Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’: Yasmeen Fletcher Confirms Nakia Will Wear a Hijab in the Disney+ Series

    ‘Ms. Marvel’: Yasmeen Fletcher Confirms Nakia Will Wear a Hijab in the Disney+ Series

    Ms. Marvel still has no release date, but recent rumors are hinting at a February premiere. It’ll introduce the world to Marvel’s first Muslim-American superhero and explore her life in New Jersey. In December of last year, we found out that Yasmeen Fletcher will play Kamala Khan’s best friend Nakia Bahadir. The character famously wears a hijab in the comics and as we still haven’t seen any footage of the character, there was some concern if they’ll stay true to this important cultural aspect. Luckily, we may finally have an answer.

    The actress has taken to Instagram to discuss the recent controversy of the Emmys and its choice of winners. In her comments, a user asked her about the upcoming Disney+ show and if her character Nakia will be wearing a hijab. She gave a direct answer to these concerns and confirms that this character is important to her and the impact she might have with younger viewers.

    It’s great that she confirmed it and is also personally invested in the character’s portrayal. We’re still hoping for some hint at the upcoming series outside of the sizzle reel that was released during Disney’s Investors Day. Here’s hoping we might get our first look at the character in Disney+ Day’s special that was teased earlier today. Marvel Studios has actively explored cultural and political storylines to further expand and showcase the diversity within the franchise that matches its viewers. Shang-Chi proves the success of these projects and they might continue to build upon the franchise’s future.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ to Focus on Gamora and Nebula

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ to Focus on Gamora and Nebula

    Even after countless delays, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is still quite a mystery. Director James Gunn has hinted that the story will take a stronger look at Rocket’s secret past that was only briefly given a focus in the first film. Now, it seems there might be a bit more to it as Seth Green, who voices Howard the Duck in the franchise and currently running the What If…? series, revealed that the series will offer a stronger focus on Gamora and Nebula’s story. In the interview with ComicBook.com he shared the following:

    I don’t know if Howard’s a part of it, I haven’t heard anything about that. The only thing I know is that it’s the girls’ story, it’s the sisters’ story, that it’s Gamora and Nebula’s story. So I don’t know if it’s a prequel, or if it comes off in the new timeline that’s splintered post-the Time Heist. Honestly, I don’t know anything about it.

    Seth Green

    It’s a curious statement as it contradicts the focus on Rocket that was teased by the director. Of course, it’s ending a trilogy and might focus on all members. Guardians Vol. 2 was about Peter Quill meeting his father just as much as it was Gamora and Nebula confronting each other. There’s simply a chance that the core of the story, especially considering it’s not the same Gamora from the MCU’s main timeline, is about finding her for Quill and Nebula.

    She now has the chance to take the role her sister did for her when she was lost in the darker side of what their father taught them. In their travels, they may end up getting wrapped up in whatever Rocket’s secret past is. Gunn has always been talented in interweaving multiple storylines that share common themes. We can’t wait to see how this story comes together in 2023.

    Source: ComicBook

  • ‘Shang-Chi’ to Release on Disney+ in November to Celebrate Disney+ Day

    ‘Shang-Chi’ to Release on Disney+ in November to Celebrate Disney+ Day

    Shang-Chi has been making headlines as it dominates the box office throughout the last three weeks. Naturally, some have been wondering when we can expect the series to finally premiere on Disney+, as it’s one of the first pandemic films from Disney not to get a simultaneous release. Luckily, it seems the wait isn’t as long as one feared. Disney has unveiled its plans for Novembers’ grand Disney+ Day. The day will feature specials on Star Wars‘ popular bounty hunter and even a glimpse into the MCU’s future. Disney took the opportunity and will also release Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings alongside this special occasion. As such, the film will be available on November 12th for subscribers of the streaming service.

