Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Cars on the Road’s Steve Purcell Talks Exploring New Sides of Familiar Characters

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Cars on the Road’s Steve Purcell Talks Exploring New Sides of Familiar Characters

    Cars on the Road will take the unlikely duo of Mater and Lightning McQueen out of Radiator Springs out into the world. The new Disney+ series offers a new perspective on these characters and the world they live in. It’s a simple concept that also uses the opportunity to pay tribute to many films and franchises that have come before.

    In an exclusive interview with Steve Purcell and the creative team behind the project, he reveals that the main idea of a road trip was the first concept that came together. He also highlighted the excitement of taking these well-known characters and introducing them into new scenarios.

    I think the road trip idea came first and then we started adding the sort of baggage of what kind of place it would be fun to see them in, because what we love about the characters: We know what they’re going to be like so what would they be like here or be like here, and so I think that’s what was cool about working on this.

    Steve Purcell

    Purcell went on to highlight that the idea of blending these stories with different genres or even paying tribute to iconic films came naturally afterward. They started adding them to the different locations once they had the high concept together. He also highlighted that the initial pitch also included many more episodes that could’ve potentially explored similar ideas.

  • CONFIRMED: Shakira Barrera Has Joined ‘Ironheart’

    CONFIRMED: Shakira Barrera Has Joined ‘Ironheart’

    Back in May, we here at Murphy’s Multiverse speculated that actress Shakira Barrera had joined the cast of Marvel Studios’ Ironheart. Now, thanks to Deadline, we can confirm that Barrera has been cast in the series. The outlet reports that she will star as a series regular, although further details regarding her role are unknown.

    The actress joins the previously announced Regan Aliyah, Anthony Ramos, Manny Montana, Alden Ehrenreich, Shea Couleé, and Zoe Terakes. Ironheart hails from head writer Chinaka Hodge and stars Dominique Thorne in the titular role. Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes are directing the series, while Black Panther‘s Ryan Coogler is producing the series through his Proximity banner.

    Barrera is perhaps best known for starring in the Netflix series, GLOW, as Yolanda Rivas. She also had a guest role on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Agent King in Season 7. More recently she has appeared in shows such as Animal Kingdom, Shameless, and All Rise. On the film side, Barrera has The Knocking coming up where she’ll star alongside Zelda Williams, Doug Jones and Christine Ko.

    Production on Ironheart is currently underway in Atlanta with the series expected to hit Disney+ sometime next year.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘The Boys’ Star Speaks Out Against Mysogonistic Fans

    ‘The Boys’ Star Speaks Out Against Mysogonistic Fans

    The Boys has become quite a phenomena with a strong third season and even setting up a future spinoff with Gen V. Yet, the series’ strong themes have seemingly gone over the head of some watchers, as a new increase in misogynistic comments has surrounded the project, especially in regards to Erin Moriarty‘s Starlight. Especially in how reactions towards a fictional character are commonly thrown towards an actor playing a role.

    In reaction to a post that highlighted this very issue, the actress took to her personal Instagram account to share how it has affected her and generally used the opportunity to speak out against the misogynistic comments that are being sent her way since the third season’s release.

    I do feel silenced. I do feel dehumanized. I do feel paralyzed. I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into this role (over & over & over again), I’ve grown UP in this character’s shoes (*emphasis on grown up – we change & evolve mentally AND physically). So with that I say: a) thank you to @butcherscanary b) this does break my heart – I’ve opened up a vein for this role and this kind of trolling is exactly what this role (Annie) would speak out against and c) everyone’s going through their own battle(s); let’s not add to that. I will never intentionally (and ESPECIALLY) publicly add to yours. This has only strengthened my empathy muscle and to anyone who comes at me: I see you, I don’t hate you, I only empathize and forgive.

    Erin Moriarty

    It’s great to see Moriarty speak out against the things that are being thrown at her, especially with how much support she receives from her co-stars. We’ve seen a lot of misogynistic and racist comments made towards popular franchises, especially the recent reactions to House of the Dragon, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, as well as any Marvel or Star Wars release.

