Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • UFC Fighter Joins ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    UFC Fighter Joins ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe has scored itself a true contender, as UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has reportedly joined the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The news comes from MMA Fighting, who had the fighter’s casting confirmed to them after UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier let the info slip at Usman‘s recent UFC 277 weigh-in show.

    It’s not currently known who “the Nigerian Nightmare” will be playing in the film, but his appearance will mark the first time Usman works on the silver screen. No matter the capacity of his role, debuting in a Black Panther project should come as a full-circle moment for the champ and his career. Several years ago, Usman uploaded a drawing of himself in full Wakandan gear to his Instagram:

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to follow events in the titular nation following the death of Chadwick Boseman‘s King T’Challa. The former monarch’s family and friends will be challenged by the invading forces of Tenoch Huerta‘s aquatic Namor and his undersea army, as it’s determined who will next take the throne of Wakanda. Ryan Coogler returned to write and direct, with Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, and Letitia Wright all reprising their roles from the first film. Dominique Thorne will also make her debut as the tech prodigy Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart, in the sequel.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th, but fans can see Kamaru Usman defend his title against Leon Edwards first on August 20th.

    Source: MMA Fighting

  • ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Director Teases ‘Quantumania’s Will “Do Some Things Differently”

    ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Director Teases ‘Quantumania’s Will “Do Some Things Differently”

    It’s crazy to think that we’re about to get the third entry in the Ant-Man and the Wasp franchise. Not only did it go through quite a few changes, but San Diego Comic-Con highlighted how this film will be the one to tease the true Kang the Conqueror’s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He will be the one to build up where the entire arc is heading; ironic how the introduction of the Quantum Realm did the same for Avengers: Endgame.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he did hint that the threequel will potentially head into some new territory, especially in regard to the size of this franchise. Up until now, it was on the smaller side for the MCU and it seems they wanted to go big with the third entry.

    Well, I think we were thrilled to get to do a third Ant-Man movie and do a trilogy. And we knew if we were gonna do that we wanted to do some things differently. We really wanted to take a hard left turn and make a movie that was even more epic, but still progress the story of these family dynamics.

    Peyton Reed

    He also teases what we can expect from our favorite characters, who are facing some new challenges as a result of Lang’s absence during the five years leading into Endgame.

    And everything that’s going on between Scott and Hope and Cassie… Cassie, who’s now 18 years old, and maybe Scott doesn’t quite know how to relate to her as an adult, because he lost those five years from the events of Endgame

    Peyton Reed

    It definitely will shake up the dynamic, but it’s great they want to keep the “family” at the heart of the story. No matter what realm they entered, it still was about the familial relationships everyone shared throughout. So, it just wouldn’t be the same without it, especially going into a story that will be much grander in scale.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘DC League of Super-Pets’ Fetches $2M+ at Thursday Box Office

    ‘DC League of Super-Pets’ Fetches $2M+ at Thursday Box Office

    DC League of Super-Pets is off to a decent start. The animated flick pulled in $2.2 million in Thursday night previews from 3,200 theaters. Industry estimates have had the film eyeing a $25-$30 million opening this weekend when it opens across 4,300 theaters. That would prove to be a strong opening for the film, it would also be ahead of 2018’s Teen Titans GO! To the Movies which only opened to $10.4 million.

    Of course, DC League of Super Pets will have some stiff competition going into the weekend. While it is expected the film will dethrone Nope from the top spot at the box office, Top Gun: Maverick is still performing well and Minions: The Rise of Gru is still doing decent business at the box office. In fact, The Rise of Gru recently passed the $300 million mark at the domestic box office – an impressive feat, especially given it is an animated flick released during the pandemic.

    The film, which was reportedly produced for $89 million, follows Krypto the Super-Dog, Superman’s dog who is voiced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is tasked with rescuing his owner, along with Kevin Hart’s Ace. While reviews have been mixed and the film is currently sitting on a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, that likely will not hinder the film’s box office potential, especially with Johnson and Hart attached. 

    Nope, which topped the box office with $44 million last weekend, is expected to pull in between $17-$18 million in its second weekend. Of course, as word of mouth continues to grow for Jordan Peele’s third feature film, it’s possible those numbers could go higher. Should that be the cast, Nope could stop League of Super-Pets before it truly gets a chance to take off at the box office.

    DC League of Super-Pets is now playing in theaters.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Iron Man’ Director Was Nervous With Russo’s Plans for Tony Stark in ‘Avengers: Endgame’

    ‘Iron Man’ Director Was Nervous With Russo’s Plans for Tony Stark in ‘Avengers: Endgame’

    It’s still crazy to think that Marvel Studios and the Russo Brothers decided to end Avengers: Endgame with the death of Tony Stark. Not only was it an emotional punch to the gut for the character that introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2008, but it also would mean that the future may become quite uncertain for the studio.

