Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: No Way Home

  • REPORT: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Assembling A Sinister Group of Multiversal Villains

    REPORT: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Assembling A Sinister Group of Multiversal Villains

    Spider-Man: No Way Home seemed to be turning into Sony’s most ambitious project involving the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler. In a way, it has become the worst kept secret after one leak after another hinted at the threequel’s Spider-Verse storyline. After rumors started piling on about the return of famous villains from various former entries in the franchise, former Doctor Octopus, Alfred Molina, just confirmed his involvement with the project. Of course, it gave more credence to other rumors and stories, such as The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Jamie Foxx returning in the role of Electro. He even leaked an image teasing his inclusion after the announcement. It led to more rumors hitting the web of other classic villains joining the project and Collider seems to be adding more fuel to the fire in their The Sneider Cut podcast.

    He revealed various details about the film’s villainous roster, as he pointed out in the podcast that Sandman, Rhino, and Lizard will be joining the project in some capacity. He did point out that he is uncertain if the actors are also returning to portray these roles. Now, he also points out that Willem Dafoe‘s Green Goblin, who has also been rumored in the past, would be the main antagonist of this incarnation of the Sinister Six. Host Jeff Sneider does make the point that we should still take it with a grain of salt but makes a valid point that it’s easier to reintroduce older villains than having to set up a completely new cast for the Sinister Six to gather.

    For now, we will see how it develops as we are still half a year away from the film opening in cinemas. The film’s inclusion of Doctor Strange also strongly suggests some magical or multiversal shenanigans will occur in the film. The various Social Media sites also seem to be preparing for a promotional push of the threequel, which could offer some insight into what direction the film will truly head towards. It’s funny to think that Mysterio made up the existence of the multiverse only for it to haunt Peter Parker in the sequel. Here’s hoping it all comes together.

    Source: Collider

  • How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set-Up a Joe Manganiello-led ‘Agent Venom’

    How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set-Up a Joe Manganiello-led ‘Agent Venom’

    There are enough signs that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will explore the multiverse in one way or another. Of course, this opens up new possibilities to how they can further expand the franchise. With Disney and Sony making deals for Disney+, it seems like their partnership will extend beyond the release of No Way Home. Now, if we get reintroduced to some Spider-Man legacy characters, which Alfred Molina outright confirmed, we may also get a chance to see other characters join the franchise in the future. There were also rumors of Tobey Maguire getting spotted on the film’s set. Once the gears get turning, an idea popped in my head how a minor character from Sam Raimi‘s first Spider-Man film would be the perfect candidate for an unlikely spin-off. How about the multiverse gives us an Agent Venom project starring Joe Manganiello as Flash Thompson?

     

    JJMM on Twitter: "Spider-Man 2002film #JoeManganiello as #FlashThompson #Marvel #ThrowbackThursday… "

     

    The actor only had a brief appearance in the first and third entries of the films. The role continued by Chris Zylka and Tony Revolori in the remakes. Since, the actor has played a variety of roles, such as Rampage, The Sleepover, and recently Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Sadly, it seems that his future as DC’s Deathstroke seems uncertain, but that also means there is another opportunity waiting. As the multiverse unfolds, there might be a new possibility to expand the franchise in creative ways. In the comics, Thompson ended up losing his legs during the Iraq War. Afterward, he enlisted in the Project Rebirth 2.0, which saw him bonded with the Venom symbiote. It gave him the same abilities as Spider-Man and new artificial legs. Manganiello’s Thompson is the only version that is connected to a symbiote that bonded with Spider-Man. As such, he would be the most likely candidate to recreate the origin story.

