Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Superhero

  • James Gunn Calls Out Recent Superhero Movies as “Really Lazy”

    James Gunn Calls Out Recent Superhero Movies as “Really Lazy”

    James Gunn is going to have his hands busy with saving DC’s brand in the views of cinemagoers. The last few years haven’t been kind and going by The Flash’s box office, it’s not looking better. Still, the CEO and director took his time in the Inside of You podcast to bad-mouth other superhero entries. He goes as far to say it’s not quite the issue with volume but more with them being “really lazy.”

    People have gotten really lazy with their superhero stories. And they have gotten to the place where, ‘Oh, it’s a superhero, let’s make a movie about it.’ And then, ‘Oh, let’s make a sequel, because the first one did pretty well,’ and they aren’t thinking about, ‘Why is this story special? What makes this story stand apart from other stories? What is the story at the heart of it all? Why is this character important? What makes this story different that it fills a need for people in theaters to go see?’

    James Gunn

    While one can definitely argue that some films hold up better than others, the question remains what he’s talking about exactly. Marvel’s recent releases were still strong box office performers and seemed to have a hold. The only time a superhero movie really fumbled was Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania but this might be more of a comment on the DC Extended Universe. He mentions that “having very different genres” is a way to solve this which is pretty much how Marvel Studios handled the genre for many years.

    The Flash, Black Adam, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and more have been showing a lack of interest in this particular brand. And, Gunn’s job moving forward is to ensure that isn’t the case. In the same interview, he goes on to highlight his approach to ensuring it’ll be “as good as it can possibly be.”

    We’re going to be very careful with the product that we put out and making sure everything is as good as it can possibly be.

    James Gunn

    That is a great statement and pretty much just echoes the overall quantity over a quality issue that people claim, but he also stated that The Flash was among the best films he’s seen in the genre. So, the question remains on why he wouldn’t go by that same rule with the latest release if this is a concern of his or is this a push towards what he’ll over with the DCU to be in contrast to the DCEU? We won’t know until Superman Legacy releases. Still, it seems a bit harsh for someone trying to push the genre forward to badmouth it at the same time.

    Source: Variety

  • Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci to Adapt Comedy Pilot Based on Superhero Filmmaking for HBO

    Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci to Adapt Comedy Pilot Based on Superhero Filmmaking for HBO

    With The Boys and other counter-culture movements in regards to superhero productions being all the rage, Warner Bros. HBO division has given a pilot order to The Franchise. Created by director Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci, the pilot order will explore superhero movie-making from a comedic standpoint. It’s unclear if this is purely meant to mock the current franchise market or generally go directly mock current tentpole franchises, but the description of the series is as follows according to Deadline:

    The half-hour project takes a wry look at superhero movie-making. It follows a hopeful crew trapped inside the dysfunctional, nonsensical, joyous hellscape of franchise superhero movie-making. If and when they finally make the day, the question they must face — is this Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?

    The timing also comes as Iannucci’s Avenue 5 comedy is coming to an end, which will see him then executive produce the new HBO series through the Dundee Productions banner. Jon Brown is attached to serve as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Mendes is going to direct the pilot episode but no further details or castings are known.

    It’s a shame that no one that worked on a superhero franchise is seemingly involved to offer a true behind-the-curtains experience, as it may only offer an outsider’s perspective that is quite focused on one takeaway potentially. Yet, with the comedy team behind it, there’s potential it’ll offer a balanced look at the highs and lows of the concept.

    The timing is interesting, as Iannucci also just recently debut a Spider-Man story in Amazing Fantasy #1000. Mendes was also once approached to direct Marvel’s The Avengers back in 2012 before Joss Whedon took on the role. Superheroes are all the rage right now and it’s no surprise that someone will try to bank on that very concept. We’ll have to see what the production has in store and if HBO moves forward with a series order, but banking on the success of superheroes by making a series about making superhero films sounds like the next step in the overall genre trend.

    Source: Deadline

  • George Miller Shares His Thoughts on Superhero Cinema and its Cinematic Future

    George Miller Shares His Thoughts on Superhero Cinema and its Cinematic Future

    It’s become a curious trend for journalists to ask veteran filmmakers about their opinions on superhero films. While some, most famously Martin Scorsese, downplayed their value to cinema and equated them to “theme park” rides, there have been others that also had some positive thoughts on the currently dominating genre.

    The trend continues as George Miller was asked the classic question while promoting 3000 Years of Longing during the press conference at Cannes. The question was in reference to a DC Comics inclusion that sparked the question on what he thought about the superhero films and their future.

    They endure and have endured anyway. The one thing you will be certain of is that they will change, they will morph into something else. Marvel and the DC Universe are basically the vestiges of the Greek and Norse and Roman mythologies. There’s a direct equivalence between each of those characters. We’re going through an era in which I think we’re expressing through moving image narrative these stories. They’re echoes of the past, but they’re adjusted to have meaning to us.

    George Miller

    There have been some that viewed comic book characters as the modern take on mythology with these larger-than-life characters. So, the comparison makes a lot of sense and we’re seeing an age where their focus moved from comics to moving pictures, and who knows what the future has in store for them.

    Tilda Swinton, who has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the past, has also added to the discussion by highlighting that there needs to be a diversity of stories being told, which is something we’re finally seeing become more relevant with COVID slowing down.

    The thing that is dangerous about story is when you have only one story. It is possible when people cant hear any other stories that things really go down the tubes very, very fast and may close everything down. It’s keeping people’s ears open, keeping their ears curious to hear a new perspective, a new truth even,” she continued.

