Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Teases ‘X-Men’ and ‘Chaos War’ Characters

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Concept Art Teases ‘X-Men’ and ‘Chaos War’ Characters

    Thor: Love and Thunder has come and gone, but it hasn’t left the mainstream conversation. The fourthquel was responsible for introducing audiences to many exciting new locations, many of which will be discussed for years to come. Perhaps the most visually pleasing was Omnipotence City, a glorious meeting place for gods of all pantheons and the site of the film’s most colorful sequences. The locale was also popular with fans for it’s many intriguing cameos and godly designs. Marvel Studios artist Sung Choi recently took to Instagram to reveal some design work he completed for the film as part of the “early exploration” process for Omnipotence City, and it features quite a few faces that could fill the same category of shock and awe.

    Among those present appears to be Cyttorak, the deity that famously powers X-Men villain Juggernaut through an ancient artifact known as the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Seated next to him is what looks like a version of Galactus, the infamous world-eater who plagues the Marvel Universe on a regular basis, and Ganesha, the real-world Hindu god of intellect and wisdom. Also present are what could be Aegis, the golden Lady of All Sorrows, of Marvel’s Proemial gods, and what looks like a Mandalorian from the Star Wars franchise. The latter could be a fun reference to director Taika Waititi‘s time on the hit Disney+ series.

    Curiously, the largest god seated all the way at the top of the throne room is incredibly similar in design to the comic book version of Ajak – leader of the Eternals. It’s possible Ajak was at one point considered as a cameo to tie-in with Marvel’s Eternals film, and this art was produced before Salma Hayek landed the role. Finally, on the right, fans will be able to spot two major characters from Thor lore who actually did end up making the movie’s final cut. Hercules, played in the post-credits scene by Brett Goldstein, is drawn sitting beside a god who looks like Amatsu-Mikaboshi, the malevolent Japanese Chaos King who acted as a the villain of Greg Pak‘s Chaos War arc, a story in which Hercules and Thor team-up to defeat them. It’s important to remember this art was likely devised before anything was set in stone for the project, and Choi likely threw in random gods to get a better feel for how the throne room should look. Either way, it’s still fun to speculate.

    Source: Instagram

  • REPORT: Another Name Surfaces as a Candidate for DC Films’ Kevin Feige

    REPORT: Another Name Surfaces as a Candidate for DC Films’ Kevin Feige

    The uncertainty and unease surrounding the future of Warner Bros. Discovery’s DC Universe seem to be growing by the day. As has been widely reported over the last week, new WBD CEO David Zaslav has been busy making a series of drastic alterations to the company’s film slate. Batgirl, along with several other potential projects, received an unexpected axing, and most things in development are potentially on the chopping block.

    Before the current upheaval, David Zaslav announced that DC is one of their highest priorities. On top of the announcement that DC would be becoming its own studio within the company, Zaslav has confirmed that they’ve put a team together to run said studio and have put together a ten-year plan, mentioning outright it is similar to what Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have built over at Disney. No word has been made on what exactly this “10-year-plan” entails and it’s unknown if WBD will announce a slate anytime soon.

    Still, plenty of discussion has erupted about who could possibly be the “Kevin Feige of DC”. According to a report from Variety, one name being considered is TV producer Greg Berlanti, who “has been loudly whispered as a possibility for the role.” Berlanti is known for his work as one of the key architects of the CW’s DC Arrowverse, which included ncluded shows Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Superman & Lois. The Arrowverse featured many classic DC heroes and held several crossover events over the years, so Berlanti’s experience seems on par with what DC Films needs.

    However, the report noted that no official discussions between WBD and Berlanti’s team have occurred, and apparently trade reporting insiders think he would not be interested in the role. Another potential candidate mentioned by Variety’s report is producer Dan Lin, whose credits include IT, The LEGO Batman Movie, Godzilla vs. Kong, and the failed Justice League movie that George Miller was preparing in 2009. But Lin is reportedly not interested in the role either.

