Multiverse Tonight - The Podcast about All Your Geeky Universes
Multiverse Tonight - The Podcast about All Your Geeky Universes
E is for Eviction
Ever wondered how your favorite superheroes might revisit the big screen, or what it takes to bring a cult classic back to life? It’s a thrilling time for Marvel fans as Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. gear up for a return in "Avengers Doomsday," with whispers of a surprising twist in Evans' role. Meanwhile, the Russo brothers are back in the director's chairs, and Hayley Atwell is set to reprise her role as the iconic Agent Carter. On the flip side, Marvel's "Kraven the Hunter" isn't faring too well at the box office. DC fans, rejoice! A new Clayface film is penned by Mike Flanagan, following the success of "The Penguin" series. Plus, I spill some personal news about a potential career shift that could shake up our podcasting routine.
From quirky legal battles over Starship Enterprise-themed license plates to the latest buzz in the Star Wars universe, there's so much more to explore. The Star Wars saga continues with Jeremy Allen White voicing Rhoda the Hutt in a project helmed by Jon Favreau, featuring Sigourney Weaver. In a nod to nostalgia, Amazon MGM Studios is reimagining the beloved "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." And in a surprising pivot, Sesame Street says goodbye to Warner Bros Discovery as the latter steers away from children's programming. Tune in for an exciting ride through entertainment's multiverse, where every corner is packed with drama, nostalgia, and a dash of personal musings.
Thanks for listening! Come visit the podcast at https://www.multiversetonight.com/
Tonight, chris Evans returns to the MCU, clayface, the movie the Enterprise and the Retiree, and Sesame Street gets evicted. All that and more on this edition of Multiverse tonight. There are many universes out there. Welcome to the one with news about all the others. This is Multiverse Tonight. Now here's your host, thomas Townley. Hi, of course, your ever-loving host, thomas Townley. I'm, of course, your ever-loving host, thomas Townley. And well, it's been a busy week. Let me just say that, for one, I might have a new job. Right now it's still tentative. I don't have much on the way. Let's just say it involves my favorite drink and doing some merchandising.
Speaker 1:I've been at Walmart for over 12 years and I like it there. I like the people, I like the job, I like the pace. Trouble is the pay is pitiful. For how long I've been there? I've been there 12 years and I'm making just above the minimum wage. Because every time they raise the minimum wage, instead of giving people who have been there for longer an additional raise for time served, they don't. They just raise you to the new minimum and you start fresh from there. So someone who comes in right off the street gets $14, and so do I. It's ridiculous. And this new job pays nearly $19 an hour to start, and here's at least a dollar an hour raise somewhere in the future after that. So, yeah, this new job will probably be a little bit more intensive, more of a work on me. I'll be pulling stuff more. I'll be working stuff more. I'll be working with a team, and so things will change. I'll probably not be running the show on Mondays or taping the shows on Mondays anymore, because I think this has like a Saturday, sunday, it will be my days off. So you know that will be that. But you know I will keep continuing doing this podcast. You know this is kind of my talk therapy, if you will. Now, if you'd like to contribute to the podcast, head on over to multiversetonightcom to find all our info there.
Speaker 1:But let's get on to the Marvel comics news, and Marvel news begins with Chris Evans returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as part of the cast for Avengers Doomsday, the highly anticipated sequel that will also star Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom. The rep has learned that Evans will be involved in some capacity, but the extent and exact nature of his role is currently unknown. After sunsetting as Steve Rogers' character in 2019's Avengers Endgame, evans recently made a brief return in this summer's Deadpool and Wolverine, but has his character, johnny Storm from Fox's Fantastic Four movies, not Captain America. Storm from Fox's Fantastic Four movies, not Captain America. The Russo brothers, who directed both Evans and Downey Jr in Captain America, civil War, avengers, infinity War and Avengers Endgame, are returning to direct Avengers Doomsday and its direct sequel, avengers Secret Wars. Avengers Doomsday is slated for release on May 1st 2026.
Speaker 1:Now, evans' return to the MCU has long been rumored in fanboy circles, but Marvel has, of course, declined to comment. The circumstances of his return are of particular interest given that Steve Rogers was an old man at the end of Avengers Endgame. But Danny Jr is returning to Marvel as a Tony Stark variant after his on-screen version of Stark died in Endgame. So all options are on the table. Evans' team did not immediately respond to the RAP's request for comment, but Evans last appeared in Captain America in Avengers Endgame.
Speaker 1:Anthony Mackie is the current Captain America in its current iteration, with the new film Captain America Brave New World opposite Harrison Ford, and that will come into theaters on my birthday, february 14th 2025. You know why not. You know he can be anything, chris Evans, you know. So let's not guess, let's not speculate. Let's just you know. Sit back and enjoy. Wait it out Now, with Chris Evans likely reprising his role in Marvel Studios' Avengers Doomsday, it looks like his former partner in crime will also be joining him in the new Marvel movie. Sources tell Deadline that Hayley Atwell is expected to reprise her Agent Carter role in the film, with Anthony and Joe Russo are returning to direct, with Marvel president Kevin Feige on board to produce. Now, marvel, of course, did not respond for comment and plot details are unknown at this time and of course, as I said before, the film comes on May 1st 2026. Begin your speculation now.
Speaker 1:And speaking of movies that just didn't hit the mark, sony's Kraven the Hunter is on the prowl for one of the worst starts for a Marvel movie at the box office. The latest in Sony's Spider-Man universe, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the iconic Spider-Man villain, debuted in third place over the weekend with a franchise-low $11 million domestically from 3,211 theaters. Jc Condor's R-rated action movie opened below expectations, having been projected to earn at least $13-15 million in its opening weekend, behind box office bomb Madam Web, which made $15.3 million before critic reviews skewered Craven on Rotten Tomatoes and opening night moviegoers gave it a poor C grade on CinemaScore a rarity for the superhero genre. Yeah, when I saw that trailer for the movie, it's like I don't need to see this for the movie. It's like I don't need to see this. Anyway, let's go on to the DC Comics News, and DC Comics News begins Fresh off the success of the HBO series, the Penguin.
Speaker 1:Dc Studios has officially greenlit a feature film based around Clayface, the shape-shifting Batman villain, from a script written by Dr Sleep filmmaker Mike Flanagan. According to a source with direct knowledge of the production Now, plot details are, of course, pretty much non-existent, but filming is expected to begin early next year. Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris will produce through their company Sixth and Idaho Productions, and Warner Brothers has set the film for release on September 11, 2026. Flanagan, who first pitched DC Studios on a Clayface project back in 2023, tweeted in 2021 that he was really quote, really keen to do a standalone Clayface movie as a horror, slash, thriller, slash, tragedy, unquote. But he's already committed to write and then direct a new take on the Exorcist Reversal, and he's also developing a series adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie for Amazon MGM Studios. So DC has been on the hunt for a director to take the reins, with an announcement imminent any day.
Speaker 1:Now let's go on to the Star Trek news. You gotta love the end of the year, folks, because there's just a lot of news coming out. It's pretty much hit or miss Dateline. Huntington, new York, a Long Island retiree who no longer drives has been receiving thousands of dollars in parking tickets from all over the country because she says her license plates match the Starship Enterprise's numbers. According to CBS New York's story last week, which has now been resolved, beta Corey's science fiction-themed dilemma has been four years of tears for the Huntington grandma, beta Corey. After beginning to lose her eyesight, she gave up driving, sold her car and surrendered her license plates in 2020. The problem is Corey's New York license plates share the same number as the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701. And Trekkies all over the globe have been buying matching novelty plates, putting them on their cars and racking up hundreds of tickets that have, of course, been delivered to Corey's mailbox.
Speaker 1:Corey said in a statement quote I won't cry because it's a simple matter that they could have fixed. Now she has even been receiving threats from Ohio and Canada, places where people with those fake plates committed crimes. Quote according to attorney Kenneth Mullins, within two hours of receiving the letter, I got a call from the general counsel Now. Mullins said not on my watch. Mullins saw CBS News' New York original story and volunteered his expertise. Quote this is a lady who was beaten up by a big bad corporation for four years.
Speaker 1:Mullen said New York said that Corey no longer has the plates attached to her name and Mullen's research determined that her name and address were never removed. So he got the DMV's top brass involved. Cbs News' New York said it was there when Corey got the life-altering news. Quote Mullen said your matter has been totally resolved. Now how to prevent this from happening to anyone else? Corey will no longer be in those tickets, but it begs the question who will happening to anyone else? Corey will no longer be in those tickets, but it begs the question who will? Now some of the companies manufacturing these Star Trek and other novelty plates are selling them with pre-drilled holes for Malyon cars. Mullins said quote it's now illegal to sell vanity plates in New York.
Speaker 1:The Parking and Violations Bureau told CBS News New York it is moving to dismiss Corey's 194 New York City tickets and Mullins will now work on hundreds of summonses from 23 other states that want Corey's money. Corey said finally, now I'm going to make a hole in the yard and bury those documents, these hundreds of tickets. I feel sorry for her, but you know it's not her fault, it's not the fault of people who bought those vanity license plates. It's the fault of the state of New York and the other places who are just seeing those three letters followed by four numbers and just going after her. So you know it's a government screw-up. Let's just put that there. Anyway, that's all the Star Trek news I have for you. Let's go on to the Star Wars news.
