Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Punisher

  • Disney+ Will Add 4K Upgrade for ‘Daredevil’, ‘Jessica Jones’, ‘Luke Cage’ and More Soon

    Disney+ Will Add 4K Upgrade for ‘Daredevil’, ‘Jessica Jones’, ‘Luke Cage’ and More Soon

    After a long wait, the now titled Defenders Saga has found its way home to Disney+. The various Netflix series including Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher have gotten added to the Disney-owned streaming service in select countries. Yet, many may have noticed that they’re only restricted to HD/SDR. Well, it turns out that Disney+ will add 4K and UHD versions at a later date, as revealed in a tweet by the Disney+ Help Twitter account on an inquiry.

    They might’ve considered some limitations in providing the amount of content they did. In addition to the Defender Saga, certain markets also got Agents of SHIELD on Disney+ which adds around seven seasons’ worth of content. With such a massive addition to the library, the 4K UHD version may have overloaded the server. It’s safe to assume that they’ll release the updates through batches moving forward, but don’t worry, you’ll get access to them.

    It’s still uncertain about their international plans moving forward, as some markets like my own have not received the series just yet. So, there’s still a lack of an official word on when the rest of the world can expect the Netflix projects, as Agents of SHIELD was already available since the streaming service launched. We’ll see if the coming weeks come with updates on their addition.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Daredevil’ & Co.’s Addition to Disney+ Draws Criticism of Supposedly Destroying the Disney Brand

    ‘Daredevil’ & Co.’s Addition to Disney+ Draws Criticism of Supposedly Destroying the Disney Brand

    Disney+ made quite the headlines when they announced that shows like Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and more from the Netflix era are making their way to the streaming service. While these projects have an older demographic, the service will include parental control. Mature content isn’t new to the service, as specific markets include it through the Star branding, but it seems that this move has gotten the attention of the Parents Television Council, who have slammed Disney for their decision. Its President Tim Winter had made the following statement:

    For more than 98 years, the Walt Disney Company has been synonymous with the words Family Friendly, and I can think of no other corporation in American history that has been built more squarely on the backs – and on the wallets – of parents and families. The company’s eponymous platform Disney Plus logically marketed itself as a family-friendly streaming service, and parents have placed their trust in Disney to deliver just that

    Tim Winter

    He goes on to make false comparisons, such as Disney World “adding live striptease performances in Fantasyland” to make its point. Parental control is also mentioned, but they believe that the mere existence of R-rated content violates the trust of families. It’s curious considering that What If…? actively promoted episodes featuring zombies that are also killed throughout the episode.

    There is no need for Disney Plus to compete with the explicit content on other streaming platforms. Disney is already at a competitive advantage with a streaming platform that is the safest one out there for families. Its foray into TV-MA-rated fare will forever tarnish its family-friendly crown

    While many could argue that the addition of more mature content only benefits their growing market by also offering something for older parts of the family to enjoy the content. Who knows if they might add additional elements into allowing a more family-friendly setup for users of the streaming service, similar to Netflix’s Kids function. We’ll see how or even if Disney reacts to this statement at some point and how they might tackle the concerns.

    Source: Variety

  • Taking One Last Look Back at Marvel’s Netflix Era

    Taking One Last Look Back at Marvel’s Netflix Era

    It was 2013, Marvel had just recently finished wrapping up their first phase of films with the release of Avengers in 2012. Agents of Shield, Marvel’s first TV program set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, had just premiered. After the success of the Avengers team-up, Marvel was obviously looking to capitalize on the momentum by setting up new teams, on the big screen and on TV. With that, Netflix and Marvel announced a smorgasbord of new shows set within the MCU, starting with Daredevil and culminating in a Defenders team-up, similar to the strategy that made Avengers as big as it did.

    Now, all of these years later, the Netflix era is over, with all shows in their wheelhouse being canceled. The shows are leaving Netflix to take their place in Disney’s streaming services, and the characters are being integrated into the MCU proper after debates about their status in the canon. I want to take this time to take a look back on this era of the MCU, to appreciate what it brought us, and to theorize about where we go from here.

