Press Release from Warner Brothers:

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today that Michael Shannon will star in the role of General Zod in director Zack Snyder’s new Superman film, titled “Man of Steel.”

“Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

Snyder stated, “Zod is not only one of Superman’s most formidable enemies, but one of the most significant because he has insights into Superman that others don’t. Michael is a powerful actor who can project both the intelligence and the malice of the character, making him perfect for the role.”

As General Zod, Shannon will go toe-to-toe with Henry Cavill, who plays the new Clark Kent/Superman in the film. The main cast also includes Amy Adams as Lois Lane, and Diane Lane and Kevin Costner as Martha and Jonathan Kent.

Michael Shannon was honored with an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sam Mendes’ “Revolutionary Road,” with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Shannon was most recently seen in the award-winning HBO drama series “Boardwalk Empire,” from executive producer Martin Scorsese. He will next be seen in Sony Pictures Classics’, “Take Shelter,” from director/writer Jeff Nichols.

Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are the producers of the film. The screenplay is being written by David S. Goyer based on a story by Goyer and Nolan. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers.

“Man of Steel” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Related articles

• New Superman Movie Gets Its Villain (huffingtonpost.com)

Johnny and I attended the Emerald City Comicon in Seattle over the weekend, and we were lucky enough to catch a sneak preview of the upcoming movie “Super”, starring Rainn Wilson (who you may recognize as Dwight from the NBC show The Office). The basic plot involves Frank, a slightly depressed short order cook whose two “perfect moments” in his life involved pointing out where a mugger ran to a police officer and his wedding day. When his wife leaves him he thinks she has been kidnapped. He decides (with the help of a costumed Nathan Fillion) to become a super hero in order to save her.

I’ll be blunt; this movie is pretty graphically violent. I didn’t go into the film thinking it would be. Graphic violence doesn’t bother me too much, and honestly it’s far less violent and bloody than Kick Ass or Kill Bill. None the less, there are a few cringy moments. He uses a pipe wrench as his weapon of choice for balls sake!

Despite prominent roles for Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon, and Ellen Page, this was a low budget film. While that showed in the production quality (mostly shot with one or two hand held cameras), it seemed to fit right in with the feel of the movie as a whole. The editing was lackluster at times, letting scenes linger too long, but those times were far and few between. For the most part the film flows well.

What really makes this film great is the story and the performances handed in by Wilson and Page. It felt believable, even though we’re talking about a guy running around in a costume whacking people upside the head with a pipe wrench. Who hasn’t felt like doing that?!? (On a side note, I learned that there is a guy in Seattle who puts on a costume and fights crime. Pretty fucking awesome)

In short, I give this movie a B+ and recommend seeing it when it opens on April 15. It will make an excellent tax day treat.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that producer Christopher Nolan and director Zack Snyder are zeroing in on an intriguing actor to play the villain for Superman reboot: Viggo Mortensen.  Mortensen….is said to be at the top of the list to play General Zod, the evil and super-powered scientist first introduced not in the comic books but in 1980’s Superman II. Terrence Stamp originated the role.

Holy CRAP! Okay, this has gotten me  little more pumped for the next installment of the Superman saga. I am not to keen on the casting of Henry Cavill in the red/blue tights, but a good villain always makes up for things like this. And Viggo would definately be able to pull this off. Perhaps as well as Terrence Stamp did back in the day. Heres some Zod goodness for those nostolgic people out there!

Check out the article over at Deadline and look at these cool images. I am kinda on the fence though as I do love Guillermos work but feel all of the ‘Dark Retelling’ business that has gone on over the years is getting a little old. But audiences seem to like the grittier versions of the childrens classics.

Coming from Sony Pictures, the Marc Webb-directed film stars Andrew Garfield will be released on July 3rd 2012. To get all your up-to-date information check out the official website and Facebook page.

Personally I am glad they are using the web shooters. That whole bit where it was actually secreted by Peter kinda made me grimace.

