Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • Marvel Studios May Have Plans for Jeffrey Wright’s Watcher Beyond ‘WHAT IF…?’

    Marvel Studios May Have Plans for Jeffrey Wright’s Watcher Beyond ‘WHAT IF…?’

    We have previously seen hints that characters in What If…? might appear in future live-action projects in the MCU. With the many alternate universes on show, it makes sense that some of them might cross into other films and TV series we watch. The standout is Jeffrey Wright‘s chilling performance as the Watcher. A formless entity constantly hanging over the many stories of the animated series.

    Yet, the recent episode pulled him into action as he got confronted by Doctor Strange. So, we’ll see how long he will hold to his rule to never interact in the happenings of the multiverse, as his future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe remains open. In an interview with The GOAT Movie Podcast, Head Writer AC Bradley hints that Marvel Studios may have future plans for the character while playing coy on the topic.

    I’m not fully aware or able to discuss what Marvel might be doing with the character of The Watcher in the future.

    AC Bradley

    While she’s not fully aware, her leaving the door open by stating she can’t discuss matters on the Watcher’s future does hint that some discussions might have taken place at some point. The end of Loki broke open the multiverse meaning we’re likely to see a lot more crossover characters from other universes soon. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness seems like it might be the kind of event that includes characters we’re familiar with in new guises. It will be exciting if any of these characters make their live-action debut having seen them previously in the animated series!

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘WHAT IF…?’: Christine’s Death Was a ‘LOKI’ Nexus Point in the Doctor Strange Episode

    ‘WHAT IF…?’: Christine’s Death Was a ‘LOKI’ Nexus Point in the Doctor Strange Episode

    The fourth episode of What If…? explored the dark and tragic story of what would have happened to Doctor Strange if, instead of losing his hands in his car accident, he lost his love, Christine Palmer, instead. The episode was well-received for several reasons including its emotional depth. But the episode was also crucial in introducing more lore around potential multiversal connections and how variations in timelines work.

    The MCU Makes Rachel McAdams' Doctor Strange Snub Even Worse

    Obviously, we first got a taste of this in the Loki series when we got introduced to the so-called Nexus Events that marked the beginning of a new timeline. In the Doctor Strange episode, the Ancient One tells him that Christine’s death was an “absolute point” in time that needed to happen in order for him to start on his journey. Changing it through magic he only gained as a result of this incident leads to a paradox. Well, What If…?‘s head writer, AC Bradley, clarified in an interview that:

    I should have called it a Nexus point instead of an absolute point, but the Loki scripts weren’t even written yet.

    AC Bradley

    Considering the What If…? episode script was apparently written in February 2019, it makes sense that all of the future multiversal languages that the MCU ended up using would not have been universally used in other projects so far out. But the confirmation that Christine’s death was a Nexus Point connects the franchise with Loki and the event that created the multiverse. We’re currently exploring the aftermath of that very moment. It also gives us our first look at a Nexus Point occurring in one of the many timelines and how exactly it works. As Doctor Strange can tell you, it’s not all that easy or safe to find a loophole around one.

    Source: YouTube

  • New ‘WHAT IF…?’ Zombie Funkos Revealed

    New ‘WHAT IF…?’ Zombie Funkos Revealed

    As is per Disney+ tradition, we get brand new Funko Pops as the series continues to expand. The latest episode of What If…? gave us the darkest storyline yet, as Bruce Banner returned to a world invested with zombies. Even the title didn’t waste any time to get to the point of the latest entry. Now that the episode is out there, Funko has unveiled the brand new Funkos that include the zombified Captain America, Sam Wilson, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Wanda Maximoff. Zombie Hunter Spider-Man also gets his own Funko.

    Marvel Studios found a creative way to balance the designs for Zombies that can work within a PG-13 setting. Yet, the series still includes some pretty brutal fatalities, as we see heads explore, zombies get cut in half, and so much more. We don’t see anyone getting eaten, with one planned exception by the Wasp, which might be the one aspect they couldn’t get past Disney+.

