Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci to Adapt Comedy Pilot Based on Superhero Filmmaking for HBO

    Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci to Adapt Comedy Pilot Based on Superhero Filmmaking for HBO

    With The Boys and other counter-culture movements in regards to superhero productions being all the rage, Warner Bros. HBO division has given a pilot order to The Franchise. Created by director Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci, the pilot order will explore superhero movie-making from a comedic standpoint. It’s unclear if this is purely meant to mock the current franchise market or generally go directly mock current tentpole franchises, but the description of the series is as follows according to Deadline:

    The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?

    The timing also comes as Iannucci’s Avenue 5 comedy is coming to an end, which will see him then executive produce the new HBO series through the Dundee Productions banner. Jon Brown is attached to serve as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Mendes is going to direct the pilot episode but no further details or castings are known.

    It’s a shame that no one that worked on a superhero franchise is seemingly involved to offer a true behind-the-curtains experience, as it may only offer an outsider’s perspective that is quite focused on one takeaway potentially. Yet, with the comedy team behind it, there’s potential it’ll offer a balanced look at the highs and lows of the concept.

    The timing is interesting, as Iannucci also just recently debut a Spider-Man story in Amazing Fantasy #1000. Mendes was also once approached to direct Marvel’s The Avengers back in 2012 before Joss Whedon took on the role. Superheroes are all the rage right now and it’s no surprise that someone will try to bank on that very concept. We’ll have to see what the production has in store and if HBO moves forward with a series order, but banking on the success of superheroes by making a series about making superhero films sounds like the next step in the overall genre trend.

    Source: Deadline

  • Bandai Namco Working on Live-Action ‘Pac-Man’ Movie

    Bandai Namco Working on Live-Action ‘Pac-Man’ Movie

    The yellow ball that started it all is seemingly heading to the silver screen. In a new report by The Hollywood Reporter, it seems that a live-action film is in development based on Pac-Man, which sees Bandai Namco Entertainment alongside Wayfarer Sutiods, founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz, bringing the yellow ball to movie theaters. The arcade game Pac-Man became a staple for many arcades across the United States when he was first introduced in 1980s and has gone on to star in various games and even TV series.

    It seems that the project is based off of an idea by Sonic the Hedgehog‘s Chuck Williams which will see Baldoni, Andrew Calof, and Manu Gargi produced for Wayfarer Studios. William‘s Lightbeam Entertainment is also involved with him and Tim Kwok in a producing role. There’s no word just how they’ll adapt the video game character’s first live-action film but it does seem like they are going down the route that Sega took with its mascot.

    There’s still a lot we don’t know, especially if they’ll follow the cliché storyline of the being from another world lands in the real one and has to find a way home. Of course, Pac-Man’s overall design is simplistic in the original games and has gone through many variations; most notably him gaining shoes and gloves like most mascot characters over the years as he entered the 3D realm. So, we’ll have to see if this project truly comes together to get a feeling of how they’ll adapt this take on the character.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Idris Elba Confirms DC Project In Development 

    Idris Elba Confirms DC Project In Development 

    Idris Elba is one of the few actors getting to play in both the Marvel and DC sandbox at the moment. Now a household name, Elba has starred concurrently as the Asgardian warrior Heimdall in Marvel’s Thor films and the ruthless mercenary Bloodsport in Warner Bros.’ The Suicide Squad for the last few years. Thor: Love and Thunder brought the former character back after a long absence, while the latter character’s journey has seemingly only just begun. However, since each of his last comic book-based projects was released, his future with either company has been up in the air. That is, until now.

    During a recent interview with Erik Davis, the actor confirmed he’s in the process of cooking up something big for DC right now. Davis took to Twitter to share the news ahead of the interview’s release. Without any further information, it’s impossible to say exactly what it is Elba is working on. That being said, director James Gunn has been teasing the exciting future of his work with HBO Max creating DC television series. The creative already produced Peacemaker, a spin-off of The Suicide Squad, and has stated he’s developing more unrevealed spin-offs as well. Deductive reasoning would indicate Elba might be returning to his Bloodsport role in one of Gunn’s shows, but without any official word, that should still be considered simple conjecture. Hopefully, more information comes sooner than later.

    Elba’s next picture, Beast, in which the actor battles a ferocious lion, hits theaters on August 19th.

