30 million last weekend, Sony’s Bullet Train managed to retain the top spot at the box office for its second weekend. The Brad Pitt-led film secured $3.865 million on Friday and is on track to pull in $13 million in its second outing as it remains the largest release stateside with 4,357 locations. Should the estimates hold that would give Bullet Train a 56% drop from its opening weekend.

    Bullet Train managed to fend off new releases like Fall, Mack and Rita and Bodies Bodies Bodies which expanded into wide release this weekend. Bodies Bodies Bodies is eyeing a $3 million haul after expanding into 1,275 theaters, which would give it a $2,361 per location average. While both Fall and Mack and Rita are expected to open between $1-$2 million each. With little hitting theaters this weekend, holdovers like Nope, DC League of Super-Pets and Top Gun: Maverick are expected to remain in the top five. More impressive, though, Maverick has a chance at taking the second spot in its twelfth weekend.

    Bullet Train is an adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka‘s novel of the same name. The film has seen plenty of controversy leading up to its release, with many frustrated that the film didn’t cast Japanese actors. Despite the less than stellar reviews and controversy, Bullet Train is expected to hit $54 million stateside by Sunday. With a $90 million production budget, Bullet Train still has an uphill battle, but with little competition in the coming weeks, it’s possible the film could show legs in the coming weeks.

    Source: Variety.

  • RUMOR: Disney May Regain Theatrical Distribution Rights to Hulk Films in 2023

    RUMOR: Disney May Regain Theatrical Distribution Rights to Hulk Films in 2023

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s relationship with the Incredible Hulk has been relatively awkward since the film was released in 2008. The was film met with terrible reviews and remains at the very bottom of most fans’ MCU rankings. Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in the original film, but Mark Ruffalo was given the role in 2012’s The Avengers and all subsequent appearances of the character.

    Marvel Studios’ relationship with the Incredible Hulk and with the character of the Hulk generally is further complicated by the fact that Universal Studios retained the theatrical distribution rights of the original film and all sequels. This has made it difficult for Marvel Studios, and parent company Disney, to make Hulk-centered films. Disney and Marvel still hold the rights to develop movies starring the Hulk, but Universal has the first refusal opportunity to distribute the project and takes a significant chunk of the profits. This legal issue has led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and seemingly avoid solo projects altogether.

    Still, it was reported back in October 2021 that a World War Hulk was in development and eyeing a 2022 production start. That prospect raises a lot of questions about how the Marvel-Universal legal relationship will come into play. Now, unearthed legal documents filed with the Security and Exchange Commission by Marvel may indicate that Universal loses its rights in Hulk films in June 2023.

    As discovered by Reddit user u/vidoardes, a couple of SEC filings when read together suggest that the theatrical distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk and Hulk-centered films will revert to Disney next year. An official SEC filing by Marvel in December 2006 stated:

    Universal Studios has agreed to distribute Marvel’s film The Incredible Hulk and sequels on essentially the same terms as those on which Paramount has agreed to distribute the other films financed and produced under the film facility…

    Interestingly, the amended studio agreement, also available through the SEC, between Marvel and Paramount dictates a 15-year deal:

    6. Distribution Term: Paramount shall have the right to exercise its Paramount Distribution Rights with respect to each Picture for an initial period of 15 years commencing on the initial Theatrical Exhibition of such Picture (the “Initial Distribution Term”);…

    So while there is no apparent confirmation that Marvel’s deal with Universal also had the 15-year agreement, the fact that Marvel stated that the deal is on “essentially the same terms” as those with Paramount is some evidence pointing to the time limit of the Marvel-Universal agreement. If it also ends after 15 years, that would mean that Disney would regain the distribution rights 15 years after The Incredible Hulk in June 2008, which would be June 2023.

    While the June 2023 date is not confirmed, it would make sense given that the World War Hulk film reportedly in development is eyeing a late 2023 or early 2024 release.

    Source: SEC via Reddit

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Teases ‘X-Men’ and ‘Chaos War’ Characters

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Teases ‘X-Men’ and ‘Chaos War’ Characters

    Thor: Love and Thunder has come and gone, but it hasn’t left the mainstream conversation. The fourthquel was responsible for introducing audiences to many exciting new locations, many of which will be discussed for years to come. Perhaps the most visually pleasing was Omnipotence City, a glorious meeting place for gods of all pantheons and the site of the film’s most colorful sequences. The locale was also popular with fans for it’s many intriguing cameos and godly designs. Marvel Studios artist Sung Choi recently took to Instagram to reveal some design work he completed for the film as part of the “early exploration” process for Omnipotence City, and it features quite a few faces that could fill the same category of shock and awe.

