Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: News

  • The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    The Sunday Paper — October 30, 2022

    Welcome to the first edition of the Murphy’s Multiverse Sunday Paper, where the biggest news of the past week is brought to you all in one place. Sit back, relax, and catch up before you have to deal with whatever the upcoming week has to offer. This past week had some pretty big news across the board, so let’s break it down by subject.

    Marvel Studios

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe had an active news week with multiple trailer drops and marketing for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in full swing. First, plenty of new footage and promos for Wakanda Forever have been released (check some out here and here), and critic reactions came out after press premieres this week (check out MM’s Hunter Radesi’s reaction here.) While the film does not hit theaters for another couple of weeks, you can listen to Rihanna’s first song in six years made for the film. 

    Marvel Studios

    The first teaser trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania also dropped this week, and William Jackson Harper has joined the cast. (Read more here). Marvel also released the film’s official synopsis: 

    “In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang. Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the film; Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard produce.”

    Marvel Studios

    That didn’t stop Marvel Studios from releasing a trailer for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, set to hit Disney+ on November 25, 2022. It looks like Kevin Bacon will appear as himself, Cosmo the Space Dog will make her first appearance since the original Guardians of the Galaxy, and Michael Rooker will even likely make an appearance of some sort. 

    Marvel Studios

    It was also confirmed this week that Marvel Studios is developing a WandaVision spinoff titled Vision Quest, in which we will follow Vision on his path to regaining his memories and humanity, and it’s possible the Scarlet Witch makes an appearance. (Read more here.) Speaking of WandaVision spinoffs, Agatha: Coven of Chaos has a bit of news of its own. WandaVision staff writer Megan McDonnell is among the team of writers working on the upcoming Disney+ streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, (read more here) and a recent rumor suggests that the series may be adapting the Scarlet Witch-related Children’s Crusade comic book arc. (Read more here.)

    We’ve also gotten a better look at Ironheart this week as set photos offer a look at Anthony Ramos’ villain the Hood (see it here), and a wrap gift teases Ironheart’s new armor’s faceplate (see it here). After not appearing in the Thunderboltspromotion at D23, Baron Zemo actor Daniel Brühl teased the return of his character (read more here), and Charlize Theron also teased Clea’s return to the MCU. (Read more here). Speaking of teases, Hugh Jackman discussed his return as Wolverine and a likely title change for Deadpool 3. (Read more here.)

    Lastly, there are a few more rumors making the rounds. Blade may have found its new director in Elegance Bratton, a relatively new director. (Read more here.) Believe it or not (it is a rumor after all), Dr. Doom may not be the main villain of the upcoming Fantastic Four film (read it here), and an official Disney site listed Emilia Clarke’s character in Secret Invasion as Abigail Brand, though the Skrull possibilities are endless. (Read more here.)

    Star Wars

    If a new rumor proves true, Ezra Bridger, the beloved protagonist of Disney XD’s animated Star Wars: Rebels, may receive a solo live-action series after the character’s appearance in the upcoming Disney+ series Ashoka. It is unclear clear if the rumored solo series, led by actor Eman Esfandi will be a direct sequel to Rebels or not. (Read more here.)

    Oscar Award-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who recently directed a couple of episodes of Ms. Marvel, has been chosen to direct what’s being described as a “secret” Star Wars film based on a script from Damon Lindelof and an as yet unnamed co-writer. Though the film is still in the early stages of development, the report indicates that it has gained steam at Lucasfilm and is among its top priorities on its theatrical slate (Read more here.) The Star Wars film is also apparently set to take place after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and could possibly bring back some of the sequel trilogy’s characters. (Read more here.)

    Last but not least, a teaser trailer for Tales of the Jedi dropped. (Watch it here.)

    DC

    While Black Adam flew through its first full week in theaters with strong box office numbers, DC has a much bigger week in the news than anyone would have predicted. Of course, the Superman cameo in the film was turning heads before it was even released. However, Henry Cavill himself on Monday took to social media to confirm his return as Superman. He posted a video for his fans along with the caption, “A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded. #Superman.” (Read more and check out his full Instagram post here).

