Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • BREAKING: First ‘Black Panther 2’ Merch Offers First Look at Attuma

    BREAKING: First ‘Black Panther 2’ Merch Offers First Look at Attuma

    We’ve heard plenty rumors that Namor would appear in Black Panther Wakanda Forever alongside ither Atlanteans like Attuma. We still haven’t gotten a first look of their design until now when merchandise found its way online featuring Attuma in all his blue glory.

    It’s a great adaptation if his design and further hints at his connection to Mesoamerican culture. So, this is our first official confirmation of his addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as that Namor will have a big role in the film.

    The hammerhead shark headpiece is a great addition that’ll add something to make him stand out. We still don’t know how they’ll explore the different races of Atlanteans in the story but this may be a hint that a first official look at Namor is on the horizon.

    Source: Twitter

  • Christian Bale on Why He Was the Perfect Choice for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Gorr the God Butcher

    Christian Bale on Why He Was the Perfect Choice for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’s Gorr the God Butcher

    Many wondered what magic director Taika Waititi pulled off to convince Christian Bale to once again return to the world of comic book adaptations. He gave us an iconic version of Batman in Christopher Nolan‘s iconic The Dark Knight Trilogy and has now set his eyes on giving us what could potentially become Marvel Studios’ best villain yet in Gorr the God Butcher.

    Now, the question is on how they decided that Bale was the perfect choice to bring the character to life. Funny enough, he got a chance to answer that very question and pretty much highlighted that the goal was for him to bring a character to life that is the perfect opposite of Chris Hemsworth, though he also has some fun with the answer during the official press conference.

    I think, you know, you were talking about what everyone was looking for in Chris. I think in Gorr, they look for an actor polar opposite.  Someone not relatable, a bit of a loner, creepy, someone no one wants to be around, and nobody wants to see his ass.  And so, I think they went, “Yeah, we found it in Bale.”

    Christian Bale

    The aspect of Gorr being a “loner, creepy, someone no one wants to be around” is a rather curious reveal and likely his approach to the character from the approach. His design as revealed int he second trailer definitely hints at Bale‘s take on Gorr being more of a loner, whose storyline may connect to the romantic comedy aspect that the franchise is going for. Still, Bale certainly sounded like he had some fun with his response even if it may offer our first real glimpse on how he approached bringing the character to life on the silver screen.

  • First Look at Sigourney Weaver’s New ‘Avatar 2’ Character

    First Look at Sigourney Weaver’s New ‘Avatar 2’ Character

    Many were quite surprised when the news dropped that Sigourney Weaver will return to the world of Pandora. It was unsure how she’d return after playing the human Dr. Grace Augustine in 2009’s Avatar, but it looks like she is playing a completely new character. Empire has shared a first look at the young Na’vi Kiri, who is the adoptive daughter of Jake and Neytiri. She’ll make her debut in the upcoming release of Avatar: The Way of Water but further details on her role in the story are still uncertain.

    Going by the lore introduced in the first film, it does make sense that Weaver’s character would be reborn in one way or another. As they build up the connection between the unity that connects all living things on Pandora, it’s not too surprising that her soul may have been reborn in this new body. There’s also something nice bout letting her be reborn again and see this world from a new perspective.

    It wouldn’t be too surprising if she also becomes our guide into learning how the aquatic side of Pandora works, as this is new to the entire Sully family. We still know very little about the story and how the conflict is potentially set up moving forward but it does seem like we’ll be in for another wonderful adventure.

    Source: Empire

  • New ‘Black Adam’ Toy Offers Best Look Yet at Film’s DC Villain

    New ‘Black Adam’ Toy Offers Best Look Yet at Film’s DC Villain

    It looks like a new toy line has found its way online that offers our best look yet ath the film’s new villain, Sabbac. We got our first look back when the Funko Pop line found its way online but it only seemed to offer a glimpse at what he’d look like. Now, a new figurine seemingly reveals that they’re going all-in with Sabbac’s design. As shared by @hodceu, we see that the character will have a pentagram engraved on his chest and rocking some horns.

