Welcome to Multiverse News, your source for information about all your favorite fictional universes. While it may come as no surprise, the biggest Marvel news this week is still just as exciting as it is obvious with the revelation that Chris Evans will indeed appear in Secret Wars. While not officially confirmed by Marvel, the news broke via a social media post from March 26, that is just now gaining notice, with the actor himself telling Instagram user @comicconmomsi, "I can tell you that...I start work on the next one in a couple of months, I can tell you that," in a video message. That tracks with the projected August production starting date for Secret Wars we’ve discussed previously. While rumors and speculation are typically not our forte here, the rumor mill surrounding The Batman II cast warrants some attention. In May, we discussed headlines from sources like Variety and The Wrap that seemingly confirmed Sebastian Stan had been cast as Harvey Dent, as he had long been rumored to be, with Scarlett Johansson and Charles Dance announced as Dent’s wife and father, respectively. In hindsight, those headlines resulted from Matt Reeve’s social media post where he confirmed and welcomed a number of actors as part of the film but did not actually reveal any roles. In the last week, industry insider Jeff Sneider has suggested that his sources claim that Stan will instead play Victor Zsasz and Brian Tyree Henry is set to portray Harvey. Steven Spielberg has returned to the blockbuster arena for the first time in eight years with Disclosure Day, his UFO sci-fi thriller starring Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor, which opened to approximately $44 million domestically and $93.9 million globally, making it his biggest opening weekend ever for an original film. Meanwhile, Obsession continues its extraordinary run, adding another $19 million in week five for a domestic total of $188.3 million. Spielberg’s $115 million production earned strong reviews and a B CinemaScore. Sony has released the trailer for The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s sequel to The Social Network. Jeremy Strong stars as Mark Zuckerberg alongside Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Bill Burr. The film opens October 9. Peter Sarsgaard has joined the Season 3 cast of HBO’s The Last of Us in a recurring role. He will play an original character named Amon, one of the leaders of the Seraphites. Production is currently on a planned hiatus to accommodate World Cup matches filming in Vancouver. It: Welcome to Derry writer Jason Fuchs has been tapped to write a new untitled Transformers script for Paramount and Hasbro. Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and Ice Cube are in talks to return for 24 Jump Street at Sony Pictures, reuniting most of the original production team. Apple TV+ has renewed horror comedy Widow’s Bay for a second season ahead of its season finale this week, and has signed creator Katie Dippold to a multiyear overall deal. Jason Momoa has made clear he has no interest in a PG-13 Lobo solo movie. In an interview with Collider, he said if he makes a standalone Lobo film, it will be rated R, full stop, though he’s open to appearing in ensemble DCU projects in the meantime. Peter Serafinowicz has been cast as Peeves the Poltergeist in HBO’s Harry Potter series. Anya Taylor-Joy has joined the cast of the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel The Hunt for Gollum, playing an elf character named Seren. Marvel Comics will publish a one-shot crossover this September titled The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe, celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show by teaming Muppets characters with iconic Marvel heroes. Mark Hamill is joining Peacock’s Twisted Metal for Season 3 in a recurring role, playing the father of Sweet Tooth. Chris Sanders, co-creator and co-director of the original Lilo & Stitch animated film, will direct Disney’s live-action sequel Lilo & Stitch 2. Shooting is expected to begin later this year.