    When Daredevil was announced, I was 16 – a teenager already obsessed with Marvel after liking the characters when I was younger – but fell in love with them through the MCU’s first introduction in Iron Man when I was 11. When news came of that these series are M-rated, with blood and gore and more adult themes, you can guess how excited I was. The possibility of Marvel always having something going on. Different themes from action adventures, comedies to even horror seemed promising, especially with the atmosphere promised from the initial reveals and fanfare. We know now that this dream wouldn’t come to fruition until Disney+, and even then, new genres are still only being played with. The hype and possibilities were high over my head in 2013, creating the vision of a perfect MCU.

    Daredevil delivered on its promises. When it was released in 2015, I was a senior in High School. At the time, I was overhyped for the new shows and the anticipation was killing me. Finally, the show launches, and I’m there watching day one. Oh boy, did the show start slow for someone that was hyped as I was. However, after the second episode, I was hooked. Easily becoming my favorite TV show at the time, Daredevil was exactly what I wanted. Following one of my favorite characters, witnessing awesome combat with all the blood a teenager could want, and all set within the MCU. What more could a person ask for? The rest of the shows didn’t matter to me since I didn’t know the characters, Daredevil was what mattered to me, and not only did it deliver, it almost immediately was ordered for a second season. So, I was content.

    I was content until Jessica Jones released in late 2015 and showed me that Daredevil was just the tip of the iceberg. Without any knowledge of Jessica or her villain, it didn’t immediately click with the show as I did with Daredevil. I was, of course, going to give it a try. From the first episode, Jessica’s attitude and sarcasm gripped me. Being a bit of a sarcastic person myself – emphasis on a bit – and growing up with more of the same, I love characters that speak their mind. Not only did her character grip me, but the ominous Purple Man has stood firm in my top 10 villains of all time. The abilities of the character on top of the stellar performance by David Tennant is definitely a force to be reckoned with. However, aside from the two lead characters, Jessica Jones also introduced me to the incredible Luke Cage, and apparently, I wasn’t the only fan impressed with the character. Originally slated to be the last show to premiere before The Defenders, Marvel wanted to ride on the momentum of the new fan-favorite character being introduced in Jessica Jones and fast tracked production.

    Arriving in 2016, Luke Cage followed up the storyline established in Jessica Jones. At this point, I was addicted with Netflix’s Marvel properties during my time in college. After two absolutely steller seasons of Daredevil and the arrival of the Punisher into the fold, as well as a tremendously good season of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage had a lot to deliver. Arriving with positive reception, I look back at that time and remember the fans not welcoming the show with open arms like with the two previous entries. Likely due to Cage’s decline in the second half of the season, the show was great, I even skipped a lab class to binge it in my college library, but it was the first minor dip from Marvel and Netflix. The show also introduced Iron Fist, which fully lead to the decline.

    Iron Fist was constantly criticized and for good reason. The fighting choreography is lackluster at best, the writing was sloppy, and the entirety of the first season is a definite stain on Marvel’s pretty great track record. At this point only having negative reviews for Thor: The Dark World and The Incredible Hulk on the movie side of things and the lukewarm reception to Agents of Shield, Iron Fist definitely marked a critical point for Marvel TV. Lead by Scott Buck, the show ended with fans severely disappointed. I remember going into the show incredibly hyped after everything so far. Reviews started to hit the day before, but most of them were only for the first few episodes. So, I thought maybe it gets better. Even with some good characters, the show just did not deliver. Leading into The Defenders, this was definitely a bad look and a momentum killer going into the long promised team-up.

    The Defenders launched on my birthday in 2017. Even after Iron Fist, I remember being cautiously optimistic. Even if that show wasn’t great, this one was no longer in Scott Buck‘shands and has had time to develop. Alas, the show launched to mostly positive reactions, but suffered from pacing issues, a pretty lackluster story, and a crutch of once again using the Hand as villains. The show definitely could have delivered on those initial great seasons of TV that lead us there. It was said to be the least viewed show of the Netflix-Marvel shows, with a considerable drop in viewership. To me, this marked the downfall of the Netflix-Marvel era, even if we still got some great projects after.

