Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Netflix

  • ‘Harder They Fall’ Director Jeymes Samuel Combining Two Boom! Comics Into One Film For Netflix

    ‘Harder They Fall’ Director Jeymes Samuel Combining Two Boom! Comics Into One Film For Netflix

    Fresh off a successful filmmaking debut, The Harder They Fall director Jeymes Samuel is reteaming with Netflix for his next project. The former musician will adapt two Boom! Comics series for the popular streaming service, combining the book Irredeemable and its spin-off Incorruptible into a single film. It’s a script, a unique take on the indie titles will be written by breakout screenwriter Kemp Powers, who came to prominence last year with his work on the films One Night in Miami and Pixar’s Soul. Superstar Jay-Z and James Lassiter will serve as producers, after previously doing so on Harder They Fall, alongside Samuel and Boom!’s Ross Richie and Stephen Christy.

    Irredeemable debuted on comic store shelves in 2009, written by fan-favorite author Mark Waid and illustrated by Peter Krause. It was intended to deconstruct and upend most of the industry’s often-used tropes, telling the story of the world’s greatest superhero, The Plutonian, as he snaps under the pressure of his responsibilities and transforms into the world’s greatest supervillain. The spin-off Incorruptible told the opposite story, following supervillain Max Damage as he slowly reforms and becomes a superhero in response to The Plutonian’s mass slaughtering, with the knowledge that his own degenerative powers are causing him to lose his mind.

    The ‘Evil Superman” concept is one that’s become very popular in recent years, with projects like The Boys, Invincible, and Brightburn all tackling the idea in their own ways. Samuel showed he had a distinct auteur style with his debut feature, so it’s likely his version of the scenario will be unlike anything we’ve seen before. There are currently no release dates or stars attached to the project.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘One Piece’ is Netflix’s Biggest Production in Afrika “in Scope and Budget”

    ‘One Piece’ is Netflix’s Biggest Production in Afrika “in Scope and Budget”

    It’s only been a few weeks since the live-action adaptation of One Piece finally got the ball rolling on its production. The series started production in South Africa to bring the iconic manga from Eiichiro Oda to life teasing larger-than-life replicas of ships and sets to bring the series to life. In an official statement by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, we finally realize just how large this project is. Working under the project title “Project Panda, which we reported last year in September, the series is the biggest project in Africa in terms of scale and budget.

    The press release also reveals that 50 South African cast members and 1,000 crew members are currently involved with the production at the Cape Town Film Studios. A big part of Netflix’s commitment is to support black creatives. So, they also are working together with the Academy of Creative Excellence mentorship program that sees 30 young aspiring filmmakers helping the production. This project is also in collaboration with SA Film Academy. President Ramaphosa also visited the set of the production and shared some photos that tease the various locations.

    We’ve heard some time ago that the upcoming production won’t be cheap, as Tomorrow Studio and Netflix were all-in to bring the manga to life that has managed to outsell Batman comics going back over 70 years. There have been quite a few high-budget projects filming in Cape Town, such as Raised by Wolves, Outlander, Black Mirror, Black Sails, and so many more. the potential of this series also opening the door to more high-budget productions from Netflix is definitely an exciting prospect for the country’s filming industry.

    Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa, Twitter

  • Jack Black Returns as Po in ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight’

    Jack Black Returns as Po in ‘Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight’

    A new original animated series is heading to Netflix which will see the return of Jack Black as Po, the Dragon Warrior. The series titled Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight will be the first time he voiced the character since the third entry back in 2016. So far, he has not voiced the character in the other animated series, and it seems this project may have caught his eye making him want to return.

    We’ve also got a first look alongside the official synopsis for the new entry in the Kung Fu Panda franchise.

    Kung Fu Panda: Dragon Knight

    When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade. Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction — and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way

    Kung Fu Panda

    Peter Hastings and Shaunt Nigoghossion join the project as executive producers. There’s no word if others are joining the project as well, as the original films had quite the stacked cast including Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, and more. for now, it’s great to see Black return to the role he made so iconic, and hopefully, the animation can also live up to the original.

    Source: The Wrap, TV Insider

  • Eiichiro Oda is “Very Involved” with Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Adaptation

    Eiichiro Oda is “Very Involved” with Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Adaptation

    Tomorrow Studios and Netflix have been quite busy working on a live-action adaptation of the popular One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda. As the reception for Cowboy Bebop has been quite mixed, there have been some concerns about what to expect from the adaptation. The series has quite a few cartoony moments that some might worry won’t translate to live-action, but a very dedicated team and the lively cast have lifted spirits. A new tweet by Netflix France also highlights one of the key aspects that add to the series’ potential.

