Comic News Roundup – August 2009 – Week 4
Why Surrogates is a frightening metaphor for now
“I got involved nearly two years ago, and it began with the graphic novel,” director Jonathan Mostow said recently in an exclusive telephone interview. “I just immediately responded to the concept. There’s just something incredibly resonant about the idea. It’s almost a metaphor for the way we’re living our lives right now. It’s a story that asks the question ‘How do you stay human in this relentlessly, increasingly technological world we live in?’ The graphic novel … may have a different meaning for everybody who reads it, on a specific level, but on a general level it’s just in the zeitgeist. It’s made up, it’s science fiction, but it’s something that feels very relevant.”
‘Shazam!’ remake names writer
Billy Birch tapped to rework comic book adaptation
Actor-turned-writer Bill Birch has been tapped to reboot “Shazam!,” Warners’ adaptation of a DC Comics series featuring Captain Marvel. Geoff Johns, one of the three DC Comics heavyweights hired by the studio to act as consultants on DC projects, is also helping with the kick-start, co-writing the story with Birch.Story revolves around Billy Batson, a teenager who becomes Captain Marvel when he utters the magic word “Shazam!” The name is an acronym for six gods and heroes of the ancient world as well as their attributes: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Aries, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles and the speed of Mercury.
First Look at Smallville’s Metallo
He was killed by a robotic assassin in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles last spring, and now Brian Austin Green is coming back to TV as a different kind of cyborg. In a two-episode arc on Smallville (beginning with the September 25 season premiere), Green plays John Corben, a new Daily Planet reporter who becomes the comic-book villain Metallo. In the aftermath of an accident, Corben is mysteriously outfitted with a heart made of kryptonite.
Fox, scribe go ‘Country’ mile
Ryan Condal will pen draft for action franchise
Ryan Condal has been hired to write a draft of “Country,” the action franchise that’s set up at Fox. The project, based on Greg Rucka’s Oni Press comic, centers on a female Special Ops agent who is on the run after carrying out a high-level assassination in Eastern Europe. Those familiar with the project have described it as a female version of “The Bourne Identity.” Rucka is a comics author who has penned stories for a range of Marvel and DC properties. He is known for writing for strong female characters including Wonder Woman and Batwoman, and “Country” is seen as a vehicle for a strong female lead. Nicole Kidman at one point was attached to the project.
Don Cheadle Talks “Iron Man 2″
I just really had more questions than answers about the relationship. When I looked back over the comic books, all of the different iterations of Iron Man and Rhodey that there have been, the one thing that seemed like it was always there was this friendship. There was a real friendship and underlying kinship. I was always asking, “Where did it come from? What’s it based on? How tenuous is it, now that Tony is kind of a free agent and Rhodey is a military man? How does that work?” That’s what drove my questions about our relationship for the whole movie.
McFarlane Starts Writing New Spawn Movie
“Spawn” creator Todd McFarlane has announced that he has officially begun writing the screenplay for a new movie based on the character. “The story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years,” McFarlane said. “The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary.” He added that “the tone of this ‘Spawn’ movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film ‘Departed.’”
Remender’s “Last Days of American Crime”
A film version of “Last Days of American Crime” [a heist story in the midst of “A Clockwork Orange”-style crime prevention scheme] is already in the works. “The movie is the same story as the first arc of the comic. The novel we’re doing will be the next story, same time period totally different characters,” writer Rick Remender explained. “I’m already working on the screenplay, figure while I’m neck-deep in the story for the comic I should use that momentum to do both. Barry has brought in a few amazing A-list actors and if it comes together it’ll be the biggest crime move in years.”
Former Witchblade star set to ‘Kick Ass’
“I was asked to do a small cameo in a Nicolas Cage film called ‘Kick-Ass,’ that a lot of you might know.” Yancy Butler said. “It’s based on a comic book, at the time we did it there were only four of those comics … the nemesis to Nicolas Cage is a gangster, and I played the moll, his wife.”
Rumored ‘Superman’ Director Reveals His Vision For Man Of Steel
“I think if I was ever going to go near Superman, I would do a complete reboot—take it in a direction that you would absolutely not expect, actually,” McTeigue said. “So, that would be my thinking on it, if I was ever going to go near Superman. I think it’s good that they just had a court case where, basically, if you make another Superman movie, you can’t touch Superman growing up—that’s part of the story that you can’t touch any more. That wouldn’t be a bad thing. I think everybody’s a bit sick of seeing the origin story.”
