Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • A Live-Action Reimagining of ‘Moana’ Starring Dwayne Johnson is in the Works at Disney

    A Live-Action Reimagining of ‘Moana’ Starring Dwayne Johnson is in the Works at Disney

    As it continues to reimagine its vast catalog of animated classics into live-action spectacles, Disney has teamed with Dwayne Johnson to add Moana to the list. As announced by Johnson via Twitter, Disney is teaming with Seven Bucks Productions and Flynn Picture Co. to bring the 2016 hit to life. News of the product was also given to Disney Shareholders today by Bob Iger during a webcast. Johnson also announced that he would reprise the role of Maui.

    According to a statement from Disney, “Like its animated predecessor, the film will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.”

    I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.

    Dwayne Johnson on the Moana reimagining

    Auli’i Cravalho, who served as the voice of Moana in the 2016 animated film will serve as an executive producer on the film along with Scott Sheldon, Jared Bush, who wrote the screenplay for the original film, and Dana Ledoux Miller. “She has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses,” Cravalho said of the titular character. “Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring—to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.“

    At this time, no timetable has been laid out for the film as it searches for a director.

  • ‘Deadpool 3’ Adds ‘The Marvels’, ‘She-Hulk’ Scribe to WritingTeam

    ‘Deadpool 3’ Adds ‘The Marvels’, ‘She-Hulk’ Scribe to WritingTeam

    Current writer of Marvel Comics’ The Amazing Spider-Man, Zeb Wells‘ history with Marvel Comics dates back to 2002’s Spider-Man’s Tangled Web. Wells turned his trademark style with Marvel Comics into a gig at Marvel Entertainment, where he wrote the unreleased pilot for New Warriors, and then into a spot in the writer’s room for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now it seems Wells’ success has led him to a spot on one of Marvel Studios’ most anticipated upcoming theatrical releases.

    According to Deadline, Wells has joined Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese as a contributor to the script of 2024’s untitled Deadpool threequel. While Marvel Studios has yet to comment on Wells‘ contribution to the script, it’s possible he was chosen due to his work on Marvel Comics’ A + X and Savage Wolverine. Wells has quickly become one of Marvel Studios’ most hired guns, having not only served as a writer on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but also as an executive producer as well as co-writing 2023’s theatrical release, The Marvels, as well as being the head writer for the upcoming animated series Marvel Zombies.

    The third installment in the Deadpool franchise is currently untitled but will see Ryan Reynolds’s Merc with a Mouth debut in the MCU alongside Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine. With production expected to kick off soon, the cast has filled up quickly with Emma Corrin signing on as the film’s villain, Matthew Macfadyen set to serve as a third wheel to Deadpool and Wolverine, Karan Soni and Leslie Uggams returning as Dopinder and Blind Al, respectively, and Owen Wilson rumored to pop up as TVA agent Mobius. The film is currently slated to hit theaters on November 8th, 2024.

    Source: Deadline

  • New Rumor Puts a Number on Marvel Studios’ Future Yearly Output

    New Rumor Puts a Number on Marvel Studios’ Future Yearly Output

    Quality over quantity has been the long-echoed outcry on the internet surrounding Marvel Studios’ direction during the pandemic. With up to four shows on top of three films, it seemed like they were hoping too put out as much as they could. There were hints that Bob Chapek‘s era has forced them to also enforce more Disney+ releases to promote the streaming service while also trying to adjust to something no one ever expected to delay their releases for two years.

    Marvel Studios was playing catch-up but there was enough drama to overshadow the troubles most production companies are facing in the current timeline. CG over specific shots in a 2+ hour project were the signs of this development, and many discussions have surfaced online. Ironically, most of this discourse only really arrived during 2022 and has been hyper-fixated on in the current mythos.

    That was until Bob Iger once again took over as Disney CEO and many new rumors have surfaced hinting at a new yet old direction. Ironically, the number of rumors of potential projects was one of the causes for concern, these new rumors are potentially doing the same thing. On The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider has added more fuel to the fire of a more regulated output in the form of an exact project count moving forward.

    Marvel’s target output has been reduced. I don’t know if this has been reported, or if this was a line in the trades, or whatever, but I’m told that the target output has been reduced from four shows and four movies a year to two shows and three movies a year. And of course that’s malleable. You could get one on either side of that, or whatever.

    Jeff Sneider

    Two series and three films a year seem to be the current direction for 2023. We just recently saw Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania release with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels on the horizon. We also had the longest pause between series releases with Secret Invasion finally getting its June release and likely only the second season of Loki on the horizon. While some future schedules might hint at a different schedule, they have reshuffled their schedules quite a bit as of late.

