Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • First Look at A24’s ‘Hazbin Hotel’ Animated Series Released

    First Look at A24’s ‘Hazbin Hotel’ Animated Series Released

    Vivienne Medrano, who some might know better as VivziePop, has been hard at work on her various animated series. She’s been independently working with a team to bring the series titled Helluva Boss to life on YouTube, which has been welcomed with open arms by fans. That is not all, as some time ago, the famous indie production studio A24 also picked up her other pilot project, Hazbin Hotel, as a direct series. The story focuses on Charlie Morningstar, the princess of hell – yes, that hell – as she tries to reform people through her hotel. The long-dormant Twitter account started sharing some pictures from the series, such as our first look at Charlie’s new design for the series.

    That’s not all, as a small teaser of the titular hotel has also been shared, which includes some familiar visuals such as the blimp that was featured heavily in the pilot episode. We’ll see if the various additions to the hotel might tease the many tenants of the hotel and the wacky adventures that might result from it.

    The “On Air” sign definitely teases the return of Alastor, the Radio Demon. It’s unclear if they might change some aspects from the pilot, which isn’t uncommon for these adaptations. There’s a good chance most of the cast will return, but we might pick up where the pilot left off and just jump straight into the daily life of the hotel. With the “coming soon” tease, we hopefully won’t have to wait long for our first look at the series.

    Source: Twitter

  • Ian McDiarmid Teases Potential Return of Emperor Palpatine in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’

    Ian McDiarmid Teases Potential Return of Emperor Palpatine in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’

    Now that The Book of Boba Fett came to an end, all eyes are already on Obi-Wan Kenobi to continue the momentum and offer us more from the Star Wars universe. We already know that Ewan McGregor‘s Obi-Wan will once again face off against Darth Vader with Hayden Christensen taking on the role again. The best part is he’s even set to return in Ahsoka. Yet, it looks like he’s not the only veteran who could be making a return in the upcoming film.

    Reddit’s master sleuth u/drewton found a Weekend Extra article from last September, where Hugh Montgomery got a chance to interview the former Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid. In it, he seemingly teased that there might be a chance that he could also make a return in some capacity. He calls out Obi-Wan Kenobi explicitly to hint at a potential return in the iconic role, while also taking a jab at his encounter with Rey.

    I think I have to accept that, thanks to my ungrateful granddaughter, my annihilation was finally final. [But] Of course, [Darth] Vader is back in the new [Obi-Wan Kenobi] television series, so I suppose it’s not impossible that one day his mentor might be discovered once again skulking in the shadows

    Ian McDiarmid

    As the story takes place before A New Hope, it would make sense for the Emperor to make his return. We haven’t gotten a chance to explore his role after taking over and if Vader is just around the corner, he’s probably not too far off. If he makes a return, they hopefully focus on his relationship with Vader, who just recently became the machine he is today. Plus, we may get to explore the inner turmoil he may have to do the bidding of the man that pushed him to the dark side.

    Source: Weekend Extra via Reddit

  • New ‘Secret Invasion’ Set Photos Offer First Glimpse at a Skrull and Teases Underwater Scene

    New ‘Secret Invasion’ Set Photos Offer First Glimpse at a Skrull and Teases Underwater Scene

    Production on the upcoming Disney+ series Secret Invasion is well underway, as filming in Halifax, UK continues to give us glimpses of the secretive series. Now, Reddit user u/crampedcaves345 has shared even more photos from the set in Halifax. While the original post has been taken down, the photos have found their way on Twitter offering our first glimpse at a Skrull and various filming locations:

    One image shows a behind-the-scenes look at an actor playing a Skrull. This is probably our first look at someone in the full make-up since the production started, as even in the initial set photos we got everyone was human. Of course, the shot from behind doesn’t give away who the Skrull might be or even offer an indication of it being someone we know. One photo shows a pummeled law enforcement vehicle, while others tease different locations and sets for the series, as one looks to be an underwater stage set while another seems to be a jungle or forest.

    The underwater pool is quite curious, as it makes you wonder if it might be for a post-credit sequence or the Skrulls have even invaded Atlantis, which will supposedly make its first appearance in the MCU during Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. There’s also the chance that someone might just crash into the water. For now, all we can do is speculate. Other leaked photos and videos recently have given us some looks at characters played by Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Emilia Clarke, and Ben Mendelsohn, among others. It seems like Secret Invasion might be getting less secret by the day.

    Source: Reddit via Twitter

  • REVIEW: ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ is a Slow Burn With Potential

    REVIEW: ‘Vikings: Valhalla’ is a Slow Burn With Potential

    Vikings: Valhalla is technically a spinoff to the original Vikings series, which ran from 2013 until 2020, but isn’t burdened by its legacy. The story takes off a century after Ragnar’s legacy and further explores the aftermath and history that surrounds the characters of Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), Freydís Eríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). Not only does it explore the invasion of London but also the inner conflict between Christian and Pagan beliefs within the Viking community. Does it manage to offer a compelling story while continuing what made the Vikings franchise popular?

    I’ll confess that I’ve not seen the original series. So, I went into this blind and without much knowledge, but luckily the 100-year gap made it quite easy to jump in as a newcomer. You are quickly caught up with the main story, an opening text does hint at Ragnar and his story from the original before jumping directly into the conflict that defines this spinoff. The English royals betray the Vikings that lived in their land. As they gather for vengeance, the conflict between their changing culture also reaches a boiling püoint. In a way, it allows for an ongoing conflict within and outside of their ranks.

    This divide was the most compelling storyline throughout the season, especially with how its portrayed. It never is a simple “good or bad” view, but two beliefs at a constant front. We regularly see members of both sides pick a fight because of their difference, while the leadership struggles to keep them in line. It establishes a constant tension between the parties, which makes you wonder when or how people will try to take it out on each other. Yet, it also feels oddly held back by the series trying to juggle more than it can chew at times.

    In a way, the show drags early on and also rushes through storylines. There’s a lot of history here that is complex and worth exploring, but the way it goes from one plot point to the next, it kind of feels like a cliff notes version. You could perfectly split this season into two halves without really changing much, as it suddenly introduces new characters late into the game. While one of them might be my personal favorite just for his general attitude – I don’t want to spoil who that is – it still feels like some of these conflicts could’ve used more time.

    Leif Eriksson, whose history is very much defined by his discovery and not his war prowess, is certainly a kickass character but just along for the ride. His main storyline ties into the overall conflict but it feels somewhat unrealized. Outside of a literal symbol and a heartfelt goodbye, we don’t spend too much time with his conflict. This is war and it takes sacrifices. One of the highlights was seeing him come to grips with the loss and his potential new belief does make a very compelling storyline. Yet, it feels convenient when the story needs it rather than an actual arc throughout.

    Even Freydís’ storyline focused more on build-up than the end execution. Though I will say, I felt like she had the stronger arc throughout this season in comparison to everyone else. I especially loved exploring the Pagan culture and mystical elements surrounding her character. It helped her path stand out from the rest, as the actual England invasion was a bit rushed to get everyone to where they needed to be. They tried to tell so many storylines that it comes to the detriment of its pacing

    I quite enjoyed the back half – even if I believed it should’ve been its season overall to flesh it out more – and it made me happy that I sat through it. Yet, I struggled to get through the earlier episode. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and it ends up overshadowing our main cast which should be the guiding light throughout the story. We not only have to keep up with our main cast, the Viking royalty, their goals, those that are Pagan and Christian, a side story with a compelling villain played by Asbjørn Krogh Nissen, and the English royalty.

    It’s this weird effect where a lot is happening yet it feels dragged out until suddenly it’s just resolved. Everything else about the series is well-made. The costume design is fantastic, even as many Vikings are similar in design, you can still pick out Leif from the crowd. It doesn’t shy away from brutality from that time, even as we’re watching Pagan rituals. It all comes together at the end, but some might’ve jumped ship as the series doesn’t truly get going until quite a few episodes in. As a weekly release, it could’ve been its detriment but the Netflix binge model may help it out. And with a second season on the horizon, perhaps the best parts are yet to come.

  • The ‘Peacemaker’ Finale and Peace In Our Time

    The ‘Peacemaker’ Finale and Peace In Our Time


    The long lingering shot at the end of the season finale of Peacemaker felt appropriate. Christopher Smith had found what felt like a modicum of peace. He had Eagly by his side and the relationship he built with Goff (the last living butterfly) felt like an agree-to-disagree but closing with friendly terms. In watching that moment, there was an ease in Smith as he came to grips with who he is and is ready to move on. It was short lived however, as his father reappeared as a ghost. There can be speculation about what that means for season 2, but there’s something that James Gunn nailed in this moment. Sometimes we are left to carry our trauma as if a butterfly was sitting in our heads.

    The closing montage to the season found Peacemaker and his crew dealing with new realities. Adebayo outing her mother Amanda Waller; Harcourt recovering and rehabbing her injuries in battle; and Economos right back to Belle Reve. Vigilante gets to be Vigilante so at least there’s that, but the point is the fight doesn’t just end. There’s more. Peacemaker, as it seems, doesn’t get to move forward. Even though he killed his father, that part of it doesn’t end in his death.

    In a lot of ways, whether intentionally or not, Gunn’s writing reflects the time we’ve spent since 2020 sitting and wading in our collective trauma. As the global pandemic has affected everyone in different ways, it’s illuminated the weight we carry. Like Peacemaker, we all have had to keep moving despite those effects. Whether mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual it feels like a price has been paid. As Economos is baring his soul to a butterfly just to attempt to stay alive, you can’t help but feel the weight of that. These are the words we’ve all held onto because life doesn’t wait for us to recover.

    Adebayo speaks poignantly to Peacemaker at the beginning of the episode, referring to the accidental death of his brother: ”Don’t forgive me that’s fine, but don’t let that shit define who you are.” It feels like great advice, in fact it is. However, like all things in life, these are easier problems to think about than the act of forgiveness. The familiarity of trauma for Peacemaker allows him to stay in it because its the easy thing to do. It’s a hard truth for many of us in life to just move on instead of dwell.

    The beautiful thing, whilst heartbreaking, is these characters continue to fight. Adebayo battles Amanda Waller’s influence and voice to become something more. Harcourt grows to understand that while the job is the job, there is room for others in her life. Economos, much so the same, finding friends in the midst of trouble.

    Christopher Smith has been through a great deal, and that last shot of the episode felt like what peace could potentially look like. He can forgive himself for his brother’s death, and feel like there’s a chance for redemption. He can find and cultivate friendships, meaningful ones, that grow through honesty. There was a feeling of accomplishment in that shot. Seeing Auggie again was a reminder of the passengers we carry. It was sad, yet so identifiable. In ways that we can all understand, this is peace in our time.

  • ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 May Be Eyeing a 2023 Release

    ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 May Be Eyeing a 2023 Release

    HBO Max’s breakout series Peacemaker won over critics and audiences alike over the course of its eight-episode season. The finale was the biggest single-day performance for an HBO Max original production. So, it made sense that ahead of the finale episode, it was announced that The Suicide Squad spin-off would indeed be returning for a second season.

    While many series end up taking years to release a new season, it looks like Peacemaker fans might not have to wait quite so long. Luis Duran, General Manager at HBO Max Latin America, appears to have announced that Peacemaker Season 2 will arrive in 2023 in a recent tweet, which The Direct translated as follows:

    With this finale so strong we already know that S2 will be one of the great releases of next year!

    Luis Duran

    Fans can also rejoice in the fact that James Gunn will be returning to write and direct every single episode of Season 2. It was speculated that Peacemaker’s second season might take quite a bit of time since is still in production of The Guardians of The Galaxy Holiday Special and Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3. He is also still developing another spin-off to The Suicide Squad, but just who it will follow and plot details on that remain under wraps for now. The writer and director are certainly racking up quite the resume in comic book film and television.

    Source: Twitter via The Direct

  • Master Chief Will Take his Helmet Off in Paramount+’s ‘Halo’

    Master Chief Will Take his Helmet Off in Paramount+’s ‘Halo’

    This news might not be to the liking of long-time Halo fans, as the upcoming Paramount+ series will make one major change to the character of Master Chief. For a long time, the Spartan infamously never took off his helmet. Yet, it seems that the creators behind the series plan to break that tradition, as revealed by executive producer and 343’s Studio Head of Transmedia, Kiki Wolfkill during IGN’s Fan Fest.

    I think we set out to tell a character story and a personal story. And once we really got into what that story was, it became clear that you really needed to see the person in the armour and under the helmet.

    Kiki Wolfkill

    There have been many mysteries on what he might look like. Yet, the expectation after being a mystery for a long time might also lead to some concerns by fans of the franchise. It makes sense they want to remove the helmet, as even our favorite superheroes have the habit of taking off their masks repeatedly throughout their projects. She goes on to highlight that:

    For some people, it’s been a moment 20 years in the making, and for other people it is something that feels very hard to imagine. We absolutely respect both sides of that fence, those who really want to see Chief’s face and those who really don’t. But for the nature of this story, it felt really important to connect with the Master Chief in a different way, and that meant showing the face.

    Kiki Wolfkill

    In a way, the official poster kind of hinted at this very revealing. He’s seen holding the helmet in his hand, but we might’ve not expected that they’d reveal his face. We already know Pablo Schreiber is playing the character but if they are making a big deal out of it, who knows if he might have some prosthetics to make him look different. With the developers behind the latest Halo game involved with the project, this confirms they also signed off on this decision. We’ll have to see how they tackle this.

    Source: IGN

  • ‘Atlanta’ Season 4 Will End the Series

    ‘Atlanta’ Season 4 Will End the Series

    Donald Glover’s critically-acclaimed and Emmy-winning series Atlanta is finally returning with its third season on March 24, 2022. Fans have waited a long time, as the second season of the series premiered back in May 2018. Unfortunately, they are also getting some bad news, as Atlanta will officially end with Season 4.

    Glover, the star, producer, director, and writer of Atlanta originally wanted to end the series after its second season. However, the creator and FX ultimately made plans for a third and fourth season. Unlike the dramatic break between seasons that we saw between Seasons 2 and 3, Seasons 3 and 4 have already been shot and will release back-to-back. So, while Season 3 premieres this spring, Season 4 will follow it up in the fall. The fact that the series’ end is now so near in sight is maybe an even bigger blow to the fandom. However, Glover does not think fans have anything to worry about. As he told the Television Critics Association:

    Death is natural…I feel like when the conditions are right for something, they happen, and when the conditions aren’t right, they don’t happen. I don’t feel any longevity. Because then things start to get weird. The story was always supposed to be what it was. And the story, it really was us. Everybody in that writers’ room, everybody on set. It really was what we were going through and what we talked about. … I think it ends perfectly.

    Donald Glover

    Glover previously exited his previous arrangement with Disney and FX to enter into a contract with Amazon in 2021, but he insists the decision to end Atlanta was unrelated. Atlanta boasts an incredible range of talents, from Glover himself to LaKeith Stanfield, Eternals‘ Brian Tyree Henry, and Zazie Beetz. Here’s looking forward to the final half of the amazing series–hopefully, the ending is as perfect as Glover promised.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Peacemaker’s Finale is HBO Max’s Best Performing Single-Day Release

    ‘Peacemaker’s Finale is HBO Max’s Best Performing Single-Day Release

    Peacemaker just wrapped its season finale, and it looks like the show is quite the success for HBO Max. James Gunn took to Twitter to not only thank the fans for their love towards the project but also to highlight that it was the biggest single-day performance for an original production. It was able to even pull in 44% more viewers than the premiere episode, which isn’t a common occurrence with these streaming series.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1494772448503508995

    It’s crazy to think how such an unknown character has managed to rise up the ranks, especially as the first DCEU-connected original show. John Cena and the entire cast offered a very down-to-earth experience that redefined our look at heroism in a series that tricks you by making you think it’s just a comedy. Seeing that the finale was able to push even stronger numbers than its initial premiere is quite impressive, as most shows see a drop in viewership over their runtime.

    Still, it continues to prove that weekly releases are an asset for most shows, as each week Peacewalker was the buzz of the town. Netflix still remains firm with its binge approach but also forces its hands into offering a lot of content within smaller time windows. Who knows, perhaps the development will push all streaming services to embrace the weekly schedule.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Life is Strange’ Adaptation in the Works at Amazon

    ‘Life is Strange’ Adaptation in the Works at Amazon

    Amazon Studios is about to cash in on the expensive business of video game adaptations on TV. The company has reportedly signed a first-look deal with dj2 Entertainment, a production company that has an impressive catalog of video game development deals under its belt. Among those games is Life is Strange and Disco Elysium, both of which dj2 Entertainment is reportedly interested in adapting. In a press release, dj2 Entertainment’s Dmitri Johnson had this to say: 

     The dj2 team has long believed that video games would one day serve as incredible source material for stories told in television and film, and that it was only the lack of love and respect for the artform which previously held successful adaptations back. Moreover, it is truly an honor to have Prime Video as our platform partner. A partner who truly supports us, as well as our grand ambitions, for telling the best international gaming stories with no limitations in how high we may collectively aim.

    The dj2 Entertainment deal isn’t Amazon’s first pact with a major gaming company. It was announced last year that the streamer was eyeing to make a live-action Mass Effect series for EA. And if the recent Rings of Power trailer was any indication of just how much money Amazon is willing to shell out to adapt popular IPs, then this deal may be for the best. If Paramount+ could do it for Halo, why can’t Amazon?

    Source: Deadline