Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Spider-Man

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Succession’ Actor Arian Moayed Cast in ‘Spider-Man 3’

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Succession’ Actor Arian Moayed Cast in ‘Spider-Man 3’

    Murphy’s Multiverse has learned that Iranian born American actor/writer/director Arian Moayed was cast in Spider-Man 3. Moayed is probably most known for his role in 2 seasons of the harrowing HBO family business drama Succession. In the series, he gives a compelling performance as Kendall Roy’s old friend Stewy Hosseini. 

     

    Arian Moayed as Stewy in Succession on HBO

    Details on his role in Spider-Man 3 are slim at this time though I was able to learn he is portraying a detective and has already filmed some scenes. 

    Moayed was previously nominated for a Tony award for his role in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Other appearances on television and film include Madame Secretary, Rock the Kasbah, Elementary, The Blacklist, and Law and Order.

    Mr. Moayed recently wrote and directed the thriller The Accidental Wolf for streaming service Topic and will appear on the upcoming Netflix limited series Inventing Anna, which is expected in 2021.

    Source: Playbill, Topic, IMDB

  • What We Heard This Week: The Villain of ‘INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE 2’

    What We Heard This Week: The Villain of ‘INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE 2’

    The complicated notion of the Multiverse has long been a staple in high-concept fiction but in the world of comic book films, it was only until the last couple of years that the idea became a lucrative prospect, when it culminated in the box-office and critical success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film was Sony’s rare diamond in a consistent streak of roughs so it came as no surprise that a sequel was put in the works shortly after. Since then, we haven’t heard much about the sequel until this week when a source tipped us off to the identity of one of the sequel’s key baddies: obscure Spider-Man and Daredevil villain, The Spot.

     

     

    For the uninitiated, The Spot is one of those obscure Spidey villains who occasionally showed up here and there to terrorize the likes of Spidey and DD with his goofy yet powerful abilities. The Spot has the ability to access and manipulate portals in any space (drawn as spots in the comics) which he uses to transport himself or any part of his body. He commonly uses it to have his foes punch their own faces or to assault them from all directions but it has oftentimes been used for more sinister purposes. In Mark Waid’s Daredevil run, the Spot appeared in a key role, wherein his power gets harnessed by another villain called Coyote, who then uses it to operate a global human trafficking empire by kidnapping victims remotely. The science behind his powers is never fully explained but they mimic some of Cloak’s ability to access a different dimension. The potential of his abilities is also beyond what’s been depicted so far, not to mention he has close ties with Kingpin so he’s absolutely a perfect fit should this be true.

     

    As always our What We Heard This Week reports, take this with a grain of salt. We’re working with a new source on this and have yet to confirm this with another source as of this writing but thought it was exciting enough to share with you guys. We certainly believe that a character with ties to Spider-Man who has powers like The Spot makes so much sense to incorporate in the Spider-Verse sequel. Production on the sequel began last summer and it is expected to hit theaters on October 7, 2022.

  • Sony Eyeing Keanu Reeves for Unspecified Role in ‘KRAVEN THE HUNTER’

    Sony Eyeing Keanu Reeves for Unspecified Role in ‘KRAVEN THE HUNTER’

    The Hunt Begins.

    Sergei Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter. A fierce huntsman from Russia and one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes in his comic book history. He prides himself on the thrill of the hunt and is quite the honorable villain when compared to the rest of Spidey’s rogue gallery. By now, you might have heard that Sony Pictures is moving forward with the production of a solo spin-off film for the famed hunter, set in their own cinematic universe: Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters (or SPUMC for short). J.C. Chandor was brought on to direct the film last August so now the question remains as to whom Sony might be considering for the role of the Russian antagonist. And it seems they’ve got their sights set on closing in with a certain boogeyman to fill his shoes.

     

    That’s right. Keanu Reeves is apparently being eyed by Sony Pictures for a role in the film. The rumor comes from DeuxMoi’s Instagram story, seen here below. Unfortunately, there is no information about whether they are looking at Reeves for Kraven or another character.

    At this point, it almost feels like a joke with people fan-casting nearly every character with either Keanu Reeves or Tom Holland, but picking Reeves for the role of Kraven the Hunter would be an interesting choice. We’ve already come to expect the type of range Keanu can provide in terms of his acting skills, and with his recent roles in the John Wick franchise, it seems that he might be quite the fit to play Sergei Kravinoff, should that be the role in question.

  • RUMOR: Willem Dafoe Spotted on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    RUMOR: Willem Dafoe Spotted on ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set

    Spider-Man 3 is slowly turning into an insane film. In a recent interview, Tom Holland called the upcoming threequel one of the most ambitious standalone superhero films ever made. There is also the report by Variety that claims the film will have a similar setup as the animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. So, it seems pretty clear that we are heading towards a multiversal storyline. We already know a variety of actors joining the production with Alfred Molina being a major highlight. A few months back, Illuminerdi did run a story claiming that Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church were also in negotiations to make a return. Well, it seems that there might be some truth to that rumor.