Warner Brothers press release:

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. She will be starring alongside Christian Bale, who returns in the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Christopher Nolan stated, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story.”

In addition, Tom Hardy has been set to play Bane. Nolan said, “I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman’s most formidable enemies.

Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.

The Dark Knight Rises is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Related articles

• THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Casts Catwoman And Bane!! (aintitcool.com)
• Anne Hathaway Is Catwoman (dlisted.com)

The most excellent website io9 has got the full trailer available for your enjoyment. And it should certainly set your expectations. I was especially mesmorized when Anthony Hopkins was doing his best Marlon Brando from Superman impression.

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 1, 2010 – After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today’s confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in film history and the three previous motion pictures have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

On selecting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures said, “Spider-Man is a classic superhero — a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker.”

Producer Avi Arad added, “I’m incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Producer Laura Ziskin said, “We are thrilled to have Andrew Garfield for this new incarnation of Spider-Man under Marc Webb’s direction. We were fortunate enough to meet with a group of fantastically talented young men. In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen.”

The selection of Garfield was revealed at a press event in Cancun, Mexico for international journalists attending a media tour promoting upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment. B-roll footage of the announcement will be available via satellite later this evening — see uplink times coordinate information below.

Garfield is fast becoming one of the most respected and sought-after young actors working in the industry today. In a short career, spanning only five years, he has already been directed by, and starred alongside, some of the greatest names and received a BAFTA for a role that won him international praise.

Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincher on the upcoming film The Social Network. He previously starred for Spike Jonze on his robot love story I’m Here, which premiered at Sundance this year. He plays the lead male opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go, due for release later this year.

Other notable screen credits include Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus playing opposite Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger, Robert Redford’s Lions For Lambs, where he starred alongside Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep; Revolution Films’ “Red Riding Trilogy – 1974” directed by Julian Jarrold, where he lead a stellar cast including Rebecca Hall and David Morrissey, and his unforgettable portrayal of a young ex-con in John Crowley’s “Boy A,” for which he earned the best actor BAFTA in 2008.

Garfield’s career began in theatre and in 2006 his performances in “Beautiful Thing” (Sound Space/Kit Productions), “The Overwhelming,” and “Burn / Chatroom / Citizenship” (Royal National Theatre) won him the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard awards and the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Other notable theatre credits include “Romeo and Juliet” (Manchester Royal Exchange) and “Kes” (Manchester Royal Exchange), for which he received the Most Promising Newcomer Award at the Manchester Evening News Awards 2004.

Here is the newest trailer, it hits the shores of Japan on December 1st…hopefully we will get it in theaters here shortly afterward. I really want to see this on the big screen! (be sure to click over to Youtube for 720p glory!)

This October a film based on his comic book mini-series ‘Red’ will be in theaters. Red revolves around what happens when a trained ‘Company man’ assassin retires. The book is, like most of Warrens work, intense. The film trailer…well not quite intense. But it has a great cast with Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Mary-Louise Parker (swoon!).

Here is the trailer!

The good folk over at Warner Pictures are pretty pumped about a live action version of the classic anime film Akira. In fact, they have such confidence in it they are looking at it as a franchise.

The original animated version, which came out in the 80′s, is still considered to be (in my opinion also) a masterpiece in visual styling. But the story was only partially told in that film as the original manga (Japanese comics) ran the story through a much wider arch. Taking over as writer/adapter for the property is Albert Torres, and working with him is director Albert Hughes (“From Hell,” “The Book of Eli”).

The plan is to have the first film cover the first three manga volumes and a sequel cover the next three. Now these ‘volumes’ are just that, HUGE comics…think something akin to a small phone book. That’s how they roll in Japan, when it comes to comics they are quite serious.

I hope they pull this off well and don’t muck with the story too much. And lets also hope that Warner will actually hire the proper ethnic actors unlike what we have seen for The Last Airbender adaptation.