    In fact, this week seemed to signal a new era for DC Entertainment on an even bigger scale, as it looks like Warner Bros. has finally found its Kevin Feige(s). In a surprising announcement, James Gunn and Peter Safran have been tapped to lead the DC’s future film, TV, and animation slates. They will act as co-chairs and co-CEOs of DC Studios, which was recently led by Walter Hamada under the title of DC Films. (Read more here.)

    dc studios

    DC also left bits and pieces of news floating around throughout the week, though perhaps less exciting than the big hitters above. Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to 2019’s Joker, is reportedly set to start production soon. According to cinematographer Lawrence Sher, the film will begin filming “in five- or six-weeks’ time.” Additionally, the film will “largely be shot in sound stages in Los Angeles, as well as on location in New York, where the project is set.” (Read more here.) On the other hand, The Batman 2 won’t be headed to theaters until 2025 at the earliest. (Read more here.) However, it looks like the film will not be associated with the new DC Studios, and it is unclear if The Batman franchise will be either. (Read more here.) In other words, DC’s universe will still remain, to some extent, in its oddly organized, splintered form we all know and love.

    Speaking of the Wild West of DC, there is more. The Batman universe untitled Arkham Asylum spin-off series is finally moving forward. Variety has shared that the creator of The Staircase, Antonio Campos, has joined the production as its showrunner. (Read more here.) Set photos from the filming of The Flash’s ninth and final season have seemingly confirmed that actress Javicia Leslie—who previously played an original character on Batwoman–will return to The CW as the multiversal villain Red Death, (read more here), and actor Elijah Rashad is set to join Doom Patrol’s fourth season. (Read more here.)

    HBO Max is looking to redevelop its previously announced Green Lantern series. The show, which hailed from producer Greg Berlanti and writer Seth Grahame-Smith, was originally set to star Finn Wittrock (Ratched) and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse) as the respective Green Lanterns. Reportedly, the new series will instead turn the focus over to John Stewart, one of DC’s first black superheroes. (Read more here.)

    In Other News

    Some other news worth noting—Henry Cavill is departing The Witcher, with Liam Hemsworth to take on the role. (Read more here.) Andy Serkis apparently will not be back to direct Venom 3 and writer Kelly Marcel will helm the film instead. (Read more here.) Avatar: The Way of the Water might have a whopping 3 hours and 10 minutes run time, and House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condol discussed the season finale and about the direction the series will take in the future. (Read more here.)

  • ‘Werewolf By Night’ Director Michael Giacchino Addresses Rumors of an Appearance by Blade

    ‘Werewolf By Night’ Director Michael Giacchino Addresses Rumors of an Appearance by Blade

    There’s only one thing that fans of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe love more than the half-dozen or more projects that Marvel Studios puts out each year: rumors. The online dialogue about which characters might cameo in Marvel’s next project has grown to the point where fans often find themselves more excited about a character cameo than they are about the project’s lead character. Unfortunately, due to bogus rumors, changes during production and just plain poor theorizing, fans often find themselves frustrated when the thing they’ve imagined in their head doesn’t materialize in said project.

    One such project that seems to have been the focus of just that type of speculation for quite some time now is the upcoming Marvel Studios Halloween Special, Werewolf By Night. It seems like every character from the horror corner of Marvel Comics from Blade, to Ghost Rider to Vampire By Night, has been discussed as possibly appearing in the project all while overlooking the titular character and the rest of the crew.

    Following his voice-only cameo in Eternals, fans have been particularly eager to pin down Mahershala Ali’s next appearance as the aforementioned Daywalker and Werewolf By Night certainly became a sensible focal point of speculation for that appearance. Over the past several months, rumors first swirled that Ali’s character would indeed show up in the project; then, more recently, that due to scheduling conflicts, he would not. In an interview with One Take News, director Michael Giacchino was asked about those rumors and it turns out he’s been paying attention to the online discourse.

    You know what, rumors are insanely inaccurate I would say…99.9% of the time. The thing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe is everyone thinks that every single thing is going to be connected. EVERY single thing. And it doesn’t mean that we’re not connected. But, I didn’t feel the need to blatantly say we were.

    Michael Giacchino

    We’ve run the numbers and it turns out Giacchino’s percentage is actually a little on the low side of things. And while the director didn’t ACTUALLY address whether or not Blade was on track to appear, he did go on to explain that part of what drew him to developing Werewolf By Night was the the character could exist in isolation in the comics and didn’t need to be a part of every event.

    You know, every other show has done that and they’ve done it brilliantly and I thought “you know what?”, when I was a kid, I would pull a comic off the shelf and this particular Werewolf By Night issue had nothing to do with anything else in the Marvel Universe. What’s wrong with that? That’s okay! You know, they can all live together but we don’t need to always show them together. You know, let’s have a moment where we’re dealing with this. One of the shows that was a huge influence for me growing up was The Twilight Zone and what I loved about it was each one was its own thing and each story was something that you had to think about for days afterwards and I said “Let’s do that! Let’s just worry about this”. You know, in the future, who knows? We’ll see where the characters go, we’ll see where we take them but for now, let’s just worry about this one thing right here.

