Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • The MCU’s Watcher Set to Make His Next Move in a Most Unexpected Place

    The MCU’s Watcher Set to Make His Next Move in a Most Unexpected Place

    Marvel Studios’ first canonical animated adventure, What If…?, introduced one of the most powerful and enigmatic characters in Uatu the Watcher. A member of a race of nigh omnipresent and omnipotent aliens, Uatu lived in the Nexus of All Realties where he was tasked with observing the Multiverse while swearing an oath never to intervene. That oath was tested and ultimately broken in Season 1 of What If…? when Uatu gathered a team of heroes, the Guardians of the Multiverse, to take on Ultron after the AI became aware of the presence of the Watcher.

    That team, comprised of alternate reality versions of Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Gamora, Thor, Black Widow and N’jdaka, took on and ultimately defeated the Infinity Stone-powered Ultron and Uatu returned to the Nexus of All Realities to await whatever came next. Now, thanks to a new trailer, Uatu’s next MCU appearance has been revealed and it’s certainly not what anyone expected.

    Dr. Strange Supreme & The Watcher in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…? exclusively on Disney+. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

    During the trailer for Season 2 of I Am Groot, the Watcher was spotted overseeing the feisty sapling taking off in the Guardians’ ship. While rumors of his appearance in the show had circulated a while back, the trailer is the first confirmation of the surprising return of the character who is voiced by the talented Jeffrey Wright. What could Groot be up to draw the attention of Uatu? Will the events of Season 2 of I Am Groot be tied to the events of Season 2 of What If…? ? Answers to those questions will be answered soon as five new I Am Groot shorts will hit Disney Plus on September 6th!

  • Eiichiro Oda had Two Demands for Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    Eiichiro Oda had Two Demands for Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    We’ve known for some time that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has been heavily involved with the production. He had a big hand in choosing who would portray the iconic Straw Hat pirates and had the final say if they would release the show. We would later find out that he even asked them to reshoot a few sequences to ensure they stayed true to his original vision as much as possible but were still open to some changes.

    Matt Owens, the co-showrunner for the series, has revealed in a new issue of Shueisha that Oda had quite a few requests for the development but highlighted two very distinctive ones. The first is that the character’s backstories are not to be touched and remain as their core motivation, which Owens seemingly fully agrees with.

    They’re so pivotal to who they are as people, what their dreams and motivations are, and how Luffy digs into that as he meets them and helps them rediscover those dreams.

    Matt Owens

    The second aspect is that they would focus on the different abilities of the characters. Even if that likely was going to be a big challenge in a live-action setting, they definitely wanted to stick to the moves and devil fruits that are an iconic aspect of the entire franchise.

    Specific devil fruit powers and other skill sets were all carefully crafted by Oda and a lot of imagination went into what different people can do and what the rules are with that.

    Matt Owens

    Going by the trailers, it seems that they definitely stayed true to those requests and went all out to ensure the Devil Fruits get the love they deserve. In an era that is scared of showing off a body stretching, such as with Ms. Marvel recently, they fully embraced that aspect and made sure to show it off even in the first teaser. So, here’s hoping we get a lot more once the series releases and potentially gets multiple seasons to fully embrace the wacky world that is One Piece.

    Source: ComicBook.com

  • ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Will Focus More on Noah Schnapp’s Will

    ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Will Focus More on Noah Schnapp’s Will

    Stranger Things remains one of Netflix’s best releases, as it combines horror and 80s nostalgia in an unlikely mismatch. The Upside Down also became a rather fascinating mythology element that had many returning to this world every new season, as we slowly uncovered more of this world. Though, one big change throughout the seasons was that Noah Schnapp, who was a major player in the earlier seasons, seemed to take quite the backseat with each new season.

    Luckily, it seems that the upcoming fifth season will likely return to Schnapp’s Will having a bigger part in the story that slowly became more and more about Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven. In an interview, co-creator Ross Duffer seemingly confirms he will take “center stage again” in the upcoming fifth season and teases that he’ll be “coming into his own as a young man.”

    Will really takes center stage again in 5. This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.