    Considering One Piece started in 1997, it has been a long road before a live-action adaptation was even attempted. The initial announcement back in 2017 came from Eiichiro Oda himself, and we would later learn from co-showrunner Matt Owens that he was also supervising the scripts. The new tweet by Netflix France was released highlighting that the mangaka is “(very) involved” in the adaptation. Here is the translation of their tweet:

    Just a little reminder that Eiichirō Oda is (very) involved in the One Piece adaptation project.

    When the initial casting announcement arrived, Oda shared a personal message on the addition and hinted that he was heavily involved with the casting process. As he created these characters and the world they live in, it makes sense that he would want to be involved as much as possible. The creative team has shared their passion for the adaptation and a constant exchange with its creators is a motiving aspect that adds that layer of authenticity to the project. While production is hinted at lasting probably up to August/September, we still have some time until we get our first real look at the adaptation.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • REVIEW: Netflix’s ‘Bad Vegan’ Tells the Demise of the Queen of Vegan

    REVIEW: Netflix’s ‘Bad Vegan’ Tells the Demise of the Queen of Vegan

    The newest craze in Hollywood seems to be creating television series based on scandalous magazine articles. From Netflix’s Inventing Anna to Hulu’s The Dropout, Hollywood has found its latest obsession: true crime. Unlike those shows, however, Bad Vegan doesn’t craft a fictional story. Instead, it opts to use the real people to tell everything about this scandal, and it’s ultimately a decision that pays off.

    While Inventing Anna and The Dropout are both entertaining in their own right, despite the former being an utter mess in its depiction of the victims, they offer a sometimes fictional take on the scandals. The four episodes of Bad Vegan do not allow for a fictitious and entertaining take on the Pure Food & Wine scandal. Sarma Melngailis, who was once deemed the Queen of Vegan, had a fast rise and fall at Pure Food & Wine, and despite everything that happened, she willingly sits down to tell the story from her perspective. Naturally, though, her take on what happened is told with a veil of sorts, as while open, Melngailis, is not truly reliable in her telling of the events.

    Like The Dropout, Melngailis isn’t the lone party responsible for what ultimately results in her downfall. There is a man involved and, honestly, he’s one of the more frustrating bits of the story. Just as Melngailis is riding the high of Pure Food & Wine, with her raw vegan restaurant taking over, she meets a man who will ruin it all. How he meets him — and just how Alec Baldwin is involved — are fascinating because you want to believe there’s truly no way someone like Melngailis could fall for him… and yet, she does. There are red flags galore from the moment they connect, but she’s so desperate to believe in him, she’s blinded by the thought of love. What’s worse, however, is that when she does finally begin to question things about him, she still decides to stay.

    Melngailis does many things that are questionable during their relationship and, with just four episodes, it’s not easy to present a fair painting of everything that would eventually unfold. The series does its best to make use of its limited time, and for the most part it does; it wastes no time setting up her rise, but seems to spend little time on how everything falls apart. It’s the one issue with such a limited timeframe to tell such a massive story. In fact, five episodes probably would have benefited the story a heck of a lot more. This is simply because the final episode has to unwrap so much, that by the end, its frustrating where the story leaves off.

    For those unfamiliar with the scandal behind Pure Food & Wine, like myself, there’s no denying this is an easy to devour documentary series. The whole ordeal is just as fascinating as it is morally wrong. Melngailis is an uncomfortable narrator. She’s often stiff and careful with how she chooses her words. It’s clear she wants to tell the whole story, but there’s also a part of her that seems eager to put it behind her from the moment she begins speaking. The use of the other parties in the series, though, to tell their take on everything is a smart move because they are far more open and honest. It’s why this format works much better than the fictional takes on scandals we’ve seen courtesy of Inventing Anna and The Dropout. As absurd as those stories both are, the story told in Bad Vegan is one that is hard to believe at first. The false promises, the deception, the fraud and the corruption? It’s absolutely fascinating to watch unfold with each new interview and episode.

    All in all, Bad Vegan is a limited series to add to your Netflix queue. It’s one of the better takes on a scandal such as this one, and with just four episodes, it’s easy to burn through. For those looking to get lost in a world full of money, celebrity, cuisine and immortality — give Bad Vegan a chance. Just remember, everything you’re seeing on screen did happen, no matter how crazy it all sounds. It’s a heck of a ride, but it’s worth it in the end.

