Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Netflix

  • ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Live-Action Series in Development for Netflix

    ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Live-Action Series in Development for Netflix

    While much of the entertainment zeitgeist has followed the events of D23 today, Ubisoft Forward has also been chugging away with an array of announcements for their video game studio. Though one bit of news that will stir up some discussion is Ubisoft’s plans for the television platform.

    It has been confirmed at the online showcase that a live-action Assassin’s Creed series is scheduled to be produced for Netflix. Head of Ubisoft Film and Television Jason Altman further elaborated on the planned series.

    For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into an iconic franchise. We’re thrilled to create an Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix, and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin’s Creed universe.

    Jason Altman

    The notion of a live-action Assassin’s Creed series is certainly not a brand new announcement. Word of a partnership between Ubisoft and Netflix can be traced all the way back to October 2020. Beyond the announcements that the series itself is happening, not much is known in terms of the narrative that Netflix will choose to adapt. Though hopefully for fans of the franchise, this new reconfirmation from Ubisoft is a promising sign that plans are beginning to actually move forward. If any further developments arise about this series, they will be reported on here at Murphy’s Multiverse.

    Source: Ubisoft

  • REPORT: Netflix May Move Away from its Binge Model, Embrace Weekly Releases

    REPORT: Netflix May Move Away from its Binge Model, Embrace Weekly Releases

    There’s been a lot of discussions in regards to what the future might have in store for Netflix. After facing its first major drop in subscribers, the all-in attitude in the streaming market has taken a few steps back. Still, the company is moving forward at full speed with the hope of making up for what it lost, as well as trying to establish an ad-supported model to start covering costs. It seems that may not be the last new move they are taking.

    In a new piece by Puck, it seems like Netflix is starting to test out more approaches to adding longevity to their series. Among them is embracing the weekly release and moving away from their traditional binge model. While in the past it helped a lot of projects get watched fast, it did lead to a different issue once more competition entered the market.

    HBO, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and more have been in the headlines a lot more with their projects releasing weekly. That way, even smaller projects got a little boost for longevity. Whiel series like Squid Game, Stranger Things, and even recently with The Sandman manages to keep up some impressive weekly viewership after a binge release, it creates a strong dependency that every project performs the same way.

    As Netflix hopes to bank on some newer projects to become their “next Stranger Things” like the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender and One Piece, it creates a very different dynamic if they keep investing in countless shows and hoping their popularity alone will carry them. So, the move away from the binge model might help them in the long run but also requires a new key performance indicator to define the success of these shows. For now, we can only wait if they truly do start embracing this model.

    Source: Puck

  • Peyton List on Season 5 of ‘Cobra Kai’ and Growing with the Show

    Peyton List on Season 5 of ‘Cobra Kai’ and Growing with the Show

    Ahead of Cobra Kai‘s fifth season, leading lady Peyton List sat down with the folks at Variety to discuss the show’s latest season and what it has been like growing up on the hit Netflix drama. The fifth season of Cobra Kai is the biggest season yet with growing families, bigger risks, and crazier fights, and no one is more surprised than List that Season 5 managed to outdo Season 4.

    While talking to Variety, the actress explained that she was sure Season 5 would be more relaxed than the prior seasons. But that was far from the case, especially for the original cast of the Karate Kid films. “With the All Valley tournament, I thought, “Season 5 is going to be a lot more relaxed on the fighting. I’m probably not going to be with stunts at all.” And then of course the writers just completely turned that around. Especially for the big guys, the older guys, there are just some intense fights. And so many returns of characters from the past that we haven’t seen that are very surprising.”

    List joined the cast of Cobra Kai during the show’s second season, and she’s been a mainstay ever since. As the show has gone on, though, the actors (including List) have continued to grow and age, while the series has seemingly kept them at the same age/grade. When asked how much longer she feels she could keep playing Tory, List didn’t seem eager to leave the role behind but she did seem ready to see the show’s young cast grow.

    When we first started, Xolo was still in high school and a couple of the other kids were still in high school, but now all of us are basically out of college. That’s one that I’m really curious about. With the writers I’m like, “What grade are we in now? What semester are we in?” We’re just taking it season by season, but we all look so drastically different each season. I have no idea. I don’t know what they’re gonna do. I would say by next season we graduate, but I don’t know if they would take it past that.

