Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • ‘SHANG-CHI’ Takes Place Post-Snap in the MCU Timeline

    ‘SHANG-CHI’ Takes Place Post-Snap in the MCU Timeline

    There have been many questions surrounding the upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings film. The biggest was when exactly it takes place during the Sacred Timeline. Marvel Studios could explore his story during the five-year gap after Thanos snapped half of all existence from the universe. They might even explore his story before the snap, as he confronts his father on the evil that he sees within the Ten Ring organization. Well, it looks like we finally got confirmation as director Destin Daniel Cretton discussed the film in an interview with Fandango. In it, he made the following statement on when it takes place:

    Shang-Chi is set in the present day in the MCU timeline.

    Destin Daniel Cretton

    Fandango goes on to ask if he definitely means post-snap, which he goes on to confirm. He doesn’t go into detail where it exactly fits, but it’s a good confirmation as Marvel Studios have moved away from strictly following their releases alongside their timeline placement. Black Widow took place during the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. Loki made the placements of future entries even more complicated due to the introduction of the multiverse, which adds some more complexity to Marvel Studios’ approach.

    The big confusion is the wording of “post-snap,” as that would place it before the events of Avengers: Endgame. The result of that film was titled the blip, but there’s the possibility Cretton is referencing that event which also included a snap to undo what Thanos has done. So, we might still have to speculate on which snap he is referencing for just a few more weeks.

    Source: Fandango

  • New ‘SHANG-CHI’ IMAX Poster Hints at Fin Fang Foom

    New ‘SHANG-CHI’ IMAX Poster Hints at Fin Fang Foom

    It looks like Shang-Chi‘s marketing has finally ramped up, as we got a brand new IMAX poster for the film. Yet, there’s also a rather curious detail on it. While we see the Great Protector dragon, which was hinted at through a leaked Funko Pop and then confirmed in a brief sequence during the last trailer, he is joined by another strange dragon. In the exclusive reveal by ComicBook.com, they confirm that it is a greenish-black dragon.

    Now, the colors might be familiar to many that followed the comics, and our reports from back in September, there were hints at Fin Fang Foom’s lair, The Valley of the Sleeping Dragon, getting included in the film. We thought it might’ve been used for the white Great Protector, but it seems it might house two dragons. His design is also quite different from the comics. So, it might be a different one entirely but Marvel Studios is no stranger to changing the designs of comic characters. The color scheme would at least hint at a connection between the two.

    shang-chi imax poster

    No matter what character it turns south to be, the inclusion of more dragons opens up the film to a lot of interesting details we might’ve missed. Perhaps the Ten Rings have a different purpose after all and the green dragon is why the organization was born. It could also be the namesake for the Great Protector. There’s a lot of potential his inclusion could hint at, which might also be why they randomly included him in this poster.

    Source: Comic Book

  • ‘FREE GUY’s Surprise $28.4M Domestic Box Office Adds Fuel for ‘SHANG-CHI’s Upcoming Release

    ‘FREE GUY’s Surprise $28.4M Domestic Box Office Adds Fuel for ‘SHANG-CHI’s Upcoming Release

    Another week comes to a close and we have some more data to give us an insight into how the overall Box Office is developing. There’s been some negative light on recent statements by Disney CEO Bob Chapek on calling the upcoming 45-day release window of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings an “experiment” in unlikely times. While the sentiment with the Delta Variant spreading across the role was understandable, the wording for such a culturally relevant depiction for an Asian-American-led project wasn’t. The film’s star Simu Liu shared this sentiment in a tweet:

    All eyes were on Free Guy, a 20th Century release without a Disney+ Premier Access offering, to offer a glimpse of how other theatre-only releases might perform. Well, it may have given some hope as it surprised with a really impressive $28.4M domestic release. To put that in perspective, early predictions set it as a low-end $15M to $20M. For a pandemic release with a $100M budget, it’s a great showcase of its strength in cinemas. It generally garnered $51M worldwide putting git at a good start. It even saw the largest increase from Friday to Saturday with a 24% spike in ticket sales.

