Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • ‘The Book of Boba Fett’: The Mysterious Gunslinger Explained

    ‘The Book of Boba Fett’: The Mysterious Gunslinger Explained

    Chapter 6 of The Book of Boba Fett, “From the Desert Comes a Stranger”, was another strong entry into the overall mythology being created through the live-action Disney Plus streaming series. Serving as another episode of The Mandalorian-set interlude ahead next week’s finale, the episode saw the return of several characters introduced in Season 2 of The Mandalorian and left a lot of threads untied as it concluded. And while we could talk about the returns of Grogu, Luke and Ahsoka all day, it was the return of Timothy Olyphant’s Cobb Vanth that led to the chilling introduction of a mysterious gunslinger that has social media buzzing.

    Shortly after Din Djarin wrapped up his discussion with Vanth, the stranger coming from the desert that the title warned fans of appeared on the sandy streets of Mos Pelgo, now called Freetown. After issuing a stern warning to Vanth to stay out of the Pyke’s business, the stranger enters into a shootout with Vanth and his dumb deputy, killing said dumb deputy and wounding Vanth before heading back out into the desert without so much as revealing his name. The stranger made a big impression in a short time but, as it turns out, he’s not much of a stranger at all. While Chapter 6 marked his debut in a live-action project, the stranger has been a part of the Star Wars universe for more than a decade! For those unfamiliar with him and his exploits, read on.

    First introduced in Season 1 of the canonical animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Cad Bane is, much like Boba Fett himself, a dangerous and notorious bounty hunter. Created by The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett creator Dave Filoni, Bane’s inclusion in the live-action series has been rumored for some time and continues a trend wherein Filoni continues to extend the stories of many fan-favorite characters introduced in The Clone Wars by bringing them to live-action. In addition to that, it also makes a whole lot of sense given Bane’s long history with Fett.

    Bane’s ties to Fett began when Fett’s father, Jango, mentored Bane as a bounty hunter. Following the death of Jango, Bane eventually took on Boba and mentored him, completing the circle as it were. Their exploits are detailed over several seasons of The Clone Wars, but Fett’s not the only bounty hunter on Tatooine that has a history with Bane. The events of another canonical animated series, The Bad Batch, saw Bane square off with Fennec Shand with potentially force-sensitive clone Omega at the center of their dispute.

    How Bane came to be working for the Pykes is a story for another day, but his entrance into The Book of Boba Fett is full of promise. As seen in Chapter 6, the Duros bounty hunter is nobody to be trifled with, but he’s now put himself directly in the sights of Boba and Shand, creating some serious intrigue heading into next week’s final episode.

  • ‘Halo’ Has a New Showrunner In Case of a Season 2 Renewal by Paramount+

    ‘Halo’ Has a New Showrunner In Case of a Season 2 Renewal by Paramount+

    Halo‘s release hasn’t been an easy one. After being in development hell for eight years, it is finally releasing on Paramount+ this March. It originally was produced as a Showtime series, but the streaming service from ViacomCBS became its new home. Currently, there has not been a renewal for the second season, but it seems that they may have a new showrunner who is ready to take over, the third one so far.

    Executive producer Justin Falvey shared that David Wiener, known for his work on Fear the Walking Dead and Brave New World, would take over from Steven Kane, who was responsible for the production of the first season. Yet, he wasn’t the only one as Kane was responsible for the production in Budapest, while Killen worked on it in the United States. As of now, both have left the project, but Kane is open to still staying on as a consultant.

    Kane shared during the Television that he worked on the Budapest production for two years, and being away from his family for so long as the reason he stepped down from the project. The series has had a troubled production for so long, as it also went through two directors with Rupert Wyatt forced to drop the project due to scheduling conflicts. So, only Otto Bathurst remained on to finish it. We’ll probably have to wait until the viewership numbers are in for Paramount before they decide to continue with the project.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Red Notice’s Rawson Marshall Thurber to Direct ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Series

    ‘Red Notice’s Rawson Marshall Thurber to Direct ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Series

    Entertainment One has been quite focused on adapting a TV series based on Dungeons & Dragons. It looks like they have also found the person to bring it to life with Red Notice director Rawson Marshall Thurber signed on to adapt the classic role-playing game. He is set to write, direct and executive produce the pilot for the series. It’s uncertain if this will connect to the film that is currently in production by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.

