Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • ‘Secret Invasion’ Will Explore the Blip, Hints at MCU Timeline

    ‘Secret Invasion’ Will Explore the Blip, Hints at MCU Timeline

    It looks like one more detail has slipped past us during Disney’s TV Upfront. All eyes were on the big release of She-Hulk, Attorney at Law‘s trailer. Yet, there was a tiny segment on Secret Invasion as well where some information was shared on what to expect from the Disney+ series. The Koalition‘s Dana Abercrombie covered the event and also shared some tidbits from the brief segment where Kevin Feige talked about when exactly the series will take place and it seems like it’ll explore the events during the Blip.

    There does seem to be an issue on what was quoted during the event, as it seemingly has been hinted at as “It will explore the events that occurred during The Blip” while others claim the series takes place during that event. Of course, this opens up a big can of worms as Nick Fury wasn’t around during that time period. So, the entire Secret Invasion event may have started during his absence and we now explore his return, as he tries to uncover what happened during those five years.

    It actually makes a lot of sense for a secret Skrull invasion to happen during the Blip era, as many people already vanished and they could’ve easily replaced them and just pretend they weren’t dusted. Plus, who knows if the events of that time also shaped some of the Skrull’s outlooks when their own family and friends got dusted. Plus, with hints of the Skrull God appearing in some form, perhaps the event was part of the original prophecy. Whatever it may be, we’re going to be in for a deeper exploration of the impact the Blip had on the galaxy.

    Source: Twitter

  • Marvel Makes a 20-Year Deal With Genius Brands and POW! Entertainment for Stan Lee’s Likeness and Name

    Marvel Makes a 20-Year Deal With Genius Brands and POW! Entertainment for Stan Lee’s Likeness and Name

    It’s definitely a weird deal to talk about, but it seems that Marvel has acquired the rights to bring Stan Lee, who passed away in 2018, back to life through archival footage and digital technology. If you’re wondering what exactly this is all about, it seems that Marvel has signed a 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe, which is a venture of Genius Brand International and POW! Entertainment. It lets them license the use of his name and likeness in any future film or TV production, as well as Disney theme parks, “experiences,” and merchandising.

    The CEO of Genius Brands, Andy Heyward, has shared the following statement on the decision to make this deal and revive the beloved comic creator, who quickly became the face of Marvel, through digital means.

    It really ensures that Stan, through digital technology and archival footage and other forms, will live in the most important venue, the Marvel movies, and Disney theme parks. It’s a broad deal.

    Andy Heyward

    Stan Lee‘s cameos in the various Marvel films, not just Marvel Studios’ MCU, were a staple and they have found indirect ways to mention the comic creator with small tributes to the actor without actually including him. Of course, it’s unclear if he’ll actually return as a digital character in these films. Plus, it’s not certain people will feel comfortable seeing a digital double of Lee on the silver screen. Best case, they might include his likeness in the background like how the Netflix shows had him on posters. Heyward highlights:

    The audience revered Stan, and if it’s done with taste and class, and respectful of who he was, [uses of his likeness] will be welcomed. He is a beloved personality, and long after you and I are gone, he will remain the essence of Marvel.

    Andy Heyward

    The deal is still a strange one, as Stan Lee Universe was originally founded by Gill Champion and Arthur Lieberman with the comic creator to “steward” the legacy he left behind. It’s unclear just how detailed the dealing is and if they have to sign off on the use of his likeness, but we’ll have to see how this deal pans out. They likely may have also made a deal due to existing merchandise using Lee‘s likeness.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • DC’s HBO Max Future Uncertain, ‘Batgirl’ Likely Heading to Theatrical Release

    DC’s HBO Max Future Uncertain, ‘Batgirl’ Likely Heading to Theatrical Release

    The Wonder Twins have met an early demise as the new leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to shake things up and set the DC Extended Universe on a clearer path. It seems the twins may have just been the first of many causalities going by a recent statement.

    The new leadership, led by David Zaslav, is reportedly placing a mandate that states all DC films should be set as theatrical releases as their first goal. This decision stems from the budgets many of these films have with Zaslav using Wonder Twins‘ $75 million as an example. They don’t see that kind of investment viable with a good return with a release on HBO Max. This would mean that a film like Batgirl, which is still set to release on HBO Max could instead see a shift from the streamer to a wide theatrical release.