    Free Guy | film.at

    In addition, without a digital offering, its drop in the second weekend might prove some optimism for future releases. As Variety points out, Free Guy is the only real original theatre-only release so far and makes it a big testing ground in comparison to Snake Eyes and A Quiet Place Part II. As Shawn Robbins, the chief analyst of Box Office Pro highlights, it’s giving some hope that Shang-Chi surpasses the predictions ceiling of $55M.

    Audiences love sequels — when they’re good — but sometimes you want something unique. Considering its an original movie, Disney is probably feeling more confident going into ‘Shang Chi’.

    Not everything was all rosy over the weekend, as The Suicide Squad dropped by 70% in its second weekend. Its strength lied in its HBO Max showings, but its availability might show the challenge of these same-day releases. According to Forbes, it’s the biggest drop for a high-profile superhero film with only Shaquille O’Neal‘s Steel standing at the top spot with 78%. We’ll see if we get an additional insight into how it performs on the streaming service in its second week Black Widow has surpassed Christopher Nolan‘s Tenet, which has become the benchmark for blockbuster releases moving forward. Here’s hoping it might mean that Shang-Chi proves that it’s deserving of more attention.

    Source: Twitter, Variety, Forbes, CNBC

  • Todd McFarlane’s ‘SPAWN’ Film Adds ‘BROKEN CITY’s Writer Brian Tucker

    Todd McFarlane’s ‘SPAWN’ Film Adds ‘BROKEN CITY’s Writer Brian Tucker

    The long-rumored Spawn film finally seems to be moving forward. The Hollywood Reporter has unveiled that Todd McFarlane‘s passion project added Brian Tucker. He’s well-known for his work on the 2013 crime thriller Broken City, which starred Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg. The film will be produced by Blumhouse Productions with McFarlane set as the film’s director. He’ll also produce the film alongside Carla Hacken and Jason Blum.

    The project has been talked about since 2017 with Jamie Foxx attached for some time. Even Jeremy Renner was involved as well, but it’s uncertain if they are still set to star. The Hollywood Reporter stated that once the script is written they’ll approach the actors again. The last update we got on the project was briefly during CCXP back in December of 2020. At the time, McFarlane teased multiple other big names involved with the project but there was no other announcement made.

    It’s uncertain how long Tucker has already been involved with the project and if he is called in to rewrite a project. Still, it’s great to see that the project is moving forward and there’s still hope to see Spawn in all his glory on the silvers screen. We did get one adaptation featuring Michael Jai White in 1997, which was adapted as a horror-action film by New Line. The comic has been running since 1992 under the Image Comics banner and currently stands as the longest-running indie title. So, it’s time he gets his time to shine in cinemas once again.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Emma Stone Closes Deal to Join ‘CRUELLA’ Sequel

    Emma Stone Closes Deal to Join ‘CRUELLA’ Sequel

    It looks like Emma Stone loved playing the character of Cruella de Vil so much, she has officially signed on for a sequel. Deadline has just revealed that she closed her deal with Disney that may offer some positive light on the controversy surrounding their Disney+ Premier Access model. After facing lawsuits from Scarlett Johansson, rumors started hitting the Internet that Stone would join in due to her film being a simultaneous release.

    Yet, it seems she was open to returning, and with her joining the project, the Cruella sequel is a go for Disney. In June, Craig Gillespie already signed off to direct the project with Tony McNamara working on the script. It’ll be interesting to see how they follow up the project, as they either continue to explore her time before the fateful meeting with 101 dalmation or they jump straight into a live-action adaptation of it. It seems unlikely they’d want to paint the character purely in a negative light after building up her character throughout the first film.

