Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV News

  • Sacha Baron Cohen Confirmed for ‘Ironheart,’ Larger Role in MCU

    Sacha Baron Cohen Confirmed for ‘Ironheart,’ Larger Role in MCU

    Over the weekend, a rumor surfaced suggesting Sacha Baron Cohen had joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as none other than Mephisto. Now, Deadline has seemingly confirmed that Cohen has joined the MCU and that he is, in fact, playing Mephisto. The outlet also suggests Cohen will appear in other titles within the MCU. The outlet also goes on to speculate that Cohen’s Mephisto could appear in the WandaVision spinoff, Agatha: Coven of Chaos, although that is not confirmed.

    Cohen is, of course, best known for his role as Borat. However, the actor has built up quite the resume over the years beyond Borat. He’s appeared in Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Brothers Grimsby, and Les Misérables.

    Ironheart, which consists of six-episodes, hails from head writer Chinaka Hodge and stars Dominique Thorne as Marvel character Riri Williams. Olayiwola joins a cast that includes Anthony Ramos, Shakira Barrera, Manny Montana, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Shea Couleé, and Zoe Terakes. Sam Bailey (Dear White People) and Angela Barnes (Atlanta) are directing the forthcoming Disney+ series.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Charlie Cox Praises Vincent D’Onoforio; Talks Reuniting with ‘Daredevil’ Co-Star

    Charlie Cox Praises Vincent D’Onoforio; Talks Reuniting with ‘Daredevil’ Co-Star

    With Wilson Fisk and Matt Murdock both making their respective ways into the MCU, it’s just a matter of time before the two meet up. Whether that meeting is a reunion between the two characters or their first meeting in a vast multiverse continues to be a hot topic of debate, but one thing has been clear since Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onoforio worked together on Daredevil: they each have a great deal of respect for the other. The two shared the stage briefly at D23 to discuss Daredevil: Born Again, an upcoming 18-episode streaming series and fans have been thrilled at the prospect of seeing them together again since. Fans aren’t the only ones excited about the reunion, however.

    In an interview with GQ following his appearance on She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Cox gushed about D’Onofrio’s talents:

    He’s obviously a lovely guy, but more than that, he’s just such an extraordinary performer. He’s such a great actor. To be able to work opposite him and show up for a day of filming and see what he brings to the scene-which is always so much richer and more nuanced and more interesting [than] you could even have imagined in your mind I probably learned more from him about acting than I have from anyone else I’ve worked with. I think he’s made me a much better actor. Hopefully, I can learn more as we can continue working together.

    Charlie Cox

    D’Onofrio’s investment into the psychology of Wilson Fisk has been well-documented and paid huge dividends over the course of his time on the Netflix series. The actor has made it clear that he’s bringing the same energy to the character as he enters the MCU, meaning that when it comes time for him to meet Daredevil on screen, fans can expect something special.

    Source: GQ

  • Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox Wants More CGI In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’`

    Charlie Cox is back as Daredevil and he’s ready to make a few improvements. The actor made his big return to the role of lawyer Matt Murdock in last year’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, before putting on the vigilante suit and seeing a little more screen time in Disney+’s latest series, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. When fans finally saw the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Murdock take action, however, it looked a little different than the last time he appeared on Netflix. In She-Hulk, Daredevil was made to be a bit more acrobatic than he was in his own show, with additional CGI being used to more accurately reflect his comic book abilities. In a new interview with GQ, Cox revealed his hopes that this use of CGI continues in his next solo outing, Daredevil: Born Again.

    When asked about what he hoped to accomplish on Disney+ that he wasn’t able to do on Netflix, the former Stardust star gave the following answer:

    I guess what I would say is: hopefully, on the Disney+ show, Born Again, we will be able to use—and I hope that we do it sparingly, I believe it should be used sparingly—but we’ll hopefully be able to use a tiny bit more CGI in the action sequences. Just to emphasize his gymnastic abilities that have been basically impossible to do.

    Charlie Cox

    Marvel’s Netflix shows were known for their lower-budget feel, often resulting in the use of more practical action choreography that limited what Cox could do as the famously spry superhero. Of course, this doesn’t mean those fight scenes weren’t extremely well-done. Just that with a little added CGI, they might be able to do something more faithful to the source material. Also, to be fair, Cox prefaced his answer with a disclaimer explaining why he couldn’t give a more detailed response:

    I’ve learned that these questions are a little tricky because the problem with them is that if I start detailing things I’d like to do, then very quickly, it becomes a news story. It potentially gets in the minds of not only the fans but also the creators and the writers. I really want to be careful not to muddy those waters because if it turns out to be a good idea, it can be a shame because it robs the fans of that moment of discovery. So forgive me for being a little bit vague in this area.