    Derek Kolstad was tapped to create a series based on the franchise, but it’s uncertain if he’s moved on from the project given he’s recently signed on to adapt various projects like Battle Chasers. It seems their plan is to create a live-action cinematic universe based on the tabletop franchise. It’s uncertain how involved Thurber is in establishing the greater franchise besides this series.

    Before he worked don Red Notice, he was also the mastermind behind projects like Central Intelligence, Skyscraper, We’re the Millers, and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. He does have some background in TV with Fox’s The Loop and NBC’s Marry Me. So, the writer and director is no stranger to long-form storytelling and it’ll be interesting to see how he might tackle a fantasy-based storyline.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Has Wrapped Production

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Has Wrapped Production

    Disney+ has been busy reviving cult classic franchises. Among them is a sequel to Hocus Pocus, which will see the return of Bette Milder, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in their iconic roles, as they once again start haunting Salem. A new group of teenagers, played by Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, and Belissa Escobedo, will take on the sisters. Doug Jones is also set to return as Billy Butcherson. It looks like the production has wrapped, as revealed by executive producer Adam Shankman in a new Instagram post.

    We did get a set video of the Sanderson sisters taking flight back in November, but nothing else has found its way online. The last entry was filmed back in 1993 and it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the time difference since the events of the original. It’ll also be interesting to see what has happened to the mysterious black candle since the events of the original. Either it remained forgotten in the attic of an unsuspecting family, or perhaps it has found its home in a museum. Whatever happened to it, teenagers are about to light a candle they will surely regret.

    Source: Instagram

  • REPORT: ‘Titans’ Season 4 Eyeing Joseph Morgan and Franka Potente in Villainous Roles

    REPORT: ‘Titans’ Season 4 Eyeing Joseph Morgan and Franka Potente in Villainous Roles

    It looks like the fourth season of Titans is starting to get some momentum, as they may be actively looking to recruit their main antagonist soon. In a new report by the Illuminerdi, they revealed that the HBO Max series is eyeing Joseph Morgan in the role of Sebastian Blood, better known as Brother Blood. That’s not all, as they also want Franka Potente to take on the role of Mother Mayhem.

    Morgan has a lot of experience playing an antagonist, as he’s famous for his time as Klaus Mikaleson, the vampire-werewolf hybrid from The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off The Originals. They also hint that his take on the character will be someone who is reserved that is hiding a dark side, but will eventually be overtaken by his own charm and “calamitous objectives.” In contrast, we have Potente’s Mother Mayhem, who’s described as someone who “has been training all her life to accomplish her goals.”

    She’s well-known for her time on The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy. So, she is no stranger to action roles and would make a promising addition to the series. There are still no details on how the Church of Blood might build upon the story from the previous season, but they may become a promising addition to the show, as it explores the aftermath of their confrontation with the Scarecrow.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • David Hayter to Adapt American McGee’s ‘Alice’ as a TV Series, No Network Currently Attached

    David Hayter to Adapt American McGee’s ‘Alice’ as a TV Series, No Network Currently Attached

    It looks like the twisted take on a childhood classic is getting another revival, as American McGee’s Alice is heading to TV. David Hayter, who is well-known as the voice of Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solider and for writing the X-Men film, will tackle a live-action adaptation of the cult classic gaming franchise. Ted Field‘s Radar Pictures is working on the project alongside the writer with Abandon Entertainment also involved. The rights are owned by Electronic Arts, which has been actively looking into ways to expand its intellectual properties through adaptation. Hayter had the following to say on the project:

    American McGee’s Alice and Alice: Madness Returns game series is a groundbreaking reimagining of the classic tale. It takes you into the heart of a corrupted Wonderland and throws light into shadowy corners the world has never seen. I am beyond excited to bring this world of madness and wonder to a global audience

    David Hayter

    The story will follow Alice’s descent into madness after her home is burnt down and she loses her family in the process. In the original game, we follow her time in a mental asylum after she tried to commit suicide before she ventures back into Wonderland to save her psyche. The original franchise was created by American McGee – yes, his real name – who was well-known for his work on projects like DOOM and Quake. He had the following to say on the adaptation:

    David Hayter brings imagination, experience, and stealth sneaking skills gained through successful missions in film, TV, and video games – a unique combination sure to make this adventure into Wonderland a successful one for the franchise and the fans. I am excited to be working with him and know the Alice fans will welcome him with mad affection.