    Among those present appears to be Cyttorak, the deity that famously powers X-Men villain Juggernaut through an ancient artifact known as the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Seated next to him is what looks like a version of Galactus, the infamous world-eater who plagues the Marvel Universe on a regular basis, and Ganesha, the real-world Hindu god of intellect and wisdom. Also present are what could be Aegis, the golden Lady of All Sorrows, of Marvel’s Proemial gods, and what looks like a Mandalorian from the Star Wars franchise. The latter could be a fun reference to director Taika Waititi‘s time on the hit Disney+ series.

    Curiously, the largest god seated all the way at the top of the throne room is incredibly similar in design to the comic book version of Ajak – leader of the Eternals. It’s possible Ajak was at one point considered as a cameo to tie-in with Marvel’s Eternals film, and this art was produced before Salma Hayek landed the role. Finally, on the right, fans will be able to spot two major characters from Thor lore who actually did end up making the movie’s final cut. Hercules, played in the post-credits scene by Brett Goldstein, is drawn sitting beside a god who looks like Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the malevolent Japanese Chaos King who acted as a the villain of Greg Pak‘s Chaos War arc, a story in which Hercules and Thor team-up to defeat them. It’s important to remember this art was likely devised before anything was set in stone for the project, and Choi likely threw in random gods to get a better feel for how the throne room should look. Either way, it’s still fun to speculate.

    Source: Instagram

  • REPORT: Another Name Surfaces as a Candidate for DC Films’ Kevin Feige

    REPORT: Another Name Surfaces as a Candidate for DC Films’ Kevin Feige

    The uncertainty and unease surrounding the future of Warner Bros. Discovery’s DC Universe seem to be growing by the day. As has been widely reported over the last week, new WBD CEO David Zaslav has been busy making a series of drastic alterations to the company’s film slate. Batgirl, along with several other potential projects, received an unexpected axing, and most things in development are potentially on the chopping block.

    Before the current upheaval, David Zaslav announced that DC is one of their highest priorities. On top of the announcement that DC would be becoming its own studio within the company, Zaslav has confirmed that they’ve put a team together to run said studio and have put together a ten-year plan, mentioning outright it is similar to what Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have built over at Disney. No word has been made on what exactly this “10-year-plan” entails and it’s unknown if WBD will announce a slate anytime soon.

    Still, plenty of discussion has erupted about who could possibly be the “Kevin Feige of DC”. According to a report from Variety, one name being considered is TV producer Greg Berlanti, who “has been loudly whispered as a possibility for the role.” Berlanti is known for his work as one of the key architects of the CW’s DC Arrowverse, which included ncluded shows Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Superman & Lois. The Arrowverse featured many classic DC heroes and held several crossover events over the years, so Berlanti’s experience seems on par with what DC Films needs.

    However, the report noted that no official discussions between WBD and Berlanti’s team have occurred, and apparently trade reporting insiders think he would not be interested in the role. Another potential candidate mentioned by Variety’s report is producer Dan Lin, whose credits include IT, The LEGO Batman Movie, Godzilla vs. Kong, and the failed Justice League movie that George Miller was preparing in 2009. But Lin is reportedly not interested in the role either.

    Whoever ends up as the Feige of DC will be faced with high expectations set by Feige himself at Marvel Studios. It will be interesting to learn who WBD eventually selects for the role, though with all the seeming turmoil in the DC TV and Films, it is unclear when this person or 10-year plan will actuall come to fruition.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Black Adam’ Director Says the Film Avoids Hawkman’s Complicated Origin Story

    ‘Black Adam’ Director Says the Film Avoids Hawkman’s Complicated Origin Story

    Black Adam is the next film to be released in the DC Extended Universe, and many fans are excited to see Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of the titular superhero. Alongside Black Adam himself, the film is set to introduce to live-action the Justice Society of America and some of its classic members. Director Jaume Collett-Serra confirmed to Vanity Fair that, in Black Adam, Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) is the leader of the JSA, whose members on-screen will also include Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan).

    With Hawkman in such a significant role, one wonders how Black Adam planned to handle the character’s infamously complicated and confusing origin story. Multiple versions of Hawkman have been published, primarily two different versions. One version hails from Earth and is rooted in reincarnation, and the other is a police officer from another planet. Eventually the two distinct characters were merged and further complicated down the line. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Collett-Serra revealed that the upcoming film will avoid Hawkman’s backstory for this very reason. He stated:

    In the comics, there are clear references of like, ‘Hey, I saw you 5,000 years ago. You remember me?’ We’re not doing that…It would be too confusing. Obviously, Hawkman reincarnates, so how many times do you need to reincarnate and still remember? All these rules [are something] you don’t want to set until those characters are really established…He is a very driven character that knows that he’s on the right side. He’s a leader. He wants to bring this team together, and bring a certain stability to the world. Hawkman has a very strong sense of what’s right or wrong, and Black Adam challenges that.”