    Any normal person wouldn’t dare touch one of the MCU’s most popular characters but the Russos took the risk. Even if it seemingly cost them a few of their nerves, especially when Iron Man director Jon Favreau wasn’t a fan of the idea. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Anthony Russo revealed they had a conversation wth the former MCU director and now Happy Hogan actor where he shared his feelings on the matter.

    Part of the pressure came from Jon Favreau, who called us up after he read the script and said to us, ‘Are you guys really going to kill Iron Man?’ He’s like, ‘You can’t do this, it’s gonna devastate people. You don’t want them walking out of the theater and into traffic. We did it anyway.

    Anthony Russo

    It was certainly a gamble for all parties involved. Fans could’ve been quite upset with the way he left the franchise, and we’re still seeing some post-Endgame blues as people adjust to this new era of the franchise. It would be great to see Favreau return to the director’s chair and potentially also explore the aftermath of Tony’s death in the upcoming Armor Wars project. It would be fitting that he’d also get a chance to give the character a final hurrah.

    Source: YouTube via ComicBook.com

  • New ‘Aquaman 2’ Set Photos Confirm Ben Affleck’s DCEU Return

    New ‘Aquaman 2’ Set Photos Confirm Ben Affleck’s DCEU Return

    Here’s a surprise that very few might’ve expected but a new post by Jason Momoa may have hinted that Ben Affleck‘s Bruce Wayne is back in the DC Extended Universe. There’s been no word on where exactly the multiversal storyline is heading with Michael Keaton‘s arrival heavily teased (even though it was confirmed long ago) in The Flash. Now, it looks like the current Batman is making his return ahead of that film’s arrival as a new batch of set photos for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hints at his return.

    It’s a bit surprising that he’d just flat-out reveal this potential cameo. So, they could also just be playing around with viewers but he does seem to be wearing a very Bruce Wayne-esque suit. Not just that, but the video at the end reveals that “B.A.” has his own trailer with the DC films’ production title “Necrus” on it. So, it does seem likely we could see the return of his version of Bruce Wayne before Keaton takes over ahead of The Flash going into Batgirl.

    His inclusion could be another sign that this is a move to streamline some aspects before breaking apart the DC multiverse. They may have planned on including scenes of a Batman but with The Flash pushed back quite a bit, they may have wanted to add a familiar face for audiences. Plus, he is set to appear in the Ezra Miller-led project, which would help boost that film’s box office knowing that he’s going to tie it all together. Who knows what exactly their plans are moving forward, but it’s going to be exciting either way.

    Source: Instagram

  • MGM Loses Film Rights to ‘Tomb Raider’, Alicia Vikander No Longer Attached

    Well, it was sadly a question of time before MGM would end up losing the film rights to Tomb Raider. Many speculated that the silence on the sequel, which was greenlighted for quite some time now, wasn’t moving forward. It seems that the window has passed and many Hollywood movie studios are after one of gaming’s most prolific heroines. Of course, 2018’s Tomb Raider star Alicia Vikander is subsequently no longer attached to the project in any way.

    The previously mentioned film didn’t make a huge splash at the box office but still pulled in $275M worldwide. It was swiftly renewed for a sequel with Lovecraft Country‘s Mischa Green attached to write and direct. It seems that they are likely to reboot the franchise, producer Graham King under the GK Films banner is looking into buyers after acquiring the rights back in 2011 from Square Enix.

    Tomb Raider is no longer under their umbrella and has been purchased by the Embracer group, as Square Enix just sold its entire Western division for $300M. The new owner is excited to expand its ventures into the cinematic territory but it’ll likely strongly depend on who buys the project. There is an animated series in development by Netflix, which will likely try its best to get its hands on it, especially as it fits perfectly into its IP-growing portfolio.

    Source: The Wrap, Twitter

  • Former Disney Exec Joins Warner Bros. Discovery as Consultant

    Former Disney Exec Joins Warner Bros. Discovery as Consultant

    It looks like the rumors are true, as long-time Disney executive, Alan Horn, is heading over to the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery to lend his hand on their productions. Horn retired back in 2021 and is now set to support David Zaslav, who has taken over the CEO duties of the recently merged companies. He shared the following staff memo to announce that Horn is joining their future cinematic ventures.

    I am thrilled to share with you that Alan Horn, one of the most respected studio executives in the industry, has agreed to assist me in a consultant role during this transition period, starting August 1. No one knows this business better than Alan does. He has had an extraordinary career spanning nearly half a century. Most recently, he served as chairman and later co-chairman and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Studios, where for a period of nearly 10 years, he oversaw the production of all motion pictures and the integration of Lucasfilm and the Fox film studios, as well as the expansion into producing content for Disney’s streaming services

    David Zaslav

    In the industry, Horn has become quite famous for being an honest and upstanding executive. This announcement marks a homecoming after he was forced out as president of Warner Bros back in 2013, where he oversaw the Harry Potter franchise and even The Dark Knight project. He didn’t slow down afterward, as he built up many relationships as part of Disney to build the current slate of Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar for the House of Mouse.

