Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Spider-Man

  • Casting ‘Spider-Man 3’s Multiversal Sinister Six

    Casting ‘Spider-Man 3’s Multiversal Sinister Six

    With the news that Jamie Foxx is set to return to the role of Electro and the rumors of Alfred Molina reprising his role as Doctor Octopus, it seems that what started out as whispers become louder and louder. It’s hard to deny that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will be a live-action Spider-Verse adaptation. One of the main questions many fans are wondering: who would be the main antagonist in this story? Especially if the film will reintroduce the pioneers of live-action Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, Joseph Aberl and I have a pretty good idea of what we’d want to see. So, we think that if these castings are real, Marvel Studios and Sony are possibly setting up multiple antagonists. This film could be our first live-action introduction to the Sinister Six.

     

    Who are the Sinister Six?

     

    In 1964, Marvel introduced the world to the Sinister Six. It was a team of supervillains determined to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. In the comics, Doctor Octopus had contacted five of Spider-Man’s enemies. These included Electro, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, and Kraven to work together against their greatest foe. During their first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, each member would take on Spider-Man one at a time. Their goal was to wear him down until he could not defend himself anymore. In the end, their plan failed. Since, there have been multiple versions of the team over the years with different members such as Hobgoblin, Chameleon, Lizard, Rhino, Shocker, Scorpion, and Mr. Negative, just to name a few.

    So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe of Peter Parker has only faced off against two main antagonists in his solo films, Vulture, and Mystery. There were a handful of secondary villains, which included brief appearances of Shocker and Mac Gargan. So bringing in the Sinister Six at this time would seem like an unlikely turn for the story to take. Not only are there not enough villains from Spider-Man’s lore in the MCU, but they would easily overpower the current version of Spider-Man, as he got pushed to his limits with one until now, so try to imagine him taking on six at the same time. Yet, what if the Sinister Six faced off against three different Spider-Men? Now, the story is expanding and opens up the question of who else may join the various Spider-Men into the MCU.

     

    Multiversal Sinister Six

     

    So, we want to explore the concept of a multiversal Sinister Six. We want to bring in villains from Spider-Man’s cinematic history. However, the iterations will not be the same characters that were in the previous films, but rather, just the same actors giving these iconic characters a new twist. Of course, we’ll also bring in some new faces. They will add some new twists to the upcoming threequel. So let’s kick it off with the main man leading the group.

     

    1. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock

     

    Edward: Alfred Molina‘s role as Doctor Otto Octavius was regarded as one of the most memorable performances of a supervillain in a comic book movie. But the last time we saw Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock, he sacrificed himself to save New York by drowning alongside his fusion power generator. So if I were to reintroduce Molina into the MCU as Doc Ock, I would probably go the route they did with J Jonah Jameson by introducing the same actor portraying a different version of the character. He would be the one to bring together the Sinister Six.

     

    Joseph: Alfred Molina‘s take on Doctor Octopus is one of the most iconic in comic book cinema history. The selling point about Spidey’s villains, especially in the original Sam Raimi trilogy, is their connection to Peter. He was the mentor that Maguire’s Peter always wanted until a day went wrong turned him into something else. I hope that we don’t get an actual “Doc Ock” in this film. I think he would make for a perfect man in the shadows, who doesn’t participate in the fights. Octavius is the brain behind the operations. He only shows his hand once the film nears its climax and may have an ulterior motive in taking on the Spider-Men. 

     

    2. Jamie Foxx as Electro

     

    Edward: Jamie Foxx returning as Electro opens a pathway to many possible ways he makes his return. The last time we saw Foxx‘s Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), he absorbed so much energy that he exploded and just disappeared. However, there’s an essential law in Physics that may explain his reappearance. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It converts from one form into another. He may have reached a level that allowed him to travel from one dimension to another. But again, I believe this will also be another J. Jonah Jameson scenario where the same actor will portray a different version of the character.