    Following The Defenders, Marvel and Netflix attempted to capitalize on the success of the previous shows, without the major team-up this time. Daredevil got an incredible third season, largely considered to be one of the best seasons of Marvel TV to this day. Jessica Jones received two more seasons after an agonizingly long wait. Luke Cage and Iron Fist got another season each. Daredevil even received a spinoff in the form of two seasons of the gruesome series The Punisher. Even a few more spinoffs like Heroes for Hire were rumored. The Netflix shows looked to be getting back on track, and then in October 2018, the cancellations began.

    Shortly after its second season, which started to deliver a more quality experience compared to the first Iron Fist was cancelled by Netflix. Considering it was the worst reviewed show in the bunch, and rumors were flying of a possible Heroes for Hire spinoff, doom and gloom didn’t quite set in yet. Then, just a week later, Luke Cage was the second causality. Once again thanks to the Heroes for Hire rumors, fans felt like this could just be in anticipation of that show, I mean, both of those characters are in the team in the comics.

    Then came December 2018: Daredevil, the flagship show in Netflix’s Marvel arsenal, was cancelled despite a critically acclaimed and adored third season. At this point, we all knew the Netflix era was over. The Punisher and Jessica Jones both ended their final seasons and were also added to the cancellations. By February 2019, all of the Netflix Marvel shows were cancelled, finishing the era for good.

    Up until recently, you could watch the back catalog of these shows on their original home over at Netflix, but as the deal ends, Disney is regaining those rights. They are expected to remove the shows in March 2022 and move the shows to their international streaming services like Disney+, Star+, and Hulu. A definitive home is not yet known.

    While the Netflix Marvel era might be done, the characters they shaped and the stories they have built are not forgotten. From Matt Murdock appearing in Spider-Man: No Way Home to Wilson Fisk’s return in Hawkeye, it is clear that the story of these beloved characters may be just starting. The history will always be there for generations of new True Believers to adore, but their return may be some of my most anticipated moments in the MCU even with things like Secret Invasion coming up. I literally grew up with these characters as you can tell from my writing above, and I cannot wait for a new generation of Marvel fans, even if just a few years later, to discover these stories for themselves.

  • New Disney+ Listing Hints Netflix’s Marvel Shows May Not Release Worldwide Simultaneously

    New Disney+ Listing Hints Netflix’s Marvel Shows May Not Release Worldwide Simultaneously

    There’s been a lot of debate about when and where we might see the Marvel Netflix shows finally appear on Disney+. Suddenly, Canadian subscribers were sharing a newsletter that revealed that Daredevil, Luke Cage, and more were heading to the streaming service. There was no mention of the Star branding, which gave hope that it may also appear on the US subscription model with some rumors even adding fuel to the fire. Yet, the official listing from Disney+ Spain may have put a wrench in those hopes.

    The listing, as shared by The Direct, includes all the series and films that are heading to the streaming service in March. As you can see clearly, Turning Red and Moon Knight are listed with their respective international release dates. Yet, the Marvel Netflix shows are nowhere to be found, which may hint that this isn’t a straightforward international release.

    Disney+ Spain

    It’s kind of a surprise that it wouldn’t get an international release, especially if you consider that the series is leaving Netflix worldwide around the same time. There’s still no official word from Disney+, which may signal they can’t really talk about it until it has left Netflix. Either that or they are still figuring out distribution plans and timing windows for the various series. We’ll have to wait and see until an official word drops just what the future has in store after all.

    Source: The Direct

  • RUMOR: Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’, ‘Luke Cage’ and More Will Remain Unedited on Disney+, Even in the US

    RUMOR: Netflix’s ‘Daredevil’, ‘Luke Cage’ and More Will Remain Unedited on Disney+, Even in the US

    Netflix’s Marvel series, which includes Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and more, are only a few days away from leaving the streaming platform to find a new home. Just earlier today, we’ve learned that the new home would end up being Disney+ after all. What has any confusion is that the announcement is purely through Canada, which offers the Star branding for mature content. Well, a new report by That Hashtag Show hints that there’s a chance that not only will they also release in the US version but also unedited.

