Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • Wanda Maximoff Was Originally Meant to Make Her MCU Debut in ‘Doctor Strange’

    Wanda Maximoff Was Originally Meant to Make Her MCU Debut in ‘Doctor Strange’

    With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness coming to a close on its first weekend, reactions have been somewhat mixed, but the film has been extremely successful at the box office. While the Doctor Strange sequel follows its titular character, it also puts the spotlight on one of the most complicated Avengers and now villain, Wanda Maximoff.

    While Wanda more recently has seen quite the extensive MCU treatment with WandaVision and now Multiverse of Madness, her history in the MCU prior to Phase Four was much different. The Avenger was first introduced in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and her path throughout Phases Two and Three of the MCU centered on her membership on the iconic team.

    It was not until WandaVision that Wanda took on the mantle of the Scarlet Witch, and it was not even revealed she was a witch until then. Recently, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told Bionic Buzz that her more magic-focused arc was the original plan for the character, rather than the Avengers arc. Feige stated:

    At one point, one of the initial ideas we had for Doctor Strange was to introduce Scarlet Witch in the Doctor Strange movie because those two characters were always two we really wanted to see together and sort of fit in that same world. Obviously, we ended up introducing her in [Avengers: Age of Ultron], and thank god we did, because we got to do all the other things with her. But this is really something that has been in the works for a very long time, and finally, here we are.

    Kevin Feige

    Had Wanda not been introduced as an Avenger, we may not have seen her pivotal roles in Avengers stories. For example, her loss of control of her powers in Captain America: Civil War sparked the Sakovia Accords, and it was through the Avengers that she met Vision. While she may have been able to have been utilized in a similar way had she been introduced in the original Doctor Strange, her journey surely would have been much different.

    After Multiverse of Madness, the Scarlet Witch is cemented in the magical realm of the MCU, though history would suggest a return to the Avengers is still an option down the line. While the character had a seemingly tragic ending in the Doctor Strange sequel, all bets are on the Scarlet Witch returning in the MCU.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters worldwide.

    Source: Bionic Buzz

  • Elizabeth Olsen on [SPOILER]’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    Elizabeth Olsen on [SPOILER]’s Absence in ‘Doctor Strange 2’

    The upcoming article will spoil some story elements from the latest Doctor Strange film. If you want to remain unspoiled in the Multiverse of Madness, then only continue at your own risk.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduces us to Wanda after the Darkhold took full control over her hopes and dreams. She’s looking for a way to travel throughout the multiverse in hopes that she can reunite with her children. Yet, many might have wondered why there’s a noticeable absence of her other family member, Vision.

    We do see a multiversal representation of her kids but she seemingly isn’t actively looking for her husband either. In an interview with Collider, Elizabeth Olsen not only talks about how many people she could end up looking for in the multiverse but also why the version we meet is seemingly on her own. She is asked if Wanda wouldn’t want to bring back more people from her past, and she goes on to highlight that:

    There’s a whole list of things, like my brother, my parents. I think the main reason when we would talk about if there is this multiverse, and in the version of the universe this woman wasn’t with Vision. We liked having that be a mystery. For some reason he’s not in her world. I always thought of her as more of a domestic Wanda. They got divorced. They’re separated. She’s not wearing a wedding band for a reason. Like those kinds of things. We liked the idea of her being on her own. The idea really is that the most important thing once you become a mother in the world are your children, and that’s why.

    Elizabeth Olsen

    It definitely seems like this aspect builds upon what the ending of WandaVision gives us. Not only was she able to say her farewell to Vision but her focus on her kids is exactly what the Darkhold had focused on when it started influencing her mind. The fact she’s completely focused on her kids and a multiverse where it’s only them may highlight that her good intentions were being manipulated greatly by the evil book of sorcery in her possession. It’ll be interesting to see if the Scarlet Witch may have a bigger story to tell.