  • ‘One Piece’s Iñaki Godoy Shares What it Means to Play Luffy

    ‘One Piece’s Iñaki Godoy Shares What it Means to Play Luffy

    Netflix is taking a deep dive into live-action adaptations of popular anime and manga franchises. While Cowboy Bebop sadly got canceled after only one season, all eyes are on the One Piece series to hopefully manage what the previous project couldn’t. Young actor Iñaki Godoy will take on the daunting task of bringing Monkey D. Luffy to life in the upcoming series and shares his excitement about taking on the role in an interview with Vanity Teen.

    To portray a character like Luffy is one of the greatest honors of my career and I know that this experience will stay with me forever regardless of the outcome.

    Iñaki Godoy

    The actor is aware of the fact that taking on this role is nothing to take lightly, as he talks about his hopes that the fans enjoy the series they are putting together.

    I hope fans will enjoy the live-action just asmuch as I’m enjoying working on it. This show is making me grow as both an actor and person. I’m nervous, but I’m way more excited.

    Iñaki Godoy

    The creative team behind the project has been sharing their love for the franchise and adding a lot of hope for fans of Eiichiro Oda‘s manga series that they’ll faithfully recreate the series in live-action. We’re slowly seeing more from the set and while we’re still far away from the release, it does build up some anticipation. What helps is seeing the dedication of the cast that are all-in for this new franchise.

    Source: Vanity Teen

  • REVIEW: ‘The Adam Project’ is a Delightful Time Travel Movie

    REVIEW: ‘The Adam Project’ is a Delightful Time Travel Movie

    When it comes to time travel, it often feels like it has been overdone. Most of the time, the concept of time travel in the media we consume can be overly complicated for no apparent reason. And then there are the instances in which it feels as though little to no thought was put into the science of it all. Thankfully, The Adam Project seems to comprehend how to tell a good story with the use of time travel, opting not to complicate things, but also ensuring it tries to explain the science for the general audience. The film is everything viewers can want from a time-travel moment; it’s smart, it has heart, and the cast is pretty dang stellar, but more importantly, it never forgets to tell a good story throughout it all.

    The Adam Project kicks things off with Ryan Reynolds‘ Adam in a ship seemingly crashing down to Earth. It’s a hell of a sequence, and one that immediately pulls viewers in. It doesn’t waste time trying to set anything up, it wants to let viewers know they’re in for a bumpy ride. What follows is the introduction of young Adam and his mom, played by Jennifer Garner, as he finds himself at the center of a fight in school. Much like the introduction to Reynolds‘ adult Adam, this helps to set up the character of young Adam, proving he’s always been a bit of a troublemaker. Naturally, the two soon come into contact, resulting in a chaotic story that soon follows.

    There’s much to love about The Adam Project. It’s a family film that is full of adventure and heart. It’s visually stunning with a soundtrack that perfectly matches the tone of the film. As for the action? There’s one particular action sequence involving Zoe Saldaña‘s character that is so well-done, it feels like it is pulled from a superhero film. The action is big and explosive, and yet, it still feels as if it’s purposeful; the action doesn’t exist merely to look cool. Each sequence serves a purpose and helps to move the story forward. 

    Where the film truly excels is in its small moments. For such a large story that takes place across multiple timelines, The Adam Project knows when to scale things back. Shawn Levy does a great job directing the film from a script penned by Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin. The scenes between Mark Ruffalo and the Adams are heartfelt and wonderfully shot. They feel intimate and provide some of the best character development throughout the movie. The only issue with the film? It doesn’t make nearly enough use of Ruffalo and Saldaña.

    All in all, The Adam Project is a blast. It’s full of fantastic performances — especially Jennifer Garner, who plays the role of a widowed mother so heartbreakingly well — and wonderful character moments. Sure, it might occasionally fall into the typical Reynolds humor, however, it works in this film. This is the perfect family film to watch over the weekend. There’s plenty of action, the dialogue is well-written and the small cast allows the creatives to maintain control of what could have otherwise been a cluster of a film. If you’re looking for something to watch this weekend on Netflix? Give The Adam Project a watch, you won’t be disappointed.

