Superman film is up, up, and away?
WARNER BROTHERS EXECS: SUPERMAN FILM DEAD (FOR NOW) & MORE DC MEDIA NEWS!
Although this has been reported earlier in the year, this week website Thompson On Hollywood contacted some Warner Brothers executives on the subject and was told flat out that "We're working on a strategy for DC. Superman is the trickiest one to figure out." WB is also waiting for the ongoing legal dispute over rights to the Siegel family over ownership of Superman that will likely result in more legalize and more royalties to the family of his co-creator. WB and Legendary Pictures (who are behind the Chris Nolan BATMAN films) firmly believe that the 2006 SUPERMAN RETURNS film, starring Brandon Routh and Kevin Spacey, underperformed. It went on to gross almost $400 million worldwide, but it also cost over $230 million to produce (not counting all the millions that WB burned on prior attempts at another Superman sequel that all died in pre-production). WB ultimately believes that the film underperformed, could have used a stronger villain, and that Bryan Singer's vision was not ideal for a 21st century Superman film. Rumors over who wants to write a SUPERMAN film and who WB may court to direct one will continue. blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2009/11/25/superman_franchise_on_the_rocks/
* In somewhat better Superman related news, Warner Home Video has announced that their first "DC Universe Animated Short" will feature the Spectre and be packaged with the Blu-Ray and Two Disc edition of Spring 2010's release of "JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS" via animated direct to video. The Spectre is a long time DC creation that dates back to MORE FUN COMICS #51, circa 1940, and is essentially the soul of a murdered police officer granted power by "the Voice" to mite out justice back on Earth, often violently. It is unknown if this animated short would feature the new or older version of Spectre, but Comics Continuum has announced that it has been written by Steve Niles and features the voices of Alyssa Milano and Gary Cole. The confirmed voice cast for the JUSTICE LEAGUE animated feature remains set at Mark Harmon as Superman, William Baldwin as Batman, Josh Keaton as the Flash, Vanessa Marshall as Wonder Woman, James Woods as Owlman, Gina Torres as Superwoman, Chris North as Lex Luthor and Bruce Davison as the President. www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0911/23/index.htm While it may be many years until a new Superman film is on the screen, the character remains popular enough that he remains on the small screen, either on video or SMALLVILLE.
* Coming Soon.net interviewed director James McTeigue on the eve of his newest release, "NINJA ASSASSIN" about rumors that he wishes to direct another DC comic book franchise for WB after "V FOR VENDETTA" years ago. He was once rumored to be in talks to direct a Superman feature, but that seems unlikely. McTeigue commented that comic books are now part of regular pop culture and that he is trying to find the right franchise for his talents. www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php
* MTV interviewed Ryan Reynolds about his upcoming involvement in GREEN LANTERN and DEADPOOL, and the star noted that seeing prototypes of the Green Lantern costume was "a cool, definitive moment for me" and that he "fell in love with the character" while meeting with GL director Martin Campbell. Reynolds remains excited about DEADPOOL as well, but it appears GREEN LANTERN is the film coming together in pre-production sooner. Considering that GREEN LANTERN has only risen above B-List status in the public eye fairly recently, a success here could be a DC/WB version of an IRON MAN type of hit. www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1627058/story.jhtml
* Omelete has the first image of Josh Brolin as the titular character in "JONAH HEX", the DC western also staring Megan Fox. www.omelete.com.br/cine/100023654/Veja_a_primeira_imagem_oficial_de_Jonah_Hex.aspx
The real debate; will movie Clint have purple spandex or leather?
HAWEYE SET TO APPEAR IN THOR? THE ANSWER AND MORE THOR NEWS!
* Empire spoke with "HURT LOCKER" star Jeremy Renner about Marvel's biggest superhero movie project of perhaps all time due up in about three years, "THE AVENGERS". While the actor stated that he wasn't "right" to have played Captain America, he stated that he spoke with Zak Penn and "the Marvel guys" and that the conversations became friendly. The name of Hawkeye as a potential role to be cast came up ultimately. Hawkeye is naturally Clint Barton, the modestly well known wise-cracking archer of the Avengers, who has been involved with the team since 1965. One wonders if the general public is more aware of him than DC's archer-in-their-biggest-team, Green Arrow. At any rate, Empire hints that Hawkeye could have a cameo in either "THOR" or "FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA", both due in 2011. The character has appeared quite a few times on the small screen; Hawkeye has been a supporting character in the "IRON MAN" and "AVENGERS: UNITED THEY STAND" cartoons of the 90's (although the less said, the better), as well as having appeared in more video games than Thor (so far). Renner claims he has not been offered the role of Hawkeye officially, but is honored to simply be in consideration. www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp
* In more "THOR" news, Variety has reported that Kat Dennings, from "NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST" has been officially cast as "Darcy", a character who works alongside Natalie Portman's Jane Foster. However, Variety's release of this news strongly hinted that the crippled alter ego of Thor, Donald Blake, would also appear in the film - www.variety.com/article/VR1118011794.html This caused speculations until Ain't It Cool News contacted their "THOR" contacts who claimed that Donald Blake would "not" appear in the film. Via a "source" (who isn't "Deep Throat"), this website claims that Blake will "100% not be in the film". Does this mean that Thor will be exiled to Earth in the movie without his mortal alter ego (created by Odin in the comics to teach Thor humility)? Stay tuned. www.aintitcool.com/node/43207
Oh, yeah, Spidey loves Black Cat for her mind. Really!
MORE SPIDER-MAN 4 BLACK CAT CASTING RUMORS! SOMEONE GET THE KITTY LITTER!
For a role that Sony has continued to claim is not being cast, the rumors are flying in faster than reports of UFO sightings. Deadline Hollywood posted an exclusive that Ann Hathaway ("GET SMART", among other films) has been officially approached by the producers of "SPIDER-MAN 4" (or SM4) to have a starring role in the film. Exactly what this role will be is not known, as Kirsten Dunst has been long announced to reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson (www.deadline.com/hollywood/anne-hathaway-wanted-for-spider-man-4/). MTV has had a ball with the Black Cat rumor mill, noting that back in June, fan-made posters for SM4 had photo-shopped images of Eliza Dushku, of "BUFFY" and "DOLLHOUSE" fame (splashpage.mtv.com/2009/06/16/fan-made-spider-man-4-posters-push-for-black-cat-and-carnage-debuts/) - whether for her acting talents or the fan community's desire to see her in another leather outfit akin to her costume in "JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK" is unknown. MTV interviewed Dushku about the rumor (splashpage.mtv.com/2009/11/19/spider-man-4-black-cat-casting-what-about-eliza-dushku/) and replied that while she had not been officially approached by anyone from SM4 for the role, she would accept it if offered (of course she would; a TV actress accepting a big movie role is a given). MTV also took the change to discuss the rumor madness with Tobey Maguire, who is promoting his "hey, I do other movies too" project, "BROTHERS". He stated that he had heard about the Black Cat casting rumors because he is "involved with the project" (reprising his starring role as Parker/Spider-Man) but while he has seen some "material" for "SPIDER-MAN 4", he does not know if the role exists or has been cast. splashpage.mtv.com/2009/11/25/tobey-maguire-addresses-spider-man-4-black-cat-rumors/
*Once again, another sprite comic by this Examiner:
(sprites edited from Capcom and Sega)
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