Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Marvel Studios President Teases MCU’s New Saga Will Become Clearer Soon

    Marvel Studios President Teases MCU’s New Saga Will Become Clearer Soon

    Many have been wondering what exactly the current Marvel Cinematic Universe Saga has been about. Phase 4 of the long-running franchise took a few new turns to keep things fresh while also introducing a variety of characters that seemingly have no direct correlation. Yet, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige promises that all will be made clear very soon, especially as Phase 4 is nearing its end.

    As we’re nearing the end of Phase 4, I think people will start to see where this next saga is going. I think there have been many clues already, that are at least apparent to me, of where this whole saga is going. But we’ll be a little more direct about that in the coming months, to set a plan, so audiences who want to see the bigger picture can see a tiny, tiny, tiny bit more of the roadmap.

    Kevin Feige

    So, not only will we get a look at the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it also looks like we’ll get an idea of where exactly the current phase is heading. Many arrows are pointing to Jonathan Major‘s Kang being the main antagonist, especially after Loki introduced us to his Variant and the events of the series unraveled whatever will lead to Kang the Conqueror being unleashed upon the multiverse. He also makes for the perfect choice to rewrite the franchise in case they want to reinvent it by going into a new Saga and tackling different kinds of stories moving forward.

    Source: Total Film

  • ‘Lightyear’ Loses to ‘Jurassic World 3’ While ‘Top Gun’ Continues to Soar

    ‘Lightyear’ Loses to ‘Jurassic World 3’ While ‘Top Gun’ Continues to Soar

    The numbers are in and, as sadly expected, Lightyear isn’t going to set the box office in flames. The Toy Story spinoff which isn’t necessarily an actual spinoff of the original franchise, but rather a fictional film that takes place in that same universe, has opened to $51M over the weekend. With a wide release in 4,255 North American which is on par with many current releases but it does seem like family audiences aren’t quite ready yet to return to theaters as initially hoped. David A. Gross, who runs Franchisee Entertainment Research, shared the following statement on its release:

    This is a soft opening for a spin-off of one of the most successful animation series of all time. ‘Toy Story’ defied gravity at the box office during its 27 year run, each episode topping the last, the last two clearing a billion dollars worldwide. But like all spin-offs, the ‘Lightyear’ story is narrower now.

    David A. Gross

    The early expectations had the film at around $70M but it’s sadly now going to be one of Pixar’s least successful releases, especially with a high production cost of $200M. Lightyear isn’t a sign of Pixar losing its draw at the box office, but more a reflection of the pandemic’s influence on younger audiences and Disney+’s strategy of using one of its biggest franchises to boost subscription numbers. Internationally the film has also been a lukewarm release with $34.6M, which puts it at an international release of $85.6M, which is a far cry from its initial expected $135M+.

    Jurassic World Dominion kept its dominance at the box office, as it held on to the top spot, but did face a harsh 60% drop in its second weekend. It’s not too far from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ 67% and highlights how these franchise films operate. With a lower opening than the Marvel Studios project, it reflects how these drops normally operate, but the dinosaur epic still generated $58.6M which is a strong release and now stands at $259M domestically.

    It’s second-weekend highlights even more how much Top Gun Maverick is an exception than the rule, as the film has taken a massive $44M in its latest weekend which is just a 15% drop. As such, it is the second-highest fourth weekend with the only exception being Avatar. The film is likely going to pass a billion in just a few weeks as it already stands at $885M and will likely become the highest-grossing film of the year very soon. It sparked the box office in a big way and is a testament to just how sudden some projects can pull in viewers.

    Source: Variety

  • First Look at ‘Avatar’s LEGO Set Ahead of ‘The Way of the Water’s Release

    First Look at ‘Avatar’s LEGO Set Ahead of ‘The Way of the Water’s Release

    It may have taken way longer than anyone suspected, but a new LEGO set for Avatar has been unveiled. While the first entry of James Cameron‘s sci-fi epic was released back in 2009, the sequel The Way of the Water is only a few more months away from hitting theaters. Now, LEGO has unveiled its new Avatar-themed set during LEGO Con 2022. The set is titled “Toruk Makto & Tree of Souls” which will be made available to purchase on October 1st, 2022, as shared through Jay’s Brick Blog.

    They have also shared an image of what the set looks like built, highlighting the many figurines included in the model. It’s surprising that with the title of The Way of the Water, they wouldn’t include an aquatic set going in.

    LEGO sets have become a common tie-in to big blockbuster releases. So, it’s no surprise that they will do the same with the latest Avatar film. There’s a lot riding on its release, as not only will it kick off various others but it also has the legacy of the biggest movie release ever to compete with. Either the film will fall short of the original film’s overall box office, or it could even surpass it if the long wait between films has proven with the recent release Top Gun Maverick. It’ll be interesting to see what the box office has planned for a film entering its franchise stage.

