Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Netflix

  • Janelle Monae Joins Daniel Craig-led ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Janelle Monae Joins Daniel Craig-led ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Back in 2019, Rian Johnson garnered an impressive class that included Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Don Johnson, Christopher Plummer, Chris Evans, and Ana De Armas. it took a traditional approach by introducing us to a classic murder mystery in the family’s home, as they fight over their inheritance. In the middle of it all, detective Benoist Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, slowly unravels the true mystery of what happened to the mansion’s owner. It was such a success that the sequel was fast-tracked.

    Recently we received word that Johnson had begun assembling another all-star cast that will join Craig’s returning Benoit Blanc. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that musician and actress Janelle Monae will join the cast of the upcoming project. So far, she is joining the likes of Dave Bautista and Edward Norton. We’ve been receiving news on the daily basis, which could indicate we’ve just hit the surface.

    Plot details for the upcoming film are still currently under wraps. Filming will begin in Greece this summer. The project is the first in a massive $469M deal between Johnson and Netflix, who have high hopes for the project moving forward. The film currently has no release date but we can expect quite a few more cast members to join the production in the upcoming weeks. We’ll see what other big names might have gotten the director’s attention as they round out the cast.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • First Look at Elliot Page on Netflix’s ‘Umbrella Academy’ Set

    First Look at Elliot Page on Netflix’s ‘Umbrella Academy’ Set

    The next season of The Umbrella Academy has been in production for some time now. After the ending of the last season, we were teased of the arrival of the Sparrow Academy. The third season will explore this new timeline, where Sir Reginald left his original family behind to adopt a new one. His hope was that these new groups would avoid the dark future he saw in a vision. We got the official casting announcement a few months ago, but have been wondering when we’ll get a look at the cast from the original timeline. Luckily, our wait has paid off as the first images have found their way from the set. Photographer Sean O’Neill shared an image giving us our first look at Elliot Page on the series’ set.

    That is not all, as we also got a closer look at Tom Hopper wearing a muscle suit in Hamilton’s Gage Park.

    In December 2019, Elliot Page publicly announced his transition and publicly discussed the difficulties of identifying as a boy while often playing the role of a girl. However, Netflix embraced the change and even adapted the credits from the previous projects to showcase his change. He will continue playing the role of Vanya Hargreeves in Umbrella Academy, who was portrayed as a cisgender woman. It is uncertain if they might decide to adapt to the role, but currently, there still seem to be no plans. Seeing Elliot on the set could be an indicator that they will allow the actor to embrace his new identity and add a new layer of complexity to the character.

    Source: Twitter, Variety (Transition), Variety

  • Netflix Adds Edward Norton to ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Netflix Adds Edward Norton to ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    The first Knives Out film was a smash hit, sporting an all-star cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana De Armas, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, and Michael Shannon. The film grossed over $300M, and it seemed like a sure thing it’ll get a sequel. A while back, Netflix announced that they closed a $400M deal acquiring the rights to two more installments in the Knives Out franchise. The follow-up films would see the return of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. Rian Johnson will also return as writer and director on the project.

    Yesterday, we received news that the Destroyer, Dave Bautista, will join the project in an unknown capacity. It looks like it was just the beginning, as we’ve learned that Edward Norton, best known for his roles in films such as Fight Club and Birdman, will also have a role in the upcoming film. It looks like it’ll be another star-studded cast.

    Plot details for the upcoming film remain under wraps as production on the film aims for a summer start in Greece. It’ll be interesting to see how Johnson shifts the story this time, as the first film did such a great job of reinventing the classic Whodunnit. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the film is its new setting. The first film found us set within an old family home filled with bickering relatives. Now it seems we will be taken to a new and much more exotic location, as the world becomes Johnson‘s sandbox.

    Source: THR

  • Dave Bautista Joins Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Dave Bautista Joins Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    It looks like Rian Johnson has finally found his first major casting, as Deadline has just revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Dave Bautista has joined the production. He will join Daniel Craig, who returns as Benoit Blanc in the upcoming sequel. Johson is working not the script alongside Ram Bergman, which is eyeing a production start in Greece by June 28th.  Around a month ago, the franchise was purchased by Netflix in a record-breaking deal.

    Of course, plot details still remain under wraps. Benoist will return to solve another mystery with a potentially large cast. His exact role is also uncertain. Bautista is adding another major project to his belt, as he’ll also be joining the upcoming Netflix film by Zack Snyder, Army of The Dead. We also can’t talk about Bautista without mentioning his brief appearance in Blade Runner 2049 with his iconic tiny glasses. He also had a rather significant role throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Drax the Destroyer.

    Now, it’ll be interesting to see how Johnson aims to reinvent his approach to a sequel.  Knives Out approach to mixing genres kept people on their toes. We even were given a clear indication of the story early on before they twisted it on its head. Now, he might not take the same steps as he did before, as we might see another genre find its way into the sequel that’ll keep viewers on their toes. At this point, we might not even have a classic murder mystery once the film releases but something entirely fresh that pushes Benoist into an unlikely direction.

