Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Sony

  • How The Pandemic May Lead to Spider-Man’s True Homecoming

    How The Pandemic May Lead to Spider-Man’s True Homecoming

    The first 2021 delays have arrived, which included Sony’s upcoming March release of Morbius until October. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to many film studios, as many 2020 releases got pushed back multiple times. Many films are already finished and just waiting to get released. The uncertainty has led to some companies embracing the streaming future, especially Warner Bros., who just outright mapped out every 2021 release to include a premiere on HBO Max simultaneously. It still has led to quite a few controversies, especially Wonder Woman 1984‘s Box Office, but these are uncertain times. Even Disney seems to be considering this option with Black Widow at this point. While everyone else is considering streaming services, why is Sony still delaying their films for many months?

    Let’s take a look back at 2019. Rumors were about that Sony Pictures was getting sold. The New York Post revealed that investor Dan Loeb was pitching to Sony a sales plan that included their Sony Pictures division. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos seemed quite interested in the purchase and led to some discussions. It is interesting to note, that there are also rumors surrounding the Spider-Man franchise rights. It seems they would automatically return to Marvel if Sony decides to sell their film division. Of course, this put the entire sales process on everyone’s radar. Marvel was able to regain the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four after Disney purchased Fox. As such, the sale could indicate Marvel once again acquiring almost all the rights they sold to avoid bankruptcy back in 1999.

     

     

    It seems that Sony needs the deal more than Marvel Studios does at times. Sony sold the merchandising rights to Spider-Man back in 2011, only a year before they rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man. They even confessed that the sale was short-sighted before claiming that they won’t sell the division after a $1 billion write-down in 2017. Of course, it led to the deal to co-produce films alongside Marvel Studios, which seemed to work out in both companies’ favor. There was a falling out that led to the partnership suddenly getting discontinued in 2019. Luckily, it got amended to continue with the Tom Holland-led franchise, but it certainly left people wondering what led to that decision. 

    Why am I bringing all this up? Well, if Sony Pictures has been facing potential bankruptcy as frequently as it does, 2020’s pandemic could not have done them any favors. Now, they are continuously postponing their films without any streaming service of their own. Last May, they did make a $70 million deal for Tom Hanks‘ Greyhound on Apple+, but they didn’t see a reason to continue this business model. Their latest delay – most likely to be followed by many more – is most likely to lead them to re-explore new options. In the end, Marvel Studios and Disney may end up being the actual winner in this scenario. If they try to discuss streaming options with Apple for their streaming service, it may put them in a bind with their Marvel-Disney contract.

     

     

    The logical conclusion would be to make a deal with Disney to add their family-friendly content on Disney+. Now, this dependency could give Marvel an advantage in future dealmaking for the character and every property surrounding him. The current situation may also lead to Sony Pictures re-evaluating the deals made to sell, especially if 2021 releases might not bring in the Box Office necessary to cover deficits from the constant delays. We will see how the next few months develop to see if Spider-Man may get his actual homecoming after all. This development is nothing more than speculation, but it does open up the question of what the future looks like for Sony Pictures in these uncertain times.

    Source: NY Post, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Invezz

  • ‘Morbius’ Delayed Until October 2021

    ‘Morbius’ Delayed Until October 2021

    It’s not looking too good for the early 2021 releases right now. we’ve already gotten the first signs, as Marvel Studios and Disney are starting to potentially consider moving Black Widow to streaming services earlier today. Warner Bros.’ decision to pursue a simultaneous streaming and theatrical release might be paying off after all, as some more releases are getting postponed. The latest delay is Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man spin-off Morbius. It seems the Jared Leto-led project has been pushed back from March 19th until October 8th of this year.

    Originally, the film was meant to release July 31st, which already saw a three-week delay at the time. It looks like most of Sony’s films are going to see another delay, such as Uncharted, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Connected, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and many more. Of course, it also could mean that Spider-Man‘s third entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may also face a delay into 2022.