    Geeks Worldwide revealed that a close source of theirs has confirmed that Dafoe was seen on the film’s set. They sadly could not offer any details or confirm which role he might be playing. There is also the question about how big a role he might have, as it could be nothing more than just a brief cameo. Still, it is great to see actors from the original Sam Raimi trilogy make a return in this film.

    There is a chance he is either playing Norman Osborn from the original films, a new version of that iconic character, or even someone completely new. The post-credit sequence already kick-started the return of iconic Spider-Man cinematic characters with J.K. Simmons making a grand return as J. Jonah Jameson. So, maybe Dafoe is playing the MCU’s version of Osborn that could have a larger role in future films. At this point, anything is possible with this film and it is just speculation until we get an official word from Sony or Marvel Studios.

    Source: GWW

  • REPORT: Variety Teases ‘Spider-Man 3’s Setup is Similar to ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’

    REPORT: Variety Teases ‘Spider-Man 3’s Setup is Similar to ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’

    Spider-Man‘s third Marvel Cinematic Universe entry is a mystery to many. The story is set to take place directly after Spider-Man: Far From Home. In that film, Mysterio exposed Peter Parker’s secret identity to the public and made him a wanted man. It seems that we might get some answers sooner rather than later. In a recent report by Variety, they were listing the most anticipated performances for 2021. In it, Tom Holland was particularly highlighted for the upcoming untitled Spider-Man threequel.

    In it, they highlight that the setup and execution of the upcoming film will be quite similar to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which would continue solidifying the Multiverse storyline the casting news is suggesting. They don’t give away anything but do tease that their upcoming Variety Awards Circuit podcast on February 4th will include some teases and what we can expect from the project.

    The film will see the return of director Jon Watts before he tackles the upcoming Fantastic 4 project based on a script by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. In their report, they do highlight once again that Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina are set to appear in the film. They will most likely reprise their respective roles from previous films. Now, the events in WandaVision may become the cause for how the story starts exploring a live-action Into the Spider-Verse storyline. Either way, fans will just have to wait and see what Sony and Marvel have up their sleeves when this film drops in December 2021.

    Source: Variety

  • LockeDown #06: Hell’s Kitchen Turf War Gets Interrupted by a Devil

    LockeDown #06: Hell’s Kitchen Turf War Gets Interrupted by a Devil

    LockeDown is back with its latest episode bringing you up to speed on all the local happenings in New York City. As events are still unfolding with Spider-Man, the new Hell’s Kitchen has been quite active. New rumors and sightings of a “devil” may be chasing away recent Maggia activities. This story and more only on LockeDown:

     

     

    If you enjoyed the episode, don’t miss out on getting early access by subscribing to our Patreon to be one of the first to listen to the next entry:

  • How ‘Deadpool 3’ May Redefine Disney+ and Hulu’s Future

    How ‘Deadpool 3’ May Redefine Disney+ and Hulu’s Future

    WandaVision finally premiered on Disney+ last month. It will be the first of many to fill out the service in the coming years and expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, they have big plans or the silver screen as well. As the cinematic future is currently a bit uncertain, the studio has been focusing on turning Disney’s premiere streaming service into their MCU hub. However, two future projects open up an interesting question about Marvel Studios’ future within the Disney+ restrictions. Deadpool 3 is confirmed to be an R-rated project that is part of the MCU. There is a good chance that the vampire film Blade will also share that rating. Now, Disney+ is expanding with mature content, which means they would be available on the service. Yet, once we open pandora’s box on their international strategy, it gets quite complicated. It won’t be easy for those that are searching for a central MCU hub on the franchise.

    So far, the streaming service managed to gain 86.8 million subscribers by the end of 2020 purely on family-friendly content. To put that in perspective, after being the dominant service on the market, Netflix only now passed 200 million subscribers. These are impressive numbers, but they also showcase the surprising speed of Disney+’s growth. Netflix’s key advantage is that they have no restrictions on their content. Even Disney’s strategy focusing on high-profile franchises to sell the service can only push a growth so far. They are already looking into expanding that offering to include more mature-themed content to ensure their exponential growth. Now, the problem is that this strategy is not as simple as it probably should be.

     

     

    So far, only Canada and Europe will receive the new STAR brand within the Disney-owned service. It gets complicated once we look towards the international market. Latin America is getting a singular streaming service known only as STAR+. Indian and other Asian markets have another unique offering in Disney+ Hotstar, which also includes sports programming. The STAR shows and films are available in the United States through Hulu. We still have no idea if there are plans to include the Spider-Man films. Sony Pictures still owns the franchise and determines its availability. You can read up on my thoughts on that matter by clicking here. So, the availability of the MCU is going to be quite disjointed as they start expanding. In addition, even when it is made available, the R-rated Deadpool 3 will most likely be categorized under the Hulu or STAR rather than the Marvel brand.