    Michael Giacchino

    Was Blade supposed to be in it? We don’t know. But we do know that he is not and that according to all the first reactions to the project, Giacchino seems to have made exactly the type of project he set out to: one that stands among the crowd of “Marvel formula” projects and that exists within its own little pocket of a much larger universe.

    Werewolf By Night debuts on Disney Plus on Octobrer 7th.

    Source: One Take News

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Writer on Daredevil Appearance: “This is Our Version”

    ‘She-Hulk’ Writer on Daredevil Appearance: “This is Our Version”

    After nearly a year of rumors, Disney let the cat out of the bag about Daredevil’s appearance in She-Hulk, using the character in a promo for the show and removing all doubt about the veracity of said rumors. What is still in doubt, however, is whether or not the character, last seen briefly in Spider-Man: No Way Home, is the same character who lead 3 seasons of his own show on Netflix. Some fans are sure he is; others are sure he is not. All the while, Marvel Studios has remained silent on the matter. However, in an interview with Comic Book, She-Hulk head writer Jessica Gao and director Kat Coiro gave some insight into their understanding of the scenario.

    Unfortunately, neither Gao nor Coiro confirmed or denied whether or not Charlie Cox‘s character’s story is a direct continuation of the Netflix series. According to Gao, the creatives behind She-Hulk looked at the opportunity to include Daredevil as a chance to put their own spin on the character, one that ended up very different from the dark, gritty Netflix series.

    We were like, ‘This is our version,’ and it’s true for any character. Like every character that we’ve used that existed in the MCU, it gets to be a little bit different on our show because you see them in very dramatic roles like these big high pressure, high stakes kind of situations but on our show because our show is more of a slice of life, they can kinda take a break from that. 

    Jessica Gao

    Gao further explained that with She-Hulk’s lighter tone, characters who join the show in smaller roles were stepping into that comedic world and were reshaped by it, though not permanently:

    They get to take a little bit of a comedy vacation. Of course, after our show, they get to go back to save the world, saving the universe, very serious, intense story but on our show, they get to just take a little break and when the universe is not at stake like, ‘What’s going on with you?’ They get a chance to really explore like a different part of their character because not everyone can be at a 10 saving the world every minute of every day.

    Jessia Gao

    Coiro was much less forthcoming about what to expect from Cox’s character in the upcoming series. When asked if his appearance in She-Hulk would continue his story from the Netflix series, Coiro played…coy…saying, “I don’t know if I’m allowed to talk about it, but it’s very conscious and it’s very much planned. That’s all I can say.“

    It’s easy enough to say, “fans will just have to wait and see” whether or not Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin are picking up in the MCU where they left off, but there’s also an opportunity for Marvel Studios to stay quiet on the matter, allowing the speculation and conversation to continue. One of those things serves them better than the other.

    She-Hulk: Attorney At Law debuts this Thursday on Disney Plus.

    Source: Comic Book

  • SDCC: First Look at Next Wave of Comic-Inspired Marvel Legends

    SDCC: First Look at Next Wave of Comic-Inspired Marvel Legends

    San Diego Comic-Con generally is the focus of its TV and movie panels. Marvel Studios’ animation panel just went crazy with it all, as we got our first look at X-Men ’97, Spider-Man: Freshman Year, and more. That is not all, as we also have an exclusive panel that’S all about the collectibles, Marvel Legends. In it, we got a good look at a variety of comic-inspired figurines. Here are some of the highlights as shared by @MattGuzy.

    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550570048003006465
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550570352685617152
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550570862872367105
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550571298979336192
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550571935666302976
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550572029706874881
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550572363770499072
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550573203747049472
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550573489387552768
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550574027210498048
    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550574186233401344

    The panel also ended on a Ghost Rider teased to celebrate his 50th anniversary.

    https://twitter.com/MattGuzy/status/1550574417247215616

    Source: SDCC via Twitter

  • SDCC Will Require a Health Pass and Mask for Attendance

    SDCC Will Require a Health Pass and Mask for Attendance

    Those planning on attending San Diego Comic-Con will have to adhere to health and safety protocols. It was announced today that anyone attending San Diego Comic-Con – whether it be fans or vendors – will be required to wear a mask while in attendance. All parties will also be required to provide verification that they are fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours.