    Source: Collider

  • Benedict Cumberbatch Has “A Lot Left to Give” as Doctor Strange 

    Benedict Cumberbatch Has “A Lot Left to Give” as Doctor Strange 

    Benedict Cumberbatch’s latest Marvel adventure, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has only just hit theaters, but the actor is already looking at what’s next. In an interview with Extra TV, the former Sherlock star opened up about his excitement for his character’s on-screen future. Sam Raimi’s sequel leaves the Master of the Mystic Arts in a rather interesting place, and Cumberbatch can’t wait to see how it’s further explored down the line:

    I really can’t wait to see what the fan reaction is to this and where it takes Strange, and who he is by the end of the film. But I think it sets him up for a really exciting future.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    As for whether or not the actor is willing to stick around for the journey, it apparently won’t be a problem. In a different interview, this time with Total Film, the British icon confirmed his love of playing Doctor Strange, and revealed that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon:

    I’m not tired of it all yet. I really enjoy playing this character, and I’ve still got a lot left to give as him, and a lot more adventures I want to have with him.

    Benedict Cumberbatch

    See Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in theaters now, and discover for yourself just how thrilling the next chapter of Strange could be.

    Sources: ExtraTV & TotalFilm via Direct

  • How ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Proves the Disney+ Series Aren’t a Must-Watch to Keep Up

    How ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Proves the Disney+ Series Aren’t a Must-Watch to Keep Up

    There’s been a lot of discourse over the “homework” necessary to enjoy the latest Marvel Studios film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Various articles are making their way online stating that one should watch Loki, What If…?, WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and many more films to fully understand what is going on in Multiverse of Madness. Yet, even as someone who actively watches every new entry, wants to tell those that worry it might become too convoluted, there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t have to watch any of those projects to enjoy the latest films.

    We’ve generally noticed a trend that many Marvel Studios sequels don’t necessarily pick up where the first film left us off. As many might remember, Spider-Man: Far From Home is more a sequel to Avengers: Endgame than it is Homecoming. While it does build upon those story threads, the main arc builds around the death of Tony Stark. At the time of its release, there were some concerns that this might negatively affect the viewing experience but the film had a rather simple approach to solving that very issue. The film quickly catches us up in the beginning with a montage of those events, while also easing viewers into the narrative core of the story.

    Multiverse of Madness does the very same, as we get a very simple setup that helps us understand the motivations of the characters. We get a short line of dialogue on Strange’s choice of passing on the time stone in Infinity War, as well as the events that followed. So, we’re quickly caught up with where we last left off with his character development. At a later point, we even get a brief mention of Spider-Man that not only highlights how the end of No Way Home negates any necessity for this one, but it mainly helps those that wondered how the spell affected people’s perception of Peter Parker.

    Now, the big elephant in the room is the way the show handles the Disney+ series. They are the biggest additional and this is the first film that directly follows up on the events of one. You read that right, it follows up the events of one. While some articles claim to watch Loki and What If…? helps with the multiverse concept, there is no moment that Multiverse of Madness directly references the events of those Disney+ series. What If…? merely gets an indirect reference in the form of Captain Carter, who very likely is a different version altogether, while the God of Mischief’s storyline has no direct influence on the series.

    Some might argue that the inclusion of Kang and unleashing the multiverse would play a role in the story, but that’s not necessarily true. Loki, to this day, is more about his journey with the consequence of Sylvie’s actions being that the flat circle of time that represented the Sacred Timeline has been unleashed into the multiverse. Her actions indirectly would cause the fact that America Chavez even would come into existence and travel throughout the multiverse is possible. Yet, no one in the story is aware of that fact and neither would the viewer. Even if Michael Waldron wrote both projects, he’s mainly used it to set the ground rules for the multiverse, that’s all.

    In the same vein, that would mean you’re required to have watched all of Inhumans to understand why a guy named Blackagar Boltagon is sitting among the Illuminati and is played by Anson Mount. Or, you’d have to be aware of the fact that John Krasinski has been the most popular fan-cast to play Mr. Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to fully understand why he’s in the film. Their inclusion has a meta-narrative included that doesn’t require everyone to fully understand it but creates the curiosity for those that know and don’t know who they are.