    Disney has made some bizarre choices by editing and censoring some of its films. Yet, it seems that they might luckily leave these projects untouched, something even the showrunner of Luke Cage, Cheo Hodari Coker, feared in a recent Twitter thread discussing the history of the project before it leaves Netflix. The US version will release around the same time as the announced March 16th date. So, violence and language will remain the same.

    The way Disney+ will handle these more mature projects is through the new Parental Guidance content warning. It may also open up the path for other projects like Deadpool or Logan finding their way to the regular Disney+. There is currently no word if we should expect these projects to retain their “Marvel” logo and end up alongside other Marvel TV projects, or with the recent appearances of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. We’ll have to wait a few more weeks until we find out.

    Source: That Hashtag Show

  • BREAKING: Netflix’s Marvel Show Heading to Disney+ in March

    BREAKING: Netflix’s Marvel Show Heading to Disney+ in March

    We’ve been waiting for any sign of what the future has in store for Netflix’s Marvel series. Without a warning, Netflix suddenly included the information that the shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and more will leave the service by the end of February. Well, it seems we finally got an update, as an e-mail is making the rounds, as shared by @shayhbaz, where it’s revealed that the shows are heading to Disney+ on March 16th.

    It’s quite the surprising reveal without much fanfare given how iconic these franchises are. So far, the e-mail has only been sent to Canadian outlets, which could open up the possibility of them landing on Diseny+ through the Star branding, which is currently absent in the United States. At this point, no official word has come down from Disney about their U.S. plans. Still, it would make sense that they’d find their permanent home on the Marvel-filled library of the streamer. Hopefully, they won’t start censoring elements of these stories to fit the branding image, but with Moon Knight on the horizon, they may consider finally aging up their main demographic moving forward.

    Source: Twitter

  • Disney to Announce Netflix Marvel Show’s New Streaming Home Soon

    Disney to Announce Netflix Marvel Show’s New Streaming Home Soon

    It seems like the news is just not stopping. what started with a sudden inclusion of a deadline on the Marvel Netflix series would end up in a discussion on what exactly was going on. Some believed it might be nothing more than a bug until Entertainment Weekly confirmed it. Not just that, Insider also announced that this change was due to the rights returning to Disney. Now, Deadline has also shared that we might find out what the future has in store for them soon.

    Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders were all co-produced between Netflix and ABC Studios. Disney is currently keeping quiet on the returning rights, but Deadline shared that we can expect an announcement on their new streaming home sooner rather than later. Plus, it further re-establishes the fact that Marvel Studios can now further explore these characters in new projects moving forward.

    At this point, it seems likely given the darker themes of these series they will end up as part of Hulu’s offerings and internationally through the Star branding. Deadpool, Logan, Hit-Monkey, and MODOK were recently released as part of that branding and it wouldn’t be too surprised if it follows suit. We don’t know if these former Netflix Originals might even end up as “Original” series under these new streaming banners.

    Source: Deadline

  • Netflix’s Marvel Show Rights Returned Back to Disney

    Netflix’s Marvel Show Rights Returned Back to Disney

    Just earlier today, we’ve noticed that something was different about Netflix’s Marvel shows. Some of the shows included the message that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, and the other shows produced together with Marvel TV would be leaving the service on February 28th. EW has gone on to confirm that they are indeed leaving the service, but it was Insider that offered some insight into why this sudden change happened.

    Insider was informed by an insider that the rights to the series have returned to Disney. Looking back, while Netflix was streaming the series as originals, they were technically ABC Studios productions – a subsidiary of Disney’s. As such, they were only the distributor and may have supported some of the production financially. Starting in 2018, all shows were canceled as what seemed like a rebuttal to Disney working on their own streaming service.

    Some of the actors have started making their return to the MCU with Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio‘s recent appearances. There are even rumors that Krysten Ritter might also make her return as Jessica Jones but there’s silence on the rest of the cast. So, we’ll see if the shows end up being integrated into the MCU or become Marvel TV Legacy projects. There’s no word if they’ll release on Disney+ or even Hulu, but it seems very likely. For now, we’ll have to wait until March to see what exactly the future has in store for these projects.