    List

    It remains to be seen how many seasons the writers have planned or what the end game will be for the young cast. Previous interviews suggested Season 6 could be the final season, but with how Season 5 ends, it’s clear there’s still plenty of story left in the tank just waiting to be told.

    Season 5 of Cobra Kai is now streaming on Netflix. If you haven’t already, you can check out our review by heading over here.

    Source: Variety.

  • ‘One Piece’ Cinematographer on Making Netflix’s Live-Action Version Distinct from the Anime

    ‘One Piece’ Cinematographer on Making Netflix’s Live-Action Version Distinct from the Anime

    There’s a lot of pressure for the live-action One Piece team to bring this iconic manga series to life. Not only will they be compared to the original work but also any other adaptation out there, most notably its anime. Still, it’s not an undertaking that is taken lightly and it seems cinematographer Nicole Hirsch Whitaker prepared quite a bit to bring this series to life.

    In an interview with the Filmmakers Academy, she reveals how she consulted with cinematographer Paul Cameron of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as well as some grips that worked on Life of Pi to get a better feeling for how she can film with boats. She also revealed that she had her crew for six weeks ahead of production, which just wrapped today.

    She has also actively prepared for the project for around three months in advance to prepare how she can tackle the project. In the interview, she confirms that she was mainly responsible for the “first block of production, which amounts to 62 days” as she worked alongside director Marc Jobst on the project. In the interview it was highlighted how they tried to make it stand out from the anime.

    They wanted it to stand out on its own and not just be a carbon copy of the anime. Together, they referenced different films along with photography and the look of the show. 

    She still did her homework as she actively watched 1,000+ episodes of the anime alongside her son, who’s seemingly a fan. She also seemingly read the manga to her kid in the past, which adds an extra connection to the project. She highlighted the following in regard to how they set it all up.

    There will always be fans and critics. You can’t please everyone but at the heart of it, the most important thing is the story. And if the story isn’t there, and that doesn’t grab the viewers, it doesn’t matter what you do. We can only hope that we’re going to gain a new audience and people that find it fascinating and interesting.

    Nicole Hirsch Whitaker

    It definitely sounds like she had quite a bit of fun working on the live-action One Piece series, and making it stand on its own feet to “gain a new audience” is exactly the right approach. While these projects are made for fans alike, it’s always a trouble to fall into familiar territory that pays more tribute to fans but doesn’t ease in new viewers. So, it’ll be exciting to see how they approached the series and added their own visual touch to make it stand out from the rest.

    Source: Filmmakers Academy

  • Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Wraps Production

    Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Wraps Production

    It’s hard to believe but Netflix’s upcoming live-action One Piece series has officially wrapped production. We’ve first heard about it all the way back in 2017 when Eiichiro Oda revealed that they were starting work on the project but it wouldn’t truly start production until 2022. It’s been a long road but even more so for showrunners Steven Maeda and Matt Owens.

    To celebrate the wrap-up, Maeda took to his Twitter account to share some photos from his time in Cape Town, as well as look back at the family he won through the time they worked on thee production. Of course, he also shared his hopes that this series will get picked up for another season which many of us share.

    Owens took to his Instagram account to share some fun pictures from his time in South Africa while also playing on the “the One Piece is real” meme making the rounds.

    That’s not the end of it, as the main star himself, Iñaki Godoy, has also announced he’s wrapped up his work on the production and is sharing what he learned from portraying a character like Monkey D. Luffy.

    There’s a lot of hope for this adaptation to break the curse that many have seen in the past. One Piece is an important franchise for many and has been running for 25 years, which is already impressive considering its entire story is from a singular person. With a recent boom in popularity in the Western markets, we may see the franchise get a second life even after dominating the world market with France and Japan alone.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • REVIEW: ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 5 is Ridiculously Delightful

    REVIEW: ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 5 is Ridiculously Delightful

    This is a spoiler-free review!

