Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • ‘Constantine’ Sequel Still Moving Ahead at Warner Bros.

    ‘Constantine’ Sequel Still Moving Ahead at Warner Bros.

    DC Studios officially unveiled its official slate earlier this month and noticeably absent was the previously announced Constantine sequel with Keanu Reeves. The film’s absence led many to believe the film was no longer in development, however, that does not look to be the case.

    According to Entertainment Weekly, Warner Bros. has confirmed that despite rumors suggesting otherwise, the sequel has not been scrapped. The news comes after reports stated that because the film wasn’t listed as part of DC Studios’ Chapter One slate, it was no longer in development. Many were quick to believe this to be the case as the sequel was ordered before James Gunn and Peter Safran, the heads of the newly formed DC Studios, took over DC’s future for Warner Bros. Discovery. It’s unclear how the film will fit in with DC Studios’ current plans, although DC will also offer the Elseworlds banners for films that fall outside the DCU continuity.

    Reeves, who starred in the first film, will return to reprise the titular role with director Francis Lawrence returning to direct the sequel. As of now, the film does not yet have a release date.

    Source: EW.

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman on Casting Rumors, What He Learned from ‘WandaVision’

    ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman on Casting Rumors, What He Learned from ‘WandaVision’

    Though it won’t go into production until early in 2024, Marvel Studios Fantastic Four might lead the country in rumored castings. The roles of Ben Grimm, Reed Richards, Sue Storm and Johnny Storm are certainly among the most coveted in all of Hollywood and will provide the respective talents that fill them with at least a decade’s worth of security. The constant spinning of the rumor mill and theorizing about the upcoming film are nothing new to director Matt Shakman, who boarded the project after original director Jon Watts departed it to work on his Star Wars series Skeleton Crew.

    Shakman’s time on WandaVision, Marvel Studios’s first streaming series and certainly the most “water cooler” one to date, allows him some unique perspective on the ongoing social media craze that surrounds the casting for Fantastic Four, as he explained to Comic Book.

    “There are a lot out there, man,” said Shakman of the casting rumors. “They really are. It’s pretty crazy. As I learned from WandaVision, too, it is so lovely to see the level of engagement that fans have with this material, because I’m a fan too, and I have been reading Fantastic Four since I was a kid,” the director explained.

    WandaVision‘s mysterious nature in concert with its weekly release schedule led to some wild fan theories that kept the series front and center on social media from week to week. Fans often conflated theories and rumors with facts and ended up disappointed more often than not as the Grim Reaper, Reed Richards and Doctor Strange never showed up. However frustrating it was, the experience did show the enormous amount of passion MCU fans have for certain projects, something Shakman hopes will carry over to Fantastic Four.

    “I love these characters,” said Shakman of Marvel’s First Family. “I love the chance that we have to bring them to the MCU and I really want to get it right and I know that everybody out there is really excited and feels passionate in the same way wanting to get it right. And so I encourage it. I think it’s great,” he continued before adding, “but yeah, I have no early answers for anyone today about casting.”

    While there’s nothing to be gleaned about the potential cast of Fantastic Four from Shakman’s comments, at least we can all rest well knowing someone learned something from WandaVision.

    Source: Comic Book

  • Marvel Studios and Peyton Reed Have Already Begun Conversations about ‘Ant-Man 4’

    Marvel Studios and Peyton Reed Have Already Begun Conversations about ‘Ant-Man 4’

    The notion that Marvel heroes would disappear after a trilogy of films went out the door when the studio greenlit Thor: Love and Thunder, and began development on Spider-Man 4. Now, it seems the MCU’s tiniest hero may be next in line for a fourth film.

    According to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania producer Stephan Broussard, a fourth installment in the Ant-Man franchise is more than just a possibility; it’s already being discussed.

    “We’re already thinking about it,” Broussard told Comic Book. “It’s like, every movie’s its own battle and you bear the scars of making it and wanting to make it great. But hope springs eternal and you start to put yourself back together after the journey of making the movie. You’re like, ‘Yeah, what if we did X and what if we did Y?’ Like the wheels start turning, you can’t help yourself,” explained the producer.

    Of note, Broussard also revealed that director Peyton Reed has been involved in the early discussions about the fourth film. “I don’t want to say anything about specifically what those are,” said Broussard, ” but yeah, you can’t help yourself. Those conversations, those whispers have already started to happen between myself and Peyton and Kevin.”

    After replacing Edgar Wright at the last minute on 2015’s Ant-Man, Reed has become a favorite of Kevin Feige. He played a major role in the push to make Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania the big event films it became and has no shortage of big ideas. Should Reed end up helming the fourth film, he would be the first director to lead four MCU films in the same franchise and join the Russo Brothers in the four-timer squad!

    Source: Comic Book

  • Director Matt Shakman Updates ‘Fantastic Four’ Production Schedule

    Director Matt Shakman Updates ‘Fantastic Four’ Production Schedule

    The road to Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four draws closer to reality. In an interview with The Wrap, director Matt Shakman confirmed that production for the film adaptation of Marvel’s First Family is scheduled to begin in early 2024. This period would be a logical production window as the film is currently set to release on February 14, 2025. Though with release date delays that have become commonplace for Marvel Studios, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for audiences to expect the film to have at least one more delay in release.