    The studio has already faced many delays, but the 2021 film slate is slowly piling on more than it may handle. Even if things start returning to normal throughout 2021, there is no guarantee that people are willing to return to theaters. There is a sense of uncertainty that will still linger, which will certainly impact the 2021 Box Office. Even Wonder Woman 1984 was not able to keep its momentum and crashed in its second weekend. We will see if Sony’s delays will really benefit them in the long-term, as avoiding any streaming alternative might end up hurting their business long-term. We’ll see if any other projects might also get delayed in the coming weeks.

    Source: Variety, Slash FIlm

  • Pitching a ‘God of War’ Series

    Pitching a ‘God of War’ Series

    Long ago, in 2005 A.C., Santa Monica Studios unveiled a story that marked the video game industry forever with their game, God of War. It was the story of Kratos, a Spartan General with a thirst for war and a champion to the Gods. As the years went by, the game developed into one of the most critically acclaimed video-game franchises of all time. Multiple games from the story have gone on to win Game of the Year, and the original God of War game has even been named one of the best PlayStation 2 games of all time. So, with Sony recently announcing that they will be developing seven TV Shows and three films based on their library of games, I’m here to pitch God of War as one of the seven series that is currently in development.

     

    Why a series instead of a film?

     

    One of the biggest challenges when adapting a story is the limited runtime of cinema. It tends to put a heavy constraint on the story that the film tries to tell. God of War would need to branch out beyond these restrictions. An example of an adaptation that did really with this format is Netflix’s The Witcher. I like the idea of a series is that you can play around more with the storytelling meta. For the series, I would love to create a sort of modern retelling of old Greek myths. Greek myths are told in verse, with muses serving as narrators (such as Disney’s Hercules for example). A great narrator for this series would be the original one from the games, the titan Gaia. I’ll be splitting up the story into three distinct seasons to follow the classic three-act structure.

     

    Season 1: The Rise

     

    The first season will focus on the games God of War: Ascension, Chains of Olympus, and the original God of War game. The season starts with the telling of a terrible prophecy. The Father of the Gods, Zeus, learns that he will die at the hands of one of his sons, the marked warrior. We begin the series with the abduction of Kratos’ brother Deimos, and his growth into the famed Spartan Captain. We will see Kratos pledge his allegiance to the God of War, Ares, in exchange for the power to slay his enemies. As Ares’ servant, he went on to conquer anything in his sight. That was until Ares tricked him into killing his own wife and daughter. The ashes of his wife and daughter form a white layer above his skin, marking him with his failure.

    Kratos vows to exact revenge against Ares and pledges allegiance to the Gods of Olympus. During his quest to have his sins forgiven and erased from his mind, he carries out multiple tasks and killing various mythological Greek creatures in the name of Mount Olympus, eventually enacting his revenge on Ares and killing him by using the power within the Pandora’s Box. In the end, even after killing Ares, the memories of killing his wife and child will continue to haunt him for all eternity. Seeing no other alternative, Kratos attempts to end his life, but the Goddess Athena has other plans and grants him a chair as one of the Gods of Olympus, as the brand new God of War.

     

    Season 2: The Betrayal

     

    The second season is based on the God of War: Ghost of Sparta storyline and leads into God of War II. For the first half of Season 2, we’ll focus on Ghost of Sparta, where Kratos finds out that his mother is alive and held prisoner in Atlantis’ Temple of Poseidon. There he uncovers that his brother Deimos is alive and trapped in the Realm of the Dead. Tragically, his mother transforms into an evil creature, which forces him to kill her. Kratos makes his way to free Deimos from his prison. He accomplishes his task, but bad blood between them leads to Deimos attempting to kill his younger brother. Suddenly, Thanatos takes him away and plunges him off the highest cliff in the realm. Kratos manages to save his brother, and they both reconcile to take on the God of Death. They are victorious, but Deimos dies in battle. This final death is the moment when Kratos swears his vengeance upon Olympus. 

