Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Universal

  • Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Finds its Hiccup and Astrid

    Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Finds its Hiccup and Astrid

    While many have been hoping Disney’s attempt to bring their classic animated franchises to live-action would end, Dreamworks has just started with their own attempt. The animated film How to Train Your Dragon is heading back to the silver screen but not with an animated sequel or spinoff, but rather a live-action adaptation. With a March 14th release date in 2025, Dean DeBlois is attached to direct and it seems they found their leading duo.

    Deadline has reported that Mason Thames and Nico Parker will take on the roles of Hiccup and Astrid in Universel’s upcoming adaptation. They will retell the story of Hiccup’s journey as a young Viking that ends up bonding with a dragon, who he eventually names Toothless. Dreamwork’s original trilogy was nominated for Academy Awards and a Golden Globe, so it’s not surprising they want this adaptation featuring human characters to make its way to live-action

    Thames just had his first big hit with The Black Phone staring opposite Ethan Hawke. He even got the lead role in Incoming and is also going to star alongside Mel Gibson in Boys of Summer. Parker just had a role in The Last of Us alongside Pedro Pascal. She’s also appeared in the live-action Dumbo film by Tim Burton and is set to appear in HBO’s The Third Day.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live-Action Film in Development

    ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live-Action Film in Development

    No, you read that right. Dean DeBlois is seemingly set on adapting How to Train Your Dragon into live-action for Universal. It seems they are dead-set on repeating the same mistakes as Disney that somehow still end up pulling billions at the box office, such as the “live-action” adaptation of The Lion King and Aladdin. It seems Universal Pictures is dead set on this franchise revival in a new format and already dated the film for a March 14th, 2025 release.

    The surprising thing is that this franchise does have the potential to adapt its own take on the franchise without just recreating the story of Hiccup and Toothless, but it seems they are deadset on remaking the trilogy that was released throughout the 2010s. It’s a shame given that live-action adaptations can be more than just straight adaptations of existing stories, especially in more expansive worlds like these.

    As the franchise mostly focuses on the relationship between Vikings and dragons, it does lend itself to live-action. It should also be noted that DeBlois directed the animated films and has an extensive history with the project. It’s also already in the middle of its casting process. So, they’ve been working on this for some time and it isn’t just a quick announcement. We’ll have to see how this attempt at a live-action adaptation of an animated classic works out.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Madonna Biopic Not Moving Forward at Universal

    Madonna Biopic Not Moving Forward at Universal

    In the age of biopics based on pop music icons of the 20th century, one potential project is officially not moving forward. It’s been announced that the Madonna-based film is no longer in development at Universal Pictures. The film was to be directed by the pop icon herself, but the recent announcement of Madonna’s new world tour officially axed the project from happening. However, some Hollywood sources noted that the decision to cancel the biopic was already made at the end of 2022. Madonna also co-wrote the script for the project alongside Erin Cressida Wilson with Amy Pascal set to produce.

    Much was made about the grueling audition process for playing Madonna in the now-canceled film. It’s been said that the months-long experience was akin to a boot camp, including 11-hour days consisting of dancing, acting, and singing with Madonna and her choreographers. Numerous young stars in Hollywood and the music industry such as Florence Pugh, Odessa Young, Emma Laird, Bebe Rexha, and Sky Ferreira were in contention for the role. Ultimately, Julia Garner (of Ozark fame) was the front-runner to take on the part of the iconic singer, but it seemingly will not come to be.

    The biopic was first announced in 2020 and was set to cover the decades-long career of Madonna in the worlds of music and fashion. However, new reports have come out about the tumultuous process to get the script together. All versions of the script were well over 180 pages, with issues to parse down Madonna’s career into an individual film. Some discussions were had about adapting her life story into a two-part saga or even a limited series. Though as it stands now, the project is not moving forward in any way at Universal Pictures.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘M3GAN’ Sequel is Already in Development

    ‘M3GAN’ Sequel is Already in Development

    The world of horror movies should be prepared for seeing more of the Model 3 Generative Android. Deadline has shared that a sequel for the new horror film M3GAN is in the very early stages of development. This news makes sense with the surprising surge at the box office the horror film has had on its first full day of release.

    The Universal Studios film won at the box office yesterday by earning over $11M, which has moved M3GAN’s opening weekend projection to $27.5M. This respectfully outperforms the initial $20M expectations, and the film has the potential to see it continue to increase if word of mouth continues to be a success.

    M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone, is based on a story by Akela Cooper and James Wan. It was produced under Blumhouse Productions and follows the story of roboticist Gemma (played by Alison Williams) as she suddenly finds herself in the custody of her niece Cady (played by Violet McGraw) following the death of the latter’s parents.

    To help remedy a struggling home life situation, Gemma provides her niece with a prototype of her new work project to assist in looking after and providing emotional support for Cady: the Model 3 Generative Android (abbreviated to M3GAN). This of course has dire consequences as the artificial intelligence gains sentience that’s combined with a warped and everchanging moral code.