    Charlie Cox

    Daredevil: Born Again is set to debut on Disney+ in the spring of 2024, with Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio returning to their respective roles of Murdock and crime lord Wilson Fisk.

    Source: GQ

  • J.J. Abrams’ ‘Zatanna’ Looking for New Streaming Home

    J.J. Abrams’ ‘Zatanna’ Looking for New Streaming Home

    In 2019, HBO Max signed J.J. Abrams to a $250M deal to develop projects for the streamer. Among the highlights was the development of DC’s Justice League Dark franchise, which was to include projects such as Constantine, Madame X and Zatanna. The former two projects were recently cut from HBO Max’s budget as ongoing shifts at Warner Bros. continue to change the landscape at the streaming service. Now it seems that HBO Max has moved on from the latter as well as Zatanna is now looking for a new home.

    Amongst an incredible wealth of information in a report from THR’s Borys Kit came the news that Zatanna has joined Constantine on the scrap heap at HBO Max. According to Kit, however, while the shows are dead at HBO Max, Abrams is shopping them to other networks in hopes of keeping them alive. Constantine was the furthest along of all the Justice League Dark projects, having been set to film this Fall. Set to be 8-episodes, it was going to adapt the story of John Constantine’s fateful encounter with Astra Logue. Zatanna had been in development since early 2021 with Oscar-nominated director Emerald Fennel on the script.

    The moves happen as Warner Bros. and Discovery continue their merger and ahead of the two companies streaming services merging into one platform in 2023. For Abrams, it means that 3 years into his deal he has yet to deliver on the promise. In addition to the cancellation of his Justice League Dark projects, another project he developed, Demimonde, was scrapped. Abrams is set to produce the upcoming Constantine film starring Keanu Reeves and also working with Ta-Nehisi Coates on his Superman project, which is said to be set outside the DC Universe’s main continuity.

    Source: THR

  • Charlie Cox Discusses Differences Between Netflix and Disney+ Versions of Daredevil

    Charlie Cox Discusses Differences Between Netflix and Disney+ Versions of Daredevil

    The return of Charlie Cox as Matthew Murdock and Daredevil has been one of the most hotly discussed topics in the superhero landscape. Once believed to be a relative impossibility following the Netflix cancellation, this portrayal of Daredevil has been given a second wind of energy that will continue into in his own 2024 Disney+ series. While his return in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has been met with general praise from audiences, some level of debate has amassed on the differences in portrayal of Matthew Murdock on Disney+ as opposed to Netflix. The somber tones of the original Netflix series are not present in the recent Disney+ series, though that’s absolutely logical with the latter being distinctly comedic in nature. It has, however, led to some questions about how this will translate to Daredevil: Born Again.

    While speaking with Variety about his return to the role, Charlie Cox took some time to speak about the different side of his character shown in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

    We’ve never really had an opportunity to explore the levity that there is in the comics. Obviously Daredevil at his core works better as a show that’s geared toward a more mature audience, but even life that is very serious has comedic moments in it. I felt like this was a really good opportunity to put Daredevil in a world where tonally there is a lot more fun to be had, it’s a lot more lighthearted, tongue in cheek. It was a really great experiment, both for me and for the character, to see how we fit into that world. It was just a question of freeing up a little bit and allowing myself as an actor to go toe-to-toe with Tatiana and make sure that Daredevil didn’t become the butt of the joke because he’s overly serious, to make sure he had his charisma, charm and wits. Whether that will play into what we do next year with “Daredevil: Born Again,” I don’t know, but it was certainly a fun experiment.

    Charlie Cox

    Charlie Cox makes a strong point about the importance of moments of levity despite his character being commonly associated with darker themes. Matthew Murdock’s role in She-Hulk doesn’t necessarily negate the character’s other experiences in the Netflix Defenders-verse. While the tone of Daredevil in She-Hulk was different from the Netflix series, it was also greatly in-line with the seminal Mark Waid run on the character in the comics.

    Whether or not this tone will remain for Daredevil: Born Again does remain a question. But if the quality of his material remains the same, it shouldn’t really matter what tone Daredevil will have for this upcoming series.

    Source: Variety

  • Charlie Cox Discusses What to Expect in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Charlie Cox Discusses What to Expect in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    With She-Hulk: Attorney at Law having wrapped up its first season on Disney+, fans have begun further anticipating the next venture involving a superheroic lawyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Charlie Cox has received generally rave reviews for his performance in the final two episodes of She-Hulk, greatly raising the level of interest for Daredevil: Born Again, which arrives on Disney+ in 2024 with 18 episodes (an unprecedented move for Marvel Studios projects on the streaming platform). While talking with Variety about his return as Daredevil, Charlie Cox discussed the concept of an 18-episode series and how it will impact the production and story of the new series.

