Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • First ‘American Horror Story’ Season 11 Cast Members Revealed

    First ‘American Horror Story’ Season 11 Cast Members Revealed

    2021 saw the return of American Horror Story for its tenth season following the pandemic setting the series production back and forcing dramatic changes to the season as a whole. The ‘Double Feature’ theme was met with lackluster reactions as both storylines felt rushed and unsatisfying as neither was given the time be fully fleshed and in the end it was just the best they could make of the situation. However, the cast for the season, featuring familiar faces, was incredibly strong and now some are confirmed to be returning for Season 11.

    Deadline has confirmed that Season 11 will see the return of Billie Lourde, Zachary Quinto, Patti Lupone and Isaac Cole Powell. Newcomers to the anthology series include Sandra Bernhard, Joe Mantello, and Charlie Carver, all of whom have worked with series co-creator Ryan Murphy on his many other projects.

    It’s still unknown just what the theme of this season is but set photos seem to hint that it could be set during the 1970s and in New York City. The eleventh season of American Horror Story is currently set to premiere later this year.

    SOURCE: Deadline

  • Zoe Terakes is the Latest Actor to Join the Cast of Marvel Studios’ ‘Ironheart’

    Zoe Terakes is the Latest Actor to Join the Cast of Marvel Studios’ ‘Ironheart’

    Nearly a month after reports first surfaced of Zoe Terakes joining the cast of Ironheart, Deadline has confirmed the Wentworth actor is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The outlet revealed Terakes’ casting late on Wednesday evening, confirming the actor will be playing a key role in the series. Further details surrounding Terakes’ role remain unknown.

    The actor’s casting is incredibly noteworthy as Terakes is both transgender and non-binary. With still a long way to go regarding LGBTQ+ presentation within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the addition of Terakes is a step in the right direction. Terakes most recently starred in Wentworth and Nine Perfect Strangers. They can next be seen in a film titled Talk to Me where they’ll star as a character named Hayley.

    Terakes is the latest to join the cast of Ironheart joining leading lady Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Manny Montana, Alden Ehrenreich, and Shea Couleé. Ramos, as long rumored, was confirmed to be playing The Hood in Ironheart after set photos surfaced earlier this week, while Ehrenreich has long been rumored to be playing the son of Obadiah Stane, Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane. Details regarding the roles of the rest of the cast are currently unknown, although recent rumors suggest Couleé could be playing none other than Shade.

    Production on Ironheart is currently underway in Atlanta.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Marvel Studios’ Disney+ Attracts a New Audience for the MCU

    Marvel Studios’ Disney+ Attracts a New Audience for the MCU

    With the Disney Earnings Call taking place for their third fiscal quarter, the public has received notable updates on where Disney stands in terms of its current business operations. Notably, official word has been revealed for Disney+’s ad-supported model which is scheduled to launch at the end of 2022. As well, the streaming service has defied the company’s own expectations and has added over 14 million new subscribers in the fiscal quarter.

    When laying out components to the success of Disney+, CEO Bob Chapek specifically took time to reference Marvel Studios’ output of series over the past year and a half as a major point of success. What he states is quite interesting as he highlights that they have measured an audience that watch these series before any other Marvel offering on the platform, as shared by Alex Zalben on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/azalben/status/1557467286457487361

    With this bit of information from Chapek, it paints a promising picture of the overall direction the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken in its fourth phase. It certainly seems to be the case that the audience that’s helped Marvel Studios produce some of the highest grossing films have followed them onto Disney+. And on top of that, the shows being able to attract new audience members that haven’t engaged with the Marvel Cinematic Universe prior is critical for the Disney-owned studio to maintain longevity moving forward.

    One could formulate the belief that the distinctly different genres that Marvel Studios has been able to adapt as a series (namely with the likes of WandaVision and Ms. Marvel) have become a large factor in its success. And with the upcoming release of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which will be Marvel’s first foray into the “legal comedy” genre, it remains to be seen how the new series will impact the subscriber base of the still-young streaming platform.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is scheduled to premiere its first episode on Thursday, August 18.

  • New ‘Loki’ Set Photo Offers a Look at Sylvie’s New Suit

    New ‘Loki’ Set Photo Offers a Look at Sylvie’s New Suit

    It looks like new set photos have found their way online for the upcoming second season of Loki. It’s the first series to get an additional season and we already got some teases from the Disney+ series’ set. The first photos we got revealed the return of Sophia Di Martino‘s Sylvie in an old McDonalds uniform while Tom Hiddleston’s Loki seemingly joined the TVA once again.

    Now, a new set photo has surfaced that reveals that same sequence where she was seen at a McDonalds but this time around is wearing an updated version of her suit. Its design seems quite close to what she wore in the last season. The biggest difference seems to be the golden half ring around her neck which is even more damaged than previously.

