Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • Marvel to Unveil Upcoming Streaming Slate at NYCC

    Marvel to Unveil Upcoming Streaming Slate at NYCC

    Since Bob Iger‘s mandate to reduce the number of projects in production became public, Marvel Studios has laid fairly low when it comes to slate updates at conventions. On the studio side, updates have come in small, sporadic tidbits rather than splashy and spectacular Hall H-style presentations, with Marvel even sitting out  of the Disney panel at this year’s Destination D23.

    Streaming updates have been even harder to come by, somehow. Indeed, the news that a trio of streaming projects were being shelved was the first time fans learned that two of those projects were in development. Strangely, even projects such as Wonder Man and Vision haven’t been given a big push by the studio, though it seems likely that will change soon.

    According to Marcel.com, Marvel Television and Marvel Animation will provide a look at their respective upcoming slates during an hour-long panel on October 11th as part of New York Comic Con.

    Join special guests for a look behind the scenes at some of Marvel’s most anticipated upcoming Disney+ shows from both Marvel Television and Marvel Animation.

    With only Wonder Man left to stream in 2025, it’s possible that the first trailer for the project, set to debut in December, might be rolled out during the panel. Beyond that, Marvel Television only has two other known projects on the schedule: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 and Vision, both of which are slated for 2026 releases.

    In August, the official New York Comic Con account confirmed that Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll and Krysten Ritter are all scheduled to be in attendance on both October 11th and 12th and will be joined by Luke Cage star Mike Colter, sparking renewed hope that Harlem’s Hero is joining the series for its sophomore season.

    Vision star Paul Bettany is not currently scheduled to be in New York (though he will be joining other Marvel Studios stars in Los Angeles for LA Comic Con September 26-28) but with the series recently having completed principal photography, it’s likely the studio would show off some footage or even just clear up the uncertainty around what the name of the series will be given none of Marvel or Disney’s official sites even list it.

    With only 30 minutes or so to work, assuming an even split of the 60-minute slot, that might be about all for Marvel Television, though perhaps a recent rumor about Vision showrunner Terry Matalas potentially taking the reigns of the long-gestating Nova project could provide an opportunity to peer further into the future.

    We will have a Spider-Man season every year if I have anything to say about it. What usually happens, as you know, in animation, is that there’s a bigger gap between Season 1 and Season 2 than in subsequent seasons, and that’ll be similar in Friendly. We will have to wait a little bit more than a year for Season 2, but then after that, it should come out on an annual cadence, hopefully.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    With Marvel Zombies hitting D+ on September 24th, Marvel Animation’s portion of the panel will be fully-focused on 2026. Marvel TV chief Brad Winderbaum already confirmed that second seasons of both X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are planned to hit D+ at some point in 2026 and it’s possible third seasons for both series could be discussed as well. Winderbaum has made it clear that “creating a seasonal cadence that people can rely on,” is a priority for the TV studios and both series were incredibly well-received, making longer runs all but guaranteed.

    Given that animated projects are easier to keep under wraps–the announcement of Eyes of Wakanda, for example, caught nearly everyone by surprise–it’s possible additional seasons of current series could be announced or even a new project or two. Of course, in all instances, the best bet is to expect very little and with Marvel having trended in that direction for some time now, that’s probably what we’ll get.

    Source: Marvel.com

  • Following “Great” MCU Debut, ‘Vision’ Showrunner Reportedly Lining Up a Second Project

    Following “Great” MCU Debut, ‘Vision’ Showrunner Reportedly Lining Up a Second Project

    Marvel Television’s Paul Bettany-led Vision series has rarely been discussed by the studio but that hasn’t stopped hype from building for the series.

    Originally developed by WandaVision and Agatha All Along showrunner Jac Schaeffer, Vision was passed off to Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas in May 2024. Matalas wasted no time rebuilding the show according to his new…vision…and from what can be gleaned by going through the confirmed cast–which includes Ultron voice actor James Spader and Foundation star T’Nia Miller as his bride, Jocasta–and team of directors, Vision may end up being a tense psychological thriller with notes of existential crisis…and it sounds as though it’s pretty good, too.

    During a recent podcast, Jeff “The In” Sneider shared what he’d heard about the show–and it’s showrunner–and it’s all very positive.

    “I’ve heard that Vision is great,” Sneider said before adding an additional tidbit. “The showrunner, Terry Matalas, may end up working on Nova and that he may get like an overall deal at Marvel.”