    The first major American release of 2023 is a relatively strong underdog story in the film industry. Being the film to dethrone Avatar: The Way of Water as #1 at the box office is a major accomplishment, and the notion of M3GAN being the movie to do it is certainly a surprise. The Way of Water is still set to win the weekend, but M3GAN being able to be relatively competitive without showing in most premium formats is a major feat.

    Without getting into specific spoilers from M3GAN, there are threads that can be continued for future projects. The character of M3GAN certainly matches the enigmatic nature shown in the trailer and is rife to be a successful black comedy franchise. Audiences should be prepared to see a great deal more of this artificial intelligence doll in the future.

    M3GAN is currently available at movie theaters globally. You can read Murphy’s Multiverse official review of the film here. 

    Source: Deadline

  • Universal Developing a New ‘American Pie’ Movie

    Universal Developing a New ‘American Pie’ Movie

    Universal is looking to bring back American Pie. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Definition Please filmmaker Sujata Day has signed on to helm a new American Pie movie. Day will write and direct the film which is said to be a fresh take based on her original pitch to the studio.

    Day is perhaps best known for her role as Sarah on HBO’s Insecure. However, she recently begun to turn her talents to behind the camera. Her directorial debut, Definition Please, in which she also starred, won the grand jury award for best narrative feature at San Francisco CAAM Fest. The film was acquired by Ava DuVernay’s Array banner and is now available to stream on Netflix. Prior to Definition Please, Day directed the YouTube Series, This Is My Story, featuring LeVar Burton.

    American Pie was released in 1999 and quickly proved to be a success, amassing $225 million worldwide on an $11 million budget. It spawned two sequels, as well as a direct to video franchise titled American Pie Presents, currently consisting of five titles. As of now, the latest American Pie film has no release date, nor has any of the cast been announced.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Officially Joins the 1 Billion Club at the Worldwide Box Office

    ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ Officially Joins the 1 Billion Club at the Worldwide Box Office

    Jurassic World Dominion has officially passed the lucrative threshold of earning over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. For a film that was released in June, it took a more gradual time period than most films to reach this milestone. Nonetheless, it’s certainly notable being only the third film to gross one billion since the pandemic began. One of the two is Top Gun: Maverick, which remains well ahead of Dominion as the highest-grossing film of 2022 thus far.

    The assumed final installment of the Jurassic World saga completes the trilogy’s ability to earn over $1B globally. The total earnings from the trilogy are currently at $6.02B. Jurassic World Dominion is also the seventh film from Universal to reach this financial milestone.

    Overall, this has been a banner year from Universal at the box office between Dominion, family films in Minions: Rise of Gru and The Bad Guys, and horror films in The Black Phone and Nope. Between all of these films, Universal has passed the threshold of over three billion dollars at the global box office this year. They are the first studio to reach that financial milestone since 2019.

    And the film studio is far from finished with new releases this year. Of note, Bros, Tar, Ticket to Paradise, She Said, Puss n’ Boots: The Last Wish, and The Fabelmans (which just won the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award) are all set to release by the end of 2022.

    In terms of upcoming films that have the potential to join Dominion and Maverick in one billion earned globally, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way of Water seems to stand the best chance to be financial needle-movers for Disney by year’s end.

    Source: Deadline

  • RUMOR: Disney May Regain Theatrical Distribution Rights to Hulk Films in 2023

    RUMOR: Disney May Regain Theatrical Distribution Rights to Hulk Films in 2023

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s relationship with the Incredible Hulk has been relatively awkward since the film was released in 2008. The was film met with terrible reviews and remains at the very bottom of most fans’ MCU rankings. Edward Norton played Bruce Banner in the original film, but Mark Ruffalo was given the role in 2012’s The Avengers and all subsequent appearances of the character.

    Marvel Studios’ relationship with the Incredible Hulk and with the character of the Hulk generally is further complicated by the fact that Universal Studios retained the theatrical distribution rights of the original film and all sequels. This has made it difficult for Marvel Studios, and parent company Disney, to make Hulk-centered films. Disney and Marvel still hold the rights to develop movies starring the Hulk, but Universal has the first refusal opportunity to distribute the project and takes a significant chunk of the profits. This legal issue has led the MCU to limit Hulk to supporting roles and seemingly avoid solo projects altogether.

    Still, it was reported back in October 2021 that a World War Hulk was in development and eyeing a 2022 production start. That prospect raises a lot of questions about how the Marvel-Universal legal relationship will come into play. Now, unearthed legal documents filed with the Security and Exchange Commission by Marvel may indicate that Universal loses its rights in Hulk films in June 2023.