    Kratos aids his Spartan army in their conquest of Greece. This act leads the Goddess Athena to plead to Kratos not to go through with this plan, as it will anger the Greek deities. In his rage, Kratos refuses to listen to reason, and he heads to the city of Rhodes. His attack is interrupted by Zeus, who finally makes his debut to confront the Spartan God. He strips Kratos of his powers and kills him using the famed Blade of Olympus, sending him to the underworld once more. Suddenly, our narrator Gaia feels that she cannot allow Kratos’s story to end here and aids him in his quest to defeat Zeus. Gaia revives Kratos and leads him to the Island of Creation, where he must find the Sisters of Fate and travel back in time to stop Zeus before he dies.

    Using the Thread of Fate, he accomplishes his task and claims the Blade of Olympus, but before he can deliver the final blow, Athena casts herself between the two and sacrifices her life. When Kratos asks why she did this, she says she did it to prevent the cycle of fathers killing their sons, revealing that Kratos is indeed the son of Zeus. Wounded, Zeus retreats to Mount Olympus to rally the other gods in an attempt to stop Kratos once and for all. Meanwhile, he once again uses the Thread of Fate to bring the Titans to the present timeline. The season ends the same way God of War II ended. Kratos leads the Titan Army up Mount Olympus to face the gods of Olympus.

     

    Final Season: The War

     

    The final season is essentially ripped straight from God of War III. This season will have the most effects work in it. It kicks off right where the last one ended. Kratos is scaling Mount Olympus to face off against the Gods alongside his army of Titans. During this season, we’ll see Kratos’ pent up rage and anger finally take hold, as he kills the Gods one by one. He’s aided by the Ghost of Athena, who sends him on a quest to find and put out the Flame of Olympus, which is powered by Pandora, whose box he used to kill Ares in the first season. Along the way, he makes his wrath felt across Olympus by killing anyone who stands in his way, both Gods and Titans alike. Kratos’s murderous rampage let him take on Poseidon, Hades, Helios, Perseus, Hercules, Hermes, Cronos, Hephaestus, Hera, and Gaia, who all fall before Kratos finally manages to take on Zeus. Blinded by his rage, he does not realize what plagues he unleashed upon Greece. Kratos finally reaches the Flame of Olympus, and Pandora sacrifices herself to quench the Flame. Then, the final battle begins as father and son take each other on for the fate of the world.

    Kratos manages to win the battle, but Greece is left in ruin by his actions. Upon seeing the end of the world, Kratos has his final encounter with the Ghost of Athena. She asks Kratos to hand her over the power he used to kill Zeus, a weapon that she put in Pandora’s Box along with the Flame of Olympus. Kratos, however, tells her that the box was empty. She realizes that when he opened Pandora’s Box in the first season, he unknowingly released an evil. It infected all the Gods of Olympus. This is why Zeus and the rest of the Gods were out to kill Kratos in the first place. The power he had taken was Hope. She begs him to return the power, so she can rebuild everything. Since Kratos no longer trusts any of the Gods, he stabs himself with the Blade of Olympus, releasing it into the world. Instead of returning it to Athena, he gives it to the rest of the world. The Goddess takes the Blade of Olympus and leaves Kratos to die. Yet, after the credits, his body has strangely vanished, opening up to exploring more stories in the future.

     

    Source: IGN

  • Live-Action Spider-Verse Teased by Paramount Tweet

    Live-Action Spider-Verse Teased by Paramount Tweet

    The news came from the Spanish Paramount Network.

    With the casting confirmations of Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, Jamie Foxx as Electro, and the MANY, MANY RUMORS surrounding the project, many fans grow more anxious and eager to hear any sort of news regarding the upcoming Spider-Man sequel. The biggest rumor that essentially condenses all others is that this film will in fact delve into the Spider-Verse and bring back the previous iterations of Spider-Man; Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, it seems that that rumor has just been absolutely amplified by a tweet sent out by the official Paramount Network Twitter account last week. Check the tweet here.