Watch the trailer and tell us what you think, really interested to see people’s reactions who do not know the character that well.

Any self-respecting fan of the Twilight series (is that even possible?) will be at the opening weekend of Twilight Eclipse come June 30th. But everyone knows those tickets will sell out well in advance.

With that in mind the two big online movie ticket hubs, movietickets.com and fandango.com, will start selling tickets at Midnight EST, Thursday May 13th (Friday morning). So get your glitter on and stake your claim to the big faux Vampire movie of 2010!

Around 10 years ago a special restored version came out that brought the film up to 2 hours in length. But film archivists really wanted to find the original 2.5 hour version that Lang released in 1927. And in 2008 one was uncovered in Argentina.

So after over 80 years, “The Complete Metropolis” is being released in a limited theatrical run this fall. This will be followed shortly afterward with the DVD release.

It is fairly obvious as to what parts have been added since the missing 30 minutes are very grainy (even after thorough digital cleanup). But I am still very interested to see this restored masterpiece.

Alright…stepping back a bit, I can fully remove myself from the fact that this movie is not going to be like the comic series. That isn’t a problem with me at all. The problem I have right now is that hollywood refuses to make a Comic Book movie without “Super-ing” it up.

In the comic, Jonah is essentially raised by the Apache but then branded by them in the end thus explaining his facial scars. Later in life as an ex-confederate soldier he became a bounty hunter with a strong code of ethics when it came to protecting the innocent.

But here we have the trailer showing they changed his entire origin just to satisfy a meager plot point. I can almost live with that…but then to give him super natural powers? And what the hell is up with twin gatling guns on a horse!? This is far more like that junker of a movie Wild Wild West that came out a few years ago than a solid Western story. And the sad thing is we have had some excellent Westerns come out over the last few years, making good box office returns also…so it’s not like they had to make these changes to bring in an audience.

Watch the trailer…make your own decision.

Today’s comic is based around the news that Joss Whedon has been confirmed as the director of the Marvel Comics film The Avengers. He is also going to be doing re-writes on that film and Captain America. Obviously Joel captured many of our trepidation of this news.

Deadline New York reports that Marvel Studios is in final negotiations with Joss to direct the biggest Superhero film of all time. The film is going to be fast tracked for release May of 2012. Right now we are expecting Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and maybe the Hulk (Edward Norton).

This is an interesting choice, considering that Joss is better known for character creation and writing than he is for directing. But he has had some great success with the Marvel line over the last few years, in particularly the X-Men franchise with The Astonishing X-Men.

Frankly I was hoping he would take on the Runaways movie (not the Joan Jett biopic) coming from Marvel next year.  He was one of the writers for the second volume of this excellent Marvel comics series and definitely his forte with young characters. But I am quite happy to see him taking the lead on this diverse property and wish him the best on this film.

Well it seems that pre-production is under way on the Bryan Singer vehicle X-Men: First Class. Yesterday a listing went up requesting Background Extras in Washington, DC. I am guessing this is legit, but it lists Singer as Director and he changed that recently and took helm as the Producer.

X MEN film titled First Class is getting set to shoot. (DC)

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenwriter: Josh Schwartz, Jamie Moss

Extras:Pre-Casting
Genre: Action, Adventure

MPAA Rating: Not Available
Official Website: Not Available
Review: Not Available
Movie Poster: Not Available
Production Stills: Not Available

***Contact an agent for Casting 1-877-464-9525*** For Background Scene work. Extras Are needed. Film Experience Required are both Union and Non-Union.

• Location: DC
• Compensation: $225/day
• This is a part-time job.
• This is a contract job.
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
• Phone calls about this job are ok.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 1671410990 

Seeing her stand up to these baddies showed just how much brass she commanded. And now I am happy to hear (thanks Variety) that her character will be appearing in the upcoming Green Lantern movie! Not only that, but she will be portrade by Angela Bassett.

That last part gives me some pause, as much as I love Bassett, Waller is a fairly large woman. I am only going to guess Hollywood decided that they wanted a strong woman in the role and not necessarily a woman of ‘size’. Kind of a shame, but at least they got a quality actress for the roll.

Speaking of which, I am going to take a guess here and say that she will be doing what Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) has been doing in the Marvel movies. Probably showing up, keeping an eye on these new super powered people and putting together a team in the future. Perhaps she will be the inspiration behind a Justice League of America movie!

I post this info just as a lead in for this awesome fan made poster of Chris. Who knows, maybe he will do a great job and I will eat my shield!

The story follows the adventures of Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.

Speaking of Spider-Man, its producer Avi Arad has been attached to produce the Popeye film also. And Mike Jones is in negotiations to write it.

Its been 30 years since he was last on the big screen, and while seeing Robin Williams as Popeye is a guilty pleasure of mine, this will be a 3D animated film rather than a live action one.

So far we have Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, Katy Perry as Smurfette and Neil Patrick Harris in an undisclosed role. This is really shaping up to be an all-star (if rather dysfunctional) cast.

Film to be released in 2011, surprised it’s not 2012 since that is when the world is supposed to end.

This is yet another film being released in 3D, but from the trailer (especially in HD) I think it will make a great 3D experience. But the big news is that someone has ‘found’ the HD Tron Legacy trailer for the film and posted it. So follow the link and watch it before the site gets taken down!

If you’re not giggling right now, you’re reading the wrong blog.  In fact, if you haven’t been giggling since you first read “Black Hole”…

Anyway, the original 1979 story focused on a lost ship that is found by a deep space exploration vessel right on the even horizon of a massive black hole.  The ship, named the Cygnus, is inhabited by one man, a possibly crazy scientist bent on flying into the black hole, and his legion of robot slaves.  The story was one of “I’m gonna fly into this here black hole, ya see” “no you’re not, mister.  We’re gonna stop you!” “KILL KILL KILL”.  At least I think that’s how they talked back in the 70′s.

Reinforcing this point is the fact that they’ve hired David Scarpa to write the script.  “Who?” you ask?  Well look him up on IMDB!  He wrote the screenplay for the 2008 movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”!!  He also wrote “The Last Castle”!  Aaaand that’s all, at least according to IMDB.  Now I don’t want to be the one to say “oh, this guy is a sh*tty writer”.  Please don’t think that’s what I’m saying.  For all I know this guy might be the “next big thing”.  What I’m saying is that Fox went to what looks to be the least expensive guy they could so the movie could be considered “in production” and they could keep their rights without spending too much money.  I’m betting this movie never gets made, at least not in this current incarnation.  There’s no director attached, no actors, no nothing.  Way to go, Fox.

The movie was just picked to play at the South by Southwest Movie Festival (SXSW) sometime between March 12th and March 20th.  I’m hoping it gets a wider release than just the film festival circuit. I’m sure the creators are too. It sounds like the’ve put in a lot of work. “2 and 1/2 years…63,686 frequent flyer miles… 634 hours of footage…14 TB of drive space… 126 interviews… 719 fan submissions…” Sounds intense. Keep an eye on SXSW’s movie site (pops) for more info. The official site (pops) for the movie is a good source of information too.

Sony has released a new RED BAND trailer for Kick Ass, and to use the already over used joke, it really kicks ass! For those of you not familiar with Kick Ass, it’s a story about a teen age kid that decides he wants to be a super hero. It’s based on a comic book written by Mark Millar and created by him and John Romita Jr. It’s insanely violent and bloody, as well as crass and funny. This makes it one of my favorite books out there. The movie is based on the first 8 issues of the comic. It was independently financed and made without major studio support or input, so it supposedly stays true to the books. A studio may have wanted it toned down some. I can’t wait to see this movie!! It hits theaters April 16th in the US.

First up from Variety, we find that Sony Imageworks will be handling the special effects for the film.

Overall vfx supervisors on the project are Karen Goulekas (“The Day After Tomorrow”) and Kent Houston (“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”). Jim Berney (“I Am Legend”) will be vfx supervisor for Imageworks.

Now for the big news. Cosmic Book News has aquired some leaked concept art for the other Green Lanterns. For those not familiar with the mythology, the Green Lantern Corp is like an intergalactic police corp. Each guarding a sector of space. In the film, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) will become the protector of Space Sector 2814 where Earth is located.

In the film, Hal must go under training by the Corps, probably by Kilowag as that is one of his main roles in the comics. Here are the images:

Guardians of Oa

Abin Sur & Tomar-Re

Kilowag

JRR Tolkien’s novel is set 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” with Bilbo Baggins as its unassuming hero in an adventure that centers on his acquiring from the evil Gollum the all-powerful ring that figures into “LOTR.” A few “Rings” cast members, such as Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen, will make return appearances in “The Hobbit.”

One delay currently on getting the first one rolling is the script for the second film still pending from Peter Jackson, Del Toro, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. As soon as that is done, New Line will be able to set a budget and begin more thorough casting.

Big thumbs up to New Line for making this happen, all the Lord of the Rings fans are wetting their pants in anticipation.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the studios in power approved of Momoa taking over the iconic Robert E Howard character of Conan. Momoa certainly has the physic for the role and he is getting plenty of sword practice in his unrelated role for HBO’s Game of Thrones.

I like this fit for the new movies. Jason is a good actor, definitely better than our previous actor the Govenator, and he is a good man so I wish him the best on this role.

“Once again, SUPER, the movie I’m now shooting, is the story of Frank, a disturbed dude who puts on a superhero costume and starts fighting crime as the Crimson Bolt with nothing more than a pipe wrench. Frank is played by Rainn Wilson.  Liv Tyler plays his drug addicted wife, Sarah, who leaves him for a charming drug dealer Jacques, played by Kevin Bacon.  Ellen Page plays Libby, a young sociopath who decides to become the Crimson Bolt’s sidekick. ”

Now we have Nathan Fillion playing a pop icon (more singing!!).

Michael Rooker playing Kevin Bacons bodyguard.

Linda Cardellini as a woman that falls for the Crimson Bolt (I fell for her as Velma in the Scooby Doo movies!).

And Gregg Henry, the cop after the Crimson Bolt!

Now if that doesn’t sound like an excellent cast, well I don’t know what does!

For those of you not familiar with Hector Hammond, he is a pretty petty criminal who stumbles upon a meteorite that causes him to ‘evolve’, basically super increasing his intellect. Now a side effect in the comic is the fact that his head is enlarged also. Looks goofy actually, but in the 60′s that was a good thing for supervillains. Not sure how they will play that up in the movie or maybe skip it all together.

He’s a good villain for Green Lantern and it’s probably not best to pop GL’s nemesis Sinestro in the first movie. Sure he will be in the second film (am I getting ahead of myself?).

The Sleeper Must Awaken

Pierre Morel was recently interviewed by MTV and a lot of folks (myself included) liked what he had to say. First off, it sounds like he holds my sentiments on the 1984 David Lynch movie:

“As a David Lynch movie, I loved it. As a ‘Dune’ fan, I was not such a big fan.”

Preach on, my brotha!! I really enjoyed the movie, but I was left with the thought “Rain? It doesn’t rain on Arrakis for another thousand years!!” And WTF was up with those “weirding module” things? As a standalone movie I loved it. As a movie based on a book, I think it strayed too much.

Morel goes on:

“I’ve been a fan of the book since I was a teenager. I read that when I was 15, maybe. I’ve been reading it over and over again – well, I’m 45 now, so for 30 years. The fun story, actually, is that there were six books in that first series that Frank Herbert wrote. Every time I was going to buy a new one – because I couldn’t buy all six at one time – I was reading the previous ones so I would not forget anything. So, by the time I bought the sixth book I had already read the first one six times! So, I’m a hardcore fan.”