    Cobra Kai has always had a sense of ridiculousness to it, but Season 5 takes it up a notch in the best way possible.

    Most shows tend to falter as seasons go on. For some, it is in their sophomore seasons that they fall apart, while others begin to falter in latter seasons, seemingly struggling to maintain quality over the years. Cobra Kai, thankfully, managed to avoid the sophomore season curse and has only continued to become better with each new installment. Five seasons in, the Karate Kid spinoff appears to have more steam now than ever. The series understands what it wants to be and is willing to take risks. So, by the time the final episode of Cobra Kai‘s fifth season ends, viewers will find themselves desperately seeking Season 6 — which is currently thought to be the show’s final season.

    Season 5 of Cobra Kai picks up shortly after where Season 4 ends. Miguel has headed to Mexico in search of his biological father, Cobra Kai is riding high from winning the All Valley, and Johnny is still trying to mend his relationship with his son. But given that this is Cobra Kai, things don’t necessarily go as planned. Cobra Kai is still causing trouble – both the students and the senseis – and there will be repercussions felt throughout the entire season because of their actions. While prior seasons have focused on the relationship between Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, Season 5 has put the focus on family and how our choices impact those around us. What we get to finally see is the weight of their choices. Both men are still incredibly, incredibly stubborn, but this season sees them move beyond being karate obsessed.

    This season puts a ton of focus on character growth. Season 5 of Cobra Kai takes its main cast and puts them into uncomfortable positions, forcing them to learn from their mistakes along the way. Surprisingly, while Johnny and Daniel do grow plenty, it’s the kids this go around that show the most growth. Which is a nice change. We’re so used to the story being centered around the adults, but Season 5 puts the kids in the spotlight. They’re reckless, they’re frustrating, but at the end of the day, they’re a lot different by season’s end. The most notable character arc this season belongs to Peyton List‘s Tory Nichols who has arguably the best (and most emotional) storyline this season. List leaves everything on the mat this season and deserves all of the praise she’s sure to receive.

    The season isn’t without its faults, of course. There are moments that do drag on seemingly more than necessary, and the things Silver manages to get away with can be quite frustrating. But the stumbles are minor, and the season always manages to recover from the tiny blows.

    As for the fight scenes this season, they’re not as great as they have been in the past. That isn’t to say there aren’t some highlights, though. After all, this is Cobra Kai and there will always be at least one insane fight included. Some of the fights are goofy, of course, but the hard-hitting fights are memorable – especially the big battle we see near the end. It’s the first time in the show’s history that audiences will find themselves unsure of the safety of some of their favorite characters. It’s both well-executed and well-cut. It’s a hell of a way to end what is easily the most ridiculous and yet fantastic season of Cobra Kai to date.

    Honestly, looking at where Cobra Kai is now, it’s easy to forget that the series started out as a YouTube original. It’s easily one of the best shows on television because it knows what it wants to be and doesn’t take itself too seriously. This is a karate series with great characters. The dojos and karate used to be the main selling point of the series, however, Season 5 does a hell of a job making it about the characters. The series has grown over the years into a far more confident version of itself and it shows.

    Overall, Season 5 of Cobra Kai is one of the best seasons to date. While the fight scenes aren’t the best, the season excels in its character work. It’s hard to believe a story about two warring dojos has managed to shine in its storytelling five seasons in, and yet, Cobra Kai has done so with ease. While the plan might’ve been for six seasons, Season 5 proves there is still plenty of story left to tell if the creatives are up for it. For now, fans can relax knowing their favorite karate series is back bigger and better than ever.

    Cobra Kai is now streaming on Netflix.

  • ‘Arcane’ Becomes First Streaming Series to Win Animation Emmy

    ‘Arcane’ Becomes First Streaming Series to Win Animation Emmy

    Netflix has a certified, Award-winning hit on its hands. Arcane, titled onscreen as Arcane: League of Legends, debuted on the streaming service last year to high praise from both fans and critics. The series is set in the world of Riot Games’ popular League of Legends online multiplayer, and follows the sisters Vi and Jinx, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell, respectively, as they navigate the escalating unrest between the cities of Piltover and Zaun. At last night’s Creative Arts ceremony, Arcane won the Emmy for Best Animated Program, becoming the first streaming show to do so in the history of the event. Past contenders for the honor have also mostly been from Netflix’s crop of content, including nominations for hit comedy Big Mouth and cult favorite drama Bojack Horseman.