    Setting aside the short but sweet news that Vision, which is set to stream in 2026, is already generating positive buzz, Sneider’s information on Matalas potentially taking the helm of Nova is the first word on that subject since the project was reportedly shelved shortly after Ed Bernero agreed to become the showrunner of Marvel Television’s Cosmic streaming series.

    If Matalas were to take over the series, it’s unclear how much of the previous work done by Bernero would be used or if Matalas, a Star Trek vet, would start from scratch. Previous rumors indicated the project would feature Richard Rider rebuilding the Nova Corps in the wake of Thanos’ destruction of Xandar in search of the Power Stone just prior to the events of Avengers: Infinity War.

  • Trade Report Confirms Ed Harris’ ‘Wonder Man’ Role

    Trade Report Confirms Ed Harris’ ‘Wonder Man’ Role

    In late 2022, rumors swirled that Nobody franchise star Bob Odenkirk was offered the role of Simon’s agent, a role that was rumored to be the primary antagonist of the project. Unfortunately, Odenkirk and Marvel Studios didn’t strike a deal but they did find a very capable replacement in veteran actor Ed Harris.

    The 74-year-old Harris is one of Hollywood’s most well-respected method actors and capable of turning any role into a memorable one. Harris has played memorable villains in The Rock, Enemy at the Gates, The Truman Show and National Treasure: Book of Secrets as well as a chilling performance in A History of Violence. And now, a trade report confirms the years-old rumors about his Wonder Man role.

    According to Deadline, Harris will indeed portray “Hollywood agent Neal Saroyan” in Wonder Man, which will premiere this December on D+.

    Created by Gerard Jones and Jeff Johnson in 1991, Neal Saroyan was Simon Williams agent used mostly as a Hollywood caricature, designed to satirize the kind of awful behavior industry veterans have long been known for, making him a perfect fit for Marvel Television’s take on Wonder Man. Later, Peter David ramped up Saroyen’s baddie status, revealing him to be a supervillain in charge of a cadre of assassins known as The Nobility.

    With Demetrius Grosse also on board as classic Marvel villain Eric Williams, aka the Grim Reaper, it looks as though Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Simon Williams will have his hands full.

    Source: Deadline

  • James Gunn Seemingly Confirms a Surprising Hero Will Make His DCU Debut in ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2

    Recently, DC Studios co-chair and Peacemaker creator James Gunn has drawn parallels between how John Cena‘s Christopher Smith was able to move from an “in-between universe” into the DCU and his plans for Blue Beetle, who made his big-screen debut in 2023.

    “Peacemaker was always in a weird place. People say he was part of the DCEU but he wasn’t really,” said Gunn in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes.”He was part of this “in-between Universe” of DC when there was nobody really making sure that everything was connected and at a time when they were going to rewrite everything with The Flash.We were kind of able to do whatever we wanted and we had that brash ending, which I loved, it was one of my favorite things from the whole season, but it just didn’t fit in with the DCU. And Peacemaker, there’s hardly anything else that you need to change for him, he can slide very easily into the DCU, same with Blue Beetle. They just kind of fit in very nicely, we just have to retcon a couple of things,” the DC boss explained. And it seems as though heat have had Blue Beetle on his mind for a reason.

    In an additional portion of the Rotten Tomatoes interview, Gunn seems to all but confirm that Blue Beetle will appear in an upcoming episode of Peacemaker Season 2.

    After the interviewer shares his love for the character with Gunn and expresses his desire to see Blue Beetle appear in Peacemaker, a grinning Gunn “Well, you know, I won’t say you’re not in luck.”

    Given Season 2’s use of the Multiverse as a primary plot device, a number of options are in play, including following up on the disappearance of Ted Kord, the original Blue Beetle, that was mentioned in the 2023 film. Whatever the path, it’s certain that the film’s star Xolo Maridueña, who has been teasing his character’s DCU future, will play some role.

    New episodes of the second season of Peacemaker debut weekly on Thursdays on HBO Max.

  • New ‘Marvel Zombies’ Synopsis Teases a Key to Stopping the Super-Powered Undead

    New ‘Marvel Zombies’ Synopsis Teases a Key to Stopping the Super-Powered Undead

    Marvel Animation’s What If…? spinoff, Marvel Zombies, was recently given a new, earlier release date that will see it hit D+ well ahead of Spooky Season. The four-episode TV-MA mini-event was originally developed as a movie before being broken into four parts and according to director Bryan Andrews, it will deliver on its premise and unleash “a lot of insanity.” And now, thanks to an updated Disney press release, a new synopsis for the story has been revealed.

