Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • RUMOR: Indiana Jones Streaming Series to Feature a Previously Unseen Character

    RUMOR: Indiana Jones Streaming Series to Feature a Previously Unseen Character

    As Harrison Ford prepares to say goodbye to Doctor Henry Jones Jr., the iconic character he’s played multiple times since 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucasfilm is reportedly working with Disney Plus to create a streaming series set within his world of archaeological wonder. The show is in the earliest stages of development, with no creatives yet attached, but a new rumor might indicate the direction in which the show is headed and it’s rather surprising.

    According to The Hot Mic Podcast, the new series may focus on a character who has never been seen on screen in the Indy franchise but had a major impact on the life of Indiana Jones: Abner Ravenwood. Ravenwood was Jones’ mentor in archeology and had a lifelong fascination with the Ark of the Covenant. Ravenwood died while searching for it and it was his connection to Jones that put Indy on the trail of the artifact in Raider of the Lost Ark. Of course, the two had a much more personal connection as well, and one that ended their professional relationship: Indy’s affair with Ravenwood’s daughter, Marion.

    By putting the focus on Abner Ravenwood, the series’ timeline could extend as far back as the late 1800s and serve as a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. While Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has said there will never be Indiana Jones without Ford in the role, there might be some wiggle room in casting an actor as a very young Henry Jones Jr. if the Ravenwood rumor turns out to be true. Whatever the case, rest assured that Lucasfilm has their top men on the case. Top. Men.

    Source: Hot Mic Podcast

  • ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Adds Momona Tamada & Alyvia Alyn Lind

    ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Adds Momona Tamada & Alyvia Alyn Lind

    Two more have joined the cast of The Spiderwick Chronicles for Disney+. Deadline has reported that Momona Tamada (The Baby-Sitters Club) and Alyvia Alyn Lind (SyFy’s Chucky) are the latest to join the series.

    Tamada will play Emiko, a local teen from Henson who is a member of the out-patient group therapy at the Meskwaki Psychiatric Hospital. While Lind will play Calliope – a Fetch who has taken this disguise to be able to stay close to the evil ogre, Mulgarath. The duo is set for recurring roles in the series.

    The live-action Spiderwick series, which is based on the bestselling books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, stars Lyon Daniels, Noah Cottrell and Christian Slater. It tells the story of two twin brothers, Jared and Simon. After they move from New York to Michigan, into a run-down ancestral home – The Spiderwick Estate – with their mother and sister, Mallory (Mychala Lee), Jared and Simon soon find themselves pulled into an alternate and fantastical world. The series consists of eight books in total and was previously adapted into a feature film in 2008 by Paramount Pictures. That adaptation was a misfire and only earned $164 million worldwide despite receiving an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

    The first two episodes of The Spiderwick Chronicles will be directed by She-Hulk director Kat Coiro. Locke & Key‘s Aron Eli Coleite will serve as the showrunner; he’ll executive produce the series with Coiro, Black and Dierlizzi. Also executive producing the series are Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg, and Julie Kane-Ritsch.

    Source: Deadline.

  • RUMOR: Charlayne Woodard is [SPOILER] in ‘Secret Invasion’

    RUMOR: Charlayne Woodard is [SPOILER] in ‘Secret Invasion’

    With 2023 will come the start of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And this new wave of Marvel Studios projects will begin with the Disney+ series Secret Invasion. Based on the modern classic comic event, the show will look to further expand the world of Skrulls as they make their presence known on Earth. As well, Secret Invasion is seemingly primed to be a deep dive into Samuel L. Jackson’s character of Nick Fury (much like the previous shows from Marvel Studios have been for others). And with a new casting rumor, audiences might now have a better idea of what to expect from the character study of Fury. The latest word is that actress Charlayne Woodard is going to be playing Priscilla, an agent and, more importantly, Nick Fury’s wife.