    The design definitely looks surprisingly comic-accurate and it’ll be interesting to see how the character ties into the overarching story. The first trailer for Black Adam didn’t tease what the central conflict will end up being outside of Adam and the Justice Society of America eventually butting heads, especially with Adam’s line stating that he kills people and isn’t a hero. So, who knows how bad this guy is going to end up being to make even the anti-hero’s brutal way look like a cakewalk.

    Dwayne Johnson has proven that he’s very passionate about the Black Adam film, especially with it setting up his future in the DC Extended Universe. It’ll be interesting to see how it also sets up his eventual conflict with Shazam, as that film hinted at his existence but the sequel is seemingly heading in a completely unique direction. Yet, it seems obvious that they’ll have to come face-to-face eventually.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Trailer Pulls in Massive Viewership Within 24 Hours, Beats Out ‘The Mandalorian’s

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Trailer Pulls in Massive Viewership Within 24 Hours, Beats Out ‘The Mandalorian’s

    Now, this isn’t something you would expect but there’s a reason Hocus Pocus was such a cult classic even after all these years. After a long wait, the first trailer has finally arrived for the sequel, simply titled Hocus Pocus 2, that’ll see the return of Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in the roles they played 29 years ago. Within 24 hours, the trailer has pulled in a massive 43.6M.

    To put that into comparison, it has outperformed some of Diseny+’s biggest trailer releases such as The Book of Boba Fett’s 23M and Luca’s 28M. Not only that, it even surpassed the teasers for the first two seasons of The Mandalorian, which stood at 35M each. Those are some massive numbers, and once again highlighted just how valuable a continuation of a classic franchise truly can be with such a long break, as we saw with Top Gun Maverick a few months back.

    It’ll be interesting to see if the viewership also carries over into the film’s actual release. These numbers tend to hint at where the project will end up performing, which hopefully is a sign that Disney+ is starting to find its base with more audiences. Marvel and Star Wars will remain their cornerstone, but Disney may finally realize that their IP pockets are much deeper and far more diverse moving forward.

    Source: THR

  • The 5 Most (and Least) Rewatchable MCU Films

    The 5 Most (and Least) Rewatchable MCU Films

    With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness now streaming on Disney Plus, MCU fans have the opportunity to rewatch the film-or at least certain parts of it at their leisure. And, according to some recent data, it looks like fans have turned it on more than either of the other two MCU films that also only had a 45-day theatrical window, Shang-Chi, and Eternals. The film is, for the most part, a fast-paced, wild ride through the multiverse, chocked full of crazy cameos and some of Marvel Studios’ most terrifying content to date. But will it, ultimately, be the kind of film fans go back to over and over again? Time will tell, but for now, let’s look at which films already do fit that category…and which don’t.

    The 5 Most Rewatchable MCU Films

    Ant-Man (2015)

    Everyone loves Paul Rudd and his energy makes 2015’s Ant-Man one of the MCU’s funniest films. Of course, Rudd’s not alone in bringing the laughs as he’s joined by Michael Peña’s Luis, whose attention to all the wrong details in his stories makes for laughs every time. Finally, the father-daughter relationship between Rudd’s Scott Lang and his daughter, Cassie, hits home and adds a layer of sweetness to the film.

    Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

    While Avengers: Endgame was received better critically, Infinity War provides fans with a steady flow of rewatchable moments that make it the perfect MCU film to have on in the background. From Cap’s catch of Proxima’s weapon to Thor’s arrival on Earth to the many highlights of the Battles of Wakanda and Titan, Infinity War acts as a highlight reel for the shared cinematic universe.

    Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2015)

    From start to finish, Captain America: The Winter Soldier puts out a steady flow of some of the best action in any MCU film to date. Beginning with the raid of the Lemurian Star, continuing to the best car chase the MCU has seen and the beautifully shot battle in the streets between Cap and the Winter Solider and finishing up with the emotional battle in the Hellicarrier, the Russo brothers, with the help of a fantastic score, made fans FEEL the action. While the MCU has had some pretty successful action scenes since this film still feels like it’s the best of the best in that regard.