  • REVIEW: ‘Human Resources’ is a More In-Depth Story Than its Predecessor

    REVIEW: ‘Human Resources’ is a More In-Depth Story Than its Predecessor

    Netflix’s Big Mouth is a huge success for the streaming service. The story of a group of teens who find themselves struggling with puberty was a well-done take on the things adolescents often find themselves dealing with — mostly due to the inclusion of the often ridiculous hormone monsters. So, it’s not entirely surprising that Netflix moved ahead with a spinoff series focusing on not just the Hormone Monsters and the Shame Wizard, but the rest of the various creatures that make up the Human Resources department. While many might have felt that the fifth season of Big Mouth spent too much time establishing the spinoff, Human Resources manages to successfully craft a strong story without relying on its predecessor.

    Part of what makes Human Resources such a delight to watch is that it truly tries to be its own thing. It might take an episode or two, but once the series finds its own voice? It establishes itself as one of Netflix’s best-animated series — and yes, that’s including Big Mouth. Although the Hormone Monsters feature frequently in Human Resources, this series moves beyond them. In fact, the entire first season has an impressively well-structured storyline that, while allowing for their explicit behavior, manages to succeed without relying on them. Instead, the Lovebugs take center stage this go-round, and while they could appear off-putting initially, by season’s end, the Lovebugs might just become a new fan favorite.

    Human Resources revolves around various creatures — including the Lovebugs, Hormone Monsters, Logic Rocks and Shame Wizards — aiding humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to childbirth to the twilight years. Unsurprisingly, though, as the series goes on, the creatures begin to find a bit of humanity within themselves, too. This is the type of animated series that, while being advertised as raunchy and funny, is more than meets the eye. It’s packed full of emotion, from grief, to love, to depression and acceptance. There’s a heck of a lot here to unpack, and yet, the series manages to tell such a well-balanced story within so few episodes. It’s honestly impressive just how well the writers handle the variety of topics and the massive cast of creatures.

    Human Resources focuses on one individual for the most part and the creatures that try and help her journey through life. However, over the course of the series, we are slowly introduced to a few other key characters that’ll become entwined in the main storyline in various methods. The fascinating part about Human Resources is that it successfully plays the long game with its background characters. Some of these individuals are introduced merely as background characters at first, but by the end of Season 1, they become fully incorporated into the story with the series somehow successfully tackling their tales alongside Becca’s journey. It’s a juggling act and, somehow, the series juggles each storyline so wonderfully.

    Big Mouth might’ve come first, and it might be a hit, but when it comes down to it? Human Resources is everything Big Mouth is and more, in all of the best ways. Romance. Grief. Love. Vulgarity. Comedy. It’s a mismatch of everything and it works so wonderfully. Just don’t be surprised when, by the season’s end, tears escape your eyes because the ending is an emotional one, and it earns every moment of emotion it delivers in the final episode. 

    Human Resources hits Netflix on March 18, 2022.

  • ‘One Piece’ Fans Share Their Expectations for Netflix’s Live-Action Series

    ‘One Piece’ Fans Share Their Expectations for Netflix’s Live-Action Series

    It’s still crazy to think that after its initial announcement back in 2017, we’re finally seeing development on the live-action adaptation of Eiichiro Oda‘s One Piece series. Co-showrunners Steve Maeda and Matt Owens alongside their team have taken the daunting task of bringing the popular series to Netflix, but with a lot of dedication and heart, the team has been proving they are all-in for this adventure across the East Blue and Grand Line. Naturally, that kind of excitement draws in fans from the series that have their expectations going in.

    In a great move, one of the first accounts to keep everyone updated on what’s happening with the live-action adaptation, @OP_Netflix_Fan, kickstarted a survey to let fans share their excitement, hopes, and expectations for the series. As one of the leading voices with starting this survey, a very active Discord channel, and keeping everyone up-to-date on the project, it was a great initiative to let fans share their thoughts on the One Piece adaptation. 10,000 fans have taken their time to join the fun and offer the team a glimpse at what they hope to see. I had quite some fun throwing my own two cents into the survey. So, let’s take a look at some of the highlights. If you want to check out the full survey, you can read it by clicking here.

    What is quite interesting to see is that fans are split on how they’d want the series to be made available. Netflix is famous for its binge model, and it’s expected that all episodes will drop at the same time. Yet, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and more are embracing the weekly model to keep the discussions going on the next episode. When asked, 43% would prefer for all episodes to drop while 40% hope to see a weekly release. 17%, on the other hand, would like multiple episodes to drop over multiple weeks. The binge model is still slightly in the lead, but it’s interesting to see such a small margin between both release models.

