Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movie News

  • Marvel Studios Holds a “Post-Mortem” for Every MCU Project to Learn What Didn’t Work

    Marvel Studios Holds a “Post-Mortem” for Every MCU Project to Learn What Didn’t Work

    For a long time, there was an ongoing joke that Tony Stark would always learn a lesson from a previous film that would make a short appearance in a future project. One of the most notable was when Rhodey had his accident in Captain America: Civil War, he made sure that Spider-Man had a safety parachute in his suit during Spider-Man: Homecoming. It looks like that ongoing joke is something that Marvel Studios also lives by.

    Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed in an interview with Movie Business Podcast that they hold “post-mortem on every project” to take away lessons from each project and it even was something that started back in the first Iron Man all the way back in 2008 but they wouldn’t receive their name until much later.

    We do a post-mortem on every project, or at least we try to, if we’re not too busy with the next project, to sit and discuss what went right and what went wrong. And I remember we started doing that, we were asked to do it for the first time on ‘Iron Man 1.’ And we call them ‘post-mortems’ now, at the time it was a ‘what went wrong’ meeting. We were asked to do a ‘what went wrong’ meeting for Iron Man. And I thought, ‘What went wrong? This movie’s a giant hit, it launched a whole studio? Why do we have to do a what went wrong meeting?

    There’s something funny about hearing the comment regarding the reaction to a “what went wrong meeting” given that this isn’t an unusual practice in other industries. Though, it highlights the importance of what Marvel Studios has accomplished throughout the last 10+ years of pushing this franchise forward: they always try to learn what worked and didn’t work. He also highlights they always want to “entertain first” with their projects.

    That’s a horrible way to put it, which is what I was reacting to. But it is actually great to sit and go, ‘Here’s what was done, here’s how we could have done it better.’ And we do that on every project. And I guess to distill it down of what lessons is learned is, entertain the audience [at every] turn. Frank Capra has a quote that our Co-President Louis D’esposito quotes often, which is basically distilled down to, entertain first.

    The Internet might have their own opinions on what works or doesn’t work for the Marvel Studios projects, as someone can be quite vocal. But, it’s reassuring to know that they take this seriously and try to take some lessons away from any project they work on, no matter how successful. It might also reflect on how they keep it moving forward and building towards its future.

    Going by many rumors and reports making the rounds, it seems they learned quite a bit from their pandemic era that consisted of Phase 4 and have adjusted accordingly going into their next phase of films and building towards the climax that is Avengers: Secret Wars and the end of the Multiverse Saga.

    Source: Movie Business Podcast via The Direct

  • Marvel Studios President Reveals their Goal With the MCU

    Marvel Studios President Reveals their Goal With the MCU

    There’s always an ongoing discussion on the value that Marvel STudios brings as a production studio. There’s a bizarre fascination with the phenomenon of a Cinematic Universe running for over ten years and still having a powerful hold on the market. While Phase 4 may be considered their most “mixed” depending on who you ask, there’s no denying that they still remain a curious cinematic entry in the history.

    Yet, as many discuss where its value lies, may it be in its cinematic approach to storytelling or even if it holds any actual cinematic value. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige believes that their main goal is to be “entertaining” to those watching their films or series; the same goes for the creatives working with them to bring these projects to life..

    You can have as many beautiful messages, and beautiful life theories, and beautiful thematics that you want to put into the world, that all of us do, and all of our filmmakers do. But if you are not entertaining first, it will fall on deaf ears. And I think that has always been the way, and that thankfully when you are making the kind of movies that you love to see then that will also go into entertaining yourself, which is what we also try to do here at Marvel Studios

    Kevin Feige

    There are many discussions online, but there’s one thing that does showcase why of all attempts at a cinematic universe, Marvel manages to remain at the top. There’s a passion in the producing team and those they work with. If Marvel is forever only time can tell but as long as there is some passion, they won’t likely stop doing the things they enjoy bringing to life. No matter how the internet reacts but as long as their films fill the seats.

    Source: Movie Business Podcast via The Direct

  • A New Rumor Potentially Reveals the Villain of Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’

    A New Rumor Potentially Reveals the Villain of Marvel Studios ‘Fantastic Four’

    In 2019, Kevin Feige announced that Marvel Studios was developing a Fantastic Four film much to the excitement of fans of the property. Four years and two directos later, little is known about the upcoming project. No actors have been announced for any member of the First Family and only the vaguest of rumored details about the potential plot have made their way online. However, according to a new rumor, the film’s villain may have been revealed.

    Twitter users My Time To Shine Hello and Tom Smith have indicated that Galactus will be the villain of 2025’s Fantastic Four.

    The rumors kicked off during a Q&A with My Time To Shine Hello. When asked who the main villain of the project would be, she simply stated “Galactus.” A matter of hours later, Smith backed up the claim that Galactus would be involved.