    Guardians of the Galaxy (2015)

    James Gunn changed an awful lot from the way these characters were depicted in the source material and one of them cements this film as one of the most rewatchable MCU films. By giving Peter Quill a Walkman, Gunn found an organic way to incorporate music into the film and from the moment fans saw the first teaser footage, it was the music that drew them in. It doesn’t hurt that Gunn’s strength as a director is dealing with interpersonal dynamics-and he certainly had a lot of fun with that here-but every time fans see Star-Lord dancing on Morag, the good feelings come rushing back.

    Thor: Ragnarok (2015)

    The most dumb fun ever put into one MCU film. Ragnarok began the process of making Thor a lot less Shakespearian and a lot more fun. Director Taika Waititi figuratively and, in one scene, literally, deconstructed everything fans thought they knew about Thor and Asgard, allowing for the Odinson to be reborn-though he certainly had to suffer before he got there. Between the comedy and the fun action, Ragnarok is rewatchable from beginning to end and stands at or near the top of the list.

    The 5 Least Rewatchable MCU Films

    Captain Marvel (2019)

    A less than marvelous plot, run-of-the-mill action, and some really dull and poorly written characters combine to make this one tough to get through more than once. Sure, Ben Mendelsohn‘s Talos is pretty great, but for a film starring Brie Larson, Lee Pace, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jude Law, it really misses the mark. Like many MCU first films, this one does a lot of foundational work that will likely allow for a stronger sequel, but even there the film falls short by failing to really dive into the Kree-Skrull War, one of the comic’s longest-standing feuds, and making the Skrulls pretty boring.

    Eternals (2021)

    For a film based on one of Jack Kirby’s wildest ideas, very little is wild here and very little is Kirby here. Wooden and sleepy performances are everywhere in Eternals, with only Kumail Nanjiani and Don Lee escaping that trap. It also may have been a mismatch to put director Chloe Zhao, who works only with natural light, in charge of this group who, in the comics, are as bright and bold as any. Finally, the decision-making around how to adapt the Deviants to the MCU is as baffling as any, giving the name to some incredibly boring and very non-Kirby creatures. A missed opportunity for sure.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

    As fantastically rewatchable as the first one is, the sequel never really comes near to that. While not necessarily a bad movie, outside of the big opening action sequence, it doesn’t recapture the charm of the first film, and parts of the second act can induce one to wonder what’s happening online rather than dig back in.

    The Incredible Hulk (2008)

    Other than introducing Banner and Thunderbolt Ross, this film has really had no reason for existing. Sure, we’re getting more of Abomination/Blonsky now, but adding cool characters to the shared universe doesn’t do enough save this one. As Captain Marvel, this film is full of talented names who fell victim to a story that was simply not that interesting. It’s probably for the best that it’s not available on Disney Plus, though it’s so unwatchable that it’s possible not many people even know it’s not there.

    Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

    Of all the films on this list, this is the hardest one to explain away. It has some of the MCU’s most memorable and creative action sequences, Jake Gyllenhall is a fantastic Mysterio and everyone loves Tom Holland; however, nothing about it screams “watch me again!”. Interestingly enough, the events of it are rendered completely meaningless by the end of No Way Home, so if you find yourself forgetting the big reveal at the end, you’ll be in the same boat as the in-universe population of the MCU.

    What 5 are you taking with you for a weekend retreat? What 5 are you retreating from? Let us know in the comments.

  • ‘Dune: Part Two’ Faces Slight Delay, Eyeing November 2023 Release

    ‘Dune: Part Two’ Faces Slight Delay, Eyeing November 2023 Release

    Fans of the Dune franchise will have to wait slightly longer for the second installment of the film series. It has officially been announced today that Dune: Part Two will be moving to a new release date of November 17, 2023. This however is only a one-month shift as the highly anticipated sequel was originally scheduled to release on October 20, 2023. There is no official confirmation for the reason for the delay, but having that much more hypothetical time to work on any post-production visual effects can only serve to make Dune: Part Two that much better.

    The first Dune film of this new franchise released in 2021 covers predominantly the first half of the 1965 classic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. In it, the story of Paul Atreides (portrayed by Timothee Chalamet) is told as he navigates the sand planet of Arrakis, manages the socio-political landscape of the world around him both on-planet and in the surrounding universe, and comes to terms with being destined for great leadership as a messiah-type figure. Alongside Chalamet, the original film stars the likes of Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Jason Mamoa, Javier Bardem, and Zendaya.