    The Hollywood Reporter also states that sources have told them that a lot of things that are being developed by Warner Bros. are likely going to be scrapped and never see the light of day. It seems the Green Lantern series may be in danger as it’s hit multiple delays in production and could exceed the budget granted to projects on the streamer. The bright side could see the film finally get some steam behind it and the long-awaited return of a character like Hal Jordan could become a possibility.

    It may be a while before we know exactly what is happening with the DC Extended Universe and many of the other projects in development. While things may seem uncertain it could lead to a much smoother March forward for the franchise.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Won’t Release Until the End of 2023 or 2024

    ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Won’t Release Until the End of 2023 or 2024

    It looks like Squid Game‘s second season will take quite a while to get rolling, as the series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has revealed that Season 2 will very likely not release until the end of 2023 or even 2024. In his interview with Vanity Fair, he talked about his plans for the next entry of Squid Game, and confirmed that he “only has about three pages worth of ideas that he plans to turn into a script.”

    He also talked about what his hopes for the sequel season will be, which seems to be a strong focus on exploring more what it means to cooperate with your fellow contestant; the possibility of there being multiple winners. Perhaps moving away from people “focused on wanting to kill each other off” in the next round.

    I want to ask the question, ‘Is true solidarity between humans possible.

    Hwang Dong-hyuk

    It definitely would mix up the way we explore the Squid Game in the universe, and having the chance of multiple winners could twist up the way the characters have to interact. Perhaps the cooperative version acts as a way for existing winners to get another chance at winning more or might explore how the Line Man ended up with his current position. No matter what may happen, it’ll take some time before we find out.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • First Look at Mindy Kaling’s ‘Scooby-Doo’ Spinoff ‘Velma’

    First Look at Mindy Kaling’s ‘Scooby-Doo’ Spinoff ‘Velma’

    Many were surprised when Mindy Kaling was working on a Scooby-Doo spinoff that would mainly focus on the character of Velma Dinkley. It would act as a prequel series, but still include the usual mystery format that made the franchise so popular. During Warner Bros. Discovery’s TV Upfront event, creator Mindy Kaling came on stage and offered the first look at the series, which you can see here:

    https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1526950560716533762

    It certainly is going to offer something more mind-blowing than we may have anticipated, as the series has been known to focus on a more adult audience even if animated. Still, no one probably would’ve guessed to see someone with their head chopped open and their brain missing. So, we might expect quite a lot of violence and murder in this spinoff series.

    It’s unclear but the redhead could be Daphne Blake, as its uncertain if the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang will appear in the series in some capacity. Plus, they may also be reimagined such as Velma being South Asian in this series, which is a nice change of pace similar to how the Scoob! movie also being Hispanic, where she was voiced by Gina Rodriguez. The first look is promising and it’ll be interesting to see just what the series has to offer.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Wheel of Time’ Wraps Production on Season 2

    ‘The Wheel of Time’ Wraps Production on Season 2

    It was announced today that production on the second season of The Wheel of Time has officially wrapped. The Amazon Prime original was renewed for this second season months before the first season had even been released. However, it ended up being a logical decision based on the generally positive response from audiences towards the fantasy series. As well, there is ample ground for the franchise to cover thanks to the 14-novel series written by Robert Jordan that the series is based upon.

    The first season of the show followed the tale of Moiraine Damodred (portrayed by Rosamund Pike) on her quest to find the Dragon Reborn, who is prophesied to either save the world from the evil that currently consumes it or be the harbinger of its destruction. In addition to Rosamund Pike, the series stars Daniel Henney, Zoë Robins, and Madeline Madden among others. Dónal Finn will be replacing Barney Harris in the role of Mat Cauthon in season two. As well, it was previously announced that Killing Eve’s Ayoola Smart would be joining the cast for the second season. Rafe Judkins serves as the showrunner and executive producer. 

    While it is not officially announced when the second season will air, the first season concluding production in May 2021 could lead to the assumption of a return to a November release for Wheel of Time Season 2.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘She-Hulk’s Old Logo Design Lives on Through Her Law Agency

    ‘She-Hulk’s Old Logo Design Lives on Through Her Law Agency

    Here’s a cute surprise, but it looks like the last She-Hulk logo design that we saw is still present in the series. While they went for a more modern take on the classic logo, especially with the new “Attorney at Law” addition, it seems that they still had some use for the logo that was revealed during Disney+ day. If you look closely in the background during the trailer, you can spot that the agency she works for is still Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway. While the name isn’t stated directly, you can clearly see the initials in the background with GLKH.