    American McGee

    He is currently working on a third entry of the franchise known as Alice: Asylum, which takes place after Madness Returns. The game currently has no release date, but the timing does seem perfect to start building some momentum for the new release. It currently has no broadcaster or streamer involved, but the dark story might find a suitable home soon.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Finally Starts Production

    Netflix’s Live-Action ‘One Piece’ Series Finally Starts Production

    Spring has seemingly come early, as it looks like Netflix’s live-action adaptation has started production. At least that is what a tweet by showrunner Steven Maeda as well as the series writer and executive producer Matt Owens revealed. It’s a different approach from previous entries, as the official Netflix Geeked account usually shared the initial announcement, such as was the case with the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation. Yet, as the account is from the States, they may follow up as filming is taking place in Cape Town and that is why the production announcement is directly through their account.

    While Maeda shared an elusive message of “The Day of the Beginning” with a straw hat keychain, Matt Owens‘ reveal came through his Instagram account that is a bit more direct in revealing that they’ve started production on One Piece.

    This moment is big for anyone following the production that was hit with delays due to COVID. The series was first announced back in 2017 by Eiichiro Oda, who was quite excited about finally finding the team that would bring his series to live-action. At the time, it seemingly was still known as Project Roger before moving on to become Project Panda at a later date. Set photos teased the construction of the Going Merry but it wasn’t until we got the official logo in September of 2021 followed by the cast announcement in November that it felt real. So, the fact it’s finally started production just adds quite a bit of excitement and hopefully, it means we’ll get the cast in their official outfits soon.

    Source: Twitter, Instagram

  • First Paramount+ ‘Halo’ Trailer Offers First Look at Cortana and Arbiter

    First Paramount+ ‘Halo’ Trailer Offers First Look at Cortana and Arbiter

    Finally, the first full trailer has dropped for the upcoming live-action adaptation of Halo, which is heading to Paramount+ in March. We finally got a full look at what this new series has to offer, as it hopefully breaks the live-action curse of video game adaptations. Luckily, the new trailer not only gave us Master Chief’s voice but also the first look at the series’ take on Cortana, who will be voiced by Jen Taylor.

    That is not all, as we also got a good look at an Arbiter with a close-up of their live-action take of the Arbiters, who are part of the Sangheili alien race. Humans have given them the name Elites, who stem from the planet of Sanghelios.

    Image

    The designs are quite impressive and they seemingly brought a fresh take on the iconic gaming franchise. Of course, we still need to see if the series can keep up the quality in how it tells its story, but it does seem like they’ll use the time to humanize Master Chief and even offer some interactions with other Spartans, which lets us explore his origin.

    Pablo Schreiber‘s take on the iconic supersoldier does seem promising and we’re excited to see if the series can break the live-action adaptations curse and manage a promising story, especially after it was stuck in development hell for quite some time. You can check out the full trailer right here:

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Secret Invasion’ Set Video Shows [SPOILER] Working With Skrull Villain

    ‘Secret Invasion’ Set Video Shows [SPOILER] Working With Skrull Villain

    Filming on Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Secret Invasion continued yesterday in Halifax, UK and, as has been the case, much of what went on was caught on camera. Twitter user @bishopluvbot was on the scene and captured dozens of pictures and videos of yesterday’s scenes, all taking place on the Piece Hall set. Most of the main cast of the series has been on set all week, including Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Cobie Smulders, who are back in their respective roles, and newcomers Emilia Clarke and Kingsley Ben-Adir, whose roles are unknown outside of vague descriptions.