    In Europe and specific countries, Disney+ includes the STAR branding that adds some adult-themed projects to the service. So, while it is strange to see the Avengers fight zombies on the family-focused streaming service, some markets are also enjoying shows like The Walking Dead. Who knows if the popularity of this episode opens up for the service to explore darker avenues moving forward. Deadpool 3 will be our first R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe project that might not find its way on the service. It’ll be interesting how it continues to grow as they explore new concepts.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘The Flash’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Despero

    ‘The Flash’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Despero

    Season 8 of The Flash is set to kickoff with a multi episode crossover over titled “Armageddon.” The crossover will see many popular and familiar faces from across the Arrowverse return for a team-up alongside Barry Allen. The five part crossover event will see the return of Brandon Routh as the ATOM, Javicia Leslie as Batwoman, Cress Williams as Black Lightning, and Kat McNamara as Mia Queen. The characters will return to help Flash face Despero, a galactic warlord who has made his way to earth.

    New set photos from the set of Flash have given us our very first look at Despero, played by Tony Curran. While it isn’t exactly a full look at the villain, some tracking cut outs give us a look at his shoulders and up, sporting a classic pink look with elf like ears and a large fin. The only thing that seems to be missing is the third eye that allows him to use his Psionic abilities.

    https://twitter.com/pagmyst/status/1432554527115251714?s=21

    Despero is quite the foe. For those unfamiliar with the character he first appeared all the way back in 1960’s Justice League of America #1, and was created by Mike Sekowsky and Gardner Fox. Despero hails from the planet of Kalanor, which he rules with an iron fist as a tyrant. Despero made travels the galaxy looking for foes worthy of a fight, and may explain why so many past characters will return in this years crossover event to help defeat Despero and send him back to Kalanor.

    SOURCE: Twitter

  • RUMOR: ‘THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT’ Will Feature a Revenge Story and New Armor

    RUMOR: ‘THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT’ Will Feature a Revenge Story and New Armor

    It feels like forever since we last heard new details on The Book of Boba Fett. Intel about the upcoming Disney Plus series has been kept mostly under wraps, but a report from StarWarsNewsNet earlier today might finally have changed that. The article claims the show will see the titular character going after everyone who wronged him in his past and that the search will also include a line-up of other intergalactic bounty hunters. While that plot reveal may be exactly what some fans were hoping for, this next part is a bit more surprising. The site asserts when Boba Fett goes on his grand revenge tour, he’ll do it in a brand new suit of armor.

    We’ve seen Boba rock a variety of outfits in the past, but most of them came in the form of animated appearances taking place during his youth. Also, much of the character’s arc in The Mandalorian’s second season revolved around the feared mercenary’s attempts to re-obtain his iconic look. So, it comes as sort of a shock that he would so quickly move on to something new. However, StarWarsNewsNet was sure to point out that actor Temuera Morrison has confirmed flashback sequences in the series. These flashbacks could perhaps be linked to the aforementioned thoughts of revenge, and the use of a wardrobe change is a classic technique to differentiate between past and present scenery.

    It has also been suggested that the new digs could be the result of a fun marketing push, with toys based around a new design. After all, the new design is being described as having a “much better paint job” than the last time we saw Fett.

    The Book of Boba Fett does not currently has a release date.

    Source: StarWarsNewsNet

  • What If… It All Leads To Secret Wars?

    What If… It All Leads To Secret Wars?

    With four episodes behind us, Marvel Studios’ What If…? is slowly but surely becoming a staple of Phase 4’s approach to the Multiverse. What, for some, was initially seen as a minor entry in the MCU, is not only allowing for the exploration of alternate realities in a way only animation allows to but also building some of the foundations of future live-action events. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe turned into the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse, branching out its storylines deviating from the Sacred Timeline, the path ahead of us could be one similar to our own Universe’s.