    It’s definitely a win for Disney, as it paints their digital distribution in a positive light. There’s no official word if Stone had any benefit from Cruella‘s release, as we also never found out how much money the prequel made during its opening weekend. Disney only released the information starting with Black Widow. So, the sequel plans already hinted at the first film’s success on the service alongside its strong Box Office showing. It’ll be interesting to see if the same will hold true for Jungle Cruise, which recently released on the service.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘KINGDOM’s Shinsuke Sato to Direct Live-Action ‘MY HERO ACADEMIA’ Film

    ‘KINGDOM’s Shinsuke Sato to Direct Live-Action ‘MY HERO ACADEMIA’ Film

    It looks like movement has finally happened for the long-rumored live-action adaptation of the popular series My Hero Academia. Deadline has revealed that Shinsuke Sato, who many might know for his work on the Japanese film Kingdom, will direct the adaptation for Legendary. It’ll be an English version based on the popular manga franchise by Kohei Horikoshi. The series has been quite popular in Anime circles thanks to the work of Bones Inc. and Toho Animation. The series already released three animated films and it’s uncertain if this adaptation will follow the manga or take a unique approach.

    My Hero Academia Season 5 to Go on Break Next Week - Verve times

    In the manga and anime, we follow the story of a young boy named Dekul. In a world where 80% of humans have unique abilities, he wants to fulfill his dream of becoming a hero. Yet, the reality is much harsher and he learns that he is “Quirkless.” As such, he could never gain a special ability until he meets his idol, All Might. Known as the greatest hero in the world, he uncovers a secret that’ll change his life.

    It would be strange to simply tackle the same story, as the world introduced in the franchise offers the opportunity to tell a unique story from a new perspective. Yet, it seems likely they’ll try and follow Deku’s story due to its close ties to its overall mythos. Still, the franchise tried out spin-offs with the Vigilantes manga, which further developed the rules a world filled with professional heroes abides by. Perhaps the film could do something similar.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘SHANG-CHI’ Eyeing a $35M to $55M Domestic Opening Weekend

    ‘SHANG-CHI’ Eyeing a $35M to $55M Domestic Opening Weekend

    Disney has been going through some troublesome times. After Black Widow opened to an impressive $80M during the pandemic, many wondered what it might mean for their next release. The Delta Variant continues to spread, and people are even more hesitant to visit cinemas. Of course, it raises questions regarding the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in just a few weeks. Well, it looks like it could still garner an impressive Box Office for a pandemic, but it’s also a far cry from where the first 2021 Marvel Studios’ release landed.

    As of now, the film is predicted to hit around $35M. The current optimistic ceiling would place it at $55M. If they ramp up the advertisement in the upcoming weeks, they might even push it up, but the film is unlikely to even get near a $200M domestic Box Office in its run. If it does manage to pass the $40M benchmark, it’ll be the first film since Black Widow, as most films faltered out around the $30M range. If it hits the top $55M prediction it would below Ant-Man, and The Incredible Hulk.

    Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Neuer Trailer zum Marvel-Film

    There’s some hope that the Marvel Studios’ brand will push the film to a higher rate even during uncertain times. Unlike the previous release, it won’t be available on Disney+ Premier Access, which might hurt its opening weekend but could give it much longer legs than other digital releases. It will have a 45-day release window before it gets released on Disney+, which will signal how Disney handles future releases moving forward.

    Shang-Chi has a lot of potential as a franchise. Especially as it is an essential move for Asian-American representation. Hopefully, the film will manage to pass the ceiling, but it seems unlikely given the current circumstances. Even Black Widow missed its optimistic ceiling of $110M, but it could’ve been influenced by its digital availability. Its success might also determine Eternals release as others continue to push back films back. Right now, success can no longer get purely based on its Box Office alone, and it may find a larger audience on the streaming service once it releases.

    Source: Box Office Pro, Polygon, Business Insider

  • Alan Taylor Shares His Original Plans for a More Magical ‘THOR: THE DARK WORLD’

    Alan Taylor Shares His Original Plans for a More Magical ‘THOR: THE DARK WORLD’

    Marvel Studios may be huge on creative vision now, but that wasn’t always the case. The production giant’s second phase of films was plagued by conflicts between directors and Marvel’s now-defunct creative committee. These disagreements famously led to Edgar Wright departing Ant-Man, and had a huge impact on the final product of the MCU’s first Thor sequel.

