Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Lee Sung Jin Reveals What Media Fuels His ‘X-Men’ Vision

    Lee Sung Jin Reveals What Media Fuels His ‘X-Men’ Vision

    The Mutant Saga just secured a powerhouse creative roster that should have every Marvel fan breathing a sigh of relief. In a major interview with Men’s Health, Lee Sung Jin (the Emmy-winning creator of Beef) officially confirmed he is deep in the “writing trenches” for Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot, have some insight into the studio’s vision for the project and what X-Men content has shaped his love for the mutant heroes and villains.

    Director Jake Schreier previously worked with both Lee and co-writer Joanna Calo on Thunderbolts* and Beef. This shorthand allows them to tackle the “ideology and interpersonal drama” of the X-Men with a level of grit and realism rarely seen in blockbusters.

    What I’m excited about with Jake’s vision for the X-Men—and [Marvel president Kevin Feige and co-president Lou D’Esposito] are fully aligned with his vision—is that he wants to get back to focusing on the characters first. These are amazing characters with very rich backstories full of so much emotion. There are so many intra-team dynamics and relationships. There’s soapy stuff. And sure, there are political themes baked into the DNA of X-Men too, and those are evergreen, but we want to get back to character-first storytelling.

    -Lee Sung Jin

    Jin’s comments signal a massive tonal shift for the franchise. Rather than focusing on multiversal cameos or cosmic threats, the Beef creator is aiming for the heart of what made the original Chris Claremont comics a cultural phenomenon.

    Lee emphasized that Schreier’s vision is to lean into the “soapy” interpersonal dynamics. “These are amazing characters with very rich backstories full of so much emotion,” Lee told Men’s Health.

    A lifelong fan, Lee revealed he grew up on the 90s animated series and “devoured” X-Men ’97. He’s bringing that deep-rooted love for the “found family” aspect of the team to the script.

    The writing process is reportedly a hands-on, daily collaboration between Lee, Calo, Schreier, Kevin Feige, and Lou D’Esposito. Lee described the sessions as “invigorating,” with the team “in the lab every day” to perfect the draft.

    While the immediate focus is on a single great movie, Schreier and Feige have confirmed they are already mapping out sequels and spin-offs. The goal seems to be  to move away from the villain-of-the-week model and toward a long-term ideological war narrative… something that the X-Men are well-suited to handle.

    Source: Men’s Health

  • A Glorious Twilight — Kenneth Branagh Pitches ‘Logan’-Style Finale for ‘Thor 5’

    A Glorious Twilight — Kenneth Branagh Pitches ‘Logan’-Style Finale for ‘Thor 5’

    The God of Thunder might finally be heading for his sunset. In a series of recent interviews, Kenneth Branagh, the man who originally brought Asgard to the big screen in 2011, officially threw his name into the ring for a return to the Thor franchise.

    Speaking with Business Insider and Variety, the Oscar-winning filmmaker revealed that while he turned down The Dark World to “smell the roses,” he has never stopped thinking about where Thor’s journey should end. Branagh’s vision for a potential Thor 5 is a drastic tonal pivot, describing his pitch as being “more in the territory” of James Mangold’s Logan.

    …part of me would love to finish my relationship with that character. I’d always wanted to do more and indeed had a couple of ideas, more in the territory of James Mangold‘s brilliant Logan. I would love to see Chris Hemsworth and the others have their own individual final story that takes Thor into a glorious twilight.

    -Kenneth Branagh

    With Chris Hemsworth recently teasing life beyond the Multiverse Saga for the Odinson, perhaps the time has come for him to reunite with Branagh and send the God of Thunder out with a bang.

  • James Gunn Explains Why One of DC Studios’ Original Gods and Monsters Projects Won’t Be Made Anytime Soon

    James Gunn Explains Why One of DC Studios’ Original Gods and Monsters Projects Won’t Be Made Anytime Soon

    When DC Studios’ co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran rolled out the initial slate for their new company, The Authority was one of a few non-traditional, non-household projects that caught fans’ attention.

    Through Matthew Vaughn was reported to be attached to the project, it never gained enough traction at the studio and was eventually discarded. Now, Gunn has taken to social media so address one particular rumor about The Authority and why it never made it to the screen.

    “I would have never had time to do this, and although I know this is a popular theory online, I never had an intention of writing or directing The Authority,” Gunn revealed on Threads. “The script wasn’t quite there, but more importantly, it didn’t work in terms of the larger DCU, both in terms of the story and practical concerns. Maybe someday. Not soon.”