     

    Joseph: I was a fan of the energy that Foxx brought to the role. The nerd angle was pointless, but he did prove he could be quite a menacing threat given the right tools. I think this version might be Max Dillon from the mainline MCU, who ends up fusing with his Amazing Spider-Man counterpart after his explosion. A rift in dimensions can do a lot, so the moment Elektro turned into pure energy, he may have accidentally bestowed these powers to a different version of himself. It would be a fun way to connect both storylines while also not always falling back on it just being a different version of an existing character. He will probably be the team’s heavy-hitter who does their dirty work throughout the film.

     

    3. Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio

     

    Edward: I don’t think Mysterio is dead. Marvel would not waste a talent like Jake Gyllenhaal for a one-time role. I’m betting that Mysterio is still alive in some way or form. Hiding out and biding his time to enact his revenge against Peter. And, as one of the original members of the Sinister Six, it would be a perfect opportunity to bring him back.

     

    Joseph: So, Mysterio is a curious addition to this line-up. In a way, the version we got introduced to in Far From Home would not be the kind to listen to others. As such, he probably ends up working alongside Dock Ock to re-establish himself as the dominant hero of the MCU. I wouldn’t be surprised that he was hoping to make a return from the dead to build on that classic trope. He would then defeat Spider-Man to prove he is the true hero that Triple J claims. With the introduction of other multiverses, he uses this opportunity to add to his heroics, as he can never get enough. He could pretend he was under mind-control or was undercover to make his story stand out. Whatever role Gyllenhaal might have in this story, he certainly will leave some theatrics. Imagine Spider-Man’s accusations getting lifted and forced to work alongside Mysterio after the events of this film.

     

    4. Michael Keaton as Vulture

     

    Edward: This one seemed like a pretty easy add. We all know that Michael Keaton is returning in Morbius (2021) and possibly escape prison alongside Mac Gargan during that film. He’ll probably want to seek revenge against the person responsible for putting him behind bars in the first place.

     

    Joseph: Vulture is the only hero who knew Peter Parker’s real identity before Mysterio released it to the world. I think he will be a reluctant villain throughout the film. Yes, Peter did put him in prison, but he also saved his life. There was no reason for him to keep his identity a secret. Now that it is public, there is no reason for him to hold that against him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to save Peter’s life. That way, they are even from the events in Homecoming. 

     

    5. Dane DeHann/Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds aka Hobgoblin

     

    Edward: I’m going to be speaking on the prospect of Dane DeHann being the Hobgoblin in this film’s version of the Sinister Six. One of the most interesting aspects of Hobgoblin is that his identity was a bit of an enigma in the comics. Spider-Man (and the readers) were led to believe that Hobgoblin was the former fashion designer Roderick Kingsley. In reality, the mantle “belonged” to Ned Leeds, who was brainwashed by Kingsley. The rumors of Ned becoming Hobgoblin in this film truly are a remarkable idea and, while I would love to see Jacob in the role, imagine if Marvel added a unique twist. The Hobgoblin Spider-Man was facing was indeed Ned Leeds, but from another dimension, and portrayed by none other than Dane DeHann. It would allow Dane the opportunity to redeem his portrayal of the Green Gremlin, I mean, Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

     

    Joseph: Nothing hurts more than your best friend betraying you. As interesting as it would be for DeHann to get a second chance at a Goblin role, it would take some time to explain. We spent a few films with MCU’s version of Ned, who deserves a bit more spotlight. Peter knows his best friend. He would trust him with his life. So, what if Spider-Man faces a Hobgoblin, who turns out to be a different version of someone Pete knows. Would he doubt his friend moving forward? Will Peter remember how important it is to balance his social life to ensure his friend never goes down that dark path. It would also become Peter’s lowest point when he realizes what his inaction could cause to the people he loves.