    Technically, the only Disney+ series that would be “required” is WandaVision due to how the film directly sets up the storyline from that series. Yet, the film swiftly goes through what a viewer needs to know. We see her wake up from a dream, which we find out is an alternative reality, where she lives with Billy and Tommy. While the characters were introduced in the Disney+ series, one could easily take away that these dreams are haunting her and creating this obsession with wanting her children back. She’s very vocal about it and Strange even mentions the events of Westview before we get a natural conversation on those events.

    Yes, you’ll get a full picture of why she wants her children but her story arc in this film and even the introduction of the Darkhold don’t fully require you to have watched the series. We swiftly get an introduction and viewers can easily fill in the blanks on why she has it in her possession. No one is required to fully understand how she got it, just that it is quite dangerous to own. What some might consider “required viewing” is the additional context for those that stuck around with the franchise.

    The “homework” narrative is something that we’ve created ourselves due to the interconnectivity of this franchise. Many feared that it could follow in the footsteps of the comics, which had multiple tie-in comic storylines, event stories, and additional ongoing series to keep up with for a full picture. Yet, one could argue that Marvel Studios found a good balance in how they use their Disney+ series and character cameos. To be fair, they’ve already been handling this balance across multiple franchises in the past.

    To give a comparison, the Iron Man trilogy explored Tony’s place in the world but he also had an additional arc explored in all Avengers films that worked in tandem with each other. Ultron was fallout from his own personal trilogy, but the concept of self-sacrifice was one specific to the Avengers films, which lead to Endgame’s final sacrifice. His story in Captain America: Civil War also helped bridge going into Infinity War, where we learned about those events with a quick joke about them breaking up “like a band” and everyone is swiftly caught up. Even Tony and Peter Parker’s relationship was more continued from Civil War and didn’t harp too much on their journey in Homecoming. Everything you need to know for that specific film was provided, the rest is just additional context.

    Marvel has learned to use dialogue and humor to swiftly catch people up without having to have seen every entry in their franchise. Even character introductions are set up in a way that you quickly know what they are all about, such as when Thor: Ragnarok showcases Strange’s abilities and has Thor mock the magician to help viewers know what he’s all about. Disney+ is simply a new format that adds some additional stories to the mix but doesn’t force anyone that isn’t interested to watch it just like you didn’t need to have watched Doctor Strange to enjoy his role in Ragnarok.

    They also are able to avoid the issue comic readers face for one specific reason: scheduling. Disney+ projects and their films are mapped out in advance. So, we only have a limited amount of projects released in-between films. When the pandemic hit, they’ve adapted story elements to fit their new timeline, which highlights how they use the format to keep the franchise from bloating with too many projects airing at the same time, something the Arrowverse suffered with 22+ episodes for multiple shows each season.

    Marvel Studios also seemingly gives specific types of films a different purpose. Solo films are there to explore new character arcs. It is why Multiverse of Madness is still Doctor Strange’s film as his arc is the main focus throughout, similar to how Civil War handled it. Wanda has her own storyline weaved throughout, but she functions as a force that also pushes Strange forward. While he had an important role in the MCU before, it never further pushed him as a character like it did now but only used what we know from the 2016 version as a base.

    The film still acts as a sequel to Scott Derrickson’s introduction of the character by making specific callbacks, such as the watch, adding context to a joke from the first film, highlighting Strange’s love for old rock, and so much more. It still manages to build upon the arc from his original film, by focusing on his worst character trait and tendency to be the one to fix everything, which highlights that after all his time in the MCU, he still has something to learn.

    What Marvel Studios can truly embrace with their model is that sequels aren’t shackled by linear storytelling from one entry to the next. If they followed older formats, the next film would’ve set up a new villain that may have a connection to Kamar-Taj or need an entire origin arc, and may wait a while before it explores something as out there as the multiverse. Plus, we’d have to ease viewers into the many spells that he’s learned throughout. Yet, we’re at a point where the spells aren’t the thing that needs to be explored in their complexity, context clues are spread throughout the MCU, and the focus remains on the multiverse.

