Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • 20th Century Studios’ ‘No Exit’ Heading to Hulu

    20th Century Studios’ ‘No Exit’ Heading to Hulu

    20th Century Studios upcoming thriller No Exit has officially been announced as a Hulu original release in the United States. It’ll also be made available on Star+ in Latin America with other territories receiving it through Disney+’s Star branding. The film is about a young woman named Darby, who ends up stranded with a group of strangers during a blizzard. What starts off as a claustrophobic experience turns into a life-or-death struggle, as she uncovers that one of them is a kidnapper.

    The film is an adaptation of Taylor Adams‘ novel from 2017, which is being produced by The Queen’s Gambit‘s Scott Frank. Havana Rose Liu makes her debut in the leading role of a feature film and is joined by Danny Ramirez, David Rysdahl, Dennis Haysbert, and Mila Harris. It joins a bunch of films that got a streaming exclusive release across Disney’s platforms during the pandemic and will offer many the chance to check out the film that may have otherwise passed on it in theaters. The film will be made available in the U.S. and internationally on February 25th.

  • James Gunn Teases a ‘Peacemaker’ Character Will Return in a “Big DC Movie”

    James Gunn Teases a ‘Peacemaker’ Character Will Return in a “Big DC Movie”

    Interconnectivity is all the rage when it comes to building your shared universe throughout films and TV series. The DC Extended Universe has been attempting to build one for quite a few years now but has yet to reach the status that other franchises have. Yet, recent rumors hint at a much more cohesive future in store for Warner Bros.’ attempt. Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard rumblings of certain characters popping up in other projects that are set to release within the next few months, and James Gunn has confirmed that to be the case.

    In an interview with Collider, while promoting Peacemaker, Gunn was asked how the series connects to the greater DCEU and not only highlights the connectivity between this series and upcoming projects but also highlighted that one character, in particular, is already eyeing a future return.

    It [Peacemaker] is part of the DCU, I mean they can use these characters… I mean one of these characters, which people have kind of figured out, one of these characters is used in a future big DC movie thats from here. So we are connected to all of this. Who knows what role these characters are going to play in the future? I mean no one know who the Guardians of The Galaxy were, and then all of a sudden they’re massive players in Infinity War [Avengers] and Endgame [Avengers]. So, who knows whats going to happen with Peacemaker in ten years, five years, or whatever.

    James Gunn

    Just a few weeks ago we reported on a rumor that Emilia Harcourt would be making her DCEU return much sooner than expected. If rumors are true, she is set to return in Black Adam, which will release on July 29th. Details on her role describe it as a small role towards the end of the film in which she arrives to recruit a certain someone, although this target is unknown.

    Source: Collider

  • Murphy’s Murmurs: ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Murphy’s Murmurs: ‘Kraven the Hunter’

    Sony’s Kraven the Hunter is currently set to release on January 13, 2023 and it’s been some time since fans have had any updates on the film. Outside of the film’s star, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and director, J.C. Chandor, details on the film have been hard to come by. That all should be changing rather soon, however, as it looks like things are set to get started on the project.

    Production start dates have always been tentative and now, more than ever, it’s important to keep that in mind, but assuming no delays, it sounds like Kraven the Hunter will begin production in the UK next month. Given the film’s January 2023 release date, it’s a very sensible timeline for principal photography, leaving plenty of time for any additional photography, which is always factored into these projects.

    Taylor-Johnson has taken his prep for the role VERY seriously. As fans of the comics know, Kraven is a physically imposing specimen, carrying well over 200 pounds on his frame and having enough strength to tangle with dangerous foes even before he was enhanced through the potions of the voodoo goddess Calypso, who is rumored to be played by Jodie Turner-Smith in the film. Should they follow the comics and juice up the character, he’d be superhumanly strong and word is that Taylor-Johnson has done the work to look the part, having gone to great lengths to transform his body for the role.

    Fans caught a quick tease of the character in last act of Spider-Man: No Way Home and with the multiverse now in play, it probably won’t be long before one of the Spideys finds himself tangling with Kraven, giving Sony the chance to adapt The Last Hunt, something that has been discussed and teased as long as there’s been rumors of a Kraven film. We’ll see what role Spidey has to play in the expanding Sony universe and which actor will fill that role.