     

    6. The “Joel Kinnaman-type” as Kraven the Hunter

    Art by Freelance Digital Artist ultraraw26

     

    Edward: The team would not be complete without one of their founding members. Kraven is hired to hunt down Spider-Man is an idea many fans had hoped to see. It was on everyone’s mind after seeing that post-credit credit scene in Far From Home. And I think it’s a fantastic idea. It’s also been rumored that Marvel Studios was looking for a Joel Kinnaman-type for an unspecified role in the upcoming Untitled Spider-Man Sequel, so it would be a fantastic time to introduce Kraven in the mix with the Sinister 6.

     

    Joseph: Even if they do not give us a Sinister Six storyline, I want a live-action adaptation of Kraven. I do think he might be the connective tissue that starts the multiversal storyline. They may combine him with the character of Morlun, who has an obsession with hunting down Spider-Man. This version started working together with iconic villains throughout his multiversal travels. They managed to make his hunt easier, as each new Spider-Man added a new challenge. He let Dock Ock take control as he realized his strategic potential would make his life a bit easier so he can focus on the hunt.

     

    Bonus Chess Pieces

     

    Edward: The beauty of the Sinister Six is that these villains can swap with other villains. They are like pieces on a chessboard, and with such a diverse rogue gallery, it’s nearly impossible to pick which six will be a part of the group. As such, we included some additional villains in reserve. So if I had to make a couple of bonus picks for the team to swap out with any of the others that we decided upon, I’d have to go with Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman and Paul Giamatti as Rhino. These two characters need a second opportunity to shine and take on the web-slinger. Plus, Sandman is one of the original members of the first Sinister Six, so it only makes sense to bring him in for that role. As for Paul Giamatti as Rhino, well, I won’t lie, Paul‘s take on Rhino was cheesy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), but even with the little time screentime that he had in the film, you could tell he had a good time with the role.

     

     

    Joseph: So, I want to go left-field with the reserve members. I would love to see them embrace villains outside of the pre-existing films. Just like how The Mandalorian brought animated characters into live-action, I would love to see them introduce the PlayStation 4’s version of Mister Negative, who was played by Stephen Oyoung. His character would be quite a visual distinction from the rest and it would be intriguing to embrace the multiverse in all its facets. Why stop there? We could see The Spectacular Spider-Man‘s Lizard appear, whose appearance is followed by Josh Keaton‘s Spider-Man shouting something before the reptile ends up in the MCU. In a multiversal storyline, it seems like anything is possible.

  • 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

  • Kevin Feige Talks the Possibilities of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse

    Kevin Feige Talks the Possibilities of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse

    No upcoming Marvel Studios film has been the subject of wilder rumors and speculation than this year’s Spider-Man threequel. Charlie Cox. Toby Maguire. Andrew Garfield. Emma Stone. Jamie Foxx. Willem Dafoe. Alfred Molina. The list of actors we’ve heard attached to this film and their attachments to previous iterations of Spider-Man seem to have no end. In an interview with Comicbook.com’s Brandon Davis, Kevin Feige spoke to this impressive list of rumors.

    I’ve read some things. I’m not sure I’ve read all things. The fun thing about online speculation when it comes to our stuff is how sometimes it couldn’t be more off the mark and sometimes it’s shockingly close, and that’s held true for the last few years. But saying which is which would take all the fun out of everything.

    As you’d expect, Fiege didn’t confirm any of the dozens of rumors out there, but it is interesting that he didn’t flatly deny any either. Instead, he may have actually thrown gas on the fire by pointing out the fact that the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel will explore the multiverse.

    The biggest clue is the title of the second Doctor Strange movie. That’s the biggest clue of where the Multiverse of Madness is taking us and how we’re exploring that. It’s surreal to me that we’re talking about a Spider-Man 3. I worked on a movie called Spider-Man 3 many years ago directed by Mr. Sam Raimi. So this clearly, the shorthand of calling it Spider-Man 3 now, it’s fine. We call it Homecoming 3.