Speaker 1:Roger Roger, lucasfilm is cooking up a role for Jeremy Allen White, the Emmy-winning star of the Bear on the Mandalorian and Grogu. According to the Hollywood Reporter, lucasfilm did not respond to a request for comment on this. White is set to voice Rhoda the Hutt, the son of Jabba the Hutt. According to the character originated in animation with the Clone Wars movie which bowed out in 2008. Character originated in animation with the Clone Wars movie which bowed out in 2008.
Speaker 1:Jon Favreau is directing the next Star Wars movie, which has a release date of May 22, 2026. The film spins off his Disney Plus series the Mandalorian, which stars Pedro Pascal as a reluctant caretaker for Grogu, the baby Yoda-like creature. Sigourney Weaver will also star in the feature. Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first Star Wars feature since 2019's Star Wars, the Rise of Skywalker. The film bowed out a month before the Mandalorian premiered on Disney+, instantly becoming the streaming service's flagship show. So far, three seasons of the series have been released leading up to this movie, which will be produced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm. President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni White came up on the Showtime series Shameless and hit the A-list as the lead of the Bear, the critically adored show starring on the pressure cooker that is the Chicago Kitchen Coming up. He has the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me.
Speaker 1:Now let's go on to the Geek News. We begin Geek News with a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios with James Bond backers Eon Productions. The film is in the early stages of development, with executives at Eon and Amazon in the process of meeting with potential writers and directors. It's intended to be released in theaters. It's intended to be released in theaters.
Speaker 1:Dick Van Dyke starred in the original 1968 Chee Chee Bang Bang, a kid-friendly musical fantasy film adapted from the children's book by James Bond creator Ian Fleming and directed by Ken Hughes and produced by Albert Chubby Broccoli, and written by Roald Dahl, ken Adams and Richard Maybaum. The story follows widowed oddball inventor Caractus Potts, played by Dick Van Dyke, and his children, who salvage a scrapped racing car with magical abilities in pre-war England. The film's title song was nominated for an Oscar. Oh you, chi-chi-bing-bing, chi-chi-bing-bing, we love you. Yeah, I've never watched the film, but I know the song. What can I say? Anyway, some bad news.
Speaker 1:Sesame Street and Warner Bros Discovery are parting ways, and now the beloved children's program and it's adorable cast will be taking up shop elsewhere. Warner Bros Discovery has opted not to review it's deal with the show, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which is part of a larger pivot away from children's programming for the company. Sesame Street and Warner Bros Discovery aired a five-year deal back in 2019 that moved the show to Max, but the 55th season will be the last one to premiere there. Now it's not known when season 55 will officially debut just yet, but there will actually be Sesame Street content on the service for a little while yet. Max will continue to license episodes from Sesame Street's library through the year 2027. So while new episodes won't premiere after Season 55, fans can still access past content for a few more years. Quote it's been a wonderful creative experience working with everyone at Sesame Street on the Iconic Children's series, and we are thrilled to be able to keep some of the library series on Max in the US, according to a spokesman for the streaming service. As we've launched Max, though, and based on consumer usage and feedback, we've had to prioritize our focus on stories for adults and families, and so new episodes from Sesame Street at this time are not as core to our strategy. Jeez, you know it's kind of sad that you know. A corporation that makes money hand over fist cannot make Sesame Street. You know, that's just sad.
Speaker 1:On to our next story, the Marvel's and they cloned. Tyrone star Tiana Pryce is jumping into the world of Mattel's Matchbox cars for Apple Original Films' upcoming film Matchbox. The live-action film based on the die-cast Toyota vehicle line stars John Cena and Pryce, who joins as an expanding cast, also includes Jessica Biel and Sam Richardson. Extraction filmmaker Sam Hargrave is set to direct based on a screenplay by David Coggeshell and Jonathan Troper. The film will be produced by Skydance's David Elson, dana Goldberg and Don Granger and Robbie Brenner from Mattel Films. Matchbox will follow a group of childhood friends who must work together to stop an impending worldwide disaster and rediscover their friendship along the way. What that has to do with little tiny cars we'll never know. And but that brings us to the end of today's show.
Speaker 1:Now please be sure to check us out on social media. We're on Blue Sky and Twitter at Multiverse Tom. We're on Threads, facebook and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight. And if you've gotten some value out of this show this year and would like to pay it back, you know some holiday tips. If you would, please head on over to MultiverseTonightcom, where you can find our Patreon, our Ko-fi links, check out our show notes, visit our TeePublic store, leave some feedback and so much more. And if this is your first time listening, thank you and welcome, go ahead and hit the subscribe button and share us with others. Special thanks to Shane Ivers for the intro music and Lova Loco for the outro theme music. Thanks, shane Ivers, for the intro music and Lova Loco for the outro theme music. Thanks for watching this edition of Multiverse Tonight. We'll be back in two weeks with more sci-fi and comic book news. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night, Thank you.
