Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: TV

  • Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Screen Testing Rumors Have Been Debunked

    Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ Screen Testing Rumors Have Been Debunked

    The internet is no stranger to creating an onset of concern for upcoming projects. Especially when it comes to live-action adaptations of anything. Marvel has been a main source of constant leaks and scoops popping up left and right without much knowledge what could truly be taken seriously or not. Now, it has even reached Netflix’s One Piece adaptation.

    Some time ago a Twitter user by the name of Divinity Seeker has made bold claims that test screenings weren’t looking good for the adaptation but also included contradictory statements like Taz Skyler’s roots showing with his blonde hair even though he bleached his hair and wears a blond wig as shown in the official poster.

    While the “scooper” has been debunked by James Gunn and even others that dabble, it hasn’t stopped the Internet of spreading the unreliable information. Yet, now more information has surfaced to shoot down the claims surrounding the test screenings.

    Greg Werner took to his Twitter account to debunk the claims, as he is someone that frequently collaborates with Shueisha and the One Piece brand.

    He’s not the only one as content creator Rogersbase has also taken to his account to denounce the claims shared by Comic Book Resources. It is noteworthy that he has already visited the Netflix series’ set and has close ties to showrunner Matt Owens.

    So, it seems that the test screening rumors have quickly been debunked and fans excited for the adaptation can breathe a little easier moving forward as we anticipate news on Geeked Week’s return with hopefully the first look at the series.

    Source: ComicBook.com, Twitter

  • James Gunn Confirms When ‘Creature Commandos’ Will Kick Off the New DCU

    James Gunn Confirms When ‘Creature Commandos’ Will Kick Off the New DCU

    When James Gunn revealed part of DC Studios Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate, it was revealed that the animated Max series Creature Commandos was the first project to get the green light. When the series was announced, Gunn has already completed scripting all seven episodes and with casting just recently announced, it’s been pretty consistently clear that it would be the project that launched the new DCU. Now Gunn has given fans an idea of when they can expect to see the motley crew.

    While participating in one of his favorite pastimes (interacting with fans on Twitter), Gunn revealed that Creature Commandos is slated for a 2024 release on Max, the new name of the combined streaming services HBO Max and Discovery.

    Gunn and Peter Safran have made it clear that the plan is for the talent who lend their voices to Creature Commandos to also portray the characters in live-action. It was made clear that Rick Flag Sr., voiced by Frank Grillo, will show up in other projects and it’s likely he won’t be the only one. With the streaming series Waller likely the next project in the queue, and Viola Davis part of the cast of Creature Commandos, it’s possible we might see Flag Sr. in live action sooner rather than later.

  • ‘It’ Prequel ‘Welcome to Derry’ Continues to Expand Its Cast

    ‘It’ Prequel ‘Welcome to Derry’ Continues to Expand Its Cast

    The cast for Welcome to Derry is continuing to grow, as it has now added Revenge’s Madeleine Stowe and Daredevil’s Stephen Rider. The project still technically doesn’t have an official name and the “Welcome to Derry” is more a working title for now, but it wouldn’t be too surprised if it gets the It moniker added as other franchises do nowadays, such as Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

    The two additions are joining a cast that currently consists of Chris Chalk, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, and Taylour Paige. We currently have no details on who exactly they are set to play and the details are still under lock and key on just how much it’ll explore the history of Derry. It’s very likely going to act as a prequel to the story of Pennywise and how the Dancing Clown came to be but Bill Skarsgard has denied any involvement of far.

    The project is from the mind of the latest It films’ director Andy Muschietty, who developed the HBO Max Original series with Jason Fuchs, who is acting as the series showrunner, and his wife Barbara Muschietti. There’s a lot of potentials to explore this series in a Lovecraftian way as we slowly uncover the creature’s growing hold over Derry and the ones that stood up against him when no other could.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Photos Show a Stylish Matt Murdock, Reveal New Addition to the Cast

    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Photos Show a Stylish Matt Murdock, Reveal New Addition to the Cast

    Production on Daredevil: Born Again continues in and around New York City which provides ample opportunity for passersby to snap shots of the action. The latest round of photos show Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock about town and having a conversation with an actor whose involvement in the series was previously unknown.

    • I’m walkin’ here!

    From the set photos, it appears that actor Harris Yulin (Ozark, Ghostbusters II) has joined the cast of the streaming series. Disney has yet to comment on Yulin’s involvement in the project and his role is unknown.

    Daredevil: Born Again will continue production for the majority of the rest of 2023 and is expected to hit Disney Plus in 2024.

