Comic News Roundup – August 2009 – Week 2
CW confirms Smallville may live on past season 9
“I hope it’s not the last season,” Dawn Ostroff, president of entertainment for The CW, told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif., today. “I think the producers have done a great job coming up with really good storylines this year, but I do think the show still has a lot of life yet to it.”
Jay Chou to play Kato in ‘Green Hornet’
Fills in for Stephen Chow in Michel Gondry pic
Asian pop star Jay Chou will team up with Seth Rogen to fight crime in Columbia Pictures’ new film version of “The Green Hornet,” to be directed by Michel Gondry. Chou moved into acting with a starring role in 2005’s “Initial D,” a comedy-action hit in China. In 2006, he starred opposite Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li in Zhang Yimou’s “The Curse of the Golden Flower.” Since then, he starred in “Kung Fu Dunk,” and made his directorial debut and starred in “Secret.” He will next be seen in the Chinese film “Ci Ling” and in Yuen Woo-Ping’s “True Legend.”
Cowboys & Aliens script is done
Screenwriting duo Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek) said they turned in their draft of Cowboys & Aliens on Aug. 5 and are now awaiting feedback on their screenplay adaptation of Fred Van Lente’s graphic novel. The graphic novel deals with feuding frontier settlers and Native Americans in the Old West who team up to fight extraterrestrials. “We’re just literally waiting to hear if they hate it or what,” Orci said. Cowboys & Aliens is tentatively slated for a 2011 release, with some sites reporting June 24 as the specific date.
Edward James Olmos joining ‘Green Hornet’
Among discussing his past (“Blade Runner”) and present (“Battlestar Galactica” and the upcoming TV film), he dropped he said of his future plans that he will be joining Michel Gondry’s “The Green Hornet.” “I’m on my way to do ‘The Green Hornet,’” Olmos said. “It’ll be a lot of fun with Seth [Rogen], Nicolas Cage and Cameron Diaz.”
Louis Leterrier Plays ‘What If?’ With The Marvel Universe
“You know, you asked about my dream, I’ll tell you my real dream: To work with Joe Johnston and [“Thor” director] Kenneth Branagh and Jon Favreau and make like a triptych. We do four movies. We release them one a month for the summer. Or even every two weeks or three weeks. And the whole summer would be Avengers summer.”
Spider-Man musical in suspended animation
Producer says work stopped because of ‘cash flow problem’
Hello Entertainment, one of its producers, says work on the lavish Broadway-bound musical has been suspended until the resolution of an “unexpected cash flow problem.” Yet in a statement, Hello said: “Plans necessary for this correction are in hand now and it is expected that activities, including work in the theater, will resume within the immediate future.”
Grant Morrison’s 18 Days – An Epic Retelling Of The Mahbharata As CGI Drama
Liquid Comics and Perspective Studio are pursuing the property as a CGI drama as 18 Days: The Mahbharata Retold, for broadcast next year in multiple formats depending on territory and format – 2 x 90 minute TV movies, 6 x 30 episodes, an extended 200 minute DVD release or 18 x 10 minute web episodes. There will be online and console games alongside the show and by the time it’s out you’ll probably be able to interact with it on your SuperNintendo. The publishers have released a series of notes by Morrison that describe the story as “a psychedelic The Lord of the Rings with Star Wars technology”
‘Iron Man 2’ Cameo Scoop!
Our Marvel Movie mole has informed Nuke The Fridge of yet another cameo in the upcoming “Iron Man 2” film due out next summer. Our confidential source first reported that Stan Lee will make a brief appearance in the second Iron Man film as Larry King. Now rumor has it that Edward Norton will have a possible cameo as both Bruce Banner and the Hulk. If true, this will surely make some fans green with envy.
Superman Rumblings Begin Now!