    There is the drawback of tie-ins and set-ups muddling some plot elements, but Multiverse of Madness is, at its core, very much a Doctor Strange story, no matter if it hit as well as intended or not. In a way, it doesn’t even fully require you to watch the original 2016, as all-important context clues and story elements are eased in through context clues and dialogue. While watching previous entries certainly helps viewers get the full context, the films still worked as standalone pieces that help guide those in by highlighting what they need to know early on.

    So, there’s no need to panic if a new “viewer’s guide” tells you what you should or have to watch beforehand. If you’re interested to learn more, take it as supplemental material, but there’s no worry that every new project release is necessary to fully enjoy a new entry into the MCU. Just because some franchises dabble in similar concepts, it doesn’t make it a necessity to watch, and sometimes even trailers include all the information you need going in.

  • New Report Offers Insight Into Justin Lin’s Exit From ‘Fast X’

    New Report Offers Insight Into Justin Lin’s Exit From ‘Fast X’

    It was a shock for many when Justin Lin exited Fast X, which had just started production. Some pointed to a potential issue with issues between the director and Vin Diesel that may have ballooned into a lot more problems that have happened behind the scenes. In a new tell-all from The Hollywood Reporter, it seems that the issues have some deeper roots than just a single dispute.

    It seems that Lin was in charge of the film’s script and went in thinking it has been locked. While some adaptations had to be done due to recent events, such as an Eastern European location being adapted due to the war in Ukraine, Universal sent a writer to “polish dialogue” even if they haven’t even cast one of the villains at that point. Diesel also seemingly had to sign off on everything forcing Lin to somehow stick the film back together.

    It seems that a “major disagreement” on April 23rd led to his exit after a meeting and new notes from Diesel became the last straw for the director, who prioritized his mental health. A spokesperson from Universal, however, pointed out that this was with the studio and not with the crew.

    Any creative differences leading to Justin Lin’s exit were with the studio, not with fellow producers, cast or crew.

    It wasn’t until a few days later that the official announcement arrived that he was leaving the franchise. They have now found. replacement in Lois Letterier, who has some backstory with driving action thanks to his work on the Transporter franchise. Yet, the costs for this project continue to pile on with it costing upwards of $300M, which doesn’t include its upcoming marketing costs. The weight on this and its sequel may potentially drag the film down.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Receives B+ CinemaScore

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Receives B+ CinemaScore

    While Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has left quite the impression to draw in a crowd at the box office, we now also finally know what CinemaScore the film has received from audiences. Eternals surprised people back during its release when it received Marvel Studios’ worst Audience Score with a B, which might very likely be connected to its very different storytelling approach and even something like the inclusion of a sex scene that sometimes rubs general audiences the wrong way. Now, Multiverse of Madness has received its rating and now stands at a B+.

    https://twitter.com/CinemaScore/status/1522794012029108224?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

    the score is the same that Fantastic Beasts: the Secrets of Dumbledore received as well as The Lost City. Even The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Uncharted were given a B+ rating from audiences. 2022’s Scream also got a B+ rating earlier this year and given Multiverse of Madness’ horror roots, it wouldn’t be too surprising that it played a key role in how the general audience reacted to the film. While some believe B+ or even a B rating signals “bad quality,” it’s more a reflection of elements in that film potentially catching audiences off-guard.

    So far, it seems Morbius was one of the few films to actually get hit with the lowest CinemaScore, as it received a C+. The original 2011 Thor was for some time given the “worst” Marvel Cinematic Universe rating with B+ before Eternals release in theaters. Still, the film seems to be pulling in quite a few people into theaters and it’s horror roots may potentially also give it an extra boost, as even with lower CinemaScores they have pretty strong legs at the box office.

    Source: Twitter, ComicBook.com

  • Taika Waitit Teases Jane Foster’s Return as a ‘Mindf-k For Thor’ in ‘Love and Thunder’, New Look at Mighty Thor

    Taika Waitit Teases Jane Foster’s Return as a ‘Mindf-k For Thor’ in ‘Love and Thunder’, New Look at Mighty Thor

    Empire has released a new interview with director Taika Waititi, who has returned to the Thor franchise after his work on Ragnarok. Love and Thunder will see the grand return of Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster, who hasn’t been seen since 2013’s Thor: The Dark World. The astrophysicist has gone through quite the change, as she’s the new wielder of a resurrected Mjolnir and it looks like it’ll be quite an experience for Thor to see her again. Director Waititi teases that after all this time, her reappearance will be quite the “mindfuck for Thor” in Love and Thunder. Full Quote Here:

    It’s been about eight years. She’s had a whole other life, and then the love of your life comes back on the scene, and is now dressed like you. It’s a real mindfuck for Thor.