    It looks like they repurposed the old logo as the design for the law agency. While not world-breaking in the Easter egg department, it’s fun to see that this might’ve been the original inspiration for that design before they went with the current one. It definitely felt like they were taking cues from law firms and procedural law series as the inspiration, but decided to stick to the comic book design after all.

    Marvel Studios has had this interesting tendency to change their logo designs throughout their entire ad campaign. It’s been a bit jarring how many versions they go through with some projects, such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness receiving a new one only weeks before its release. Still, it does become a fun game of which one they might decide is the one that best represents their final project.

  • First Look at MCU’s Wrecking Crew May Have Been Spotted in First ‘She-Hulk’ Trailer

    First Look at MCU’s Wrecking Crew May Have Been Spotted in First ‘She-Hulk’ Trailer

    There have been quite a few discussions last night as the first trailer dropped for She-Hulk. Many have focused on the CG work for Tatiana Maslany‘s transformation into She-Hulk but also the vibe it is seemingly going for, as it may give us the first Disney+ series that’s full-on comedy. A press release confirmed that we can expect Benedict Wong‘s return to the MCU right after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but there’s one aspect that may have gotten overlooked in all the chaos.

    Early in the trailer, we can see a group of people that are wielding crowbars. While they seem like an unassuming group of thugs but this may be our first look at the MCUs take on the Wrecking Crew. We’ve heard rumors back in July of 2021 that the group of Thor villains would appear in the series, and this might be our first look at them.

    It definitely is a different take on the team, as they aren’t wearing their over-the-top costumes from the comics, but them all wielding wrenches seems like the dead giveaway that it’s them. Of course, they may all get powers at a later point and this is just our first introduction to them. So, we’ll see if they’ll also embrace the concept from the comics and we get some magically enchanted crowbars. Either way, they may be a group of recurring villains throughout the show’s runtime and it’ll be interesting to see how they balance the comedy with their usual superhero action.

  • Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Loki’ is Marvel Studios’ Most-Watched Disney+ Series

    Kevin Feige Confirms ‘Loki’ is Marvel Studios’ Most-Watched Disney+ Series

    So far, we’ve been strongly dependent on external analysis to see just how successful the various Disney+ series have been. Yet, most have pointed to Loki potentially being their most-watched series so far, and luckily during Disney’s Upfront conference, Kevin Feige confirmed that this was indeed the case. The timing is also perfect as they are about to start production on the second season in a few weeks. So, expectations might be high for the continuation to build upon the momentum of the first.

    We’ve seen from SambaTV’s analysis that this was most likely the caste, but as it’s a third-party analysis it doesn’t work as a definite confirmation of where the viewer ratings lie. Plus, it’s unclear what exactly Disney+ is focused on when it comes to what makes a show successful, as the subscriber count is their main draw to further grow their income for the service. So, they may be looking at multiple factors at play, especially as their projects are a bit more sprayed out.

    Now, the question remains what might be the series to dethrone it moving forward. She-Hulk just dropped its trailer and has some positive buzz around it besides some concerns about the CG. Still, with quite a few interesting projects heading our way, you never know what project might draw in the most attention and potentially take Loki‘s throne as Marvel Studios’ most-watched Disney+ series.

    Source: Twitter

  • Benedict Wong Confirmed to Appear in ‘She-Hulk’

    Benedict Wong Confirmed to Appear in ‘She-Hulk’

    Here’s a rather big surprise, while all eyes are on the trailer for She-Hulk which included a few glimpses at the supporting cast and villains Tatiana Maslany‘s version of the character will face. Yet, there’s one little additional casting tucked away in the official casting list. It looks like fresh off of his appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Benedict Wong will return once again to the MCU in the She-Hulk Disney+ series.

    The series will run for nine episodes similar to WandaVision. It’s a shorter runtime than initially expected, as comedies were rethought to have around ten episodes while drama’s focused on six. It seems that plan has shifted since the release of their first series, which had to shorten its episode count due to the pandemic. Considering the budget involved with a fully CG Hulk, She-Hulk, and Abomination, it might’ve ballooned quite a bit while VFX houses are also struggling to keep up.

    For now, the series looks like a lot of fun and has an Ally McBeal feeling going for it combined with some superhero action. There’s a lot we don’t know yet about the series and it’s unclear if it’ll have an overarching structure or go with a weekly case concept. For now, we can only wait and see as more information arrives and the next trailer gives us a better look at how they bring the character to life.