    The above video captured a major explosion set during a scene being filmed on “National Unity Day” in the interior courtyard of Piece Hall. While it’s no surprise that Ben-Adir’s character, who is playing a Skrull and the main antagonist of the series, was involved in the explosion, another video does include a shocking revelation that may be considered a spoiler.

    The second video shows the aftermath of the explosion, with wounded extras leaving the site. A few seconds into the video, Clarke’s character can be seen walking away from the explosion and getting into a car with Ben-Adir’s villainous character. This obviously casts doubts on Clarke’s motivations in the series, as earlier in the week she was seen exchanging a hug with Maria Hill.

    Is Clarke a villain as well? Not much is known about her character, but she is known to be an “up and coming spy” who also has powers. Is she working with the Skrulls? Has she been simmed her? Given that the series is meant to be a paranoia-based thriller, it’s likely that fans will often be left wondering who is or is not a Skrull and what side anyone is on at any given moment. Seeing Clarke’s character working with Ben-Adir here is just the tip of the iceberg.

    Secret Invasion will stream on Disney Plus sometime before 2075.

  • REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 5 – Monkey Dory

    REVIEW: ‘Peacemaker’ Episode 5 – Monkey Dory

    Peacemaker’s Episode 5 is the best episode to date. It is likely the funniest episode, and certainly best suited to drive the plot forward into the last three episodes. It tackles both the Auggie and Project Butterfly plotline, leans heavily on both light and dark humor, provides at least one or two “superhero moments,” and still has time for a little heart.

    Peacemaker is still in his own head about his life and identity as a mass murderer, continuing probably the greatest focus of the series. While he sinks to deeper mental and emotional lows, the episode shows him a potential way out through the power of friendship. Part of the brilliance of the characters’ dynamics is how everyone feels as if they operate on the same playing field, even if they shouldn’t. Economos and Peacemaker, for example, were one of the highlights of the episode as they passively sparred over how the former accidentally framed Peacemaker’s dad. While everyone on this small Task X squad seems as if they are one bad hair day away from a psychotic break, the moment they join forces under the umbrella of chainsaw-massacre-ing a super gorilla, positive things are possible. It’s a hard pivot to a dirty and psychologically unstable version of Paw Patrol, but they don’t call him Peacemaker for nothing.  

    While the show is generally entertaining as hell, it has noticeably lacked much of the gusto that’s come to be expected of most comic book properties with its action scenes. The series certainly isn’t devoid of it, and there is no reason this can’t be plenty successful with a “less is more” approach. Still, the premise begs for a little more. Luckily, the fifth episode does more than hint that it’s still connected with its over-the-top, violent roots. The entire sequence of the bottling facility is the series’ peak so far. Between Peacemaker shooting most of the heads off of unassuming yet butterflied civilians to the eventual boss-level super-gorilla chainsaw party, it doesn’t disappoint.

    The episode still has its flaws, which generally speak to Peacemaker as a whole. Adebayo is a strong character billed as, and given the screen time of, a co-lead in the series. Danielle Brooks really delivers for the character, but her background and family struggles are not particularly engrossing and, at times, feel like an additional weight to the clunky balance of plots. The Auggie plotline has been interesting as it adds to Peacemaker’s character but otherwise has felt a bit out of place next to Project Butterfly. The detectives that spend quite a lot of time working to keep notorious KKK-level supervillains off the streets just feel like they are around without offering much more. While exploring Peacemaker’s relationship with his father has a lot to offer, there is too much focus on Project Butterfly and the detectives rather than that actual arc for it to pay off fully. Similarly, Project Butterfly feels a bit watered down and lukewarm amongst the mix.

    For plenty of reasons, Episode 5 is the strongest episode yet of Peacemaker and a great kickoff into the final half of the series. It ends in a cliffhanger (or two) that propels the main plotline forward enough to keep Project Butterfly in the air. The humor is there, and the emotional components – while at times extremely corny this episode – are still performing. The weight of the somewhat incompatible plotlines seems to – for a lack of a better term – weigh Peacemaker down just a bit, it only shows signs of going up from here as this fifth episode continues the series’ streak of improving on the last.