Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Marvel Studios Reportedly Locking In on the MCU’s Jean Grey

    Marvel Studios Reportedly Locking In on the MCU’s Jean Grey

    It’s not easy being Jean. Despite having an entire film dedicated to her in each of Fox’s X-Men in the original Fox trilogy and in the alternate timeline reboot that followed X-Men: Days of Future Past, it is resoundingly safe to say that we still haven’t gotten a solid live-action version of Jean Grey. An Omega-level telepath whose true upper limit to her power remains undefined, Grey was never given proper agency in either iteration and was reduced to a supporting character in both of Fox’s efforts to tell a classic comic book story in which she is the main character. Watch X-Men: The Last Stand and ask yourself, if as Logan kills Jean, if you feel worse for her or him.

    To be fair, the problem isn’t unique to the Fox films. Outside of Chris Claremont‘s time writing her, Jean hasn’t always been treated much better in the pages of Marvel Comics. The fact remains, however, that as one of the five original members of Charles Xavier’s X-Men, Jean Grey–codename Marvel Girl–has always been and should always remain an integral part of the team’s story and should be at the center of any efforts to tell it. And as Marvel Studios prepares to put its spin on the uncanny team of mutant heroes, a new report indicates that its version will not only include Jean but also that one name has risen to the top of a list to portray the MCU’s version.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Stranger Things and The Whale star Sadie Sink has emerged as the front runner to portray Jean Grey in the MCU.

    Though it may seem a touch early for the studio to be on the lookout for one of the stars of their X-Men reboot, Sneider provided some additional context about Sink’s potential involvement. Despite Marvel Studios’ X-Men film still being in the scripting stages and not expected to be released during the Multiverse Saga, Sneider’s sources believe that the studio is keen on casting the role of Jean Grey now to allow the character to appear in either or both of its next two Avengers films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Allowing important characters to debut in other properties before taking center stage in their own is a tactic Marvel Studios has employed to some success in the past. Both Black Panther and Spider-Man debuted in Captain America: Civil War ahead of starring in their own projects. Making the rumor more believable is that both Doomsday and Secret Wars are being directed by Joe and Anthony Russo who directed Civil War and who have, in the past, expressed a desire to be involved with the MCU’s X-Men. It could all be a coincidence, of course, and being a frontrunner is much different than being cast; however, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see more mutants than just Jean–and more mutants than just the ones the studio plans to move forward with in the future–before the Multiverse Saga comes to a close.

    Source: Hot Mic Podcast

  • Kevin Feige Confirms a Major Marvel Studios Sequel Is on the Way

    Kevin Feige Confirms a Major Marvel Studios Sequel Is on the Way

    Released in 2018, Black Panther still stands as Marvel Studios’ third highest-grossing film with only Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home having raked in more at the domestic box office. Six years later, it also remains the studio’s most critically acclaimed project and beloved by fans. Following the tragic death of its star, Chadwick Boseman, the franchise continued with Letitia Wright taking over as its lead in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Released into a different box office environment than its predecessor, Wakanda Forever, held together by a strong creative team, also did extremely well at the box office, taking in $453M domestically, placing it 8th on the MCU’s all-time list.

    While writer and director Ryan Coogler undoubtedly stands as the driving force behind the Black Panther franchise, Marvel Parliament member and executive producer Nate Moore was also an integral piece of the team behind the scenes. Now, Moore–who produced seveb projects at Marvel Studios including the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World–is taking his career in a different direction but not without finishing what he started.

    In statements released to the trades, Moore, along with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Co-President Louis D’Esposito, revealed that while Moore is leaving the company, he will return to work with them in some capacity on Black Panther 3, marking the first confirmation from studio brass that the project is in development.

    In 2022, still reeling from the emotions of moving ahead in the franchise without its star and close friend, Coogler explained that he had yet to figure out what was next for him, much less when he might be ready to tackle Black Panther 3. While Feige confirmed that he and Coogler had some “ideas pitched back and forth“, he made it very clear that while a new director could possibly take over the franchise, it was his strong preference to move forward with Coogler when he was ready. It seems as though that time is drawing near.

    Nate is a fantastic executive and colleague as well as a wonderful friend to all of us here at Marvel Studios. He has been a core member of our team since 2010, and his influence will continue to reverberate in our storytelling. Although we’ll miss him a great deal, we look forward to watching what he does next while also having the good fortune of working with him in a new way on our next Black Panther movie.