    Source: Twitter

  • Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Talks With Marvel Studios, Eyeing the Role of Professor X

    Giancarlo Esposito Confirms Talks With Marvel Studios, Eyeing the Role of Professor X

    We’ve heard many rumors that Giancarlo Esposito may have had talks with Marvel Studios to potentially appear in an upcoming project. The actor is well-known for his villainous and intimidating roles throughout his filmography. In a surprising twist, the actor has just flat out confirmed that he’s had talks with the role and even mentions quite a few characters that we could see him as potentially while attending the Superhero Car Show and Comic Con, where he simply revealed that he’d be down to take a different, more heroic role as Professor X

    You can watch the video here:

    @countdowncitygeeks

    #giancarloesposito announces which character he may play in themarveluniverse! #superherocarshowandcomiccon #fyp #foryourpage #celebfanfest #comiccon2022 #marvel #countdowncitygeekcast #sanantoniotx

    ♬ original sound – Countdown City Geeks

    We can’t take this as a confirmation, as it would be strange for him to flat-out confirm a role during a convention, especially with D23 on the horizon. Plus, he didn’t state he got the role but rather from the many rumors pointing out which one would interest him the most. Esposito would definitely make for a great Professor X or any of the roles mentioned, such as Magneto or even Victor van Doom. But, him taking on a more positive role that also has a long-term commitment.

    Plus, it’s not like Professor X has always been the kind version we’ve gotten accustomed to through the X-Men films by 20th Century Fox. There have been many versions where she was just as threatening as anyone else, which is something that has gotten lost in his translation to the silver screen. Plus, the actor has proven his soft side with performances like Stargirl in the past, which makes him a great candidate to bring both sides to the MCU’s take on Charles Xavier.

    Source: TikTok

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    It’s a soft opening for the new Bullet Train film that has received quite the mixed reception with a B+ AudienceScore and stands at a lower 41% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While expectations weren’t the biggest for its box office run, it does seem like the latest film is going to wrap up the weekend with $30M as it pulled in $12.6M from 4,357 theaters on Friday. While not going to break any records, it definitely is a strong performance as a non-franchise opener.

    the only challenge the film will have is that it’ll have a long road ahead to make up its $90M production budget and word-of-mouth will have to play in its favor. The B+ CinemaScore, as we’ve seen in the past with Thor: Love and Thunder, The Northman, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, does not equate to a “dead on arrival” release as even Lightyear couldn’t keep up at the box office even with an A- score.

    The B+ score could reflect a reactionary aspect with the violence and comedy at play in the film, but only future weekends will show if it has a surprising stronghold or not. Brad Pitt is spearheading the project that was directed by David Leitch, who has made quite a few promising entries and with its simple premise could offer something for those looking for a more grounded action flick as the summer box office slowly winds down.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘LEGO Movie’ Producer Teases “Different Art Form” for Upcoming Franchise Reboot

    ‘LEGO Movie’ Producer Teases “Different Art Form” for Upcoming Franchise Reboot

    Many have wondered what exactly the future has in store for the LEGO Movie franchise. In 2014, Warner Bros. surprised many when directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller offered a very different kind of animated film that was made with a lot of love to recreate some of our most nostalgic memories and even had a heart-felt storyline included.

    It was followed by a sequel five years later with The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and two spinoffs, The LEGO Batman and The LEGO Ninjago. Yet, Warner Bros.s swiftly lost the rates to the iconic franchise that was just getting ready to grow and we have seen a project since. There have been hints that a reboot of some kind is in development and luckily producer Dan Lin has given us our first tease in a podcast episode with The Ankler.

    We know we have to switch it up & take to a different art form that’s still true to LEGO, we should have some announcements soon… I think we’ve reinvented it in a cool way.

    Dan Lin

    The mention of a “different art form” is a rather surprising hint that we shouldn’t expect a franchise that is anywhere close to what the original was. We still have no details on whoever may be directing the project or even if a writer is attached. In a time where creative staff is announced a long time in advance, it’s the first time we’ve seen a new franchise reboot based on such a high IP keeping it really close to the chest. We’ll see just how soon the “soon” is from the interview.

    Source: The Ankler via Twitter

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Won’t Guarantee 45-Day Theatrical Release Window Anymore

    Warner Bros. Discovery Won’t Guarantee 45-Day Theatrical Release Window Anymore

    The 45-release window was a controversial one, as many feared that streaming demands are pushing films out of theaters. While some films revel in their long-running theatrical release, it has offered the opportunity for others to not only pull in a strong box office run but also a high view count to boost the various streaming offerings. While Disney+ is seemingly sticking to it, Warner Bros. Discovery may have other plans moving forward.

    To say that the shake-ups over at Warner Bros. Discovery have been bizarre is to only paint one picture. While the previous group strongly focused on growing its new streaming service with HBO Max, the current one is moving away from the foundation that was laid out. A part of that is the reveal that they are no longer guaranteeing that they will adhere to the modern 45-day release window. So, we might see many big-budget projects make use of a longer running time as much as possible.

    Streaming hasn’t run its course just yet, but we are seeing some bumps along the way. More and more competitors have entered the market creating some concerns among investors. We’re likely seeing a realigning of strategies due to the events that have unfolded since the pandemic died down. The post-pandemic era has set a new precedent and we’re seeing many business decisions hit a snag along the way. It’s not uncommon and with Netflix losing its subscribers for the first time since it started, we’re simply seeing a new era as people slowly embrace leaving their homes once again.