    Source: EW, Insider

  • ‘Daredevil’ and Other Marvel Shows May Be Leaving Netflix Soon

    ‘Daredevil’ and Other Marvel Shows May Be Leaving Netflix Soon

    Is Marvel’s era on Netflix ending? In a rather curious observation, many are reporting that the original Netflix shows based on Marvel properties, such as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and more are seemingly going to leave the platform by the end of the month. Some eagle-eyed viewers noticed that when they start a new episode it includes a “The show is available until” marker in the top left corner. It seems that the series might be leaving the service soon.

    However, there have been different dates noted such as the 1st of March and our own test including the 28th of February. As such, there’s a chance it might be a bug but its inclusion only on the Marvel shows is curious. Here’s a screenshot when we checked out an episode of Daredevil on the German/Austrian account that includes the February date. the only oddity was how it popped up briefly and quickly vanished.

    @BRMarvel also shared screenshots that were shared from Europe and Latin America further hinting that the series won’t be available in those locations.

    The timing of course stands out as Daredevil actors Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio recently made their return in the roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Disney+’s Hawkeye series respectively. So, if they do leave the service there’s a chance that they could find their home on Disney+. What makes that stand out is that the locations they are missing offer the Starz branding, where more adult content is offered to subscribers.

    So, they could become original productions if Marvel is trying to resurrect the franchises, especially with rumors that Daredevil is getting a new project over at Marvel Studios. Of course, there’s a chance this is also simply a bug on the side of Netflix, but we haven’t seen it appear with other original shows. We’ll have to see if an official announcement follows shortly.

    Source: Netflix, Twitter

  • The Quintessential Street Villains That Need To Be In The MCU

    The Quintessential Street Villains That Need To Be In The MCU

    All of Hawkeye, Echo, Moon Knight, Blade, and by association, She-Hulk serve as Marvel Studios’ first foray into the street universe. Just as Kevin Feige‘s think-tank built the cosmic, mystical, and multiversal mythology, the mythos of the MCU’s street universe needs to be built. Here are ten essential villains that would help grow it nicely.

    The Rose

    Wilson Fisk made his official debut in the MCU at the tail end of 2021 when he appeared in Hawkeye as the defacto big bad of the series, a performance that Vincent D’Onofrio drew from his own in the Daredevil Netflix series. It’s not entirely clear from that single appearance how this version of Fisk got to where he was but it certainly leaves a lot of space for new stories to build around the character.

    What better way to build a different story for Fisk by introducing his son Richard, the bitter son who would eventually turn into the villainous Rose? Richard Fisk’s relationship with his father in the comics is nothing short of Shakespearean; a familial power struggle that culminates in a lot of betrayals. It’s the kind of drama we haven’t seen Wilson Fisk deal with in live-action and would make for one of the more interesting villain dynamics in the MCU.

    Hammerhead

    You can’t get any more street-level with a villain like Hammerhead, who was created as a callback to the mobsters of the Great Depression era. But despite his over-the-top appearance and persona, Hammerhead is a very modest character; he’s never been at the center of major street-level crossovers unlike some of his cohorts on this list. Yet that hasn’t stopped the character from being a key component of that side of the Marvel Universe. Hammerhead’s appearance in the Spider-Man DLC proved how menacing the character could be if done contemporarily. He’s a major player in the street game and has been known to rival the likes of Kingpin and The Hood.

    Typhoid Mary

    Typhoid Mary is an important character within the Daredevil mythology. An on-off lover of Matt Murdock, she regularly falls under the employ of Wilson Fisk and eventually makes her way onto the 50 State Initiative as Mutant Zero. Mary Walker bridges some of the quirkiness of the larger universe with the grounded ethos of the streets. She’s a mutant with dissociative identity disorder, whose multiple personalities often manifest with different abilities. She’s a telekinetic, telepath, as well as a pyrokinetic, making her one of the most lethal street characters in Marvel, not to mention, one of the more sinister-looking villains. A version barely resembling the comic counterpart appeared in the second season of Iron Fist but the quicker we can forget about that, the better.