  • Marvel Studios Rolls Out Paranoia Propaganda Warning of a ‘Secret Invasion’

    Marvel Studios Rolls Out Paranoia Propaganda Warning of a ‘Secret Invasion’

    Marvel Studios first streaming project of 2023, Secret Invasion, will see Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury racing against the clock against an enemy who could be anyone at any time. Adapted from the 2008 comic book event of the same name, Marvel Studios version will feature less super hero splash and more spy games while still asking the same question Brian Michael Bendis posed in the comics:Who Do You Trust?

    With Secret Invasion now set for a June 21st streaming debut, marketing got the series is unser and some great new promotional material has made its way online through a couple of Twitter accounts. The first group of material seems to indicate that at some point during th series, the general public will become aware of the Skrull invasion. Given it’s been reported that Christopher McDonald will portray a Tucker Carlson-esque talking head in the series, these seem like the type of paranoia propaganda he might use to spread an agenda of fear and distrust. “They can be anybody” can cause a helluva movement.

    The next set of promo art, featuring Jackson’s Fury, Don Cheadle‘s James Rhodes, Martin Freeman‘s Everett Ross, Olivia Colman‘s Sonya Falsworth and Emilia Clarke‘s Skrull spy, G’iah, uses that classic comic event tagline, “Who Do You Trust?” to target the audience as the show approaches. It’s likely that even in the trailers Marvel Studios has already begun misleading the audience into deciding who is who and on which side. Expect plenty of surprises to be in store as the show progresses.

    Sources: MCU Facility, Nacao Marvel

  • First ‘Wonder Man’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Ben Kingsley’s MCU Return

    First ‘Wonder Man’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Ben Kingsley’s MCU Return

    It’s strange to think that Wonder Man has seemingly started production but Marvel has yet to give it an announcement or tease officially. We’ve heard it from various official outlets but Marvel is surprisingly silent about this new series that likely introduce a major player with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams. Plus, it’s a series set in Hollywood, which makes it potentially the most meta entry in the franchise.

    Marvel may not be saying anything just yet, but luckily some set photos give us a glimpse at the show in a familiar face. We first heard that Ben Kingsley would return as Trevor Slattery back in August. So, it’s crazy to see him back on set in the role rocking a rather familiar hairstyle. We last saw him in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which followed up on the short All Hail the King.

    We still know very little about what the series will be about or how it’ll explore Wonder Man’s story from Hollywood star to unlikely superhero. There’s also the question of how Slattery ends up back in Hollywood, but perhaps the actor being abducted from prison after being arrested for portraying a terrorist would get any producer’s attention. So, perhaps he is there to pitch his life story as a film to one of Hollywood’s biggest actors, who is hiding his true abilities.

    Source: Twitter via The Direct

  • Second ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff in Development

    Second ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff in Development

    HBO Max and Discovery+ are fusing together into the oddly named Max. Alongside the grand announcement, they have also unveiled a wide variety of series to showcase what they hope to achieve with this rebranding by moving away from the HBO label that they feared would set an expectation of only high-string dramas being part of the streaming service. Mostly, it’s a way to bring the 90-Day Fiancé offerings to the platform but it seems one CBS classic is making a return as well.

    Chuck Lorre is seemingly already working on a new series that is set in the same world as The Big Bang Theory, which would make it the second spinoff project after Young Sheldon. It’s no surprise they want to bank on that recognizable name as it ran for an impressive 12 seasons and was one of CBS’ biggest series, which will now stream exclusively on Max. Lorre famously hinted at the plans for multiple spinoffs in a 2019 interview:

    Truthfully, the reason for a spinoff is economics, and that’s not the reason to do a show. You should do a show because you have something you really love and you want to do it. Economics follow passion. If you start with economics … well, shit, become a network executive

    Chuck Lorre

    The original series actually ended because Lorre wanted to ensure the entire ensemble cast was present and after Jim Parsons, who famously played Sheldon Cooper, decided to move on with his career and instead of forcing it to continue, they wrapped it up. As of now, there’s no real confirmation on what we can expect from the spinoff or who might be its main focus. So, we’ll have to wait a bit before they move forward with the spinoff.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Full Voice Cast of DC’s ‘Creature Commandos’ Revealed

    Full Voice Cast of DC’s ‘Creature Commandos’ Revealed

    Following the announcement that Frank Grillo signed onto DC Studios’ Creature Commandos as the voice of Rick Flag Sr., the entire cast of the project was revealed by Collider. As previously explained by James Gunn, the actors providing the voices for the characters in DC Studios animated projects will also be tasked with realizing the characters in live-action should they appear in any projects down the road. With Creature Commandos set to be both the first animated and one of the first overall projects of the new DCU, it’s very possible these actors will be appearing elsewhere in Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.

    In addition to Grillo, Viola Davis and Sean Gunn, who had previously been revealed to be reprising his The Suicide Squad role of Weasel but will also be voicing G.I. Robot, Creature Commandos will feature Steve Agee, returning as John Economos, Maria Bakalova making her debut as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Zoe Chao making her debut as Nina Mazursky, David Harbour making his debut as Eric Frankenstein and Alan Tudyk, a DC vet who portrayed Mr. Nobody on Doom Patrol, as Dr. Phosphorous.

    Gunn wrote the 7-episode first season of Creature Commandos, which has already entered into production which is currently without a release window.

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    Source: Collider

  • Harry Potter Streaming Series in the Works at Warner Bros. Discovery

    Harry Potter Streaming Series in the Works at Warner Bros. Discovery

    As part of a series of announcements accompanying the reveal of the new title of their combined streaming service, Max, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed the rumored development of a Harry Potter streaming series. The series is said to “to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way,” according to Casey Bloys the Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content.

    The stories from each of Rowling’s Harry Potter books will become a decade-long series produced with the same epic craft, love and care this global franchise is known for. The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail, much loved characters and dramatic locations that Harry Potter fans have loved for over 25 years. Each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.

    Official Description via Max

    “Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World,” said Bloys. “In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years.” While Warner Bros. is still searching for both a showrunner and writer for the Max streaming series, Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling is on board as an executive producer of the project.

    Max’s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I’m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long form television series.

    J.K. Rowling on her involvement in the Harry Potter streaming series in development at Max

    Source: THR

  • REVIEW: The Mandos Could Have Used Admiral Ackbar in Chapter 23 of ‘The Mandalorian’

    REVIEW: The Mandos Could Have Used Admiral Ackbar in Chapter 23 of ‘The Mandalorian’

    I saw it coming. You saw it coming. We all saw it coming. Everyone saw it coming except for Bo-Katan, Din Djarin and the dozen or so other Mandos who walked right into Moff Gideon’s trap. Things were going far too well for the Mandalorians in their quest to reclaim Mandalore and in a galaxy where peace is not an acceptable status quo, things were bound to take a turn for the worse. After several episodes established Din, Bo-Katan and Grogu as a functional unit at the center of the Mandalorian Renaissance, Chapter 23, The Spies, saw it all taken away from them at the hands of Gideon, calling into question if Mandalore might not just be cursed after all.

    While Gideon’s return was already advertised, the live-action debut of the Shadow Council–a group of Imperial loyalists working behind the scenes to ensure the return to power of the Empire–serves as an interesting parallel to the work being done by the Mandalorians. Just as Bo-Katan, Din Djarin and the Armorer seek to round up and reunite Mandalorians from across the galaxy, Gideon seeks to amass the resources of the Imperial remnants from across the galaxy to stop them. Having Gideon launch his plan–and his trap–from the depths of Mandalore, indeed from the heart of their once great civilization, just adds another notch on the belt of this wonderful bastard.

    Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal, top right) and Paz Vizsla (Tait Fletcher, foreground right) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    The fallout from the events of this episode promises to be nothing short of transformational for the next arc of the series. Bo-Katan–whose desire to lead again had to be stirred extrinsically–has now led her newly formed army into a trap that cost her the life of Paz Vizsla and steadying influence of Din Djarin. How those losses will impact her next move and how an increasingly independent Grogu will respond to the capture of his father are major questions that will define not only Chapter 24, the Season 3 finale, but also next season and, ultimately, the Mandalorian-centric film set to be directed by Dave Filoni.

    While the finale of the episode feels like the beginning of a slow march to the creation of the First Order, their canonical birth is still 5 or so years away and, so far as we know, Gideon is not a part of their sequel trilogy story. So, as parallel as their paths may seem at the moment, Bo-Katan and Gideon are certain to come together again. Will that be the time that Bo-Katan’s song is finally written? As Din Djarin said, Bo-Katan is defined by honor, loyalty and character–all things Gideon knows nothing about. While their goals may seem superficially similar, Bo-Katan’s quest to reclaim Mandalore is done selflessly for the good of her people while Gideon looks to amass the resources of the Empire for his own selfish ends. While the Shadow Council was swayed to play along for now, it’s safe to say that while Thrawn may see value in eliminating the Mandalorians, Gideon won’t find him so easy to manipulate. As things move towards their inevitable end and Bo-Katan and Gideon are positioned against one another, this episode will be noteworthy for its subtle conveyance of the idea that while Gideon seems to have the upper hand, he rules from a throne of fear and manipulation while Bo-Katan has grown from her mistakes and seeks not to lead but is called to it. Short of the Darksaber, which has slowly lost its meaning, Gideon now has everything Bo-Katan, Grogu and The Mandalorians desire. Has that put him in a good place or a very bad place? Place your bets and let’s see what surprises are in store for the season finale!