    As discovered by Reddit user u/vidoardes, a couple of SEC filings when read together suggest that the theatrical distribution rights to The Incredible Hulk and Hulk-centered films will revert to Disney next year. An official SEC filing by Marvel in December 2006 stated:

    Universal Studios has agreed to distribute Marvel’s film The Incredible Hulk and sequels on essentially the same terms as those on which Paramount has agreed to distribute the other films financed and produced under the film facility…

    Interestingly, the amended studio agreement, also available through the SEC, between Marvel and Paramount dictates a 15-year deal:

    6. Distribution Term: Paramount shall have the right to exercise its Paramount Distribution Rights with respect to each Picture for an initial period of 15 years commencing on the initial Theatrical Exhibition of such Picture (the “Initial Distribution Term”);…

    So while there is no apparent confirmation that Marvel’s deal with Universal also had the 15-year agreement, the fact that Marvel stated that the deal is on “essentially the same terms” as those with Paramount is some evidence pointing to the time limit of the Marvel-Universal agreement. If it also ends after 15 years, that would mean that Disney would regain the distribution rights 15 years after The Incredible Hulk in June 2008, which would be June 2023.

    While the June 2023 date is not confirmed, it would make sense given that the World War Hulk film reportedly in development is eyeing a late 2023 or early 2024 release.

    Source: SEC via Reddit

  • Nicholas Hoult’s ‘Renfield’ to Release in 2023

    Nicholas Hoult’s ‘Renfield’ to Release in 2023

    While the title of Universal’s film Renfield seems like it’ll explore the dramatic or comedic life of a character with the same name, it’s actually a unique take on the classic Dracula storyline. The character is actually his henchman (Nicholas Hoult), which offers a comedic look at his story serving under Dracula’s watchful eyes. Nicholas Cage is taking on the role of the classic vampire, as the story takes place in the modern-day, as Renfield tries to find a way to detach himself from his master.

    As the film was mostly focused on casting its main cast, we’ve only now gotten a release date for the project. Universal has decided that April 14th, 2023 is the perfect time to bring Dracula back to theaters. The film will be directed by Chris McKay, who just recently worked on The Tomorrow War for Amazon and working on a script based on an idea by Robert Kirkman, who many know for his work on The Walking Dead. However, he’s not writing the script as Ryan Ridley of Rick and Morty fame is tackling that role.

    The film is taking inspiration from the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, but the new setting will definitely tell an original story. Thought, it could include quite a few references to the story and characters that were introduced in the novel. We still have some time until it releases and we’ll see just how comedic the film might go once the trailer drops.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Nicolas Cage Joins Universal’s ‘Renfield’ Movie as Dracula

    Nicolas Cage Joins Universal’s ‘Renfield’ Movie as Dracula

    Nicolas Cage seems like the actor who could appear in almost any project and you’ll never expect it. Well, he’s now joined Universal Studios’ attempt at reviving their monster franchises as the lord of darkness himself, Dracula in the upcoming film Renfield. He’ll be joined by Nicholas Hoult who’ll take on the role of the count’s iconic henchman.

    Chris McKay, fresh off the work on The Tomorrow War, will tackle the project. He is producing alongside The Walking Dead‘s Robert Kirkman, David Alpert, Bryan, and Sean Furst. The titular character was brought to life in Bram Stoker‘s 1897 novel, who becomes obsessed with his new lord as they end up depending on each other. It is teased as a modern-day adventure with a comedic tone, which makes sense given McKay‘s filmography. Of course, the addition of Nicolas Cage just adds to that very fact.

    It’ll be interesting to see if Universal is still focused on bringing a cinematic universe to life. While the Dark Universe failed to pick up steam after The Mummy, the more comedic approach might add an extra layer to the experience and make it stand out from other crossover franchises. They might even play on the cheesiness of the original films and bring that to life in curious ways.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Derek Cianfrance to Direct Ryan Gosling’s ‘Wolfman’

    Derek Cianfrance to Direct Ryan Gosling’s ‘Wolfman’

    Universal is trying once again to revive their popular horror icon franchises and has managed to get Ryan Gosling to star in a new rendition of Wolfman. It looks like they finally found their director in Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine‘s Derek Cianfrance. As the previous titles suggest, he has quite the history with the actor, and together they’ll bring the werewolf story back to life. Originally, Leigh Whannel was set to tackle the project but had to leave due to scheduling conflicts. Cianfrance will also write the script with Gosling, Ken Kao, and Jason Blum will also act as producers.

    There’s no word exactly how they plan to reinvent the classic character. Last we got a Universal version of the werewolf storyline, it was Benicio del Toro‘s period piece. Hints are pointing to an updated interpretation that would place Gosling’s version into the modern-day. At one point they tried to create a connected universe titled the Dark Universe, but Tom Cruise‘s The Mummy tanked that idea before it even got started.

    It’s uncertain if they might still want to chase this endeavor, but a revival of the classic franchise definitely set them in the right direction. Wolfman would be a very out-there direction for Cianfrance, whose background mainly lies in adult dramas, as Deadline points out. So, it’ll be interesting to see the director tackle this new type of film in his career.

    Source: Deadline