Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • ‘Avatar 3’ Will See the Return of Payakan and His Nemesis from ‘The Way of Water’

    ‘Avatar 3’ Will See the Return of Payakan and His Nemesis from ‘The Way of Water’

    Avatar: The Way of Water introduced the world to some amazing new characters that continue to expand the world of Pandora. Yet, with hints at the story of the third entry pushing the Sully family to further explore what else is out there, it seemed like perhaps we won’t spend too much time with some familiar characters especially those attached to the water in The Way of Water.

    As it turns out, we’ll definitely see the return of two rather interesting characters. As pointed out by producer Jon Landau, the whale-like being known as Payakan will return, but “not just as a creature.” He goes on to highlight that they’ll “explore his relationship with Lo’ak.” So, it seems we’ll get to further explore his race and uncover something we may have not expected.

    The biggest surprise however is that Scoresby (Brendan Cowell) is also set to make a return. It’s interesting how villains simply don’t just stay down in this franchise. The arch-nemesis of Payakan lost his arm in the finale and was sent flying. For now, there’s no word though if he survived or we might even see the same memory transplant into an Avatar.

    Either way, it looks like the two will meet up once again for a fight that might see them fight each other in a new way. There’s definitely something interesting about how James Cameron tends to bring back characters from past iterations and continues to build them up. By the end of Avatar 5, we might have an army of former villains teaming up against the Sully family.

    Source: Empire

  • First Look at ‘Guardians of the Galaxy in ‘Vol. 3’ Funko Pops

    First Look at ‘Guardians of the Galaxy in ‘Vol. 3’ Funko Pops

    We’re only a few more months away from the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. While all our eyes are on the upcoming Ant-Man release, there’s still the exciting finalé to James Gunn‘s trilogy featuring an unlikely team of galactic protectors. As the film is only a few months away, we also got our first look at a variety of new Funko Pops featuring the Guardians and even Adam Warlock.

    The Guardians are all showcased in the new uniforms we saw in some set photos many years ago and were heavily featured in the first trailer for the film. What is worth noting though is that Kraglin is seemingly not wearing a uniform and it might be a hint that he’s not a full member of the Guardians. Though, there’s always a chance this is simply the design they went with for the Funkos.

    It’s also great to see Cosmo getting a lot of focus. We got our first look at Maria Bakalova‘s take on the character, which was quite promising and already made the puppy a must-see for the third entry in the trilogy.

    Groot’s more adult version is also given quite the focus and isn’t surprising given just how popular Baby Groot was when Vol. 2 was released back in 2017. Even after almost six years, there’s no denying that he’ll likely be a fan-favorite once again though with Cosmo’s addition, he might have some tough competition.

    Source: Twitter

  • Antoine Fuqua to Direct a Michael Jackson Biopic Titled ‘Michael’

    Antoine Fuqua to Direct a Michael Jackson Biopic Titled ‘Michael’

    Lionsgate has found the person to helm their upcoming biopic, Michael. Antoine Fuqua, best known for his work directing The Equalizer and Emancipation, is officially attached to bring the life and career of Michael Jackson to the silvers screen. The script for the film was written by John Logan (Gladiator) and will be produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody).

    Production for the film is said to begin later this year after Fuqua wraps his work on The Equalizer 3. In an official announcement of the hiring, this is what Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake had to say about Antoine Fuqua.

    Antoine is a perceptive and powerful filmmaker, and we feel very fortunate that he has chosen Michael as his next project. His visionary storytelling skills and commitment to his craft will make Michael an unforgettable film.

    Joe Drake

    This new film will come with the current wave of biopics being created based on iconic figures in 20th-century music. In the past year, Elvis and I Wanna Dance With Somebody had wide-scale releases to varying levels of critical and commercial success. The hope for Lionsgate is that Michael will follow suit with Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned over $900 million at the box office and won multiple Academy Awards. 

    Though it will be notable to follow if Michael also follows suit in how Bohemian Rhapsody sanitized the life story of Freddie Mercury to appeal to general audiences. It especially will be a challenge with the highly controversial nature of Michael Jackson, and the longstanding allegations and accusations that follow his legacy to this day. There is a valid argument that Michael Jackson is a public figure that doesn’t deserve this type of career celebration on film. Ultimately, it remains to be seen if this new film can overcome the troubled legacy and become the hit film Lionsgate is looking for.