  • Daniel Radcliffe to Play “Weird Al” Yankovic in Upcoming Roku Biopic

    Daniel Radcliffe to Play “Weird Al” Yankovic in Upcoming Roku Biopic

    Not the kind of news I expected but it looks like Roku’s upcoming biopic of “Weird Al” Yankovic has found its leading star. Harry Potter veteran Daniel Radcliffe has joined the project to bring the musically inclined comedian to life. The biopic titled Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, will explore every facet of his life as teased in the film’s description. Yankovic had the following to say on the casting:

    When my last movie UHF came out in 1989, I made a solemn vow to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years, like clockwork. I’m very happy to say we’re on schedule. And I am absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.

    “Weird Al” Yankovic

    The piece includes some fun jokes by the talent involved, such as Eric Appel, who co-wrote the screenplay with Yankovic, sharing that he was forced to hear his life story against his will and then decided it was worth telling in a movie. He’s also set to executive produce and to direct the film, which will be made available exclusively on Roku. Funny Or Die and Tango are producing the feature, which is eyeing a production start in February.

    Source: Holylwood Reporter

  • REVIEW: ‘Redeeming Love’ Is More Than a Love Story

    REVIEW: ‘Redeeming Love’ Is More Than a Love Story

    As someone who has never read the original book by Francine Rivers, I was uncertain what to expect going into Redeeming Love. The poster seems to sell you on a Nicholas Sparks romance story while the trailers tell this story of a girl down on her luck saved by a guy who she’ll fall in love with. It’s punctuated by him being kind and standing up for her, which makes you think it might be a by-the-numbers romance that tugs on your heartstring. Yet, what is being told is way darker than I initially expected and is more a story of learning to live with your past sins, no matter how deep those scars have buried their ways into your life. All of that through the eyes of Abigail Cown‘s Angel.

    The Fate: The Wingx Saga actress takes on quite a tough role, as she portrays a young girl who we’re introduced to as the most sought-after prostitute of the small town of Paradise. It doesn’t waste any time to solidify that this film is about her and the struggles she faced that would lead her down this path. I was surprised by how dark moments or even implications are set up, especially as I had no idea what to expect going in. To some degree, it was relentless what she had to go through in this story, even if it also sets up her reluctance to be loved later in her life. I still have that Nicholas Sparks poster of them hugging romantically with the sun in the back of my mind, only to be faced by this heavy and dramatic tale of a young woman fighting her way through an unkind and terrible 1850s.

    All that is meant to change when she meets Tom Lewis‘ Michael, who is an interesting caricature in this film. He sees his life with her as a message from God and loves her unconditionally no matter what. It’s a fitting counterpoint to highlight her insecurities and demons, which is a motivating factor throughout the story for her pushing away. The only issue I had is that he’s seemingly too perfect at times. We do get moments of his mask cracking, one, in particular, being a highlight for his character. Yet, he just kind of goes back to being the guy who loves unconditionally no matter what. It’s an important part of the story, but I feel like adding some flaw to his character could’ve elevated the message of unconditional love just a bit more.

    The set design is very impressive by recreating the 1850s through the small towns, cities, and how the people dressed back during the California Gold Rush. You wouldn’t think they filmed in South Africa. They use these locations well to convey the different atmosphere of being on a farm or in a city during that era. Each location felt distinct, and some of the use of the Golden hour was well executed. It was fun seeing so many actors, such as Logan Marshall-Green‘s Paul, running around with massive beards while Michael looked like he was perfectly trimmed all the time.

    The authenticity does come at a price, as some characters use strong accents and when they mumble in certain scenes, it’s not easy to make out what exactly they are saying. Eric Dane‘s Duke, who is a pivotal character in the story, is supposed to be somewhat menacing but the accent didn’t really help the performance to make you feel intimidated. At times, when he said nothing it was way more powerful especially earlier in the film. Still, the story weaved around his character and the implications are quite heavy even if feels forgotten depending on where the plot is at a specific time.