    **Please note that while the above tweet suggests she’ll be an Agent of S.W.O.R.D., it looks like she’ll just be an agent.**

    It’s of course important to note that this is only a rumor at this juncture. It’s been confirmed via the initial trailer that Woodard will be part of the series, but no confirmation has been made about her being Fury’s spouse. Charlene Woodward has had a prolific career in film, television, and theatre. This includes a Tony Award nomination for Best Feature Actress in a Musical for Ain’t Misbehavin’. Secret Invasion provides the opportunity for a potentially major role for the actress opposite Samuel L. Jackson.

    Meanwhile, the concept of Nick Fury having a wife within the Marvel Cinematic Universe would certainly be a surprise. Besides a brief passing mention in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it’s gone unknown that Nick Fury has a spouse. As well, there isn’t much comic precedence of Fury being married in a notable way. It further plays into the concept that these shows set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe are primarily based around providing more extensive character backstories and development for those in supporting roles from the films. And with Jackson at the lead of Secret Invasion, this should make for an exciting viewing experience (regardless of the validity of this new rumor).

    Secret Invasion is currently scheduled to release on Disney+ at some point in the early Spring of 2023.

  • Marvel Studios Confirms Multiple D+ Projects from the World of Wakanda in Development

    Marvel Studios Confirms Multiple D+ Projects from the World of Wakanda in Development

    Marvel Studios Executive Producer Nate Moore has set the record straight on the number of potential Wakanda-based spinoff projects in development. In an interview with Variety, Moore, who is also a member of Marvel Studios Parliament, described the World of Wakanda as “expansive” and full of “great characters” adding that “beyond what happens with this film, there are more opportunities to go back to Wakanda.”

    The D+ streaming series Ironheart will be the first project to spin out of the Black Panther franchise but as Moore put it, “there are no shortage of ideas” about other projects. According to Moore, some of the series in mind would involve existing characters, such as the Okoye-centric project that’s been in development for some time, while others would focus on characters “that would be completely new.” With the introduction of Namor and Talokan in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the potential could exist for Coogler’s Proximity Media to develop projects based around those characters as well.

    The idea of multiple projects set within and adjacent to the World of Wakanda comes at a time when Disney Plus offers multiple options to expand on the characters and stories that make up the shared tapestry of the MCU. Nearly three years ago, WandaVision began an new age of streaming series for Marvel Studios and while 6-10 episode series seemed to be a key piece of the D+ puzzle, Werewolf By Night, the studio’s first Special Presentation, opened another gateway for new projects. Given the rich comic book history and number of characters associated with Wakanda, it wouldn’t be surprising to see all avenues explored in the future.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in theaters on November 11th.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘It’ Prequel Series at HBO Max Sets Showrunners

    ‘It’ Prequel Series at HBO Max Sets Showrunners

    Earlier this year, it was announced that HBO Max was developing a prequel to IT. The series, which is titled Welcome to Derry, had set Wonder Woman writer and It: Chapter Two producer Jason Fuchs as the head writer of the series. Now, Variety has announced that Fuchs, along with Brad Caleb Kane, will serve as co-showrunners on the series.

    Fuchs reportedly wrote the screenplay for the first episode of the series, based on a story he wrote along with Andy and Barbara Muschietti. Andy Muschietti, of course, directed both IT films starring Bill Skarsgård as the dancing clown, Pennywise. While not set in stone, the hope is that Muschietti will direct the pilot episode of the series. Fuchs, Kane and the Muschiettis will produce the series, with the Muschiettis producing through their Double Dream banner.

    Fuchs is perhaps best known for his work on Wonder Woman, Pan and Ice Age: Continental Drift. While Kane has written for episodes of shows such as Warrior, Black Sails and Fringe.

    As it stands, details regarding the series are being kept under wraps, but it’s said that Welcome to Derry will be a prequel to 2017’s It: Chapter One. No release date, or casting, has been announced.

    Source: Variety.

  • New Rumor Supports Joe Locke’s Casting as Wiccan in ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    New Rumor Supports Joe Locke’s Casting as Wiccan in ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    Marvel Studios WandaVision spinoff, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, is preparing for the early 2023 start of principal photography and the cast is seemingly growing by the day. One of the major additions to the Kathryn Hahn-led streamer was Heartstopper actor Joe Locke, who was cast as an unnamed gay, lead character for the 9-episode series. Locke’s casting came shortly after a report indicated that Agatha: Coven of Chaos looked to be set to introduce Billy Kaplan to the MCU, but a prevailing alternate theory as the actor playing Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch. Now, a new rumor seems to add fuel to the Wiccan fire.