    Source: Deadline

  • James Gunn Reveals Which ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Actors He Hopes to Recruit to the DCU

    James Gunn Reveals Which ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Actors He Hopes to Recruit to the DCU

    “What a bunch of a-holes.” A great line from the first trailer that hooked fans on the little-known Guardians of the Galaxy. Nearly a decade later, those same a-holes have become household names and are about to go on their last mission together in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film will be the last MCU project for director James Gunn (and at least one of the Guardians) as he transitions to his new role as the co-chair of DC Studios; however, according to Gunn, it won’t be the last time he teams up with some of the talented cast members.

    In an interview with Empire, Gunn expressed his love for the cast of the Guardians and his interest to work with (some of) them again. “This cast are like my family,” explained Gunn. “I cannot tell you how close I am to Chris Pratt and Pom [Klementieff] and Dave [Bautista] and Zoe [Saldaña] and Karen [Gillan]. But I also know I will work again with all those people individually again. Probably at my other job.” Unfortunately, it looks like Gunn’s brother, Sean, will have to look elsewhere for work.

    In reality, there’s not a major studio in operation that wouldn’t want to work with any and all of the actors Gunn listed. Pratt and Saldaña are already A-listers with their own franchises outside of Guardians, Gillan’s star continues to climb, Bautista has sought out more and more serious roles and Klementieff will be featured in the next Mission: Impossible film. Outside of Saldaña, the actors have Gunn and the success of the Guardians franchise to thank for their bountiful opportunities. With Gunn preparing to unveil at least a portion of the new DCU slate, it’ll be worth watching to see if he’s already carved out any roles for the talented Guardians.

    Source: Empire

  • Netflix Unveils 2023 Film Slate

    Netflix Unveils 2023 Film Slate

    In a series of #NetflixSavetheDates tweets, Netflix rolled out its 2023 film slate which includes some impressive talent in front of and behind the cameras. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what’s coming from the streamer in 2023!

    January

    27th-You People

    Kenya Barris makes his feature directorial debut in You People which examines “an interfaith, culture-clash twist on the relationship rite of passage.” Jonah Hill plays Ezra Cohen who meets and falls in love with Lauren London’s Amira Mohammed. But in the twist you never saw coming, Ezra’s “progressive and semi-woke” Jewish parents (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny) and Amira’s conservative Muslim parents (Eddie Murphy and Nia Long) get involved and hilarity (probably) ensues.

    February

    10th-Your Place or Mine

    From the mind of the Brosh McKenna, the writer of The Devil Wears Prada and 27 Dresses, comes the answer to the question you never asked nor needed answered: what happens when romcom overachievers Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher make a romcom together? Your Place or Mine will answer that question by forcing the two together when Kutcher’s Peter and Witherspoon’s Debbie, besties who have known each other for years, “take over each others’ homes and responsibilities for a week, they realize that maybe they’ve been living the life they think they should, instead of the one they really need.”

    March

    10th-Luther: The Fallen Sun

    The great Idris Elba returns to his greatest role as detective John Luther. Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis and Dermot Crowley will share the screen with Elba as he does “whatever it takes to catch a killer.”

    31st-Murder Mystery 2

    The dynamic duo of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are back for the sequel to 2019’s Murder Mystery. The cleverly titled Murder Mystery 2 will see the clumsy amateur dicks take on an “even more mysterious case” than they solved in Murder Mystery.

    May

    12th-The Mother

    J-Lo is still making movies and in Niki Caro‘s The Mother, she portrays “a female assassin comes out of hiding to protect the daughter she gave up years before.” Misha Green and Peter Craig join Jenny from the Block in the action-thriller.

    June

    1st-Extraction 2

    Stuntman turned director Sam Hargrave reunites with Chris Hemsworth to tell the next chapter in the story of Tyler Rake in Extraction 2. “After barely surviving the events of the first movie”, Rake is tasked with another deadly mission: rescuing the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they’re being held. Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa reprise their roles as Nik Khan and Yaz Khan and are joined by Olga Kurylenko, Daniel Bernhardt and Tinatin Dalakishvili.

    July

    21st-They Cloned Tyrone

    John Boyega, Netflix mainstay Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris star in the directorial debut of Juel Taylor. The film is “a timely and mind-bending thriller” that sees a “series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.”

    August

    11th-Heart of Stone

    Peaky Blinders Tom Harper directs Gal Gadot in Heart of Stone. Gadot plays Rachel Stone, a secret agent who “lives off the adrenaline” and finds herself as “the only one standing between world peace and global destruction.

    25th-Lift

    Director F. Gary Gray looks to be revisiting his Fast and the Furious days in Lift. An international heist crew is recruited to prevent a terrorist attack and must pull off the heist on a plane mid-flight at 36,000 feet! Lift boasts an incredible cast led by Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Vincent D’Onofrio with Úrsula Corberó, Billy Magnussen, Jacob Batalon, Jean Reno and Sam Worthington joining along.

    October

    13th-Damsel

    Millie Bobby Brown stars in Oscar-nominee Juan Carlos Fresnadillo‘s (28 Weeks Later) subversive Damsel. The film, co-starring Angela Bassett, Robin Wright and Nick Robinson, will follow Brown as a damsel in distress who “realizes that no one is coming and that she must save herself.”

    27th-Pain Hustlers

    Directed by Harry Potter universe vet David Yates, Pain Hustlers stars Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy Garcia and Catherine O’Hara. Blunt stars as a single mom who “falls into a lucrative but ultimately dangerous scheme selling prescription drugs”

    November

    17th-A Family Affair

    Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and Joey King star in a romcom that tells the story of a young woman, her mother and her movie star boss. A Family Affair was directed by Oscar nominee Richard LaGravenese.

    22nd-Leo

    An animated “coming-of-age musical comedy”, Leo stars Adam Sandler and Bill Burr. The film, which tells the story of the last year of elementary school as seen through the eyes of a lizard who is a class pet, Leo is directed by Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim and frequent Sandler collaborator Robert Smigel.

    December

    8th–Leave the World Behind

    Written and directed by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, Leave the World Behind is a “tense thriller about two strangers who interrupt a family’s vacation bearing news of a mysterious blackout.” Mahershala Ali, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, Ethan Hawke and Myha’la lead the ensemble cast.

    22nd–Rebel Moon

    Director Zack Snyder space opera is loaded with talent. Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher and Staz Nair star alongside Charlie Hunnam and Anthony Hopkins. Rebel Moon tells the story of a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy is threatened by the armies of a tyrannical regent named Balisarius (Skrein). The desperate civilians dispatch Kora (Boutella), a young woman who has a mysterious past to seek out warriors from nearby planets to help them challenge the regent.

    Sources: Twitter, TUDUM

  • Ex-DC CEO Creates new Production Company at Paramount

    Ex-DC CEO Creates new Production Company at Paramount

    Walter Hamada, who previously served as the head of DC Films, has officially launched his new production company, 18hz Productions. The main focus of this endeavor from Hamada is to provide high-quality horror content to Paramount Pictures.

    Hamada will be joined in this big project by Nathan Samdahl, a key figure in producing 2022’s critically acclaimed horror film Smile during his tenure at Paramount. He will fulfill the role of Senior Vice President of 18hz Productions. Additionally, the company has appointed Nick Romano as its Creative Executive to help bring its horror visions to life.

    Nick is a true horror fan and his passion for the genre is contagious. Together they will be instrumental in making 18hz the home for horror.

    -Walter Hamada

    The studio’s name is a subtle nod to the mysterious frequency of 18.98hz, also known as the “ghost frequency“, which is below the range of human hearing. Still, it has been rumored to induce hallucinations related to paranormal sightings.

    Nathan’s work on hit genre movies like Paramount’s Smile, 10 Cloverfield Lane and A Quiet Place as well as his extensive filmmaker relationships make him the perfect addition to the team. I’m lucky the stars aligned and I was able to get him.

    Walter Hamada

    Samdahl discovered and oversaw the production of the horror project Smile while at Players but left due to layoffs. The movie was released and became a hit, grossing over $216 million worldwide. Romano rejoined Hamada from New Line, where he had worked as a CE. He started his career at ICM Partners and graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in screenwriting.

    Source: THR

  • Jonathan Majors is Here To Conquer The MCU

    Jonathan Majors is Here To Conquer The MCU


    The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been no stranger to great expectations. As we’ve gone through each phase the hype has grown to an impossible level to measure. From YouTube Easter eggs to fan theories and fan casts there’s been a bit of disappointment. Whether it’s warranted or not we have arrived at an interesting point as MCU fans. Phase 5 begins with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and there’s a high level of anticipation. Sure, it’s great to see Scott, Hope, Cassie, and the rest of the crew. However, we know why we’re really here and his name is Kang.

    Kang The Conqueror is synonymous with greatness. He is one of the greatest villains of all time, and one of the more fascinating characters in comic book lore. He’s time-bending; he’s mind-bending; he’s a threat unlike any other in Marvel. When time travel was introduced in Avengers: Endgame, the thought for many fans who are studious to this is that Kang could not be far behind. Lo and behold, he is here. Now take this into consideration, when you are casting for this role you need a heavy hitter. You need the best, the absolute best. Enter Jonathan Majors.

    At the end of Loki Season 1, at the end of time, both Loki and Sylvie were introduced to He Who Remains, a variant of Kang, who had been pulling all the strings. Before his death at the hands of Sylvie, He Who Remains shared some weighty thoughts. “You may hate the dictator, but something… far worse is gonna fill that void if you dispose of him. I’ve lived a million lifetimes. I’ve gone through every scenario. This is the only way.” These are words we hung on and were captivated by. The delivery, the playfulness, and the all-knowing fatigue of that power was mystifying. We’ve seen great performances in the MCU, wrought with great emotion and full of surprises. This was the most electrifying performance we’ve seen to date in the franchise.

    There’s a level of expectation to deliver that Majors superseded. The bar has been raised. This wasn’t even the actual character that he was playing. Just a version. One, singular version. Kevin Feige and Co. have made a decision to build this saga around this gentleman and it will pay off in spades. We are not prepared for what we are about to see. You just have to sit back and enjoy it. If you want variants you’re getting them. If you want a compelling character you’re getting that tenfold. You’re probably saying to yourself that this is overhype, this is hyperbole. It’s not. In fact it’s underselling the point.

    To make a bit of a comparison, there’s a conversation when it comes to Denzel Washington as an all-time great that in his movies he’s always Denzel. It’s an endearing quality that we love to mention. Jonathan Majors disappears into his roles. Like a chameleon, you only know the character and the person is replaced. There’s a specific scene in The Last Black Man In San Francisco that explains what can’t be explained here. If you get a chance watch that movie, and if you have relive this scene.

    When you watch this scene you understand the talent and why he was chosen to anchor Phase 5 of the MCU. In an interview with Empire magazine, Majors discussed playing the villain and what that entails. “Kang adds tonal diversity, real conflict and real friction,” he promises. “You’re being introduced to a new vibration in the MCU. There’s conflict – not just mano-a-mano, not just hero and villain, but your way of life’ and ‘my way of life’. I’m coming for it. We’re in battle here.” That sounds like someone ready to wear the crown.

    Usually, with a villain, we have a foreboding sense of fear of what might happen. As fans, you can feel the level of excitement when Kang is mentioned, theorized about and discussed. We just know we’re getting something special, and this is why we go to the movies.

    It is extremely rare to feel ready to sit back and watch greatness. There won’t be a worry and there won’t be a thought about whether Quauntumania has a bad post-credit scene or was too long or too short. There will be a moment when the MCU once again raises expectations for us and then they are met because they chose the right man to lead the way. You’re out of your league, Ant-Man. It’s just another reminder that Jonathan Majors is here to conquer, for all time.

  • Michael B. Jordan Teaming Up with Chad Stahelski for ‘Rainbow Six’

    Michael B. Jordan Teaming Up with Chad Stahelski for ‘Rainbow Six’

    John Wick director Chad Stahelski has signed on to direct Paramount’s Rainbow Six starring Michael B. Jordan. The film will adapt author Tom Clancy’s novel of the same name and serve as a direct sequel to Without Remorse, which streamed on Amazon Prime in 2021. Without Remorse was streamed in 2.3M households during its first weekend on the service in April 2021.

    Jordan will be reprising his role as CIA operative John Kelly whose origin story as Rainbow leader “John Clark” played out in Without Remorse. The films are set in Amazon’s Jack Ryan universe with Jodie Turner-Smith‘s Lt. Commander Karen Greer serving as the connective tissue between the two franchises.

    While Without Remorse was picked up by Amazon Prime has a result of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic’s impact on theatrical releases, Paramount hopes to land Rainbow Six in theaters. The novel followed Clark’s Rainbow group as the uncoverd a massive conspiracy, codenamed “The Project”, which is desinged to decimate the human race.

    Source: THR

  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals When ‘Thunderbolts’ Will Film

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals When ‘Thunderbolts’ Will Film

    Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts has been surrounded by a litany of questions since its formal announcement at San Diego Comic-Con in 2022. Everything has been questioned, from the titular team’s line-up to who they’ll face when the cards are down. One fact that has remained clear and constant, however, is the heavy involvement of Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The character, who first appeared via cameos in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Widow before gaining a larger role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is set to replace Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury as the government-sponsored administrator behind the world’s next supergroup, and Louis-Dreyfus can’t wait to get filming started.

    Speaking exclusively with Variety, the former Veep star revealed that Thunderbolts will begin its shoot in June. The film, about a “rag-tag bunch” of vengeful anti-heroes, is currently scheduled to release on July 26th, 2024, which would make a production start in the summer of 2023 seem like a fairly sensical plan. Fans have been eagerly awaiting more news on the project, and it would seem Louis-Dreyfus is more than happy to oblige. On top of commenting on the June filming schedule, the actress stated she’d spoken with Marvel about allowing her character to be involved in a few action sequences as well:

    I actually pitched it. I told them I really, really want to fight. We’ll see if that happens. I haven’t seen the script yet.

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus

    Thunderbolts will be directed by Jake Schreier when the shoot finally does begin. Aside from Louis-Dreyfus, it will also see the return of Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, and Hannah John-Kamen to their respective Marvel Cinematic Universe roles. Harrison Ford will also make his MCU debut, taking over the part of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross from the late William Hurt.

    Source: Variety

  • Vin Diesel Will Not Appear In ‘Avatar’ Sequels

    Vin Diesel Will Not Appear In ‘Avatar’ Sequels

    It would appear that, when it comes to the Avatar franchise, Vin Diesel is more fan than family. Back in 2019, the well-known Fast & Furious actor posted a not-so-cryptic video to his Instagram, heavily implying that he had booked a role in James Cameron‘s highly-anticipated sequels. The video showed Diesel on set with Cameron, where the two joked about the massive level of secrecy involved with the films and Diesel hinted at finally getting to work with one of his industry idols. Understandably, the social media post caused most fans to assume they’d see Diesel pop up in Avatar: The Way of Water. This, of course, did not happen.

    As Cameron mentioned in the video, the filmmaker spent the past several years working on multiple sequels at once. Diesel‘s absence from The Way of Water initially felt like an indication he may have actually filmed scenes for Avatar 3 or Avatar 4, but executive producer Jon Landau is now making it clear that’s not the case. Speaking exclusively to Empire Magazine, Landau explained that The Pacifier star was simply visiting the Avatar production as an admirer, and not as a member of the cast:

    Vin was a fan. He came in, visited the set one day to see what we were doing and people took that out of context.

    Jon Landau

    Diesel‘s immediate major projects are Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Universal’s Fast X, both serving as sort-of conclusions for their respective franchises. As such, it makes sense that the leading man of Last Witch Hunter would be on the prowl for his next big part. While that does not currently seem to be taking place in an Avatar film, the future could still be bright for Diesel if Cameron‘s acclaimed series continues as long as the director would like.

    Source: Empire Magazine