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Marvel, the home of Spider-Man and X-Men, has a new name and 10 new movies in development, Variety reported. With its $525 million debt facility from Merrill Lynch closed, the company is changing its name from Marvel Enterprises to Marvel Entertainment, reflecting its new business producing and financing movies internally without a studio partner. Along with the Merrill Lynch deal, Marvel struck a deal with Paramount to market and distribute its films for a fee, similar to Lucasfilm's arrangement with Fox, the trade paper reported. Marvel has identified 10 new characters and groups it will develop as potential feature franchises to produce itself: Captain America, the Avengers, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Cloak and Dagger, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack and Shang-Chi. The deal with Merrill allows Marvel to produce films with budgets between $50 million and $165 million. If the first films are successful, Marvel will be able to replenish the facility to produce new movies in development or sequels to hits. Company is hoping to release its first movie by the summer of 2008. |
| QUOTE (prophecy girl @ Sep 7 2005, 08:41 AM) |
| nick fury: they can't do worse than the TV film with david hasseloff .......... or can they? :ermm: |
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| HULK SMASH Ultimate Avengers debuts at Wizard World Chicago Craig Kyle and Ken Katsumoto from Marvel Studios and Lions Gate previewed and discussed the upcoming "Ultimate Avengers" full-length DVD to a packed crowd at Wizard World Chicago. Taken right from the first six issues of Ultimates Vol 1, fans were treated to an exclusive clip of the film, featuring the awe inspiring throwdown from Ultimates #4 where the team must battle the Hulk in the streets of New York City. The clip faded in from black with the Hulk's massive breathing providing the voiceover. Then it the scene cut to the posh NYC restaurant where, if readers can recall, betty Brant was having dinner before an enraged Hulk climbed to the floor where the restaurant was and smashed through the windows. Giant Man quickly entered the scene and smacked the Hulk like a he was crushing a bug, but the Hulk retaliated, knocking Giant Man across several buildings. Iron Man stepped up next, rocketing his way onto the scene and tossing Hulk into a busy Grand Central terminal. Again, the scene looked as if it was cut and paste directly from the Brian Hitch's w**k. Next Ultimate Thor appeared amidst a fury of lightning and special effects before cutting to the awe inspiring one-on-one between Captain America and the Hulk. After trading blows for a few seconds the Hulk lets out one final scream and the clip faded to black, again with the massive breaths providing the voice over. Kyle went on to describe the process behind translating the book to animated film. "There will be moments in this film where you can literally see it having been cut and pasted panel for panel. There were moments however we had to expand on some things so it's not entirely panel for panel. [But] we did our best." Kyle went on to describe Hitch's prominent role in developing the movie's look. "Brian Hitch had a heck of a role. We went to him first and said 'What would your take on this character be?'" Ken Katsumoto also followed that story is being told from Captain America's point of view and that many supporting characters from the first six issues are involved. For an in-depth interview with Kyle and Katsumoto and more on "Ultimate Avengers" check out Wizard 168 - on sale August 31st. |
| QUOTE (Bakhesh @ Sep 7 2005, 02:05 PM) |
| Is this a cartoon Jamie? Not heard of it myself. If they do an avengers movie, they are going to need Thor and Iron Man at least, and there are already movies being developed for them at different studios (not to mention Betty Brants cameo in Spiderman. What is she doing in Avengers anyway?). Captain A would have to be there too, but at least Marvel are doing his movie themselves, so no copyright problems there. I'm pretty sure that Captain Ameria could w**k quite well on screen. I always thought the comic was pretty decent. It is easy to screw up as well of course, so I'm quite pleased to see Marvel trying to tackle it themselves. Also, you know how patriotic americans can get. Pretty much guaranteed success in the states. It'll be the comic equivalent of Passion of the Christ. |
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| September 7, 2005 - It was recently announced that Marvel Entertainment has secured a $525 million loan package that will allow it to produce 10 films based on its comic book characters, specifically Captain America, the Avengers, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Cloak & Dagger, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Power Pack, Shang-Chi and Ant-Man. Paramount will distribute the films, which will carry a price tag somewhere between $50 million-$165 million each. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Marvel chairman and CEO Avi Arad said he officially will begin attaching scriptwriters to all 10 projects beginning Wednesday and that, though he has a wish list, he's unsure which movie will be released first." IGN FilmForce has learned that British filmmaker Edgar Wright is poised to direct Ant-Man. Wright apparently plans on making Ant-Man a comedy. Neither Wright's reps nor Marvel responded to our inquiries for comment. Wright wrote and directed the zombie laffer Shaun of the Dead. He also has been linked with the upcoming projects Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life. In the comics, Ant-Man was Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym; he also fought crime under the pseudonyms of Giant-Man, Goliath and Yellowjacket. As The Marvel Database reminds us, Pym discovered a group of subatomic particles and produced two serums from them, one that could reduce someone or something in size and another to restore them. Testing the serum on himself, Pym was reduced "to the size of an insect. Pym became entrapped in an anthill and was pursued by the ants within. ... Inspired by his experience in the anthill, Pym undertook a study of ants, and theorized that ants communicate through psionic/electrical waves transmitted through their antennae. After months of w**k, Pym succeeded in creating his first 'cybernetic helmet,' which would enable him to communicate with ants through transmitting and receiving psionic/electrical waves. Thinking that someday he might want to use the shrinking potion on himself again, Pym also designed a protective costume for himself." Pym eventually became a costumed crime-fighter, serving with The Avengers and also marrying (and later divorcing) fellow superhero Janet Van Dyne, a.k.a. the Wasp. |
| QUOTE (prophecy girl @ Sep 9 2005, 08:40 AM) |
| :ponder: ant man then could end up as a hit man (i mean you sent your ants while the guy is sleeping ... that should do it) :unsure: |
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| either that or a sugar-thief |