    There’s a general odd trend surrounding the series take on political and pop culture satire. While it mocks DC and Marvel, it also owes a lot of its storylines and concepts to those franchises. The existence of counterculture isn’t new and is a recurring element we’ve seen throughout the years; even with the original The Boys comic back in the day. Yet, it’s being taken to a different level with hard-R and violent action being “for adults” and making comparisons to other superhero media out there.

    Source: Instagram

  • The Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    The Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    In March of 2022, it was reported that Sabir Pirzada, who worked with Marvel Studios on both Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel, was developing a Nova project with the studio. The trade report indicated that it was unclear whether or not Pirzada’s work was for a film or streaming series and, as of publishing, that was still unclear. However, Prizada’s current track record with Marvel allows one to lean towards expecting a series about The Human Rocket.

    Confidence is high that Destin Daniel Cretton’s sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will hit theaters ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. It seems like Cretton and star Simu Liu are going to be very busy starting in 2023.

    When the search for an actress to portray Kamala Khan was ongoing, a rumor indicated that whoever would eventually take on the role would have a pretty heavy workload that would consist of Season 1, a film, and Season 2 all being filmed over the course of 3 years. If that rumor still holds any water, Iman Vellani is going to find herself on set for Season 2 of Ms. Marvel sometime in the next year so that she can also be available to fit Avengers: The Kang Dynasty into her schedule. It would not be incredibly surprising if this were among the announcements made during either Disney Plus Day or Marvel Studios’ Showcase at D23.

    It’s been a long, long time since our original scoop that Marvel Studios was developing a Nomad project. However, no news does not always equal bad news. Confidence is high that Nomad is still in development and is intended to be included as part of the Multiverse Saga.

    The first of what is currently set to be a 2025 Avengers double-feature, The Kang Dynasty might just have a lot to do with some of the artifacts fans have already seen in some of Phase 4’s early projects. It remains to be seen, but it’s very possible that both Ms. Marvel and Shang-Chi’s accessories might play major roles in the Multiverse Saga.

    A second Moon Knight season seems a sure thing. Star Oscar Isaac and director Mohamed Diab have teased it. Fans are hungry for it. There’s no reason Kevin Feige doesn’t announce it at D23…unless it’s not happening. That would be a good reason not to announce it.

    At this point, why not? Rumors about this film have dried up, but a recent piece of information that Marvel Studios may regain the distribution rights to live-action Hulk films does give some hope that it might come to fruition. Bruce Banner’s trip to Sakaar in Episode 2 of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is right in line with the earliest rumors I ever heard about what will essentially be a prelude to this film, but we’ll have to wait until Episode 9 to find out if Marvel Studios is going forward with this project…unless they decide to grace fans with a Hulk-sized gift at D23.

    *NOTE*

    While it’s not a Disney project and won’t be announced at D23, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Spider-Man 4 hit theaters in the space between Marvel Studios May 2nd film and their November 7th film.

    According to the Phase 6 slate unveiled by Kevin Feige at SDCC ’22, there’s one spot left to fill and, to be honest, there isn’t enough strong info around any one project to confidently place it here. With that in mind, rumors of a Harry Styles-led Starfox project made the rounds some time ago, and while I initially dismissed them, I was told by someone I trust that to keep an ear to the ground as there might be some fire to that smoke. So while we’d set the odds very low here (I’d say under a 1% chance this is correct), it’s as good of a guess as any.

    The capstone of the Multiverse Saga, fans should expect Marvel Studios to pull out all the stops for this one and for it to include all the bells and whistles, including possibly bringing back some of the biggest stars from the Infinity Saga. It could also serve as a way for the studio to reset things with new actors in old roles, old actors in new roles, or any manner of shenanigans.

  • First Look at New ‘She-Hulk’ Funko for Wong

    First Look at New ‘She-Hulk’ Funko for Wong

    While the last episode of She-Hulk, Attorney at Law was mostly focused on the grand return of Tim Roth‘s Emil Blonsky, the internet has been ablaze with excitement for the return of Benedict Wong‘s Wong. The character has had the most cameos since the start of Phase 4 with many fans even dubbing it the Wong Cinematic Universe as a recurring joke. Now, the character is getting his own Funko as part of the new She-Hulk collection.