    Redeeming Love surprised me in telling a strong yet dark story that offers a glimpse of hope through the power of unconditional love. It doesn’t fall back on classical conventions of what you expect from a romance story, and while I believe Lewis‘ Michael could’ve done with a bit more fleshing out, the tale told is carried by Cowen‘s performance as Angel. Going in, I was expecting a simple romance story and afterward, I learned never to trust a poster again. Joking aside, I was pleasantly surprised by the story and it had me thinking a lot about human history and just how important love can be to help us come to terms with our darkest times.

  • ‘Batgirl’ Filming an Action Sequence in New Leaked Set Video

    ‘Batgirl’ Filming an Action Sequence in New Leaked Set Video

    It’s been a bit crazy just how much we’ve already seen from the Batgirl set. There were a variety of set photos that teased Easter eggs, locations, and Glasglow fully turning into Gotham once again. The creative team behind the HBO Max film knew that a first look at the suit was going to leak online eventually. So, they took it upon themselves to ensure our first full look isn’t through a picture from the distance. Now, a new video has found its way online featuring Leslie Grace or a stuntwoman preparing to jump from a platform on top of a moving vehicle.

    Interestingly enough, closer shots reveal she wearing goggles, which is a tribute to the comic, where she also wore goggles on top of her cowl. It’s great to see this homemade approach to her costume that is highlighted with the first look that we got of the full design inspired by the Burnside storyline.

    So far, all we’ve seen of the film has been quite promising and they only just got started filming. There’s still some time before we get a full look at the project, but we’ll see just how much might find its way online as they continue production, such as the first look at Michael Keaton‘s return as Batman or even the teased Robin.

    Source: Twitter

  • Joss Whedon Breaks Silence on ‘Justice League’ Controversy

    Joss Whedon Breaks Silence on ‘Justice League’ Controversy

    The release of the initial cut of Justice League was not met with a lot of fanfare, and would only go on to sour as more details from behind-the-scenes found their way online. Director Joss Whedon‘s behavior was put into the spotlight with Ray Fisher would call him out on being “abusive and unprofessional” on set, as well as racist intentions. Gal Gadot would eventually back up his claims, as actors from other projects came forward with their own history on his toxic behavior. Up until now, Whedon remained silent on the accusations but seemingly has opened up in a recent interview with NY Magazine, where he started blaming the film’s cast for the troubled production.

    In the interview, Whedon was very vocal about working with Fisher, as he claims the test screenings deemed his character “the worst of all the characters in the film.” In his description, he recalls spending hours finding ways to adapt the character, with these conversions not having any malice behind them, but goes on to call out the actor and his talents. He proclaims that the character’s story “logically made no sense” and wasn’t impressed by Fisher‘s acting. He goes on to state in regards to the allegations:

    We’re talking about a malevolent force. We’re talking about a bad actor in both sense.

    Joss Whedon

    He also makes a point to call out Gal Gadot in the article, as he claims she stated that he “didn’t understand how superhero movies worked.” Whedon goes as far as to deny the accusations by Gadot that he threatened her with the statement that: “English is not her first language, and I tend to be annoyingly flowery in my speech.” He proclaimed that the threat was a statement in regard to himself and not her, but she clapped back in an e-mail for the New York stating she “understood perfectly.”

    It would eventually lead to a loud outcry on set by the director, as he proclaimed that never in his career has he worked with “a ruder group of people.” The interview also touched on Zack Snyder completing his vision of the film and the fan’s reactions to when Whedon initially joined the project, as well as when the controversy made the rounds. While he doesn’t directly blame him for the events that transpired, he goes on to say “I just know in whose name it was done.”

    Source: NY Magazine via Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Recasting The Brine King

    RUMOR: ‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Recasting The Brine King

    In 2018, Aquaman introduced some interesting new characters and creatures to the DC Extended Universe. The film saw Arthur Curry overthrow his step-brother, Orm, and unite the Seven Kingdoms of the Atlantis. One such character was the Brine King, the leader of the one kingdom that would not bend the knee to Orm as he sought out their allegiance to become the Ocean Master. A new tidbit of information suggests the Brine King will be back for the upcoming sequel, though he might sound a little different.

