Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • ‘The Gray Man’ Universe a Go at Netflix

    ‘The Gray Man’ Universe a Go at Netflix

    Netflix is looking to build a franchise with The Gray Man. It was announced today that the streaming giant is developing not only a sequel to the film but also a spinoff title. The news comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, with the outlet revealing Ryan Gosling will return to headline the sequel. Also returning for the sequel are directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who will produce through their AGBO banner once again. Details regarding the spin-off are sparse, however, Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are on board to pen the film; no director is attached to the project. 

    The Gray Man hit Netflix on July 22nd, following a limited theatrical run on July 15th. It is based on the best-selling book series by Mark Greaney, which currently consists of twelve books. The film adaptation stars Ryan Gosling as Six, a secret agent who is being tracked by Chris Evans’ sociopathic mercenary at the behest of a top government official hoping to hide his own wrongdoing.

    “With so many amazing characters in the movie, we had always intended for the Gray Man to be part of an expanded universe, and we are thrilled that Netflix is announcing a sequel with Ryan,” the Russo brothers said in a statement to the press. 

    Scott Stuber, who serves as the head of global film for Netflix, noted the service’s desire to build out the film universe. “With The Gray Man, the Russos delivered an edge-of-your-seat spectacle that audiences around the world are loving. We’re excited to continue to partner with them and the team at AGBO as they build out The Gray Man universe.”

    The Gray Man, which currently has a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is now streaming on Netflix. A release window for The Gray Man’s sequel has not yet been announced.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Toys Reveal Major Changes to Namor’s Origins

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Toys Reveal Major Changes to Namor’s Origins

    On stage at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios finally gave the world its first look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The highly-anticipated sequel had been the subject of rumors for quite some time, but with a trailer now online and the full cast revealed, the film’s biggest secret is out in the open. Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta, and his Atlantean army will serve as the project’s main antagonists, finally bringing Marvel’s first major character to the big screen. The only thing is, Namor and his army might not be Atlantean at all.

    Following the film’s formal unveiling at Hall H, Hasbro began its official marketing push for its release. The company’s website is now accepting pre-orders for all Wakanda Forever-related merchandise, including a Marvel Legends action figure of Namor himself. The description of the Sub-Mariner’s figure describes him not as the King of Atlantis, but as the ruler of a hidden undersea civilization called “Talocan” instead. While this change may seem strange at first, it actually makes a lot more sense with a dive under the surface. Marvel Studios likely wants to differentiate their underwater kingdom from the popular depiction of Atlantis shown in Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman franchise, and they’re doing so by tying it to real-world mythology.

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Namor and his people appear to be connected to Aztec and Mayan culture, and the name “Talocan” is further proof of this. In Aztec legend, Tlālōcān is a mythological realm of paradise ruled by the rain god Tlālōc. Marvel Studios has seemingly designated this hydro-heaven as their version of Atlantis, with Namor and his Royal bloodline possibly filling the Tlālōc role. Interestingly, Talocan does exist in the comics, as the home of the Tēteoh pantheon of gods. With so many recent God-based projects, like Moon Knight and Thor: Love and Thunder, it will be curious to see if Marvel claims Namor and his society as Gods themselves, or if they just really wanted to use the name.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11th.

    Source: Screen Rant

  • Chris Pratt on Returning to the MCU After ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Chris Pratt on Returning to the MCU After ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be the end of an era. There are no exact details on what that might mean for these characters moving forward, but there has been a lot of talk of finality. It’ll mark James Gunn‘s final entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the foreseeable future. So, the San Diego Comic-Con presentation was quite an emotional one for everyone involved.

    Extra got the chance to talk to Chris Pratt, who shared the emotions he felt realizing that this 10+ year journey is coming to an end next year. Yet, he also offered a little look into the future and what potentially mean for his future with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He doesn’t give anything away and does keep the door open so that the multiverse may give him an opportunity to return no matter the fate of his character.

    There are no plans for that right now. I think anything is possible, anything is possible. There’s multiverse thing. I’m not saying I am, but if a character gets killed… Actually, turns out there are, like, crazy wormholes to bring people back.