    Matt Shakman being hired to helm Fantastic Four comes after previously directing the entirety of the acclaimed WandaVision series for Disney+. His work on the inaugural Marvel Cinematic Universe streaming project got him hired to work on a Star Trek feature film sequel for Paramount. But the offer of the Fantastic Four forced him to relinquish his role on Star Trek. Shakman spoke about this decision and his motivations with Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four.

    Movies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, and so when the ‘Fantastic Four’ opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up, and to go back home to Marvel, a place that I worked on ‘WandaVision’ at, with those people who are wonderful collaborators. It’s really a family there and to be able to go back and tackle something that I truly love, and they’re very similar in some ways: they both were launched in the ’60s at the same time, they’re both about optimism and looking to the stars and technology can solve everything and they’re about family too — the family you have, the family you make. So they’re aligned in many ways and speak to my heart and equally, so I’m excited to be working on ‘Fantastic Four’.

    Matt Shakman

    This quote should pique the interest of fans of the Fantastic Four. Matt Shakman’s excitement about the themes of family and exploration is key to successfully adapting Marvel’s First Family. They’re also concepts that weren’t adeptly explored in the previous film adaptations of the team. If Shakman’s creative vision for the team can be capitalized on, fans should have a lot to be excited about in 2025 with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Then in terms of the 2024 production start, it should further confirm the notion that audiences won’t learn of an official cast till the second half of 2023. A big reveal at San Diego Comic-Con seems to be an ideal time for the pageantry of such an occasion.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Evangeline Lilly Makes Her Pitch for ‘The Wasp’ Solo Film

    Evangeline Lilly Makes Her Pitch for ‘The Wasp’ Solo Film

    Evangeline Lilly‘s Hope van Dyne/Hope Pym/The Wasp became the first MCU hero to have her name in the title of a film in 2018’s Ant-Man and The Wasp. Now the star is ready to see her character take the next step and take center stage in her own solo film.

    During the premiere of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Lilly, who suited up as the character for the fourth time, was asked by a Variety reporter how much longer she would like to portray the character. At least one more time, as it turns out. “I’m gonna make a pitch,” said Lilly, “that I think it might be time for a Hope spinoff…for a Wasp standalone film.“

    While there’s no guarantee Hope, or any of the Ant-Family, will survive their run-in with Kang the Conqueror in Quantumania much less the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, the character has proven to be savvy and resourceful. Given that Hope is largely a character created for the MCU, there’s no telling where he path may lead in the future, making that The Wasp solo film a distinct possibility down the road.

  • ‘Quantumania’ & ‘The Kang Dynasty’ Writer on Developing the Multiverse Saga’s Big Bad

    ‘Quantumania’ & ‘The Kang Dynasty’ Writer on Developing the Multiverse Saga’s Big Bad

    Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror seems to be everything he’s been made out to be. The first reactions to the premiere of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania have revealed that Majors blew audiences away and that Kang is truly a threat unlike anything the MCU has seen before. Of course, Majors‘ first Variant of the character, He Who Remains, warned of the coming of someone such as Kang and now that he’s arrived, it’s hard to say just what it will take to defeat him.

    He Who Remains and Kang the Conqueror are just two of the many Variants of Kang that Majors is likely to play in the Multiverse Saga and it’ll take more than different costumes to truly set the characters apart. To that end, Quantumania and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty writer Jeff Loveness had (and still has) his work cut out for him in creating the unique twists on the Variants that Majors will bring to life. During an interview at the Quantumania premiere, Loveness described how he developed the Conqueror for the film.

    “Jumping off of Loki, where he’s more of a whimsical, kind of like an unexpected character, we just wanted to break expectations with this third movie,” said Loveness. “I think everyone kind of maybe expected a funny or a goofier Ant-Man villain,” he continued, “and so Peyton [Reed] and I said, ‘No, let’s put Ant-Man up against the most dangerous villain in the Multiverse and let’s do the opposite of what you saw in Loki. Let’s make this the worst of the worst.’”

    Of course, all the written development in the world doesn’t matter if the talent bringing the character to life doesn’t stick the landing. As he’s done with every role in his career, Majors turned in a special performance and Loveness joined in on the praise for the talented actor. “And there’s a reason he’s here and I think Jonathan is incredible. I don’t think I’ve seen a screen actor like him in quite some time. The guy nailed every line and I’ve never had such a thrill writing like an actor like him before.“

    Fans don’t have too much longer to see for themselves just what all the fuss is about Kang as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17th.

  • New Concept Art Reveals Scrapped and Gory Deaths in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    New Concept Art Reveals Scrapped and Gory Deaths in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    A Brand new concept art from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has caused quite a stir among fans. The artwork reveals an intense, graphic scene that wasn’t in the final cut of the film, as it showcases the death of our beloved Wong with his brain scattered on the ground. That is not all, as it also includes Mordo with a huge scratch mark on his face after fighting Scarlet Witch.