EXCELLENT!!! So we have a “hardcore fan” that doesn’t think the last theatrical release did the books justice.   He also knows that us hardcore fans will string him up by his balls if he fucks it up:

“it’s a challenge; there’s a lot of expectation, all the readers will be waiting for me with their shotguns. All the non-readers will also be waiting for us, because it’s such a complex, rich novel and you have to make it accessible to those who have not read the book. So, it’s a tough challenge but I’m very excited about that.”

I can say this: He’s sounds like EXACTLY like the guy I want directing this movie. He’s currently working on another movie (“From Paris With Love” due for a Feb. 5, 2010 release), but he hope that Dune is the next movie he does. I hope so too.

First up we have the Avengers movie hitting theaters May 4, 2012. This will be the grand experiment, bringing together the Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and Thor franchises together. Sounds like a lot of characters on the big screen, and a lot of ego’s on set.

Next we have Star Trek 2 (or is that Star Trek XII?), taking the coveted July 4th weekend spot with a June 29th release date. This was stated by Paramount Pictures last week. We know from previous news reports that JJ Abrams is working feverishly to get the script completed so he can work on his next project, Mission Impossible IV.

Finally we have the sequel to Wolverine coming Summer of 2012. In an interview last week at the People Choice awards, Hugh Jackman stated that the second film would start filming a year to a year and a half from now. I doubt that they will put the release to close to the Avengers, but at the same time you may want to capitalize on the super-hero fans as much as possible.

Whew…that is a lot of genre for one summer. The fan boys are going to have to get better summer jobs to pay for all those movies!

When I was growing up there was one particular cartoon that I fell in love with, Star Blazers. All about a future Earth that has been under attack by the Gamilon interstellar race for years. The attacks are from these radioactive bombs that were destroying our planet. Luckily we are contacted by Queen Starsha from Iscandar who has a way of curing our planet from the radioactivity…but we have to go to her planet to retrive the cure.

An ancient WW2 ocean faring battleship, the Yamato, is unearthed and rebuilt into a spaceship. The Yamato is not just a battleship, but it also has a compliment of fighters and the dreaded Wave Motion gun. Teamed with an elite crew they form the Star Blazers!

This was my favorite show as a kid and my first experience with a cartoon that was episodic. You really had to watch in order to understand the over-arching storyline, quite the concept at that time. I was quite surprised to see that there is a live action version coming out this year in Japan.

From wikipedia:
Noboru Ishiguro, director and writer of the original Space Battleship Yamato television anime series, confirmed at his Otakon panel on Saturday, July 17, 2009 that a live action version of Space Battleship Yamato is in development. He also noted that Takuya Kimura will star as the main hero Susumu Kodai in the remake of the space opera classic. Takashi Yamazaki will helm the project for a planned December 2010 release.

Personally I can’t wait for this to be released. A year to go though…sigh.

But he heals and goes out again and again, eventually he is caught on film being a good Samaritan and is dubbed Kick-Ass. Eventually he runs into other costumed crime fighters, such as the duo Hit Girl and Big Daddy. Hit Girl may be a little girl, but she is acrobatic and martial arts trained, not someone to turn your back on.

When I first read this comic I thought it was an interesting take on the whole super-hero genre. With Mark Millar’s writing and John Romita Jr. drawing, I was quite impressed. One thing that impressed me more, they were able to sell the film rights after only 3 issues of the comic. And now, we will have a major motion picture out April 16th, 2010! Check out this trailer over at Comic Book Resources featuring Hit Girl (its a Red Band trailer though, so there is foul language)!

The movie looks like it will be loosely based on the recent limited comic series from Marvel, X-Men: First Class. In the comics we learn the origin of the X-Men team, how Xavier located and recruited the young Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman and Angel. Not sure how they will work in Iceman and Angel since the previous films skewed their origins. I read the comics and enjoyed that they were able to keep much of the same fun element of the original X-Men comics yet update them enough for current (ie, younger) readers to enjoy.

Singer spoke to Ustream at the Avatar Premier this week:

In an article on Variety, Singer stated:

“This is the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where their relationship took a wrong turn,” Singer said. “There is a romantic element, and some of the mutants from ‘X-Men’ will figure into the plot, though I don’t want to say which ones. There will be a lot of new mutants and a great villain.”

Here’s looking forward to a new X-Men movie and forgetting the third one ever happened!

Anyway, it turns out that a film I was looking forward to seeing, A Couple of Dicks has changed its title on me. And no, this is not gay porn, but the new Kevin Smith film coming out in 2010. The new title is Cop Out!

Staring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as a rather odd couple of police detectives. There ya go, that is why the original title was Dicks…another word for Detective obviously…get your mind outta the gutter!

According to Kevin Smith, the studio started farming around for a new title when several of the networks refused to air advertisements due to the title. Obviously there is no sense of humor left in corporate America. Warner Brothers will air the first trailer for this film before Sherlock Holmes, releasing on Christmas Day.

Miller has had some research trips to Greece to try to decipher exactly where the truth ends and the fiction begins about Xerxes.  Obviously this blurring subtext makes the story quite compelling.

Xerxes the Great was seen in the film 300 as the great conquerer of nations. I really didn’t care for the depiction in the film or the book, a little to over the top for my history loving side to enjoy. But the first film was quite spectacular on the big screen and I am sure this one will fill the coffers in Hollywood as well. The first movie made almost $500 million world-wide.

I recently wrote about the upcoming film adaptation for this fan loved book and really have high hopes that it will translate well onto the big screen. With Portman starring I do believe it will get the buzz it needs to successed.

From Variety, “Portman will play feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet, who is distracted from her quest to eradicate the zombie menace by the arrival of the arrogant Mr. Darcy.” In the book, Elizabeth is a zombie hunter with Shaolin training. It is a good book if you get the chance to read it.

Natalie will be producing the film under her Handsomecharlie production company with Lionsgate distributing.

“TRON: LEGACY is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Quorra (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.”

But I digress…Movieline reports that John Malkovich is in talks to become the Vulture in the next arachnid installment. I certainly like John, and he doesn’t have to go far to look like the Vulture from the comic books. For those of you unenlightened, the Vulture is one of Spider-mans old school villains, an engineer inventor who designs a flight suit that allows him to soar above the rabble below, and enhances his strength dramatically. This could make for some excellent air combat as Spidey swings between buildings battling Malkovich.

Now comes the odd choice…apparently Anne Hathaway is looking to be in the film also, perhaps even as Felicia Hardy (known to the comic readers as the Black Cat). But the role that seems to be involved for her is a new character called the Vulturess. Really Marvel…can’t you come up with something better than that!?

Regardless I am still curious as to see what they are going to do with Curt Connors, played by Dylan Baker for the last two features. He eventually becomes a villain (misunderstood) called the Lizard in the comics. They gotta throw this guy a bone eventually! (no pun intended)

This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone since he has shown up in the majority of the Marvel Comics films thus far. Stan gave us the scoop via the SmilinStan Lee twitter feed yesterday:

• Kenneth Branagh (of course I call him “Ken!”) said my cameo’s set for the upcoming Thor movie. –To him, it’s a cameo, to me– it’s a ROLE!
• I went easy on Ken Branagh when we discussed my role in Thor. Told him I wouldn’t insist on my name above the title, I think he was grateful
• Yeah, I mentioned Ken Banagh a few times, but I warned you I was a name driopper. Seriously tho’, with him directing, Thor’s a sure winner
• Of course, my previous tweet revealed the extent of my innate modesty. I really wanted to add “With me doing a cameo, Thor’s a sure winner”

Excelsior!

Here is a list, thus far, of Stan’s cameos…EXCELSIOR!