    Tombstone

    Like Hammerhead before him, Tombstone is an A-list member of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, having busted the skull of the wallcrawler numerous times over the years. The character has a strong rivalry with Robbie Robertson, a character known to orbit around Peter Parker’s life as his Daily Bugle superior. A lot of Spider-Man’s key encounters with Tombstone involve Robertson in some way. So as the MCU launches Peter’s next phase in life, which hopefully involves the Bugle and Robertson in some way, the room for a character like Tombstone just keeps getting wider.

    Madame Masque

    A version of Whitney Frost may have served as Agent Carter Season 2’s big bad but that shouldn’t preclude the actual Madame Masque from appearing in the MCU down the road. Born Giulietta Nefaria, heir to the fabled Maggia criminal empire, Madame Masque is as much of a street character as she is a heavy-hitting Avengers villain. The character has crossed paths with the likes of Moon Knight and Hawkeye, the latter’s solo show she was rumored to appear in last year.

    Turk Barrett

    Turk Barrett represents one of comic’s most marginalized groups of characters: lowly henchmen. Yet he’s the henchman to end all henchmen, garnering notoriety for being a pestering reoccurrence in Daredevil’s radar and a one-time wielder of an Infinity Stone. The character was brilliantly brought to life by acclaimed actor Rob Morgan in the Netflix shows and he would certainly be welcomed with open arms should that opportunity return. He’s Turk Barrett, baby!

    Mister Negative

    One of the best parts of the PS4 Spider-Man game was how it put Mister Negative at the forefront of Spidey’s rogues gallery. It not only proved that there was more to Spidey’s rogues gallery beyond the Sinister Six but that the character of Martin Li was perfect for a live-action take. From a visual and power-set standpoint, Mister Negative already stands out among Spidey’s antagonists, boasting dimensional abilities that rival both Cloak and Dagger’s. On top of those qualities, he’s also a compelling villain with a layered backstory.

    The Hood

    Given the prominence of mysticism and the occult, it’s almost impossible to imagine the MCU’s future without Parker Robbins aka The Hood in it. The Hood is best described as a Marvel Gus Fring if Gus Fring stumbled onto a demonic ritual, stole occult paraphernalia, and become a sorcerer in the process.

    The Hood entered Marvel prominence during Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign, where he ascended to the top spot of the criminal empire. Parker Robbins was also, at one point, in contention for the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. His Crime Syndicate was home to a lot of villainous heavy-hitters and would go on to prove highly formidable. The idea that a gun-toting, demon-summoning mobster could be in the MCU is a no-brainer.

    Bullseye

    You can’t have Daredevil in the MCU without Bullseye. If the Kingpin was to Daredevil the same way Norman Osborn is to Spider-Man, Bullseye is definitely Daredevil’s Venom; the secondary arch-nemesis whose skillset and penchant for disorder rivals that of the protagonist.

    Bullseye is evil-incarnate which, in many ways, gives him such a powerful presence on the page. That a blind Catholic from Hell’s Kitchen is one of the few who can hold a candle up to Bullseye’s evil makes that rivalry so twistedly poetic. While I’m not entirely a fan of Daredevil Season 3’s troubled incel take on the character, Wilson Bethel‘s twitchy performance alone makes for a convincing argument for him that he get a second shot at the character.

    The Punisher

    Frank Castle may not be a villain in the modern sense but he’s certainly butted heads with enough Marvel heroes to be considered an antagonist. In fact, Frank Castle would also be the first person to tell you not to revere him as a hero. Unfortunately, an aspect of the character’s legacy continues to endure this day for a lot of wrong real-world reasons.

    Perhaps one way for Marvel Studios to bypass the ugly aspect of that legacy is to bring Frank Castle into a world far removed from our real one. Have the Punisher fight over-the-top monsters, superheroes, and supervillains. Use what the playground that is the MCU has to offer to give us a different kind of Punisher. Bring Jon Bernthal back while you’re at it.