Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Netflix

  • Zazie Beetz Leads Impressive Ensemble Cast of Season 6 of ‘Black Mirror’

    Zazie Beetz Leads Impressive Ensemble Cast of Season 6 of ‘Black Mirror’

    The sixth season of Netflix’s Black Mirror has set its cast. Per Variety, Zazie Beetz, Paapa Essiedu, Josh Hartnett, Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, Danny Ramirez, Clara Rugaard, Auden Thornton and Anjana Vasan will all appear in the upcoming season of Black Mirror. The outlet also confirms that this cast will span across three episodes, with more cast members expected to be announced for further episodes of the season.

    Beetz is perhaps best known for her role on FX’s Atlanta as well as her turn as Domino in the second Deadpool movie. While Essiedu is known for The Lazarus Project. Hartnett, of course, has a long-spanning career that includes films like 30 Days of Night and The Faculty. He is next set to star in Oppenheimer for Christopher Nolan. 

    As for Paul, he’s best known for starring in Breaking Bad, and will next be seen in HBO’s Westworld. Mara is coming off the television series A Teacher, and previously starred in Netflix’s House of Cards. Ramirez is coming off of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the hug hit, Top Gun: Maverick, while Rugaard led the Sky series The Rising. Thornton is coming off of the hit series This is Us, and Vasan recently starred in We Are Lady Parts.

    Production on Black Mirror’s is thought to be currently underway.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Resident Evil’ Showrunner Drew Inspiration from the Games and Movies

    ‘Resident Evil’ Showrunner Drew Inspiration from the Games and Movies

    On Thursday, Netflix is set to release its live-action adaptation of the beloved video game franchise, Resident Evil. The eight-episode first season stars Ella Balinska as Jade Wesker, Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker and Paola Nuñez as Evelyn Marcus. The series is a brand-new story within the Resident Evil mythology that is full of heart and horror. Leading up to the show’s release, Netflix conducted a sit-down interview with showrunner Andrew Dabb to discuss his inspiration for the series, as well as what he’s most excited for fans to see in the show.

    While the films – namely the Milla Jovovich-led films – were seen as poor attempts at bringing the games to life, Dabb notes that the games and the movies were able to deliver something different. “I was a huge fan of the games and the movies and I think they each scratch a different itch,” he explained. “The games are very immersive, fun and scary. And the movies are big, bombastic spectacles. So, the idea of being able to do something like this where we have a little bit of both was very exciting to me.”

    Like those films, and the 2021 attempt at a reboot, Netflix’s Resident Evil offers up a brand-new story for viewers. Yes, there are aspects from the games on display, but this is something that can stand on its own. In this case, Resident Evil is brought into the modern world – one in which COVID even exists. For Dabb, he’s excited for fans to see his expansion into a modern-day storyline and the characters they’ve helped bring to life on the screen. “For me, the most exciting thing about the series, as it is about any series, is the characters. These are some really great characters to explore. Some from the game. Some that the writers and I created. But, either way, I think they just have really compelling stories that I hope will really resonate with people.”

    As for why he went with Albert Wesker for this story, Dabb has a pretty simple reasoning. Wesker has a pretty ridiculous backstory in the video games. He was excited to explore more about Wesker for the series. “When I was sitting back and wondering who is the character that I am most curious about in the modern day in this new world? Wesker popped into my head,” he said. “But that character with his past and all of the weird things that happened to him as a child, opened up a path to explore him a little bit more which was really exciting to do. We also consciously didn’t want to overload this first season with cameos. We want people to get to know our original characters as well as some returning favorites.”

    The first season of Resident Evil debuts on Netflix this Thursday. You can read our review here.

  • REVIEW: Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ is Surprisingly Enjoyable

    REVIEW: Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ is Surprisingly Enjoyable

    SPOILER-FREE REVIEW!

    When it comes to video games, Resident Evil is one of the most beloved video game franchises. It is also one of the worst-reviewed film franchises, which, unlike its inspiration, continued to see a decline in profit throughout the years. So, knowing that Netflix’s adaptation of Resident Evil would draw inspiration from both the games and the films was worrisome, to say the least. And yet, the series manages to be everything that the films were not. Yes, there are drastic changes from the characters fans have come to love – or hate – in the games. Yet, they somehow work.

    Fans of Resident Evil will most likely know Albert Wesker as one of the most memorable villains of the video game series. He’s the captain of the Raccoon City Police Department’s Special Tactics And Rescue Service unit in the video games. In the series, however, Wesker is a scientist who works for Umbrella and has been working with them to develop a product called Joy that can present some issues for those that take it. While fans are sure to expect the asshole Wesker from the games, the Wesker presented in the series – at least, initially – is a much more levelheaded character who is eager to protect his kids: Billie Wesker and Jade Wesker.