    There are still a lot of questions hanging in the air about how exactly Sylvie finds her way out of He Who Remains’ home and if she has taken on a new role to look over the multiverse. perhaps the existential crisis of her actions being foretold led to her just giving up and trying to live a very quiet life. Kang’s role is also unclear in the upcoming film, as the big bad for the next Avengers movie will let his presence be known throughout and the multiverse is nowhere close to slowing down.

    Source: Weibo

  • Disney+ Beats Expectations and Adds 14.4M New Subscribers

    Disney+ Beats Expectations and Adds 14.4M New Subscribers

    It looks like the streaming market isn’t taking a nosedive after all. Netflix and HBO Max have been low expectations; especially the former continuing to lose subscriber count. The same fear existed with Disney+ but it seems that they managed to pull it to their advantage as they just reported that they’ve added 14.4M subscribers, which is ahead of their predicted 10M. As such, the stock is up 6% as a result and its revenue continues to be driven by its parks offerings.

    Bob Chapek, the current CEO of Walt Disney, has shared the following statement on their third fiscal quarter:

    We had an excellent quarter, with our world-class creative and business teams powering outstanding performance at our domestic theme parks, big increases in live-sports viewership, and significant subscriber growth at our streaming services. With 14.4 million Disney+ subscribers added in the fiscal third quarter, we now have 221 million total subscriptions across our streaming offerings. We continue to transform entertainment as we near our second century, with compelling new storytelling across our many platforms and unique immersive physical experiences that exceed guest expectations, all of which are reflected in our strong operating results this quarter.

    Bob Chapek

    Unlike most, Disney has a diversified portfolio that can counterbalance any scares with the booming streaming business. Plus, the confirmation that an ad-supported model of Disney+ will hit the US in December also adds to the excitement on what exactly the future may hold for investors. Of course, the price hike to $10.99 for an ad-free version might rub som the wrong way.

    Chapek promised investors in late 2021 that they’d reach 230M+ subscribers by September of 2025. It’ll be interesting to see if that continues to rise or if we should expect a slow-down anytime soon. They also expect Hulu and ESPN+ to become profitable by then as well.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Disney+’s Ad-Supported Model Gets US Release in December

    ‘Disney+’s Ad-Supported Model Gets US Release in December

    The day is coming closer as the ad-supported streaming variations of Disney+ has finally gotten a release date; at least for the United States. According to Deadline, Disney+ will be made available with advertising on December 8th. It’ll cost $7.99 a month rather than its premium model at $10.99. Naturally, they also have various bundles planned such as lower-priced basic plans with ads getting their own combinations for Hulu and ESPN+.

    Disney+ with Hulu would go for $9.99 a month while adding ESPN+ would put it at $12.99. There’s also a basic monthly fee for Hulu with Live TV, which also includes Disney+ and ESPN+ for $69.99. Kareem Daniel, the Chairman for Media & Entertainment Distributions shared the following statement regarding the announcement:

    With our new ad-supported Disney+ offering and an expanded lineup of plans across our entire streaming portfolio, we will be providing greater consumer choice at a variety of price points to cater to the diverse needs of our viewers and appeal to an even broader audience. Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ feature unparalleled content and viewing experiences and offer the best value in streaming today, with over 100,000 movie titles, TV episodes, original shows, sports and live events collectively.

    Kareem Daniel

    Disney’s quarterly earnings are just around the corner, which makes this announcement quite interesting and a hopeful grab to get on the good side of Wall Street. Netflix and HBO Max have been hit quite hard as of late due to Netflix’s recent tumble, which may be one of the reasons that the streaming war will continue the way it currently is going. Disney+ is a safe bet to remain but the rest are up for question.

    Source. Deadline

  • HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Finds its Sam and Henry, Reveals Major Story Change

    HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Finds its Sam and Henry, Reveals Major Story Change

    The Last of Us cast is expanding in a big way. IGN is exclusively reporting that brothers Sam and Henry, who play an important role in the original video game’s story, will be played by Keivonn Woodard and Lamar Johnson, respectively. Set photos of the pair with Pedro Pascal’s Joel and Bella Ramsay’s Ellie circulated the internet a few months back, but no confirmation of the actor’s identities could be made at the time. In addition to Woodard and Johnson, the live-action adaptation has also cast Graham Greene and Elaine Miles as new characters Marlon and Florence. This duo is an entirely new creation for the show and did not play a part in Naughty Dog’s virtual series of post-apocalyptic adventures.