    Attendees will need to download a health pass through Clear, which will be used to verify testing and/or vaccination status while at the convention. All of those who follow protocol and verify that they’re either vaccinated and/or negative with their health pass will then be given a wristband allowing entry into the convention. There will reportedly be three wristband stations on site to try and make things move smoother. Interestingly, though, there’s no mention of testing being provided on-site.

    Those that do not adhere to the health and safety protocols in place will be removed from the convention – this includes those that opt to remove their face masks. “This policy is in place to ensure the health and safety of all fans. Security will be on-site to support adherence to the policy.”

    In order to avoid any confusion, Comic-Con has made it clear, too, that masks will need to cover the nose and mouth completely and fit snugly against the sides of the face.

    The decision to enforce masks at the convention shouldn’t be too surprising, of course. California is still a hotspot for COVID, and in a space where people are often on top of one another, it is important to try to keep all in attendance safe, especially as the BA.5 variant is going around.

    This year’s Comic-Con kicks off on July 21st and runs through July 24th.

  • Universal Taps Leigh Whannell to Lead ‘The Green Hornet and Kato’

    Universal Taps Leigh Whannell to Lead ‘The Green Hornet and Kato’

    Deadline is reporting that Leigh Whannell is in talks to direct The Green Hornet and Kato for Universal. The studio reportedly spent the past couple of weeks meeting with potential directors, however, as soon as Whannell’s name was put into the mix, it’s said they felt he “had the edge” to direct the film. Whannell, of course, directed the Invisible Man remake for the studio, which pulled in $143 million worldwide. David Koepp (Jurassic Park) penned the script for the film, and with the studio reportedly happy with Koepp’s work, pre-production is expected to be fast-tracked once Whannell officially signs on. 

    Universal optioned the rights to The Green Hornet in Spring 2020 following a competitive bidding war earlier in the year. Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo, who initially acquired the rights from creator George W. Trendle’s family in 2020, will produce the film for Amasia. The Green Hornet was one of early radio’s most popular shows before it was turned into a series of movies in the 1940s and eventually a television series in 1966. Sony made a live-action film starring Seth Rogen, Cameron Diaz and Jay Chou in 2011, but the film was only a modest success having managed to make $227 million worldwide on a $120 million budget. 

    Whannell, who has built an impressive career as an actor, has been steadily building his directing resume in recent years. Along with the critically acclaimed Upgrade, he has also directed Insidious: Chapter 3 and is currently attached to direct a remake of Escape From New York.

    Source: Deadline

  • Marvel Studios Reveals Where ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Fits on the Official Timeline

    Marvel Studios Reveals Where ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Fits on the Official Timeline

    From 2008 through 2019, Marvel Studios released 23 films in their shared cinematic universe. After sitting out 2020 due to the pandemic, Marvel Studios got back in the game in 2021, releasing the first of its Disney Plus streaming series, WandaVision. With Ms. Marvel currently in the middle of its streaming run, Marvel Studios has now released over half as many projects (12) in the past 18 months as they did in their first 11 years as a production company, making a comprehensive rewatch tougher all the time.

    For those looking to start working on the rewatch in Timeline Order, the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney Plus adds another rewatchable project to the list and now, Marvel Studios has made it clear exactly where it fits in. According to the “Marvel Cinematic Universe in Timeline Order” section of Disney Plus, fans looking to view the projects chronologically should check out the Doctor Strange sequel AFTER Eternals.

    While the events of Eternals have no impact whatsoever on the events of Multiverse of Madness, its placement ahead of the sequel also gives us an idea of where Spider-Man: No Way Home should fit in, given that it is probably the direct predecessor of the events of Multiverse of Madness. It’s also of note that Multiverse of Madness now clearly follows the events of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, which briefly featured Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. With Wong set to appear in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, it’s worth paying attention to where that project will fit in the timeline when it releases next month.

  • Iman Vellani Joins Disney Wish’s ‘Avengers: Quantum Encounter’ Dining Event

    Iman Vellani Joins Disney Wish’s ‘Avengers: Quantum Encounter’ Dining Event

    It looks like the upcoming Disney Cruise Line has added another star-studded cast member to its new Avengers: Quantum Encounter interactive show. The project already will see Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, and Brie Larson return to reprise their roles from the films, but now it has been unveiled that Iman Vellani is also going to join the Cruise Line production as her iconic character, Ms. Marvel.