    At this point, it seems that any and everything is possible. Spider-Man 3 is set to hit theaters this December; Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness is set to follow it in March of 2022.

    Source: comicbook.com

  • 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

  • Phase 4: The Multiverse Arc

    Phase 4: The Multiverse Arc

    Who are you in this vast multiverse?

    Earlier this year, I wrote a theory piece on how Marvel Studios could delve into this idea of the multiverse for Phase 4 of the MCU. At the time, we had a very vague understanding of what the MCU was preparing for us. Since then, we’ve had casting confirmations, trailer releases, interviews, poster art, and after last week’s Disney’s Investor Day, we finally have a clearer picture of what we can expect for this next phase of the MCU.

     

    Brief Recap: What is the Multiverse within the MCU?

    Compared to other franchises that have utilized the Multiverse as a plot device for their stories and films, Marvel went an unconventional route and created their own definition of how the Multiverse works. To quote me from when I first discussed this concept in Reality Checked; based on Professor Hulk’s and the Ancient One’s descriptions of how time-flow works, whenever someone from the future alters the events of the past, they create another timeline based on the alteration of those chain of events, thus creating a brand new universe. It’s a form of the butterfly effect, in which our decisions branch out into two realities, one where we made the decision and another where we didn’t.

     

    What is the Multiverse Arc?

    So, it’s been said that rather than focus on a story told across a large, 23-film saga like “The Infinity Saga”, Phase 4 and beyond would begin to tell stories across small arcs of 4-5 different MCU projects. Now, in my head, I’ve already mapped out a ton of different arcs which we will get into detail later on, but the main arc that’s about to kick off Phase 4 is an arc I’m dubbing is the Multiverse Arc. If I were to give you guys a synopsis of what I think that arc would delve into, it would go a little something like this. “The Multiverse Arc encompasses a set of stories that push beyond the physical confines of time and space within the MCU. As the line between realities start to blur and timelines cross over and collide, the Cinematic Universe we all know and love is about to change forever.” So what projects do I think are part of the Multiverse Arc? Well, let’s see.

     

    1. WandaVision (January 2021)

    This is where the Multiverse Arc and Phase 4 are going to begin. I believe a lot of people are truly underestimating the potential this show is going to have in terms of setting up, not just the Multiverse Arc, but pretty much Phase 4 as a whole.  Now the show has already been discussed a lot theory-wise. Among the things people suspect might happen during the show include the possibility of Elizabeth Olsen’s “Wanda Maximoff” going all “House of M” on the MCU. The most prevalent theory about the show is that Wanda might create an alternate pocket reality around her using her power and imagination. Since she does not possess much control over her powers, she’ll begin to lose control and ultimately affect the MCU reality as a whole when her trauma over the course of the past years starts to seep in. Point in-case being, whatever happens in WandaVision will ultimately be the catalyst for a lot of the upcoming Phase 4 projects moving forward.

     

    2. Loki (May 2021)

    Ah, the God of Mischief, back to his antics once again. While the show’s details are relatively vague, we know that Loki takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame with Tom Hiddleston returning as the titular character alongside Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E. Grant. The reason why I’ve included Loki here in the Multiverse Arc’s storyline is that the show involves a certain agency known as the TVA. The Time Variance Authority in the comics is this bureau that was formed with the goal of monitoring an infinite number of realities throughout the multiverse and to keep temporal interference to a minimum. Since this Loki, and by consequence the series, exist in a new timeline separate from our Main MCU one thanks to the antics of the Avengers during Avengers: Endgame (2019), it is possible that the TVA intervened immediately after those events to prevent future ruptures in the timeline. We also had hints that the show might explore alternate realities due to a particular of the exclusive trailer, where we saw a dystopian New York City, possibly a timeline where Loki won the Battle of New York (2012). Speaking of which…

     