    As the first season is going to adapt the East Blue Saga, there are quite a few arcs that will get adapted as Luffy sets sail to gather his crew to tackle the Grand Line. Among them is the Arlong Park arc, which has been one of the most popular to this day. For some, it’s also the story that sold people on sticking to One Piece for the long ride. So, it being the arc that people are most excited about is also true with the live-action adaptation, as 80% of participants are excited about this arc. It is closely followed by Baratie (45%), Loguetown (37%), and Romance Dawn (27%.

    There was an additional question on where fans hope to see the series end, as there are quite a few options with the East Blue. 10% would be open to the series ending with the famous “I’m dead” scene during Loguetown, as Buggy is about to take Luffy’s head. 30% would also like to see the barrel scene as the end, but the clear winner is Reverse mountain at 50%. I personally would love to see the first season end with the Straw Hats making it through Reverse Mountain only for the final moments to be them about to crash into Laboon. It would make for that perfect tease that the Grand Line is quite a bit more dangerous than anything they faced before.

    It wouldn’t be One Piece without its fun cast of characters, and fans have been quite vocal on who they’re excited to see in live-action. Arlong takes the top spot with 68%, followed by Smoker at 59%, and Buggy’s 54%. Poor Morgan takes the last spot with 3%. When it comes to some supporting characters or cameos, 75% want to see Oda‘s tradition of hiding Pandaman in the background continue in its live-action series. I hope they do, and not just visual references but a guy in a full costume as Pandaman.

    When it comes to the future of the series, 53% definitely hope to get some foreshadowing in the first season. Popular mentions are the appearance of characters like Doflamingo, Moria, and more during Gol D. Roger’s execution, or wanted posters from future characters being included in the background. It would add that extra layer of continuity as the series continues to expand with future seasons. 70% also want to see Haki get teased early on, which becomes quite important once they enter the New World on the Grand Line. 43% also hope to see some references to Sanji’s past with his family. A personal highlight is that 70% want our first tease of Bink’s Sake in the first season, which I hope to see become a motif throughout some of the series’ themes.

    When it comes to adaptation, there is going to change with the translation to live-action. While 31% would be alright with some storylines getting merged at some point, 50% would prefer to see the arc’s not getting combined. Fans want to see iconic elements like the character’s unique laughs or the communication devices known as Den Den Mushi remaining even in this adaptation. 75% generally would only be okay with elements getting cut if it is necessary, but 63% would be open to seeing new scenes featuring the Straw Hats getting added to the material. If it comes to characters, most don’t want to see anyone getting cut but if anyone has to go it seems like it’s either the Nyaban Brothers or Pearl.

    There’s a lot more to discuss, but I will end it with one of the biggest question marks regarding how the project will tackle the iconic cover stories. These side stories are disconnected mini-arcs for supporting characters, such as the aftermath of Luffy kicking Buggy to a different island. 65% hope to see them get adapted with 52% on board for Buggy’s little side story. Who wouldn’t want to watch Jeff Ward only consisting of his head, feet, and hands running away from a giant bird?

    There are a lot more fun questions, such as how fans feel about the addition of original characters, seeing the colorful hair make its way to live-action, the possibility of Jacob Romero Gibson getting Usopp’s iconic long nose, and a lot more. While the series has already entered production, it definitely is a restatement to the franchise’s fan reception and many are excited to see just how the creative team tackles the project. If you want to check out the other questions, such as if Luffy should fight using Arlong’s teeth, you can check them out here.

    Source: Twitter, Survey

  • Netflix Renews ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ for 2 More Seasons

    Netflix Renews ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ for 2 More Seasons

    It’s been a busy day with the first look at Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, but Netflix isn’t going to give up the spotlight. They took to their Netflix Geeked account to announce that Vikings: Valhalla, their sequel to the original hit series exploring the history of its titular Norsemen, has not only been renewed for a second but even for a third season. They also have already finished production on the second season with a release planned in 2023. The third season will enter production this spring.

    Valhalla isn’t a direct continuation of the original saga, as it takes place a hundred years after the original Vikings series, as we explore the aftermath of British betrayal and the rise of King Canute. We get a trio of new main characters in Leif Erikson–the man who would eventually be the first to set foot in the future Americas, his sister Freydis Eiriskdottir and Harald Sigurdsson. The first season not only follows the siege of London, and the inner conflict between Pagan and Christian Vikings. There were many layers throughout the first season and quite a few set-ups for the future. So, we’ll see if the inner turmoil has just begun.

    Source: Twitter, Variety