    Source: Decider

  • New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Concept Art Offers Closer Look at Green Goblin’s MCU Design

    New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Concept Art Offers Closer Look at Green Goblin’s MCU Design

    There’s always something fun about getting a look behind the scenes on projects. Marvel Studios goes through quite a few concepts and ideas as they finalize whatever design they are trying to nail for the adaptation of a popular character from Marvel comics to live-action. In a new batch by artist Phil Saunders gives us a good look at the updated designs for Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin.

    Willem Dafoe was a fantastic addition o the cast and gave us one of his best performances as the iconic character. While he doesn’t get a fully realized costume from the comics, they play around with a concept that feels like the perfect middle blend of his original Spider-Man costume with some updated design choices. Here’s an image of him on his glider:

    And another gives us a detailed look at the design, such as how damaged parts of his suit are covered with wrappings from the former purple hoodie that would add that final comic-accurate touch from the comics.

    the design definitely might go down as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best, especially given the ties to nostalgia for many that grew up with the original Spider-Man films by Sam Raimi. It was an experience to see some iconic villains return alongside former Spider-Men and it might not be something that could be so easily replicated dueto just how special this franchise is. We’ll see if perhaps Avengers: Secret Wars brings back some familiar faces.

    Source: Art Station

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Director Hints at Marvel Studios’ Plans for Hercules

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Director Hints at Marvel Studios’ Plans for Hercules

    The post-credit stinger for Thor: Love and Thunder felt like a return to form for the Marvel Studios franchise, as it finally introduced a new character that would have a big role moving forward. In it, we saw that Russell Crowe‘s Zeus survived having his own lightning bolt shot through his chest and sending his son out to kill Thor for what he’s done. As it turns out, the son he’s talking to (he’s had quite a few in Greek myth) is non-other than Hercules, played by Brett Goldstein.

    While many believed it may be a hint at the next entry for the Thor franchise, it does seem like they may have other plans for the Greek demigod, as hinted by Love and Thunder‘s director Taika Watiti. he highlighted that his inclusion was an idea from Marvel Studios directly and that he’ll likely “won’t be invited to come and be a part of.”

    And then [Louis D’Esposito?] is like, we’re gonna introduce Hercules, and um, that made no sense to me, I didn’t even know that was a character in Marvel, but um, apparently it is, and um… It was good, I know it’s opening up a whole new thing, uh, which I won’t be invited to come and be a part of, but I’m happy for everyone who loves Greek Gods.

    Taika Waititi

    That last line certainly sounds like a jab at many that have been openly displeased with his adaptation of the popular Norse God of Marvel myth. The more comedic direction has rubbed quite a few the wrong way and it seems to still stand out among the already comedy-heavy Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    His future with the franchise is uncertain and it’ll be interesting if they would make a follow-up, especially with how the latest film ended. No matter what direction they might go, it still looks like the future is full of opportunities and new characters for Marvel Studios.

    Source: Reddit via The Direct

  • Kevin Feige, Edgar Wright, and James Gunn Reached Out to ‘Batgirl’ Directors Over Sudden Cancelation

    Kevin Feige, Edgar Wright, and James Gunn Reached Out to ‘Batgirl’ Directors Over Sudden Cancelation

    It’s been a tough week for Batgirl‘s creative team. Warner Bros. Discovery has pulled a bizarre move by writing the entire film off for taxes, which costs $90M to produce and was nearly finished. Given their work on Bad Boys For Life and Ms. Marvel, it seemed bizarre for many that a film directed by Adil El Arbi and Billal Fallah wouldn’t be able to live up to any standards. Still, Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav saw the “right” decision to protect the DC brands.

    What wasn’t the right decision was that the team wasn’t even informed until the news first broke through the New York Post. Even Walter Hamada, the CEO of DC Films, only found out as the decision was already made during a screening of Black Adam without even being consulted. Now, director Adil El Arbi shared an e-mail they received from Marvel Studios director Kevin Feige on the matter painting a very big contrast between the way it’s being handled by executives of different corporations.

    Feige sending out this e-mail is definitely a showcase of a closer relationship with talent over at Marvel Studios, but also simply a showcase of kindness that anyone would need if their passion project is just pulled to save money. The film business has always found a balance between the two sides, but Warner Bros. Discovery current moves are certainly more business than artistic, adding pressure to future talent potentially joining any future project.

    He wasn’t the only one to reach out, as it seems that the Batgirl director’s were also given support by James Gunn and Edgar Wright, who famously lost their own passion projects. While for different reasons, there are always going to be moments where things just don’t come together creatively as intended. But, this case is less a creative difference but a bizarre move by a company to save as little money as possible.

    Source: Twitter, Variety