    Ross Duffer

    We don’t know how they will handle the fact that they won’t be filming for some time and the cast already looks far older than the ages they are supposed to play. The writer and actors’ strike have currently halted productions across Hollywood as they are fighting for a livable wage. So, we’ll see if some elements might get adapted

    Source: Variety

  • Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Adds ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’s Ian McShane

    Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Adds ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’s Ian McShane

    While there are still some characters that we don’t know if they’ll appear in the first season of One Piece, we still have quite the cast of characters. We will meet many familiar faces from East Blue across the (hopefully) first season. Though, there’s a surprising addition that we may have not considered making the transition from manga to live-action. It seems the mysterious narrator will remain a fixture in this adaptation of One Piece.

    The big surprise is that the narrator will be played by probably the most well-known actor in the cast. Netflix’s press release includes the mention of Ian McShane voicing the role. The iconic actor marks the first Pirates of the Caribbean addition to the cast, as he famously played Blackbeard in On Stranger Tides. He also is quite famous for his role in the John Wick franchise and Deadwood.

    We will see just how big his role might be, as there’s a chance the narrator only appears in the opening if it replicates the original series. Though, they may have him be a recurring voice throughout, as the narrator tended to appear at random times throughout the manga’s run. It definitely is a great addition and an easy way to have a very recognizable addition to the cast without having to fly him in to shoot scenes. Perhaps they also know who the narrator is at a later point.

  • ‘Loki’ Season 2’s First Trailer is Disney+’s Biggest Debut Yet

    ‘Loki’ Season 2’s First Trailer is Disney+’s Biggest Debut Yet

    It looks like having a sequel season is paying off for Marvel Studios, as their recently released trailer for Loki’s second season is already breaking records. While reactions to Secret Invasion were a bit tepid, it seems that people are more than happy to revisit the story of their favorite trickster god trapped in a timeless office of the TVA. The Disney+ series debuted to 80M views with its first trailer.

    It’s not too surprising given that the first season still remains Marvel Studios’ most-watched series on Disney+. Tom Hiddleston has always been a big draw for viewers and the series may remain one of their best so far. While reactions generally have been tepid, a big break between releases and a new movement to slow down their rollout may have given this series a bit more hope to grab people’s attention. The series was also received quite positively with a 90% positive reaction from fans sharing their love for the first season.

    Marvel Studios has had a bit of an uphill battle online while still remaining a power player from a box office perspective. Viewership numbers are difficult to grasp and we have no idea how viewership numbers are considered a success for the streamer, but perhaps this second season will spark an interest to build up their series more than just dropping various single-season mini-series that are loosely connected to the movies with their own stories that add to the MCU mythos.

    Source: Deadline

  • Episode Titles for Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece Series

    Episode Titles for Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece Series

    It’s been a long road since we first heard about the live-action adaptation of One Piece. All the way back in 2017, Eiichiro Oda confirmed that he alongside Netflix was working on the project. While the episode count has decreased from ten to eight, the wait for the series to finally reveal seemed endless. Now, we are only a few weeks away from it finally hitting Netflix and the official press offers some insight into the episode titles and a short description.

    If you want to remain spoiler free for any potential plot points of the live-action adaptation then only continue risking at your own risk.

    Episode 1: Romance Dawn

    Directed by Marc Jobst, Teleplay by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda

    Monkey D. Luffy, an optimistic young pirate with dreams of finding the One Piece, sets off in search of the loyal crew he needs to navigate the vast oceans. His journey begins when he helps Koby, a deckhand forced into servitude, escape an undesirable situation. While in Shells Town, Luffy meets Roronoa Zoro, a famed pirate hunter, and Nami, a Master thief, and the three form a tenuous alliance.

    Episode 2: The Man in the Straw Hat

    Directed by Marc Jobst, Written by Ian Stokes

    Luffy, Zoro, and Nami find themselves imprisoned on an island overtaken by the deranged clown pirate, Buggy. Koby joins the Marines and proves his mettle.

    Episode 3: Tell No Tales

    Directed by Emma Sullivan, Written by Matt Owens and Damani Johnson

    Luffy, Zoro, and Nami land in Syrup Village, where they meet Usopp, a local who introduced the group to Kaya, a sickly shipyard heiress under the care of trio of overbearing house staff. With the help of Koby, Vice Admiral Garp, a powerful marine, sets off in search of Luffy.

    Episode 4: The Pirates Are Coming

    Directed by Emma Sullivan, Written by Tiffany Greshler and Tom Hyndman

    Luffy, Zoro, and Nami fight their way through Kaya’s mansion, which has now become a prison. Usopp enlists the help of Koby, Helmeppo and the Marines. Luffy finally gets the ship of his dreams as Garp closes in.

    Episode 5: Eat at Baratie!

    Directed by Tim Southam, Written by Laura Jacqmin

    Luffy and the gang are tested in their ability to fight together on the high seas. They arrive at Baratie, a floating restaurant, where they encounter Sanji, a young chef with a love of fine dining. A duel on the docks shocks the group.

    Episode 6: The Chef and the Chore Boy

    Directed by Tim Southam, Written by Steven Maeda and Diego Gutierrez

    The group is ambushed by a threat no one sees coming. After a hard-fought battle at Baratie, Sanji finally follows his dreams, while another crew member shows their true colors.

    Episode 7: The Girl with the Sawfish Tattoo

    Directed by Josef Wladyka, Written by Tiffany Greshler & Ian Stokes and Allison Weintraub & Lindsay Gelfand

    The crew comes to the aid of a member in dire need of family.

    Episode 8: Worst in the East

    Directed by Josef Wladyka, Written by Matt Owens and Steven Maeada

    A new pirate crew is born.

    Matt Owens, one of the showrunners for One Piece, highlights that the show was built in a way that allowed for four two-episode arcs that each introduce us to the members of the Straw Hat pirate crew and focuses on the “spirit of togetherness and adventure.”

    Our whole season is set up in four two-episode arcs where we’re meeting a new Straw Hat, getting to know them, and finding where they fit into their world. It’s not only an origin story of how this crew comes together…It’s an encapsulation of the idea of found family. A spirit of togetherness and adventure.

    Matt Owens

    The series remains ambitious and with only a few more weeks to go, we’ll finally see how they bring this iconic story to life. Monkey D. Luffy’s journey for One Piece remains an iconic story that has yet to find its end and is about to start anew for a new generation that missed out on the journey a long time ago.

  • REPORT: ‘Reservation Dogs’ Mato Wayuhi to Score Marvel Studios ‘Echo’ Series

    REPORT: ‘Reservation Dogs’ Mato Wayuhi to Score Marvel Studios ‘Echo’ Series

    While the Loki trailer finally dropped teasing the second season, it isn’t the only other Disney+ series that is set to release later this year. Secret Invasion didn’t quite leave the internet ablaze as Andor did, Marvel Studios seems very intent on building up the latter half after a long hiatus before the last Disney+ series finally released. Echo will also mix things up with a binge drop, which might be a big test to see if that works better for Marvel Studios’ releases.

    News has been sparse on the series, but it seems we got at least one little detail on who will compose the music for the series. Native American composer Mato Wayuhi, famous for his work on the iconic series Reservation Dogs, is seemingly set to compose the soundtrack for Maya Lopez’s upcoming spinoff series.

    After first being introduced in Hawkeye, the character is going to have her own little story that’ll likely also set up the return of Charlie Cox’s Daredevil ahead of his own spinoff series that is currently on hold due to studios’ not paying their writers and actors. It’s a promising addition for the November release and also continues the trend of the series including a mainly Native American production.

    Source: Film Music Reporter

  • Mackenyu on How He Got the Play Zoro in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    Mackenyu on How He Got the Play Zoro in Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Series

    Mackenyu is no stranger to live-action adaptations of anime and manga. He appeared in the Rurouni Kenshin films as well as recently having the leading role in a multi-national adaptation of Knights of the Zodiac.

    Now, he has his next major role ahead of him in Netflix’s adaptation of the iconic manga by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece. In a new interview with GamesRadar, he shares what got him the role of Roronoa Zoro.

    I’m like Zoro, maybe that’s what helped me book the role!

    Mackenyu Arata

    The answer gets quite straight to the point, but Mackenyu also has a lot to show which makes him a perfect choice to tackle a character famous for his sword-fighting skills. He has worked with multiple swords in the past but does highlight that having to fight with three swords, one being in his jaw, did require quite a bit of training.

    I have experience using two swords simultaneously and have done live-action shows using swords in the past, but when it comes to three, that’s a different story. The training I did for One Piece was specific for Zoro and the skills needed to really be him. My jaw had on-the-job training!

    Mackenyu Arata

    It must’ve been challenging for the actor’s jaw to adjust to having to carry an entire sword. While it’s likely that they used some CG, he still had to hold a sword hilt in his mouth. We only got a glimpse of what he was capable of doing and we’ll have to wait just a bit longer to see his sword-fighting techniques in action once the first season releases on August 31st.

    Source: GamesRadar

  • Inaki Godoy on the Pressure of Playing Luffy in Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series

    Inaki Godoy on the Pressure of Playing Luffy in Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series

    Monkey D. Luffy is synonymous if anyone discusses the manga series One Piece. It wouldn’t work without him as its main protagonist, whose unique personality makes him stand out among the many Shonen Jump characters we’ve followed throughout the years. Now, Inaki Godoy has the challenge of taking on this iconic role. In an interview with GamesRadar from before the strike, he acknowledged the pressure of taking on this role.

    Of course! Of course! Of course there was a lot of pressure. There is a big responsibility to honor the work of more than 20 years of a man, you know? He’s been writing this since he was 17. Not only just honor Mr. Oda, but honor the anime too. Mayumi Tanaka, she has been performing this character for so long. And the way they’ve been doing the anime for so long too, and there are so many people who have grown up with Luffy, and the Straw Hats and the world of One Piece. So you want to respect that, and you want to honor that.

    Inaki Godoy

    Though, he goes on to highlight that his own experience from the manga also carried him through the experience. All that pressure became excitement as he took on the challenge of becoming Monkey D. Luffy in Netflix’s adaptation.

    But if there’s one thing that I have learned from One Piece, it’s that even though things are challenging, you have to find a way to have fun. So yeah, there was a lot of pressure, there was a lot of anxieties, but there was also a lot of fun! And there was a lot of love. And just like any adventure, it was exciting. You know, I was so excited to get to be a part of something this massive and so incredible, and it’s an exciting adventure.

    Inaki Godoy

    As Usopp actor Jacob Romero highlighted, the production had a lot of heart involved that could make it stand out from others. It seems that everyone involved with the production knew that this wasn’t going to be easy and the wait isn’t long until we can see if all their hard work paid off.

    Source: GamesRadar

  • Usopp Actor Highlights That Live-Action ‘One Piece’s Production “Has So Much Heart”

    Usopp Actor Highlights That Live-Action ‘One Piece’s Production “Has So Much Heart”

    If there is one thing many will take away from Netflix’s live-action One Piece series is that it’s one of those few productions where everyone involved seemed to truly care about the material. Eiichiro Oda was actively involved in the production. They were aware of the weight that this franchise holds, but in an interview with GamesRadar, Usopp actor Jacob Romero Gibson highlights the “heart” that went into this production.

    But there was so much heart involved in this production, there’s so much heart involved in One Piece, the story. And to me, I feel that it’s like the One Piece gods blessing us just with all this wonderful, trusting loving energy. And I’m like, the challenges seem so small in comparison to how wonderful this really all was.

    Jacob Romero Gibson

    He also highlights the beauty of the source material, which left quite an impression on him. What seems like a simple adventure across the seas with an unlikely band of pirates, quickly evolves into a story unlike many given how it explores important themes of our history.

    In a way it all seems so simple and basic, but the way in which these concepts are presented throughout One Piece’s story and the way they’re revisited it’s unbelievable, you know, it makes me tear up. I remember the first couple episodes or the first time that One Piece really got me, I’m like, “Oh my God, OK. I see what’s happening here. I see where we’re going in.” And beyond that, it’s also just deeply entertaining. Like, it’s also a great time. So, it’s a full-package experience for me.

    Jacob Romero Gibson

    Of course, adaptations aren’t easy, and Gibson was asked what he hopes people would take away from this adaptation. And, the one thing that the showrunner had already highlighted, was that this adaptation might be the jumping-off point for someone out there that hasn’t had the joy of watching One Piece.

    I hope that people see our show, and then go check out One Piece as it already exists. Go read the books, go watch the show. Like, fall into it. It’s such a wonderful experience. My dream is – even though the whole world already knows about One Piece – my dream is that someone, somewhere, somehow didn’t, and this show helps them come to One Piece.

    Jacob Romero Gibson

    It is a daunting task for anyone to try and get people to join an already gigantic franchise. One Piece has outsold even some iconic comic book characters that have existed for 70+ years. Yet, there ar still millions out there that haven’t given the show a chance, and this live-action adaptation may be the one to push them into finally giving it a shot.

    Source: GamesRadar