    Tom Hardy‘s Venom remains disconnected from the rest of the franchise and already bonded with Eddie Brock without gaining any spider-based abilities. So, the best way to introduce the symbiote similar to the comics, where Spidey found it during 1984’s Secret Wars event. Instead of forcing Hardy‘s version to bond with Peter and then return to Eddie, the Spider-Man 3 variant already went through the process. Maguire‘s Peter did destroy it during the finale, but that doesn’t mean a part of it may have survived. So, the government got its hand on it and found a way to graft it unto a desperate Thompson. Years later, he is still an active agent and finds his way into an unfamiliar multiverse.

     

    In Venom, Eddie Brock Briefly Teams Up With Flash Thompson's Agent Venom

     

    He is stranded in an unfamiliar world with dangerous living armor grafted onto his body. There was no one there to help him keep it under control, which meant he needed to find a solution. After breaking into a facility that offered him a solution to keep the Venom symbiote at bay, he ends up getting knocked out. Now, he ends up in the government’s captivity and is forced to join their efforts on repairing the aftermath of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He becomes a temporary asset for the Thunderbolt project but is trying to find a way home. The events left rifts across the world and he finally manages to get through one to follow the breadcrumbs back home. He ends up in a dystopian version of Earth that has been conquered by symbiotes, as their leader tries to call out to him. He is pulled away by the TVA before they are able to get close and is now enlisted to solve another world-altering event caused by his symbiote leaving a piece behind in the mainline Marvel Cinematic Universe. Morbius M. Morbius was already tired of having to deal with an unhinged Loki. It looks like their job isn’t quite done yet with the Multiverse.

  • Andrew Garfield Continues a Marvel Tradition by Denying Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Andrew Garfield Continues a Marvel Tradition by Denying Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Spider-Man: No Way Home seems like the worst kept secret in the industry. It all came to a boil when Spider-Man 2 actor Alfred Molina just outright confirmed his involvement with the project. He confirmed that he was returning as Doctor Octopus and that he may even continue from Sam Raimi‘s original film. It has quiet down since production wrapped on the project, but there are still countless unanswered rumors going around. Months ago, the rumor hit the web that Andrew Garfield might be returning alongside other Spider-Man franchise veteran. There was also the posts on Instagram by Garfield‘s stunt double William Spencer alongside Greg Townley. Why was that significant? Townley is Tom Holland‘s stunt double. Well, the Amazing Spider-Man actor was interview by Josh Horowitz on the rumors going around in which he denied the rumors.

    It’s a bit of a strange interview, as Garfield seems to harp on the topic for quite some bit and is dodging the question. He does deny his involvement but is vague enough to still keep the door open in a way. Of course, it isn’t new for actors to deny their involvement with projects. It’s almost become a tradition that MCU actors deny their involvement with these projects. We even prepared an overview of various denials in the past. Tatiana Maslany was a recent addition to that list after getting confirmed by Mark Ruffalo. In the past, Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Paul Rudd have also famously denied their involvement. Of course, we won’t know for sure that he is involved until we get an official confirmation, but there are enough hints to put together that he is involved in some capacity. We’ll see how the story unfolds. It’ll be interesting to see if Tobey Maguire will join the tradition.

    Source: Twitter

  • Murphy’s Law: Episode 88

    Murphy’s Law: Episode 88

    Charles and Charles talk about Alfred Molina’s blatant disregard for spoilers, Jon Favreau’s return, Lucy Liu joining Shazam! 2 and more!

  • Alfred Molina Confirms Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ And Shares First Set Details

    Alfred Molina Confirms Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ And Shares First Set Details

    Spider-Man: No Way Home might be the worst kept secret. We’ve seen countless reports on what characters are returning in their respective roles. Through various leaks, we learned that many of the iconic characters from past Spider-Man franchises will make a grand return in one way or another. One of the first to break was the return of Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus in the threequel. Now, it seems he gave up on keeping the secret, as he talked with Variety on his role in Promising Young Woman:

    When we were shooting it, we were all under orders not to talk about it, because it was supposed to be some great big secret. But, you know, it’s all over the internet. I actually described myself as the worst kept secret in Hollywood

    So, he just went out of his way to confirm his involvement. Luckily, he even gave some insight about how it was returning to his role and reflecting on the fact he hasn’t played the character in almost 17 years.