    It is kind of funny to think that this schedule matches what we had with the Netflix series and the Marvel movies, as we had two series and three films every year. Yet, we also had additional Marvel series like The Runaways, Agents of SHIELD, as well as Cloak and Dagger. 2018 to 2019 technically had more projects airing with a higher number of episodes compared to the “stuffed” 2022 but perhaps the Marvel studios branding is creating the illusion of such. Either way, the current rumor mill will likely have many happy to see the studio dial it down.

    Source: YouTube via The Direct

  • ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Dethrones ‘John Wick 4’ with a Decent Opening Weekend

    ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Dethrones ‘John Wick 4’ with a Decent Opening Weekend

    the final numbers are in and the Dungeons & Dragons film has barely missed out on the $40M mile but still pulled in an okay $38.5M. While it is higher than its initial predictions, which were set relatively low but not surprising given how sci-fi and fantasy struggle at the box office at times, it’s still going to face an uphill battle to make up for its high $150M budget. Internationally, the film has made around $71.5M with a softer $33M global cume.

    The reviews and PostTrak score are hinting that the film might have a chance at some strong legs but with tough competition on the horizon, it’s anyone’s game at this point. Including a premiere at SXSW, the marketing spend on this film is quite high and it’ll definitely need those legs to keep going but The Super Mario Bros. Movie is already on the horizon next weekend. As both share a similar audience, this year might become quite the bloodbath at the box office.

    John Wick Chapter 4 faced a surprising 62% drop to $28.2M after its record opening. Some thought it would drop lower with its strong word-of-mouth. “Blockbuster” releases have faced much higher drops since the pandemic started as people are much more selective in their viewing choices but this won’t stop John Wick’s latest adventure to become the highest-grossing of the franchise.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Spotted at Iconic ‘Joker’ Location in Latest BTS Pics

    Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Spotted at Iconic ‘Joker’ Location in Latest BTS Pics

    Joaquin Phoenix‘s romp down the Shakespeare Avenue Stairs located in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx in 2019’s Joker turned the location into a destination. Now referred to as “The Joker Stairs”, the 132 stairs have become a must-see landmark in the city for fans of the film. Director Todd Phillips remained fairly fond of them, too, as a new batch of set photos from the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, indicates that the film will return to the iconic location.

    As production has been ongoing in and around New York City, set photos have been fairly easy to come by, including a first look at star Lady Gaga in full Harley Quinn regalia. While she’s not decked out in one of Harley’s familiar outfits here, Lady Gaga‘s Harley is out for a stroll on the same stairs Arthur Fleck danced down in Joker.

    https://twitter.com/lislopees1/status/1642483840479363074?s=20

    Harley’s trek on the stairs certainly looks a little less joyful than Fleck’s gleeful descent. That’s all part of whatever director Todd Phillips, who can be seen chatting it up with Lady Gaga, has in store for the character in this particular part of the sequel.

    Joker: Folie à Deux will be released on October 4th, 2024 under DC Studios’ new Elseworlds banner, meaning the story told within the film will not be part of the continuity of the new DC Universe being established by DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. Set in the aftermath of the events of Joker, the sequel will see Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener join Lady Gaga as newcomers to the cast alongside returnees Phoenix and Zazie Beetz.

  • Fandango Reveals When ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Tickets Will Be Available

    Fandango Reveals When ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Tickets Will Be Available

    Advance ticket sales are one of the most interesting modern-day phenomena in the entertainment business. With so many theaters and so many screens in each theater dedicated to major releases, it’s increasingly rare for showings of those major releases to sell out. Given that opening weekend now essentially begins early Thursday afternoon in most places, there are dozens of opportunities to catch a tentpole release on opening weekend and, for those not living in major metropolitan areas, most of them can be done in relatively empty theaters. However, fans LOVE buying their tickets online as soon as possible and now Marvel Studios, via Fandango, has made it clear when tickets will be available for advance purchase for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

    Fans looking to book their trip to see James Gunn‘s final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise can purchase tickets online beginning Monday, April 3rd. The announcement of the date came via a teaser for the film which included some brief snippets of new footage.

    In Marvel Studios “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

    Official synopsis courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Publicity

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5th!

  • Disney Finds its Lilo for the Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Adaptation

    Disney Finds its Lilo for the Live-Action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Adaptation

    So far, we only knew that Zach Galifianakis has joined the upcoming live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, but it seems they have finally found one of their leads. Newcomer Maia Kealoha has been cast in the role that’ll bring the 2002 version to a new generation with director Dean Fleischer Camp of Marcel the Shell With Shoes On fame. The script is based on work by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright.

    The news was first reported by Knight Edge Media and is now confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. The story seemingly is set to stay quite true to the original adaptation, which saw the story of an alien experiment make his way to Earth and ending up as the adoptive dog of a local Hawaiian girl named Lilo. Their bond is what defines the heart of the story in addition to the beauty of Hawaii adding that additional charm.

