Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • ‘Shang-Chi’s Meng’er Zhang, Robbie Ammell and More Join ‘The Witcher’ Season 3

    ‘Shang-Chi’s Meng’er Zhang, Robbie Ammell and More Join ‘The Witcher’ Season 3

    Actress Meng’er Zhang left quite an impression with her first mainstream film appearance in Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She took on the role of Xu Xialing, the sister of our hero. She has quite a history with stage and musical productions in her hometown. Now, it seems she has set her eyes on the next franchise as she has officially joined the upcoming third season of Netflix’s The Witcher.

    The actress took to her Instagram account to share the news, where she also offers some details on what her role will be. Her character’s name is Milva and is a human that was adopted by dryads. Here’s the full description:

    A human adopted by the dryads of Brokilon Forest, Milva is a fierce and talented huntress. Exact archery skills coupled with a stone-cold aptitude for survival make her a formidable adversary in the unforgiving Contentint – those that cross her, do so at their peril.

    After an iconic performance in Shang-Chi, it’s great to see the actress get her next high-profile project. There are also quite a few rumors that the Ten Rings will get their own Disney+ series, which would very likely also feature her returning to the role of Xialing. So, it looks like Zhang is going to be quite busy in the coming years.

    She’s not the only one joining the next season, as Netflix has also taken to Twitter to announce that Zhang will be joined by Robbie Amell, Hugh Skinner, and Christelle Elwin.

    It’ll be exciting to see how the project expands, especially as The Witcher further explores Geralt’s travels across the lands. Who knows what other monsters and creatures we might meet that fans of the books have been waiting for it to finally make its way into the popular Netfli series.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter

  • Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ Will Recast Frank Langella Following Misconduct Investigation

    Netflix’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ Will Recast Frank Langella Following Misconduct Investigation

    The Fall of the House of Usher is looking for a new leading man. Netflix’s latest horror miniseries from acclaimed creative Mike Flanagan has fired star, Frank Langella, following an investigation into sexual harassment claims. The longtime actor, now 84-years old, was reportedly accused earlier this week of acting inappropriately on set and making unwanted comments to a female co-star while the two were working. Langella was to play Roderick Usher, the towering patriarch of the titular Usher family, and had already filmed his part through half of the production. Filming will continue on the series with scenes not involving the Roderick Usher character, while production looks to recast the role. Any scenes previously filmed with Langella will be reshot.

    The Fall of the House of Usher is also set to feature Carla Gugino, Mark Hamill, Mary McDonnell, and Carl Lumbly in major roles. Similar in tone to Flanagan’s well-received Haunting series, the show will take inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe‘s short story of the same name. Themes of madness, family, isolation and identity will be explored throughout eight episodes, half of which will be directed by Flanagan with the other half helmed by Michael Fimognari. 

    Hopefully, Usher will continue the Doctor Sleep director’s recent string of success on Netflix. Both The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor became instant horror classics for the streaming service in 2018 and 2020 respectively, with last year’s Midnight Mass also receiving critical praise. Next up is The Midnight Club, which has already completed filming and will release in 2022, before Usher likely drops sometime next year.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘One Piece’ Set Photos Offers New Look at Windmill Village and Shank’s Finished Ship

    ‘One Piece’ Set Photos Offers New Look at Windmill Village and Shank’s Finished Ship

    Since the live-action One Piece started production, we got quite a few pictures from behind the scenes that teased just how much practical work is going into the production. It’s quite commendable to see how much time they are spending on bringing the various villages and ships to life. The latest set photo to find its way online offers another look at Shank’s Red Force. Yet, this time around, he even has the figurehead attached.

    @OP_Netflix_Fan has shared a new set photo that offers our first look at the completed Red Force but also confirms that it is currently parked in Windmill Village. Some time ago, the windmills were spotted in the distance, but this time around we actually get to see the ship parked in the village. So, it’s pretty safe to say that they are currently busy filming the flashback of when Shank’s saved Luffy’s life and set him on the path to becoming King of the Pirates.

    It’s getting clear that the production isn’t filming everything in order, as we recently saw the set for Loguetown teasing Gol D. Roger’s execution. Some even managed to spot them still working on a life-size boat of the Baratie in the distance, which may be one of the final arcs they film. The fact they are filming the flashback also matches with why we recently learned that Yellowjacket‘s Peter Gadiot would take on the iconic role of Shanks. As there’s a risk that set photos might offer our first look at the actor on set, they got the announcement out ahead of time.

    Source: Twitter

  • Pedro Pascal Promises HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Will “Include Things That You Wouldn’t Expect”

    Pedro Pascal Promises HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Will “Include Things That You Wouldn’t Expect”

    Pedro Pascal has been quite busy, as not only did he recently finish work on The Mandalorian‘s third season, will appear in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent but also has been busy working on the HBO adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us. He’ll take on the role of Joel and has revealed in an interview with CQ that he watched his nephew play through the game. Yet, he was worried he’d try to emulate the cahracter too much instead of giving it his own spin.

    What stood out in the interview is that he mentioned that showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman, the man who created the games, have brought some impressive ideas to the table. Especially in how they may be trying to catch fans of the games off-guard so that playing the 2013 game won’t giveaway everything in the adaptation.

    There’s a very, very creative way of honouring what’s important and also preserving what is iconic to the experience of the video game, and also [to include] things that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. And then directions that you would expect it to go, and it might not… they’re doing some really smart things, is all I can say.

    Pedro Pascal

    The Last of Us franchise is no stranger to surprising its audiences, especially with the release of the second entry including some ratehr heavy sequences. It’s unclear if the series will also closely focus on the first game’s story or even incldue some references to the sequel. They could even go a completely different direction and tell a unique take that only connects with the originals through the game’s general plot.

    Source: CQ

  • Jesse L. Martin No Longer a Series Regular on ‘The Flash’ After 8 Seasons

    Jesse L. Martin No Longer a Series Regular on ‘The Flash’ After 8 Seasons

    It’s the end of an era, as Jesse L. Martin is no longer a series regular on the CW’s The Flash after an eight-season run with the DC adaptation. He is currently on his way to lead the new NBC drama The Irrational but won’t be leaving the series entirely. He is still set to appear in multiple episodes of the upcoming ninth season of the series, but won’t have a larger role moving forward. It still won’t be the same to see CCPD detective Joe West have a large part as the guardian of Barry Allen.

    While not a complete exit, it’s heavy to think that only three of the original cast members remain, which are Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, and Danielle Panabaker. There were rumors that a ninth season might not happen, as all their contracts were set to end with the eighth but they managed to renew at least Gustin‘s contract ahead of the renewal announcement. Supposedly, Patton and Panabaker have also negotiated to return.

    What stands out in the report from Deadline is that Martin wasn’t actively approached for a return, which gave him the opportunity to be available for other series and pilots. It seems that he was offered the role and closed the deal as he was their first choice. Supposedly, it’ll allow him to still do up to five episodes of The Flash. He’s set to start work on The Irrational in May or early June, which will also film in Vancouver. So, it definitely seems like it’ll be easy for him to join in for a few episodes.

    Source: Deadline

  • REVIEW: ‘Outer Range’ is a Must-Watch

    REVIEW: ‘Outer Range’ is a Must-Watch

    There’s something immensely scary about the unknown. We’re seeing the resurgence of projects further exploring that concept more and more, especially taking inspiration from Lovecraft’s famous stories. After Lovecraft Country‘s cancellation, I’ve been hopeful that a new series would come around to offer that same feeling. Luckily, Amazon Prime’s Outer Range manages to not only scratch that itch, but even tell a compelling family drama as things start to unfold in the small range of the Abbott family in Wyoming.

    I have to say, I am immensely impressed that this series is Brian Watkins’ first. There’s something very meticulous about its pacing, as we follow Josh Brolin‘s Royal Abbott, as his life starts to unravel around him. The moment he discovers a strange hole in the middle of his field, one that seems beyond our own comprehension, everything around him slowly starts to unravel. He is a man that seemingly has everything in control and does anything for his family, yet someone who has his own secrets to hold. Events throughout the series runtime will push him beyond his breaking point, as he tries to make sense of it all.

    The project has an all-star cast with Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, and Tom Pelphrey being the standouts. Even saying that there’s no weak link in this cast as everyone is seemingly giving it their A-game throughout. Even some crazier characters like Noah Reid‘s Billy Tillerson are designed to fill their role. Brolin is still the man carrying the entire series, and the former Thanos actor truly carries every scene he is in. There’s this amazing subtlety in his performance, as he tries not to let a single weakness break out. It adds to a lot of the tension throughout that the series aims to build.

    Speaking of, it would be a disservice to give away any plot points. While it doesn’t make my job reviewing it any easier, I believe it needs to be seen without giving away any of the major plot points throughout. There are a lot of curious twists and turns in this series that not always are connected to the main void, which is heavily teased in the promotional material for this series. Amazon describes it as “genre-bending” and I can definitely agree that remaining vague with this series was the best way to promote it. In a way, the series feels like a more restrained version of Lost.

    There are some beautifully done shots throughout, which really highlighted the themes and sometimes dread of being lost in the middle of nowhere. The rancher backdrop works in the show’s favor beautifully and adds a special flair that you wouldn’t normally see in this kind of story. The open fields create that illusion of just how small and insignificant we are in the bigger picture. Subtle camera tilts and the right shot composition can make something as simple as a hole in the ground feel eery and endless. There are many shots and moments that still stick with me to this day.

    Of course, the right sound design can truly bring the ambiance together for such a story. In a way, it might even be the strongest element in this story. You know you’re watching something special if moments are punctuated through its audio design. The show knows exactly when to amp up its music to keep you on your toes. There were moments when I had shivers when the music hit just right throughout my time with the series. It’s one of those soundtracks that you’ll listen to even after you finished your watch, as it just conveys a certain feeling.

    Not everything is perfect, as there are moments where the story drags a bit and there’s a lot of exposition throughout. Yet, it ironically also kind of works to the series’ benefit given the way it continues to build up the tension once those moments come back into play. Still, there are times when you do wish it got back to the juicy part of the series. Just highlights how difficult it is to talk about the series without spoiling anything, but there is a lot of set-up at play here. I cannot recommend the series enough, especially if you’ve been looking for something to scratch that same itch as Lost, Annihilation, Lovecraft Country, and similar projects.

  • Disney+’s ‘Willow’ Series Adds ‘Game of Thrones’ Rosabell Laurenti Sellers

    Disney+’s ‘Willow’ Series Adds ‘Game of Thrones’ Rosabell Laurenti Sellers

    We haven’t heard much on Disney+’s upcoming series Willow. Lucasfilm is reviving the 1980 fantasy classic and has assembled quite the cast. The story will feature a princess that assembles a group of heroes to help her rescue her twin brother. Warwick Davis returns in the iconic role and will be joined by Tony Revolori, Amer Chadha-Patel, Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, and Erin Kellyman. Now, it seems that they are joining another fantasy alum in the form of Game of Thrones‘ Rosabell Laurenti Sellers.

    Not much is stated about her character besides the statement that she’ll play someone who is a “resourceful character with shape, acerbic wit.” The actress made her big splash playing Tyene Sand on the HBO series. She also appeared on Mia and Me, Spides, and joined John Travolta in the drama Trading Point. She’s also set to appear in What About Love, where she’ll star opposite Sharon Stone and Andy Garcia.

    It’s great to see Disney+ revive some cult classics by also giving them a new life. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll include any callbacks to the original Willow outside of it being a direct continuation. We got a tease during Disney+ Day that was mostly just from the staff while Warwick roasted the younger cast members. It was a great tease as they just started production at the time.

    Source: Deadline

  • RUMOR: ‘She-Hulk’ Streaming Debut Facing Indefinite Delay

    RUMOR: ‘She-Hulk’ Streaming Debut Facing Indefinite Delay

    Just as word comes that star Tatiana Maslany has put together a “jaw-dropping” performance as Jennifer Walters in the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series She-Hulk, a new rumor has surfaced that indicates it might be a while before fans get to judge for themselves.

    While the streaming series has never really had an official date outside of “sometime in 2022”, a previously reliable source of information has surfaced again, this time suggesting that it’ll be late 2022 or even early 2023 before She-Hulk hits the streaming service. While the post doesn’t give details as to why it’ll be another half year or so before we see it, it can be inferred from other information in the post that the delay could be due to VFX work taking a little longer than expected.

    Whenever She-Hulk does stream, it’s expected to be a 9-episode series of 30-minute episodes and to be heavily comedic in nature. Maslany will be joined by MCU vets Mark Ruffalo, Tim Roth and newcomers Ginger Gonzaga, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Jameela Jamil, who will portray Titania. Marvel Studios has not commented on any official release ate for the series.

    Source: Reddit

  • ‘Moon Knight’: The Midnight Man Cameo Explained

    ‘Moon Knight’: The Midnight Man Cameo Explained

    Moon Knight has been carving out its own story without relying on its comic book history to create a world to explore. Because of that, many classic characters from Moon Knight comics are either not present in the series or take the form of smaller cameos. Episode 3 just revealed another example of a classic Moon Knight character appearing in a subtle way. As with others, it may simply be a nod to the comics, but it might also tease the character’s return in the future.

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight’ Episode 3

    Episode 3 introduces us to the late Gaspard Ulliel‘s Anton Mogart. Better known as the villain Midnight Man, Mogart in the comics was originally a rather corny costumed art and jewel thief who always struck at midnight. Very early on in Moon Knight lore, Mogart was seemingly killed, but actually survived but with a melted and deformed face. He returns, having been driven insane, to work with Moon Knight’s greatest villain Bushman. While he eventually dies many years later, his son Jeff Wilde (calling himself Midnight) becomes Moon Knight’s sidekick for a brief time before also becoming a villain.

    Moon Knight

    In Moon Knight, there is no mention of “Midnight Man,” but Anton Mogart is a significant figure in the episode. He is a very wealthy and connected man with an elaborate collection of black market artifacts, such as Senfu’s sarcophagus that Marc and Layla came to see. Layla notes that he keeps these things where only he can see them—in the comics, Mogart stole precious items just to own them rather than for the money. We last see Ulliel’s Mogart get hit by one of Moon Knight’s crescents. Whether that was fatal to the villain is ambiguous. There is certainly room for Mogart to return in Moon Knight or in future projects.

    The first three episodes of Moon Knight are now streaming on Disney+.

  • ‘Moon Knight’ Confirms the Existence of the “Overvoid” Heliopolis

    ‘Moon Knight’ Confirms the Existence of the “Overvoid” Heliopolis

    Moon Knight seems to be doing a lot of things: an exploration of mental health, dense Ancient Egyptian mythology, and a classic superhero-needing villain. While Moon Knight is notably relatively disconnected from the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe, it might be building another corner of it. While Episode 3 confirms Khonshu’s home realm, there is a twist.

    Episode 3 of the series confirmed that the realm known as the Overvoid. Also known as the Othervoid or Celestial Heliopolis, the Overvoid is the home dimension of beings known as the Ancient Egyptian gods. While in the Pyramid of Giza, Khonshu speaks through Marc Spector to the other avatars and their gods and tells them to return to Earth from the Overvoid or risk losing Earth.

    Marvel Studios’ ‘Moon Knight’ Episode 3

    This is significant in a few ways. First, the actual existence of the Overvoid expands on the MCU cosmos. The Overvoid is an Asgard-like realm. Its appearance as a large city built on a tiny planet is similar to Asgard’s. Its passage to Earth is a golden bridge through space, called the Path of the Gods, which is similar to the Asgardians’ Bifrost. The world of space gods that came to be revered by humans is expanding—with Norse gods and now Ancient Egyptian gods, beings like the Olympians could come later.

    Moon Knight
    Thor #300

    More interesting for the potential events of Moon Knight, though, is the fact that Khonshu’s statement seems to imply that the gods can come and go willingly from the Overvoid. In the comics, that is just generally not true. In fact, the reason the gods use humans as avatars is specifically because they cannot have a physical presence on Earth. So usually, they are somewhat stuck in the Overvoid, but that may not be the case in Moon Knight. Considering Arthur Harrow is seeking out Ammit, this could have huge implications for the series.

    The first three episodes of Moon Knight are now streaming on Disney+.