    “Nearly everything I know about producing I’ve learned from my time at Marvel Studios. I feel lucky to have worked with a group of people who love filmmaking and storytelling as much as my Marvel colleagues and the cast and crew of our films,” said Moore. “But I couldn’t be more excited to apply my experience and passion for film towards theatrical movies in all genres, including returning to the world of Wakanda for Black Panther 3.”

    It’s unclear at this time if the third installment in the Black Panther franchise is far enough along in its development to be included in the Multiverse Saga (there are currently two Untitled Marvel Studios films scheduled for release in 2026) or if the studio would release the threequel as part of its next saga, which will begin in 2027.

    Source: Deadline

  • Another Infinity Saga Star Reportedly Returning for ‘Avengers; Doomsday’

    Another Infinity Saga Star Reportedly Returning for ‘Avengers; Doomsday’

    At one point during its development, Avengers: Endgame was titled Avengers: Infinity War-Part 2. Five years later, given the talent that is being assembled for the next Avengers films, Avengers: Doomsday, it may be fair to consider changing its title to Avengers: Infinity War-Part 3. In an effort to ensure the Multiverse Saga ends on a high note, Marvel Studios has been dipping into the Infinity Saga well by bringing back talent on both sides of the camera.

    By reteaming with the brothers Russo and writer Stephen McFeely for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Kevin Feige and his Marvel Parliament were able to lure Robert Downey Jr. back into the fold to suit up as Doctor Doom. Whether as a result of those moves or by coincidence, the studio was also able to reel Chris Evans back in, reportedly as Nomad, to pair with Downey in Avengers: Doomsday. And now, they’ve brought back his dance partner.

    According to Deadline, Haley Atwell, who has played several Variants of Peggy Carter in live-action and animation since 2011, has agreed to return in the role for Avengers: Doomsday.

    As with Evans, the true nature of Atwell‘s character will likely remain a mystery for the time being. The Sacred Timeline Variant of Carter passed away at 95 years old in Captain America: Civil War. The final moments of Avengers: Endgame saw Steve Rogers travel to 1949 where he lived a full life with a Variant of Peggy in an alternate reality. Yet another Variant of the character, Captain Carter, has served as a main character over three seasons of Marvel Animation’s What If…? and a alternate reality Variant of that character appeared as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    The world has changed, and none of us can go back. All we can do is our best. And sometimes… the best that we can do is to start over.

    While the most likely scenario involves Evans‘ Nomad pairing with Atwell‘s Carter in some way, plot details for Avengers: Doomsday have not yet been disclosed and, in a Multiverse, anything is possible.

    Avengers: Doomsday is set to begin production next year in advance of its scheduled May 1, 2026 release.

    Source: Deadline

  • Disney Reveals Its Next Live-Action Reimagining

    Disney Reveals Its Next Live-Action Reimagining

    Though Disney’s efforts to reimagine its library of classic animated films into live-action have been a bit uneven, it seems the studio remains committed to the process. Despite mixed reviews for 2019’s The Lion King, the studio moved forward with an original prequel in Mufasa: The Lion King, which will close out what has been a huge year at the box office for Disney. The House of Mouse’s hopes for another successful year in 2025 will, in part, rest on the shoulders of a pair of reimaginings in Lilo & Stitch and Snow White; and 2026 will see the Rock bring Maui back to theaters in the live-action iteration of Moana on the 10 year anniversary of the animated original.

    Disney, of course, has plans to continue to add to the robust lineup with new versions of Hercules, Robin Hood, Bambi and The Aristocats all at different stages of development but it looks like another project has moved to the front of the queue.

    According to a trade report, Disney has entered into talks with director Michael Gracey to helm a live-action reimagining of 2010’s Tangled.

    Should Gracey–who directed Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya and Zac Efron in 2017’s The Greatest Showman–sign on, he’d be working from a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who worked with Disney-owned Marvel Studios on Thor: Love and Thunder.

    Casting has not gotten underway for Tangled but it is expected to film in the UK sometime in 2025.