    The level of detail in the concept art is sure to leave a lasting impression and has fans speculating about what the movie would have looked like if this stayed as part of the original vision. This new piece provides a glimpse into the intense world of Doctor Strange and certainly leaves us wondering what mature Marvel films will be able to offer to viewers in the future.

    https://twitter.com/scarletwnews/status/1622026859704614913?cxt=HHwWgoCwzbi1zIItAAAA

    The head from Mordo is actually part of a deleted sequence that would’ve featured the Scarlet Witch decapitating the 616 version of the character as her way to intimidate Strange. It definitely would’ve made for an interesting way to set up the character but also would limit the use of Mordo in future projects as a result.

    It’s definitely interesting to see just how much Multiverse of Madness has changed since its original vision. We don’t know if the decapitation was part of Scott Derrickson’s original take on the character or if this is more in line with Sam Raimi‘s usual gory take on horror. It’s not uncommon for early versions of the scripts and artwork to push the boundary as much as possible, but it makes you wonder what didn’t make it past the brainstorming stage.

    Source: Twitter via ComicBook.com

  • ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Adds ‘Severance Actress

    ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Adds ‘Severance Actress

    The upcoming continuation of the iconic Planet of the Apes trilogy is moving full steam ahead, as the 20th Century Studios production has added one more member to its cast. The Hollywood Reporter has unveiled that Dichen Lachman, known for her recent work on the series Severance, has joined the production of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which will explore the aftermath of 2017’s War of the Planet of the Apes long after Caesar’s reign.

    In this continuation, we’ll explore two apes on their unique journey as one uncovers human technology and the other is on his way to find freedom. Though, a human woman seemingly becomes essential to his quest and has her own goals. Production is already happening in Australia and Lachman joins the rest of the cast which consists of Freya Allan, William H. Macy, Kevin Durand, and Owen Teague.

    As of now, Lachman‘s role remains unclear, but Lachman is a good get for the series. She was recently seen on Jurassic World Dominion as a black market dealer, and even voiced General Atitaya in Raya and the Last Dragon. She also made a big splash with her recent work on the Apple TV+ series though she’s also going to be busy filming the second season of Severance. So, she might have a supporting role in the Planet of the Apes sequel.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Dethrones ‘Avatar 2’ After 7 Weeks

    M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Dethrones ‘Avatar 2’ After 7 Weeks

    Avatar: The Way of Water has enjoyed quite the free range at the box office. No one wanted to even get close to what was definitely one of the biggest releases in 2022 and as it nears the global take of Titanic, it seems the film has finally been dethroned. The interesting part is that the one to do so was Knock at the Cabin by M. Night Shyamalan. His film opened at $14.2M in 3,643 theaters but also marks the lowest opening for a Shyamalan film.

    It seems like audiences aren’t quite enjoying the film as it has received a C CinemaScore, which is slightly below Old‘s C+ just a few years ago., which opened with $17M. So, Knock at the Cabin hasn’t had that big momentum that you’d hope to have to go into the weekend, but it still managed to dethrone a massive blockbuster so that’s something. Globally, it also opened to a soft $7M though these kinds of films normally leg out with a C CinemaScore may hold back.

    That wasn’t all this weekend as an experiment to slash ticket prices to attract older audiences has seemingly paid off with 80 for Brady pulling in $12.5M and taking the second spot. You read that correctly, Avatar: The Way of Water dropped down to third with a still impressive $10.8M in its eight weeks after holding on to the #1 title for seven weeks in a row; something only the previous Avatar entry managed.

    It should be noted that the 80 for Brady film also had more viewers than Knock at the Cabin at 1.3M. While it’s lower at the box office due to the lower ticket prices, it’s a promising showcase of one of the struggles that cinemas have nowadays. The tickets are continuing to get more expensive and audiences are becoming pickier to make sure it’s worth their run. So, reliable films like a Marvel Studios entry or something with strong word-of-mouth tend to pull in audiences.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • James Gunn Likely to Direct ‘Superman: Legacy’

    James Gunn Likely to Direct ‘Superman: Legacy’

    After a long wait, the DC Cinematic Universe has finally a structured future with James Gunn and Peter Safran spearheading the newly founded DC Studios. One can definitely tell that Gunn’s love for comics is scattered across the entire line-up. There are definitely also a few projects that are definitely passion projects for the director that showcase the way he wants to build the first chapter titled “Gods & Monsters” for the DCU.

    The first “true” DCU entry will be the revival of Superman with Superman: Legacy that’ll take its inspiration from some of the character’s most uplifting and hopeful storylines. Gunn is already busy writing the adaptation and has been quite vocal about his love for the character and what he stands for. Hidden away in The Hollywood Reporter’s latest Heat Vision newsletter, there’s a detail that reveals that as of now, Gunn is not only writing the project but also very likely set to direct the Superman revival.

    There has been some concern that Gunn would dominate a lot of projects with his position as co-CEO and director. He was responsible for writing the Creature Commando animated series and is likely involved with Waller, which seems to be the sequel to Peacemaker. There definitely is a passion to bring these projects to life and it’ll be interesting to see how many projects he’ll directly have his hands on, as Swamp Thing was hinted to be in James Mangold‘s talented hands.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter