Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Stargirl

  • ‘Hollywood Stargirl’ Originally Wasn’t Going to Take Place in Los Angeles

    ‘Hollywood Stargirl’ Originally Wasn’t Going to Take Place in Los Angeles

    The title might have you confused as the film is literally called Hollywood Stargirl, yet it turns out that the film wasn’t originally going to film in Los Angeles. The first entry, simply titled Stargirl, explored the valleys and deserty-location of Arizona. Yet, while the sequel ended up bringing the character to Los Angeles, director Julia Hart had other plans for the film.

    In the film’s official press event, the director talked about how they originally were going to film somewhere else but the pandemic ended up changing their plans quite dramatically. Sadly, she doesn’t reveal where the original location was going to be, but it looks like being stuck at home definitely inspired a new direction for the sequel.

    It’s funny, originally we were gonna set it somewhere else and then the pandemic happened. And my husband and co-writer, Jordan Horowitz, and I was gonna go on a trip and go to where we originally were gonna set the movie. And then the pandemic happened and so we were here.

    Julia Hart

    While plans changed, it inspired them to “write a love letter to both LA but also all of the people we missed while we were all stuck at home.” It also worked in their favor, as the sequel is not adapting the Love, Stargirl novel but took its own direction. It gave them more creative freedom on how to tackle the project and create the love letter as a result.

  • Grace VanderWall on How Stargirl Has Changed Going into ‘Hollywood Stargirl’

    Grace VanderWall on How Stargirl Has Changed Going into ‘Hollywood Stargirl’

    Hollywood Stargirl is on the horizon which continues the film that released on Disney+ back in 2020. While the sequel continues where the previous left off with Stargirl and her mother movie across the nation, it does not, in fact, adapt the original sequel novel written by Jerry Spinelli. So, it gives its star Grace VanderWall the opportunity to shape the character in new ways together with director Julia Hart.

    In the film’s press conference, VanderWall was asked what we can expect from Stargirl Calaway and how she may have changed from the last time we saw her a few years ago. It seems the biggest change, as with any coming-of-age story, is that she has matured and also takes a closer look at what it means to go on that journey into adulthood.

    So, she’s still her but I think that the difference in this one is she’s just maturing and kind of defining that word of maturity and what it really means to her.

    Grace VanderWall

    She also highlighted how “nerve-wracking” it was returning to the role, while also growing alongside her and how it helped her “appreciate and be honored even more to play her character.”

    So, it was very nerve-wracking, but I just feel like I just slowly grow more and more love for her. And just so happy to get to play her and she, you know, she’s growing up. She’s seeing the world, and experiencing different things.

    Grace VanderWall

    After being more of a main side character in the first Stargirl film, but she gets the spotlight this time around. We’ll see just how much she’s evolved and what Los Angeles has in store for her when Hollywood Stargirl releases on Disney+ on June 3rd, 2022.

  • Seth Green to Replace Jim Gaffigan as Thunderbolt in ‘Stargirl’ Season 3

    Seth Green to Replace Jim Gaffigan as Thunderbolt in ‘Stargirl’ Season 3

    Here’s a sad surprise, it looks like Seth Green is taking over as the voice of Thunderbolt in the third season of CW’s Stargirl series from Jim Gaffigan. TVLine has broken the news that the wish-granting genie will have a new voice actor, but no reason is given on why exactly he was recast. He only voiced the character in a few scenes of the second season and it may be that he has a larger role going into the third.

    Jakeem (Alkoya Brunson) is the wielder of the mysterious pink pen that Thunderbolt exists in. He helped the team of unlikely heroes and a reestablished Justice Society of America to take down the threat that was Eclipso. Green is no stranger to voice acting, as he has been a long-time member of the Family Guy voice cast, and worked on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H and Guardians of the Galaxy series.

    It’s sad to see Gaffigan leave the production, as he’s always a great addition to any project but with the role potentially growing, it could be that he had other projects lined up and just couldn’t return. Still, Green is a great get for the series, and given the supernatural origin of the genie, they could play around with the fact that he has a new voice every season as a fun running gag.

    Source: TVLine

  • How DC’s TV Series May Change With the Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    How DC’s TV Series May Change With the Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

    When it comes to the DC Extended Universe, it would be fair to say it is in a bit of a predicament. Since the merger, Discovery is looking to revisit the DC slate in hopes of crafting a unified DCEU within one universe, akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While most of DC’s previously announced films look to be relatively safe, with the exception of Wonder Twins, the same can’t be said for DC’s television shows. With that in mind, we look at the current state of DC TV and try to guess how the merger will impact the remaining series.

    The Arrowverse

    When it comes to the Arrowverse, what shows remain are far from safe, especially as the CW was recently revealed to never have been profitable. The chances of many of the beloved superhero shows surviving are even more limited if the CW does go up for sale.

    The CW has already said goodbye to series like Arrow, Supergirl, Black Lightning and will now say farewell to Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman. This leaves only Superman and Lois, Stargirl, Naomi and The Flash, which already looks to be reaching the finish line with its upcoming ninth season.

    Superman and Lois, Stargirl, and Naomi are series that do not find themselves very involved with the overall universe unlike the rest of the Arrowverse. While Stargirl has yet to be renewed for a fourth season ahead of Season 3’s debut, Superman and Lois is already set to return for a third season. This, of course, could result in the series potentially ending after Season 3, or it could meet a similar fate to Wonder Twins and be axed before things get moving on production. The upcoming debut of the Justice Society in the DCEU could also spell bad news for Stargirl, whose whole thing is the JSA, and with the strange rules surrounding the use of certain characters in other mediums, the series could meet its end. Naomi is another detached series that could continue onward, but is currently airing its first season and has yet to score a renewal for season 2.

    Many will notice that over the past few years, the CW has attempted to get multiple new Arrowverse series like Green Arrow and The Canaries, Painkiller, and Wonder Girl off the ground but to no avail. Gotham Knights is the only one that’s actually been able to film a pilot that was not a spinoff from another pre-existing show, but even that has yet to even secure a series order. Justice U, the David Ramsey-led series that would see him reprise the role of Jon Diggle and train new superheroes has also yet to film a pilot, which means it could also see the chopping block.

    HBO Max

    HBO Max has become the adoptive home of multiple DCTV series like Doom Patrol, Titans, and Harley Quinn. While a show like Green Lantern could very much still happen, especially as casting has been announced, shows like Strange Adventures and Superhero High appear to be dead in the water. We’ve heard nothing on either of them since they were announced, which seems to suggest they’ll be meeting the chopping block.

    The harder question here is the fate of Doom Patrol and Titans. Both series have been running for multiple seasons now and feel like they could come to an end very soon. With Warner Brothers Discovery looking to consolidate and unify its DC Universe, these shows definitely feel like they could indeed be canceled as casualties of war.

    Projects that will most likely be safe are those pertaining to Justice League Dark and what Matt Reeves has in the works like The Penguin. Shows like Constantine and Madame X are products of a deal between J.J. Abrams production company and Warner Bros Discovery, they feel like safe bets due to the fact they could contribute to the unified DC the new leadership wants and that they all lead into a big Defenders-like crossover event.

    Peacemaker will most likely be fine, as it seems highly unlikely that the series will be canceled following its success and how great James Gunn has been for the DC brand since releasing The Suicide Squad. While a series like Michael B. Jordans‘ Val-Zod series seems likely to be canned as it would take place in another universe and just does not seem like it would be a priority for the new leadership moving forward. And animated series like Young Justice and Harley Quinn will most likely remain unaffected due to these series being a completely separate entity from the other live-action series. 

    The TV side of things feels like it is going to see much more of a shakeup as the overhaul moves forward at DC Entertainment and Warner Bros Discovery. The new leadership would be smart to evaluate each project and look for the aspects that work and see if they can’t integrate some of these characters into their prime universe.

  • ‘Stargirl’ Season 3 Adds Tim Gabriel as Obsidian

    ‘Stargirl’ Season 3 Adds Tim Gabriel as Obsidian

    Stargirl is a show all about legacy, with the next generation of heroes following the defeat of the original Justice Society of America. Last season Stargirl saw the introduction of Ysa Penarejo as Jennie-Lynn Hayden, better known as Jade and the daughter of Alan Scott. We didn’t get a ton of Jennie, as she struggled to control her abilities and split the town in the pursuit of finding her long-lost twin brother Todd. 

    Jennie is getting closer to uncovering the truth as Entertainment Weekly is reporting that actor Tim Gabriel has been cast as Todd Rice, Jennie’s brother, and the hero Obsidian. Todd is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and has the ability to manipulate shadows that he’s yet to be able to control. Todd found his way to mysterious folks at the Helix Institute after living on the streets.

     At the very end of Stargirl Season 2, we were introduced to Mr. Bones, the man behind the shadows at the Helix Institute, voiced by none other than Keith David, he seemed quite determined to give Blue Valley a visit. We previously theorized that Stargirl season 3 could introduce the supervillain team Helix, led by Mr. Bones.

    Gabriel is known for his work in S.W.A.T. and Why Women Kill, as well as the upcoming horror film The Death That Awaits. The upcoming third season of Stargirl has yet to set a return date but Entertainment Weekly states that we can expect the series to return sometime this Summer.

    SOURCE: Entertainment Weekly

  • Hall of Murphy: Episode 11 – ‘Stargirl’ 209 – 213

    Hall of Murphy: Episode 11 – ‘Stargirl’ 209 – 213

    John and Joe are back to finish up the second season of Stargirl, as Courtney faces off against Eclipso and tries to bring her friends back together. Will the dark past of the Justice Society of America define their future, or will they set their own?

  • Keith David Joins ‘Stargirl’ Season 3 as Mister Bones

    Keith David Joins ‘Stargirl’ Season 3 as Mister Bones

    The second season of Stargirl saw the arrival of Eclipso to Blue Valley, a villain who effectively dismantled the Justice Society, member by member, while barely lifting a finger. The second season just recently wrapped up its run on the CW, and filming is already underway for Season 3. Not much is known about what’s to come in the next season, but it seems a minor mention in a previous episode season will indeed set the stage for the upcoming season of Stargirl. 

    In recent episodes, we saw Courtney and Pat make their way to the Helix Institute in search of Jenny Hayden. Jenny, of course, is on her own mission as she looks for her brother Todd Rice. Upon their departure, there’s a brief scene in which Louise Love, head nurse at Helix, makes a phone call to one Mister Bones. While it’s not clear, we can assume he is the mastermind behind the operation at Helix. At the very end of the Season 2 finale, we finally see the reveal of Mister Bones himself. Bones is on his way to Blue Valley, Nebraska, in search of more candidates for his experiments at the institute. The most shocking part of this reveal was that the person voicing Bones is none other than Keith David, best known for his work on Spawn, The Thing and The Princess and The Frog.

    We previously speculated that Helix and Bones would be returning to Stargirl as possible villains in season 3. It’s still unknown if other characters like Penny Dreadful, Baby Boom, Kritter, or Tao Jones will join Bones on his way to Blue Valley. It’s also unclear if Jenny will reunite with her brother Todd.

    A release date for Stargirl‘s third season has not yet been unveiled.

    SOURCE: Stargirl

  • ‘Stargirl’ May Have Just Set Up Its Big Bad for Season 3

    ‘Stargirl’ May Have Just Set Up Its Big Bad for Season 3

    The third season of Stargirl just recently began production after scoring an early renewal ahead of its second season premiere. Since, we’ve seen the return of Eclipso, who has abused the Justice Society of America’s member’s insecurities and fears to slowly break them. While the JSA is still struggling to take down their current threat, it seems that the most recent episode may have given us a bit of hint as to who next season’s big bad could be, and its even more obscure than their previous foes.