    3. What If…? (Summer 2021)

    I like to refer to What If…? (2021) as the interlude of the Multiverse Arc. But just because it’s an interlude, it does not make the show any less important to the rest of the Multiverse Arc. “What If…?, which takes inspiration from the comic books of the same name, flips the script on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reimagines famous events from the films in unexpected ways…each episode will explore a pivotal moment from the MCU and turn it on its head, leading the audience into uncharted territory.” The reason why I include this series as part of the Multiverse Arc is that I believe the show’s focus will be to present to us episodes that explain what would have happened if a pivotal moment in the MCU occurred another way, which is essentially a prime example to the definition of the MCU’s Multiverse. This show will provide us with a window into other universes.

     

    4. The Untitled Spider-Man sequel (December 2021)

    Now we need to tread carefully when discussing Spider-Man 3 because there are so many rumors regarding this film that no one really knows what’s going to happen. With villains from other iterations reprising their roles to former Spider-Men gracing the screen one last time, the film certainly is shaping up to be what many consider a possible iteration of a live-action Spider-Verse film. And it certainly doesn’t help when Kevin Feige confirmed during Investor’s Day that the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will tie in with this film. How exactly it all plays out is something fans will have to wait and see when Spider-Man 3 rolls around next year.

     

    5. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 2022)

    As the name implies, the Doctor Strange sequel is definitely looking to address the Multiverse and will address the events of WandaVision and the untitled Spider-Man 3 film. Directed by iconic Horror Movie director; Sam Raimi, the sequel is set to see returning cast Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Benedict Wong as Wong, Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo). We will also see Elizabeth Olsen return as Wanda Maximoff and newcomer Xochitl Gomez who will portray America Chavez in the upcoming film. Right now, the film is currently filming in London and with a name like the Multiverse of Madness, I expect this film to close the Multiverse Arc off with a bang.

     

    PHASE 4 KICKS OFF NEXT MONTH WITH WANDAVISION ON JANUARY 15TH.

  • “Spider-Man: Homemade”: A Disney+ Series Pitch

    “Spider-Man: Homemade”: A Disney+ Series Pitch

    So the resident Charles(es) of the Multiverse, Charles M., and Charles V., have this sort of article where they make pitches for projects they’d like to see on screen. They’ve done these types of pitches before for Iron Man 4, Captain America 4 (twice), and so on. I wanted to toss my hat in the ring and bring to the table something that I’ve thought of for a while now. Earlier in the year, I had conducted a study where I asked people what they considered to be “The Best Adaptation of Spider-Man in Mainstream Media”. We asked people multiple questions about it, such as who had the best Peter Parker, the best Spider-Man, the best soundtrack, the best story, and so on. Over 1,700 people had taken part in that poll and when we tallied up the points, these were the top 3 results we obtained:

     

     

    What immediately stood out to me in regards to these results was that people responded better to The Spectacular Spider-Man, the Spider-Man Playstation game, and the 90s animated series than the film incarnations. When you think about it, it makes sense. The common characteristic that these 3 adaptations have in common is that these adaptations were allowed to develop beyond the typical 2-hour time constraint in film.

    So, it got me thinking. The current Spider-Man (Tom Holland) has been a bit divisive when spoken about amongst fans. Some like his portrayal, because of his interactions with the Avengers within the scale of a larger universe. Others find the character relies too much on the likes of Tony Stark and his technology rather than fending for himself. The beauty of Spider-Man as a character is that he alone can have a cinematic universe based on his story and characters. His lore is rich in villains, locations, side-characters, and storylines. Perhaps the best way to adapt these is not in a 2-hour blockbuster, but rather in the form of a live-action Disney+ series.

     

    Adaptation

    Whatever happens after Far From Home and the untitled Spider-Man 3 sequel, chances are Spider-Man will still be around in the MCU. After facing off against world-ending, reality-shattering, Multiverse scale events, it would be nice for the series to explore a more grounded side for Peter in his own little world. So my story would be centered around New York City, and Spider-Man serving as one of its protectors while the rest of the MCU’s heroes are away. Basing the series on a loose adaptation of these classic comic story arcs is pretty much an excellent way to introduce Peter Parker into the next chapter of his life. You’ll get why in a few moments.

