Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • ‘Peacemaker’s John Cena On Rejections for ‘Shazam’ and ‘Deadpool 2’

    ‘Peacemaker’s John Cena On Rejections for ‘Shazam’ and ‘Deadpool 2’

    John Cena is living the life as the new superhero addition to the DCEU, Peacemaker – well, probably more of an anti-hero to be fair – and is proud to lead his own series after his debut in The Suicide Squad. Director James Gunn found the perfect role for him by taking a satirical look at the classic Charleton character. As his series has just premiered, Cena has been busy with interviews. During his recording with the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, he revealed that he’s been chasing superhero roles for some time, but was met with rejections left and right. He was passed on by projects like Deadpool 2‘s Cable, and even the title role for Shazam!.

    I can’t tell you how many superhero roles I’ve been rejected for. Shazam is certainly one. There was a brief try at the Deadpool universe, rejection. Shazam! was Dikembe Mutumbo. There was a few in the Marvel universe, rejected.

    John Cena

    It’s certainly a competitive market out there, as many actors are trying to nab that role for their chance to either bring a personal favorite hero to life or get their foot in the door. Cena is a household name for many and has starred in quite a few films and projects. So, even if it took some time, the wait has paid off for him to not only join a superhero project but also to find a role he can fully embrace. The fact he still loves wearing the costume to every event is a testament of his commitment.

    Source: Spotify via ComicBook

  • Letitia Wright Returns to Film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Letitia Wright Returns to Film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    After almost five months, as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took an extended break for the holidays, its leading star has returned. Letitia Wright returns to the set of the Marvel Studios sequel months after her serious injury. At first, it seemed like she only had a minor injury but later turned out to be a fractured shoulder and a concussion with severe side effects. So, it’s no wonder that production was forced to take an extended break, as they wait for her to recover.

    A spokesperson for the star has told the BBC that Wright has now returned to the production in order to complete the film, which is scheduled for release in November of this year. Her character Shuri is set to be a lead character for the film which will focus on Wakanda and its place in the world amidst pressure from the outside after the events of the first entry. With Spider-Man: No Way Home wrapping production at the end of March 2021 for a December release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever should have plenty of time now that it has resumed production, as they are probably catching up with scenes that involve Wright.

    Source: BBC

  • Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Tease the Court of Owls and Vicky Vale

    Latest ‘Batgirl’ Set Photos Tease the Court of Owls and Vicky Vale

    The Batgirl set photos have been a smorgasbord filled with Easter eggs or hints of what we can expect from the upcoming HBO Max film. A mural gave us our first look at a potential appearance of Robin, as it even sparked rumors about a potential Nightwing spinoff. Yet, the latest set photos have added some more interesting references to the original 1989 Batman and one of Batman’s most iconic foes. Let’s start with the latter, as @BatgirlFilm has noticed a magazine that very openly discusses the usually secretive society known as the Court of Owls.

    It’s weird seeing them so openly discussed on the cover of the fictional Gotham Tattler. So, either Michael Keaton‘s Batman faced off against them in the past and they’ve been exposed as a result, or they took a very different approach with their mythology as part of his rogue’s gallery. Speaking of Keaton, a different set photo including another magazine cover includes the name of Vicki Vale, who was played by Kim Basinger back in 1989.

    There’s no word that we might actually see Vicky Vale in the film, but it’s great that they are also including references to the original 1989 project. We saw that the film#s take on Robin is quite different from how the original films introduced the character, but Keaton also wasn’t invovled once that character was included. So, they have enough wiggle room to recreate specific elements while still paying tribute to others from the original Tim Burton films.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter (Vale)

  • RUMOR: Ethan Kai May Be Playing Jason Bard in ‘Batgirl’

    RUMOR: Ethan Kai May Be Playing Jason Bard in ‘Batgirl’

    Batgirl recently started production over in Glasgow. In the past few days, we’ve gotten quite a few set photos that offered us a glimpse into the HBO Max film’s take on Gotham City. They, however, aren’t the only news we’ve gotten recently, as just today the film added Corey Johnson, Ethan Kai, and Rebecca Front to its cast. No details on their roles were revealed as plot details for the film are still under wraps, but it seems we may have a clue who Kai could be playing in the film.