    The report says Woodard and Florence will be portrayed as a married couple living alone in the Wyoming wilderness, a state familiar to gamers as the home of Gabriel Luna’s Tommy and the basis of his survivalist community. Interestingly, the press release that came with the casting announcements included a bit of information that reveals a major story change for the HBO series. In the video game, Joel and Ellie meet Sam and Henry while on the run from a group of deadly scavengers in Pittsburgh, but in the show, they will instead meet the brothers while hiding from a revolutionary movement in Kansas City. While the movement itself remains unnamed, the group will supposedly be “seeking vengeance” when they encounter the protagonists on their cross-country journey.

    This is a departure from the events of The Last of Us Part 1, but it does sound a lot like the Washington Liberation Front from The Last of Us Part II. Perhaps this change was made to better connect the stories for a potential second or third season. It could also be that this revolutionary movement is a branch of the Fireflies, who play a large role in both games and may have reason to want revenge on Pascal’s Joel.

    Source: IGN

  • ‘Prey’ 3-Day Debut Dominates Hulu’s Viewership Numbers

    ‘Prey’ 3-Day Debut Dominates Hulu’s Viewership Numbers

    While many have wondered why the latest Predator film with the title Prey ended up as a Hulu exclusive, it definitely has become quite a popular film online. well, it seems that the story of the fierce warrior Naru has hit a cord with viewers. 20th Century Studios’ latest film has premiered on Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ in specific markets as the most watched film debut on the services.

    Not only that, but it also has seemingly beaten the TV series’ debuts viewership numbers based on hours watched in the first three days of its release. It’s a testament to the genre film created by Dan Trachtenberg and his team. There’s sadly no specific number to get a feeling for just how huge the release has been, but it’s great to see such a unique project get the acclaim it deserves.

    There’s also a testament to the draw that a Native-American cast has with audiences, which hopefully also opens up the windows to many more diverse projects getting more acclaim. It does also open up the question again of how massive the project would’ve been if it hit theaters, but there’s always a risk with genre films, especially R-rated ones. though, there’s something interesting about it also being a massive streaming success, which may also further push for an R-rated inclusion in Disney+ to grow its viewership.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Directors Tease Lockjaw in Possible Season 2

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Directors Tease Lockjaw in Possible Season 2

    Ms. Marvel captured the attention of fans and critics during its six-week run on Disney+. The series, starring Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan is now one of the highest-rated projects in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. While we know that Ms. Marvel will appear next in the upcoming The Marvels, the show’s success begs the question of whether Kamala will end up with a second season or solo feature.

    There are plenty of reasons why Season 2 of Ms. Marvel could be in the cards for Phase 5 or 6 in the MCU. Unsurprisingly, series directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have been questioned numerous times about the possibility. In an interview with IGN, Fallah remarked that “there’s much more we can do with Kamala Khan,” including further exploring and growing her powers. El Ardi added an additional, and potentially exciting, comment:

    “[Ms. Marvel] has that big dog. If there’s another season or a movie, the big dog is going to have to be a big character in it.”

    Adil El Arbi

    El Arbi is referring to Lockjaw, a massive dog and loyal companion to the Inhuman royal family with the power of inter-dimensional teleportation. The idea of Lockjaw appearing in future Ms. Marvel solo projects is interesting on multiple levels. First, of course, it adds to the question of whether Inhumans exist in the current MCU and Kamala’s connection to them. This traditional aspect of the comic book character was seemingly changed when the series finale indicated that Kamala was a mutant. Second, Lockjaw has already made a live-action appearance in the greater Marvel Universe in Marvel TV’s infamous Inhumans. Like Blackbolt in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Lockjaw could appear as a multiversal variant of his Inhumans version.

    In any event, Ms. Marvel’s directors and showrunners seem keen on ideas for a second season of the series. In Ms. Marvel comics, Lockjaw was a frequent ally and companion to Kamala, sent by the Inhuman royal family to watch over her.

    Ms. Marvel is streaming on Disney+.

    Source: IGN

  • New ‘Ironheart’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Her New Armor

    New ‘Ironheart’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Her New Armor

    It looks like we’re getting some set photos from the upcoming Ironheart series. While not much is known about the Disney+ project, and how it’ll tie into her appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever but it looks like we’re definitely getting an armor. The surprising reveal is the fact that it’s not as lean as we know it from the comics and even seems to be a different take on an earlier design, especially with how bulky it is.

    Perhaps it’s an evolution of the one that was teased in the Black Panther trailer and even merchandise.The set photos shared by @ironhnews not only show Dominique Thorne in a part practical and part CG suit but also the armor in its full detail.

    The fact that they didn’t skip to her final design from the comics makes this stand out quite a bit. It’s a very bulky design and likely one of her earlier models. Here’s hoping we get to see it evolve throughout the series run, especially as she starts to embrace her own design that’ll make it stand out. With The Hood now finally confirmed as part of the series, it does open up many more questions on how the story will tie together and if perhaps her armor may be one of the catalysts leading into Armor Wars.

    Source: Twitter