    It was wonderful. It was very interesting going back after 17 years to play the same role, given that in the intervening years, I now have two chins, a wattle, crow’s feet, and a slightly a slightly dodgy lower back.

    He even revealed that director Jon Watts confirmed that his character is picking up where he died in the original Spider-Man 2. After tampering with a fusion reactor that was about to blow, he sacrifices his life to save his former student and New York City. What stands out in the interview is that he confirms Doc Ock will be de-aged in the film after he questioned how they would continue his story now that he is 67. The actor even references The Irishman, as he feared that he may look young but not able to move fast enough. Luckily, the good doctor has some helpers to keep him moving around without a problem.

    I then remembered that it’s the tentacles that do all the work! My basic physical move as Doc Ock, as the actor, is just this. I just do that a lot, and the arms are doing all the killing and smashing and breaking. I’m just going —” he glared again — “with a kind of mean look on my face.

    It sounds really exciting and that they considered the differences between the last times they played these characters. Now, the question is how this will tie into the universe and why Doc Ock will return from the dead. His teases offer our first real glimpse into what happened on the set. Now, we will wonder how it will all tie together.

    Source: Variety, Variety (Interview)

     

  • ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Set Photo Reveals a Key Location in the Threequel

    ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Set Photo Reveals a Key Location in the Threequel

    Principal photography on Spider-Man: No Way Home has wrapped but there are still bread crumbs to be found in the Atlanta area. Today the Twitter account of Houston Coley posted an interesting prop that was left behind on set:

    https://twitter.com/Blockbustedpod/status/1379182613890539533?s=19

    The prop combines the iconic Statue of Liberty with the less-than-equally-but-still-pretty-damn-iconic shield of Captain America. The shield’s legacy is currently front and center in Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, so seeing it front and center on this prop in a film that should chronologically follow the series is interesting! It’s great to see NYC’s most recognizable landmark make its way into this film and we’ve been told that it will serve as the backdrop for a KEY scene in the film, so this is more than just a throw-away prop! Great catch, Houston!

    Spider-Man: No Way Home swings into theaters on December 17, 2021!

  • J.K. Simmons Hints At ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Return

    J.K. Simmons Hints At ‘SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME’ Return

    J.K. Simmons is starting to become a regular name in comic book adaptations, and he’s not done yet. During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the acclaimed actor hinted that he may not be through with playing with one of his most iconic roles. The role being referred to is, of course, hot-headed journalist J. Jonah Jameson, whom Simmons has inhabited to perfection since his big screen debut in Sam Raimi‘s 2001 Spider-Man. Originally depicted as the web-head hating editor of the fictional New York City newspaper The Daily Bugle, Simmons reprised the role in both of Raimi’s sequels as well as the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man. Fans everywhere were surprised to find the Oscar-winning performer show up as Jameson once more in Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s mid-credits scene, this time as an internet conspiracy theorist. The unexpected cameo made him the first actor to play the same character in more than one Marvel Cinematic Universe and led audiences to wonder if he may show up again in the future of the mainstream MCU. This quote, taken from Simmons after a question about his involvement in the worlds of both Marvel and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, most likely provides the answer:

    “I’m pretty sure people know that I might be showing up in Spider-Man land again…”

    Aside from playing J. Jonah Jameson, Simmonsis known to comic book fans for his part as Commissioner James Gordon in the DCEU and his upcoming role voicing Omni-Man in Amazon’s Invincible series. Supporters of Nickelodeon’s Avatar franchise may recognize him as the voice of Tenzin in The Legend of Korra. Outside of the nerd realm, the actor has won an Academy Award for his performance in the film Whiplash, and has appeared in numerous critically-acclaimed films such as Burn After Reading and La La Land.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • Theory Thursday: The Spider-Verse Paradox

    Theory Thursday: The Spider-Verse Paradox

    Multiple topics are trending amongst Marvel fans. The upcoming finale of WandaVision and the premiere of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier are on everyone’s mind. Yet, perhaps nothing riles up all four corners of the fandom quite like Spider-Man. Last week, the official title for the upcoming threequel got revealed via a social media post, Spider-Man: No Way Home. The title reveal has sparked multiple theories ever since. They range from possible plotlines based on crossed-out names to the suspicious use of hexagons across the board.