    Tilda Swinton

    Diversity in any medium is what makes it grow, something even Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has openly discussed in the past by highlighting his excitement for competition in the market. We’re seeing a new influx of smaller productions once again taking their stand in cinemas, especially with how well A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Northman, The Massive Weight of Unbearable Talent, and more.

    Other blockbuster franchises are also once again making a stand in the industry, such as Top Gun: Maverick and Jurassic World Dominion. One thing that is clear is that the growing number of films finding their way back is a healthy showcase for any franchise currently out there. COVID is still showing its fans, but there’s a positivity to be found in how

    Source: Variety

  • Lizze Broadway Joins Amazon’s ‘The Boys’ Spinoff

    Lizze Broadway Joins Amazon’s ‘The Boys’ Spinoff

    In 2019, the first season of Amazon’s hit series, The Boys, was released. The series quickly became a smash hit, gaining critical acclaim and praise from fans alike. A second season got promptly ordered and before it even aired, Amazon already greenlit a third season. With the raging success of one show comes the potential of expanding the franchise. In September, Amazon revealed that the show’s team had begun working on a spin-off focusing on young heroes. Now with the show on the fast track, we’ve already got our first bit of casting.

    Not too long ago, the first casting details got revealed for the upcoming series, which gave us breakdowns of the series leads. After a long wait, we finally got the first casting announcement. Actress Lizze Broadway has been cast as Emma, a hero looking to escape the shadow of her mother and finally make a human connection. Broadway‘s character spent the better part of her childhood traveling with her mother, with whom she had a rocky relationship.

    The upcoming spinoff to The Boys currently has no set release date and the rest of the cast has yet to be unveiled. The upcoming third season of the boys however is currently in production and will see the return of all of your favorite terrible people that are just trying to make the world an even bloodier place.

    Source: Deadline

  • UPDATE: First ‘THE BOYS’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Starlight’s Ex-Boyfriend Supersonic

    UPDATE: First ‘THE BOYS’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Starlight’s Ex-Boyfriend Supersonic

    UPDATE: Well, it turns out that there is a good reason we wondered why the costume was so different from last season’s tease. @TOFilming_EM has revealed that it wasn’t Jensen Ackles’ stand-in but rather Miles Gaston Villanueva, who is playing Starlight’s ex-boyfriend, Supersonic.

    Source: Twitter

     

    The citizens of Toronto are treated to their first big film premiere in almost a year. The only downside is the movie features Homelander in the lead role. Photos from the Canadian set of Amazon’s hit series, The Boys, have begun circulating online. They reveal the production team has dressed up the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to look like a Vought-sponsored movie theater. The fictional movie debuting at the MTCC is Dawn of the Seven, the series’ parody of Zack Snyder‘s Batman v. Superman. It’s the same film they were filming throughout the latter half of the last season. It looks like an old yet new hero is attending the premiere, as Soldier Boy, the WWII-era Captain America homage played by Jensen Ackles, arrives all dressed on set up in red-white-and-blue. The set photos mark our first look at the actor in the costume:

     

    Luckily, we also get a shot from the front that gives us a better look at his overall design:

    The images appear to be of Ackles‘ stand-in rather than the actual actor. Nonetheless, they give us a good idea of what the character will look like fully suited up. Showrunner Eric Kripke appears to be taking a page out of the MCU’s book with the design as he is opting for a combination of Avengers tactical look combined with some spandex from comics. It is also important to note that this is a different design from the Soldier Boy statue that got teased in the previous season. That monument gave the original version a classic soldier vibe. This detail means that Ackles‘ hero either updated his fashion sense over the decades, or the show might incorporate the comic twist involving multiple men taking on the Soldier Boy mantle. Whatever direction they go, it’s going to be interesting.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter

  • Amazon Prime’s ‘INVINCIBLE’ Release Date Finally Revealed

    Amazon Prime’s ‘INVINCIBLE’ Release Date Finally Revealed

    It’s been nearly three years since we first learned Robert Kirkman‘s popular superhero comic, Invincible, would be getting an animated adaptation on Amazon Prime. After months of exciting casting announcements and still-image teasers, we finally landed a release date. During a live stream, the series creator revealed that the first three episodes will release on March 26th. It was the perfect timing, as they were celebrating the anniversary of the first issue’s release. After the initial bundle of content hits streaming, you will be able to watch new episodes weekly until the first season concludes on April 30th. The reveal included a brand new clip from the show until the next trailer releases.

    Invincible will be the third series adaptation of a Kirkman work. It follows in the footsteps of the massively successful The Walking Dead, which made its debut back in 2010. The series has grown into a media juggernaut with the release of various spin-offs and plenty more planned in the coming years. Six years later, an adaptation of Outcast was also released, which got canceled in 2018. After their success, it is time for some superhero action, as we follow the young Mark Grayson living under the shadow of his father, who is the most powerful superhero on the planet.

    Like AMC’s powerhouse, the series offers a stellar cast of characters worthy of a spin-off. The animated series features Steven Yeun in the title role. He is joined by J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Mark Hamill, Seth Rogan, Gillian Jacobs, Andrew Rannells, Zazie Beetz, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, and Zachary Quintom, to name only a fraction of the expansive talent list. It remains to be seen if Invincible finds the same kind of traction, but a cast stacked to the brim most definitely won’t hurt its chances.

    Source: Deadline, Twitter