Comic News Roundup – October 2009 – Week 4
“Spider Man” on Broadway: “Still a $45 Million Mess”
“It’s still a $45 million mess,” says an insider who confirmed that Jim Stern and a group of investors including Norton Herrick are supposedly coming in as angels to save the day. Will this show be happening? “Yes, definitely,” says my source, who knows as much as anyone. “It’s too good not to… They had just enough money to get the theater ready. That’s what’s going on right now, preparations. But they don’t have the money to really start beyond that. They’re just waiting.”
‘Venom’ Will Have To Wait, Gary Ross Picks Up Exited Spielberg Project ‘Matt Helm’
A source close to the project tells us a new director has his hands on the project — none other than Gary Ross, writer-director of “Pleasantville” and “Seabiscuit,” who was recently attached to writing and potentially directing the Sony “Spider-Man” spin-off “Venom” (he had something to do with the “Spider-Man 4″ script, too). But this source notes, “Venom” is a ways off and will have to wait, “Matt Helm,” is coming first and is being scheduled to shoot in the summer of 2010 if all goes according to plan.
‘Extremely Violent’ Manga Series ‘Gantz’ To Receive Two Live-Action Adaptations
Hiroya Oku’s “Gantz” will be adapted for not one, but two live-action movies starring “Letters From Iwo Jima” actor Kazunari Ninomiya and “Death Note” star Ken’ichi Matsumaya. Japanese filmmaker Shinsuke Sato is directing the project with Yusuke Watanabe writing the screenplays. “Gantz” focuses on “a young Tokyo college student who is reanimated after a deadly subway accident. Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) and his friend Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) go on violent, seemingly endless missions at the behest of an unseen host.”
‘Green Lantern,’ Ryan Reynolds may be trading Australia shoot for New Orleans
An official at New Orleans’ fledgling Second Line Stages said he has been contacted by producers and that “Green Lantern” production offices could be set up in town as early as this week. “The rumors are correct,” said Kevin Murphy, the manager of studio operations at the Lower Garden District facility. “We are working out the details, and we have a nonrefundable contract” to rent stage space to the production.”
Two of Smallville’s Justice Society
JSA members, and the Stargate alumni who will be playing them.
Michael Shanks, who has recently been appearing on Burn Notice, but is best known as Daniel Jackson on Stargate SG-1, will portray Hawkman. Doctor Fate will be played by Brent Stait, who had an ongoing role on Andromeda as Rev Bem. Stait also has experience in the Stargate world, having appeared on SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, along with the direct-to-DVD movie Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods. The third JSA member on Smallville is Stargirl, and has the info on who will be playing her – Britt Irvin (Aliens in America). Look for the Smallville episode “Society” to air in January.
Akiva Goldsman on ‘Lobo,’ ‘Jonah Hex’ and the new ‘Swamp Thing’
“What got lost in ‘Batman & Robin’ is the emotions aren’t real,” Goldsman said, picking his words carefully. “The worst thing to do with a serious comic book is to make it a cartoon. I’m still answering for that movie with some people.” He said honoring the source material is the guiding concept for the projects he has in the pipeline now.
Brad Anderson to direct THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
Director Brad Anderson (‘The Machinist’) has signed on to direct the filmed adaptation of the graphic novel ‘The Living and the Dead’ for Solipsist Films. Robert Tinnell and Todd Livngston created the book. The story focuses on a monstrous character who engages in the nineteenth-century version of snuff theater, luring innocent people in a Grand Guignol of flesh and blood.
Aspen President Offers ‘Soulfire,’ ‘Dellec’ And ‘Executive Assistant: Iris’ Movie Updates
“[Soulfire is] out right now to different writers,” Aspen president Frank Mastromauro said of the movie’s status. “We’re going to start taking meetings within the next few weeks. We’re going to start going over story ideas and getting everything rolling on that, so within the next several months hopefuly we’ll have a script going and start going up to people to be in the ‘Soulfire’ movie.” Mastromauro also provided news on “Dellec” and “Executive Assistant: Iris,” two of Aspen’s newest properties. While Aspen founder Michael Turner had a hand in each of these comics, both projects were published almost a year after his tragic passing.
Sam Raimi admits Spidey 3 mistakes, what he plans for 4
“I think I’ve learned about the importance of getting to the point and the importance of having limitations, and I’m hoping to take that into a production where I’m actually allowed to explore with more of the tools to pull it off with a little more splendor,” Raimi said. “I hope I don’t lose that edge that I’ve just found. That would be my approach to Spider-Man 4: to get back to the basics.”
‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Director F. Gary Gray Calls ‘Julius’ Adaptation His ‘Peter Jackson Project’
“We’re still developing it. We’re still in the stage of finding a writer,” Gray said of Antony Johnston’s graphic novel “Julius”—a modern-day reimagining of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”. “That project is a huge project and we have to get that right.” According to Gray, fans of the graphic novel will likely notice some changes when the adaptation eventually gets to the screen. “I had re-envisioned it, and it’s going to have a slightly different feel than the graphic novel,” he explained. “It’s a crime trilogy, kind of like ‘The Godfather’ meets ‘Mad Max.’”
The Future Of The X-Men Franchise
X-Men producer updates on Wolverine and his pals
A private chat with Lauren Shuler Donner, who’s produced every X-Men film to date and is intimately involved with every future instalment currently in development. And there are lots of them. So read on for the sizzling skinny on all upcoming X-pics, from Wolverine’s forthcoming foray to the Orient to the return of Deadpool and mutants-at-high-school prequel First Class. Over to you, Ms Donner…
Dr. Horrible will star in a Batman musical
Neil Patrick Harris will be voicing and singing a new character in an upcoming musical episode of Batman: The Brave and Bold, the animated TV series, next week. The half-hour rock-pop opera ‘Mayhem of the Music Meister!’ features Harris as an all-new villain—The Music Meister—bent on overthrowing Gotham City and the entire world through the power of his beguiling singing voice. The entire heroic cast joins in the chorus, answering The Music Meister’s call with their own singing capabilities.
Cla$$war the movie… strange days
Rob Williams, writer of the comic Cla$$war, writes on his blog about the process of the book going from printed work to be optioned for the screen. ” It’s been a weird couple of weeks. I knew that Eddie Deighton and Com.X had been actively pushing Cla$$war in Hollywood for several years. Every now and again Ed would ring to update me with little titbits of information, and while it was all good fun for me to imagine a Cla$$war movie, it was never concrete enough to publically talk about.”
HITMAN 2, KANE & LYNCH, HACK/SLASH Update from Producers Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter
Asked about “Hack/Slash”, Alter confirmed Fredrick Bond is the director and said it’s going to start early next year. No casting yet but Alter says we’re going to hear something pretty soon. Watch the full interview after the jump:
‘Star Trek’ Writers Veer From Comic Book For ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ Screenplay
“How do you make it so it’s not too funny?” Orci asked. “You hear the title ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ and think, what is it? Is it ‘Wild, Wild West’? The exact same structure and story can kill you if you have the wrong tone. That’s the hard part.” “It’s not a comedy,” Kurtzman added. “What we came to is imagine you’re watching ‘Unforgiven’ and then the aliens from ‘Alien’ land.”
Meanwhile, Back at The Hall of Justice…
- Todd McFarlane Describes His Plans For New ‘Spawn’ Animated Series
- Joss Whedon Planning ‘Dollhouse’ Comic Book?
- Ian McKellen Talks The Hobbit/Magneto
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan On ‘Lobo’ Movie—’I Don’t Know That I’m A Big Blue Guy’
- Sam Raimi Confirms Bruce Campbell Will Have ‘Meaty Role’ In ‘Spider-Man 4′
- Fox21 developing ‘Indestructible Man’ series
- Kristen Bell talks ASTRO BOY, Comic-Con, and stuff
- Thomas Jane On The ‘Criminal Macabre’ Movie
- Brian Bendis Says ‘Thor’ Script Is ‘Very, Very Good’
- Olivia Wilde Talks Wonder Woman And Female Superheroes
- ‘30 Days Of Night’ Creator Wants Melissa George To Return For Sequel
- ‘Lost’ And ‘24′ Actors Join ‘30 Days Of Night: Dark Days’ Cast
- Jon Favreau Won’t Direct ‘Avengers’
- Universal and Imagine make Rashida Jones’s ‘Frenemy’
- Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine Sequel
- ‘True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten stars in ‘Griff the Invisible’
- Brett Ratner blasts ‘X-Men’ critics
- Aubrey Plaza Says ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Casting Was ‘Meant To Be’
- ‘Jonah Hex: No Way Back’ Graphic Novel To Coincide With ‘Hex’ Movie
- Chris Evans Calls ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Skateboard Training ‘An Uphill Battle’
- Nathan Fillion wants to do ‘The Greatest American Hero’
- Len Wein Expects ‘Noble Warrior’ In Wolverine Sequel
- Lights out for ‘Green Lantern’ in Australia
- Stan Lee On His ‘Iron Man 2′ Cameo!
- Dominic Cooper To Join ‘Thor’ Cast As Fandral?
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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