    —Jaume Collett-Serra

    Considering Black Adam is designed to be a solo film for Johnson’s character and an introduction to the JSA, there could be plenty of time for DC to explore Hawkman’s origin more thoroughly in the future. Still, fans of the character should not get their hopes up to see it laid out in Black Adam.

    Black Adam releases in theaters on October 21, 2022.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • Zelda Williams’ ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Alum And More

    Zelda Williams’ ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Alum And More

    According to Deadline, Carla Gugino, Liza Soberano, Joe Chrest, and Henry Eikenberry have been added to the cast of Focus’ Lisa Frankenstein. They joined previously announced cast members Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton. The film, in which actor-filmmaker Zelda Williams will be making her directorial debut, was scripted by Juno‘s Diablo Cody. The film will follow Newton as an unpopular high school student in 1989 who accidentally re-animates a handsome Victorian corpse – played by Sprouse – during a lightning storm. She then starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams, using the broken tanning bed in her garage.

    Per Deadline, Chrest, who best known for his role as Ted Wheeler on Stranger Things, will be portraying Newton‘s character’s father Dale. However, details as to the others’ roles haven’t been disclosed. Gugino was recently seen in Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Bly Manor, as well as films like Gunpowder Milkshake and Gerald’s Game. Model and actor Eikenberry and Filipino-American actress, model and singer Soberano – best known for their roles in Euphoria and Alone/Together, respectively – will both make their Hollywood feature film debut in Lisa Frankenstein.

    Along with penning the script, Cody will serve as a producer on the film alongside Mason Novick who is producing for MXN Entertainment. Jeff Lampert serves as an executive producer, while Focus Features’ Vice President of Production and Development, Michelle Momplaisir, serves as the creative executive on the project. Though the film has entered principal photography in New Orleans, a release date has not yet been announced.

    Source: Deadline

  • Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Sequel Still in Development But is “Years Away”

    Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Sequel Still in Development But is “Years Away”

    We’ve all been excited when we got the announcement that Matt Reeves‘ The Batman was getting a sequel. Not only was the first film quite the global hit during the pandemic with $770M, but it also set up a new trilogy with an expansive franchise being built around it. HBO Max would feature a Penguin-focused series with Colin Farrell set to return in the role. That was not all, as there was also an Arkham Asylum project in some form of development. Yet, Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent shake-ups have made their future quite unknown for many.

    In a new piece by Variety, they offer some insight into what the future looks like even if it remains quite the mess. According to them, The Batman is still in development but doesn’t have a greenlight yet. As such, the project isn’t likely to see the light of day for a few years. This does add some uncertainty if whoever takes over DC Studios in the future has the patience to let Matt Reeves do his thing while he works on the sequel for an extended period of time. Plus, who knows if the spinoff series is as safe as some reports seemingly hinted at.

    It’s bizarre they aren’t trying to fast-track this project, especially if they are keeping up with the multiverse angle as Joker’s sequel is in active development. Plus, Reeves’ own little pocket universe offered something that made it stand out in the blockbuster landscape, and yet Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to create a unified universe. So, who knows if this might become an issue down the line with many visions colliding at some point.

    Source: Variety

  • Warner Bros. Discovery is Hopeful to Keep Leslie Grace as Batgirl

    Warner Bros. Discovery is Hopeful to Keep Leslie Grace as Batgirl

    When Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Batgirl was being shelved earlier this month, the studio suggested it was still keen to work with leading lady Leslie Grace and the film’s directors, Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi. While it remains to be seen whether Bilall and Adil reteam with the studio on another DC property, a new report from Variety reaffirms the studio is trying to find a way to keep Grace on board as Batgirl – even if it isn’t in her own film.

    According to the outlet, the newly installed Warner Bros. Pictures Group chiefs, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy are currently looking to mend fences with the actress. They are said to be considering the possibility of having Grace continue to play Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, in a future DC film. Variety notes this doesn’t necessarily mean in a Batgirl film, either. Grace‘s Batgirl could appear in a future DC film — or the studio could simply find a role for the actress in another Warner Bros. production.

    With an uncertain slate, though, it’s unclear just where Grace could pop up as Batgirl. After all, the only DC film that has an official greenlight is the Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. While the sequel to The Batman, the Black Canary spinoff, and Wonder Woman 3 is still very much in development, none of them have received a green light from the new Warner Bros. Discovery board. There’s also the matter of if Grace is ready to don the cape and cowl so soon after her film was shelved. Either way, fans eager to see Grace as Batgirl should be excited that there’s still a possibility her Barbara Gordon will show up… somewhere down the road.

    Source: Variety.