Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • ‘WandaVision’ Was Originally 10-Episodes Long

    ‘WandaVision’ Was Originally 10-Episodes Long

    A huge point of contention among fans prior to the release of WandaVision was the show’s episode count. Kevin Feige continually described Marvel Studios’ streaming output to be strictly in the 4-6 hour count so the possibility of having more just enticed the fans into speculation. Conflicting reports surfaced left and right, as behind-the-scenes evidence pointed towards having more than 6 episodes, with some of our insider sources corroborating it. All the speculation was put to rest when the 9-episode count was confirmed by a Disney+ press release two months ago, or so we all thought. Some fans persisted with the idea that there were more episodes, going so far as to think that Disney+ was putting out a secret unannounced episode for the finale. That didn’t happen as evidenced by this week’s finale but in a new interview with series director Matt Shakman, he confirmed that the show was originally supposed to be 10-episodes long.

     

    Well, yeah, things were constantly changing and getting rebroken. The story was changing, especially a lot of the real-world stuff and the finale. There was a lot of experimentation going on and sort of trying different things out. We also at one point had 10 episodes planned and we ended up collapsing a couple, you know just to make the rhythm feel a little bit better. But yeah, they constantly changed and then of course, once we wrapped in Atlanta the pandemic hit and we ended up having months off so then further changes during that we were doing post-production and then ideas would come up and little changes would happen as a result.

    There’s been a lot of debate on whether the show managed to efficiently wrap up all the crazy plot threads of the season. Some felt very satisfied with the ending as it delivered a very emotional send-off for all the characters while some felt it was lacking, as some loose ends weren’t properly tied up and that the season would have benefited with a bit more time. Clearly, the filmmakers had more time at one point but then the pandemic hit and changed it for everyone. Judging from the other stuff Shakman has said about the development process, they had to get rid of a lot of stuff they simply didn’t have time to work on. Maybe somewhere in the multiverse, we get a Shakman cut of WandaVision. 

    Source: Youtube

  • ‘Halo’ to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ in 2022

    ‘Halo’ to Premiere Exclusively on Paramount+ in 2022

    It hasn’t been an easy road for Microsoft’s adaptation of Halo. It seems like it has been in development for an eternity. After a long silence, the adaptation has finally gotten an update in the form of a new home. It has been announced that the show will not premiere on Showtime but will become an exclusive series on the new streaming service, Paramount+. They are currently eyeing a premiere in the first quarter of 2022. The series will be produced by Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey‘s Amblin Television.

    According to Deadline, they have already filmed around 60% of the first season before it got shut down due to the pandemic. It is uncertain when it was decided that the series would be added as an exclusive to the streaming service. CEO of Showtime, David Nevins, had the following to say about the series:

    It delivers the visceral excitement of playing the game, along with a much deeper emotional experience around the Spartans, human beings who got their humanity chemically and genetically altered. The story is about reclaiming what makes them human, and therefore it’s a very powerful story.

    It also came with the first look at the series logo, which remains very true to the original game’s version:

    Showtime will be focused on premium adult programming, as ViacomCBS starts its new streaming venture. Even after all this time, we haven’t seen a single still from the series. It is uncertain if it will focus on Master Chief’s story from the original games, or explore something unique.

    Source: Deadline, Twitter

  • EXCLUSIVE: Russo Bros.’ Production for Netflix’s ‘The Gray Man’ Set After Delays

    EXCLUSIVE: Russo Bros.’ Production for Netflix’s ‘The Gray Man’ Set After Delays

    We are only a few days away when Joe and Anthony Russo‘s next major film, Cherry, releases on Apple TV+. It is their first film since their work on Avengers: Endgame that will see them tackle a more intimate story of a young man, played by Tom Holland, going down a dark path. The two aren’t going to take a break, as the directing duo is already eyeing the next blockbuster project, The Gray Man. The film is described as Netflix’s most ambitious feature film, which will see Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in the leading roles. The last time we heard anything from the production was in July, as the film was eyeing a January production start. However, we have exclusively learned that the film is facing a production delay.

    Originally, it was going to start shooting the film in January, but it was delayed until March or April. They are currently still casting for the film, but no details are given for the delay. The production start was already delayed for two weeks back in December due to the rise of COVID concerns, so it is most likely why it was given another two to three months.