    As shared by Funko, we get a first look at what his new Funko will look like and it’s quite a fun design. Not only does he have the magical portal ring surrounding him but he also seemingly has magic weapons in his hand. As he didn’t have a fighting role in the last episode, it may be a hint that this is from an upcoming episode. So, we might get a bit more Wong action in the Disney+ series alongside She-Hulk in the near future.

    It’ll be interesting to see who else we might get in Funko form, especially with just how many characters are being introduced in this Disney+ series. We still have quite a few episodes to go and with the tease of various iconic Marvel characters on the horizon, we’ll have to see if everyone will get a Funko. Daredevil seems like the obvious addition to get one, and given the hype surrounding Charlie Cox‘s return it does seem like Disney wouldn’t waste the chance to get that one out as fast as possible with his new yellow costume.

    Source: Twitter

  • EXCLUSIVE: Larry the Cable Guy Teases New Aspects of Mater in ‘Cars on the Road’

    EXCLUSIVE: Larry the Cable Guy Teases New Aspects of Mater in ‘Cars on the Road’

    The Disney+ shows from iconic franchises have become the best jumping-off point for us to explore characters we’ve spent years with from a new perspective. While Marvel explored many iconic characters, Pixar is using this opportunity as well with the upcoming Cars on the Road adaptation. Lightning McQueen and Mater are off on a road trip to visit his sister; a new addition to the franchise.

    In an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, Larry the Cable Guy shared what it was like getting to explore new aspects of this iconic character. Though, while he’s excited to get a new look at Mater’s family history, he’s, even more, excited for people to see new dynamics between him and Owen Wilson‘s McQueen.

    There’s so many things that people will learn from it I think. Another cool aspect, Mater and McQueen: you see them in the movies, there’s a scene with them there, then McQueen’s out with Sally. But Mater and McQueen are together the whole time, it’s Mater and McQueen. And so, just like any best friends, you’ll see some stuff like generally Mater and McQueen don’t get mad at each other, [but] they have a couple of tiffs. But the cool thing about it is, in the end, they’re best buddies and there’s no way, nothing, that’ll separate that friendship.

    Larry the Cable Guy

    He also praised how the great thing about this show is that it gives them more time together, and lets us get a better look at their dynamic beyond just the brief sequences we have in the films. The road trip concept also forces these two friends to hang out together quite a bit and even explore their dynamic from new perspectives, such as seeing them end up in some fights.

  • Michael Bishop to Play Jonathan Kent in ‘Superman & Lois’

    Michael Bishop to Play Jonathan Kent in ‘Superman & Lois’

    Following the sudden departure of Jordan Elsass, the CW’s Superman & Lois looks to have found its new Jonathan Kent. Deadline reports that Michael Bishop has signed on to play the character in the upcoming third season of the superhero drama. Bishop is relatively new to Hollywood, having made his American film debut with the Disney Channel Original movie, Spin. Prior to that, the young adult starred in the Australian series, Grace Beside Me.

    Bishop’s casting comes as Elsass unexpectedly departed the CW series as production was gearing to kick off on Season 3. The actor later revealed he decided not to return in order to focus on his mental health. In a Cameo recorded for a fan, the actor stated, “Mental health is definitely 100% priority. It’s pinnacle. It’s got to take precedence. And mine has been… the last couple of years… it’s been rough.”

    Superman & Lois stars Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch as Clark Kent, aka Superman, and Lois, respectively. The series focuses on Superman and journalist Lois as they “deal with the stress, pressures, and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society.” The CW series also stars Alexander Garfin as Jordan Kent, Erik Valdez as Kyle Cushing, Inde Navarrette as Sarah Cushing, Wolé Parks as The Stranger, Adam Rayner as Morgan Edge, Dylan Walsh as General Samuel Lane, and Emmanuelle Chriqui as Lana Lang Cushing.

    The series hails from Greg Berlanti‘s Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Berlanti helped to create the series alongside Todd Helbing, who serves as the showrunner on the series.

    Source: Deadline.

  • No Other ‘Cars’ Spinoff Series Currently in Development

    No Other ‘Cars’ Spinoff Series Currently in Development

    Cars on the Road is the first non-short collection from Pixar and their first true venture into long-form storytelling on Disney+. It’s a big step with a popular franchise that has been a merchandising paradise for the House of Mouse. So, it wasn’t too surprising that the franchise would return with a new series but it looks like they are still trying to test the waters before rolling out more.