    The first episode of Resident Evil is a bit of a slog at times. In fact, it almost feels like it wants to be a Resident Evil take on The Walking Dead. However, as the story progresses, it becomes an exciting story of family, deception, love and pain. It is of note that Resident Evil moves between the past and present frequently and often without warning. While it can be frustrating, there is a reason the story is told this way. It allows for the world and its characters to be established quickly, while also propelling the story forward. It’s an odd choice, sure, but by each episode’s end, the story manages to come together with ease.

    Ella Balinska is wonderful as Jade Wesker. As frustrating as the character’s choices can be from time to time, Balinska proves to be a star in the making. She commands the screen and often outshines the rest of the cast, including her “twin.” The character is reckless, but operates from a good place and when Balinska nails those moments of conflict within Jade? She does so wonderfully. Then there’s the always excellent Lance Reddick who is a force to be reckoned with in Resident Evil. Not only is his casting in the series stellar, but Reddick delivers some of his best work in the series.

    This is very much a story about a father and his daughters, but it’s also a story about the Umbrella Corporation, the T-virus, and corruption. Perhaps that is one of the best things Resident Evil manages to successfully do: craft two connecting stories that blend seamlessly when all is said and done. The story of the girls and their father is just as vital to the story as are the various creatures that occupy the screen. It’s the perfect blend of horror and heart. Especially when the series introduces some of the most iconic elements from the video games.

    The series serves as an origin story. Not just for the characters, but also the world of Umbrella and the T-Virus. It tells a cohesive story that weaves together into one larger-scale story that moves between timelines. It’s massive in scope, and yet grounded at the same time. Perhaps not a phrase one expects to hear when referencing a horror video game franchise, but it’s the most accurate description. And while these characters and their stories are only getting started, Netflix’s Resident Evil doesn’t waste any time teasing its future.

    The only place where Resident Evil stumbles occasionally is with its cinematography. That isn’t to say all of the shots are muted and unaesthetically pleasing – in fact, that’s far from the case. The set pieces are so well constructed that, when shot appropriately, the imagery can be stunning. As for the music, Resident Evil does a great job incorporating music here and there, and even manages to include some of the piano music from the video games.

    The first season of Netflix’s Resident Evil proves a good adaptation of these games is entirely possible. The films might’ve been a disaster, but Andrew Dabb has been very vocal about his love for the games and, despite some changes, that love is evident in the final product. From the well-thought-out Easter eggs, to the inclusion of key story points, Netflix’s Resident Evil is the only adaptation of the video games that matters. (Sorry, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City… this is a Resident Evil story worth watching.)

  • ‘Squid Game’ Joins ‘Stranger Things’ at the Emmys, First Non-English Language Film to Nab a Nomination

    ‘Squid Game’ Joins ‘Stranger Things’ at the Emmys, First Non-English Language Film to Nab a Nomination

    It has been nearly a year since Squid Game first premiered on Netflix. Since then, the Korean drama has become Netflix’s most-watched show of all time with over 1.65 billion hours viewed within the first 28 days of release. And now, the drama is looking to make history with the Emmys, too.

    Nominations for the 74th Emmy Awards were announced this morning and, unsurprisingly, Squid Game was nominated – as was leading man Lee Jung-jae. The series pulled in 14 nominations overall, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. More impressively, though, Squid Game has become the first non-English language drama to secure an Emmy nomination in the main drama category.

    Elsewhere, another Netflix hit earned 13 nominations. Stranger Things was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More), and Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series among others. Unfortunately, the show’s young cast looks to have been ignored in the acting categories, with many believing Sadie Sink’s work as Max was overlooked.

    While the release date for Season 2 of Squid Game is still up in the air, the final season of Stranger Things is looking to enter production relatively soon. For now, fans can enjoy the first season of Squid Game on Netflix now, as well as the first four seasons of Stranger Things.

    Source: Deadline

  • How Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons Could Inspire a ‘Stranger Things’ Characters Return

    How Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons Could Inspire a ‘Stranger Things’ Characters Return

    It’s almost a tradition at this point with Stranger Things that the Duffer Brothers make sure to introduce a loveable supporting character each season that the fandom becomes obsessed with, only to ultimately crush our hearts with their untimely death. It started back in Season 1 with Barb, who still has yet to get her justice, followed by Bob Newby, and then Alexei. So, the show has made sure that we should try our best to not get too attached to new characters even if we still repeat the same mistakes.