    Chris Pratt

    There’s some word that we might see characters for the last time in this entry, but James Gunn did highlight during the panel it doesn’t mean everyone is going to leave the franchise behind. Rocket Raccoon is seemingly taken the lead this time around, which would open up the story for many interesting directions in the future. We’ll have to wait until next year May to find out.

    Source: Extra

  • Marvel Studios President Teases New Approach With ‘Avengers’ Movies

    Marvel Studios President Teases New Approach With ‘Avengers’ Movies

    San Diego Comic-Con was quite the experience and have us a first real look at the future of Marvel Studios’ projects. Not only did they unveil Phase 5 but also confirmed that the Multiverse Saga will come to an end with Phase 6. However, what stood out for many was that we won’t be getting an Avengers film to wrap up a Phase as we used to. Many expected that to be the case with a surprise announcement to wrap up Phase 4, but it turns out that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has the privilege of that placement.

    In an interview with MTV News, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige offered some insight into how they are tackling the new approach, especially with how Disney+ has opened up many new gateways for them to introduce other characters in new and interesting ways. He also compares to how their approach has changed from the previous Infinity Saga.

    Well… it’s never about going bigger just to go bigger. Sometimes, by the nature of the number of characters that you have in the toy box to then bring into the sandbox of the story, things can get bigger. But you know, the truth is, when we were doing Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, there were less projects over more years. And they were smaller projects and individual character stories. And it felt appropriate at that point that after, you know, every two or three years that it took for a phase, we would do an Avengers film. As 4, 5, and 6 were coming together, there are more projects in less years because of all the amazing stuff we’re now allowed to do on Disney+ and getting and getting characters from Fox, for Fantastic Four and Deadpool, that it felt like… and certainly after Infinity War and Endgame that we thought, ‘Avengers movies aren’t cappers

    Kevin Feige

    While some have seen this as slightly controversial due to the number of projects available in less time than previously offered, they are aware of that fact and are also not trying to just rush out Avengers films as a result. They are trying to keep its place as an “event” within the build-up and have other franchises.

    So many of our movies now, the Multiverse of Madness, what you’re about to see in Quantumania, are big team-up films introducing big parts of the mythology and that Avengers films really should be the capper to a saga. Which is really all we wanted to to lay the groundwork for today, is say, ‘We are currently in the midst of the Multiverse saga which will culminate in two Avengers films.

    Kevin Feige

    Of course,e it’s an interesting strategy to wrap up the Saga with not one but two films. It may be a showcase of what they learned with the success of Infinity War going into Endgame. Yet, it does seem curious they wouldn’t want to keep a year between these projects to build into it. Of course, there’s always the chance that is the plan and they are keeping a potential shift of their release dates just in case, as they still don’t have a director set.

    Source: YouTube via The Direct

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Almost Doubles ‘Black Panther’s 24-Hour Trailer Viewership

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Almost Doubles ‘Black Panther’s 24-Hour Trailer Viewership

    The trailer drop for Black Panther Wakanda Forever was something special. Given the weight surrounding the project and the expectations in regards to carrying on Chadwick Boseman‘s legacy, it wasn’t going to be easy. Yet, the somber trailer offered something different from the usual trailer fare and made it potentially stand out from the rest. That same has seemingly been accomplished with the trailer almost doubling the original Black Panther‘s 24-hour viewership.

    As of now, Wakanda Forever, which has been the main focus as a title for its promotion, has pulled in 172M views within 24 hours. That is almost twice as much as the first back in 2017, which stands at a still impressive 88M. The film was also trending for five consecutive hours and Black Panther pulled in 893K mentions. So, it was definitely the talk of the town. The film’s viewership actually rivals that of most Avengers films, closing in on Avengers: Infinity Wars which stood at 179M.

    Spider-Man: No Way Home still is the most viewed film at a historic 355.5M views. Thor: Love and Thunder is still a surprising 209M, which showcases how viewership doesn’t necessarily translate to box office openings. Still, its main point of comparison is the previous entry and doubling those viewership numbers of a film that managed to pass $1 billion mark back in 2018. It’ll be quite interesting to see how far the film manages to grow and if subsequent trailers could continue pushing its numbers to even rival that of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which pulled in around $950M this year.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios Sets Eight New Theatrical Dates for Phases 6 & 7

    Marvel Studios Sets Eight New Theatrical Dates for Phases 6 & 7

    Marvel Studios laid out an impressive road map during their Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, giving fans a comprehensive look at what’s now officially known as the Multiverse Saga. The Multiverse Saga will consist of three phases and is set to wrap up with Avengers: Secret Wars in November of 2025.