     

    Plot

    The introduction is essentially ripped from the source material. Peter is just about to start college at Empire State University. He’s trying to get settled into his new life and we get introduced to new characters that are essential to the Spider-Man lore: his fellow classmates Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn. He’ll start to develop a relationship with both of these characters, which will eventually blossom into a trio of best friends.

     

    He was accepted into the university after the admissions board found his achievements with the Stark Internship worthy of an acceptance letter. During his first day of class, he’ll get settled in and meet many of his professors. Some of the more notable names he’ll meet are his biochemistry teacher Dr. Miles Warren (who eventually becomes the Jackal in the comics) along with Dr. Curt Connors (who many might remember as the Lizard). For all intents and purposes of the series, their eventual villain roles will be teased throughout the series, but they will mainly serve as supporting characters and mentor figures to Peter for the time being. He’ll also meet his Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Edward Lansky, who will take an interest in Peter due to his time with the Stark Internship. He’ll give the students a tour of the facilities in which he’ll present the students with a state of the art solar panel system that powers the entire school, in an attempt to reduce the use of electrical generators (and lower the power bill).

    During the first episode of the series, we learn that the Mayor is planning to issue some budget cuts, which would heavily impact the university. Dr. Lansky is attempting to convince the local government not to force cuts onto the university so the staff, nor the students will be laid off. In order to help convince the government that the school requires funds to help with the infrastructure and programs, Dr. Lansky will promote the students to develop a project that can help better the university in a similar way that his project did. This would also help viewers see more of Peter’s inventor side and give it an opportunity to be explored during this series. However, Dr. Lansky knows that there is no possible way to change the Mayor’s mind, so in a move of desperation to save the university, he will get into contact with a very shady individual named Frederick Foswell, who many might recognize as The Big Man. He’ll ask Frederick to carry out some kidnappings on civil servants of the city government and University administration to prevent the budget cuts from happening. In order to do that, The Big Man will hire a small team of career criminals known as The Enforcers to carry out these deeds throughout the show.

    This is where we’ll start to see a bit more of Peter trying to live out the double life and attempt to find the balance between saving the world and saving his reputation amongst his friends, all the while trying to balance his university work and project that Dr. Lansky requested. Seeing how in the upcoming Spider-Man 3 film Peter will have to take on Electro, I would not be surprised if, during that film, he develops a sort of insulator so he could take on the villain. In an homage to that, Peter might find a way to reverse engineer his design so that it doesn’t actually nullify electric currents, but rather a design that is able to absorb not just electricity, but solar and light energy to boost the university’s solar panels capabilities.

    However, as reports of kidnappings and crimes start to rise, it’ll garner the attention of Spider-Man, which will eventually lead to him facing off against the villain group. Seeing as how Spider-Man is interfering in his plans, Lanksy will ask Foswell to take out Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Dr. Edward Lanksy will be working on developing a “secret project”. Eventually, Spider-Man will take down the Enforcers after multiple failed attempts to kidnap the civil servants, but The Big Man manages to escape. Still, Spider-Man is able to follow him and find out who’s behind the kidnappings. This forces Lansky’s hand to see his plan play out to the very end by himself. He uses an experimental suit that he created to take on the masked vigilante. Spider-Man intervenes to foil Lansky’s plan. Unfortunately, after trying to short circuit the suit, his plan backfired and only ended up boosting the experimental suit, transforming Lansky into a being of pure light. He has now become the Lightmaster.