    For our non-Spanish speaking audience, the tweet translates “Marvel gives you their Christmas Gift. It’s a box that, if you open it, all 3 Spider-Men from the 21st century will appear in the same movie.” The picture also states that “Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield will return to reprise their roles as Peter Parker” and that “Spider-Man 3 will explode the Arachnid Multiverse (Or Spider-Verse).” This is a similar scenario to that of when an official Latin American Sony Channel seemingly confirmed in a now-private YouTube video that all 3 Spider-Men are uniting for one single movie.

    While it is important to note that this tweet is sent by an official Paramount Twitter account (which is odd, considering that Sony Pictures is the one that owns the franchise), the tweet pretty much amplifies the rumor that many people are anxiously waiting for official confirmation from either Sony Pictures or Marvel Studios. There is also the timing of it all that we have to take into account. It mentions that it’s a Christmas gift from Marvel Studios. It’s a bit of a stretch and I highly doubt it will happen, but maybe Paramount might be hinting that we may get something on Christmas Day regarding Spider-Man 3? Who knows.

    That rumor wasn’t the only one that’s been spread around as of late. Allegedly, there’s word that we’ll also see the returns of some familiar love interests in the form of Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. And if that wasn’t enough, there is also the possibility that the film might introduce the Sinister 6 into the mix with some Multiverse villains, bringing back actors such as Willem Dafoe, Dane DeHann, Thomas Hayden Church to reprise a new take on their villainous roles. The running gag on social media is that everyone that has ever even been a part of the Spider-Man franchise is stepping in to take part of what seems to be a massive Spider-Verse film. We’ll just have to wait and see if this is the case when Spider-Man 3 rolls around December of 2021.

    Could Sony be hinting at Spider-Man 3 becoming the live-action Spider-Verse fans have been asking for? Only time will tell.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Martin Starr and Hannibal Buress Returning for ‘Spider-Man 3’

    RUMOR: Martin Starr and Hannibal Buress Returning for ‘Spider-Man 3’

    It has been quite a wild ride when it comes to the upcoming Spider-Man 3 film. We had one casting rumor after another. So far, we have heard that Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, Andrew Garfield, and so many more are joining the cast. Just a few days ago, Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church were also added to the list rounding out even more iconic characters from the franchise’s past to make a return. Not even the Netflix series was safe, as Charles V. broke the news on Daredevil actor Charlie Cox also making an appearance. It seemed at this point that the film wasn’t really about Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man, or would even include any of his main supporting cast. Luckily, Illuminerdi comes in with some news on MCU-based characters making a return. Hannibal Buress and Martin Starr will reprise their respective roles.

    Some of the funniest moments in the films were from the teachers. Starr‘s Mr. Harrington dropped some of the best lines throughout both films, so I am glad to see him return. The character made his debut in 2018, as he had a brief appearance in The Incredible Hulk. Buress also lent his humor perfectly to his brief appearance in the first, so very curious to see if he also only has a minor role this time around.

    Sadly, no mention of fellow teacher Julius Dell, who was played by J.B. Smoove. The actor got the role after his performance in the Audi commercial featuring Holland. We don’t know how they will fit into the film, but the best guess would that one of the action sequences takes place at their school. Mr. Harrington was also shown to be quite a kind soul, so I could see him try to keep Peter safe while he is on the run. Maybe Peter accidentally interrupts the teacher’s during a poker game while fleeing one of the million villains that are rumored to appear.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst, And More To Return in Untitled ‘Spider-Man’ Threequel

    Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst, And More To Return in Untitled ‘Spider-Man’ Threequel

    It seems like today is an incredible day to be a Spider-Man fan. Just a few minutes ago, THR confirmed the rumor by the GWW that Alfred Molina will be reprising his role as Doctor Otto Octavius, a role he previously played in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 in 2004. And now, Collider has just confirmed that not only is Alfred Molina returning, but Andrew Garfield and Kirsten Dunst are coming back as well. Yes, you have read that correctly. The Amazing Spider-Man actor is going to reprise his role as Peter Parker Spider-Man. They expect him to return as the character from his previous installment, but there are no further details provided. Considering the rocky relationship Andrew has had with Sony in the past, it’s good to see him donning the red and blue webs once again.

