Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Movies

  • Marvel Studios and a Cinematic Déjà-Vu of 2022

    Marvel Studios and a Cinematic Déjà-Vu of 2022

    We’ve entered a new era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The franchise continues to grow in new ways while showing some slowdown in its box office development. The films are still successful and big hits, but they’re not taking the box office completely by storm. Discussions online are talking about a franchise that is “watering down” what it has to offer while general audiences according to the Internet are facing fatigue.

    Films are seemingly losing momentum at theaters as people question how the franchise can continue moving forward and likely end in the coming years. Two iconic franchises make a grand return and dominate theaters with stronger legs than any frontloaded Marvel film. Things are looking shaky for Marvel Studios after the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man in 2015.

    Oh wait, it’s not 2015 but 2023 has just started. We’ve entered Phase 5 of the MCU with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania about to release in theaters. The only major difference is the effect of the pandemic has taken its toll on theaters during 2020 and 2021, the last year seemed like an uplifting new direction for cinema. We saw some truly great films ranging in variety with some surprise big hits in Top Gun Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. Two nostalgia-filmed films making a comeback with a legacy sequel.

    Instead of enjoying this newfound momentum at the box office and in cinematic offerings, it feels like we’re retreading old ground once again. Marvel didn’t take the top spot this year at the box office and so we’re analyzing the sheer success of these two entries plus the Jurassic World threequel also banking on the nostalgia of a returning cast. It’s great to see these films flourish after years of uncertainty for non-IP-driven projects but there’s a feeling in the air that we’ve gone through this all again.

    2015 saw the release of two major legacy sequels. Jurassic World returned us to a dinosaur-filled world that we last saw in 1993; a sequel 22 years in the making. That same year, December saw the breakout release of Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens which brought us back to a true sequel of the iconic franchise just under new Disney leadership to pull in $2 billion worldwide over Christmas. Jurassic World didn’t do so shabby either with a strong $1.6B.

    Ironically, here we are again with Avatar: The Way of Water releasing in December under a now Disney-owned banner on its way to passing $2B with strong legs at the box office. Earlier in the year, Top Gun Maverick pulled in $1.4B at the box office as a sequel to a long-dormant franchise with a few more extra years on its back with Tom Cruise at the forefront selling the film.

    It feels like a strange sense of déjá-vu, especially if you take into account the discussions surrounding Marvel and superhero fatigue. While some points of these discussions have evolved, it’s still the same argumentation at its basis. Comparisons were drawn to how Marvel needs to evolve or take a step back; now especially popular with its Disney+ streaming offerings doing what many have begged the Netflix shows and ABC series do years ago.

    We have comparisons drawn to how Jurassic World makes a better showcase of franchise building than Marvel. It’s something a recent article does as well with Avatar: The Way of Water which is a hard comparison to make if you consider one has multiple franchises under its belt since 2008 and the other had its first sequel release after 13 years; as such only really getting started as a franchise. We have no idea if Avatar will work long-time as the charm of exploring Pandora could also one day lose its vanity.

    What we should learn and not repeat from 2015 is what these franchises can learn from each other. Long-running franchises always hit a slump but even Marvel Studios is back to performing as they did during Phase 2. Their last phase had that extra build-up momentum towards what was deemed a “finale” of sorts for the Infinity Saga. They also serve a very different purpose if seen as films. So, they can only learn and evolve from each other if we take the right lessons from everything rather than chasing coattails once again.

    Both franchises build familiarity in different ways. Marvel creates a cast of characters that draw in their audience and become selling points to try out new parts of their franchise. The MCU has always been misunderstood as one singular franchise, but in reality, it’s just the umbrella term for multiple franchises or ongoing stories. Yes, some crossovers can interrupt specific stories but we’ve seen the “you need to do your homework” complaint back in 2015 when people complained that “they could’ve just called the Avengers” in every self-contained story or franchise.

    Will Marvel run out of steam? At one point, it’s very likely but they still remain strong performers in the market. Even with a big drop in its second weekend, some of the MCU releases in 2022 showed stronger legs later on; something that surprised me even with the Disney+ re-release always imminent due to COVID’s influences on consumer behavior and Bob Chapek‘s desire to grow its streaming service no matter what.

    Yet, one cannot deny that it’s also the franchise that has shown the most growth throughout the years. There’s a reason it cannot be emulated, just as much as why Avatar’s performance won’t easily be replicated just because Marvel doesn’t release a film for a few years. They’re a production studio that works independently and has its own quotas to meet. James Cameron released a film in the 20th Century that also is responsible for many other franchises.

    If we compare 2022 and 2015, films with massive worldwide performances and impressive legs have something in common: nostalgia. They are legacy sequels to projects that have been long dormant. They make good use of familiar ground while adding some additional elements to still make them stand out. They feel like “self-contained” stories but they are also continuations that anyone can rewatch. Of course, it’s easier to just catch up on one film to get ready for another, but that tune changes once Avatar 7 releases and we have six almost three-hour films to catch up on.

    Of course, it’s conjecture to some degree but there’s still a curious thread of these major performers that are “leaving Marvel in the dust” with their strong box office legs. 2015 and 2022 are just so eerily similar with general discussions and it’s no wonder franchise fatigue would set in with a franchise that has been a consistent part since 2008. No one can blame them for feeling a bit overwhelmed at times and if the MCU still remains a strong performer, we’ll likely have this exact same discussion once Phase 8 kicks off with Stinger and the New Avengers.

  • ‘The Batman’ Director Wants to Keep the Focus on Bruce Wayne in the Sequel

    ‘The Batman’ Director Wants to Keep the Focus on Bruce Wayne in the Sequel

    Now, the headline is likely to have some wondering how a sequel to the film The Batman wouldn’t focus on Bruce Wayne, but director Matt Reeves has a good reason for that. His approach to the sequel seems to avoid the fact that the franchise’s main character isn’t overshadowed by the villains or members of his rogue’s gallery.

    It’s not uncommon for some of the villains to steal the show in the Batman franchise, especially with the Joker in The Dark Knight. As such, he is trying to keep Bruce Wayne at the “emotional center of the story.” In a way, the villains should be there to strengthen the character’s story rather than completely overtake it, as their backstory and central themes become the narrative focus point.

    To me, the thing that I really feel is that I also believe that Rob [Pattinson] is so special in the role. My goal has always been to do these point-of-view stories that allow the character to always be the emotional center of the story. Because a lot of times what happens is, after you do the first one, then suddenly other Rogues Gallery characters come in, and they kind of take over, and then Batman takes a backseat sort of character-wise, or emotionally

    Matt Reeves

    It’s a great approach to thoroughly explore Bruce Wayne and Batman’s duality in the story. The villains are there to enforce the central message but the emotional journey is always on Wayne. Christopher Nolan‘s take on the franchise tried to keep Bruce’s conflict in choosing which kind of life he wants to live. We’ll have to wait a bit longer until we find out how exactly he plans to anchor the story around Pattinson‘s take on the character.

    Source: Collider

  • RUMOR: ‘The Flash’ Reshoots Scheduled for This Month

    RUMOR: ‘The Flash’ Reshoots Scheduled for This Month

    The Flash has had one of the most out-there productions we may have witnessed for any comic book property or even film. Not only was the film in development hell for many years, it got passed on from one director to the next. At one point, it seemed inevitable that they’d skip the project altogether but surprisingly It director Andrés Muschietti ended up taking the helm.

    Finally, with a director in place and filming underway, its main star, Ezra Miller, started to gather one troubling headline after another. His actions had many wondering if they could even release the project considering his actions, but even after its merger, Warner Bros. Discovery was keen on getting the project out.

    In a new tweet from Big Screen Leaks, it seems like the film may be planning some reshoots later this month. They do point out that this isn’t to change the ending, something some expected might be done to recast Miller with another actor to avoid further drama. It seems like these are some minor pickup shots, which we’ve also seen Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania do recently.

    The long-awaited film is set to release on June 16th this year and it does seem like we shouldn’t expect another sudden delay in the production; at least as long as no sudden new headlines make the rounds. Here’s hoping we’ll finally get to sit down and see what DC’s approach to the multiverse is going to look like when it finally releases.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Quantumania’ Producer Teases an “Epic Sci-Fi War” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    ‘Quantumania’ Producer Teases an “Epic Sci-Fi War” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Ant-Man is about to wrap up its trilogy in style with the arrival of Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The film will seemingly move away from the more light-hearted direction the franchise took to include some of its darkest moments, especially going by its trailers.

    IIn a new press release for the film, Stephen Broussard, who is the Marvel Studios Vice-President of Production and Development, teased that the film is going to be an “epic sci-fi war movie,” further showcasing that this isn’t going to be your usual Ant-Man adventure. Though, he still calls it “a family adventure first and foremost” but all that changes once they enter the Quantum Realm.