    Starting off the franchise with a threat such as Galactus would be a bold move for Marvel Studios. While the character is one of the most well-known antagonists of the team in the comics, it’s been generally believed Marvel would start out with a less enormous threat. It’s unknown what route director Matt Shakman‘s adaptation of the character might take, but hopefully, if the rumors are true, fans will get to see Galactus fully revealed as Jack Kirby intended and not a cloud of cosmic dust in the wind.

  • Amazon Developing ‘Tomb Raider’ Movie

    Amazon Developing ‘Tomb Raider’ Movie

    Hours after it was announced that Amazon’s Prime Video was developing a Tomb Raider television series with Fleabag‘s Phoebe Waller-Bridge penning the scripts, it appears there’s more in store for Lara Croft. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Amazon has won the film rights to Tomb Raider and is also developing a new film.

    Per the outlet, Amazon seems to have teamed up with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment to secure the film rights for Tomb Raider. It was previously announced in December that Amazon would also publish the next video game entry within the franchise. Amazon’s plan is to reportedly build out a connected world, much like with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, through television, film and video games. While financials regarding the deal are unclear, it’s thought that the deal is “among the largest commitments at Amazon after Lord of the Rings.” (Refresher: That deal ultimately cost Amazon $250 million just to secure the rights.)

    THR was able to confirm that, while Waller-Bridge is penning the television series, she does not look to be involved with the film or video game. The film seems to still be in the very early stages and as of now has no writer, director or talent attached to the project.

    Source: THR.

  • Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Calls ‘Thunderbolts’a ‘Black Widow’ Sequel

    Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Calls ‘Thunderbolts’a ‘Black Widow’ Sequel

    Marvel Studios 2024 team-up film, Thunderbolts, has been in the news quite a bit recently as rumors about one of Marvel’s crazier characters, Sentry, have excited fans. The film is set to introduce the titular team, under the watch of Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ Val, to the MCU. Among the team are a trio of characters who debuted in 2021’s Black Widow and it seems like that’s more than just a coincidence.

    In an Instagram post, Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park explained that Thunderbolts is serving as a sequel to Black Widow.

    It’s not the first time the comparison has been made, but having Park seemingly confirm it is fantastic and gives fans an idea of what to expect from the tone of the film…and who the lead might be.

  • RUMOR: Ryan Gosling a Front-Runner for ‘Fantastic Four’ Role

    RUMOR: Ryan Gosling a Front-Runner for ‘Fantastic Four’ Role

    A new potential front-runner has emerged for a role in Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four adaptation. The Hot Mic Podcast has shared a new rumor that Hollywood A-Lister Ryan Gosling is in line for a lead role in the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe project. It wasn’t specified which role Gosling would potentially be playing. Though based on the rumor, Ryan Gosling would be a logical choice to play Mister Fantastic in the film. The actor likely wouldn’t match well as any other member of the Fantastic Four and doesn’t have the European heritage to best play a role such as Doctor Doom.

    The actor has a strong track record as a leading man in marquee films in the 21st century and has the acting abilities to pair greatly with any current lead of the Marcel Cinematic Universe. In addition, the 42-year-old is of the right age to play the father figure in Marvel’s first family for what would likely be a trilogy of films alongside a handful of crossover appearances.

    A notable caveat with a rumor like this is that audiences likely won’t have an official announcement for casting for some bit of time. Being a 2025 release, Fantastic Four likely won’t begin production until early 2024. And with that in mind, one shouldn’t expect an announcement till at least the second half of 2023. An event like San Diego Comic-Con (taking place in July) would be a probable and logical time to expect this sort of reveal. Rumors like these remain fairly a superfluous, yet interesting thought experiment for fans in the meantime before more concrete information is locked in.

    Source: Hot Mic Podcast

  • Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni to Star in ‘It Ends With Us’ Adaptation

    Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni to Star in ‘It Ends With Us’ Adaptation

    Author Colleen Hoover‘s best-selling novel, It Ends With Us, is heading to the big screen. Deadline reported on Thursday that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are set to star in the adaptation for Sony and Wayfarer Studios. Along with starring in the film, Baldoni will also serve as the director.

    Baldoni and Wayfarer optioned the rights to Hoover’s novel back in 2019. The book continues to dominate the bestseller lists and is a phenomenon on BookTok on TikTok. Hoover’s hashtag on TikTok has been viewed over 2 billion times, and the novel has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over 90 weeks and earned the title of the top-selling print book in 2022. Hoover, who currently has multiple titles on the bestseller list, will consult on the film adaptation.

    Lively will play Lily, a young woman who is looking to start her life after finishing college, while Baldoni will play Ryle. As things begin to grow between Lily and Ryle and she finds herself falling for him, her ex, Atlas, soon appears to try and challenge their budding relationship.

    Lively is best known for Gossip Girl. She’s set to make her directorial debut with the adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley‘s Second, with the script being penned by writer-director Edgar Wright. While Baldoini is perhaps best known for Jane the Virgin, although he has recently moved behind the camera with an adaptation of Five Feet Apart.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Eternals’ Was the Most Streamed Marvel Studios Film of 2022

    ‘Eternals’ Was the Most Streamed Marvel Studios Film of 2022

    In what may come as a surprise to some, Marvel Studio’s Eternals was the most streamed film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2022. The Chloe Zhao-directed film ranked 13th in Nielsen’s list of the Top 15 Streaming Movies of 2022, and is the only film from Marvel Studios present. Below is the full list of films and their view count.