    Season 4 introduced Eddie Munson, the metal head-loving dungeon master of the Hellfire Club. Like those who came before him, Eddie met his fate in the season 4 finale after being swarmed by Demobats while trying to buy more time for those who went after Vecna. While Eddie is seemingly dead, some evidence and dot-connecting could hint at resurrection for the character, with some help from the lore of Dungeons and Dragons, as well as one of Munson’s favorite metal bands.

    Following the death of Eddie, Max seems to be up next on the chopping block, having just barely escaped Vecna’s grasp after Steve, Robin, and Nancy were able to take him down. Unfortunately, due to her wounds, Max does indeed die. At least, that is what we assumed until Eleven miraculously uses her abilities to bring Max back to life. If Eleven can do this, someone with the same powers would be able to do that as well. With Vecna surviving his encounter, he’d most likely be able to bring Munson back to life. However, after being mangled by Demobats, his body presumably being left in the Upside Down, he’s not likely to be the guy we came to love throughout Season 4.

    This is where the Iron Maiden and Dungeons and Dragons inspirations come in. Hawkins’ resident metal head shares his namesake with an icon of the metal scene in the ’80s, the undead mascot of Iron Maiden. Of course, the only connection they share is the name and that he’s a fan, protecting their honor and declaring them as real music. Yet, there’s the potential that a resurrected Munson could sport a similar look to the band’s undead mascot, especially after what he went through.

    This could lead to a storyline hinted at the beginning of the season, as their current campaign in Dungeons and Dragons always tends to hint at future storylines. At the Hellfire Club’s big session, the group is ambushed by Vecna within the game, and Mike, startled at the monster’s appearance, mentions that Vecna is dead. He was killed by Kas, the human vampire and trusted lieutenant to Vecna, who betrayed and killed the Arch-Lich within their stories’ canon.

    In a way, Eddie would be quite the valuable asset in Vecna’s mission of revenge and furthering his invasion into the overworld. At first, he’s used as a ploy to mess with and break those who seek to oppose him. We’ve seen in Season 4 how Vecnas breaks his victim’s minds, and preys on their darkest memories, using them against them. Eddie would definitely be the perfect puppet for him to get into everyone’s head, especially Dustin’s.

    The D&D character of Kas was dead. And after spending too much much time near the negative energy plane, he was transformed into a vampire. In Stranger Things, they could use the Upside Down as its equivalent, where Eddie died after fighting off a horde of Demobats. His weapons of choice are also clues. His weaponry is similar to the flaming sword and shield Kas uses, even if Eddie’s don’t ignite, the flaming sword can be seen in the Hellfire Club logo.

    Some may also notice his Tattoos may hint at his return, with one being a demon puppeteered by a floating hand, possible as a reference to the hand that Kas cut off of Vecna and the control he would have over a risen Munson. Plus, it also matches the tease of him playing Metallica‘s Master of Puppets during the finale episode of Season 4. On top of all of this, he has a swarm of bats on his arm, foreshadowing his demise and possibly resurrection.

    The fifth and final season of Stranger Things has even yet to be written and will most likely not release until sometime late in 2024. Still, in the meantime, we can all theorize just how our beloved metal head could return to Hawkins and further prove to be the hero he never thought he was. Getting one more chance to save his friends would seem like the perfect way to give him one last hurrah.

  • ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Wasted The Sparrows

    ‘The Umbrella Academy’ Wasted The Sparrows

    When the second season of The Umbrella Academy came to a close, fans were left on the edge of their seats as they’d believe the Hargeeves siblings had escaped the apocalypse that had brought them into the 1960s. Upon their return to what they thought to be their childhood home, the Hargeeves siblings were met with confusion. After all, their father Reginald Hargeeves, whose death brought the family back together in Season 1, was now alive and well. As it turned out, though, this Reginald was not their father. The place they’d thought to be their home was actually none other than the Sparrow Academy. The end of the season gave fans a glimpse at the Ben of their timeline, as well as silhouettes of the Sparrows.

    With the tease of the Sparrows, fans were thrilled at what Season 3 might have in store. After all, it was a brand new mystery featuring a new set of mysteriously powered children born on Oct. 1st, 1989. As the Sparrows are the children that Reginald was unable to get in the original timeline, Season 3 seemed full of promise and quickly proved it would be unable to handle this new ground of characters as evident by Marcus being wiped from existence by episode’s end,

    The show begins quickly doing away with many of the Sparrows as quick as they can, spacing it out so that it does not seem like they really want them gone. Marcus was the one member that actually showed some development as he was willing to work with the Umbrellas to try and fix what was going on, but the show didn’t seem to have someone else taking up precious screen time from any of the Umbrellas. Sure, his powers weren’t all that interesting, as he had similar abilities to Luther, minus the gorilla DNA that malformed Luther’s body.