    As usual, Gunn’s very matter-of-fact approach to the explanation of why the project was shelved leaves little room for further questioning. As intriguing an idea as it was, The Authority was perhaps too big of an idea to bring to the DCU in its current state.

  • ‘Clayface’ Trailer Reveals a Terrifying Body Horror Vision for the DCU

    Look fear in the face—or what’s left of it. DC Studios has officially dropped the first trailer for Clayface, and it is a stark departure from the traditional superhero aesthetic.

    Written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil), the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose face is destroyed in a brutal attack. The footage shows Hagen in a hospital bed, bandaged and bloody, before shifting into The Fly territory as his cells begin to liquefy. We get a shadowy glimpse of Hagen transforming his arm into a spiked mace, but the horror remains grounded in the tragedy of his lost identity.

    This is a full-blown body horror movie that just so happens to me set in the DCU. The trailer concludes with Hagen in a bathtub literally wiping his own face away with his hand. If you want the dark, tragic side of Gotham without the Bat-Signal, this is your movie.

  • First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    First ‘Man of Tomorrow’ Set Photo Reveals Logo, Teases Classic Luthor/Superman Battle

    Production has begun on DC Studios Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, and director James Gunn has wasted no time in teasing the film’s core dynamic and revealing a sneaky look at the film’s logo.

    In a photo shared by Gunn on social media, a chess board sits front and center near a badge that confirms Nicholas Hoult‘s Lex Luthor will still be in Van Kull prison when the film begins. Fans of the comics will likely recall that Luthor is a bit of a chess master and has played the game against both Clark and Jonathan Kent while they visited him in prison.

    While it’s intentionally a little tougher to see, a logo that combines the crest of the House of El with the iconic three-dot Brainiac can be seen on the clapboard at the top of the photo.

    In Man of Tomorrow, Brainiac, played by Lars Eldinger, will pose a threat so great that Superman and Luthor will team up to stop him.

  • Beyond IMAX? — Disney and Marvel Launch “Infinity Vision” Certification for the Ultimate Theater Experience

    Disney just dropped a bombshell at CinemaCon 2026 that is set to change how we watch blockbusters. Move over IMAX and Dolby—there’s a new gold standard in town. Disney has officially launched Infinity Vision, a premier theatrical certification designed to help audiences identify the absolute “biggest, brightest, and most immersive” screens on the planet.

    Infinity Vision isn’t its own proprietary screen like IMAX; rather, it’s a certification for existing Premium Large Format (PLF) auditoriums that meet Disney’s rigorous “Director’s Intent” standards. To earn the badge, a theater must feature:

    • Max-Scale Screens: Only the largest domestic and global screens need apply.
    • Laser Precision: Mandatory laser projection to ensure superior brightness and 4K clarity.
    • Immersive Sound: Advanced premium audio formats (like Dolby Atmos) configured for maximum spatial immersion.

    The first Infinity Vision-certified screenings will begin on September 25, 2026, with a massive theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame. It’s a tactical move to reclaim the #1 all-time box office spot from Avatar while letting fans test-drive the new format. The re-release will also feature new footage intended to bridge the film to Avengers: Doomsday.

    The certification is primarily built for the December 18, 2026 release of Avengers: Doomsday. By seeking out Infinity Vision screens, fans can guarantee they are seeing the Russo Brothers’ vision on a scale that surpasses standard theatrical chains.

  • CinemaCon 2026: Pixar Challenges the iPad Generation in ‘Toy Story 5’

    If you had asked me after the bittersweet ending of Toy Story 4 if we needed another one, my answer would have been a flat no. But I’m starting to see the vision. Pixar isn’t just making another sequel; they’re making a movie about the death of playtime as we know it.

    While what we’ve seen from Toy Story 5 sounds like a Boomer’s fever dream on paper, the execution looks incredibly sharp. At CinemaCon 2026, franchise stars Tim Allen and Tom Hanks took the stage to introduce footage from the upcoming film.

    Lilypad, a high-tech electronic tablet voiced by Greta Lee is not a villain in the Sid or Lotso sense; she’s an existential threat. Footage has shown Bonnie completely mesmerized by Lilypad’s glowing screen, while Woody, Buzz, and Jessie look on from the floor, literally relegated to the shadows. It’s a haunting visual for a franchise that has always been about the utility of a toy.

    Pixar is at a crossroads. With Zootropolis 2 also on the horizon, the studio is leaning heavily on established IP to steady the ship. But Toy Story 5 doesn’t look like a cash grab. It looks like a movie about obsolescence in the age of the algorithm. If they can stick the landing, this might actually justify reopening the toy box one more time.