    So, this definitely marks a win for the company, but some have pointed out that Zaslav is focused a lot on high-priced consultants while cutting staff, which could definitely come back to haunt him. We’ll have to see what this might have in store for him and Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios President Teases Their Approach to ‘Deadpool 3’

    Marvel Studios President Teases Their Approach to ‘Deadpool 3’

    If is one Marvel Studios movie fans are desperate for more news on, it’s Deadpool 3. The Ryan Reynolds-led threequel might not be the flashiest film on Marvel’s upcoming slate, but it is one of the few projects due in the next handful of years that the company has barely talked about. Even Marvel’s signature Hall H presentation failed to offer any new information on Wade Wilson’s next big adventure. Luckily for fans, however, studio boss Kevin Feige came through with a fresh little tidbit when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week.

    While discussing the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Feige mentioned he hopes Deadpool 3 can be as grand of a trilogy capper as Captain America: Civil War and Thor: Ragnarok before it:

    How do we elevate it in the way we’ve been able to with Civil War, and Infinity War, and Ragnarok? It’s very fun to be in the world of the Ryan Reynolds show.

    Kevin Feige

    It’s been stated by Feige and Reynolds before that the creatives involved with Deadpool 3 are taking great care to craft a good script. It would seem fans should expect the third film in the franchise, which is set to take place within the MCU as opposed to the Fox X-Men universe of the first two installments, to go big instead of going home.

    If the mentioned examples are any indication, Marvel may be planning on bringing a few other guest characters into Deadpool’s theatrical journey. Civil War and Infinity War both featured essentially the entire MCU at the time of their releases, and Ragnarok had fun throwing Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk into the life of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Perhaps the next time audiences see the Merc with a Mouth, he’ll have most of the Marvel universe standing beside him.

    There is no current release date for Deadpool 3.

    Source: THR

  • Latest ‘Madame Web’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Adam Scott

    Latest ‘Madame Web’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Adam Scott

    Madame Web remains a web of mystery as we try to figure out what exactly Sony’s endgame is here and where they are heading with their Spider-Man universe that doesn’t actually feature the webhead. They have quite a few projects in some form of development, but the one to currently stand out is the mysterious Madame Web.

    Hinted at as their take on Doctor Strange, it may actually be used as a different kind of film altogether. There’s no clear hint at if this might be the film to introduce us to Sony’s version of Spider-Man, may it be someone new or even familiar. Yet, the casting of Adam Scott had many thinking that perhaps he’s the one to take on the mantle in this project. While we don’t get any clarification, we do get our first look at Scott in some new set photos.

    As these photos were shared by Just Jared, we can’t share them here but you can check them out by clicking here.

    It definitely isn’t revealing anything as he’s wearing some casual clothes. Though his style isn’t something that a Spider-Man wouldn’t wear. The idea of an older version of the character is definitely an interesting choice; even if Tobey Maguire is also around the same age.

    Who knows if they actually explore the multiverse and we’re introduced to a variety of Peter Parkers throughout the film’s runtime. Whatever direction they are taking, it’ll definitely be interesting to see how it comes together once we get some more official information on the project.

    Source: Just Jared

  • ‘Creed’ Spinoff in Development

    ‘Creed’ Spinoff in Development

    A new Creed spinoff is in the works. The Wrap has revealed that screenwriter Robert Lawton has been brought on by MGM to write a spinoff titled Drago. The spinoff will focus on Dolph Lundgren’s Drago, as well as his son, Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), who appeared in the second Creed film. Further details regarding the film are unknown at the moment.

    Lawton previously wrote a spec script titled Becoming Rocky that focused on the making of the first Rocky film. That script would later go on to be one of fifty to win a Nicholl Fellowship in 2021. After MGM execs read the script, they were impressed and ultimately gave him the job.

    Lundgren briefly teased a Drago film in an interview with THR last year. The actor mentioned that there was talk about a spinoff focuses on his character over at MGM, but nothing had been set in stone at that point. Now that the project has been officially announced, it’s likely the studio will move to look for a director in the coming months.

    The news of the Drago spinoff comes as Rocky and Creed star, Sylvester Stallone, has been vocal about trying to retain some of the rights to the franchise. Last week, the actor took to social media to express his frustrations with producers Irwin Winkler and his son David Winkler. The actor felt he deserved some ownership of Rocky, noting that he had “zero ownership” of the character despite creating and writing on all six films. Stallone has since deleted his posts calling for rights to the franchise, so it’s unclear if a deal has since been reached.

    A third Creed film recently wrapped production and saw leading man Michael B. Jordan step behind the camera as the director for the threequel. That film is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 23rd, 2022.

    Source: The Wrap