    Source: Deadline

  • DC Studios Set to Move Forward with First Horror Movie

    DC Studios Set to Move Forward with First Horror Movie

    In recent weeks, James Gunn made it clear that one fundamental difference between the all-new DCU and the MCU, in which he worked for nearly a decade, will be be an emphasis on world building over story building. Whereas Marvel Studios builds Phases and Sagas around “big bads” such as Thanos, Kang and Doctor Doom, and weaves those characters and their stories into multiple projects, one goal of his at DC Studios is to make sure that each new DCU project can be enjoyed on its own merits.

    “These are interconnected stories but people are always going to be [saying], ‘Who’s the big bad?’,” Gunn explained to Josh Horowitz. “Are there big bads for connected films? Yes. But is this all about, ‘Hey, I’m telling this one story about this big bad’? No.”

    This is about a connected universe. We’re world building. We’re not story building. We’re not writing one story that has a beginning, middle, and end. We’re creating a universe in which people can go and join into this universe and experience it. It is much more like Star Wars than Marvel in that respect.

    -James Gunn on the narrative structure of the DCU

    What Gunn‘s goal helps DC Studios accomplish is to open additional avenues for talented creators who have ideas for original stories that wouldn’t necessarily mesh with larger, universe-defining narratives. Mike Flanagan, the creator behind Netflix’s horror series The Haunting of Hill House and its subsequent follow-ups, reportedly pitched one such project to Gunn in 2023: a Clayface solo film. Recent reports indicated that the project was among those the studio was preparing to move forward with soon. Now, a trade report has confirmed the project was given the green light.

    According to Deadline and Variety, production on Flanagan’s Clayface film will get underway in early 2025. Though Flanagan wrote the script for the project, he will not direct it.

    Though Clayface will be produced by Matt Reeves‘ 6th & Idaho Productions, it is expected to be part of the main DCU continuity rather than Reeves’ more grounded and practical Batman Epic Crime Saga. The character is set to make his DCU debut soon in Creature Commandos.

    Flanagan‘s history with horror projects could mean Clayface will mix and match elements from various iterations of the character that have appeared in DC Comics over last 80+ years. With an official announcement reportedly imminent, perhaps Gunn will shed some light on the direction of the project.

    Sources: Deadline, Variety, YouTube

  • Marvel Studios Adds Another Key Character to the Cast of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

    Marvel Studios Adds Another Key Character to the Cast of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

    With Avengers: Doomsday slated to begin production in the UK in the first half of next year, the studio has begun locking up the talent that will make up what’s expected to be one of its most impressive casts. In a surprise move, Robert Downey Jr. was announced as the film’s lead, Victor Von Doom during Marvel’s Hall H presentation at SDCC ’24. A recent trade report revealed that Downey was set to be joined in the film by his four-time Avengers co-star Chris Evans though it wasn’t clear if a return as Captain America was in the cards. And now, another Avenger…and Captain America…has been added to the mix.

    According to Deadline, Anthony Mackie has joined the cast of Avengers: Doomsday.

    Mackie has been an MCU mainstay since debuting as Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier over a decade ago. After taking over as Captain America in the D+ streaming series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Mackie‘s Wilson is set to be front and center in next February’s Captain America: Brave New World.

    According to Deadline, the idea of both Mackie and Evans suiting up as Captains America seems unlikely; however, the characters recently shared the mantle in the pages of Marvel Comics with Sam Wilson working as the Symbol of Truth and Steve Rogers as the Sentinel of Liberty. Whether or not Marvel Studios would follow suit is debatable, especially when there are so many other options for Evans.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Confirmed to Reunite the MCU’s Two Biggest Stars

    ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Confirmed to Reunite the MCU’s Two Biggest Stars

    Over the past year, Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga has undergone major overhauls behind the scenes. While the planned endpoint remains fixed, the path to it has been greatly altered. Films and series have been reworked and reshot while others have been postponed and potentially abandoned to course correct in midflight. Avengers: Doomsday, the highest-profile project to undergo major changes, has become the center of controversy following the revelation that Robert Downey Jr. will star as Doctor Doom and that Anthony and Joe Russo will once again team up to direct the film.

    Originally developed as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios changed gears on the project following the firing of Jonathan Majors. Moving on from Kang meant not only replacing him with Doom but also scrapping the original plans entirely. With Doomsday expected to begin production next Spring ahead of its planned May 1, 2026 release, it seems as though the studio has begun locking in talent, including bringing back another of its biggest stars to share the screen with Downey.