    It’ll be interesting to see who might give Stitch his iconic voice. Chris Sanders played the character in the original film and given he’ll very likely be a fully CG character, he could potentially return to the role. Though, they might also find an A-list celebrity to bring the character to life. Perhaps Chris Pratt wants to nab one more voice-acting gig after The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the upcoming Garfield movie.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Knight Edge Media

  • Simu Liu Talks Potential ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel

    Simu Liu Talks Potential ‘Shang-Chi’ Sequel

    We’re still waiting for the official confirmation that Shang-Chi‘s sequel is on the horizon. Outside of quite a few rumors, Marvel Studios has been surprisingly shy about announcing one even as the first entry was quite the critical darling. It also was the first sign of strong legs for the studio that it hasn’t quite enjoyed since the pandemic recovered.

    Still, the film’s star Simu Liu has shared his thoughts on what it means to tackle a sequel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially after introducing the world to this unique corner of the universe. He also highlights that he hopes they can “still afford Michelle Yeoh” after her major Oscar win for Everything Everywhere all at Once.

    Going into a sequel feels exciting. It doesn’t necessarily feel like there’s a pressure to perform or a pressure to exceed. It feels like we’ve established a world and there’s just something really nostalgic and exciting about returning to that world that we’ve spent so much time ideating on and thinking about. And then, we’re getting to revisit some things, but also show the viewer new things. We’ll deliver all of the amazing action that we were celebrated for on the first movie, but then also hopefully explore new sides of Shaun’s character and the characters around him. That is, of course, if we can still afford Michelle Yeoh. She’s on top of the world and just the queen of everything.

    Simu Liu

    It’s strange to think how much time has passed since the film was released in theaters. There was something special about this kung fu-inspired project, and here’s hoping we get quite a few more. There’s also the rumor of a potential 10 Rings Disney+ spinoff they might be working on. So, we’ll see if we get more out of the Shang-Chi corner of the MCU.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Director Reveals How They Got [SPOILER] to Cameo

    ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Director Reveals How They Got [SPOILER] to Cameo

    The following article contains a major spoiler for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. So, only continue at your own risk if you haven’t watched the film.

    Dungeons & Dragons is a very self-contained story with an already stacked cast including Hugh Grant, Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and more. Yet, there’s a fun little cameo in the middle of the film that further explores Rodriguez‘ character of Holga Kilgore. We learn that she gave up everything for her love but not being able to let go would push them further apart.

    The funniest part, the cameo of her tiny lover was nonother than Bradley Cooper. It’s a very out-of-nowhere cameo that is perfect and it’s funny how Cooper keeps playing small characters in big-budget releases. Especially as we’ll see him return as Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in just a few more weeks.

    So, the question on everyone’s mind might be how they managed to get this A-list character to join the production. Well, it turns out that director John Francis Daley. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Daley reveals he sent him an unfinished film to convince him to join.

    Well, I co-starred with Bradley [Cooper] on the show KitchenConfidential when I was 19 years old, and we appreciated each other’s careers from afar after that experience. And so when this opportunity came up, we knew we wanted someone to inhabit the role that brought with it this sense of gravitas and just full-on acting chops. So I don’t remember who it was that pitched Bradley, but the second I heard the name, I thought, “Oh, let’s go for it.” So we sent him a copy of the unfinished film and he loved it. So he was ready to jump on board, and it was such an awesome day.

    John Francis Daley

    It was a great little surprise to see him in this tiny role. not only was it one of the funniest jokes in the film seeing Olga’s preference for men but having Cooper‘s sincerity in the role gave us one of the most heartfelt moments in the film.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Matt Shakman’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘Avatar 2’ Writer

    Matt Shakman’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘Avatar 2’ Writer

    Josh Friedman of Avatar: The Way of Water and Snowpiercer fame has found his next project, and it’s quite the big one. It seems he is joining the upcoming Fantastic Four film that’ll be the first arrival of Marvel’s first family in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’ll join director Matt Shakman in what may be one of their most ambitious projects yet.

    It’s a big get for the studio given he was part of one of the biggest releases in 2022. Previously, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer were attached to write. Friedman joining may be a hint that they are moving further away from the pure comedic direction the project may have had given their involvement with various comedies. Friedman is more serious in tone with his tone and, bigger yet, a huge sci-fi veteran.

    He was involved with Steven Spielberg‘s War of the Worlds, created the Terminator spinoff series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and more. Given the announcement dropped now, he has likely been involved with the project for a few months now. We also recently found out that Thunderbolts also added a new writer in Beef‘s Lee Sung Jin. Some may not remember but this is very much a pre-pandemic Marvel movie. Outside of a handful of writers, they had a variety of people work on the scripts before releasing a film. So, perhaps something for the “quality over quantity ” crowd.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter