Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Leslie Grace on Working With Michael Keaton and J.K. Simmons in ‘Batgirl’

    Leslie Grace on Working With Michael Keaton and J.K. Simmons in ‘Batgirl’

    The Flash is set to see the return of Michael Keaton into one of his most iconic roles, reprising Batman for the first time since Batman: Returns. For those that grew up with his version of the character, he is the Batman they grew up with. In Batgirl, he’ll also be joined by J.K. Simmons, reprising his Justice League role as Commissioner Gordon in what seems to be a new universe where they both co-exist.

    The upcoming HBO Max film will see Leslie Grace take on the role of Barbara Gordon, as she becomes Gotham’s newest vigilante all on her own. Variety recently chatted with Grace in which she dished out how exciting it was to work with such legendary actors.

    It was wild for everyone. Our directors were like two little kids. They’re legit Batman nerds openly. He’s Batman, man! I couldn’t even believe that I was sharing space with Batman. I want to say more, but I can’t. It was insane, surreal, incredible. It was the stuff of dreams really. It was insane, surreal, incredible. It was the stuff of dreams really. And J.K. Simmons playing my dad. That’s my pop. I was so nervous because all I could hear in my head was his voice in “Whiplash.” Like what would he do and say if I didn’t get something right?. then we became the best of friends. And he just told me all his great stories of starting out and being a waiter and working in a pizza shop and trying to be an actor and doing theater.

    Leslie Grace

    Working with such influential actors seems incredibly intimidating but it’s nice to see they were quite welcoming to Grace as she is a relative newcomer to acting. Batgirl currently has no set release date but had already wrapped filming.

    Source: Variety

  • Susan Sarandon Joins ‘Blue Beetle’ As Main Villain

    Susan Sarandon Joins ‘Blue Beetle’ As Main Villain

    One of the most exciting upcoming film’s set within the DC Extended Universe is Blue Beetle. The film will see the debut of Xolo Mariduena as Jaime Reyes in Blue Beetle. The film will follow Mariduena as a teen superhero who comes into possession of a alien scarab that attaches itself to his back and enables him the abhility to summon an exoskeleton suit and array of weapons. Plot details on the film are scarce, but it seems the project has found a new face for its foe.

    A new report from The Wrap states that Susan Sarandon is set to join the cast of Blue Beetle in the role of Victoria Kord, an original character created for the film. She will be the main antagonist alongside Raoul Max Trujillo who is set to play the villain Carapax The Indestructible Man.

    Just a few weeks back it was announced that Sharon Stone had joined the film in the very same role Sarandon now has. Stone was initially in talks for the role, but it seems things did not work out.

    The film will be directed by Angel Manuel Soto with a script from Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. Mariduena will star alongside George Lopez, Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine, Elpidia Carillo, Adrianna Barraza and Damián Alcázar.

    Production on Blue Beetle is set to kick-off sometime this month with a release date currently set for Aug. 18th, 2023.

    SOURCE: The Wrap

  • DC Searching For its Own Feige After Discovery Merger

    DC Searching For its Own Feige After Discovery Merger

    Since Man of Steel, the DC Extended Universe has been trying to build a universe around some of its most beloved characters. Certain issues have seen aspects of the DCEU cast astray, resulting in some creative roadblocks that have resulted in certain characters seemingly getting lost along the road. The recent Discovery merger has seen new heads at the combined company eager to overhaul the DC Cinematic Universe.

    A new report from Variety suggests that, following ther Warner Bros Discovery merger, top leadership at the newly formed company is looking to overhaul the DC Entertainment branch. David Zaslav and company are reportedly looking for someone with a business background and less of a creative mind to maintain the many branches of DC Entertainment. The studio wants the films to be much more aligned, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The new leadership is unhappy with how many important characters within the DCEU, such as Superman, have been shelved with no plans to return in the future. The studio also believes that more films like Joker should be explored.

    This decision could impact future development plans for projects as the studio attempts to rework and better streamline the DC Cinematic Universe. They also believe that DC must be more present in the gaming industry, as a way to push the brand to its fullest potential. Projects over the last couple of years have been significantly improving under the leadership of Walter Hamada, who took over following Geoff Johns and Jon Begs stepped down. Hamada is still under contract with Warner Brothers Discovery to lead DC films until 2023, and could play a vital role in what Zaslav aims to do with the future of DC.

    Fans have been vocal about their distaste for the absence of many of their favorite characters within the film universe and worried about what the Justice League may look like in future appearences. Hopefully, whatever Zaslav and company have in store for the future of DC is able to please both sides and unite the fanbase.

    SOURCE: Variety

  • Issa Rae and Michael Cera Join the Growing Cast of ‘Barbie’

    Issa Rae and Michael Cera Join the Growing Cast of ‘Barbie’

    Another day, another Barbie casting announcement.

    Issa Rae (Insecure) and Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) are set to join the cast of the forthcoming Barbie movie. The news comes courtesy of People. The film, which stars Margot Robbie in the titular role, has been on a casting streak as of late. On Monday, it was revealed that Will Ferrell and Emma Mackey, who is considered Robbie’s doppelganger by fans, had joined the cast. They join the previously announced Ryan Gosling, who will portray Ken, as well as America Ferrera, Simu Liu, and Kate McKinnon.

