Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Warner Bros.

  • Warner Bros. Teasing the Announcement for their ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Clone

    Warner Bros. Teasing the Announcement for their ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Clone

    For some time now, we have gotten a tease for a potentially free-to-play fighting game featuring the vast characters from Warner Bros. library of intellectual properties. The Super Smash Bros. clone will supposedly be titled Multiversus, which will feature Rick, Shaggy, Batman, Gandalf, and many more according to a leaked roster. Well, it seems that the announcement might be imminent, as the official Looney Tunes Twitter account has teased that Bugs Bunny has vanished and tagged @wbgames suspiciously.

    It looks like they aren’t the only ones trying to find their missing character, as shortly after Tom & Jerry has also highlighted their absence.

    At this rate, it is safe to say that the announcement is probably coming by the end of the day, or at least before the week comes to an end. We’ll likely see other Twitter accounts like the DC account teasing their absence. It’s a clever way to set up the game’s roster. There are still many questions surrounding the project, as a F2P model would hint at micro-transactions being involved, purchasing future DLC characters, or how exactly it might play.

    It’s described as a Super Smash Bros. clone and the timing is perfect as the most recent release ended its recent support with the addition of Kingdom Heart‘s Sora. Here’s hoping that they have some fun with the official teaser. They have quite a lot of their characters as costumes in theme parks. So, it would be quite fun to see them duke it out in tribute to the original Super Smash Bros. trailer where people in costumes beat each other up.

    Source: Twitter, Twitter

  • ‘Cobra Kai’ Star Xolo Mariduena in Talks to Lead DC’s ‘Blue Beetle’

    ‘Cobra Kai’ Star Xolo Mariduena in Talks to Lead DC’s ‘Blue Beetle’

    Streaming services have begun a whole new playing field when it comes to expanding your cinematic universe. Marvel and DC are both capitalizing on the straight-to-consumer system to build these worlds. In the case of DC, HBO Max has become the streaming home for the DCEU with projects like Peacemaker, Batgirl, Static Shock, and Blue Beetle in the works. We recently got the news that actress Leslie Grace is set to star as Barbra Gordon in her own solo, and now it looks like we’ve got our Blue Beetle.

    Star of Netflix’s Cobra Kai, Xolo Mariduena, is reportedly in talks to star Jaime Reyes, the third incarnation of the Blue Beetle and will lead his own solo film. The project is set to be directed by Angel Manuel Soto and was written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer. The project is set to begin production early next year, with John Rickard serving as producer and Zev Foreman as executive producer.

    For those unfamiliar with the character, Jaime Reyes follows in the footsteps of Ted Kord, who picked up the mantle of Blue Beetle from Dan Garret. Jaime is different from his predecessors in that the Scarab attached to his back, a piece of tech from an alien species known as the Teach. It allows Jaime to don a suit of armor, and become the Blue Beetle. The character is yet another one from Charlton comics, a group that DC and WB seem keen on adapting lately, with Peacemaker also coming to HBO Max. While it isn’t confirmed, we could see seeds planted and or maybe even Kord show up before Jaimes big debut.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Diane Ademu-John Boards HBO Max’s ‘DUNE’ Spin-Off Series As Showrunner

    Diane Ademu-John Boards HBO Max’s ‘DUNE’ Spin-Off Series As Showrunner

    Denis Villeneuve’s Dune just got its second trailer, and the franchise is already expanding. Diane Ademu-John has officially boarded the film’s spin-off series, Dune: The Sisterhood, as its new showrunner. The HBO Max series will explore the universe established in Dune through the eyes of the mysterious Bene Gesserit. The Jedi-like organization of women has achieved a mastery over mind and body, which allows them to meddle in the political landscape of their universe.

    The series will serve as a prequel to Villeneuve’s project, with its story ultimately leading to the famous events on the desert planet Arrakis. Dune: The Sisterhood originally got announced in 2019, but not much has been said about the show since original showrunner Jon Spaihts stepped down in November of that year. The announcement of Ademu-John’s involvement is good news for those who were worried about the series’ future. The project’s newest helmer has a long history working in television, having written for shows like The Haunting of Bly Manor, Empire, The Originals, and The Vampire Diaries.