    Following The Big Bang, one of the theories regarding the ultimate fate of the universe is The Big Crunch, where the average density of the universe will be enough to stop its expansion and the universe will begin contracting. The storylines could then eventually begin to merge, bringing together characters that weren’t ever supposed to exist in the same timeline. But such an event, that could very well be an adaptation of Jonathan Hickman‘s Secret Wars (2015) comic book storyline that deals with a similar premise, in order to connect with audiences the way it should, people need to care about the characters, both new and old ones. The gimmick of introducing Captain America or Spider-Man variants could be a fun one to experience, but it’s only by devoting time to each of those characters beforehand that their appearance might mean something more.

    So being, the timelines explored so far in What If…? have eventually left us with a focus on a central character, that while maintaining a few of the traits already seen in the movies have gone through very distinct experiences that ultimately left them in a different place in their life. When and if they do manage to show up down the line on a live-action project, their motivations and impulses will have been properly explored allowing for more dynamic interactions and for the movie itself to hit the ground running as only minimal exposition will be required. 

    A project of this size and scope could still be years away, but with What If…? planned as an annual release on Disney+, it seems the waiting time will be well spent, with more characters added to the MCM roster every year, as we all await a possible Russo Brothers return for what might be the mother of all crossover events. A Marvel Studios led Secret Wars.

  • ‘THE CROODS: FAMILY TREE’ Series Heading to Hulu and Peacock

    ‘THE CROODS: FAMILY TREE’ Series Heading to Hulu and Peacock

    DreamWorks isn’t done with the Croods family quite yet, as they just announced a brand new animated series based on the popular film franchise titled The Croods: Family Tree. It’s heading to Hulu and peacock and will start streaming as of September 23rd. Mark Banker and Todd Grimes are serving as executive producers on the series. We also got a brand new poster for the new series:

    The story will continue where A New Age left off, as the Croods and the Bettermans learn to live together in an ideal prehistoric farm. You can expect a lot of misadventures as the two families try to overcome their differences as they adjust to living together in a tree house. Kelly Marie Tran once again voices Dawn with Amy Landecker joining as Ugga.

    The franchise started back in 2013 which explored the prehistoric family. Initially, the cast consisted of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman, and Clark Duke. They returned for the sequel film but will be voiced by other actors in the series. The film was one of the few that managed to release during last year’s pandemic and tested the waters on how the Box Office may perform. You can check out the first trailer here:

  • HBO’s ‘THE LAST OF US’ Pilot Wraps Production With First Look at New Logo

    HBO’s ‘THE LAST OF US’ Pilot Wraps Production With First Look at New Logo

    HBO has been hard at work preparing their upcoming adaptation of Naughty Dog’s popular The Last of Us. We got our first look at the series entering production back in July, which featured Pedro Pascal as Joel and Pedro Gabriel Luna‘s Tommy. It teased a very familiar scene from the original game’s intro. Russian director Kantemir Balagov was hired to direct the pilot for the series and he just took to his Instagram to share that he has wrapped work on the episode’s pilot. In the image, he also shares a look at the production logo for the series.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CTOazs-LKHG/

    It’s sad that the director was only attached for the pilot, but hopefully he may return for a future season. The adapation will bring the story of Joel and Ellie to life, as they travel through the United States on the search for the Fireflies. It’s their only hope to utilize Ellie’s immunity to save humanity. We still don’t know if the series might take a unique route, especially as they added a few new names to the cast, such as the original voice of Tommy, Jeffrey Pierce, playing a new character.

    While Balagov took over directing duties for the pilot, other episodes will be taken over by Jasmila Žbanić and Ali Abbasi. The series focus on introducing some internationaly acclaimed directors is a great move, as it offers quite a bit of diversity to make the series stand out from the original game franchise.