    Source: Jay Bricks blog

  • ‘Lightyear’ Currently Underperforming, May Not Dethrone ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

    ‘Lightyear’ Currently Underperforming, May Not Dethrone ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’

    It looks like Lightyear is struggling a bit to catch its legs at the box office, as the latest Pixar film may not beat Jurassic World: Dominion at the box office this weekend. Going in, the Pixar film was eyeing a potential $85M+ opening weekend but after a lukewarm Friday, it does seem like Dominion may keep its dominion (pun fully intended) over the box office domestically. The film opened to $20.7M on Friday, which includes the decent $5.2M preview screenings, yet the film is very likely to end at around $52M.

    There are many theories online on what exactly led to this opening. The biggest aspect is definitely the pandemic, as while Top Gun Maverick pulled audiences back into seats they likely haven’t visited in a long time, families are still a bit uncertain. They also released the last three films exclusively on Disney+ to push subscriptions but it may have shown its fangs on dragging that out while letting Marvel Studios roam free as of late.

    Luckily, the numbers would put it as one of the strongest family films since the pandemic started, but a $200M budgeted spinoff based on a toy from a film franchise is not an easy sell. It did get an A- CinemaScore, which hints at word-of-mouth being strong for the Pixar release. Lightyear may just not have the same selling effect that Pixar hoped for, as it doesn’t have the Toy Story branding, and outside of its main character, has no connection to the original.

    So, it’s a spinoff that is also an original film based on pre-existing characters without the original voice. Toy Story 4 opened to a powerful $120.9M in 2019, which was already a powerhouse year, but simply highlights that this is more a case of Solo: A Star Wars Story than

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ BTS Image Offers a Glimpse at Christian Bale’s Transformation into Gorr the God Butcher

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ BTS Image Offers a Glimpse at Christian Bale’s Transformation into Gorr the God Butcher

    Thor: Love and Thunder is only a few more weeks away and we’re anxiously awaiting the journey that Christian Bale is going to take us on with his take on Gorr the God Butcher. While we had to wait a bit for the first official reveal, the second trailer for Love and Thunder offered a look at a very different interpretation of the character. We’ve known very little about how his transformation came to be, but a new behind-the-scenes image shared offered some insight into how they brought him to life.

    While we don’t get a good look at his full make-up, it does reveal that Christian Bale has originally shaven his entire head to play the role of Gorr. Yet, very likely due to contractual reasons with another project, he wasn’t able to during reshoots and so they had to tackle a different way of making his bald head come to life. Bart Mixon shared a look at how they created a bald cap to make it seem like he had no hair at all.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CexS0GnDJ4t/

    Bale is the kind of actor that would go the extra mile to bring his character to life, but it’s interesting how they manage to still create a realistic-looking bald head. Karen Gillan talked bout how they were able to use a bald cap for her role as Nebula to avoid her constantly having to shave her head, even if she did it for her initial casting to prove how ready she was to take on the role.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ May Be Chris Hemsworth’s Last MCU Film

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ May Be Chris Hemsworth’s Last MCU Film

    There have been many theories on when an actor may pull the plug on their time with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There’s never been a definite with many, as some moved away from taking on leading roles to appear in minor roles moving forward. We’ve had some famous exists after Avengers: Endgame, but now it looks like Chris Hemsworth may have found his end with the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder.

    In an interview with Wired, he answered a few of the most searched questions. When it came to the last film he shot in the MCU, he also highlighted that the fourth Thor film may be his last.

    The last one I just shot was ‘Thor: Love and Thunder. And it may be my last, I don’t know.

    Chris Hemsworth

    The actor has been playing the role since the 2011 film that was among the many that kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, while sad it wouldn’t be surprising that his run might be nearing its end soon. He has spent a lot of time with the character and the upcoming film will further tell the stories of Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster and Tessa Thompson‘s Valkyrie.

    So, the Asgardians aren’t truly leaving the world of the MCU behind but the God of Thunder may be slowly trying to find his way out, even if it would be nice to have his iconic Fear Itself storyline be the way he’s given a true farewell. With Taika Waititi‘s more comedic run, one last more serious turn to fully explore the potential of Thor may be the perfect way to end his story on a high note.

    Source: YouTube via Insider

  • ‘The Flash’: Warner Bros Discovery’s $200 Million Problem

    ‘The Flash’: Warner Bros Discovery’s $200 Million Problem

    Over the past year, Ezra Miller has found themselves in a plethora of trouble. Following multiple arrests in Hawaii, the controversial star is currently on the run and is facing even more concerning allegations, which is leaving Warner Bros. Discovery to consider what to do with The Flash movie now that it is in post-production.

    For years, it seemed as though The Flash movie was a myth – a film that was in development but seemed likely to come to fruition. Then, in July 2019, Warner Bros. hired Andy Muschietti to direct the long-promised Flash movie starring Miller. The young actor had, of course, been attached to the project since 2014 when it was revealed he’d joined the cast of Batman v. Superman. So, with the movie now in the can and set to introduce a brand new Supergirl to live-action, the studio is eagerly trying to determine how to go about handling the film with Miller’s troublesome behavior.