    Collider is also reporting that Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson, presumably from the original Sam Raimi trilogy. They are set to appear in the untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, and Marisa Tomei. Benedict Cumberbatch is also reprising his role as Doctor Strange alongside Jamie Foxx, who will return as Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. They have also pointed out that there is a deal going on to have Tobey Maguire reprise his role as well. Emma Stone also seems to be in talks, but it is uncertain in what capacity given her pregnancy. Spider-Man 3 is still due to hit theaters on December 17th, 2021, so we still have quite some time to see if more details get revealed by then.

    Source: Collider

  • Olivia Wilde Should Cast Aubrey Plaza as Spider-Woman

    Olivia Wilde Should Cast Aubrey Plaza as Spider-Woman

    Looks like Aubrey Plaza is at a career-high. She was a standout in Hulu’s Happiest Season. Her next film, Lawrence Levine’s Black Bear, is scheduled to release on December 4th after receiving rave reviews at 2020’s Sundance Film Festival. Now, the news broke that she is also joining Jason Statham in Guy Ritchie‘s upcoming thriller Five Eyes. Now, we started to wonder if we might see her join another superhero-based franchise in the near future. She has openly talked bout her interest in playing She-Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    She-Hulk? Oh my god, I would love to be She-Hulk. Because I had super-strength? Yes, I want to be She-Hulk. Write that movie and I’ll do it. I would love to be any kind of superhero or person with super-strength.

    Well, the role went to Tatiana Maslany but that doesn’t mean there is still a chance for her to get a role. Now, there are many great roles she could take on, especially with her interest in a character, who has super-strength. Actually, isn’t there one more Marvel property looking for a female superhero? One that already has an amazing director signed on? I think there is even a rumor that while it being a separate company it will have Marvel Studios’ involvement? Oh yeah, Olivia Wilde‘s Spider-Woman is currently in some form of production. The story of Jessica Drew, a former HYDRA agent who is trying to find her place in the world after realizing her memories were manipulated.

     

     

    Now, we have no idea which story arc the upcoming film will be inspired by. She was part of HYDRA, she had a private detective agency, she got replaced by the Skrull Queen, and just recently had a kid. That last storyline especially redefined her character after a controversial image was released that oversexualized her. It gave her a truly unique story arc. We got a sassy mother-to-be trying to juggle her life and her friendship with Carol Danvers. Aubrey Plaza is no stranger to playing a mother figure, as she took on that role in the Child’s Play remake. Her time on NBC’s Parks and Recreation showcased her snark that would be perfect for a hero, who has probably gone through anything one can think of in a superhero world.

    Plus, if Kevin Feige is involved with the project, we could see her play off of Brie Larson and join other heroes in the wider MCU. She would be a great addition and we could even get a joke when she meets Maslany‘s She-Hulk. Plaza can bring in a unique charm that could play on Spider-Woman’s unique experiences. The character exists solely to ensure the copyright to any variation of Spider-related characters but received some of the most unique storylines out there. Here’s hoping that Wilde makes use of the characters’ unique history and listens to this random writer fan-casting her film’s lead.

    Source: Deadline, CinemaBlend

  • Sony Pictures’ Panel Announced for CCXP Worlds

    Sony Pictures’ Panel Announced for CCXP Worlds

    Earlier today, CCXP announced via Social Media that Sony Pictures will mark their presence at CCXP Worlds on December 4th. While details are scarce on how exactly it will play out, they announced that at the Omelete Stage, Sony Pictures is going to be hosting a panel where ONE (emphasis on the one) of their guests will be the director of Fantasy Island, Jeff Wadlow. We can expect more announcements to be made regarding this panel since the tweet implies more guests. We suspect that this panel might focus on the Home Entertainment section of Sony Pictures.