    Director Denis Villeneuve is returning to helm the second part of this film series after directing the 2021 adaptation. In addition to the return of numerous cast members in the first part, the sequel is set to introduce Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV, and Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot.

    Source: Variety

  • EXCLUSIVE: Scott Adsit on Bringing Baymax to Live-Action in the MCU

    EXCLUSIVE: Scott Adsit on Bringing Baymax to Live-Action in the MCU

    MCU fans may remember a rumor that Marvel Studios was looking to incorporate characters from Big Hero 6, specifically Hiro and Baymax, into their shared universe in a live-action appearance. As exciting as that rumor was, it was eventually debunked by a trade report, which indicated that Big Hero 6 and the characters associated with it were staying with the creatives at Disney and any new projects involving them would be done at that studio.

    One such new project involving the property is now available on Disney Plus in the form of BAYMAX!, a six-episode collection of shorts with a ton of heart (read our full review here) that takes the character back to his roots as a healthcare companion. Ahead of the premiere of the series, Charles Murphy had the opportunity to talk to actor Scott Adsit, who has voiced Baymax since Big Hero 6 debuted in 2014 and asked him if he’d be willing to get back in studio to bring him to life.

    I’d get in the costume for that. I’d get in the big rubber suit and inflate it and walk around. Absolutely! Because I’m a big Marvel nerd and I think all those movies are fantastic, so to step into one of them would be incredible.

    Scott Adsit

    Unfortunately for Adsit, it doesn’t appear as though he’ll get the chance to fill out that rubber suit anytime soon. But as the voice of Baymax for the better part of a decade, it’s good to know he’s willing to take up the part anytime. Maybe there’s hope for the future!

  • Untitled ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing 2024 Release

    Untitled ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing 2024 Release

    It looks like the next entry in the Monsterverse is eyeing a 2024 release, as while Warner Bros. was announcing the new release date for Dune: Part Two, which is only facing a slight delay, it seems that they also used the opportunity to confirm that an untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is going to release in 2024 on March 15th. No further details are offered on what exactly the film is going to be about, especially as the fallout of the previous entry leaves the door open to explore Godzilla or Kong’s next storyline.

    While a personal hope is for more Godzilla films, there have been hints that the next project may focus on an adaptation of Son of Kong, which would hint at a new generation of monsters taking the spotlight. After Godzilla went on a rampage due to the existence of Mechagodzilla, we don’t know how the world has treated Titans. They also are still seemingly focused on the main duo rather than continuing to expand on the “Monster” aspect of the Monsterverse.

    It’s not the only expansion, as there is also an Apple TV+ spinoff currently in development. We’re still waiting for an official update on the project or where it is heading, but there have been hints that they may be eyeing Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell to join the production. WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman is already attached to direct the spinoff.

    Source: Variety

  • Lena Headey Originally Had a Role in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Lena Headey Originally Had a Role in ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

    Over the past few months, rumors have suggested Game of Thrones alum Lena Headey was set to make her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time of the rumors, the project she was reportedly involved in wasn’t entirely clear, but it was thought she would appear in Thor: Love and Thunder in some capacity. While Headey’s casting was never officially announced, Variety has confirmed she did have a role in the project – but she was ultimately cut.

    The news comes as the outlet states Headey is being sued for $1.5 million by her former U.K. agency Troika over unpaid commission fees relating to a number of projects. Among those projects is none other than Thor: Love and Thunder. The agency, which has since rebranded as YMU, is claiming that the actress owes them approximately $500,000 – a 7% fee based on her earnings for the Marvel Studios film. While Heady did film something for the project, the actress does not appear in the final cut of Thor: Love and Thunder, and her role remains unknown.

    Despite the agency’s claims, Headey is insistent that YMU is not entitled to any fees from her earnings on Love and Thunder as director Taika Waititi approached her for the film directly.

    Thor: Love and Thunder will hit theaters next weekend.

    Source: Variety.