    According to a new report from Deadline, the studio is said to have considered getting help for the young actor. However, with the allegations against Miller continuing to build, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav has a big decision to make… and soon. Per the outlet, one option Zaslav is considering is pulling back on Miller’s promotional duties for the 2023 film. This choice would confine it to some P&A, but no publicity tour. Another option being explored is moving the film to HBO Max. While a third option would be to lean in toward making the movie a hit and then dropping Miller if they can’t get their act together. Either way, the studio is facing a tough decision and will need to make a choice relatively soon.

    A studio source told Deadline the hope is that the sandal will remain “low level” ahead of the film’s release next year. For now, The Flash remains on track for a Summer 2023 theatrical release with Miller still very much in the starring role. As for the actor’s future beyond The Flash? Deadline reports Miller will not be involved in any future plans involving the character and the forthcoming DC Universe being constructed by Zaslav.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Guy Ritchie to Direct Live-Action ’Hercules’

    Guy Ritchie to Direct Live-Action ’Hercules’

    Guy Ritchie is returning to Disney to bring another animated classic to live-action.

    Deadline is reporting that Ritchie, who helmed the live-action Aladdin for Disney, is reteaming with the studio to direct a live-action take on the animated classic Hercules. He’ll be working alongside AGBO, the production banner from Avengers: Endgame directors Joe & Anthony Russo, who are producing the project. With a director set, the search is now underway for a writer to rework the first draft turned in by Dave Callaham(Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).

    News of a live-action Hercules movie was first announced in October of last year. Since then, news on the project has been relatively quiet. Ritchie’s live-action take on Aladdin managed to cross $1 billion at the worldwide box office, despite plenty of controversy surrounding the title leading up to its release. He’s still expected to direct the sequel to that film, however, it’s unknown when that project will actually go into production.

    Ritchie has a rather lengthy resume that includes The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Sherlock Holmes, and RocknRolla. He recently wrapped production on an untitled action thriller with JakeGyllenhaal, which has since sold to MGM and Amazon. Up next for the busy director is Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerrewhich he wrote, directed and executive produced. That project, starring Jason Statham, does not currently have a release date.

    Source: Deadline. 

  • ‘Cleopatra’ Eyeing Move From Paramount to Universal

    ‘Cleopatra’ Eyeing Move From Paramount to Universal

    Cleopatra is moving from Paramount to Universal.

    Deadline has confirmed that Universal is looking to pick up Cleopatra starring Gal Gadot. The Project was initially in development at Paramount, with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier executive producer and director Kari Skogland attached to direct. Per the outlet, Paramount looks to be losing the project since the studio failed to meet the timeline the creative team deemed necessary.

    Cleopatra is being produced by Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven, Gal Gadot and her Pilot Wave Motion Pictures partner Jaron Varsano. Laeta Kalogridis (Shutter Island), who wrote the screenplay, is executive producing, as is Wonder Woman filmmaker, Patty Jenkins. As of this writing, deals are not currently yet in place with Universal.

    It is of note that Roven is also working with Universal on Christopher Nolan’s upcoming WWII feature, Oppenheimer, so there is a link between him and the studio already. Paramount is still interested in the project and talks still seem to be underway between the producers and Universal, so it’s possible things will change. For now, though, it looks like Cleopatra will be making the jump to Universal.

    A Cleopatra film has been in the works for years with actress Angelina Jolie initially set to star. That project, however, appears to have since stalled. Cleopatra currently does not have a release date.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Returning as Johnny Storm

    Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Returning as Johnny Storm

    Before he was the First Avenger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans suited up as Johnny Storm in Tim Story’s 2005 Fantastic Four. Evans has since become a central figure in the MCU with his role as the iconic Steve Rogers, last appearing in Avengers: Endgame.

    But with Marvel’s most recent theatrical release, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the introduction of Mister Fantastic, the MCU is much different than the last time audiences saw Evans. Possibilities that once seemed impossible are now much more plausible. So, with Evans stating it would be a tall order for him to return as Cap, it begs to question: would Evans be interested in returning to his first superhero role on the big screen?

    Evans was asked this question in a recent interview while doing press for his upcoming film, Lightyear, with MTV’s Joshua Horowitz. Here’s what Evans had to say:

    “No, no one’s ever come to me about that. I mean, I don’t look exactly the same anymore. That was 15, almost 20 years ago. Oh my God, I’m old. Yeah. Look, I would love it. I would love it. That would actually be an easier sell to me than coming back as Cap. You know what I mean? Cap is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing. So I love that role, and you know, who knows.”

    So, not only would Evans love to come back as Johnny Storm, he also indicated he feels there’s some unfinished business with the character.

    With Marvel’s 2019 acquisition of Fox — in which the studio regained the rights to the Fantastic Four — and ripple effects of Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, what seemed like a fan’s fantasy a few years ago is now something that could be reasonably explained to viewers. What do you think, would you like to see Evans don the blue and black one more time?

    Source: MTV News