    The show’s pilot will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, and will most likely be made sometime between Dune and its intended sequel. The sprawling franchise has a lot of content to work with, as series creator Frank Herbert wrote a total of six Dune novels in his lifetime. The Star-studded initial film was going to drop last year. Due to COVID-related delays, it will now release on October 22 in theaters and on HBO Max.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’s Malcolm D. Lee Reveals the Michael Jordan Cameo That Never Happened

    ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’s Malcolm D. Lee Reveals the Michael Jordan Cameo That Never Happened

    There will be spoilers for Space Jam: A New Legacy in this article. Only continue at your own risk.

     

    After a long wait, Space Jam finally got a sequel. Yet, there was a noticeable absence of 1996’s leading man. The first film’s leading man, Michael Jordan, did not return, but the Looney Tunes sure did. LeBron James took over as the central character, whose relationship with his son gets tested when a rogue algorithm tries to take over his status as king. Trapped in the Warner Bros. ServerVerse, he joins together with the classic Looney Tunes to take on Don Cheadle‘s Al-G Rythm and the Goon Squad in a basketball game of the century.

    There are various references throughout the film to the original film, but no sign of the former NBA star. According to director Malcolm. D. Lee, there were plans for him to appear in a post-credit sequence, even if the chances were slim to none. It would’ve even referred to the 202 mini-series The Last Dance by ESPN Films and Netflix by echoing one of his iconic lines from the documentary.

    We were holding out hope, but also knew that the likelihood was going to be very remote. Especially after The Last Dance came out, I was like, we’ve got to be able to do something, even like a tag at the very end after the credits with Bugs showing him the movie and saying, ‘What do you think, Doc?’ And just Jordan going, ‘I took that very personal.’ I wanted to do it! It would have been fantastic, but our movie is our movie and Space Jam is Space Jam

    Luckily, the team did get visits by another Jordan, Michael B. Jordan. It seems he was shooting a project and dropped by the project to hang out with LeBron James. This coincidence led to one of the film’s best jokes when Sylvester gets him mixed up with the first film’s protagonist.

    But it’s one of the greatest jokes that I’ve ever put in one of my movies — and it’s super unique to Space Jam. There’s no other movie where you could play this joke. Warner Bros. wanted really badly to use it in marketing, and I was like, you cannot do that, because this joke is too good to sacrifice.

    It’s sad they couldn’t get Jordan to return, but it did make way for a very unique joke that, as the director points out, only Space Jam could make. Luckily, they talked the marketing team out of wasting it in the trailers. The film managed to beat out Blck Widow at the Box Office, but it’s uncertain if we might see this franchise return with more entries moving forward. Still, it was great seeing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of the Looney Tunes back on the silver screen. Even if this franchise doesn’t continue, it’s about time they get more films.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘Peacemaker’: ‘Bridgerton’s Freddie Stroma Replaces Chris Conrad in ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off

    ‘Peacemaker’: ‘Bridgerton’s Freddie Stroma Replaces Chris Conrad in ‘The Suicide Squad’ Spin-Off

    It looks like there is a cast changing happening with the upcoming The Suicide Squad spin-off, Peacemaker. Bridgerton‘s Freddie Stroma will take over the role of Vigilante from Chris Conrad in the HBO Max series. He will play Adrian Chase, who is a hand-to-hand combatant and marksman. Conrad is reportedly leaving the project due to creative differences, but no details are given on what occurred. The series was ordered straight-to-series and will premiere with eight episodes on HBO Max sometime next year. It will tell the origins of John Cena’s Peacemaker character who will make his debut in this year’s The Suicide Squad.

    They still have kept a lot about the series’ plot under wraps and it is uncertain how it will lead into the upcoming film. James Gunn has openly discussed that no character is safe. So, it is uncertain if Cena‘s character might even survive the events as they face off against Starro. Still, the series has been filming for some time and it is surprising to see Conrad’s replacement announced so late into production. Either he already films a few sequences that will get reshot, or Vigilante is only featured in a handful of episodes later down the line. Still, it seems a lot is still happening on the project before Gunn moves on to direct Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the Disney+ Christmas Special.

    Source: Deadline

  • Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Todd Phillips Signs on to Co-Write Potential ‘Joker’ Sequel

    Joker was one of DC’s and WB’s most unique projects, as it dived deep into the psyche of a man who’d been beaten down and forgotten by the people around him. The film was a smashing success after bringing in over a billion dollars in its total box-office haul on a budget of just $55M. Not only was it a financial success, but the film also made headlines being the first to score the most nominations for one film at the Oscars and taking home two awards for best score and best actor. With success like that, it seemed like a viable path to continue down. It looks like we might get just that.

    There have been countless rumors surrounding the project for some time now, and it was previously uncertain if the franchise would remain a one-time event. Just a few weeks ago, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the studio was still developing a sequel but no other word was given on the status of the project. It’s now being reported by THR that writer/director Todd Phillips has signed onto return to co-write the potential sequel but no word if he’ll be jumping back into the director’s chair.

    While it seems like the sequel is still in very early phases, it could show us what Gotham is like post-Joker’s riot. Towards the end of the film, we see the city in flames, as masked citizens ran rampant through the streets. Our titular character got taken into custody as he smiled upon the movement that he started. The potential next entry could explore multiple characters’ stories as they take on the clown’s ideals. Perhaps there is more than just one Joker after all.

    Source: THR

     

  • Elizabeth Banks to Voice Pebbles in Fox’s ‘Flintstones’ Sequel Series ‘Bedrock’

    Elizabeth Banks to Voice Pebbles in Fox’s ‘Flintstones’ Sequel Series ‘Bedrock’

    It looks like The Flintstones are making a grand return, as Warner Bros. Animation has greenlit a new sequel to the original series. It will be titled Bedrock and takes place 20 years after the original ended. They even already confirmed the first casting, as Elizabeth Banks will be voicing an adult Pebbles while serving as executive producer. The series has been in development since 2019, which Variety reported back in the day. The story will focus on Pebbles starting her own career as Fred Flinstone is about to retire. They are bout to enter the Bronze age and leave the Stone Age behind, which will lead to some conflicts as the old-timer has to adapt to the new era.

    Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceauos‘ Lindsay Kerns will write and act as executive producer. Banks and Max Handelman will also join via Brownstone Productions. Fox Entertainment president, Michael Thorn, had the following to say on the sequel series’ production:

    Long before the Simpsons and Springfield, the Griffins and Quahog, or even when the Belchers started serving burgers on Ocean Avenue, there were the Flintstones and Bedrock. Their imprint on the animation universe is undeniable and the idea of adapting it for today’s audience is a challenge we here at Fox are very much looking forward to taking on with Warner Bros., Elizabeth, and Lindsay. No pressure whatsoever, really.

    As The Flintstones family is known as the first family of primetime animation, it’s great to see the franchise make a grand return. It originally ran for six seasons from 1960 to 1966 on ABC. There have been many attempts to revive the show in the past even with two live-action films. Seth MacFarlane originally pitched a reboot back in 2011 which didn’t move forward. It’ll be interesting to see how they tackle the story and

    Source: Variety (Bedrock), Variety (First Reporting)

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ Dominate the Box Office

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ and ‘Demon Slayer: Mugen Train’ Dominate the Box Office

    It looks like it was a good weekend for the Box Office, as it was a tight race between Warner Bros. Mortal Kombat reboot and Japan’s Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. After Godzilla vs. Kong seemed to revive cinemas after a long pandemic-induced hiatus, there was a lot of hope that the next films would continue that momentum. Luckily, it seems that hope wasn’t misplaced, as Mortal Kombat opened to a sizeable $22.5M. It had some tough competition, as with little more than half the cinemas, Demon Slayer: Mugen Train garnered an impressive $19.5M. With it, the Anime has earned the biggest domestic debut of all time for a foreign-language film.

    What makes these numbers even more impressive is that both projects are R-rated. So, we aren’t just talking about the usual PG-13 fair. BoxOffice Pro’s Shawn Robbins offered a comparison to Wonder Woman 1984 to highlight how far we’ve come:

    To really get a sense of how far pandemic-era moviegoing has progressed, we just have to look at the fact that two R-rated films with some crossover audience appeal are combining to nearly triple the opening weekend of Wonder Woman 1984 just four months ago. People are increasingly comfortable and ready to get back to the movies

    We also need to consider that the latest adaptation of Mortal Kombat was also released simultaneously on HBO Max. Even so, it managed a respectable $50.1M internationally. These projects had a strong male viewership and were able to dominate the April marquee, which normally is flooded by larger Hollywood projects. In a way, the consequences of the pandemic may have helped some of the smaller projects that might’ve otherwise struggled. Godzilla vs. Kong held on to the third title making $86.6M domestically.

    It also may be a sign that Anime films, which are normally targeting a niche group, have a much stronger chance in the US market. Demon Slayer‘s first film released in Japan last year and was the countries’ top-grossing film. It now stands at a very impressive $400 million.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’: Joe Taslim’s 4-Film Contract Hints at Sub-Zero’s Dark Future

    ‘Mortal Kombat’: Joe Taslim’s 4-Film Contract Hints at Sub-Zero’s Dark Future

    We are only a day away from Mortal Kombat finally releasing in theaters and HBO Max. In anticipation, Sub-Zero actor, Joe Taslim, shared his excitement for the project with Variety. In it, he revealed that he has signed up for four more installments if the film turns out successful. Now, it isn’t uncommon nowadays that actors have multiple sequels in their contracts. What makes this particular contract interesting is the history that Bi-Han has in the games. Of course, there is a chance that the film takes a unique direction for his character, but the signs are hinting at his future echoing the games.

     

    Mortal Kombat's Joe Taslim Reveals He's Signed on for Four Sequels

     

    HBO Max released the first seven minutes of the film, which gave us our main conflict between Hanzo Hasashi and Bi-Han. Now, if you haven’t played the games only continue reading at your own risk. For those that have played the original trilogy from 1992 to 1995, their battle would eventually lead to one of them winning. Scorpion took the life of the one that murdered his family. His brother, Kuai Liang, would take on the mantle, but his brother’s soul wasn’t truly able to rest.

    In Mortal Kombat II, a secret character named Noob Saibot made his debut. We would later find out that this is actually a resurrected Bil-Han, who would continue his conflict with Scorpion and even his younger brother. The sorcerer Quan Chi took his humanity and turned him into a pure evil soul seeking vengeance. Now, the film series might take a very different approach to not just repeat the games. There is a chance he might end up living on, as Kuai Liang is notably absent. We’ve theorized that the original character, Cole Young, could be revealed as the younger Sub-Zero. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what the future of Sub-Zero could look like.

    Source: Variety

  • How ‘The Flash’ Could Introduce Earth-2’s The Wonders of The World

    How ‘The Flash’ Could Introduce Earth-2’s The Wonders of The World

    The concept of a multiverse is incredible. It leads to limitless potential and allows new stories to get told with similar characters. In a way, the creative choices are endless, especially when it comes to having an ever-expanding array of worlds. The multiverse seems like DC’s primary focus for the time being, as we’re already seen new worlds blossom. They have already explored the concept through the Arrowverse. Now, the films are embracing it with the mainline DCEU and The Batman. I believe there’s room for another franchise in this ever-expanding IP, the exploration of Earth-2.

    The current state of the DC Multiverse is a bit of a mess, to be honest. Some executives have said Earth-2 is the home of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Yet, during the rebirth of the multiverse in CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths event, Stargirl and the Justice Society of America’s home was given that title. Luckily, there is one film that can clear the air on this mystery. It is the upcoming The Flash film by Andy Muschietti. For a brief history lesson, 1961’s The Flash #123 hit spinner racks around the country and introduced the multiverse to the DC Universe. It saw Barry Allen and Jay Garrick meet for the first time. I can’t think of a better film to introduce the multiverse to the DCEU than The Flash.

     

     

    On Earth-2 resides a team known as the Wonders of the World, an alternate version of the Justice League with a roster made up of Jay Garrick’s Flash, Alan Scott’s Green Lantern, Huntress, Val Zod, Thomas Wayne, Power Girl, and even a Red Tornado Android with the mind of Lois Lane. What first sparked this idea was the news of Micheal Keaton’s return to the cape and cowl, along with the recent reveal of Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El. There is also the recent news of a Val-Zod-focused film in development, which helped build the connection. While these castings could be a coincidence, Keaton filling the role of Thomas Wayne and Calle as Power-Girl would fit considerably well.

    With the sudden eagerness to embrace the multiverse amongst their projects, introducing the Wonders would give them yet another franchise and world to play in. They could even take some more creative leaps with the characters. With the future of the Justice League still uncertain, the DCEU can rely on some of their other stronger teams, like the wonders and even the upcoming JSA, as they make their debut in Black Adam.

    Source: NYT