    Whoever ends up as the Feige of DC will be faced with high expectations set by Feige himself at Marvel Studios. It will be interesting to learn who WBD eventually selects for the role, though with all the seeming turmoil in the DC TV and Films, it is unclear when this person or 10-year plan will actuall come to fruition.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Black Adam’ Director Says the Film Avoids Hawkman’s Complicated Origin Story

    ‘Black Adam’ Director Says the Film Avoids Hawkman’s Complicated Origin Story

    Black Adam is the next film to be released in the DC Extended Universe, and many fans are excited to see Dwayne Johnson’s portrayal of the titular superhero. Alongside Black Adam himself, the film is set to introduce to live-action the Justice Society of America and some of its classic members. Director Jaume Collett-Serra confirmed to Vanity Fair that, in Black Adam, Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) is the leader of the JSA, whose members on-screen will also include Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan).

    With Hawkman in such a significant role, one wonders how Black Adam planned to handle the character’s infamously complicated and confusing origin story. Multiple versions of Hawkman have been published, primarily two different versions. One version hails from Earth and is rooted in reincarnation, and the other is a police officer from another planet. Eventually the two distinct characters were merged and further complicated down the line. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Collett-Serra revealed that the upcoming film will avoid Hawkman’s backstory for this very reason. He stated:

    In the comics, there are clear references of like, ‘Hey, I saw you 5,000 years ago. You remember me?’ We’re not doing that…It would be too confusing. Obviously, Hawkman reincarnates, so how many times do you need to reincarnate and still remember? All these rules [are something] you don’t want to set until those characters are really established…He is a very driven character that knows that he’s on the right side. He’s a leader. He wants to bring this team together, and bring a certain stability to the world. Hawkman has a very strong sense of what’s right or wrong, and Black Adam challenges that.”

    —Jaume Collett-Serra

    Considering Black Adam is designed to be a solo film for Johnson’s character and an introduction to the JSA, there could be plenty of time for DC to explore Hawkman’s origin more thoroughly in the future. Still, fans of the character should not get their hopes up to see it laid out in Black Adam.

    Black Adam releases in theaters on October 21, 2022.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • Zelda Williams’ ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Alum And More

    Zelda Williams’ ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Adds ‘Stranger Things’ Alum And More

    According to Deadline, Carla Gugino, Liza Soberano, Joe Chrest, and Henry Eikenberry have been added to the cast of Focus’ Lisa Frankenstein. They joined previously announced cast members Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton. The film, in which actor-filmmaker Zelda Williams will be making her directorial debut, was scripted by Juno‘s Diablo Cody. The film will follow Newton as an unpopular high school student in 1989 who accidentally re-animates a handsome Victorian corpse – played by Sprouse – during a lightning storm. She then starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams, using the broken tanning bed in her garage.

    Per Deadline, Chrest, who best known for his role as Ted Wheeler on Stranger Things, will be portraying Newton‘s character’s father Dale. However, details as to the others’ roles haven’t been disclosed. Gugino was recently seen in Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Bly Manor, as well as films like Gunpowder Milkshake and Gerald’s Game. Model and actor Eikenberry and Filipino-American actress, model and singer Soberano – best known for their roles in Euphoria and Alone/Together, respectively – will both make their Hollywood feature film debut in Lisa Frankenstein.

    Along with penning the script, Cody will serve as a producer on the film alongside Mason Novick who is producing for MXN Entertainment. Jeff Lampert serves as an executive producer, while Focus Features’ Vice President of Production and Development, Michelle Momplaisir, serves as the creative executive on the project. Though the film has entered principal photography in New Orleans, a release date has not yet been announced.

    Source: Deadline

  • Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Sequel Still in Development But is “Years Away”

    Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ Sequel Still in Development But is “Years Away”

    We’ve all been excited when we got the announcement that Matt Reeves‘ The Batman was getting a sequel. Not only was the first film quite the global hit during the pandemic with $770M, but it also set up a new trilogy with an expansive franchise being built around it. HBO Max would feature a Penguin-focused series with Colin Farrell set to return in the role. That was not all, as there was also an Arkham Asylum project in some form of development. Yet, Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent shake-ups have made their future quite unknown for many.