Word out of WB is that Singer’s film willl simply be seen as a “book-end” to the Richard Donner legacy, to complete the saga. The next films will be a completely new take on the character and the story. And from the recent lawsuit we all know that the new Superman film must be in production by 2011 and IESB has learned that it has indeed been put on the proverbial “fast track”. There is one thing we know for sure, there is currently a very short list of potential directors to bring Supes back to the big screen. First are the Wachowski Brothers, yep, Andy and Larry. The other name I am hearing is James McTeigue. Here’s where things get fuzzy, because I am also hearing the Wachowski’s may come in to produce with James McTeigue as the actual director.
‘Night Mary’ Writer Rick Remender Weighs In On New Movie Option For Horror Comic
Most people fight to wake up from their nightmares, but for the Rick Remender (“Fear Agent”) and Kieron Dwyer (“XXXombies”) character Mary Specter, entering the dreams of others to help resolve sleep issues is all in a night’s work. Now, as Animal Logic, the studio behind “300,” prepares to adapt IDW’s “Night Mary,” Remender reflects on the material’s origins and explains why the tale is just right for a feature film.
Adam West to Voice Thomas Wayne on BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD
James Tucker pointed out that they will be adapting some comic stories for next season. “There’s a story where Batman finds out that his dad actually wore the Batman costume before him.” Tucker is referring to a classic story called the Untold Legend of Batman. In it, Bruce finds out that his father Thomas Wayne actually fought mobsters while dressed as a batman – because Thomas was at a costume party, but still. When asked about the casting of Thomas Wayne, Tucker deflected. But, when interviewing another member of the creative team (who shall remain nameless), I learned who would be voicing the father of the Bat. “Julie Newmar is playing Martha Wayne, and playing Bruce’s father Thomas Wayne will be Adam West! I think they’re VERY appropriate parents for Batman… I should probably NOT be revealing this.”
‘Fear Agent’ Adaptation ‘Might Be A Giant, $100 Million Movie,’ Says Creator
“I met with a couple of the guys involved in San Diego this past weekend and had a really good chat about it,” Rick Remender explained. “It looks like the home is going to be Universal. I don’t want to say anything definitive about any of the details yet, but it sounded like ‘Fear Agent’ might be a giant, $100 million movie.”
James McTeigue on Comic Book Rumors: Plastic Man Probably Won’t Ever Happen, Won’t Confirm or Deny Superman Reboot
A project that has long been rumored is a big screen adaptation of Plastic Man. The Wachowski Brothers wrote a screenplay based on the comic book in the mid-1990’s, before The Matrix took off. However, recently an AICN report sparked rumors that Plastic Man might be next project for the Wachowskis, with McTeigue providing second unit support, or possibly directing the Wachowski-produced project himself. McTeigue says that NOT ONLY ARE the rumors not true, but he doesn’t believe Plastic Man will ever hit the big screen.
G.I. Joe Sequel Confirmed!
The Cast is locked in but guess who’s not?
“The studio’s vice chairman, Rob Moore, confirmed that a sequel will soon go into development. The film’s lead actors are contractually obligated to return for another film, though director Stephen Sommers is not.”
Hugh Jackman Offers ‘Wolverine 2′ Update: ‘We’re Starting To Work On It Now’
During this weekend’s Teen Choice Awards, Jackman devoted part of his acceptance speech (“Wolverine” won the action/adventure film category) to teasing the aforementioned sequel — and Logan’s impending journey to Japan. “Who knows, maybe Wolverine will use one of these when he heads to Japan,” Jackman told the crowd, holding up the surfboard that served as the award. “See you next time around!” “The ‘going to Japan’ was pretty serious, the ‘using the surfboard’ was not. Not a lot of surfing in Japan,” laughed Jackman when we caught him backstage. [Video]
The Fine Print
This is by no means meant to be a comprehensive roundup of the entire weeks’ news. All stories are chosen by me for no other reason than that they got my attention and might capture yours. If something you think is more important chime in on the feedback; we’d love to hear comments and have a conversation about it.
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