John C. McGinley scrubs in as Super Villain Metallo in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
McGinley voices one of the featured villains in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, a blockbuster blast of super heroes and villains alike that includes the voices of Kevin Conroy (Batman), Tim Daly (Superman), Clancy Brown (Lex Luthor), Allison Mack (Power Girl), Xander Berkeley (Captain Atom), Ricardo Chavira (Major Force), LeVar Burton (Black Lightning), CCH Pounder (Amanda Waller) and a host of others. “Well, of course, it is big fat privilege to work with these characters … It is astonishing. It is not as fun to see my voice come out of a character as it is really rewarding. To be a tiny component in the evolution of animation as the voice of a character is thrilling.”
Moyer, Collins join ‘Priest’ hood
Duo joins Screen Gems thriller
“True Blood” thesp Stephen Moyer and Lily Collins of “90210″ have joined “Priest,” the Scott Stewart-directed Screen Gems thriller that stars Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet and Maggie Q. Scripted by Cory Goodman, the thriller involves a warrior priest who turns against the church to track down a murderous band of vampires who kidnapped his niece.
Levar Burton Talks Black Lightning in “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies”
“When I was a kid, it was comic books that pointed me in that direction and from comic books I went to science fiction literature, which is still one of my most favorite genres of literature to read. Don’t underestimate the power of comics and what they represent for us and how they inform us on the journey of being human – because it’s powerful.”
‘Priest’ casts its villain
Karl Urban will fill the role of evil leader Black Hat
Karl Urban has signed on to play the villain in “Priest,” Screen Gems’ post-apocalyptic horror thriller directed by Scott Stewart. Adapted by Cory Goodman from a TokyoPop comic, “Priest” is set in a world ravaged by war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany stars as a warrior priest and vampire fighter who teams with a sheriff (Cam Gigandet) and warrior priestess (Maggie Q) to track down a murderous band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece. Urban plays Black Hat, the evil leader of the bloodsuckers who was once a priest and hunter but now fancies himself a god of vampires.
Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios Slate
I think [Sam Jackson’s] gone on the record as saying that [Nick Fury] hasn’t busted into badass action mode yet. At the end of the first one, for the people who were patient enough to wait through the end credits, they met this guy named Nick Fury. They or Tony had no idea who he was. In this movie, he opens that door a little bit more for Tony and invites him to walk through it. Tony may or may not do that in this movie. But Nick Fury is the conduit through which all the characters will connect.
Details from the Spider-Man Musical
Bono and the Edge were recently interviewed by U.K radio personality Edith Brown and revealed a few tidbits regarding the Spider-Man musical. “We’ve got a new villain, it’s a girl. It’s a very extraordinary role. We’ve taken it to a much more dizzy place than you’d expect. We’ve got big tunes. We’re very proud of it.” Bono also says that the Broadway versions of the Marvel characters are different from previous films and comics. “Our Peter Parker is much more…not Kurt Cobain, but a kind of slacker, a more kind of shy sort of guy,” adds Bono.
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.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
The Great Movie Never Made – Podcast Special
Rare Unsigned Copy – Book Review
Universal Soldier: Regeneration – Podcast Review
The Big Racket – Movie Review
The Men Who Stare At Goats – CSW Podcast Review
Slice Of Life – Book Review
Games Roundup – Week Three, March 2010
Signs of the Apocalypse Roundup – March 2010 – Week 1
Comic News Roundup – March 2010 – Week 1
TV News Roundup – March 2010 – Week 1
The Top and Bottom 5 films of 2009 – A (Cool) Shite Poll
The (official unofficial) Top 5 Video Games of 2009!
Australia’s R18+ Discussion Paper and Submissions – The Great Debate
Separation City – Paul Middleditch Interview
Kick Ass: Aaron Johnson – Interview
Planet Hulk: Josh Fine – Interview
Star Chicks – Interview
Van Diemen’s Land: Jonathan auf der Heide – Interview
Dr Who – Series 31 trailers
Predators – Movie Trailer
Predators – Featurette
The Losers – Movie Trailer
Tron Legacy – Full Trailer