    In a new piece by Variety, they offer some insight into what the future looks like even if it remains quite the mess. According to them, The Batman is still in development but doesn’t have a greenlight yet. As such, the project isn’t likely to see the light of day for a few years. This does add some uncertainty if whoever takes over DC Studios in the future has the patience to let Matt Reeves do his thing while he works on the sequel for an extended period of time. Plus, who knows if the spinoff series is as safe as some reports seemingly hinted at.

    It’s bizarre they aren’t trying to fast-track this project, especially if they are keeping up with the multiverse angle as Joker’s sequel is in active development. Plus, Reeves’ own little pocket universe offered something that made it stand out in the blockbuster landscape, and yet Warner Bros. Discovery is trying to create a unified universe. So, who knows if this might become an issue down the line with many visions colliding at some point.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Joker’ Sequel Will Receive Massive Budget Increase From First Entry

    ‘Joker’ Sequel Will Receive Massive Budget Increase From First Entry

    Here’s quite the surprise but it looks like the upcoming Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux will have a twice as large budget as the previous entry. While it did surprise many when it pulled in over a billion at the international box office in 2019, it seems that the ambitious sequel will have quite a higher investment than the previous entry. The first was reported to have a budget between $55M to $70M, and it now seems that the latest entry will be closer to a high-budget Marvel film in scope.

    According to Variety, the film will have a budget of $150M due to the high salaries of Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips, who are expected to get $20M. Lady Gaga, the long-rumored addition show as recently confirmed, will get $10M. That is not all, as the production costs will get raised quite a bit due to the complicated musical sequences that are planned for the project, even if Variety hints that it’s closer to A Star is Born than In the Heights.

    We’ll have to see just where the budget will go, especially if the project is mostly taking place at one location. Perhaps they plan to have the dance sequences break the mold of reality and add interesting showpieces to the two dance sequences. It does seem curious how the budget ballooned for the sequel after Phillips statements in regards to keeping the project “smaller and more personal” in the past but we’ll see how the Joker sequel will turn out.

    Source: Deadline

  • Warner Bros. Weighing Options as Ezra Miller’s Spiral Continues

    Warner Bros. Weighing Options as Ezra Miller’s Spiral Continues

    As Ezra Miller’s very public downward spiral continues, Warner Bros. is now reportedly weighing their options with how to proceed with their $200M+ Miller vehicle, The Flash. After being charged with felony burglary, Miller was in the news again when it was reported that a mother and her three children who had been staying with Miller are now missing and being searched for by child’s services in Vermont. With Miller continuing to be in the news for all the wrong reasons, Warner Bros. is said to be considering three options with The Flash.

    According to THR, while it is not the studio’s first choice, they have come to the realization that should Miller’s erratic and headline-grabbing behavior continue, they will have to bury the film and eat its massive budget. While this is not their first choice nor their preferred option, it is the first time during Miller’s spree that reports out of the studio indicate it’s a possibility. At the other end of the spectrum, should Miller seek help and come forward with a public apology, the studio is willing to move forward with the film and allow Miller limited opportunities to promote it. In between those two ends is an option where the studio releases the film and keeps Miller away from press entirely, and then recasts the character moving forward, a move that has been the subject of fan speculation and discussion for months.

    According to the report, a recast and reshoot for The Flash would be impossible because Miller plays several characters in the film and “is in almost every scene.” Even as Warner Bros. has canceled several projects and looks to the future, their decision to move forward with The Flash, which was first announced in 2014, seems informative. Fans of long speculated that the movie could serve as an opportunity to “reboot” the continuity of the existing DC Universe and with the studio’s newly announced direction, it does seem a likely option.