    The story is an adaptation of the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney, where a deadly duel where the former CIA operative Gosling‘s Gentry is hunted by his former cohort Lloyd Hansen, who is played by Evans. The film’s script was written by Joe Russo with some polish by their Captain America and Avengers co-writers, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. It will be produced by their production house AGBO.

    Source: Deadline (Film), Deadline (COVID)

  • BREAKING: Gina Carano Has Been Fired by Lucasfilm

    BREAKING: Gina Carano Has Been Fired by Lucasfilm

    It was only a matter of time until her batshit comments caught up to her but Gina Carano has now been fired by Lucasfilm, in an exclusive report by io9. The outlet received a statement from a Lucasfilm spokesperson saying, “Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.” The report was also seconded by The Hollywood Reporter, whose sources revealed that an announcement unveiling Carano as the star of her own show was quickly scrapped when the controversy first started a couple of months back.

     

     

    Gina made waves again this week after posting photos on Instagram comparing the political divide in the US to the horrors and atrocities in Nazi Germany. That post was taken down quickly as the fan outrage deservedly started pouring in and the hashtag #FireGinaCarano surfaced. Carano, over the past few months, has been on a streak of controversy, sharing misinformation on mask-wearing, the vaccine, BLM protests, and the 2020 elections, in addition to the transphobic comments she previously posted online.

    There’s no word yet on what happens to her Mandalorian character, Cara Dune, but given the scale of the Star Wars galaxy, we imagine it won’t be tough to write her off the show.

    Source: io9

  • The Penguin

    The Penguin

    Premiere: Fall 2024

    In September 2021, six months ahead of the release of The Batman, it was revealed that Matt Reeves was developing a Max streaming series centered around Colin Farrell‘s Oz Cobblepot. Directed by Craig Zobel, the spinoff began production in 2023 and will follow Oz’s rise in Gotham following the events of The Batman.

    Cast

    • Colin Farrell as Oz Cobblepot/The Penguin
    • Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone
    • Clancy Brown as Sal Maroni
    • Michael Zegan as Alberto Falcone
    • Rhenzy Feliz in an unknown role
    • Michael Kelly in an unknown role
    • Shohreh Aghdashloo in an unknown role
    • Deirdre O’Connell in an unknown role
  • EXCLUSIVE: Marvel HQ to Premiere Kids-Targeted ‘ETERNALS’ Animated Series in 2021

    EXCLUSIVE: Marvel HQ to Premiere Kids-Targeted ‘ETERNALS’ Animated Series in 2021

    Murphy’s Multiverse has learned that Star India’s Marvel HQ is planning to release an Eternals animated series early in 2021. While we can’t confirm it for a U.S. release, Marvel HQ’s content often mirrors that of Disney XD.

    Eternals: Marvel Reveals New Ongoing Series From Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic - IGN

    Marvel loves its corporate synergy and is getting the Eternals into the limelight. A Kieron Gillen scribed Eternals comic book is set to debut in January of 2021 and will be shortly followed by the new animated series which looks to introduce younger audiences to the MCU’s version of the Eternals ahead of next year’s Marvel Studios feature film, currently set to hit theaters on November 5th, 2021.

  • EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Alaqua Cox as Echo in ‘HAWKEYE’

    EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Alaqua Cox as Echo in ‘HAWKEYE’

    Earlier today, a trade report revealed that newcomer Alaqua Cox had joined the cast of Hawkeye as Maya Lopez, aka Echo. Thanks to Edward Baker, who was able to capture the first footage of Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, we now have our first look at Cox on set.

    In the videos below, Cox can be seen communicating using sign language and rehearsing her scene. In the videos, we see Echo exit a taxi and head towards an apartment. It appears that this apartment is the home of her father, William Lopez, as Zahn McLarnon was also on set this evening.

    Hawkeye is now filming in Brooklyn and will stream on Disney Plus

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘KARATE KID 2’ Stars Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto Join ‘COBRA KAI’ Season 3

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘KARATE KID 2’ Stars Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto Join ‘COBRA KAI’ Season 3

    Ever since it was teased that Season 3 of Cobra Kai would see Daniel LaRusso head back to Okinawa, Japan, fans have been anticipating the return of 2 major characters from 1986’s The Karate Kid 2: Kumiko, Daniel’s love interest in the sequel, and the arrogant baddie, Chozen. We are able to confirm that both Tamlyn Tomita and Yuji Okumoto did in fact return to reprise their roles as Kumiko and Chozen, respectively, and will join Elisabeth Shue as members of the original Karate Kid casts returning to the streaming series!