    According to Deadline, Chris Evans has struck a deal with Marvel Studios to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Evans nor Marvel Studios has confirmed the news and the trade report indicated that the nature of Evans‘ role is currently unknown.

    Before appearing as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine, Evans‘ return to the MCU had always been expected despite the satisfying conclusion provided to Steve Rogers in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. In early 2021, Deadline reported that the star had struck a deal to return for a project or two, though it was never clear what those projects might be. One popular theory was that Evans would reprise the role of Captain America in a Nomad project but after years of being developed, we’ve heard that the studio has finally moved on from that particular piece. Though Evans admitted he was open to returning to the MCU, it wasn’t something he was in hurry to do.

    I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon. And ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life. I have a lot of other interests.

    -Chris Evans on his potential return to the MCU

    While it may be a bit sooner than he imagined, Evans‘ return in Avengers: Doomsday is sure to generate another round of significant interest in the project, especially given the uncertainty around the size and nature of his role. While it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that he would simply suit up as 616 Steve Rogers again, there are plenty of other options. Given the film’s importance in the overall narrative of the Multiverse Saga, Evans could just as well play an alternate dimension Steve Rogers. Should Marvel Studios be truly willing to push the envelope, Evans could join Downey as a villain of the piece by portraying a version of the HYDRA-influenced Captain introduced in Marvel Comics Secret Empire. Alternatively, he could be playing any number of non-Cap characters set in opposition to Doom, pitting his character against Downey’s again as was done to great success in Captain America: Civil War. For now, all options are on the table until further developments provide additional information.

    Source: Deadline

  • James Gunn Reveals What Will Set His ‘Superman’ Apart from Prior Efforts

    James Gunn Reveals What Will Set His ‘Superman’ Apart from Prior Efforts

    With Creature Commandos having made its debut on Max, the all-new DCU is officially underway. As DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn has said, however, the animated series is designed to be an appetizer, a way “for people to just take a little nibble [of the all-new DCU] and see what it tastes like.” In that metaphor, the main course becomes Superman, written and directed by Gunn, which is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

    To date, fans haven’t truly been able to get a good idea for the feel of the upcoming film but that’s all about to change with the debut of the film’s first teaser trailer expected before Christmas. Trailers for superhero films alwyas find themselves under intense scrutiny but it’s reasonable to assume that for a multitude of reasons, the first look at DC Studios’ Superman is facing a challenge worthy of the Man of Steel himself. With so many live-action iterations of the character already having made their way to screens big and small, everyone has a favorite Superman which means David Corenswet‘s version of Kal-El will be compared to all of them.

    To that end, Gunn, who has loved Superman since seeing Richard Donner‘s 1978 film in theaters, has smartly taken measures to set Corenswet’s Kal-El apart from those that came before him. In an interview with Josh Horowitz, Gunn has explained that the biggest difference is that his inspiration for the character came from DC Comics’ Silver Age, in which Superman was a nigh invulnerable powerhouse.

    “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the big science fiction Silver Age Superman aspects that we have in our movie,” said Gunn. “We’ve never seen…you’ll see when the movie comes out, but we’ve never seen this specific part of Superman’s life.” It’s not entirely clear to what Gunn is referring in the second quote, however, the Silver Age Superman came to Earth as an older child complete with memories of Krypton and began a superhero career as Superboy during his time in Smallville making him a known quantity much earlier than Henry Cavill’s Snyderverse version.

    Whatever it is Gunn has planned for Superman, it’s clear that it will involve his comic book archenemy antagonizing him in a much different way than has been shown onscreen so far.

    “I don’t think we’ve ever seen the Lex that [Nicolas Hoult] is,” explained Gunn.”Nic is imposing. You go, ‘Oh, fuck, poor Superman.’ That’s the thing we never see, not in film,” Gunn added. And, of course, he is not wrong. While Gene Hackman‘s Luthor may well be iconic, he was nowhere near as fully developed as many iterations of Lex have been in the comics, which seem to be serving as a waypoint for Hoult’s Luthor.

    “Sometimes in the comics you go, ‘Oh, Superman is fucked because Lex is so smart and so good at what he’s doing’,” said Gunn, ” but in the movies, you’re going, ‘Lex is about to get fucked.’” From what we’ve seen from set photos, it does indeed seem that Luthor will gain a significant advantage over Kal-El in Superman.