    While Marvel Studios One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, gave the beginning and end points of the Saga, he also left plenty of blanks to fill in over the next couple of years including what look to be 3 projects in the Fall and Winter of 2024 and 5 more over the course of 2025. While it wasn’t made entirely clear during the panel, it seems that all 8 of those projects are destined for Disney Plus. With Agatha: Coven of Chaos beginning in 2023 and ending in 2024, Daredevil: Born Again is currently the only D+ series on the slate for 2024. Adding in the other dates would bring the 2024 D+ tally to 4.5, which is in line with what the studio is doing in 2023. Moving to 5 series in 2025 wouldn’t be too much of a leap, at that point.

    Adding to the likelihood that all 8 unannounced projects might head to Disney + was some news that got lost in the excitement: Marvel Studios 2025 and 2026 theatrical dates.

    In addition to dating Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Studios has dated two other untitled Phase 6 films in February and July of 2025.

    • February 14, 2025: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • May 2, 2025: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
    • July 25, 2025: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • November 7, 2025: Avengers: Secret Wars

    And with Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga coming to a conclusion in 2025, the studio has already turned their attention to the beginning of Phase 7 with 4 untitled films set for 2026.

    • February 13, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • May 1, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • July 24, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film
    • November 6, 2026: Untitled Marvel Studios Film

    With the Fantastic Four set to arrive just in time for Avengers: Secret Wars and Marvel Studios yet to reveal any long-term plans for mutants in the MCU, it seems like Phase 7 could belong, at least in part, to the studio’s plans for them.


  • SDCC: Marvel Studios President Confirms Spider-Man is Now a Street-Level Hero

    SDCC: Marvel Studios President Confirms Spider-Man is Now a Street-Level Hero

    The events of Spider-Man: No Way Home changed a lot for Peter Parker. Not only has everyone forgotten who he is, but he’s also now further away from the Avengers than ever before. Once looking up to his heroes, the young man is faced with a very different world. Many still questioned if that meant that we can expect a more grounded storyline for the character moving forward. For those wondering, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige fully confirmed it.

    Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man swung out of his new small apartment to tackle whatever threats he can in a new suit. According to Feige in an interview with MTV News’ Josh Horowitz, he’s now truly a street-level hero on the same level as Daredevil. It’s a big revelation that may answer some people’s concerns about his stories taking a more focused role moving forward.

    We’ve got the supernatural angles, we’ve got the street-level with our announcement of Daredevil, and of course, Spidey going into the street-level heroes.

    Kevin Feige

    Feige did confirm that they are working on a fourth entry, and as director Jon Watts has kind of moved on, who knows which director might take over to give his unique spin on the character. With a more grounded approach, they could also connect him to the also mentioned Daredevil and have him face off against mobs while struggling to pay rent. In a way, the next entry will be a return to form from the character that we’ve known from the earliest entries in cinema, and who knows what else might be heading his way.

    Source: Twitter via Total Film

  • New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Merchandise Offers Closer Look at Namor’s Traditional Outfit

    New ‘Wakanda Forever’ Merchandise Offers Closer Look at Namor’s Traditional Outfit

    The wait has finally come to a conclusion, as we got our first look at Namor the Submariner in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Tenoch Huerta, one of the first casting announcements for the film, will take on the role of one of Marvel’s oldest characters. While there will be comparisons to James Cameron‘s Avatar due to blue skin and Aquaman, there’s something unique about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s approach to the characters. Nothing highlights more than a new piece of merchandise offering a new look at Namor’s traditional clothing.

    This time, Namor is heavily inspired by Mayan and Aztec culture, which not only adds an excellent representation but makes him stand out visually. A new piece of merchandise highlights that very design work that adds to his look and even further hints that the Atlanteans have a Jaguar god of their own, paralleling Wakanda’s Bast.