    According to one YouTube channel, Locke’s role in the upcoming series is indeed that of Billy Kaplan/Wiccan. Of course, given everything that is known about the character(and the fact that Locke is a near-perfect match for the character’s physical appearance in the comics), Wiccan is the most obvious choice. Though Hahn’s character is the lead in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, the title would lead one to believe that the series will be dealing with the fallout of Wanda Maximoff’s time as the Scarlet Witch and her use of Chaos Magic. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may also have given some hints as to the pending arrival of Wiccan as a representation of him was seen etched into the walls of Mount Wundagore.

    In the comics, Billy Kaplan is the son of a Jewish couple living in New York who is ultimately revealed to be the “reborn soul” of Billy Maximoff. Kaplan, who becomes a founding member of the Young Avengers. Destined to become the all-powerful Demiurge, Billy often found himself the target of schemes by other magic-wielders, including Loki, who sought his power for themselves. Given Agatha has lived by siphoning the power from others for so long, it would stand to reason that if she were somehow able to break free from Wanda’s spell, perhaps with the assistance of a group of other witches, she might take a keen interest in someone like Billy Kaplan.

    Marvel Studios has had no official comment on Locke’s role. Hahn and Locke have recently been joined in the series by Aubrey Plaza, Ali Ahn and Maria Dizzia, whose role as a witch in the series has been misreported. Principal photography is expected to kick off in January and wrap in May and the series is currently on the schedule for a late-2023/early-2024 release on Disney Plus.

    Source: YouTube

  • Disney+ Adds 12.1M Subscribers, ‘Ms. Marvel’ Highlighted as a Contributor

    Disney+ Adds 12.1M Subscribers, ‘Ms. Marvel’ Highlighted as a Contributor

    It’s very clear for a while that streaming is a high-investment game and those costs only continue to grow over time. Netflix still has showcased that this model doesn’t always promise instant wins as expectations on all sides continue to grow to hope to be the one that draws in the biggest crowd. In Disney’s latest earnings call, it was highlighted that Disney’s streaming losses have continued to grow to $1.47 billion even as it added an impressive 12.1M subscribers in the last quarter.

    Overall, Disney is doing well in the streaming market by hitting 235M subscribers overall, as Hulu added one million and ESPN+ another 1.5M. Ms. Marvel, interestingly enough, was highlighted as one of the shows that gave Disney+’s growth a boost, which is interesting considering it had a lower viewing count when compared to others in the franchise. It once again may highlight the importance of Disney diversifying its portfolio to draw in viewers, especially a younger generation.

    The biggest concern lies in how Disney has doubled its year-over-year investment, which will have investors and shareholders uncertain about the potential of this market. CEO Bob Chapek hinted that these costs have now peaked and profitability would start in 2023.

    The rapid growth of Disney+ in just three years since launch is a direct result of our strategic decision to invest heavily in creating incredible content and rolling out the service internationally, and we expect our DTC operating losses to narrow going forward and that Disney+ will still achieve profitability in fiscal 2024, assuming we do not see a meaningful shift in the economic climate. By realigning our costs and realizing the benefits of price increases and our Disney+ ad-supported tier coming December 8, we believe we will be on the path to achieve a profitable streaming business that will drive continued growth and generate shareholder value long into the future.

    Bob Chapek

    There’s a lot of hope in the new ad-tier version of these Disney bundles to make that profitability possible especially as they also have a price increase planned. If they manage to accomplish this task, the world may take another look at the streaming market’s longevity. The Wrap considers it a signal of “streaming fatigue” but that’s difficult to truly say at this point even with minor signs potentially steering it in that direction. At this point, the first promise of profitability is crucial for Disney to prove their investment was truly worth it. Overall Disney has a revenue of $20.1 billion in its quarter with an operating income of $1.6M.