    Eagle-eyed fans believed they spotted Chozen in the Season 3 trailer and we can confirm that they were correct.

    Both Chozen and Kumiko will come back into Daniel’s life as business with the LaRusso Auto Group takes him back to Japan. A chance meeting with Kumiko, a reunion with Chozen and a valuable secret are all a part of LaRusso’s Japanese adventure.

    Cobra Kai Season 3 is set to stream on Netflix beginning January 8, 2021!

     

     

  • EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop

    EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop

    Earlier today we shared a nice set photo of Lucky the Pizza Dog from the set of Hawkeye. Now, we are lucky enough to bring you set video of what should be the first look at Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop!

    A video from the subway set in Brooklyn, taken by fan Edward Baker, shows Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton, Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop and Lucky running down the stairs and through the subway. Baker confirmed for us that the actress in the video was Steinfeld, who was seen around set during the day.

    Steinfeld was said to be in talks for the role of Bishop, one that is expected to serve as the face of Disney Plus for the next few years, in September of last year. Rumors have swirled since then about why she hadn’t been confirmed and if Marvel Studios had gone in another direction. Her contract with Apple TV seemed to be a sticking point, but it seems now that the COVID-related delay in production on Hawkeye may have smoothed that road out bit. Steinfeld is our Kate Bishop!

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘STRANGER THINGS’ Season 4 Horror Influences Revealed

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘STRANGER THINGS’ Season 4 Horror Influences Revealed

    Production recently resumed on Stranger Things Season 4 in and around Atlanta and some interesting news has made it our way! The series has always been heavily inspired by 80’s films ranging from Fast Times at Ridgemont High to The Thing to Sixteen Candles. The brothers have also often expressed how much of the DNA of Stranger Things was inspired by legends like John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg, Stephen King and James Cameron among others. It looks like a pair of mid-80’s King and Cameron horror films may have exerted a heavy influence on Season 4.

    The set of Season 4 is rich with Easter Eggs that point towards Cameron’s Alien franchise and Maximum Overdrive, a film written and directed by King based off one of his own short stories. As production has moved around Atlanta, fans have noticed that location signs have included Weyland and Mule as code names for the production. The Weyland reference isn’t quite as deep of a cut as Mule, but for those who aren’t familiar, here’s a little breakdown.

    Weyland refers to the Weyland Corporation established in Cameron’s Alien franchise. It’s been heavily retconned as the franchise crossed over with Predator, but it was first seen as the Weyland-Yutani Corp in 1979’s Alien. In that future, Weyland-Yutani is one of the world’s mega corporations that has pushed human colonization of other worlds with the hidden agenda of acquiring Xenomorphs to be weaponized against their competitors.

    Alien: The Weyland-Yutani Corporation's History Explained

    As stated above, Mule is a little more of a deep cut. In 1986, King’s Maximum Overdrive, which he himself referred to as a “moron movie”, the Master of Horror toyed with the idea of what would happen to humans if the machines in the increasingly automated world we lived in, became sentient. Mysteriously “awakened” by a comet, sentient machines such as ATMs, vending machines and (most memorable to me) a semi with a Green Goblin face began to take out humankind. Key among the film’s main antagonists was a military vehicle, the M274 Mule (seen below), which is thankfully destroyed by the heroic Bill (played wonderfully by Emilio Estevez!).

    IMCDb.org: Willys M274 Mechanical Mule in "Maximum Overdrive, 1986"

    While it’s no surprise to see the Alien franchise’s influence exerted once again (it’s been pretty much omnipresent over 3 seasons), it’s incredibly interesting to see what influence, if any, Maximum Overdrive will exert on Season 4. The film’s message about our dependence on machines is a pretty common theme, but it could always be done again. Maybe Emilio Estevez will cameo? Season 2 gave us Ghostbusters and we know the series is moving through the mid-80s, so with Maximum Overdrive and Aliens both having been on screen in 1986, which seems like where Season 4 should fall on the Stranger Things timeline, maybe the kids are watching or discussing it in an episode.  Whether thematically or directly, however, it seems King’s self-described “learning experience” and Cameron’s beloved sequel are a part of Season 4’s DNA.