    Source: Deadline

  • How Sony is Winning the Steaming War By Not Participating

    How Sony is Winning the Steaming War By Not Participating

    Sony hasn’t had the easiest time. While possessing some major franchises, it still had a rough time staying competitive. Unlike some competitors, the company isn’t truly dependent on the film market, but it still hurts if an entire studio faces some harsh developments. Sadly, it wasn’t just their film department. The Sony conglomerate had hit a low after losing £3 billion in 2012. The £800 million write-downs for its film division weren’t helping matters due to falling DVD sales in 2017. At the start of the pandemic, many questioned the studio’s longevity, as many others establish their own streaming services. Well, Sony took a very different approach that is finally paying off.

     

    Poor Corporate Governance Fueled Sony's Meltdown | Nippon.com

     

    Their filming divisions finalized two major streaming deals in the last month. First, they announced that Netflix would become their exclusive streaming home. It meant that upcoming films would join the service as of 2022. Also, they get a first look at any new projects. It was a curious choice after they pitched Silk to Amazon. Many wondered if this was the end for Marvel Studios ever getting to bring all the Marvel properties together on Disney+. It also could have darker implications for the ongoing cooperation between Disney and Sony, as they already had a falling out in the past for the character’s continued existence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Suddenly, Sony dropped the news that they have signed a multi-year contract to make their projects available through Disney’s streaming service. It revealed that Netflix has access for a limited time before they’re made available on Disney+. While the Spider-Man franchise was in the spotlight, they will have access to all of their available franchises from 2022 to 2026. There was no word if original scripted series might also be heading to Disney+, but it doesn’t exclude the chance that Tom Holland‘s Spidey could get an original series at some point. It’ll be interesting to see the implications for their overall deal and the longevity of Spider-Man within this universe.

     

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    Why is this such a clever idea? Well, the streaming market is getting crowded. Netflix, Amazon, and Disney+ have established their position at the top. CBS All Access took on the new name Paramount+ and is trying to sell the service with the long-awaited Halo live-action series. Apple+ had 33 million users but is struggling to get them to pay. HBO Max is also dominating the market as they even managed to see a higher subscriber growth than Netflix in the first quarter of 2021. Instead of worrying about surviving in this highly competitive market, Sony made the right call by using the franchises they own as leverage to make deals with not just one but two of the biggest competitors in the market. Now, they pretty much reap the rewards without the work of programming and marketing an entirely new service. It’ll be interesting to see how Sony continues to develop with this new deal.

    Source: The Guardian (Resurgence), The Guardian (Sony Pictures) PR Newswire, Variety, Financial Times

  • ‘Spider-Man’ Heading to Disney+ Through Multi-Year Disney-Sony Deal

    ‘Spider-Man’ Heading to Disney+ Through Multi-Year Disney-Sony Deal

    It looks like Disney and Sony have been busy making deals behind the scenes, as Deadline just reported that they have reached a multi-year deal for post-day-1 releases of Spider-Man and other franchises on Disney+. This deal also covers Hulu and the various outlets owned by Disney. Now, the major reveal is that every theatrical release from 2022 to 2026 will move to Disney once their runs on Netflix end. Keep in mind, there is no confirmation when or how this will take place, as the specific plans haven’t been finalized.

    […] gives Disney enormous programming potential across its platforms and makes them key destinations for a robust collection of Spider-Man films.

    Now, this is quite the game-changer. We all expected that the Spider-Man franchise wouldn’t find its way to Disney+ after the Netflix deal, but it seems that Sony has been playing the long game here. At the time, the wording hinted at the streaming giant becoming their main home for digitally accessible content, but this changes the landscape. There is also the possibility that it opens up the possibility for Disney to develop Spider-Man spin-offs that connect to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or if this deal will also extend Tom Holland‘s franchise. There are a lot of questions coming out of this deal and we probably won’t get any answers anytime soon, but the developing partnership between Disney and Sony is a rather curious one. Hopefully, we will get some more news on how this deal may affect the MCU’s Spider-Man franchise in the near future.

    Source: Deadline

  • Spin-Off In Development for Netflix’s ‘Castlevania’

    Spin-Off In Development for Netflix’s ‘Castlevania’

    Netflix has been expanding into almost every medium. Recently, they’ve seemed to have a strong liking for adapting anime into live-action. It was recently revealed that Jordan Vogt-Roberts will adapt the iconic anime franchise Gundam. Well, they’ve also been exploring video game adaptations. One of its biggest surprises was the release of the animated adaptation of Castlevania. The series was based on the franchise that started in 1986 on the Nintendo Entertainment System. It follows the story of Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades as the unlikely trio comes together to kill Dracula. Sadly, it seems the upcoming fourth season will be the series end.

     

     

    The series embraces the R-rating and tells some truly dark tales. Luckily, it seems that the fourth season may end one series, it is the beginning for another. According to Deadline, Konami and Netflix are already working on a brand new series that will take place in the same universe. The only detail they could reveal is that it’ll focus on a brand new cast of characters. Now, the advantage of the Castlevania franchise lies in its approach to legacy.