• Iron Man (2008) …. Hugh Hefner
• Fantastic Four 2 (2007) …. As himself
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) …. Waterhose Man
• Spider-Man 3 (2007) …. Man in Times Square
• The Incredible Hulk (2008) …. Milwaukee Man Drinking From Bottle
• Fantastic Four (2005) …. Mailman Willie Lumpkin
• Spider-Man 2 (2004) …. Man Dodging Debris
• Hulk (2003) …. Security Guard
• Daredevil (2003) …. Old Man at Crossing
• Spider-Man (2002) …. Man in Fair
• X-Men (2000) …. Hot Dog Vendor
• The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) (TV) …. Jury Foreman

He knew what he liked to do, and he did it well.

The script has been picked up from Charlie Hunnam, actor turned screen writer recently from Sons of Anarchy and Queer as Folk, and will tell the tale of a young Dracula aka Vlad the Impaler! This should be a nice departure for Summit as Vlad’s life has been characterized as a bloody rule over his country. I seriously doubt we will see any sparkling angst ridden protagonists in this film.

I am still a little upset that they swapped out the actors playing James Rhodes, but I do like Don Cheadle and know he will do a bangup job!

So for those that haven’t been following the news, we should see The Hobbit, prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, on the big screen in the next couple of years. Because there is so much good literature in this book, it is being broken up into two films (I am sure that Hollywood is wanting it to be monitized that way also).

It is being produced by Peter Jackson, same great guy that gave us the LotR trilogy, and directed by Guillermo del Toro. The adaptation of the book is being handled by Jackson, Toro, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. Philippa and Fran co-adapted the LotR trilogy with Jackson for the big screen.

Latino Review reports that:
“At a recent press conference for his new film The Lovely Bones, director Peter Jackson revealed that the script for the first of the two Hobbit films had been finished and handed off to the studio.”

Frankly I am quite excited about these two films coming up after being blown away by the LotR triology. Now if we could only get more source matieral from Tolkien!

Description from Wikipedia:
Alien Legion was an early Epic Comics title about the members of a military unit called Force Nomad, composed of the “dregs of the universe” and similar to the French Foreign Legion. The cast includes leader Sarigar, whose lower half is serpentine, fully humanoid Torie Montroc, and probably the most popular character, Jugger Grimrod, a Thraxian.

In 2010 we will see a resurgence of Legion activity, including a recently released Alien Legion Omnibus Volume 1 and word that Jerry Bruckheimer is working on a film for Disney. Bruckheimer can certainly make some amazing films, so lets hope he does a good job on translating this onto the big screen.

Of course, corresponding to my post about 2012, I can only presume that the tag line for the film will be “Alien Legion: Solar System Destroyers!”

One of my all time favorite films, and definitely a sci-fi masterpiece of its time, is going through the remake process right now, Forbidden Planet. While I guess I should be numb at this point with all the remakes streaming around my head, but it just angers me that the Hollywood brass does not have the brass to take on new ideas anymore.

Now don’t get me wrong, this remake is being done by one of my favorite writers/directors, J. Michael Straczynski (creator of Babylon 5), so I am pretty sure its in good hands. In fact he just finished the script recently so we should see production starting up soon.

So what do you think about all the remakes coming out of Hollywood these days? Does it bother anyone else that they are taking our childhood memories and subverting them to their own needs?

Well since Hollywood is out of ideas, someone found that they had the rights to this old show and are making it into a motion picture. Variety  reports that Joshua Jackson, most recently from TV show Fringe fame, will be taking the lead role. It will be helmed by Matthew Gratzner, who has yet to direct a film, but has a laundry list of good special effects credits attached to his name.

I would like to see something become of this film. I do like Joshua as an actor and I remember watching the UFO series when I was a kid, rebroadcast on Saturday afternoons. Not that I am implying the old TV show was a kids show, it was more in line with Star Trek in that it had adult elements but was age accessable. Regardless, it’s a good concept and can hopefully be pulled off well.