    Source: THR

  • Neve Campbell Speaks Out on Exiting ‘Scream 6’ Over Pay Dispute

    Neve Campbell Speaks Out on Exiting ‘Scream 6’ Over Pay Dispute

    The new Scream film caught many by surprise when it offered a fresh new take on the iconic franchise. Legacy sequels are currently all the rage and it was exciting to see it perform as well as it did for long-time horror fans. As it also became a surprise hit at the box office, a new installment wasn’t too surprising. What did catch many off-guard was that long-time star Neve Campbell was moving away from the franchise.

    Speculation went wild on the reasoning behind her departure before first reports hinted that it was due to a pay dispute. Hollywood still struggles with payment inequality for non-male actors. Now, the actress has spoken out on why she decided to leave the franchise behind.

    I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years. And as a woman in this business, I think it’s really important for us to be valued and to fight to be valued. I honestly don’t believe that if I were a man and had done five installments of a huge blockbuster franchise over 25 years, that the number that I was offered would be the number that would be offered to a man.

    Neve Campbell

    It’s definitely heavy to hear the troubles she’s going through considering how she would go on to shape the franchise over the years. Campbell was one of the defining factors that made Scream what it is today, and her absence will be felt in the upcoming sequel. It makes you wonder if the draw will be the same without Neve Campbell when long-time fans return.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Nope’ is Jordan Peele’s Third Film to Pass $100M Domestically

    ‘Nope’ is Jordan Peele’s Third Film to Pass $100M Domestically

    It’s a big weekend for the box office, as not only did Thor: Love and Thunder manage to pass $700M but it also looks like Jordan Peele‘s third film has now joined the $100M club. Not every director can claim that his first three films manage to hit that mark, especially in an IP-dominated market with original pictures. Still, in three weeks, the film has managed to pull in $100.32M domestically.

    Overall, the pandemic has hit the box office quite a bit but there are quite a few films managing to still pull in past the $100M mark with original projects. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic is doing quite well with $137M, Sandra Bullock managed to pull the same with The Lost City and Ryan Reynolds‘ Free Guy from last year also made an impressive $121M. So, it’s a sign that mid-budget projects still have an important place in the market.

    It should be noted though that Nope faces a similar issue to Thor: Love and Thunder. While the latest Marvel movie is likely to make more than its previous entry, its budget was quite a bit higher according to some sources. Nope also had a higher budget of $68M which is a far cry from Get Out‘s $4.5M and Us‘ $20M. While it’s doing well, it’s unclear if it’ll beat out the previous two entries. There’s still the chance for its international box office to pull in quite a bit as it faces a delayed release but with only a few exceptions, the box office is still recovering in some ways.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Passes $700M Worldwide

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Passes $700M Worldwide

    While it didn’t have the momentum early on, Thor: Love and Thunder has officially passed the $700M mark worldwide. It’s currently on its way to passing the box office of its predecessor if you exclude its Chinese and Russian box office. The original pulled in $850M when it was released back in 2017 but owed $112M alone to China with Russia making up 23M. So, it would “only” need to pass $715M to pull in a higher box office than its predecessor. Not too far away from its current $704M international cume.

    Naturally, many would assume that the influx should be higher, especially with the presumed $250M budget this film is standing on. Still, with a B+ CinemaScore and a more mixed critical reception, it still surprised many when it started picking up momentum. The second and third weekends seemingly had a stronger drop but it was during the week when things would pick up for the fourth Thor entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    The film won’t be making a massive profit for Marvel Studios as it likely will break even but a fourth entry making as much or even more than its predecessor is also not a common thing in the market. Thor: Love and Thunder proves that Marvel Studios still has a good hold on the market and $700M is a great win for any production nowadays; Top Gun: Maverick is the exception that may be overlooked in the more fragile market we have right now.

    As of now, the film is likely to pass the first’s overall box office run and even reach around $750M+. There’s still a chance it could go higher if it legs out even with its 45-day window on the horizon; something that may be facing a change sooner rather than later. Still, the film is not a flop as many would make you believe and it’ll b interesting to see how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever performs later this year.

    Source: Twitter, The Numbers