    Spinning right out of the ending of “What If…Zombies?”, which saw Spider-Man, Black Panther and the head of Ant-Man travel to Wakanda where zombie Thanos awaits, the event series will introduce additional surviving heroes to the mix including Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Shang-Chi and Yelena Belova. The new press release confirms that Paul Rudd will return to voice Scott Lang and that Wyatt Russell and Tessa Thompson also lent their voices to the project.

    After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.

    -Official Synopsis for Marvel Zombies

    Starring Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park,
    Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Hailee Steinfeld, Tessa Thompson, Dominique Thorne, Iman Vellani and Todd Williams, Marvel Zombies will debut on D+ on September 24th.

  • Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio Share Conflicting Information on the Future of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio Share Conflicting Information on the Future of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    As Season One of Marvel Television’s Daredevil: Born Again was finishing its run on Disney Plus in March, production on Season Two was getting underway in New York City. As is always the case, shooting scenes in the Big Apple allowed fans and professional photographers to capture pictures and videos of the action, including catching star Charlie Cox in a black suit complete with, for the first time, a “DD” logo on the chest.

    The suit–which upon a closer look appeared to be the red suit with a layer of black paint on top–resembles the one worn by the character in the Shadowland event or the “Back in Black” suit from the 2015 Charles Soule and Ron Garney run and generated some serious hype.

    Though it’s been a while since the photos landed online, Cox was asked about them during an appearance at Galaxy Con and teased that the black suit isn’t the only new get up Ol’ Hornhead will be sporting in the follow-up season.

    “I know there have been some leaked set photos…so the one we’ve just finished with in Season Two of Born Again, I think is my favorite for a couple of reasons,” said Cox. “One, because it is badass. But also because every suit that we’ve had so far, in some way, is represented in the comics,” explained the actor. “We’ve had a couple of red one. Two, I think three red ones. We’ve had the She-Hulk golden yellow and red…but there’s a particular…there’s something I can’t without giving away too much…there’s something that we do in this final season that doesn’t exist in the comics. So it is unique to our show and so I’m pretty excited about that.”

    Season 2 will come out next year, and then hopefully season 3 and season infinity after that. I think this world is extremely rich, and there are many stories to be told on the streets of New York.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    Cox’s reference to the new season as the “final” one understandably had fans concerned, especially since Marvel Television boss Brad Winderbaum revealed long-term plans for the series earlier this year. Perhaps the star simply misspoke; perhaps Marvel will retitle the show for Season Three, making the second season the final season of Born Again; perhaps Cox had a Freudian slip and accidentally revealed his desire to move on from the character. Whatever the case, co-star Vincent D’Onofrio was quickly able to put out a growing fire. In response to multiple fans asking him about Cox’s comments, D’Onofrio confirmed plans for the series to continue.

    D’Onofrio’s comments are consistent with what he had to say in an interview earlier this year in which he explained that while there are plans for more Daredevil, it’s “up to the fans to watch and to get excited,” and convince Disney to move ahead with those plans.

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Rumored to Retcon a Major Season 1 Appearance

    ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Rumored to Retcon a Major Season 1 Appearance

    Season 1 of Peacemaker ended with an idea so crazy, James Gunn didn’t think he’d get away with it. John Cena‘s Christopher Smith mocked the Justice League often in the first season of the streaming series, including accusing Jason Momoa‘s Aquaman of fucking fish, so when the heroes showed up following the sesson finale’s big battle, it was a fantastic surprise for fans and it gave hope that DCEU would expand…but we know how that turned out.

    With an all-new, all-different DCU already on the way before the Justice League cameo, fans wondered how Gunn would work the now defunct heroes into the “new canon.” The short answer is that he didn’t, even though the rest of the first season of Peacemaker will remain integral to the new continuity. Gunn explained that the integration of Season 1 of Peacemaker into the DC would be “pretty straightforward, with the exception of the appearance by a certain group at the end,” though he never explained how it was that Smith and the audience would forget what they had seen. Now, a new rumor clarifies that dilemma.

    According to prolific social media scooper My Time To Shine Hello, the Justice League cameo is retconned before Season 2 of Peacemaker actually begins in earnest.

    “The first episode of Peacemaker Season 2 opens with ‘Previously in the DCU,’ claimed MTTSH. “It’s mostly all season 1 footage, but there are a couple of changes. Danielle Brooks’ character now talks about calling in the Justice Gang, and they reshot the Justice League cameo from the finale,” potentially revealing Gunn’s plan to follow up on the success of Superman by including the metahuman heroes who worked alongside Kal-El to defeat Lex Luthor…oh, plus one major addition.