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is many things. It’s a family adventure first and foremost. It’s the story of a family of Super Heroes basically being pulled into an adventure within the Quantum Realm, and within that, 3 it becomes an epic sci-fi war movie and a coming-of-age story. It’s a lot of different things wrapped into one film.

    Stephen Broussard

    It’s definitely an exciting prospect to not only see the franchise jump fully into the science-fiction aspects we were teased throughout the Infinity Saga. The Quantum Realm was an important milestone for the Avengers to find a way to reverse what Thanos has done to the world. Now, it seems whatever they did will catch up with the Ant-family.

    Source: The Direct

  • Ryan Reynolds Teases a Collision of Icons in ‘Wolverine and Deadpool’

    Ryan Reynolds Teases a Collision of Icons in ‘Wolverine and Deadpool’

    The third installment of the Deadpool franchise is quickly becoming one of Marvel Studios most anticipated projects if not one the most talked about. Since star Ryan Reynolds revealed that Hugh Jackman was coming out of retirement from the character of Logan to co-star in the untitled film, the project has been in the news fairly consistently. While there are plenty of theories about what the plot of the film will include (and what the title might be!) little is known about the film which goes into production in the Fall of 2023 and plenty of questions about how the very R-rated Deadpool will fit in the very PG-13 MCU.

    The tone of the first two Deadpool films, while incredibly different from the average MCU film, is partly responsible for their popularity. Jackman’s last outing as Wolverine in Logan was extremely violent. The irreverence and violence associated with the characters may not seem to fit in the MCU, but according to Reynolds, fans should expect an “authentic” representation of the characters they’ve come to know and love and one hell of a team-up.

    It’s really kind of finding a way to service both of these characters that feels extraordinarily authentic to each of them, and I think these two wrongs actually will make a right in a pretty great way.

    Ryan Reynolds

    As for how he expects to blend the sensibilities of the Deadpool films with Marvel Studios more family-friendly films, Reynolds calls the process of figuring that out a “tightrope walk.”

    I think it’s a tightrope walk. I mean most of these movies are always a tightrope walk of tone, so in this instance, though, you have a collision of two pretty iconic characters that exist in the Marvel Ancillary Universe [laughs] — we’re in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this point.

    Ryan Reynolds

    Kevin Feige has gone on record to indicate that Deadpool 3 will have an R-rating, like its predecessors, so it seems fans can still expect more of what they loved. It’s also clear that the “collision” of the two characters is not only the film’s biggest selling point but also the point from which the film is being built out. Deadpool 3 is starting to sound a bit like Lethal Weapon and there’s nothing wrong with that!

    Source: The Wrap

  • Giancarlo Esposito is Ready to Roll into the MCU

    Giancarlo Esposito is Ready to Roll into the MCU

    It’s not a surprise that Giancarlo Esposito became one of the “top actors” that fans want to see joining the big Marvel family because of his excellent performance in shows such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and The Mandalorian, to the point that the actor himself it’s interested in receiving that Disney money but not in the way that MCU fans think. 

    Even though everyone is on board to see Esposito on the big screen as Dr. Doom, he recently expressed interest in taking on a very different role; the 64-year-old actor is keen on playing Charles Xavier, leader of the X Men.

    “I love what Marvel does. I love that the fans can see me in this universe and are proposing not only one character, possibly Magneto, possibly [DC’s Dr.] Freeze. And the biggest ask is Charles Xavier”

    Giancarlo Espocito on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    Some people may find this statement confusing since we recently saw Charles interpreted by Patrick Stewart in the latest installment of the Doctor Strange franchise, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And yes, that’s a valid point. Still, we must remember that we saw him coming back as the Professor because Feige wanted to give the fans what they had been praying to see for years; this doesn’t mean that he might be Professor X from the MCU universe. He might be a variant. Hence, the door for someone different to play this character is still wide open (as we know).

    “I want to play a good guy. Charles is smart. He’s good. But I feel as if there may be some mileage with me and Marvel. I know I love what they do. I know I love creativity. So who knows what could happen? Keep putting it out there”

    Giancarlo Espocito on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    As Mr. Esposito said, the only thing we can do is make our voices heard, so the people at Marvel give us what we want.

    Source: ComicBook

  • Matt Reeves Provides Update on ‘The Batman’ Sequel Script

    Matt Reeves Provides Update on ‘The Batman’ Sequel Script

    The landscape of Warner’s DC films has been in major upheaval since James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired as co-CEOs to oversee the newly formed DC Studios. Various projects, including Wonder Woman 3 and a sequel to Black Adam, have been scrapped in favor of a fresh start for the new executive creative team. One project that has remained on the slate following these changes, however, is the upcoming sequel to The Batman. It’s confirmed that the Matt Reeves-directed 2022 film will be the first in a new saga overseen by the filmmaker which will exist in a universe that will apparently be separate from whatever creative direction Gunn and Safran lead at DC Studios.

    One notable question from audiences is when they should expect this new film. In a recent interview, Reeves provided an update on the status of his new script for The Batman’s sequel.

    I mean, I can’t give an update on that in terms of specifics, except to tell you that we are hard at work on the script. My partner (Mattson Tomlin) and I are deep in it and I’m excited about what we’re going to do.

    Matt Reeves

    Ultimately, there isn’t too much to glean from this specific quote about Matt Reeves’ new film. The notion that the film is deep in the scripting phase indicates that audiences shouldn’t expect to see Robert Pattinson return as the Caped Crusader in the immediate future.

    Fans of the well-received 2022 superhero film will be able to return to Gotham City before then, however; The Penguin is set to begin filming throughout 2023, which means a 2024 release for the Colin Farrell-led is likely. Meanwhile, shows based around the Gotham City Police Department and Arkham Asylum are in development at HBO Max.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • William H. Macy Joins ‘Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes’ Cast

    William H. Macy Joins ‘Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes’ Cast

    The next chapter of the Planet of the Apes franchise has added a Hollywood stalwart to its ranks. William H. Macy has joined the cast for the 20th Century’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in a currently unknown role. He will be joining Owen Teague, Freya Allan, and Peter Macon in the latest installment. Wes Ball, who helmed the Maze Runner film series, is set to direct based on a screenplay written by Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison.

    Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is set to be both a sequel and a new chapter in the film saga after the previous reboot trilogy, with the last two films directed by Matt Reeves. This film franchise has long been one of the most important for the studio since the original Planet of the Apes film in 1968. This will be the first film released following 20th Century was acquired by Disney.

    William H. Macy has recently finished an 11-season run for Shameless on Showtime during which he received multiple Emmy nominations for his performance as the lead character, Frank Gallagher. In addition, he played a supporting role in the hit Hulu limited series The Dropout. The star actor is likely best known for prominent roles in films such as Fargo, Air Force One, and Boogie Nights. It remains to be seen if this new venture into the Planet of the Apes from Macy will be a catalyst for his next iconic film performance.

    Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is currently scheduled to release exclusively in theaters on May 24, 2024.

    Source: Deadline

  • Kumail Nanjiani Addresses Status of ‘Eternals’ Sequel

    Kumail Nanjiani Addresses Status of ‘Eternals’ Sequel

    Marvel Studios’ Eternals went through 7000 years’ worth of MCU history and explored the mysterious beings’ journey on the planet. It further elaborated on the origin of the Celestials and ended with the Eternals preventing the emergence of Tiamut. However, their plan didn’t go exactly as they thought it would. After the emergence was sabotaged, Arishem the judge abducted the earthly Eternals, to evaluate their memories in order to judge humankind on Earth.

    While the consequences of the emergence weren’t explored much, rumors suggest the upcoming Thunderbolts movie and Captain America: New World Order could end up retconning the corpse as Genosha, a mutant nation. An Eternals sequel hasn’t been confirmed to be in development, so these may be the only tie-ins to that film for quite some time and a new statement by Kumail Nanjiani, who portrayed Kingo in Eternals, backs up that premise.

    In an interview with Total Film, Nanjiani was asked if he had any plans to reprise the role of Kingo. He replied that he didn’t “know if they [had] plans”, and that he would “love to come back.”

    Yeah! I mean, listen, I have plans today. I don’t know if they have plans. I would love to come back. But I’m sort of waiting to hear when or if that’s going to happen. I’m hoping I get to do more. I had a great time playing that character. It’d be a shame if he’s a sort of one and done. But, you know, the decision’s not mine to make.

    Kumail Nanjiani

    This isn’t long after Ma Dong-seok‘s (who portrays Gilgamesh) management agency listed Eternals 2 among other upcoming projects featuring the actor. We know from MCU executive Nate Moore that Harry Styles wasn’t cast as Starfox/Eros “for a tag”, and there are “more stories to be told” with his character. With more and more information surfacing on the sequel with each passing day, it’s safe to say Eternals 2 will be happening in the near future.

    Source: Total Film

  • 3-for-3: Three Comic Book Arcs We’d Love to See Adapted in ‘Black Panther 3’

    3-for-3: Three Comic Book Arcs We’d Love to See Adapted in ‘Black Panther 3’

    Though she says it will be a while before it hits the screen, Black Panther star Letitia Wright’s assertion that a third installment in the franchise is “already in the works” has us thinking about the future! Black Panther: Wakanda Forever left a lot of paths to be explored in the future and some characters being introduced in other properties make for some interesting speculation about what stories Ryan Coogler may have in mind for Black Panther 3. Here are a few that we’d like to see on the big screen.

    Black Panther: Enemy of the State

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s touching post-credit scene in which Shuri met her nephew, T’Challa II, in Haiti captured the hearts of audiences and made good on the film’s subtitle. It also opens the doors to exploring a topic addressed by Christopher Priest during his epic run on Black Panther: what happens within a country when its leader spends significant time away from it. In the comics, a sudden public scandal forced T’Challa to leave Wakanda for an extended time. In his absence, a wily refugee by the name of Achebe lead a coup and took over governing Wakanda…with a little help from Mephisto!

    Black Panther: Enemy of the State could adapt this fairly easily, given Shuri’s absence from Wakanda. A coup by Achebe would also give Winston Duke‘s M’Baku a major role in the film, given that he was last seen serving as the king regent of Wakanda. With Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly signing a multi-projecet deal with Marvel Studios to play Mephisto, the time is right for this classic Preist story to make its way to the big screen. Letting Achebe go full-on talk-to-the-hand-puppet crazy while having Mephisto pulling the strings would provide an unexpected change-of-pace for the franchise.

    Black Panther: The People

    Thematically, Black Panther: The People may seem a little similar to Enemy of the State, but there are enough little differences to make a case for choosing to adopt this arc from Ta-Nehisi Coates‘ run on Black Panther. Black Panther saw the government taken over from within; Wakanda Forever saw the devastation of the country; The People could easily be the logical next step. Since the passing of King T’Chaka, Wakanda has, to put it lightly, had a rough go. Killmonger’s time as Black Panther, as it turns out, was the least of their concerns. T’Challa’s friendship with the Avengers led to Wakanda becoming a focal point of Thanos’ invasion (the aftermath of which was entirely hand-waved away) and Namor’s attack cost Wakandan lives outside of the Royal Family. The people of Wakanda have had enough and are, perhaps, ready to take things into their own hands…with a little help.

    The MCU has yet to explore how other African nations view Wakanda, something Reginald Hudlin did wonderfully in his run on Black Panther. Hudlin introduced the neighboring, authoritarian nation of Niganda and with it, a centuries long grudge between it and Wakanda over, you guessed it, resources. Though The People would see a revolt from within Wakanda, the country of Niganda would play a key role as well while examining the philosophical arguments around types of governance. Coates’ run introduced Tetu, a Wakandan with strong anti-monarchical beliefs, and Zenzi, a Nigandan empath who used her powers to incite riots. The plot of this one, as they say, writes itself. The disillusioned Tetu finds his anti-monarchical movement growing following the multiple tragedies brought to Wakanda by the Royal Family. His movement draws the attention of Zenzi, who uses her powers to stir the people into a revolt, all the while serving the end goals of the brutal Nigandan Prime Minister, M’Butu, who seeks to take ownership of Wakanda’s resources.

    Black Panther: Invasion

    Heavily hinted at in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine wants what Wakanda has: Vibranium. For playing such an integral part in the MCU, the Great Mound really hasn’t been featured much outside of a few minutes of screentime in Black Panther. It’s rumored that 2024’s Thunderbolts will see Val’s team of Super Soldiers and spies head to the Tiamut’s corpse to gather up another valuable natural resource: Adamantium. Adamantium would make a pretty suitable replacement for Vibranium, which is now under the joint protection of Talokan and Wakanda, and so Val’s pursuit of it makes sense. Of course, there’s another rumor about that movie that would make it pretty tough for the Tbolts to do their job, meaning they might come home empty handed.

    Should Val fail to obtain some Adamantium, she may get desperate and, as you know, desperate time call for Deathlok. As the director of the ever-so-shady CIA, Val would know all about the long-since-abandoned Project: Alpha-Mech. A simple plot could see Val provoking a neighboring nation, perhaps the aforementioned Niganda, to attempt an invasion of Wakanda. The U.S. Government could then offer to “assist” Wakanda by sending in a unit of their Very Special Forces: a team of Deathloks. As cyborgs, Deathloks could be easily manipulated to obey the whims of their person-in-the-chair. Fans of the comics might recognize this as an adaptation of Reginald Hudlin‘s “Who Is the Black Panther?” arc. It would be a wild, wild ride to see on screen!