    Arcane was one of many series duking it out for the Emmy this year, coming up huge against several heavy-hitters. Longstanding programs like Fox’s Bob’s Burgers and The Simpsons, as well as Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty, fell short. Marvel Studios’ What If…?, its first animated project, was also nominated. Although it didn’t win Best Animated Program, star Chadwick Boseman did pick up the award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in a separate category. Arcane co-creator Christian Linke accepted the Emmy on the series’ behalf, giving the following statement:

    Thank you for this. It’s a big deal for us as we come from video games. It’s been amazing to see the world embrace our characters and our stories so thanks to Netflix who believed in us from the beginning, thanks to Riot Games, who worked on the whole IP… and to all the people that have been with our game and League of Legends for the last 12 years or so who helped make it as big as it is now.

    Christian Linke

    A second season of Arcane is currently in development, though no release date has been announced.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: ‘The Devil in Ohio’

    REVIEW: ‘The Devil in Ohio’

    Editor’s Note: This review is based on episodes 1-7. The eighth and final episode was not provided for review. Please keep that in mind while reading.

    Netflix’s The Devil in Ohio is about a young girl who escapes a cult and finds herself wanting to stay with her rescuer and her family. It’s a simple premise, but it’s also so much more than that, really. The Devil in Ohio is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Daria Polatin and is said to be based on a true story. It’s a story about corrupt religion, family, and the lengths people will go to in order to get what they want.

    The series begins with Mae (Madeleine Arthur) on the run. At the time, it’s unclear what she is running from or why, but the answers are hinted at relatively quickly. She’s in danger and needs to get away for her own safety. Enter Suzanne Mathis (Emily Deschanel), a psychiatrist eager to protect the girl and anyone else that might need her help. From the moment Mae enters Suzanne’s life, things begin to erupt into chaos. Those familiar with Deschanel solely through her work on FOX’s Bones will be delighted to see the actress have the chance to play with more emotional complexities here. Suzanne is a flawed character. She acts on emotion rather than logic. Her choices are often questionable, and her dedication to Mae sometimes borders on obsessive. While the character means well, she’s not necessarily well-written, although Deschanel does her best with what she’s given.

    Arthur, who starred in the small screen adaptation of Snowpiercer, proves to be a standout here. She perfectly captures a sense of creepiness and childlike wonder with Mae. Viewers will often find themselves questioning whether or not she’s trustworthy and if she’s worth protecting. There’s so much mystery that surrounds her character. Even by episode seven, it’s hard to imagine the Mae’s story will be successfully concluded with one final 45-minute-long episode; while we do learn a fair amount about Mae by the end of Episode 7, she hasn’t truly developed a personality of her own just yet. She’s still figuring herself out, and it’s hard to get a true feel for her character. If there’s one thing The Devil in Ohio could’ve benefited from, it would’ve been two additional episodes. Two more hours could’ve given the series time to breathe and focus on Mae and her story a bit more.

    That isn’t to say The Devil in Ohio is bad. It’s not. At times, it is downright frightening. While during others, it can be quite the snooze fest. The slow moments are hard to get through, and sometimes, the writing isn’t that strong. What will keep viewers watching are the performances by the cast and the creepy atmosphere that is highlighted on screen. Unfortunately, though, The Devil in Ohio falters in trying to tell a cohesive story. With so many secrets, it often feels like writers weren’t even sure how to go about answering them, which is frustrating. All the more frustrating is the series managed to get Tahmoh Penikett and failed to truly make use of him.

    Penikett is a stellar actor who has such limited screen time in The Devil in Ohio. It’s rather unfortunate, too, because his scenes in this series feel rushed and lacking any importance despite playing such a vital role. It’s almost as frustrating as waiting until the end to finally up the ante. Still, for what it is, The Devil in Ohio is worthy of a watch. Despite its overall flaws, the limited series managed to be fascinating enough that viewers will be drawn into the story of Mae and her life before she was saved.