    Yet, their presence there could hint at Sony also giving some attention to their other upcoming film projects like Morbius, Venom: Let there be Carnage, & the untitled Spider-Man threequel, which we got the tease for a first look sometime this month. It would make sense to use an event of this size to tease something of their 2021 content even if it is as minor as announcing the subtitle for Spider-Man. It’ll be interesting to see what we can expect from the event on a global stage. We are still anxiously waiting if Disney may also end up having a panel at the event, but so far nothing has been officially confirmed.

     

    Check the tweet and Instagram post down below:

     

    To see what more CCXP Worlds will have to offer this weekend, check out our latest article on What to Expect from CCXP Worlds. There we discuss the schedules and what to expect from the panels occurring this week from the likes of AMC, Collider, Funimation, Paramount, Prime Video, Universal, Warner Media, and many more.

     

  • First Look at Spidey in Action on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    First Look at Spidey in Action on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    After a long hiatus, Marvel Studios has been kicking it into high gear. They were finally able to finish up productions that were put on hold in mid-April. Many of their upcoming films have also entered production as we slowly enter 2021. Their next line-up of films will start to expand what we thought was possible with the franchise. WandaVision and Doctor Strange Into the Multiverse of Madness will grow beyond the universe that we are familiar with. This concept may also expand into Sony and Marvel Studios’ next film, the still-untitled third Spider-Man film. They just recently entered production, so we were clamoring for something from the set. Well, it looks like we finally got a look at our favorite wallcrawler in action.

    It is hard to make out, but it looks like Spidey is on top of a container of some kind. As he is about to leap from it, he grabs another person that seems to be shouting or talking with him. Now, the blue container could also be a placeholder that they can replace in post-production. We can’t see what is below them as they jump down, but it seems to be quite the leap. If they are containers, maybe Elektro or another villain is making them float or fly away, so they have to leap off.

    Have to say, it is amazing to see the set-up for such a shot. We can see the wires hanging from the crane as they jump down. Just seeing the camera suddenly drop makes me wonder how this entire sequence will come together. It looks like it possibly could be a sequence with Zendaya or her stunt double. The person who shared this video pointed out she was on set. Her outfit seems to match that what she wore during Spider-Man: Far From Home, which could confirm it continues where the last film takes off. Just this small shot can mean so much for the production. Hopefully, we will get some more details in the coming months on the film.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Spider-Man 3’ Revving Up for Early November Production Start

    ‘Spider-Man 3’ Revving Up for Early November Production Start

    We are anxiously waiting for the production of Spider-Man 3 to start in November. There is still no sign of the official title for the film, as many rumors start to pile up. All we know is that the story will pick up where Far From Home left off. Mysterio has revealed Peter Parker’s secret identity to the world. That is not all, the former Stark employee has now pinned his death on the young superhero.

    Now, he is the center of attention, as the police and some villains might be out to get theri revenge for the kid that put them behind bars. It will be a challenging time, as he will have to keep a cool head while being faced with his biggest challenge yet. As the film has been in pre-production for some time, Holland‘s stunt double Greg Townley has shared a first look at what kind of action we can expect.

    It looks like they are going one step further with the action. The way Townley landed could also highlight that he will be quite frantic in his escape. It wouldn’t surprise me if he manages to get even more banged up throughout the story. Stuntwork is an amazing aspect of film making, which really deserves more attention with how much work they put into it. I cannot wait to see if I recognize this short sequence once the film releases hopefully next year.

    Spider-Man 3 will be quite an interesting film to keep an eye out for. Recent reports have revealed that the film will also include Jamie Foxx‘s Elektro and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Foxx already played the characteer in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, so this may hint at the multiverse having some role in the story. We still don’t know who the main villain is, so hopefully next month’s early production start will also signify that we will get some reveals in the coming weeks. We have gotten so many teases of what this crazy film might end up being that I cannot wait until we get our first look.

    Source: Instagram