    Actor Antony Gabriel’s Many profile indicates that he will be voicing the character in Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom. The capacity and details of the role are currently unknown as nothing has been officially confirmed. Actor John Rhys-Davies, best known for his work in the Lord of The Rings trilogy as Gimli, originally provided the voice for the Brine king.

    The news is currently just a rumor as nothing has been officially confirmed in the film. It’s entirely possible that the role is just so small that there wasn’t a need to bring back Davies as the character so they just had Gabriel provide the voice as he’s currently rumored to voicing Mister Mind in Shazam: Fury of The Gods.

    Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is currently set to hit theaters later this year on December 16th.

    SOURCE: Mandy

  • UPDATED: David F. Sandberg Denies ‘Shazam: Fury of The Gods’ Mister Mind Rumor

    UPDATED: David F. Sandberg Denies ‘Shazam: Fury of The Gods’ Mister Mind Rumor

    UPDATE: Director David Sandberg has responded to the listing of Antony Gabriel as Mister Mind, confirming that while the actor did work with them on set, he is not the voice of Mister Mind of any other character in the film. Of course, he doesn’t give away what role exactly he had and it’s curious that he’d include the name in his own listing, but we’ll have to wait and see if Mr. Mind might still appear in the film.

    Source: Twitter

    Towards the end of 2019’s Shazam!, Doctor Thaddeus Sivana is locked away after being defeated by the Shazamily. As the film closes, he is visited in his cell, which is covered in magical markings, by Mister Mind, a telepathic Caterpillar who was shown to have escaped the Rock of Eternity earlier in the film. Mister Mind seems to have taken an interest in Sivanna and looks to work with him in order to conquer the Seven Realms and have his revenge on Shazam.

    It was believed that both Mister Mind and Doctor Sivanna would not be present in the upcoming sequel, Shazam: Fury of The Gods, as the three evil sisters would be the main antagonists of the film. However, a new casting listing hints that Mister Mind could indeed be back, and voiced by a new actor as the Mandy profile of actor Antony Gabriels lists him as the voice for Mister Mind in the upcoming film.

    There’s been no official word on Mister Mind’s return or word of Gabriel’s casting so it could indeed be a small surprise meant for the film. It’s possible that Mind could return to recruit more villains for whatever he has planned for his conquest of the Seven Realms and could very well be setting up the Monster Society of Evil, a culminated group of the Marvel Family’s biggest foes.

    Shazam: Fury of The Gods is set to hit theaters on June 2nd, 2023 with Zachary Levi back in the spandex and David Sandberg returning as director.

    SOURCE: Mandy

  • Jason Blum Offers Update on ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s Film

    Jason Blum Offers Update on ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s Film

    Five Nights at Freddy’s has been quite the pop-cultural phenomenon when the first game was released by indie developer Scott Cawthon. The simple premise of you being a nightguard stuck in a Chuck E. Cheese-inspired pizza parlor as the animatronics come to life to kill you built quite the connection with players. There was a lot of excitement when Chris Columbus signed on to direct the project. Well, that was until he left the project in October making many wonders if the project is still happening.

    Luckily, the founder of the production company, Jason Blum, had a QnA session on Twitter, where he answered a few questions regarding the project. While he didn’t offer any updates, it was the first time we’ve heard anything about it since Columbus left the project. In one of his tweets, he pointed out that the project is still in development and hasn’t been passed on.

    He also answer a question regarding if a new director has been attached to the project, which they are seemingly still actively looking to find. The original director signed on all the way back in 2018, but due to Cawthon not signing off on any scripts – which there have supposedly been quite a few – and delaying the project further.

    It’s a bit disheartening how long the project has taken, as even if the series may have overstayed its welcome for many, there’s something about the base concept that works incredibly well for a horror franchise. Five Nights at Freddy’s has also seen a resurgence with its latest game release Security Breach, which had a mixed reception. Here’s hoping we get some news on the project moving forward in the near future.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter