Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Warner Bros.

  • James Wan’s ‘Aquaman’ Spin-Off ‘The Trench’ Not Moving Forward

    James Wan’s ‘Aquaman’ Spin-Off ‘The Trench’ Not Moving Forward

    No, it isn’t an April Fools joke. The Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that two large adaptations are sadly not moving forward with the studio. One of them being the Aquaman spin-off focused on the newly introduced Trench. It would’ve been the first DC film to jump into a more horror-focused story, as it would explore the world of the deadly amphibious creatures that we saw in the Jason Momoa-led film. Director James Wan had been producing the film together with Peter Safran. It would’ve been based on a script by Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald. The statement offered by Warner Bros. seems to hint that it is shelved for now but could be brought back to life at a later date. It isn’t the end for Wan’s time with DC, as he is still hard at work on the Aquaman sequel.

    It seems that DC has decided to take a new direction with loosely interconnected pieces, which is why Ava Duvernay‘s New Gods got canceled. It seems that at one point they considered moving it to HBO Max, just like James Gunn‘s Peacemaker series, but decided against it. It seems that his work on the Aquaman sequel was considered enough and they want to potentially return to the idea at a later date. They want to focus more on the Atlanteans. So, we could see a different spin-off for Aqualad or whatever characters they introduce in the sequel. It’s going to be interesting how this affects their future slate and what we may expect from DC moving forward.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Release Pushed Back To Give ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s More Time In the Spotlight

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Release Pushed Back To Give ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s More Time In the Spotlight

    Well, it seems that Warner Bros. wants to bank on their upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong release, as they’ve decided to postpone Mortal Kombat‘s release by a week. As Deadline points out, the latest entry in the Monsterverse has been garnering a lot of attention and Box Office buzz. So, it isn’t too surprising that the studio wants to cash in on the current revival of cinema and give tomorrow’s release some breathing room. Mortal Kombat also has been quite a success with its initial reveal, as it is the most viewed red band trailer at around 116M views. So, it seems they want to make sure both films get enough time to bank on their potential success.

    As of now, Mortal Kombat will release on April 23rd. It’s the next film delay after Black Widow was pushed into July alongside many other Disney properties. Of course, the difference isn’t as bad and we can wait another week after it already got pushed back from its initial January release.

    Godzilla vs. Kong is going to be a beast that has already reenergized the international Box Office. So, Warner Bros. is hoping to get their money back on both properties, which have had some amazing early buzz. Of course, they will still be available on HBO Max at the same time. If they can revive cinema and add to their subscriber count, they will probably be looking into adjusting their overall schedule to ensure that each film has enough breathing room moving forward.

    Source: Deadline

  • Dwayne Johnson Unveils ‘Black Adam’s New Release Date at Times Square

    Dwayne Johnson Unveils ‘Black Adam’s New Release Date at Times Square

    DC has been busy preparing its future line-up. They just dropped Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max and are already hard at work on its future releases. We’ve been getting a lot of casting announcements for the upcoming Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-led Black Adam film. a while back, it lost its original release date and it was uncertain if it may have been postponed. Recent casting announcements have changed that perception and we were waiting for the new one to drop. Well, it has finally arrived in a dramatic fashion that just matches Johnson‘s flair for the dramatic.

     

    We also got a visual accompanying the reveal that showcases the logo and new release date:

     

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    It is certainly a bold move to take over Times Square to reveal the release date. This marketing move shows how much influence Dwayne Johnson has and it is a cool surprise for anyone who was near there. It’s a classic guerrilla marketing tactic that is attention-grabbing and will get people to check it out once it hits theaters in July. The recent casting of Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate has probably also echoed across news outlets quite a bit.

    Black Adam will introduce the world to Teth-Adam and the Justice Society of America. It also will build-up towards the eventual clash between him and Zachary Levi‘s Shazam, who made his live-action debut in 2019. We are looking forward to what direction the film will take and, hopefully, we’ll get our first look at Dwayne Johnson in his full Black Adam attire.

    Source: Instagram, Twitter

  • ‘The Suicide Squad’ Trailer Confirms Sylvester Stallone as King Shark

    ‘The Suicide Squad’ Trailer Confirms Sylvester Stallone as King Shark

    There has been an ongoing debate about who might be voicing King Shark in James Gunn‘s The Suicide Squad. At one point, it was revealed that Taika Waititi had joined the cast. After his performance as Korg in Thor: Ragnarok, he seemed like the perfect person to voice the loveable human shark. Suddenly, Silvester Stallone was confirmed to appear in the film, which made us wonder if he might also be the one voicing the character. Finally, the latest trailer released and King Shark actually has a speaking part. It confirmed that Stallone is indeed the one taking on the loveable maneater’s voice:

     

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1375481778064957440

    He even confirmed it on Instagram shortly after the trailer dropped:

    Overall, the trailer looks like a lot of fun that perfectly blends James Gunn‘s humor with comic book insanity. Just like Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Groot, King Shark will certailny become a fan-favorite once the film releases. Their interpretation of the character is also a departure from the comics. Yes, he was a bloodthirsty shark in the comics, but he’s shown to be quite intelligent. The character already had his live-action debut on The Flash, where they changed his origin. He was a regular man that transformed into a half-man, half-shark, unlike in the comics, where he is the son of a shark god. It’s an interesting departure and will certailny add some humorous yet gory moments throughout the film’s runtime.

    Source: YouTube, Twitter, Instagram (Stallone)

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’: First Look at Nitara Revealed

    ‘Mortal Kombat’: First Look at Nitara Revealed

    We’ve been anxiously awaiting the next attempt at a live-action adaptation of Mortal Kombat. The franchise found its footing on the silver screen in 1995. As technology wasn’t as advanced at the time, they focused on specific characters that wouldn’t be easy to adapt. Plus, the roster has only grown since then, as the game franchise is already on its eleventh incarnation. When they started advertising the film, we got a slew of character posters that revealed the massive roster. Yet, eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the trailers were hiding some secrets. It wasn’t until later that we got our first look at Cabal. Well, it seems one more classic fighter is joining the upcoming film, as Greg Russo has revealed our first look at Nitara:

    The character made her debut in 2002’s Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. She is a vampire that preys on the life of others, similar to Shang Tsung. Unlike him, she requires blood rather than soul energy. It looks like her live-action design will keep the iconic wings, but her body seems covered in something. There is a chance that she might be able to transform. So, we’ve only gotten a glimpse at her true form. Hopefully, she’ll still stick to her gothic design from the games, or at least they pay tribute to it. The character is neutral and doesn’t serve anyone. It’ll be interesting to see how large a role she might have, but if they didn’t even give her an official announcement, she might be one of the many Fatality victims throughout the film.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’: Legendary Reveals First Full Look at Mecha Godzilla

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’: Legendary Reveals First Full Look at Mecha Godzilla

    There is a curious thing about leaks in the modern age. At some point, the studio gives up fighting it and accepts that it is out there. Well, HBO Max and Warner Bros. have been facing something similar with the leak of Mecha Godzilla making an appearance in the upcoming film Godzilla vs. Kong. It got briefly teased in a few frames in the first trailer, and everyone noticed it. Images of toys started leaking online. So, people were getting a good look at the design of the mechanized Titan. Instead of fighting, they just accepted that the news is out there and decided to cash in on it. So, they released a tweet that includes merchandise that showcases the man-made Titan:

    It certainly matches the toy leaks that we’ve seen in the past. We still don’t know how exactly he will fit into the story. He may get created by humanity in response to Godzilla’s rampage. We know that Kong is brought to the mainland to defeat him. It may be a response for the team avoiding the activation of Mecha Godzilla. He could also end up being the reason that the once world-protecting giant ends up destroying the world. He might have a considerable role, and it will be interesting to see how they integrate this new rendition of the character. His design is sleeker than past iterations. We can expect a lot more maneuverability from this version rather than relying mainly on missiles like the classics. It’s a great design, and we cannot wait to see it in action once the film releases next week.

     

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Aquaman 2’ Casting Three Supporting Roles

    ‘Aquaman 2’ Casting Three Supporting Roles

    DC is are hard at work on the sequel to 2018’s Aquaman. The smash-hit offered a closer look at the underwater civilization of Atlantis. The ending of that film gave us a brief glimpse of the sequel’s direction, as a battle-damaged Black Manta is picked up by Stephen Shin. It looks like recent casting news by GWW might be hinting at a different direction. It seems he might be facing a much more vicious foe after all.

    They are currently looking to cast the character named “Kore.” They are specific about the character having a British accent and being in the age range of 40 to 50 years-of-age. GWW believes that the character may be the Fisher King, who is the leader of N.E.M.O. and an ally of Black Jack. He is also described as “domineering and cunning” that would match this description, but we could also see the leader of the Deluge, Corum Rath, make an appearance. He is an Atlantean eco-terrorist that wants to wage war with the surface world.

     

     

    The character with the codename “Maren” description hints at a mixed-race female in her 30s or 40s. She is also described as “intelligent and formidable,” which would make her a perfect fit to play Dolphin. She was involved with the fight against Corum Rath and the Deluge. She has been a fan favorite ever since. GWW believes it might end up being Black Jack, Siren, or Bres.

     

     

    The third breakdown is for a character dubbed “Rey.” DC is looking for a mixed-race female in her mid-late 20s. She is “tough and authoratiative.” I think could it could be Aquagirl, either Tula or Lorena Marquez. The description would fit Tula, as she is an Atlantean military officer. However, Lorena would be a better match for the role’s description. They may combine these characters into one.

    Aquaman 2 will premiere on December 16th, 2022. James Wan set to return and helm the project. Jason Momoa will reprise his role alongside Amber Heard, and Willem Dafoe will return as Mera and Vulko in the upcoming film.

    Source: GWW

  • Gavin James and Neil Widner Writing an ‘Hourman’ Film for DC and Warner Bros.

    Gavin James and Neil Widner Writing an ‘Hourman’ Film for DC and Warner Bros.

    The Justice Society of America is probably one of the oldest superhero teams in comic book history. Their history dates back to the 1940s, predating the Justice League and the Avengers by decades. They first rose to popularity during World War Two, where they came together to aid in the fight against the rising Nazi threat. The team has faced spouts of popularity here and there ever since. Recently the JSA has rushed back into the spotlight since their reappearance on Stargirl. DC Comics even brought them back into mainline continuity in the comics. On top of it all, they will even make their big-screen debut in the upcoming film, Black Adam. It seems one member of the team will be getting just a bit more love than the rest.

    DC and WB are currently developing a solo film featuring a founding member of the JSA, Hourman. The project hired Gavin James and Neil Widner to write. They are also teaming with the Chernin group, who’ve previously developed the latest Planet of The Apes trilogy. More details regarding the project are currently under wraps, and it is currently unclear what iteration of the character the film will follow.

    Seeing as how Stargirl is currently using the son of the original Hourman, and WB has tried to develop a project with Rex Tyler before, it seems like his Hourman is the most likely candidate for this film. It’ll also be interesting to see how the film connects to the larger DC Universe, especially considering the JSA’s imminent arrival in Black Adam, with a roster featuring Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Atom Smasher.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Black Adam: First Set Photos Tease Hawkman’s Origins

    ‘Black Adam: First Set Photos Tease Hawkman’s Origins

    Anticipation is high for the upcoming debut of Dwayne Johnson in his first foray into the superhero genre, where he will don the bolt of the wizard Shazam to become Black Adam. The film had been on the back burner for quite some time until it finally got moving when the film picked up director Jaume Collet-Serra in 2019. Since then, the film would march full steam ahead, as it recruited star after star to fill out its cast. Sadly, it lost its release date due to the pandemic, but that isn’t stopping its production team from getting ready. Now, as the film prepares to get the ball rolling next month, it seems we have our first look at something completely out of this world.

    Die-hard fans of Hawkman and Hawkgirl know what we’re talking about, as it seems to resemble the Thanagarian Star Cruiser. It’s a ship that plays a pivotal role in their origins. While they can be quite convoluted, it seems they’ll be going with his post-hawk world origin this time around. In it, a Thanagarian ship crashes in ancient Egypt as prophecized by Nabu. Prince Khufu, Nabu, and Teth-Adam find this ship and bring it back to Khufu’s palace. There they study the Nth metal and eventually melted down and used it to make a scarab, a knife, and the Claw of Horus.

    The metal would also strengthen the souls of Chayara and Khufu, in which Katar believed they’d be together forever. The pair would eventually be murdered by Hath-Set using the Nth Metal Knife, trapping their souls in an endless cycle of reincarnation. Aldis Hodge will take on the role of Hawkman and his ties to Egypt could end up tying together with Black Adam’s origin. Hopefully, we get our first look at Hawkman in costume once it enters production next month.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter, Twitter

  • Matt Reeves Reveals that ‘The Batman’ Has Wrapped Production

    Matt Reeves Reveals that ‘The Batman’ Has Wrapped Production

    It has been a turbulent year, to say the least. The pandemic has changed the entire media landscape, may it be delaying productions or keeping us out of cinemas. Matt Reeves’s reboot of Batman was hit pretty early on, as it was forced to halt production on multiple occasions. At one point, the main star Robert Pattison was tested positive for COVID, which made many wonders what it could mean for the film’s production. Even after all that, it seems that The Batman has finally wrapped production, as the director took to Twitter to reveal the final day on set.

    The visual includes some interesting teases for the film. Especially the “Just For You” cards might be connected to our main villain. We know that they are taking inspiration from the iconic The Long Halloween storyline, which will explore Batman’s hunt for a holiday-themed killer. It was uncertain how they would twist up the original storyline. The Batman’s first trailer proved that they are taking a unique route, as we were introduced to what seems to be the Riddler, who is played by Paul Dano. His speech still haunts me since it was first revealed last August.

    The upcoming film will take place in Bruce Wayne’s second year in the role of the Caped Crusader. We got small glimpses at his relationship with the GCPD, who are also getting their own spin-off series on HBO Max, and his place in this version of Gotham. We sadly still have to wait until it releases on March 4th, 2022, but what we saw is already promising quite the experience.

     

    Source: Twitter, Slash Film, YouTube