    Source: YouTube

  • Moon Knight Rumored Set to Return for a Trio of Upcoming Marvel Studios Projects

    Moon Knight Rumored Set to Return for a Trio of Upcoming Marvel Studios Projects

    From the time the first trailer for Marvel Studios Moon Knight debuted to a whooping 75 million views in its first 24 hours online, it was clear that the ambitious Oscar Isaac-les streaming series was going to make a major splash. Indeed, when its six-episode run was finished, it was one of the studio’s most-watched series with its finale being its most-watched episode, bucking a trend most TV series battle. However, over two years later, none of Isacc’s characters have made their way back into a Marvel Studios project. Despite obvious interest from the creative team, Isaac and the fans, a second season doesn’t seem to be in the cards just yet.

    Of course, the lack of movement on Season 2 of Moon Knight doesn’t mean Isaac won’t suit back up. Director Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was rumored to feature the character, along with Hulk, She-Hulk and Shang-Chi as members of a team of New Avengers that set out to take on the titular villain; however, with Marvel going back to the drawing board for Avengers 5, Moon Knight’s future remains uncertain…or does it?

    moon knight costume

    According to a new tidbit shared by frequent social media rumor monger My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios may have outlined Moon Knight’s next steps in the Multiverse Saga. Should the information prove accurate, Isaac will find himself a busy man over the next few years as the rumor has him potentially suiting back up for both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, MTTSH reports that Moon Knight is also expected to be a part of the team of heroes who assemble to tackle supernatural threats in Midnight Sons, a film which has not yet been confirmed to be in development by the studio but around which quite a bit of talk has buzz has been generated over the last year.

    Both Avengers films are expected to sport massive character rosters and Isaac is among the biggest stars in Marvel Studios’ impressive stable, so one or both of the films does feel like a safe place to see the return of not only Moon Knight but other Multiverse Saga heroes who have been hiatus such as She-Hulk and Shang-Chi. In the case of Midnight Sons, Loonie Moonie’s inclusion on the team is all but a sure thing…if the project ever makes its way to theaters.

  • We Have a Hulk: Marvel Studios Reportedly Developing a Potentially Epic Project for the Jade Giant

    We Have a Hulk: Marvel Studios Reportedly Developing a Potentially Epic Project for the Jade Giant

    In 2008, The Incredible Hulk followed Iron Man into theaters in the earliest days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For years, fans debated if the film, which was distributed by Universal, was truly part of the MCU. Fortunately, those concerns were cast aside as, slowly but surely, other characters from the film found their way back into other stories. Like Bruce Banner, Thunderbolt Ross, Abomination, and soon, Betty Ross and Samuel Sterns, all have found further roles to play but because of complicated rights issues, they’re always roles in someone else’s stories. However, a new rumor points toward Marvel Studios having found a way to circumvent those issues to an extent while giving the people exactly what they want.

    According to scooper My Time To Shine Hello, perhaps inspired by the brief tease of a battle between the two in Deadpool & Wolverine, the Marvel Parliament has begun development on a Wolverine vs. Hulk film.

    If the rumor pans out, it’s both a bold and nimble navigation of the rights issues that have forced Hulk’s ongoing arc in the MCU to be told over the course of several films on which he was a supporting character. With Hugh Jackman believed to be staying on as Wolverine for the foreseeable future, the Parliament may have devised a way to make Hulk the co-lead/antagonist of a “solo Wolverine film.” It may be a bit disingenuous for Marvel to set Hulk up as the co-lead of a Wolverine film that will be known as Wolverine vs. Hulk no matter what it’s title is…but hey, that’s showbusiness.

    Of course, this isn’t the first time rumors of a Hulk project have made the rounds. After legitimate reports of a World War Hulk circulated for years, it’s begun to look like the meat of that project may have been butchered up and tossed into other projects. And even if the rumor of a Hulk vs. Wolverine project being in development at Marvel Studios is true, it’s probably fairly important to keep in mind that Marvel Parliament member Brad Winderbaum recently made it clear that the studio is developing more projects than they’ll ever produce. So while the idea of seeing the conclusion of that brief tease in Deadpool & Wolverine might have you excited, it’s best not to hold your breath. Don’t go penciling this one into an open spot just yet.