    Many were hoping that we may finally have our Dick Grayson, as recent rumors have pointed to the first Robin making an appearance. Yet it turns out Kai may be playing a very different character. Some new set photos have surfaced that may hint at the actor playing Jason Bard, a GCPD cop and love interest to Barbara Gordon. Leslie Grace and Ethan Kai are seen on set holding hands during filming, which hints at a romantic relationship between their characters.

    The proof that may seal the deal on this is another set photo of a trailer belonging to a character only listed as “Jason.” As it seems quite unlikely Jason Todd would be popping up in this film, it seems like the most likely scenario is that this trailer belongs to the actor who could be playing Jason Bard, which looks to be Ethan Kai.

    For those unfamiliar with Jason Bard, he isn’t a huge character but he is an ally of Batgirl and Batman. He was a man fueled by the death of his mother, who was murdered at the hands of his abusive father. Eventually, he would become a cop and join the GCPD to avenger his mother’s death, where he would meet Barbara Gordon and would often team up with her alter ego without a clue who she was. While this remains unconfirmed, it seems to be a possible outcome for Kai’s character. It seems fans may just have to wait a bit longer to see if Dick Grayson pops up in Batgirl.

    Source: Twitter, Alamy,

  • James Wan Shares ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Set Photo as Production Wraps

    James Wan Shares ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Set Photo as Production Wraps

    James Wan has been quite busy filming the second entry of the Aquaman franchise starring Jason Momoa titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. While actively sharing when the production started some months ago, the director also took to his personal Instagram account to announce that they’ve finished work on the upcoming DC sequel that is set to premiere this December. In the picture, it features him, Momoa, and a returning Patrick Wilson celebrating the production coming to an end.

    His thank-you note highlights that 95% of the film was shot in the United Kingdom, and the rest through Hawaii and Los Angeles. It’s always a sweet move by directors to give their thanks to the teams that help bring these projects to life, especially with how many people are involved with the bid-budget projects. The joke about them being wet a lot is a cute reference to how many scenes are filmed underwater.

    Source: Instagram

  • UPDATE: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson Talks Valkyrie’s Comic Powers

    UPDATE: ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Tessa Thompson Talks Valkyrie’s Comic Powers

    UPDATE: It turns out that the powers Tessa Thompson was describing in her interview with W Magazine weren’t for the Thor: Love and Thunder version of her character, but rather the comics. In an Instagram story, she offers some insight into what she was discussing in the interview and simply shares her excitement of the character’s comic abilities and backstory.

    In talking about Valkyrie to W Mag, I was talking generally about powers that are canon and that I loved in reading the comics and not Thor: Love and Thunder. I shan’t be a home for spoilers.

    Tessa Thompson

    Source: Instagram via ScreenRant

    There are quite a few exciting projects heading our way in 2022. Of course, all eyes are on May’s release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as it’ll continue what was set up in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, Thor: Love and Thunder have been slowly teasing the new designs of Taika Waititi‘s next MCU entry which promise an even crazier fourth entry in the franchise. It’ll also see the return of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie who’ll have a major role in the story. In a new interview with WMagazine, she reveals that her character might have a new and very powerful ability in the film:

    She has weird skills, to be honest. She can sense when someone is close to death, and she takes them into Valhalla, which is essentially the afterlife. She can revive people. But when she revives people, sometimes she ends up in their body. It’s a weird thing. It can be quite erotic. And then she has superhuman strength and is essentially God.

    Tessa Thompson

    That’s a curious ability that hasn’t truly been hinted at in Thor: Ragnarok. It’s an ability that fits what the Valkyries do in Norse mythology, but this ability might also be our first hint that they are staying true to Jane Foster’s transformation into the Mighty Thor. In the comics, she is fighting cancer before she gains the abilities.

    So, Valkyrie might be the one to figure out her real identity – if it’s a secret, to begin with – and connect the dots. Her being able to revive someone does make you wonder if someone might end up dying in the film only for her to bring them back. It opens some interesting questions about the upcoming fourth entry of the Thor franchise.