     

     

    Yet, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Spider-Man: No Way Home will incorporate the multiverse. Kevin Feige confirmed that the events of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will tie into the third entry. As such, there is a high probability that we will witness some multiverse shenanigans. With that in mind, it would imply that we could see former iterations of the character return to the silver screen. Yet, Tom Holland has denied any potential cameos by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield on multiple occasions.

    The rumor of a live-action Spider-Verse has gotten rumored for quite some time. This time, the concept seems plausible. So, in the case that Spider-Man: No Way Home does go that route in December, we might wonder how they would approach this storyline. We are talking about characters that haven’t been on the silver screen for some time. Andrew played the character around seven years ago, while Tobey hasn’t donned the suit since 2007. Keep in mind that Far From Home takes place in 2024. So, how do we bring them from their respective timelines into the MCU? Let us try to answer this Spider-Verse Paradox.

     

    The Timelines

     

    In my Phase 4: Reality Checked feature, I talked about how Marvel Studios explicitly defined the MCU’s time travel concept by taking the multiverse approach. In essence, any alteration in the past would create a new timeline, which ruptures the flow of time into a new universe. It’s pretty much a butterfly effect on a larger scale. So far, we know that it will get presented in the upcoming Disney+ shows Loki and the animated What If…? series. They seem to exist in alternate timelines (and therefore alternate universes), proving the existence of a Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. That theory is for another day. Now that we have a clear picture of the MCU timeline. So, let’s take a look at other universes.

     

     

    Let’s apply the concept of the multiverse to another franchise: Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man trilogy. Based on the multiverse concept, the Raimi films exist in another timeline and therefore are pretty straightforward. The same principle would apply to The Amazing Spider-Man films, which exist in a separate timeline and universe. Now, how will Marvel Studios bring them all together for Spider-Man: No Way Home?  

     

    Spider-Verse Paradox

    The Spider-Verse Paradox Theory refers to the diagram above. In essence, all of the alternate universes have their separate timestreams. When that flow gets disrupted by an event caused within the MCU, whether it’s caused by Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision or something else entirely, we will have a convergence-style event. It will be similar to the one we witnessed in Thor: The Dark World. Yet, instead of the nine realms, multiple universes converging towards the center of the singularity. At the center of it, all will be the MCU’s New York City.

    What is the point I’m trying to make? The timelines of each universe will flow linearly and converge during Spider-Man: No Way Home. As it is set in 2024, then that means that the other timelines have to be in the same year. It means that Andrew Garfield‘s Peter Parker would have been Spider-Man in the TASM universe for about ten years, and Tobey Maguire‘s version will have existed for nearly 20 years. It would be interesting to revisit the character after that many years on the job.

    We can only imagine how many stories they could tell. There is also the possibility they hung up on the mantle. Perhaps Maguire‘s Peter settled down with Mary Jane Watson and started a family. What happened after Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man came back in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and took on Paul Giamatti‘s Rhino? The possibilities in those stories are endless. It’s all just a matter of waiting to see if it comes to fruition.

    Source: Walt Disney

  • Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 83

    Murphy’s Law Podcast: Episode 83

    Charles and Charles talk the week’s biggest news including the Ta-Nehisi Coates-led Superman reboot, the title reveal for Spider-Man 3, our Black Adam scoop the new Loki release date, M.O.D.O.K. and more!