    Taika Waititi
    Image

    In the interview, the director highlights that it wasn’t their initial plan to explore Mighty Thor’s storyline, but it came together through the writing process.

    I didn’t know we were going to use the storyline of the Mighty Thor character until we started working out the actual story. I was writing and it was like, ‘Wouldn’t it be kind of cool to bring Jane back into the storyline?’ You don’t want Natalie coming back and playing that same character who’s walking around with science equipment. You know, while Thor’s flying around, she’s left on Earth, tapping her foot going, ‘When’s he going to be back?’ That’s boring. You want her to be part of the adventure.

    Taika Waititi

    It definitely would’ve been a shame to bring her back and not further explore her character. Though, it surprised many that Portman was going to return to the franchise after she left it behind all those years ago. So, it’s great she got a true moment to shine, as Waitiit also teases some great humor heading our way from the actress once we see her return in the MCU.

    Source: Empire

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Mid-Credits Explained

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Mid-Credits Explained

    There was a lot to process as the credits began rolling on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but the surprises didn’t stop there. In typical Marvel fashion, an extra scene placed in the middle of the credits revealed a lot of exciting new information about the future of Doctor Strange and the Marvel Cinematic Universe at large. A new character makes her grand debut on the big screen, something sinister appears to be afoot, and Strange dives forehead first into his next mission. It’s all very exhilarating, but for some, it might not be all that easy to comprehend. There are a handful of exciting puzzle pieces at play, so let’s try putting them together to map out what may lie ahead.

    The mid-credits scene follows an ending cliffhanger that involved Benedict Cumberbatch‘s titular hero collapsing to the ground and alarmingly growing a third eye in the middle of his forehead. His screams are cut off by the ending titles, but when the mid-credits spot picks back up, he is once again casually strolling down a New York City sidewalk. All seems fine until a mysterious new figure appears behind him, an apparent mystic arts wielder played by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron. Strange is just as shocked as the audience to see Theron‘s face, but the former Mad Max: Fury Road star doesn’t wait for the bombshell to wear off before informing Stephen that his prior actions have caused an “Incursion” that the two of them must fix. Ready as ever, Strange confidently opens his third eye and jumps with the woman through a portal toward his next adventure.

    While the one-time Aeon Flux lead never gives her name, and Strange never asks for it, any longtime comic book fan could probably deduce her identity based on appearance alone. Theron is portraying Clea, whose signature silver hair and purple attire are both present and over-the-top for the duration of the scene. In the comics, the character is perhaps the most important supporting player in Strange’s circle, outside of the loyal Wong. Originally introduced in 1964, only a year after Strange himself, Clea is the niece of the dreaded Dormammu and heiress of the Dark Dimension. Her mother, Umar, was a higher-dimensional being of energy and the sister of Dormammu, who eventually became trapped in human form and produced Clea with a Dark Dimension disciple named Orini. Cold and calculating, Umar would ultimately use her daughter as bait to lure Doctor Strange into a trap, but the hero instead saved Clea and brought her back to Earth to live and train with him.

    Over the years, the pair would become great partners. Umar and Dormammu’s defeat leads to Clea taking the throne of the Dark Dimension, a role she frequently loses and regains based on story needs, and with Strange’s help, she effectively grows into one of the multiverse’s most powerful magic users. Clea also remains the most significant and longstanding love interest in Doctor Strange’s history. The two even wed at one point, with the mononymous sorceress sometimes using the full name “Clea Strange.” However, their relationship has always been very on-and-off, with the fiercely independent Clea often going on her own to lead rebellions in the Dark Dimension or fulfill her own duties. Most recently, during the events of Marvel’s Death of Doctor Strange, Clea took on the responsibilities of Sorcerer Supreme following Stephen’s apparent demise, doing battle with powerful enemies like Doctor Doom and interdimensional warlords.