    A psychological thriller about corruption in religion and the willingness to fight back? The Devil in Ohio has all of the right components to be a stellar series. It just needed more time to tell its story.

    The eight-episode limited series is now streaming on Netflix.

  • REVIEW: ‘Love in the Villa’ is Enjoyable

    REVIEW: ‘Love in the Villa’ is Enjoyable

    When most people think of quirky romance films, they’d rightfully think of either Lifetime or Hallmark, two networks known for their made-for-television romance titles. However, it looks like both networks will soon face competition from none other than Netflix. Having already staked its claim in cheesy holiday films, Netflix is adding to its list of titles with the addition of charming love stories featuring the enemies-to-lovers trope. Enter Love in the Villa, a cheesy Italian-set romance sure to delight.

    Love in the Villa stars The Vampire Diaries actress Kat Graham and The Umbrella Academy‘s Tom Hopper as Julie and Charlie, respectively. Graham’s Julie is finally going on a trip to Verona – a trip she has planned for years – and she’s thrilled to be spending it with someone who means so much to her. She has meticulously planned every moment of the trip, including scheduling lunches and dinners for their entire vacation. Unfortunately, as she soon learns, things don’t always go to plan. And she soon finds herself alone in Verona, or so she thinks. The villa she’d rented for her romantic getaway is occupied by another guy and he has no intention of leaving. What ensues is a surprisingly rich romance story about finding yourself and letting go.

    There’s nothing outright special about Love in the Villa. The plot is simple and ultimately predictable… but there’s something charming about this little film. It’s light-hearted and never tries to take itself too seriously. More importantly, though, there’s a chemistry between the leads that is hard to deny. It makes some of the more cheesier moments all the easier to sell. Graham and Hopper are magnetic. The way they play off of one another is key to the film’s success.

    That’s also one of the best things about Love in the Villa. The characters are great – even the secondary ones. Uberto is a character with limited screen time, but he’s sure to become a fan-favorite. The little time he does have on screen is memorable despite very few lines. There are a few other characters that would be spoilers to note, but they help to carry the second half of the film and their presence is delightful. For a movie with such a simple concept, the character work is pretty impressive overall. Writer and director Mark Steven Johnson might have some misfires in his credits – Daredevil, Jack Frost, Ghost Rider – but Love in the Villa is proof he’s capable of crafting a strong romantic comedy.

    Those eager for an enjoyable romantic comedy? Love in the Villa is definitely worth a watch. It’s easy to get lost in this love story and there are plenty of jokes to keep viewers laughing throughout. More importantly, though, it’s a nice showcase of the cast and their talents, especially when it comes to Graham, who hasn’t gotten the chance to show what she’s truly capable of just yet. Is it something that’ll bring upon numerous re-watches? Doubtful, but for the hour+ viewers will spend with this story, it’s a mini vacation that they won’t regret taking.

    Love in the Villa is now streaming on Netflix.

  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige Join Eddie Murphy’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Sequel

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige Join Eddie Murphy’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Sequel

    Axel Foley is back as the upcoming legacy sequel heading to Netflix has finally started getting some steam. Deadline has just revealed that Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined returning Eddie Murphy in the upcoming film. Production is already underway with Mark Molloy in the director’s chair. As one would expect, Murphy will once again play Axel Foley, who is also taking on a producing role alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman.

    The film also got a new title, as it’ll be known as Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley. It’s unclear what direction they are going with this sequel which will revisit one of the early comedy cinematic icons first introduced back in 1984. The franchise went on to consist of three films. There’s no word yet if other actors might be reprising their roles from previous films. It’s also unclear which role Taylour Paige and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will have in the upcoming sequel.

    The title is certainly curious as it almost feels like they are chasing something that Top Gun: Maverick put out there with its title. Of course, it’s unclear if this new title is potentially meant as a tribute to the franchise’s new direction as a last hurrah for the character. Perhaps they also hope to pass on the torch to a new generation but it’s unclear just what their goal is with the sequel. We’ll have to see once the first trailer arrives.

    Source: Deadline