    The design approach for this character is great, especially in how they utilized his comic design. Doubt many expected to see his green speedo as part of his design, but they somehow made it work and also utilize the approach to create a fitting design approach. We’ll see if he might even have a few more other designs in the future. Namor is likely to have a bigger role in the future and we’ll see how it ties together with the now well-established Multiverse Saga.

    Source: Twitter

  • SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases the Role of Post-Credits Scenes in MCU Phases 5 and 6

    SDCC: Kevin Feige Teases the Role of Post-Credits Scenes in MCU Phases 5 and 6

    Marvel Studios did not disappoint fans with its reveals and announcements of upcoming projects at its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con ’22. Not only did president Kevin Feige surprise the audience by revealing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 is nearly over, but he revealed Phases 5 and 6. Perhaps the biggest news of the event was that Phases 4-6, officially named the “Multiverse Saga”, will culminate in two Avengers films in 2025 entitled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Of course, Marvel Studios and Feige are now being bombarded with questions about the MCU’s future, specifically regarding the new information given at SDCC. Feige discussed one of the MCU’s most defining elements with Comicbook.com after the panel. When asked about how Marvel Studios plans to use its projects’ famous post-credits scenes to build up to The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, Feige had this to say:

    The truth is, all of the tags are never just about the future. There are tags that are eating shwarma, Captain America saying you know you gotta learn patience, sometimes, you know, you wait for something that’s not worth it. So they are always fun for us. We don’t want everything to feel the same. So some of the tags will connect and some of them won’t. Some of the films and shows will connect; some of them won’t. I think it’s just as important that we can have standalone introductory stories like Ms. Marvel, like Moon Knight, in addition to things that interconnect and build towards the larger story. A lot of what we’ve been doing has been building to this larger story, obviously with The Kang Dynasty and the Multiverse Saga, and now I think people will, I hope, come along for the ride. Both where it’s you’re on the express train to the finale, also when it’s fun, as many of our Phase 1, 2 and 3 films were.

    Kevin Feige

    Feige is not one to give away any major surprises or specific tidbits about upcoming post-credits scenes, but his quote seems to indicate that the MCU’s post-credits scenes will remain relatively status quo to what fans have seen thus far. With a multiverse focus, though, it would not be surprising if these scenes ultimately become extremely helpful in tying different projects, some standalone, to the overarching storyline of the Multiverse Saga.

    Avengers: Secret Wars is set to end the Multiverse Saga on November 7, 2025.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • SDCC: Will Poulter On Playing “Newborn” Adam Warlock and Watching Footage With Fans

    SDCC: Will Poulter On Playing “Newborn” Adam Warlock and Watching Footage With Fans

    One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most exciting new characters is set to debut in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and the actor bringing him to life has a lot to say about it. Will Poulter is expected to make waves when he appears as the iconic hero Adam Warlock in next year’s highly anticipated threequel. A long-standing member of Marvel’s intergalactic roster, Warlock has played a major role in numerous franchise-changing events since he was introduced in 1967. His presence in the MCU was first teased back in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and fans have been eager to see him on screen ever since.

    Following the big Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Poulter got a chance to speak with Variety about his approach to playing Warlock. After being asked what it was like collaborating with director James Gunn, he explained:

    Yeah, um, y’know, we discussed the fact that in the second movie his birth is sort of teased. So, it was about embracing this idea of him in his infancy. Y’know, he’s effectively a newborn and he’s just kind of trying to orientate himself and work out what the hell is going on. The difference between right and wrong. There was a lot of fun to be had with that but also, I think, a lot of genuine psychological exploration.

    Will Poulter

    Poulter was then asked how it felt to see the first footage of himself in the role play for a room full of screaming fans. The audience in attendance for the panel was shown an exclusive early teaser for Vol. 3, something the rest of the world still has to wait for. The former Narnia star went on to call the experience crazy.

    Yeah, it was crazy. It was legitimately the first bit of footage I’ve seen since being on set and checking out the monitor, making sure I didn’t make a total hash of it. But it was really fun to hear the fans’ reaction to it. That’s a really special opportunity, in Hall H of all places. Super grateful, and I’m really excited to see it now.

    Will Poulter

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5th, 2023.

    Source: Variety