    Perhaps the biggest issue with many of the characters is how one-note most of them feel. In fact, many of them don’t get much development besides Ben and Sloane, with Ben constantly bumping back and forth like the writers weren’t fully committed to what they wanted to do with this new version of a previously beloved character. Alphonso , Fei, and Jayme are kind of just there to serve as the muscle and never really expanding behind that. We even see that, at one point, Alphonso is not as deformed as he once was, but the show does little to elaborate on that. This is in no way on the actors and actresses, as they all look great and do the best that they can with what they’ve been given.

    Christopher was probably the biggest misfire of the season. Of course, he is a living flesh cube, but no one ever cares to ask why and the show doesn’t care to make any explanations. In some ways, it works, as none of them really give it a second thought after all the crazy shit they’ve all seen the past few days. That doesn’t excuse that he is solely used as a plot device here and there in the season. 

    Now of course, it is The Umbrella Academy and not The Sparrow Academy, so naturally, the focus would still remain on the main characters. However, it felt like such a major cop out with the Sparrows. The characters were hyped, and we were led to believe they’d be the main antagonists of the next season. Instead, they decided to completely pivot from what could’ve been a unique entry in the series with yet another apocalypse to try and fix. 

  • REVIEW: ‘Boo, Bitch’

    REVIEW: ‘Boo, Bitch’

    When it comes to life, there’s only one certainty: death. It’s a subject we often see in mainstream media, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is handled all that well all of the time. In fact, death is often used as a ploy to elicit sadness and then all but ignored in most instances. Netflix’s limited-series Boo, Bitch takes a much different approach. It tackles death head on and brings its characters through the grieving process, all while reminding its audience to stop fearing life until death becomes a possibility. The name of the series could be off-putting for some – although it totally works for the show — but Boo, Bitch is easily one of the best young adult shows to debut in some time.

    Lana Condor received her big break courtesy of Netflix’s adaptations of the To All the Boys I’ve Loved… books by Jenny Han. So, it’s not entirely surprising that the actress opted to reteam for the streamer for her next project – in which she also serves as an executive producer. That series proved she was able to headline a project and Boo, Bitch only reaffirms as much. Condor stars alongside Zoe Margaret Colletti (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) who holds her own against the actress. Both Condor and Colletti are fantastic and easily outshine most of the supporting cast. They manage to sell the emotional moments just as well as they sell the humorous moments, which isn’t always an easy task to do. One could only hope that their performances in Boo, Bitch will continue to open doors for them going forward as Condor and Colletti prove they’re both leading ladies with Boo, Bitch.

    Boo, Bitch tells the story of two best friends in their senior year of high school as they try to make it a year to remember. Having spent most of their high school lives on the sidelines, Erika Vu (Condor) and Gia (Colletti) are eager to leave a legacy at their school and finally be “seen” by their fellow seniors. It’s a simple enough concept, except that things don’t necessarily go as planned. As the trailer teases, one of the girls ends up dying and becoming a ghost, and they’ll both seek to live their best lives before it becomes too late. It’s during this journey to live that Boo, Bitch excels in its storytelling. Sure, there are moments that are ridiculous – the shorthand used between the girls can become too much at times – but the moments are few and far between, thankfully.

    One of the most satisfying bits of Boo, Bitch is that it takes on the usual stereotypes we’ve come to know in high school and somehow manages to make them work within its own story. The high-school’s resident bitch is there and incredibly important to the story, as is the school’s dreamboat. While those characters are woven into the story wonderfully, Boo, Bitch does stumble in its tackling of bullying – in that it feels like the bullying subplot is there merely to move the story along. It doesn’t really offer any true substance to the story. Even with that in mind, Boo, Bitch proves to be an exciting young adult series worthy of a watch.

    Most limited-series will initially sell themselves as limited, only to leave things open for the hopes of another season. Boo, Bitch is very much a limited series with a complete storyline. Sure, if the creators wanted to, they could continue the story, but there’s no need to because the ending is satisfying. It’s a nice change of pace to have a limited series truly present itself as limited with a story that provides a true beginning, middle and end.

    Given the twists and turns that take place in Boo, Bitch, this is a series it’s best to go in with little to no knowledge. The element of surprise only helps to sell the emotional aspect of the story. Overall, Boo, Bitch is a joy to watch. It’s a heartwarming dramedy sure to make us question what we’re afraid of in life and what we’re willing to do to be happy.