    Source: WMagazine

  • ‘What If…?’s Composer Laura Karpman Joins ‘The Marvels’

    ‘What If…?’s Composer Laura Karpman Joins ‘The Marvels’

    It looks like The Marvels has found its composer in Marvel Studios veteran Laura Karpman, who has previously worked on What If..? and is also well-known for her work on the Lovecraft Country HBO seires. She’s the second female composer for one of their films following the first Captain Marvel film’s Pinar Torprak, who sadly isn’t returning the project. Yet, as the franchise is moving away from its singular focus on Carol Danvers, it makes sense to give it a new audio identity. Karpman shared her excitement for joining the project:

    I am thrilled to be going on this wild adventure with Nia DaCosta and Carol Danvers and am really looking forward to the collaboration.

    Laura Karpman

    We still don’t know a lot about the sequel’s storyline, especially how it might tie into Secret Invasion on Disney+. Either they’ll explore the Skrull invasion that leads into the series, or they could focus on the Kree-Skrull War instead that becomes a catalyst for that storyline. WandaVision‘s Megan McDonnell wrote the screenplay, which is a promising hint at a great twist as the story sees Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau join to fight a common threat.

    Source: Variety

  • Corey Johnson, Ethan Kai, and Rebecca Front Join Leslie Grace’s ‘Batgirl’

    Corey Johnson, Ethan Kai, and Rebecca Front Join Leslie Grace’s ‘Batgirl’

    The HBO Max film Batgirl has just recently started production in Glasglow, as we’ve already gotten a few glimpses from the Easter egg-filled set of the production. Leslie Grace has also already been sighted on the film’s set and as more actors may make get sighted, more castings have found their way online. So far, we only know about Brendan Fraser, J.K. Simmons, and Michael Keaton joining the project. Now, Deadline has shared a new trio of actors that will have a role in the project.

    Rebecca Front, Corey Johnson, and Ethan Kai have officially joined the HBO Max film. Front recently appeared in Ryan Reynolds‘ film Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Kai has appeared on the British soap opera Emmerdale, but also was featured on the popular Killing Eve series. Johnson mostly had minor supporting roles in various shows and is currently set to appear in Morbius. There are no details of who they are playing, but they may have minor roles in the story.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Wrapped Production on Reshoots

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Wrapped Production on Reshoots

    Some time ago, we learned that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness started another round of additional photography to reshoot some elements of the film. They were described as “extensive” but outside of rumors that it may be to add some more cameos and shoot sequences that weren’t possible due to COVID. There were hints they were nearing an end back in December, but it turns out the reshoots were still ongoing uup until recently.

    In a new profile by Deadline they’ve revealed that the reshoots ended this weekend, which means they’ve now fully entered the post-production process. With the film still eyeing its May release, there’s enough time for them to focus on development. Of course, the process isn’t new for Marvel Studios or any production company in the industry nowadays, which directors have praised due to it ensuring they can make necessary tweaks.

    It’ll be interesting to see how much Multiverse of Madness added as a result of these reshoots. There were concerns that more cameos could take away from the film’s central storyline, but Spider-Man: No Way Home proved that it is possible to strike a good balance with a central story and crowd-pleasing appearances. Of course with a story that takes place in the multiverse, it would be a shame not to embrace those kinds of shenanigans.

    Source: Deadline via ComicBook

  • Marvel Studios Officially Reveals Where ‘Eternals’ Fits on the Sacred Timeline

    Marvel Studios Officially Reveals Where ‘Eternals’ Fits on the Sacred Timeline

    Marvel Studios Eternals made its streaming debut today on Disney Plus and with the release came an update to the MCU’s chronological viewing order. While the film made it clear that the events set in the “present day” timeline took place after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the update to the app has now placed it more precisely.

    It’s now clear that Eternals lands between the events of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings and the Christmas-centric Hawkeye. Given that the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home were shown to take place just before and during Hawkeye, it’s probably safe to assume that Eternals also took place before the big events of No Way Home as well. Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes before references to Eternals make their way into Phase 4 and 5 projects; given that a Celestial was frozen as he broke free from the Earth’s core and another appeared in the sky, it’s only a matter of time before we start hearing about those events in other projects.

    Eternals is now streaming on Disney Plus in both widescreen and IMAX enhanced formats.