     

     

    As Lightmaster escapes, Peter starts to get frustrated. He starts to lose his sense of responsibility, as he misses classes and avoids the friends he made. There is also a notable absence of Spider-Man for a few days. He feels responsible for the creation of a new villain and it’ll put Peter to question his motivations. As such, he poses the question of whether or not being a hero is something that’s important in an age where the Avengers exist and can handle these things. Meanwhile, Lansky plans his revenge against Spider-Man and the people who have wronged him. Near the end of the series, there will be an event at ESU where the University administrators and the Mayor will be present their new plans for the school. This is the time that Lightmaster decides to exact his revenge by taking the mayor out in the process.

    At the event, his classmates and professors are put into danger during Lightmaster’s attack. When Peter gets wind of what’s happening, he puts his moral dilemma aside for the greater good. The question is, how will he be able to take on a villain which is essentially a being of pure light? At this point, he remembers the project that he was developing at Dr. Lansky’s request and realizes that it might be useful in a fight against the Lightmaster. So, with experimental technology in hand, he takes on his newly created nemesis and tries to figure out a way to defeat him. As the fight develops, Peter remembers the solar panel system that Dr. Lansky developed. If Peter manages to lure him and uses his device to amp up the absorption capabilities of the panel, he might be able to deponer Lightmaster. He lures him to the panels so that Lansky can recklessly shoot his energy at them. As he is now a being of pure energy, he will get absorbed by the device. Unable to stop the panels from absorbing his energy, Lansky eventually dissipates and is held captive within his own creation.

    The series ends on a positive note, with Peter realizing that in a world where heroes face off against greater threats to save the world, it can sometimes leave “the friendly neighborhood” unguarded. So he vows to keep his promise to “fight for the little guy” and defend New York from any dangers that might present themselves in the future.

  • RUMOR: Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church in Talks to Return for ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    RUMOR: Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church in Talks to Return for ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

    Just in this past month, the cast of Spider-Man 3 has grown exponentially, with reports of actors such as Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina and even Charlie Cox set to reprise their respective roles from Marvel’s past, exciting fans across all social media platforms. It was recently announced by the man himself, Kevin Feige, that Spider-Man 3 would tie directly into what transpires in the events of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in The Multiverse Of Madness, so it seems incredibly likely that the multiverse plays a key role in the story of this third film. Basically, all plot details have been kept under lock and key, with the film noticeably absent from the Disney Investor presentation, likely because of the ties the film has to Sony. It seems some old dogs may be jumping back into the fray, with a few more Raimi era characters rumored to be on their way.

    It’s being reported that Spider-Man and stars Willem Dafoe and Thomas Haden Church are currently in talks to reprise their roles from the original films that saw Tobey Maguire star as the titular character. The two played the previous antagonists of the web-slinger films with Dafoe making an iconic performance as Norman Osborn and Church playing the role of Sandman in the third and final installment in the franchise. Both characters met their fate at the end of their respective films so it’ll be interesting to see if they’re indeed from the multiverse or will be in a similar situation to that of J.K.  Simmons, who reprised his iconic role of J Jonah Jameson for Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    Spider-Man 3 will be directed Jon Watts and will feature the return of Tom Holland as Peter Parker who’s presumably on the run considering how we last left him in Far From Home. Peter won’t be alone however as Benedict Cumberbatch will lend a hand to peter in his time of need. Spider-Man 3 is set to release on December 17th, 2021 however most dates set these days should be taken with a grain of salt considering the current state of the industry.

    SOURCE: Illuminderi

  • LockeDown #1: Captain America Now a Government Pawn

    LockeDown #1: Captain America Now a Government Pawn

    Welcome to the brand new podcast series Lockedown. As we haven’t gotten any Marvel Cinematic Universe content for 2020, it felt like the perfect time to make up for that by introducing an in-universe podcast series. Your host John Locke tackles the many changes and developments in a world where the Avengers have officially disbanded. In today’s first episode, he kicks off the series by discussing the government’s meddling with Captain America, the allegations against Spider-Man, and the strange occurrences of the small town of Westview.

     

     

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