    It’s not the only thing to release on that day, as Jungle Cruise will also be available to all subscribers. It was the last film to release under the Premier Access banner, which is uncertain to return in the future. The box office has been doing better as of late, but Disney might keep it in their back pocket in case the pandemic acts up again. It’s curious they wouldn’t try to also get Free Guy on the service, as it’s also PG-13 and a major theatre-only release this year. Of course, it’s not part of the new 45-release window deal that was made with Shang-Chi, but it’s curious they didn’t try to re-negotiate after its success at the box office. Either way, it’s great that more people get to see one of Marvel Studios’ best origin film.

    Source: Walt Disney, Twitter

  • Daniel Craig Calls for Hollywood to Create Better Roles for Women, People of Color

    Daniel Craig Calls for Hollywood to Create Better Roles for Women, People of Color

    James Bond has spoken. And he thinks it’s high time there be more opportunity in the film industry. In an interview with Radio Times, British superstar Daniel Craig was asked about the potential of a female performer stepping into his slick shoes and taking over the future of the famed 007 franchise. His answer probably wasn’t what the interviewer expected, with the suave actor stating that women shouldn’t be stepping into that role because they should have one of equal quality of their own. He explained further:

    The answer to that is very simple. There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?

    Craig is not the first person to suggest this but that hasn’t exactly led to the creation of those roles on a large scale. That being said, the latest film in the Bond franchise, No Time to Die, has perhaps more female influence than any film before it. Actress Lashana Lynch, of Captain Marvel fame, is set to play a large supporting role in the project as a new 007 agent herself. On top of this, comedian and acclaimed writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge was brought on to help craft the film’s script, and fan favorite Ana de Armas will portray the latest addition to a long line of super spy femme fatales.

    Craig even made an additional comment regarding Waller–Bridge’s role in the development of No Time to Die in relation to the initial question:

    She’s got devilish humour. Her influence permeates a lot of this film. She walked that fantastic line of keeping it as a thriller and being very funny. But Phoebe didn’t come in to change Bond. She came in to spice it up for sure, but she’s a Bond fan – she wasn’t about to take him in a different direction.

    Hopefully, we’ll know more about this topic when the twenty-fifth film in the James Bond franchise drops on October 8, 2021.

    Source: Radio Times

  • ‘What If…?’s Party Thor Episode Will Be an “Easter Egg Heaven” for Marvel Fans

    ‘What If…?’s Party Thor Episode Will Be an “Easter Egg Heaven” for Marvel Fans

    This Wednesday, What If..? is going to mix it up by giving us a very different kind of episode. Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor to throw the party of his life. Head Writer AC Bradley tweeted that it’ll be less tragic than the Doctor Strange episode, but the first exclusive look provided by Entertainment Weekly gives us a very different story. She teases that the story is more “fun and silly” and takes inspiration from the “80s and even 90s rom-coms and party films,” which also explains the use of neon in all his promotional material. Even director Bryan Andrews teases the episode as a palate cleanser, which may tease a potentially darker future ahead as we enter the final episodes.

    What If...?

    It looks like they’re also using this opportunity to throw in quite a few Easter eggs for long-time fans of the Marvel franchise. Many might remember when Loki famously included the Thanos-copter that many believed would never find its way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bradley highlights that we can expect a lot of cameos in the episode and even described it as follows:

    It should be Easter egg heaven. I hope people have fun with the one this week because it’s not as bombastic world-ending as other episodes. The mandate for me when I was writing it was, I just want to have fun, I just want to be silly. It’s a lot sillier than anything you’d see in the MCU. It should be an episode to watch with a beer.