    In the MCU, however, it does not appear that Clea will need Strange’s help in becoming a proficient sorceress. Theron‘s take on the character seems to have just as much interdimensional mastery as the good Doctor himself, if not more, implying a lot of her backstory may have already occurred off-screen. Multiverse of Madness does a great job of organically ending Strange’s romance with Rachel McAdams‘ Dr. Christine Palmer, which means the mischievous look he gives Clea before jumping through her portal could be the beginning of a whole new era in Stephen’s MCU love life. It’s not really made clear what the meaning behind Strange’s newest peeper is, but events from the film’s third act would suggest it has something to do with a possible magical corruption caused by fiddling in the Dark Arts. Perhaps getting to know Clea, an expert on Dark Dimension magic, will aid in this development going forward.

    What’s also unclear is how Clea is aware of Strange’s involvement in creating an Incursion, or what she’s been up to that would lead to her needing to stop it. As explained by the movie, an Incursion occurs when two universes collide with each other and temporarily co-exist before being erased from existence. The concept was a major part of Marvel’s 2015 Secret Wars event and has now made its way to the MCU. This little mid-credits scene could potentially be the start of a bigger path that leads to an adaptation of that comic, but for now, it simply appears to set up a third Doctor Strange film with plenty of questions to answer. Who knows, maybe fans will even get another Dormammu appearance out of the deal.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now playing in theaters everywhere.

  • James Gunn Shares Set Photo as ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Wraps Production

    James Gunn Shares Set Photo as ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Wraps Production

    It looks like the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has wrapped up its production, as James Gunn took to his Twitter account to share a last image from the set. He’s hinted some time ago that it wouldn’t take much longer before they wrapped work on it, especially as they were also working on the Holiday Special as well. He shared an image of him alongside some of the cast members while also looking back at the work they’ve done to bring the trilogy to life over the years.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1522730391911686144

    Now, we have to keep in mind that there will still be reshoots in the future, which will bring some of the cast back together but that doesn’t mean everyone is going to be on set the same way. That is why when the initial production ends, it has a bittersweet feeling for most of those involved, especially if this is indeed the final installment for the franchise. Who knows if we’ll see every member of this team continue their time with the franchise moving forward, or if we’re saying farewell to some members.

    It’s great to see the cast together, and hopefully, we get some teasers on what they have planned for us, as we won’t get our hands on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 until next year. There haven’t been any set photos of the newest additions to the franchise, who might have a bigger role moving forward and here’s hoping they start teasing who else we might see in the film as well as how it might tie into the Holiday Special aiming for a release later this year.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Spinoff Focused on Gemma Chan’s Astrid in Development

    ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Spinoff Focused on Gemma Chan’s Astrid in Development

    Here’s an interesting surprise, as it looks like Crazy Rich Asians is getting a spinoff focused on Gemma Chan‘s Astrid Young Teo. The story will focus on her romance with Harry Shum Jr.’s Charlie Wu. The producer behind the hit show Barry, Jason Kim, seemingly sold a pitch to Warner Bros, which kicked off the interest in further developing this storyline. As of now, the project is in early development.

    This will not replace the already in-development sequel, which Amy Wang is currently working on. They will both be tied to the second book of Kevin Kwan’s famous trilogy, China Rich Girlfriend. The original story focused on Constance Wu and Henry Golding‘s trip to Shanghai to find her birth father. The spinoff will pick up after Astrid found out her husband, played by Pierre Png, is cheating on her and she reconnected with her first love, Charlie.

    It’s definitely an interesting move, but Chan was praised for her performance in the film. What stands out is that this was a pitch by Kim that pushed this project forward rather than something the studio purely decided. So, it’s interesting to see creatives inspired by franchises explore other stories or adapt aspects of books they themselves may have quite enjoyed. The film was a milestone in Asian-American representation and the sequel alongside the spinoff will very likely carry on that torch.

    Source: Deadline