    1. Encanto (27.416 billion / Disney+)
    2. Turning Red (11.427 billion / Disney+)
    3. Sing 2 (11.347 billion / Netflix)
    4. Moana (8.629 billion / Disney+)
    5. The Adam Project (6.141 billion / Netflix)
    6. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.697 billion / Disney+)
    7. Don’t Look Up (5.141 billion / Netflix)
    8. Frozen (5.133 billion /  Disney+)
    9. Luca (4.974 billion / Disney+)
    10. The Gray Man (4.972 billion / Netflix)
    11. Zootopia (4.437 billion / Disney+)
    12. Coco (4.253 billion / Disney+)
    13. Eternals (4.236 billion / Disney+)
    14. Frozen II (4.195 billion / Disney+)
    15. Uncharted (4.179 billion / Netflix)

    The list from Nielsen highlights the dominance that both Disney+ and Netflix hold in the streaming landscape. Based on their view counts and subscriber numbers, the two are definitive benchmarks for successful streaming services. This group of 15 films also highlights the domination child-oriented family movies hold in the film industry.

    When it comes to Eternals specifically, this type of data could be seen as a promising sign for fans of the original film. While the 2021 theatrical release was one of the lowest performing from both financial and critical perspectives for Marvel Studios, it appears the film has found a sizeable audience on Disney+. With that in mind, one could see such a high view count as a check in the plus column for continuing the franchise for at least a sequel project (if it was ever in doubt to begin with). Though an interesting possibility could then be to move the Eternals franchise exclusively to Disney+. The film has at least appeared to be more accessible via streaming. And allowing a longer runtime that isn’t constrained for a sequel could help further expand the stories of these characters, something that could’ve helped the critical success of the rare mixed performance of a Marvel Studios film.

    Source: The Direct

  • Ayo Edebiri Joins Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts’

    Ayo Edebiri Joins Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts’

    Ayo Edebiri is set to join the cast of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts. The news was revealed on Thursday by Deadline with the outlet revealing Edebiri’s role is being kept under wraps. The actor is coming off of the critically-acclaimed FX series, The Bear, where she plays Sydney Adamu. She has also appeared in Dickinson and has lent her voice to Netflix’s hit series, Big Mouth.

    Thunderbolts is set to mark the actor’s first big studio role. She recently appeared in Theater Camp, which recently premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and sold to Searchlight for $8 million. She also has the second season of The Bear coming this summer to Hulu. The Bear proved to be Edebiri’s big breakout, even earning her a Critics Choice nomination.

    Edebiri will join a cast that already includes Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Wyatt Russell as US Agent, and Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster. And while recent reports have suggested otherwise, Hannah John-Kamen still seems locked to return as Ghost.

    Jake Schreier will direct Thunderbolts from a script by Black Widow writer Eric Pearson. The movie is currently slated to hit theaters on July 26, 2024.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Barbarian’ Director Zach Cregger Sets Next Project At New Line

    ‘Barbarian’ Director Zach Cregger Sets Next Project At New Line

    Barbarian was, apparently, only the beginning for newfound thriller maestro Zach Cregger. The filmmaker, whose aforementioned horror project became a surprise hit in late 2022, has officially set his next movie at New Line with a whopping, unprecedented eight-figure deal. Titled Weapons, the film is being described by The Hollywood Reporter as “an interrelated, multistory horror epic that tonally is in the vein of [Paul Thomas Anderson’s] Magnolia“. No other plot details are currently known, though Cregger is confirmed to be producing the project alongside Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment and J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of Boulderlight Productions, his former creative partners on Barbarian.

    According to THR, the deal with New Line came less than 24 hours after Cregger pitched the Weapons script for the first time. Multiple major Hollywood studios were heavily interested in being part of the film, with some producers even calling the director’s representatives before his script was ready to be shared, and making offers sight unseen. On top of a staggering payday, Cregger‘s deal with New Line gives him a guaranteed greenlight, a guaranteed theatrical release, controlling interest in a backend pot, and total control over the film’s final cut. An agreement of this nature in today’s market is truly remarkable, considering Cregger has only made a single film prior.

    New Line, which reportedly beat out Universal in a heated battle over Weapons‘ rights, released the following statement from President and CCO Richard Brener regarding the deal:

    Zach proved with Barbarian that he can create a visceral theatrical experience for audiences and that he commands every tool in the filmmaker toolbelt. We couldn’t be happier that he, Roy [Lee] and Miri [Yoon], and J.D. [Lifshitz]and Rafi [Margules] chose New Line to be the home of his next film, and hope it is the first of many to come.

    Richard Brener

    As stated by Brener, the studio hopes Weapons will be the first of many collaborations between New Line and Cregger, who has the potential to become a major new player in the cinematic horror scene in years to come.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter