Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Eyeing a June Release on Disney+

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Eyeing a June Release on Disney+

    It looks like the German Disney+ page has already confirmed when we might expect the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney+. According to Twitter user @DragonSkill01, a new visual was shared highlighting what we can expect in June on the service. In it, it reveals that the Doctor Strange sequel will release on June 22nd. Not only that, but it looks like the Assembled episode, here only titled The Making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will also release on the same day.

    Image

    While it’s the German release in this overview, it’s commonly a worldwide simultaneous release. So, it would make sense that the rest of the world will also get their hands on it by June 22nd. It must be noted that the post has been deleted since. So, it may have accidentally been published early. So, there may be a chance that the release would change, but it’s the official account that accidentally published it.

    The Assembled episode is also an interesting inclusion, as normally they try to keep some time between the film’s release and the Making Of episode. They’ve started releasing them as individual episodes instead of under the Assembled banner initially, but we’ll see how they handle it moving forward. Still, it’s great to know that we’ll get some mind-blowing sequences on the family-friendly Disney+ app soon.

    Source: Instagram via Twitter

  • ‘Fast X’: Scott Eastwood Returns to the ‘Fast and Furious’ Franchise as Little Nobody

    ‘Fast X’: Scott Eastwood Returns to the ‘Fast and Furious’ Franchise as Little Nobody

    It looks like Fast X is continuing to expand its cast, as even after facing the loss of its initial director, the project is moving forward. Now, it has been revealed that Scott Eastwood will return to the Fast and Furious franchise in his role as Little Nobody. The production picked up again with Louis Leterrier at the helm after replacing Justin Lin.

    Eastwood last played the character in 2017’s Fate of the Furious, where he was a government agent working with Kurt Russell‘s Mr. Nobody. There is, sadly, no word if this also means that Russell will return to the franchise as well, but it’s great to have another familiar face join the production. He joins a once again stacked cast consisting of Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron, Alan Ritchson, and Brie Larson, who will join returning favorites like Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson.

    It’s unclear where the film is going, especially now with the new director on board. The project will lead into the final installment in the now-titled Fast Saga, and they were originally going to shoot these films back-to-back. For now, we’ll have to see if we get any further updates as they continue filming. With the delays costing around a million per day, it hopefully won’t mean they’ll undertake any budget cuts as a result.

    Source: THR

  • DC’s HBO Max Future Uncertain, ‘Batgirl’ Likely Heading to Theatrical Release

    DC’s HBO Max Future Uncertain, ‘Batgirl’ Likely Heading to Theatrical Release

    The Wonder Twins have met an early demise as the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to shake things up and set the DC Extended Universe on a clearer path. It seems the twins may have just been the first of many causalities going by a recent statement.

    The new leadership, led by David Zaslav, is reportedly placing a mandate that states all DC films should be set as theatrical releases as their first goal. This decision stems from the budgets many of these films have with Zaslav using Wonder Twins‘ $75 million as an example. They don’t see that kind of investment viable with a good return with a release on HBO Max. This would mean that a film like Batgirl, which is still set to release on HBO Max could instead see a shift from the streamer to a wide theatrical release.

    The Hollywood Reporter also states that sources have told them that a lot of things that are being developed by Warner Bros. are likely going to be scrapped and never see the light of day. It seems the Green Lantern series may be in danger as it’s hit multiple delays in production and could exceed the budget granted to projects on the streamer. The bright side could see the film finally get some steam behind it and the long-awaited return of a character like Hal Jordan could become a possibility.

    It may be a while before we know exactly what is happening with the DC Extended Universe and many of the other projects in development. While things may seem uncertain it could lead to a much smoother March forward for the franchise.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Lucasfilm Has No Plans for Indiana Jones Films without Harrison Ford

    Lucasfilm Has No Plans for Indiana Jones Films without Harrison Ford

    With star actor Harrison Ford nearing the age of 80, questions could be asked about the future of the franchises he’s long been involved with. At least when it comes to Indiana Jones, it’s been confirmed that Lucasfilm doesn’t have the intention to recast the role. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy confirmed as much.

    We would never make Indiana Jones without Harrison Ford. Having just finished the fifth movie, I can tell you, there wasn’t a day I wasn’t on set where I wasn’t like, ‘Yes — this is Indiana Jones.’