    It’s mad. I have no idea; your guess is as good as mine. Just in terms of shooting, physically it’s going to be a real slog and that will be a challenge in and of itself, which I’m excited about. It’s such a bold move. The character being a lawyer lends quite well to that. There’s a lot of story you can tell, just outside of the superhero element.

    Charlie Cox

    With Daredevil: Born Again being primed to be such a deep dive into the titular character and his world, questions will be asked of how much from the original Netflix series will be folded into this adaptation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When asked about who from the original series Cox would like to reunite with, the actor played it relatively coy. However, he did go fairly in-depth into the concept of being curious about where the character’s “canon” will be when the show streams.

    It was an absolute delight to work with everyone on all of those shows at Netflix. They were the beating heart of all of those shows. I would be honored and thrilled to work with any of them again. I would hate to single anyone out and I would hate to speculate because I just don’t know what the plan is going forward. That’s way above my pay grade. There are so many great stories to tell. There are stories to tell again. That wouldn’t be inconsistent with what they do in the comic book universe. Often a new writer and artist will take over a book and they will start from beginning. So maybe we’ll be doing that, but I genuinely don’t know. I’m just thrilled that I’ve been invited to the party.

    Charlie Cox

    Charlie Cox makes some interesting points here about the possibility of Daredevil: Born Again being a true fresh slate for the character away from what he did before. The specific status of “canon” within the Netflix universe of Marvel characters, however, does still remain nebulous. That said, the inclusion of Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin alongside rumors about other returning Netflix characters can lead to the belief that at least some of the core story beats will remain intact.

    The growing romance between Daredevil and She-Hulk caught the attention of fans, and She-Hulk, after showcasing strong amounts of chemistry in the latter two episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Fans have begun to ask questions about whether Jennifer Walters will make some sort of appearance in Daredevil: Born Again. Charlie Cox addressed the idea.

    I don’t like to speculate; I’ve learned over the years that when you get excited in an interview and you talk about things that could happen, the problem is that they then litter the internet. People talk about it, and then if it is a good idea, you end up ruining it for the fans. The only thing I’ll say is that I had such a blast working with Tatiana. She’s such an extraordinary actor, and the characters’ chemistry was really strong. There’s more fun to be had there, so whether we can go on that journey a little longer and our lives can collide again, I don’t know but I’d certainly be in support of that, if it can happen.

    Charlie Cox

    Source: Variety

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Star Tatiana Maslany Discusses a Potential ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Appearance

    ‘She-Hulk’ Star Tatiana Maslany Discusses a Potential ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Appearance

    Episode 8 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law saw Charlie Cox guest star as both Matt Murdock and Daredevil and fans ate up both his performance and the chemistry between his character and Tatiana Maslany’s Jen Walters. Since the episode debuted, fans have been clamoring to see more of the two together and while they got a few seconds of screen time with one another in the finale of She-Hulk, it didn’t quite satisfy the need of fans nor, apparently, Maslany.

    In an interview with THR, Maslany joked that she’s been texting Cox daily, trying to find a way to guest star in Daredevil: Born Again, which is currently set to stream in 2024.

    I keep texting him being like, ‘Am I required for set today?’ And he says, ‘We’ll let you know by lunch.’ But he just keeps putting it off. I’ve been waiting outside the set in my She-Hulk costume, so just put me in, coach.

    Tatiana Maslany

    While fans wait for word on a potential second season of She-Hulk and what future the character has in store in the wider MCU, it’s wonderful to see Maslany campaigning to keep the fire hot between Jen and Matt!

    All 9 episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law are now streaming on Disney Plus.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Seemingly Set to Introduce One of Marvel’s Most Beloved Couples

    ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Seemingly Set to Introduce One of Marvel’s Most Beloved Couples

    When it was announced that Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha, who fans grew to love in 2021’s WandaVision, was returning to the role for her own solo series, fans were curious about the direction it might take. After taking a sound beating from the Scarlet Witch and having her powers drained, Agatha was punished by being turned back into the nosy neighbor version of her character and left behind in Westview. Even as the start of production on Agatha: Coven of Chaos draws near, word on the plot of the series has yet to hit the web, though some intriguing casting details have.