    Instead of Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash, the intro will reveal Smith meeting with the Justice Gang AND Milly Alcock’s Supergirl. “Now, it’s Mister Terrific, Superman, [Guy Gardner], Hawkgirl, and Supergirl (all but [Green Lantern] and Hawkgirl are in shadow),” claimed MTTSH, revealing that the Maiden of Might will likely join the team at some point…when she’s not hammered.

    With under two weeks until the streaming premiere of Peacemaker Season 2 on. August 21st, it’s very possible that MTTSH has delivered solid intel as screening packages for the series have likely been sent out to select members of the media.

  • First Look at Jon Bernthal in Full Punisher Tactical Gear from ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    First Look at Jon Bernthal in Full Punisher Tactical Gear from ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    As production on Spider-Man: Brand New Day has gotten underway in Scotland, fans have been treated to some great looks at Spidey franchise star Tom Holland‘s updated suit. However, despite buzz that the action being filmed in Glasgow involved The Punisher, those takes were done without Jon Bernthal, who was wrapping filming on The Punisher Special Presentation in New York City.

    It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story.

    -Brad Winderbaum

    Principal photography on the Marvel Television feature began on July 17th and was scheduled to film for just a few weeks. Now, ahead of Bernthal’s scheduled arrival in Glasgow, a new set photo of the star has hit social media and it has fans buzzing.

    https://twitter.com/CultureCrave/status/1952553400589238737?t=vrzT-Ynbi5-VbuDPygUhYQ&s=19

    Taken from what’s believed to be the last day of principal photography on The Punisher Special Presentation, the photo–shared by Steve Sands–shows Bernthal‘s Frank Castle sporting a fresh fade and full tactical gear, including the iconic skull on his vest.

    Co-written by Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green and believed to be inspired by Garth Ennis‘ 12-issue “Welcome Back Frank” arc, The Punisher Special Presentation will see Castle take on Ma Gnucci in what Bernthal promised would be a dark and brutal event sure to please Netflixers everywhere.

  • DC Studios ‘Booster Gold’ Starting from Scratch with New Writer Penning Pilot

    DC Studios ‘Booster Gold’ Starting from Scratch with New Writer Penning Pilot

    After losing its original and still unknown screenwriter, the Booster Gold streaming series seemed dead in the water at DC Studios. It turns out that is not the case, however, as the studio has brought on a new writer to take a crack at the pilot.

    According to Deadline, David Jenkins (Our Flag Means Death) has taken over duties on cracking the code and, if DC Studios co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran are happy with his take on the pilot, the plan is for him to take on showrunner duties on the series.

    Described in 2022 by Safran as a “loser from the future who uses his basic future technology to come back to today to pretend to be a superhero“, Michael Jon Carter isn’t one of DC Studios household names but has been a character Gunn has been locked in on since putting together DC Studios Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate. Though there had been rumors that Kumail Nanjiani had landed the role of Carter, no official word has ever come on the matter.

    The goal from the beginning was to give the honor that the great characters deserved; the Wonder Womans, Batmans, and Supermans. But then also to prop up these lesser-known characters like Peacemaker, Booster Gold, and The Huntress.

    -James Gunn

    The series was initially described as an “outright comedy” and Gunn described the story of the time-displaced 25th Century hero as “imposter syndrome as a superhero.” How do you deal with that?”, asked Gunn, who added that the series will focus on how Carter “tries to use this future technology to be loved by the people of today and what is really at the base of that.”

    Source: Deadline

  • New BTS Videos Show Jon Bernthal Back in Costume and in Action on the Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    New BTS Videos Show Jon Bernthal Back in Costume and in Action on the Set of ‘The Punisher’ Special Presentation

    As has been the case with both seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, The Punisher: Special Presentation is filming out in the open in the streets of New York City. As such, it is to be expected that plenty of plset photos, snapped by paps and the public alike, will make their way online and so far, that’s exactly how it’s played out.

    The Special Presentation, co-written by star Jon Bernthal and Reinaldo Marcus Green, began principal photography earlier this week and it didn’t take long for images of a hard-boiled looking Frank Castle to make the rounds. While Castle was laying low on those photos, a trip of new videos show the former Marine back in action…and suited up in his iconic vest.

    The action looks to be taking place in and around Gnucci’s Family Restaurant, owner by the rumored villain of the feature, Ma Gnucci. Though she’s yet to appear, Frank wiped out several members of the Gnucci Crime Family, including her son Tony, in Episode 1.01 of Netflix’s The Punisher. It’s likely that Ma would be out for vengeance and equally likely that Frank would be up for finishing the job.

    The Punisher Special Presentation will debut on Disney Plus in 2026.