    Kathleen Kennedy

    This is congruent with the sentiments of Kennedy to avoid recasting legacy characters in the Star Wars franchise as confirmed in the same interview. Many questions have been raised about the direction of the Indiana Jones franchise moving forward, especially with the long delays between the fourth and upcoming fifth installments. This news confirms the notion that we are probably nearing the end of seeing the titular character on the big screen; however, there certainly is room for new characters to be created that would fill the role as a spiritual successor down the road.

    Indiana Jones 5 is naturally set to star a returning Harrison Ford as Doctor Henry Jones, Jr. As well, the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Toby Jones, and Antonio Banderas are set to join the franchise in undisclosed roles. The James Mangold-directed project wrapped production in February of 2022 and is currently scheduled to be released on June 30, 2023.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Deadpool 3’: New Image Teases “Update” and Ryan Reynolds Easter Eggs

    ‘Deadpool 3’: New Image Teases “Update” and Ryan Reynolds Easter Eggs

    Fans of one of Marvel’s most charismatic characters are eagerly awaiting the eventual return of Deadpool to the big screen. It has been four years since Deadpool 2 was released, and Deadpool 3 still has no release date. Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox certainly changed the game for the franchise, but Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool is still set to make his highly-anticipated return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this time around.

    So far, we know that Free Guy‘s Shawn Levy will direct the Deadpool threequel, and Deadpool’s original writers are returning to help pen the script. Little else is known about the film, but the official Deadpool Movie Twitter account recently teased a “Deadpool 3 update.” The image features actor Rob Delaney’s character Peter in a room full of Ryan Reynolds-related easter eggs. The post states: “We’ve nailed down brand integrations. Story, character, and script next!” See the full post below:

    The easter eggs certainly highlight Reynolds’ many business ventures. Peter is shown wearing a Mint Mobile jacket, a bottle of Aviation Gin is shown on the table, Maximum Effort, MNTN software, and a poster referencing the football club Wrexham AFC, which Reynolds co-owns. While there is not much to go on in terms of actual updates about Deadpool 3, it could potentially be a sign that more information is coming soon.

    Source: Twitter

  • Netflix Exploring a 45-Day Theatrical Release of ‘Knives Out 2’

    Netflix Exploring a 45-Day Theatrical Release of ‘Knives Out 2’

    It was only a question of time, but it looks like Netflix is opening up its streaming-focused business model to also explore a cinematic release. While they’ve released films in the past, they are now considering a 45-day release window, starting with Knives Out 2. There’s been a lot of back and forth by the streaming service, but the recent scare after they’ve dropped in subscriber count for the first time has pushed them to try out new ventures.

    As of now, Rian Johnson‘s Knives Out 2 and the Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s Bardo are being considered. The former makes a lot of sense considering it pulled in $165M in the United States as well as $311M worldwide back in 2019 with a production budget of $40M. The move to purchase any sequels for $400M was quite the move and with the recent scare, its box office draw makes sense.

    Yet, there are going to be some issues with this move if they don’t play their cards right. Netflix’s usual bare-minimum marketing strategy won’t pull in the general audience to check out a film, as they may have forgotten it weeks after seeing the initial trailer. Plus, there’s also the fact that while it provides a new revenue stream, there might be some concerns due to moving away from its digital users to embrace a whole new target audience.

    They have released Don’t Look Up and The Power of Dog for two weeks in theaters, but the new 45-day window is becoming the staple for theatrical and streaming hybrid models. The only question will be if Netflix can pull this new model off and start a strong focus to ensure it reaches

    Source: Business Insider

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Has Passed $700M Worldwide

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Has Passed $700M Worldwide

    There have been a lot of discussions surrounding Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ box office development. Yes, it did face a harsh drop in its second weekend but as The Numbers pointed out, many frontloaded projects have tended to face harsher drops and Forbes made a good point on people expecting either an Avengers-level crossover film or a cameo fiesta like Spider-Man: No Way Home. Throw in the strong horror elements that may not jell with some general audiences, you end up with a B+ CinemaScore and people hoping for more, as such slowing down the word-of-mouth. Throw in a rather dead weekend with little competition.

    Still, the film opened as the 11th highest opening ever at the domestic box office. Even if it’s the second weekend was below The Batman‘s stronghold, the film is still not slowing down as it has now passed the $700M club. As of now, the film has garnered $297M domestically and $406M internationally. So, it managed to pull in the missing $12M to pass the benchmark it just barely missed over the weekend.

    There’s something fascinating about the discussions surrounding box office numbers. Even while Multiverse of Madness will very likely not pass the billion mark, it’s by far still a success for Marvel Studios. It already passed the box office of its original release, which stood at a strong $676M and is very likely going to move around the $900M mark. So, it is a definite increase from one film to the next even if it’s been six years between sequels.