    Unsurprisingly, details as to who Rae and Cera are playing are being kept under wraps, much like many details regarding the film.

    A Barbie film has been in development for a few years now, with Amy Schumer originally set to star in a live-action take for Sony. That project, of course, fell apart and now Warner Bros. is developing what is being described as “something totally different” by star and producer, Robbie. In an interview last year, Robbie briefly talked about the film and how they intend to subvert expectations. “Whatever you’re thinking, we’re going to give you something totally different — the thing you didn’t know you wanted.”

    Production on the film is currently underway in the U.K. Greta Gerwig is directing Barbie from a script she co-wrote alongside partner Noah Baumbach. While no release date has been announced, the film is expected to hit theaters sometime next year.

    Source: People.

  • Levi Miller Joins Cast of Sony’s ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Levi Miller Joins Cast of Sony’s ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Production on Kraven the Hunter, Sony’s follow-up to the disappointing performance of Morbius, has been underway for some time now in the U.K., but the cast is still rounding into shape. According to a trade report, the latest addition is Levi Miller, a 19-year old Australian actor best known for playing Peter Pan in WB’s 2015 Pan.

    Directed by J.C. Chandor, the film will star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff, one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes. The film is not expected to feature Spider-Man. Instead, it will feature Kravinoff’s half-brother, Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka the Chameleon (another one of Spidey’s great foes), played by Fred Hechinger, and their father, played by Russell Crowe.

    Kraven the Hunter will join Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage and the aforementioned Morbius in Sony’s growing universe of films created around some of Spider-Man’s greatest foes, but without Spider-Man. The film is set to release in January of 2023.

  • Paul Bettany Responds to ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Rumors

    Paul Bettany Responds to ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Rumors

    Actor Paul Bettany has been around as long as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has existed. Initially the voice of Tony Stark’s A.I. J.A.R.V.I.S, Bettany debuted as Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Most recently, we saw Bettany’s Vision in WandaVision, and the action ended the series as White Vision and he flew off to an unknown location.

    With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness quickly approaching, fans wants answers now more than ever on who exactly will make surprise appearances in the film. With Vision’s connection to Wanda—who will play a major role as the Scarlet Witch in the film—it is natural that some wonder if some version of Vision, perhaps White Vision, will show up. In an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Steven Colbert asked Bettany directly whether White Vision would appear in the Doctor Strange sequel. The actor responded:

    This is a really great question. And, again, I said I was going to be entirely honest with you. You’re asking if… ‘Am I in Doctor Strange?’… Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. I don’t know. Am I? What do you think?… I can neither confirm nor deny rumors that I am in said and aforementioned Doctor Strange.

    Paul Bettany

    It is only expected that MCU actors play coy about potential or rumored future appearances in Marvel Studios projects. Bettany may simply be teasing fans and taking advantage of all the surprise cameo fervor that has been going around for Multiverse of Madness. Still, plenty will read into the fact that he does say “yes” at some points in his answer, even if it is always followed by “no.”

    Audiences will find out if Bettany or White Vision makes an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when the film is released on May 6, 2022.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Eternals’ Officially Recognized For Authentic Representation of Disability

    ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Eternals’ Officially Recognized For Authentic Representation of Disability

    Marvel Studios continues to earn accolades for its work, and the latest honor bestowed on the company is pretty unique. Hawkeye, the hit Disney+ series which aired over the holiday season, and Eternals, the blockbuster film from Chloé Zhao, have been given the Seal of Authentic Representation from the Ruderman Family Foundation. The award is intended to advocate for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in society. It is only given out to movies and television shows that feature actors with disabilities in roles with at least five lines of dialogue. Other projects included in this year’s recipients are Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building and HBO Max’s And Just Like That, which also had deaf characters in major roles.

    Eternals star Lauren Ridloff, who portrayed the lovable speedster Makkari, became the MCU’s first deaf superhero last November. She quickly became a fan favorite from the film, and it’s likely she’s yet to make her last appearance in the franchise. Casting director Sarah Finn released a statement on the matter:

    Not only was [Ridloff] overly qualified to join an already high-level cast, she elevated the ensemble with her unique spirit, talents and charisma. It’s been a privilege getting to know her through the process and seeing what a real-life hero she has become to so many.

    Sarah Finn

    Hawkeye introduced the world to Alaqua Cox, who brought the deaf assassin Echo to life to critical praise. The actress, who is also an amputee, is set to reprise her role in her own solo series on Disney+. Finn continued:

    Alaqua Cox’s character, Maya Lopez/Echo, is based off an existing Marvel character who is deaf and Native American. In casting the role, we wanted to celebrate and honor both Deaf and Native American cultures. We couldn’t be more delighted by Alaqua Cox’s performance. She is phenomenal and part of a new culture in film and television, where authentic representation not only matters but is paramount to the kind of stories we want to tell and how we shape them.