    Director Bobby Podesta has pointed out during Cars on the Road‘s official press release that there are currently no other series based on Cars in any form of development. It seems that we’ll only get to enjoy the road trip of Mater and Lightning McQueen for now.

    Well, we don’t have any Cars series in the making as of this moment, I’ll say that. But we would love to make more. And the schedule was we made the whole series in about a year and a half, which is a pretty tight timeline for Pixar to make this, you know, this amount of content.

    Bobby Podesta

    He doesn’t state that they aren’t interested in exploring more series in this universe, but it seems that Pixar is taking it one step at a time. Also highlighting that the series was made in a record time of “a year and a half” could also be one of the reasons they want to see how it pays off in viewership. Even with a younger demographic, there’s a chance some kids will love this series and watch it over and over again. One of Frozen‘s big selling points even to this day was just how much kids loved playing it on loop.

  • Rosario Dawson Hopes to Return for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Rosario Dawson Hopes to Return for ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Once thought to be a lost remnant of Marvel Television, the character of Daredevil has become a recent and sudden mainstay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Between the addition of a second brief scene with the character in the theatrical re-release of Spider-Man: No Way Home and the anticipation for his involvement in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Charlie Cox’s portrayal of the character has become a major talking point for the online fan landscape. The gradual return of Matthew Murdock is ultimately set to culminate in the revival series of Daredevil: Born Again, which is currently set to arrive on Disney+ in the Spring of 2024.

    A major question being discussed is how much of the supporting ensemble of the original Netflix series (or any of the shows set within that specific pocket of the universe) will be returning for the show. At this time, it’s only confirmed that Charlie Cox will return in the titular role and that Vincent D’Onofrio will return to portray Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. The Kingpin. Though if she had her way with the series, actress Rosario Dawson would like to return to her role of Claire Temple. The actress sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss her desire to return for Daredevil: Born Again and be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Oh yeah. For sure. You don’t even see her in that last ‘tell Claire to go home’ moment on Luke Cage. So what is that? You know it’s terrible. So, yeah, I’d be super curious, but I’m just so stoked for everybody, though. It’s been a long time coming. I was really excited to know that all of our shows are actually part of the MCU now, with Charlie [Cox] and Vincent [D’Onofrio] coming over into these different projects now. So, yeah, 18 episodes [of Daredevil: Born Again]? I’m there! Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, they know where I am.

    Rosario Dawson

    It’s not a massive surprise for someone working in the entertainment industry to have a desire to be part of a marquee franchise project. And she already has a working connection with Disney through her recent involvement in the Hulu series Dopesick and her widespread involvement as the live-action Ahsoka Tano in the greater Star Wars universe. It ultimately remains to be seen if a return in Daredevil: Born Again will happen, but it certainly will have people talking even more in anticipation of the series.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Jodie Turner-Smith Joins ‘The Acolyte’

    Jodie Turner-Smith Joins ‘The Acolyte’

    Announced during Disney’s 2020 Investor Day, The Acolyte was one of many Star Wars projects that went dark for a while with virtually no updates on the series. That was until it had been announced that Amanda Stenberg was set to lead the cast of the Sith-based prequel series for Disney+ and it looks like the project has secured yet another cast member.

    Deadline is reporting that actress Jodie Turner-Smith, best known for her work in projects like After Yang, Queen and Slim, and Anne Boleyn, has joined the cast of the Disney+ series. The trade report didn’t have any details on who Smith will be playing in the series as details on the project still remain under wraps.

    The series, developed by Netflix’s Russian Doll creator Leslye Headland, is said to take viewers into the last days of the High Republic as the Dark Side grows in power and will follow a young Sith apprentice, known as an Acolyte. The project is reportedly set to begin filming sometime this Fall.

    Fans can most likely expect to hear more on the project at the upcoming D23 expo set for September 9th and 10th where anything and everything under the Disney umbrella will have time to shine during two major Studio Showcase panels.

    Smith can be seen in multiple upcoming projects such as White Noise alongside Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig, directed by Noah Baumbach and Netflix’s Murder Mystery 2.

    SOURCE: Deadline