    Before Game of Thrones’ Alan Taylor boarded the project, it had already lost a director in the form of future Wonder Woman helmer Patty Jenkins. We’ve known for a while that The Dark World didn’t end up looking as Taylor originally intended, but now we have a clearer idea of what it was supposed to look like. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he offered a glimpse of his vision.

    The version I had started off with had more childlike wonder; there was this imagery of children, which started the whole thing. There was a slightly more magical quality. There was weird stuff going on back on Earth because of the convergence that allowed for some of these magical realism things. And there were major plot differences that were inverted in the cutting room and with additional photography — people [such as Loki] who had died were not dead, people who had broken up were back together again. I think I would like my version.

    Alan Taylor

    It would seem Taylor’s original plans included keeping Tom Hiddleston’s Loki dead. The big reveal is the plan on ending the relationship between Thor and Jane Foster earlier than expected. While it would have been interesting to see what direction these changes might have taken the MCU, it is worth noting that keeping these developments in the film would likely have prevented Loki from happening. We might not have even gotten Taika Waititi’s Thor films that redefined the character. Sometimes, the universe is give-and-take.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Sony Delays Venom Sequel Again

    Sony Delays Venom Sequel Again

    Sony Pictures has formally delayed Venom: There Will Be Carnage for a fourth time. The film, originally set to debut in October of 2020, is now set for release on October 15, 2021 in U.S. theaters.

    Carnage Takes Center Stage In New 'Venom 2' Trailer

    A report by Variety indicates that the “rocky film landscape” caused by a surge in the delta variant of COVID-19 weighed heavily in Sony’s decision to move the film. Sony remains committed to making sure the film debuts exclusively in theaters and is, apparently, hoping that things will clear up significantly over the next couple of months. At this point, it seems equally likely that this is just another place holder for the film and another movie is possible.

    The move also calls into question whether or not Sony’s other major Marvel release, Spider-Man: No Way Home, will be delayed as well. To this point, the film’s first teaser trailer hasn’t been officially released to the public, causing fans quite a bit of consternation about what might happen with the Spidey threequel.

    Source: Variety

  • Samuel L. Jackson Hints at Nick Fury Appearing in ‘THE MARVEL’s

    Samuel L. Jackson Hints at Nick Fury Appearing in ‘THE MARVEL’s

    All eyes are on Samuel L. Jackson right now, as he recently teased the return of Nick Fury’s iconic mustache. The only question was which project is he included, as we know he’ll have a starring role in Disney+’s Secret Invasion. Yet, there have been inklings he’d also join the upcoming The Marvel‘s film, which will see the team-up of Brie Larson‘s Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris‘ Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani‘s Ms. Marvel. Larson recently confirmed that production has started with director Nia DaCosta. As if they timed it perfectly, he released his Instagram post with the iconic beard confirming he is currently filming a project.

    It wasn’t until his second Instagram post that he tagged The Marvel‘s film and potentially confirmed his appearance in the film. There’s still little information that leaked from the project, but it seems possible he’s also working on Secret Invasion, as the projects could potentially interconnect due to the strong inclusion of the Skrulls. They had a prominent role in the first Captain Marvel film and the sequel might continue telling that story, as there are also rumblings of Jude Law‘s Yon-Rogg making a return.

    The exciting aspect about these two projects filming around the same time is the implications for the story. We still don’t know how true the Secret Invasion series will be to the comics. So, there might be some curious twists that also tie into the film, as they’re still is no word on who their main antagonist might be. Perhaps we’ll witness the Skrull-Kree War that ended up getting continued on Earth much to our hero’s dismay.

    Source: Instagram (Beard), Instagram, Comic Book