    Every entry in the gaming franchise focused on a new member of the Belmont family. So, they could be taking a similar approach. Alucard’s inclusion paid tribute to the PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but only loosely. We could get a future season that builds on the stories to adhere by introducing Richter Belmont, who was the focus of Rondo of Blood in 1993. It’ll be interesting to see if the series’ ending might tease what is to come in the future.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Kong: Skull Island’s Jordan Vogt-Roberts Adapting ‘Gundam’ for Netflix

    ‘Kong: Skull Island’s Jordan Vogt-Roberts Adapting ‘Gundam’ for Netflix

    It looks like Netflix is continuing its reign over anime adaptations. Legendary Entertainment is tackling a live-action adaptation of Mobile Suit Gundam for the streaming service. Not just that, they’ve also attached Kong: Skull Island’s Jordan Vogt-Roberts to tackle the project. The project is currently under the working title GUNDAM and Brian K. Vaughan is adapting the screenplay. He will also act as an executive producer of the film. Legendary’s Cale Boyter will be overseeing the project and is also working with the original Gundam‘s studio, Sunrise.

    Of course, Netflix isn’t revealing anything about the film’s upcoming plot. The franchise has an extensive library to pull from and may even be a completely original storyline. Gundam‘s conflict as space colonies fight over their independence is what grounds the show’s bombastic space fights. Vogt-Roberts is a perfect choice to bring that balance to life, as he tackled larger-than-life events before. It won’t be a cheap film to produce, as most of the series’ takes place with giant mechs fighting in the vacuum of space.

    Netflix has been quite successful dipping its toe in the Anime industry. They have been working on a variety of other live-action adaptations, such as One Piece and Cowboy Bebop. The latter has already finished up production of its first season, as confirmed by Daniella Pineda on Social Media. The project was in development in 2017 and there is no sign of life for One Piece right now. There is a chance that Gundam might also be on the back burner, as Vogt-Roberts is also scheduled to film Oscar Isaac as Solid Snake in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Metal Gear Solid. It’ll be interesting to see when the space opera film enters production.

    Source: IGN, AWN, Deadline

  • Netflix Will Become Sony Pictures’ Exclusive Streaming Home

    Netflix Will Become Sony Pictures’ Exclusive Streaming Home

    It looks like we won’t be getting a Sony streaming service shortly. According to IndieWire, Sony Pictures and Netflix have made a deal to turn Netflix into their exclusive streaming home as of 2022. Its upcoming films like Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius, Uncharted, and Bullet Train will be heading directly to Netflix after they left theaters and are released physically. They’ve also inked a first-look deal. So, we will see more Netflix Originals produced by Sony. It’s another massive gain for the streaming service after crossing the 200M subscriber mark and purchasing the Knives Out sequels. Netflix’s Head of Global Films, Scott Stuber, gave the following statement:

    Sony Pictures is a great partner and we are thrilled to expand our relationship through this forward-thinking agreement. This not only allows us to bring their impressive slate of beloved film franchises and new IP to Netflix in the U.S., but it also establishes a new source of first run films for Netflix movie lovers worldwide.

    Now, there is one big question mark that hangs over everyone’s head, and that is how this will affect Sony’s relationship with Disney. The current live-action Spider-Man films are co-produced by the studios. Marvel Studios tackles the creative output so that it aligns with their Marvel Cinematic Universe. It may not directly affect their production, but it does mean that the latest adaptations won’t be available on Disney+ anytime soon. There is a chance that they might make an additional deal and share the rights, but anything is game in the current streaming wars. Deadline confirms that the Spider-Man installments are part of the deal. So, it doesn’t look like the wall-crawler will be available on Disney+ anytime soon for the foreseeable future.

    Source: IndieWire

  • New Look at Henry Cavill Released as ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Wraps Up Production

    New Look at Henry Cavill Released as ‘The Witcher’ Season 2 Wraps Up Production

    Netflix has been continuing to expand its repertoire with various franchises. One of its stand-outs was The Witcher, which saw Henry Cavill take on Gerald of Rivia. The franchise is an adaptation of the Polish novels by Andrzej Sapowksi. Of course, there is also CD Projekt Red’s very popular gaming franchise. The Netflix series takes inspiration from both properties but tries to maintain a unique identity to stand out. They are celebrating the production end for the second season. As such, the official Twitter channel released a new image with a closer look at the White Wolf.

     

    Now, Netflix went out of its way to also celebrate the production’s ending with a new video that showcases how large the production was and how they stayed safe.

     

     

    In the video, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich confirms that they are adapting the storyline of The Blood of Elves in the upcoming season. They also went all out with this production. They confirm 15 locations with a whopping 89 cast members. The production team shot 184 days, which is significant if you consider that they also faced delays due to the ongoing pandemic. It couldn’t have been easy to keep everything safe with such a large ensemble cast while making sure no one gets infected. The details on the upcoming season are still kept under wraps.

    Source: Twitter, YouTube