    The event is described as Disney’s most ambitious dining experience, where a new dining experience is offered to diners through the help of Pym Tech. Yet, that kind of technology always seems to attract trouble, as the Disney Wish will see Ultron try to take over, who will be once again voiced by Ross Marquand from What If…?. Captain America and Captain Marvel will join in time to take on the threat with Vellani‘s Ms. Marvel as their hero-in-training along for the ride. Unless Larson appears in Ms. Marvel, this may be their first team-up together.

    .

    It seems like they are going all out for their Worlds of Marvel experience, as even Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige opens up the video teasing the Disney Wish experience. They also just recently opened a new Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster, which saw many cast members from the original series return give a little something to those visiting that love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We might get more hints at how the experience is going to be brought to life with more trailers teasing the unique experience for those that booked a trip on the Disney Wish.

    Source: Disney Parks

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Lightyear’ Director Explains How Han Solo Inspired Film

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Lightyear’ Director Explains How Han Solo Inspired Film

    Lightyear is set to be Pixar’s first science-fiction action film, and it’s director pulled out all the stops when looking for inspiration. Angus MacLane is a self-proclaimed nerd, who can reference almost any sci-fi movie or anime an interviewer might throw at him. The former Finding Dory filmmaker has name dropped countless projects as research material in the past, but chief among them has always been Star Wars.

    In multiple interviews, MacLane described Lightyear as the galaxy far, far away within the Toy Story universe. Sitting down for an exclusive chat with Murphy’s Multiverse, the director was asked if Harrison Ford‘s Han Solo served as a specific inspiration for Chris Evans‘ Buzz Lightyear. While it turns out this wasn’t his original idea, he did admit that it might be true in a more unintentional way:

    That’s a really interesting observation. I think it was sub-conscious. Han was the character I liked the most as a kid, because of his braggadocio. I think there are some very Han-like moments in the film…there’s very much an echo of that in the first act of our film. But for me, it was important to tell a story about an adult.

    Angus MacLane

    He continued to elaborate, further explaining the purpose behind following an adult character:

    The movies that I related to as a kid, the character I wanted to hang out with was the adult. It was aspirational in that way, instead of the kid. Luke I didn’t relate to, I wanted to be Han Solo. In Aliens, I wasn’t following the kid, I was following Ripley. You know what I mean? There’s something about that that was important to me for this film, and I think that’s what you’re picking up on. I wanted to tell a story about a character who had a lot of arrogance and was humbled by their own hubris.

    Angus MacLane

    MacLane might be onto something, as characters like Han Solo and Ripley have grown to become some of pop culture’s most iconic protagonists. Buzz Lightyear is already pretty well-liked in his own regard, and hopefully the director’s new take only serves to make him more popular when Lightyear flies into theaters on June 17th.

  • The Morning After Huddle: June 11, 2022 

    The Morning After Huddle: June 11, 2022 

    Welcome to your Weekend edition of The Morning After Huddle! The Raiders are all chips in on Hunter Renfrow.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • The Las Vegas Raiders and Hunter Renfrow agreed to a multi-year extension worth $32 million. Renfrow was in line for a new deal after catching 103 passes in 2021, the second-highest single-season total by a receiver in franchise history. This new deal includes $21 million guaranteed.
    • Foot meet mouth. Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is paying the price for words said earlier this week. Del Rio took to Twitter to voice his opinion about the January 6th hearings, calling the events that took place last year a “dust up.” Head coach Ron Rivera took exception to his words and Del Rio will pay a $100,000 fine that will be donated to the U.S. Capital Police Memorial Fund.
    • Next, Chargers owner Dean Spanos is in some pretty hot water. His sister has filed a lawsuit accusing him of repeated breaches of fiduciary duty and misogynistic behavior. The filing escalates the ongoing battle among the Spanos siblings over control of the franchise.
    • Finally, your Key Signings Roundup:
      • Morocco Brown is being elevated to the Colts’ chief personnel executive. 
      • The Indianapolis Colts are also signing DE Bryan Cox Jr. and OT Jason Spriggs.
      • The Texans are signing former Bengals TE Mason Shreck.
      • The New England Patriots will sign a kicker: former Chargers player Tristan Vizcaino.
      • The New York Giants are signing former Raiders WR Keelan Doss.

    That’s it for today’s huddle. Enjoy your weekend and come back Monday for more news you want to know!

    ICYMI: Friday -June 10, 2022 Edition