  • Duffer Brothers Working on Multiple ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoffs

    Duffer Brothers Working on Multiple ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoffs

    As Stranger Things 4 remains in the cultural zeitgeist for some more time past its recent release, news is beginning to circulate about new projects within the universe that will be in the works down the road. Firstly, The Duffer Brothers are officially launching Upside Down Pictures, a subsidiary production company under Netflix. The notable duo has hired experienced television executive Hilary Leavitt to run the organization. In a statement, The Duffer Brothers discussed their excitement for her to have an active role in their company.

    It didn’t take long into our first meeting with Hilary, where we bonded over films like Jaws, Home Alone and Speed, to know we had found a kindred spirit. Hilary’s passion for storytelling is perhaps matched only by her passion for the storytellers themselves, for whom she is fiercely protective. No wonder so many writers and directors are drawn to working with her. She is a rare talent indeed, and we feel extremely grateful to have her at our side as we build Upside Down Pictures.

    The Duffer Brothers

    With the formation of this production company, news of the first batch of projects under their banner is being unveiled. Namely, a live-action Stranger Things spinoff series also created by The Duffer Brothers is in development. Not much is known about who and what will be covered in this new series. And with the large ensemble of characters still around, it’s hard to determine main contending options (assuming that the series will directly follow any of the current main cast of characters).

    As well, Upside Down Pictures will follow the footsteps of the Harry Potter franchise, as a stage play set within the world, and the mythology of Stranger Things is currently in the works. Director Stephen Daldry of The Crown, Billy Elliot, and The Reader fame will be helming this project. It certainly will be fascinating to see if this universe and franchise can be successfully transposed into the stage medium. And overall, it will be a story worth following to see if these ancillary Stranger Things projects will have legs to stand on, especially when the series ultimately reaches its near conclusion.

    Source: Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter 

  • ‘Stranger Things’ Duffer Brothers Working on Live-Action ‘Death Note’ Series for Netflix

    ‘Stranger Things’ Duffer Brothers Working on Live-Action ‘Death Note’ Series for Netflix

    It looks like Netflix isn’t quite done with Stranger Things or Death Note, as the Duffer Brothers‘ newly founded Upside Down Pictures is now involved with a new production. Orphan Black and Ozark’s Hilary Leavitt joined the production house to run it and they are actively working on another attempt at a live-action Death Note series for the streaming giant.

    There are no details on how they might be tackling this adaptation outside of it definitely being a series, unlike the 2017 film adaptation. There’s no word if they are only in a producing role or if they might even be showrunning the project, as they will also be busy on adapting Stephen King and Peter Straub‘s The Talisman. It’s Netflix’s second attempt at the franchise created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

    In 2017, Moon Knight writer Jeremy Slater alongside director Adam Wingard gave their shot at bringing the franchise to life. Supposedly, a sequel was even in development by Greg Russo back in 2021 but this new series may be a hint at that project having been scrapped at some point. The concept does lend itself more to a serialized format, yet even a Japanese production broke the first half of the original manga into two films back in 2006. Whatever they have planned, Willem Dafoe is still the perfect Ryuk. So whatever they may end up going, they should still bring him back if he is game to bring the Shinigami back to life.

    Source: Deadline

  • Taz Skylar Shows Off His Sanji Kicking Training

    Taz Skylar Shows Off His Sanji Kicking Training

    A long time ago, before Netflix’s live-action One Piece series even started production, we got a good look at Sanji actor, Taz Skylar, showing off his skills kicking. It’s one of the character’s iconic aspects besides his ability to turn anything into a delicious meal. Many wondered how they’d attempt to bring his moves to life, especially in how flashy they are showcased in the original manga by Eiichiro Oda. A new video from Skylar highlights just how far his training has come.

    In a new video as shared by @OP_Netflix_Fan on Twitter, we get a good look at just how far his training has come along. Skylar has actively shared how he’s prepared for the One Piece role, such as attending kitchen courses alongside training with his stunt doubles. We sadly still haven’t gotten a good shot of him in costume, and how they might tackle his moves cinematically, but the dedication showcased is definitely praise-worthy.

    We haven’t seen much on how the training has come together for Zoro actor Mackenyu, but there was a leaked production image that hinted at these the three-sword style. One Piece continues to shape up as a promising project that’ll hopefully set a new direction for live-action manga adaptations. With many promising practical sets and some visually stunning designs, the only thing we haven’t gotten a glimpse at from the project is their costumes. so, we’ll see if they might give us our first look once they’ve wrapped production and entered the post-production phase.

    Source: Twitter