  • ‘Supergirl’ CinemaCon Footage Teases a Brutal Sci-Fi Western

    ‘Supergirl’ CinemaCon Footage Teases a Brutal Sci-Fi Western

    The worst kept secret in DC history is finally out. During the Warner Bros. CinemaCon presentation, Jason Momoa made a grand entrance on a practical Spacehog to confirm he has officially transitioned from King of Atlantis to the DCU’s ultimate bounty hunter, Lobo.

    Attendees were treated to a sequence from Supergirl that reportedly “shocked” the room with its grit. The scene features a battle-worn Kara (Milly Alcock) in a seedy alien tavern. Just as she’s about to be overwhelmed, Lobo crashes through the wall to claim a bounty on the same target. The chemistry between the hardened Kara and the chaotic Lobo is reportedly the heart of the film’s first act.

    This confirms James Gunn is staying true to the Tom King source material. Supergirl isn’t a Girl of Steel here; she’s a survivor in a lawless galaxy. By pairing her with Momoa’s Lobo, DC is creating a Lethal Weapon in Space dynamic that sets a completely new bar for the franchise.

    Momoa was born to play Lobo, and seeing Alcock stand her ground against his 6’4” frame proves she was the right choice. If this footage leaks, the DCU skeptics are going to have a very hard time finding things to complain about.

  • ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’: Sony Unveils First Footage & Synopsis

    ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’: Sony Unveils First Footage & Synopsis

    The four-year wait for the resolution of Miles Morales’ multiversal cliffhanger is finally entering its home stretch. During Sony Pictures’ massive opening presentation at CinemaCon 2026, directors Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson took the stage to officially unveil the first footage from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

    Billed as the “final chapter of Miles’ story,” the footage picks up exactly where Across the Spider-Verse left off, confirming that the stakes have shifted from a race across the multiverse to a desperate fight for survival in a world that doesn’t belong to him.

    Miles Morales returns for the final chapter of Sony Pictures Animation’s Oscar-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

    Hunted by Miguel O’Hara’s Spider Society and betrayed by his friends, Miles finds himself in the darkest corners of the Spider-Verse in search of a way home.

    Knowing that his family has been not only fractured but endangered by his calling, it’s a race against the clock for Miles to travel across the wildest reaches of time and space to fight for and reunite everything he holds most dear.

    -Official synopsis for Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse

    The footage shown to the Las Vegas crowd centers on the interrogation of our Miles by his alternate-reality counterpart, Miles G. Morales. Miles is seen chained to a punching bag in his Uncle Aaron’s apartment. The dialogue is tense, with the two Miles’ arguing over the “canon” and the proper pronunciation of their last name. Uncle Aaron and Prowler-Miles are depicted as a formidable duo, laughing off Miles’ pleas to be let go so he can save his father. The teaser culminates in Miles using his electric venom powers to break free from his chains, leading into a high-octane montage of him fighting his way out of the apartment while glitching uncontrollably.

    After multiple delays due to the “iterative” process of Lord and Miller and the 2023 strikes, Sony has officially locked in June 18, 2027, as the release date.

    Sources, Deadline and Variety

  • THR Reveals Real ‘Superman’ Sequel Contenders After James Gunn Debunk Dunk

    THR Reveals Real ‘Superman’ Sequel Contenders After James Gunn Debunk Dunk

    Don’t believe everything you hear on the gossip circuit—unless James Gunn gives it the thumbs up. After the DC Studios co-CEO took to social media to debunk earlier reports involving Ella Purnell and Adria Arjona, The Hollywood Reporter has swooped in with a new shortlist for the Empress of Almerac.

    According to the report, the search for Maxima in the seque, Man of Tomorrow, has narrowed down to three powerhouse finalists.

    According to THR’s Aaron Couch, Adria Arjona, Eva De Dominici, Sydney Chandler and Grace Van Patten tested for the role of Maxima this week in Atlanta. And according to Gunn’s own comments, the studio only has one role left to cast for the film, so things should come to a conclusion relatively quickly.

    A member of the Royal Family of the planet Almerac, Maxima’s primary motivation is the survival and evolution of her bloodline. Considered the ultimate genetic prize of her species because of the unique structure of her DNA, she spent years traveling the cosmos in search of a “suitable” mate—someone whose power could match her own and produce an heir capable of ruling Almerac. And that quest led her to Earth where Kal-El’s Kryptonian heritage caught her attention.

    A composite powerhouse with a wide array of super powers, Maxima first appeared in an antagonistic role before transitioning into an ally of Superman and, eventually, a member of the Justice League. Her appearance in the film might indicate Gunn has adapted the 1992 Superman crossover event, “Panic in the Sky,” that featured Maxima teaming up with Brainiac.