    Sarah Finn

    Ruderman Foundation president Jay Ruderman also spoke highly of this year’s recipients, finishing things off by saying:

    …These practices are increasingly becoming the norm in Hollywood, with the authentic casting of Lauren Ridloff in Eternals and Alaqua Cox in Hawkeye marking a particularly high-profile and momentous milestone for Marvel and the entire entertainment industry. Each time a casting director or other executive makes such a decision, it facilitates the industry’s broader journey towards fulfilling its full potential as a beacon of all forms of diversity and social justice.

    Jay Ruderman

    Marvel Studios has been dedicated to ensuring that everyone can see themselves reflected on the silver screen and even on their television. As such, they’ve started to push for more diversity in their offerings and have used their unique position as one of the biggest blockbuster studios to consistently draw in audiences with each film.

    Source: THR

  • Sandra Bullock Tells Marvel to Cast Daniel Radcliffe as Wolverine

    Sandra Bullock Tells Marvel to Cast Daniel Radcliffe as Wolverine

    When it comes to Wolverine, it often feels like many actors have been rumored to take on the iconic character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One actor that is commonly mentioned, however, is none other than Harry Potter actor, Daniel Radcliffe. In the past, Radcliffe has suggested he’s never heard the rumors regarding him being in contention for the role. Still, the actor didn’t seem against the rumors. “I don’t see myself, I don’t see them going from Hugh Jackman to me. But who knows? Prove me wrong, Marvel.”

    Now, his The Lost City co-star Sandra Bullock is ready for Marvel to cast him in the role. In a recent interview with It’s Gone Viral to promote The Lost City, the duo talked about Radcliffe’s long-rumored past with the role. As Radcliffe explains he’s been dealing with the rumors for quite a few years now. “Mate, that’s been happening to me semi-annually for the last three years.”

    This led to Bullock asking why he simply didn’t just take on the role of Wolverine. Per the actor, however, he still hasn’t been approached by Marvel Studios or anyone associated with the studio regarding any Wolverine casting. Bullock then threw her support behind Radcliffe getting the role, urging Marvel to get on it already. “Wolverine people, can you please just f***ing cast him. Just do it. Stop tiptoeing around and having people ask at press junkets. Just cast the man.”

    As it stands, it is unknown when Wolverine will finally appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, until someone is cast, it seems likely Radcliffe will have to endure the Wolverine rumors for a bit longer.

    Source: It’s Gone Viral.

  • Salma Hayek Takes Over as Thandiwe Newton Exits ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’

    Salma Hayek Takes Over as Thandiwe Newton Exits ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’

    There’s been a shift with the upcoming Magic Mike sequel, as Deadline has just reported that Channing Tatum‘s latest entry for HBO Max will see the addition of Salma Hayek. She will replace Thandiwe Newton who had to leave the project due to personal reasons. A public statement was done by Warner Bros. spokesperson on her exit.

    Thandiwe Newton has made the difficult decision to step away from the production of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance to deal with family matters.

    The upcoming HBO Ma film has been currently in production in London with Steven Soderbergh returning in the director’s chair after taking on the first film. It’ll be based on a script by Reid Carolyn. Director of the 2015 sequel Magic Mike XXL, Gregory Jacobs, is also on board but this time in a producing role alongside Nick Wechsler and Peter Kiernan.

    The films were quite the box office success and even managed to spawn a stage show simply titled Magic Mike Live. It’s unclear if the upcoming film will take any inspiration from it, as the story still remains tightly under wraps. It also seems like this will be the final entry in the franchise, especially with Last Dance being quite prominent in the title. So, we’ll see how it’ll bring the story together.

    Source: Deadline

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Reed’s Point’ Was Originally Part of the ‘Very Frightening Tales’ Anthology

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Reed’s Point’ Was Originally Part of the ‘Very Frightening Tales’ Anthology

    Horror movies remain all the rage for any production no matter the budget. Reed’s Point joins the list of countless horror films, as it explores the legend surrounding the mysterious Jersey Devil and a mysterious accident. Two friends decide to return to the scene of the crime to uncover what truly happened that day and find their missing friend Kesley.

    We got a chance to sit down with actress Madison Ekstrand, who plays the character of Kelsey in the film, to talk about her experience with the project, especially as she is also working with director Dale Fabrigar on his upcoming anthology series Very Frightening Tales. In the interview, she revealed that Reed’s Point was originally part of that series before becoming its own feature film.

    I think Reed’s Point was originally going to be part of Very Frightening Tales, but the story was just too good to put into a short film. So, they wanted it to be a feature film.

    Madison Ekstrand

    She also revealed that they’ve actually started work on the anthology series of shorts before they tackled the feature film. Ekstrand offered a little insight into how different the experience was working on the film in comparison to the

    I actually did the TV series and then I hopped into the feature film. It was different because in the little shorts I did, you’re more working with the director. It was me and maybe two other cast members. So, you got all this time with the director. But with Reed’s Point, you have to worry about the other people.

    Madison Ekstrand

    It certainly sounds like jumping from the smaller format into a full feature film was a different experience. She shared her enthusiasm for potentially working with director Fabrigar again, and perhaps there are other shorts that have the potential of growing into a larger production. You can read our review of Reed’s Point right here if you are interested to get our thoughts on the film.