    AC Bradley

    It’s one of the fun aspects of the franchise is that they can not only tell compelling stories within an expanding world but also pay tribute to the many silly concepts that came before it. She does give away that Howard the Duck will make his second appearance in the series, as she had a lot of fun recording the episode with Seth Green. It’ll be interesting to see just how crazy this episode is going to end up and if Thor might still learn a lesson by the end.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • New Look at Spider-Man Hot Toy Offers Updated Magical Black-Gold Suit

    New Look at Spider-Man Hot Toy Offers Updated Magical Black-Gold Suit

    Long before the first trailer found its way online, we’ve seen quite a few of the new costumes for Spider-Man through the toy releases. No Way Home will continue the tradition of Peter gaining a variety of suits as he progresses through the story. The first trailer dropped and gave us our first glimpse at the upcoming film. Curious though, the new gold and black suit were only featured briefly as Spidey seems to be running through a F.E.A.S.T. center.

    Luckily, Hot Toys has offered an update on their 1:6 figure of the new suit that showcases some of the accessories. It once again confirms that he’ll make use of some magical webbing. The big question was if this costume was just his regular costume inverted, as it seemed to resemble the costume when he inverted it during Spider-Man: Homecoming. The closer look does highlight that design but there’s a curious new detail. Peter’s new suit has a magical gauntlet attached to the arms and is now more connected to the fingers.

    There’s also the fact that he doesn’t have the red fingers that were included in other designs of this suit. We even saw this model with it earlier on, which implies that they dropped it at some point in development. It’s not even included with the hand variants anymore that let you customize the design. There’s a good chance the suit is created from those gauntlets that may act as the source for his webbing. We still don’t know when this costume might come into play, as he faces off against some familiar faces from cinematic past. Here’s hoping that the next trailer offers an even better look at the design in action.

    Source: Twitter, TNS Figures

  • ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s Success Could Determine an Eventual Spider-Man Crossover

    ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s Success Could Determine an Eventual Spider-Man Crossover

    Sony’s Spider-Man universe is set to expand and many have been wondering when Venom might finally face-off against the wall-crawler. It’s a big year for the franchise, as the Tom Hardy-led sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage premieres in October with the third entry in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man films arrives in December. It’s going to be quite the year, especially as we enter the multiverse and the many rumors surrounding these projects.

    Andy Serkis, the director of the Venom sequel, has recently stated that the two will collide in the future at some point in an interview with IGN during the film’s premiere. He loved the idea but wanted to spend more time with Venom before their eventual clash. His earlier statements were a bit more open-ended but in an interview with the YouTuber Jake’s Takes, he seemed surprisingly more definite in his answer on an eventual crossover, as it seems a lot is riding on this film’s success.

    Let’s see what happens on this one first. There’s more still to unpack in the Venomverse before we go there, really.

    Andy Serkis

    The wording of Venomverse is interesting, as it makes this franchise stand out from the recently titled Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. There still is no word if it may crossover into the upcoming Morbius film or how they might expand the franchise. He does highlight again that they’ll collide if they are allowed to continue making Venom movies, which highlights that there might be some pressure that Let There Be Carnage performs. Sony seemed nervous with its release, as they constantly pushed it back.

    If you’re interested, you can check out the full interview here:

    Source: YouTube

  • New ‘Eternals’ Promo Banner May Hint at November Chinese Release

    New ‘Eternals’ Promo Banner May Hint at November Chinese Release

    Here’s a curious hint. There have been many discussions if Marvel Studios will manage to release any films in China this year due to various factors. Shang-Chi still hasn’t gotten one and there was no sign Eternals wouldn’t face the same fate. Chloé Zhao‘s win at the Oscars was heavily praised by the country until comments surfaced that changed their attitude to muting anything in relation to the director online. As such, it seemed unlikely her film will get a Chinese release. Yet, a new banner may have hinted at

    Twitter user @FILMemesTW shared a banner that reveals Eternals will release in Hong Kong theaters as of November 4th. The curious aspect is that it would be a day before it releases in the States. There hasn’t been an official statement so we might still need to take this with a grain of salt for now but it popping up online is curious.