    Filmkritik - "Stargirl": Der Trend geht zur Heldin - Wiener Zeitung Online

    Courtney and Pat set off to find Jenny, the daughter of the Green Lantern. Their travel leads them to Civic City, the home of the first Justice Society of Amerca headquarters. There they found papers leading them to the Helix Institue among her things, which is a youth rehabilitation facility located. Jenny seemingly set out to find her brother Todd there. The name already might have some DC fan’s attention but it’ll get cemented when head nurse, Louise Love, calls Mister Bones to inform him that Todd has a sister, and she came looking for him.

    Mister Bones is one of six children raised by Benjamin Love, who secretly injected pregnant women with a serum that would genetically alter their children. They would become Penny Dreadful, Kritter, Baby Boom, Tao Jones, Arak Wind-Walker, and the previously mentioned leader. Together they would form a supervillain group known as Helix. There’s also the story that seemingly seems abandoned in Stargirl is Yolanda’s origin, whose mother was one of Benjamin Loves test subjects.

    Stargirl: DC Comics' Jade, Explained | CBR

    It does seem that the team could see a bit of a revamp, as they were originally foes of Infinity Inc, a young group of heroes that are basically Stargirls current JSA. Mister Bones could be running the show alongside Louise Love, and testing on and maybe even recruiting young metahumans for a new and reimagined Helix. We shouldn’t expect Stargirl to revisit Helix this season, as they’ve got their hands full enough with Eclipso. Yet, this would leave Jennifer’s quest to find her brother unfinished, and save it for next season as Helix will definitely seemed to take an interest in her.

  • How Joel McHale’s Starman Can Fit into ‘Stargirl’ Season 3

    How Joel McHale’s Starman Can Fit into ‘Stargirl’ Season 3

    Before the sophomore season even premiered, Stargirl was picked up for a third season at the CW Network, following its move from DC Universe. The Series quickly added stars one of which was the one and only Joel Mchale. Many were ecstatic to see the Community star suiting up as a Sylvester Pemberton, aka Starman. However, there was one downside to Mchale’s role in Stargirl. His character dies, almost immediately. 

    Starman’s presence in season 1 of Stargirl serves as more of a goal to strive towards for Courtney as she learns to wield the Cosmic Staff and live up to the heroism the Justice Society of America strived towards. At the tail end of the first season, however, we learned that Sylvester Pemberton is, in fact, not dead and has been off doing who knows what and is looking for Pat Dugan. 

    While we don’t know Starman’s motives and just how he survived just yet, we have to question how he can fit into a dynamic that’s become based on honoring the past and not looking back. Pemberton could serve as a sort of mentor to Courtney and the other members of the JSA, teaching them how to become better heroes, something Pat in which doesn’t have much experience. We could also see the origins of the Cosmic staff explored on-screen. It would allow viewers to learn how the staff was created, and how Courtney became its newest wielder.

    After all, it’s still unknown just how the Cosmic Staff came to be, as the series has cemented Sylvester Pemberton as the first and only Starman. It has so far neglected Ted Knight’s story as the creator of the staff and the actual first Starman. If the show would like to move in the direction of Starman jumping into action once again, we could see him develop and wield the gravity rod, the precursor to the cosmic staff and would allow a similar powerset.

    Joel Mchale’s return to the series as a series regular is definitely a big win, and will surely attract a community of new fans to the series. Season 2 of Stargirl is currently airing on the CW with hopefully some light shed on Starman’s fate coming soon. 

  • Hall of Murphy: Episode 6 – ‘Doom Patrol’ Episode 301 – 304

    Hall of Murphy: Episode 6 – ‘Doom Patrol’ Episode 301 – 304

    After Titans and Stargirl, it is time to tackle the next DC series. Doom Patrol‘s third season has finally started and it’s time to see if it continues the momentum of the previous seasons.