    Source: Instagram

  • Bridget Regan Cast as Poison Ivy in The CW’s ‘BATWOMAN’

    Bridget Regan Cast as Poison Ivy in The CW’s ‘BATWOMAN’

    It looks like another classic member of Batman’s infamous rogues gallery is joining the CW. Variety revealed today that actress Bridget Regan will bring Poison Ivy to life on The CW’s Batwoman series, as of the show’s upcoming third season. The show’s take on the character will see Pamela Isley as a former botany student at Gotham University. She is described as a passionate, brilliant scientist with a mind for making the world a better place. Unfortunately, she was taken off course when a colleague used her for experimentation, injecting her with various plant toxins that imbued Isley with the Poison Ivy power set.

    Variety highlights the character did what she thought was right, until Batman took her down for her crimes. Now, Batwoman will have to deal with her vengeful return. Regan is no stranger to comic adaptations, having previously appeared as a recurring villain on ABC’s Agent Carter. She is also known for her roles in the hit shows Jane the Virgin and White Collar.

    Regan follows in the footsteps of many performers before her, with Uma Thurman famously portraying the character in the late 90’s film Batman & Robin and multiple women taking on the role for the cult favorite Gotham series. Lake Bell currently portrays the character on HBO Max’s animated Harley Quinn. It’ll be interesting to see what new twist she adds to the character, whose gone through many iterations.

    Source: TVLine

  • Netflix’s Biggest Challenge Adapting ‘ONE PIECE’

    Netflix’s Biggest Challenge Adapting ‘ONE PIECE’

    Ever since my deep dive into the upcoming Netflix adaptation of One Piece, I’ve been excited to see the iconic manga series be brought to life. As such, it also enticed me to revisit the series and explore the various arcs that the Strawhats fight through. Yet, as I started entering the halfway point on Thriller Bark, I’ve come to realize that Netflix has one major challenge ahead of them. The franchise doesn’t abide by any conventional rules and each story arc continues to build upon the previous one. If you compare the Alabasta arc with its smaller cast of characters against Dressrosa, you’ll notice a massive influx of new faces with new storylines, abilities, and much more. As such, Netflix may face the challenge of an ever escalating budget.

    Land of Wano | One Piece (Official Clip) - YouTube

    In the earlier chapters of the series, we slowly get introduced to the concept of Devil Fruits. As such, we see various unique abilities that force our heroes into finding creative ways of surviving. Yet, as the series continues to go on for 1000+ chapters, we see quite a variety of abilities especially once we enter the New World. The latest Wano arc alone includes various Zoan type fruit users that can transform into larger-than-life animals hybrids. Game of Thrones even had to pick their battles on how frequently they showcased the dragons. That doesn’t take into account the unique designs that make each island stand out.

    That’s not all, as One Piece’s world building introduces us to a very bizarre world filled with unpredictable oceans, otherworldly creatures, and so much more. Once the crew sets out on the Grand Line, the series will require a higher budget as they travel from island to island. Once they reach the New World, it’ll just continue to increase. As exciting as the prospect is to see this world explored in live-action, there’s some uncertainty if they’ll manage to keep it consistent. It would be a shame to adapt this series and not introduce the world to the Neptunian Sea Kings or even just Long Ring Long Land’s majestic Hoooooorse.

    Shirahoshi invoca a Reyes Marinos HD One Piece arma ancestral poseidon haki - YouTube

    Of course, there is a way for the Netflix adaptation to keep it manageable. They may coordinate the budget and storylines in a way that they’re manageable throughout a season. So, while East Blue covers the entire first season, it’s uncertain if Alabasta might get split across multiple seasons. Later arcs in the series have also gotten quite extensive. So, the team behind the franchise might have no choice but to split it. If they stick to a ten episode order per season, it would restrict them quite a bit as the franchise continues. There are ways to avoid this issue, but as Netflix is infamous for it only ordering a specific set of seasons. Here’s hoping that the show’s success might give it many more seasons to expand and explore the many arcs.

    Source: Deadline