    If you live in the United States, you’ll only have access via an additional Hulu package. Let’s take this thought experiment one step further and say they want to expand with a Deadpool spin-off series. You’ll have this issue in addition to the uncertainty if this original show will even get a physical release. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also seemed unsure if WandaVision would release on Blu-ray in a recent interview. So, if you want to binge the entire MCU on your Disney+ app, you’re out of luck as you need to switch between service or brand. If we move towards a digital dependency, Marvel Studios might push Disney to include Hulu as an app within the streaming app. Once LucasFilms also aims to expand Star Wars with mature series and films, Disney might consider centralizing their services. It may seem irrelevant in the short-term, but it is essential for Disney+’s branding strategy moving forward if they want to grow Disney+ internationally to compete with Netflix. Deadpool 3 most likely won’t release until 2023, so the next few Investor’s events might tease a new direction for the service.

    Source: Variety, TechCrunch, ComicBookMovie

  • RUMOR: Sony Developing a Spider-Man Spin-Off Based on Dusk

    RUMOR: Sony Developing a Spider-Man Spin-Off Based on Dusk

    Marvel Studios has been quite successful in adapting the various characters from their 80+ years of history. Their success has ignited many others to try and copy their approach. Most notably, Sony has been desperately trying to make a Spider-Man Cinematic Universe happen. It has seen some crazy ideas being spun around, such as an Aunt May spy-thriller. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was originally going to be a launchpad for various characters, such as a Sinister Six spin-off. After the film’s sub-par Box Office, they turned to Marvel Studios and announced that future installments of the web-head would be co-produced. Of course, that didn’t stop Sony from continuing their connected universe plan, which got a new start in 2018’s Venom. Since they’ve announced a sequel with Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the postponed Morbius, and a Spider-Woman film that is still in pre-production.

    Well, it looks like we can throw one more hat into the ring, as Illuminerdi reported that they are also planning on a film focused on Dusk. If you are wondering who that might be, you are not the only one. The character of Dusk was someone from the Negative Zone. He fought the tyrannical Blastaar alongside a group of rebels before meeting Spider-Man. However, shortly after he arrived the man holding the title died and he ended up wearing it. Later on, Cassie St. Commons would take on the mantel in 1998. It would be very likely they are going to combine the Negative Zone storyline with Commons. Currently, there is no talent attached to the project, so it might just be an idea that gets left on the drawing board.

    Source: Collider, Illuminerdi

  • ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set Photos Tease Mysterio’s Effect on NYC

    ‘Spider-Man 3’ Set Photos Tease Mysterio’s Effect on NYC

    Right now, WandaVision is on everyone’s radar, but Marvel Studios has been working hard on prepping their future projects. Some time ago, we covered set photos from the upcoming Disney+ Hawkeye series, which finally confirmed Hailee Steinfeld‘s casting as Kate Bishop. There hasn’t been much circulating since, but luckily it seems that Spider-Man 3 has taken to the streets to film a sequence between Tom Holland‘s Peter and Zendaya‘s MJ. As we cannot share those photos here, you can check them out by clicking this link.

    That isn’t all, as we also got one more set video that confirms an old foe still left his presence known after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home. @atlanta_filming shared a video of a local newsstand that includes various small details. Of course, there are two posters that really stick out. There is the return of Mysterio through an “I Believe” poster alongside another one that states “Citizens to Defend Spider-Man”. So, it looks like New York City will be very divisive on the truth surrounding the accusations of Spidey being a killer or not. Mysterio may have died at the end of the last film, but his presence will haunt Spidey throughout the threequel.

     

    I love these details on set and am curious if the camera will linger on it once the film finishes production. The newsstand also includes other references, such as a “We Remember” poster that pays tribute to those that got dusted from the Snap. The missing posters are also rather curious, which reminds me of Kraven’s Last Hunt. The story mainly focused on Kraven and Spidey, but it also included the cannibal villain Vermin. Hopefully, the film doesn’t take this dark angle. The set photos with Peter walking through the streets is also quite curious, as it would imply that the accusations may have gotten lifted at that time. He also seems to be on bad terms with MJ, so it could be him trying to make it up to her. We’ll see if we get some casting in the weeks, as more cast members join the production. It would be good to get some official news amongst all the rumors going around.

    Source: Just Jared, Instagram

  • Charlie Cox Reportedly Already Shot his Spider-Man 3 Scenes

    Charlie Cox Reportedly Already Shot his Spider-Man 3 Scenes

    In the first episode of his new podcast, Phase Zero, comicbook.com’s Brandon Davis revealed his belief that Charlie Cox has already filmed his scenes for the currently untitled Spider-Man sequel. News of Cox reprising his role as Matt Murdock and/or Daredevil was first revealed last month by our own Charles Villanueva. The film, which Kevin Feige has said will be part of a sort of Multiverse arc that begins with WandaVision, is rumored to see the return of pretty much everyone that’s ever had anything to do with a Spider-Man project. Fans firmly believe that Cox’s Matt Murdock will serve as the lawyer to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker who will be on the run following the events at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    MCU | Adversion

    During the recent WandaVision press junkets, Collider’s Steve Weintraub asked Kevin Feige about Cox’s potential return and while Feige would not confirm it, he did indicate that he Charlie Cox and other actors and characters from prior Marvel TV projects are all fair game to reappear in the MCU’s future slate. Davis’ report corroborates our Lizzie Hill’s belief that Cox was on set during a November Spidey shoot.

    Spider-Man 3 is currently set to swing into theaters this December.