    In June, a casting leak indicated that the Agatha-centric series was looking for an actor, 17-20, to play a gay, lead character. The character was described as being “witty” and “astute” with a dark sense of humor and also being a “bit of a fanboy.” Fans of Marvel Comics readily identified this character as Billy Kaplan, aka Wiccan, one of Wanda’s sons seen in WandaVision. Teenage Billy was so much of a fanboy that he originally called himself Asgardian and styled himself after Thor’s look when he first entered into superheroing. While all the dots might not connect as to how an older version of Billy might appear in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Agatha’s interest in Wanda’s children as seen in WandaVision could be a plot point that would easily carry over into her series. And with Mephisto once again rumored to be headed to the MCU, it’s possible that the Master of the Realm of Lost Souls might have a hand in things somehow.

    While the appearance of an aged-up Billy likely means that his twin brother, Tommy, will appear as well, there’s one more Young Avenger who comes to mind when Billy is involved. Where is Teddy Altman? Fans have expected the character to turn up for the past couple of years now, but he’s never made his way into any of the projects he’s been rumored to appear in just yet. However, another casting call might just indicate that fans won’t have to wait much longer.

    In addition to the casting call above, a second casting call for an actor, 18-20, to play a gay male has made the rounds. The character is described as “a kind soul” with a “great sense of humor” who is totally in love with his boyfriend and has an athletic build. Could this be Teddy? With not much to go on in terms of descriptors, it’s impossible to say with certainty, but the descriptors that are given are very much in line with the way Teddy has always been characterized. However, connecting the dots back to the other description, which almost certainly is Billy, Teddy becomes a VERY logical guess.

    If Agatha: Coven of Chaos does introduce teen versions of Billy, Tommy and Teddy, it lays the groundwork for projects such as the Scarlet Witch solo series, The Children’s Crusade and, ultimately, the Young Avengers. Just the introduction of Teddy alone would also erase the strange concerns that Skaar would be replacing him in the MCU, allow for a connection to Secret Invasion and open up opportunities to tell more Kree-Skrull War stories down the road. With production on Agatha: Coven of Chaos set to begin early next year, casting announcements may soon reveal the true identity of these characters, giving fans something to look forward to in the somewhat near future.

  • Edward Norton Almost Made His Return to the MCU in ‘She-Hulk’

    Edward Norton Almost Made His Return to the MCU in ‘She-Hulk’

    Episode 2 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law took full advantage of the self-awareness of the series in order to crack wise about Mark Ruffalo replacing Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. As Jen finds herself working on Emil Blonsky’s case, she also finds herself conflicted given Blonsky’s past with her cousin. Smart Hulk gives her the all clear, however, telling her he is a “completely different person now, literally.” It was a great joke for those who caught it and it was never thought of again…until now.

    In an interview with The Direct, She-Hulk director Kat Coiro revealed that the show almost went one step further than the subtle nod to Norton’s time as the Hulk: they almost brought him back for a cameo.

    There was a lot of talk about the fact that the last time they were together a different actor was playing the Hulk. And Mark [Ruffalo] made quite a few jokes about that. And we did entertain the idea of swapping Mark out for Edward Norton. But that did not come to pass.

    Kat Coiro

    Obviously, it never got past the idea stage, but given the crazy nature of the ending, which saw She-Hulk in the writer’s room of her own show, talking to Marvel Studios K.E.V.I.N. and altering the plot of the finale, it would have fit and been a fantastic bit of fun. Of course, there’s no guarantee that Norton would have agreed to the appearance, but knowing that it’s been considered once could leave the door open for them to eventually approach the actor for a return in another project. With Avengers: Secret Wars on the way, anything is possible.

    Source: The Direct

  • Production on ‘Loki’ Season 2 Has Wrapped

    Production on ‘Loki’ Season 2 Has Wrapped

    Production on the second season of Loki looks to have wrapped. The news comes courtesy of a few crew members who took to social media to celebrate “wrap day.” The crew also showed off some of the wrap gifts they received, including a jacket advertising the show’s second season.

    Filming on Loki‘s second season began over the Summer, with numerous photos circulating of leading man Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson and Sophia Di Martino on set making their way online. Also featuring in the photos were series newcomer, Ke Huy Quan, who is set to play a TVA employee.

    Joining returning stars Hiddleston, Wilson and Di Martino is Gugu Mbatha-Raw. They’ll be joined by Blindspotting’s Rafael Casal, who is set to have a mysterious “major role” in the show. The second season of Loki is set to pick-up shortly after the events of Season 1, with Loki in a new timeline after the death of He Who Remains.

    The second season of Loki currently has no release date outside of 2023.

    Source: Twitter/Instagram.