    China has been very strict with its releases as of late, which has kept many productions from hitting any record numbers in their international box office. F9 and Godzilla vs. Kong have made around $200M alone in the Eastern country, which boosted their international standing quite a bit. The current leading film worldwide is a Chinese propaganda film that has garnered almost one billion in the country alone.

    Marvel Studios has still been performing well even without their usual Chinese release. Shang-Chi seems to be on route to pass $400M in its runtime which would be on par with films like Ant-Man in non-pandemic times. Black Widow also had the added benefit of releasing on Disney+ Premier Access which gave it a nice boost in numbers but added its own issues when it came to a foreign release. Still, it’ll be interesting to see if the Chinese release gets announced and how it may benefit the Zhao-directed project’s overall box office performance.

    Source: Twitter, The Numbers

  • Andy Muschietti Teases an Unconventional ‘THE FLASH’ Suit

    Andy Muschietti Teases an Unconventional ‘THE FLASH’ Suit

    Batman is all the rage right now. Next year will see not one but three live-action Batmen on the big screen. The interesting part is that two of them will star in the same movie. Since production on The Flash began, director Andy Muschietti has been dropping emblem reveals for his film’s protagonist. Many fans are eager to see the return of Ben Affleck as Batman and assumed Batman Day would be the day, but to not avail. To catch us off-guard, Muschietti did indeed share a tease, just a day late.

    In a new Instagram post, the director revealed another look at a costume for the upcoming film, but this time it’s sending some mixed signals. What we’ve got this time around is a Batsuit belonging to Keaton but seems to have been spray-painted red with a yellow lightning bolt over the bat. It seems this could be a look at one of Barry’s possible suits in the film. There are also some noticeable differences from previous teases.

    In Justice League, it is revealed that Barry’s suit is made out of the same materials Nasa uses to protect its spaceships from burning up once they re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. To keep it from falling apart, it is held together with wiring. Barry used this suit to run around in as it’s the only material that can withstand his abilities. There’s a chance that his suit cannot withstand whatever leads him into the multiverse and is destroyed upon arrival. This old Batsuit acts as a replacement until he eventually gets his new suit revealed at last year’s Fandome, which we saw in some set photos. It’ll be interesting to see if we get a closer look at this year’s DC FanDome.

    Source: Instagram

  • ‘DUNE’ Starts Off Strong Internationally While ‘SHANG-CHI’ Passes $320M

    ‘DUNE’ Starts Off Strong Internationally While ‘SHANG-CHI’ Passes $320M

    It looks like Denis Villeneuve‘s upcoming Dune film is off to a great start, as it managed to nab $36.8M internationally in 24 markets. Currently, it is ahead of Black Widow (which didn’t have a China release) and even Villeneuve‘s last film, Blade Runner 2049. It’ll have some smaller releases ahead of its domestic debut in late October which may work in the film’s favor of having an HBO Max release in the States. Perhaps it’s part of Warner Bros.’s strategy to avoid the piracy aspect that’s been hurting these day-and-date releases.

    Dune | Cineplexx AT mobile

    Shang-Chi has been doing quite well internationally, as it now stands at around $320M worldwide. It’s passed A Quiet Place Part II and Sonic the Hedgehog putting it at the higher end of this year’s earners. Its toughest competition remains the Chinese releases of Godzilla vs. Kong and F9, who managed to add an extra $200M in the market respectively. Yet, current predictions still put it at a strong $414M on par with Ant-Man. It may even pass Black Widow domestically at this rate. No small feat for a theatre-only release during a pandemic.

    As Forbes’ Scott Mendelsohn points out, the benchmark for potential sequels lies with a $350M box office. Tenet‘s early release set the current industry standard as it still tries to recover from the pandemic, which still has no end in sight. With this trajectory, it seems safe to assume that Dune will get a sequel, as it only adapts the first half of the original novel. Shang-Chi also seems like a safe bet to explore a new legend now that went beyond everyone’s expectations. We’ll see how the rest of the year plays out as more films hit the market.

    Source: Forbes