    The MCU’s connected universe gives these films the benefit of sustaining franchises even with larger gaps due to ongoing appearances and staying relevant to viewers. We’ll see if Thor: Love and Thunder may soar with the expectations of the multiverse finally dropped from a new release.

    Source: Twitter, The Numbers, Forbes

  • Anson Mount on Returning as Black Bolt in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Anson Mount on Returning as Black Bolt in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    It must’ve been hard for many of the actors that appeared as part of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to stay silent. That especially goes for Anson Mount, who was able to return to the role of Black Bolt, which he only briefly got to play in the ill-received 2017 Inhumans series. Now that enough people are talking about the big moments in the film, Mount has taken to his Twitter account to share his enthusiasm for returning to the role, as well as confirm that it was Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige that invited him back to return to the role.

    It definitely was a great surprise and a deep cut for those that remembered the failed ABC series, which only ran for one season. Multiverse of Madness managed to not only bring him back to the role but even update his costume to be a lot closer to that from the comics. Yes, he even had his iconic fork on the mark, which Doctor Strange was quick to make fun of. He even went out in the most gruesome way, and it seems he had a lot of fun working with director Sam Raimi on bringing the character to life.

    We even got a comic-accurate version of his powers, which were given a very memorable visual flourish to stand out from the effect used on the ABC series. We’ll see if this brief appearance might also build up to more in the future, as not much is known about where the Inhumans fit within the MCU.

    Source: Twitter

  • New ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Concept Art Offers a Closer Look at Scarlet Witch Design

    New ‘Multiverse of Madness’ Concept Art Offers a Closer Look at Scarlet Witch Design

    There is no denying that Elizabeth Olsen‘s Scarlet Witch is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most powerful characters. Her recent turn to the side of chaos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cemented her as a terrifying force of nature in the eyes of many fans, and a new piece of concept art from visual developer Andy Park reflects this perfectly. The longtime Marvel Studios artist often uses social media to promote his previously unreleased artwork for the company’s shows and feature films, and it delivers every time. Most recently, Park has revealed a new look at Wanda Maximoff’s suit from the Doctor Strange sequel:

    The image displays Maximoff in all her scarlet glory, highlighting the immense amount of power she has gained from fully embracing the use of dark magic. Park comments that the intention of the new design was to stay true to WandaVision‘s grand finale outfit while also giving the character a “darker” spin overall. It would appear the artist was able to do just that, with the help of the film’s Visual Development Supervisor Ian Joyner and the rest of Marvel Studios’ talented concept team. Park started his career designing creatures and characters for the acclaimed God of War franchise, before moving over to Marvel in 2010. Since then, he has worked on a number of films including The Avengers, Captain America: Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

    Source: Twitter

  • Kathleen Kennedy Discusses Star Wars Hiatus From Theatrical Releases

    Kathleen Kennedy Discusses Star Wars Hiatus From Theatrical Releases

    The Star Wars franchise is in the midst of its relaunch into cultural prominence with the upcoming release of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney Plus the next big step. In an interview with Vanity Fair, President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy discussed the turning point for how the company managed their franchise with a mass hiatus from films in 2019 after the release of The Rise of Skywalker.

    We all recognized, every single one of us, that this was a new chapter for the company and that we needed to all work together to create the architecture for where we were going.

    Kathleen Kennedy

    Before the hiatus, Star Wars was in an era of releasing annual big blockbuster films such as the sequel trilogy in addition to spin-off films Rogue One and Solo. While it was reaping Lucasfilm with some strong financial benefits at the box office, this time served as some of the most critically divisive for the franchise. Kennedy felt that a reset was in order to recalibrate the future of the franchise. In addition to creating a new architecture, a focus on committing to the franchise was firmly established.

    Anyone who comes into the Star Wars universe needs to know that it’s a three-, four-, five-year commitment. That’s what it takes. You can’t step in for a year and shoot something and then walk away…. It requires that kind of nurturing.

    Kathleen Kennedy

    This is certainly in reference to some of the issues pertaining to the sequel trilogy that lacked a singular direction throughout its run in flip-flopping the director chair between JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson. At least on a surface level, it appears Lucasfilm is prepared to learn from past mistakes when it comes to further establishing this universe. With the hiatus past them, it will be a story worth following whether or not this reset ended up being fruitful for the future of the Star Wars franchise.

    Source: Vanity Fair