    Source: THR, Twitter, The Wrap

  • ‘Gotham’ Knights Adds Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub in Recurring Roles

    ‘Gotham’ Knights Adds Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub in Recurring Roles

    There was a time when people thought the CW wasn’t moving forward with Gotham Knights, the story of Bruce Wayne’s adoptive son uniting with the children of Gotham’s iconic villains to take on a new threat after the death of his father. The series is seemingly staying far away from most comic influences and paving its own adaptation but will still include elements from the original.

    While most CW series are getting axed currently, it does seem like they are quite busy working on the series by Batwoman trio Natalie Abrams, Chad Fiveash, and James Stoteraux. The series has now added two recurring roles with Lauren Stamile and Damon Dayoub joining the DC project. They will play the parents of Brody March, Lincoln, and Rebecca March. The series showrunners had the following to say about the casting:

    We are absolutely thrilled to add Lauren and Damon to our already stellar cast. It’s very fitting for their characters in particular to join our world of Gotham. And while fans of the comics may recognize Lincoln’s name, they should expect some twists in the stories to come.

    Lincoln is teased as a “self-made industrialist with designs on becoming Gotham’s next mayor” who has a bit of an obsession with gaining more power. Stamile will be taking on the role of a wife that is trapped in an unhappy marriage but tries to keep up the facade. No further details are given on what to expect from their characters and generally where the series’ overarching narrative might be heading but it’s currently set for a midseason release.

    Source: Deadline

  • BREAKING: Disney Hoping to Develop an ‘Indiana Jones’ Series for Disney+

    BREAKING: Disney Hoping to Develop an ‘Indiana Jones’ Series for Disney+

    Indiana Jones is set to make a big comeback with the upcoming fifth film starring Harrison Ford in the iconic role once again. Yet, it seems that Disney is not interested in leaving it with just that single project. According to a new report by Variety, it seems they are also hoping to develop a Disney+ series based on the iconic archaeologist’s globe-trotting adventures. They don’t have a writer or showrunner in place. So, it’s not a definite project at the moment but definitely something they are looking into.

    There’s also now ord if they are hoping to develop a prequel, many might recall the plans to make an Indiana Jones Jr. series a long time ago, or even if this might act as a spinoff simply set in the same world. Ford has openly stated he’s done playing the character with the upcoming fifth film, which could also hint as it acting as a sort-of reboot with someone else in the title role. Still, we don’t have much to go on as of now.

    Disney’s focus on IP is well-known and it would’ve been quite surprising if they haven’t thought of further developing the Indiana Jones brand in some way. Still, they have only thrown the idea out there and are likely looking for someone to pitch their take on the project. Who knows if this might even see the light until 2026 if no one is currently attached, to begin with? Lucasfilm has also not been very thorough in consistently putting gout projects, which could also play a factor and doesn’t mean we’ll definitely see a series spin out of this initial kick-off.

    Source: Variety

  • Season 4 of ‘Manifest’ Debuts to 57.1 Million Hours Viewed

    Season 4 of ‘Manifest’ Debuts to 57.1 Million Hours Viewed

    Manifest debuted the first half of Season 4 on Netflix last week to impressive numbers. It was revealed today that the series easily took the No. 1 spot on last week’s Top 10 list on Netflix. The first 10 episodes of Season 4 are said to have pulled in 57.1 million hours viewed within the first three days on the service. Also impressive, the first season of Manifest also reentered the top 10 with 20.3 million hours viewed ahead of Season 4’s debut.

    When Manifest was canceled by NBC last July, the series ended up being shopped around, but at the time, it seemed uncertain it would find another home. In fact, even Netflix initially passed on saving the NBC drama. But as fans continued to stream the series and the number of viewers continued to grow, the streaming giant retracted its initial decision and decided to save Manifest. It’s of note that, in the end, Netflix ended up having to beat out NBC to renew the show for a fourth season.

    The fourth season of Manifest consists of 20 episodes and sees the return of its all-star cast consisting of Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Athena Karkanis, J.R. Ramirez, and more. As of now, there’s no release date for the second half of Manifest Season 4.

    Source: Deadline.