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| Marvel Studios has hired Jon Favreau to develop and direct the big-screen adaptation of Iron Man and has attracted an impressive roster of writers to help bring some of its high-profile characters to the big screen, says The Hollywood Reporter. Favreau will direct a feature version of Marvel's armored hero and develop the script with the writing team of Arthur Marcum and Matt Holloway ("Convoy"). The project originally was set up at New Line with Nick Cassavetes directing. Writer-director-actor Favreau previously helmed "Zathura: A Space Adventure." He was attached to direct "John Carter of Mars" for Paramount, but the 11th "Star Trek" movie, from J.J. Abrams and due out in 2008, put a stop to that project for now. Iron Man will be Favreau's next movie, and he hopes to go behind the camera early next year. Among Marvel's other projects is a sequel to 2003's Hulk, being written by Zak Penn, whose credits include X2: X-Men United and upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand. Ant Man is being adapted by "Shaun of the Dead" co-writer/director Edgar Wright. Wright will direct and co-write with scribe partner Joe Cornish. Edgar also will co-produce with his Big Talk Productions partner Nira Park. Captain America is being adapted by David Self (Road to Perdition), who is no stranger to Marvel, having worked on adaptations of Namor, the Sub-Mariner for Universal, and Deathlok for Paramount. Nick Fury is Marvel's hero who is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division), a spy agency. Andrew Marlow, whose credits include "Air Force One," "End of Days" and "Hollow Man," is writing. Thor follows the adventures of the legendary Norse thunder deity and is being written by Mark Protosevich ("Poseidon"). Protosevich said "the movie will take place in the world of myth and legend but will not betray some of the thematic elements of the comics that made them so appealing, like the idea of a god growing to truly understand man." Variety adds that the budgets on the films are expected to be between $50 million and $165 million. They will all be distributed by Paramount Pictures, except for the Hulk sequel, which will again be released by Universal Pictures. Iron Man and the Hulk sequel are furthest along and most likely to hit theaters in 2008. Marvel's next priority is Captain America, which the company hopes to release in 2009. Marvel has seven other superheroes and teams in development without talent yet attached. |
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| From Cinematical.com - By James Rocchi - 2006-05-19 X-Meta : An Outsider's Guide to Symbolism in Superhero Cinema With Hollywood milking more and more money out of comic-book adaptations — with X-Men: The Last Stand the most recent cash-grab to come down the pike — any non-comics fan may very well be left scratching their head: What’s all the fuss about? Why should they care about spandex-clad uber-humans with bizarre abilities? Well, when superhero cinema works, it’s because those characters aren’t just power fantasies for kids and adolescents; it’s because they’re great ways to explore archetypes, allegories and cultural signifiers. If you’re wondering why you should care about the X-Men — or any of superhero cinema’s successes and failures — here’s a handy cheat sheet to guide you through the symbolism and secret meanings of seven superhero cinema sagas past, present and (in one case) future. 1) The X-Men What it’s About: Genetic mutations have granted some individuals abilities — some of which are almost like deformities or diseases, some of which are like next steps in human ability — which lead to regular humanity hating and fearing them. What it’s Really About: Racism, homophobia, fear of the other — Stan Lee himself has said that the battle between the good Professor Xavier and the more militant mutant Magneto is a stand-in for the differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, and it’s no coincidence that The X-Men’s comic book popularity soared in the ’80s, just in time for a wave of identity-based politics to hit college campuses as kids realized it was okay to be "different" from the norm. 2) Superman What it’s About: Sent from a dying planet to safety on Earth, the last son of Krypton fights for truth, justice and the American way, defending his adopted home from all threats. What it’s Really About: Again, file under ’N’ for ’Not a Coincidence’: Supes was created by two Jewish newspapermen — who knew what it was like to try and live up to the ideas of a culture that they could feel like outsiders from. Aside from the obvious Jesus parallels — Superman is, after all, Jor-El’s only begotten son, sent to save us — Superman also reads as the ultimate immigrant saga: He may not be from here, but that just makes him strive all the harder to embody and defend the values of his adopted home. 3) The Hulk What it’s About: Bruce Banner’s scientific w**k goes terribly amok, turning him into a rage-fueled behemoth, devoid of intellect but possessed of colossal strength. What it’s Really About (and how Ang Lee screwed it up): Jekyll and Hyde, Freud’s Id — The Hulk represents all of the worst fears about nuclear science embodied in one man. It’s worth noting that in the original comics iteration, Bruce Banner was a nuclear weapons maker, whose accidental exposure to his own ’Gamma-bomb’ unleashed The Hulk — and turned him into an engine of destruction as unstoppable and nightmarish as the weapons he created. In Lee and James Schamus’s screenplay, it was revealed that Banner (Eric Bana) became The Hulk in part due to exposure to radiation — and in part thanks to experiments performed by his scientist father Nick Nolte; this had the story-killing and symbolism-neutering effect of making The Hulk a pathetic figure, as opposed to a tragic, ironic demonstration of hubris gone awry. 4) Batman What it’s About: Young Bruce Wayne’s parents are gunned down by a petty criminal; heartbroken and longing for revenge, Wayne uses his wealth and resources to train and equip himself as Batman, a vigilante detective who hopes to stop crime. What it’s Really About: Batman isn’t just a bridge character between detective fiction and the more colorful, caped creations of the superhero genre; he’s also a wounded, haunted victim of circumstance who longs to try and put the world right. Batman also manages to represent anger and altruism — while he punishes the guilty with blows and brains, his refusal to carry a gun means that he’s more of an idealist than a thug — and taps into our desire to kick ass from a moral high ground. 5) The Fantastic Four What it’s About: An extended family of friends, siblings and associates make a pioneering trip into space — and, bombarded by cosmic rays, come back with freakish, powerful super-abilities. What it’s Really About (and how Tim Story blew It): Camelot-era scientific optimism and space exploration meets soap opera, with a little bit of ancient elemental mysticism mixed in. In the comics, the Four were headed for the moon to beat the Commies; the kind of can-do, pioneer spirit that made America great, resulting in constant battles with the threats of a complex universe. With their bickering and feuding, the Four also add a super-powered spin to Tolstoy’s famous observation that happy families are all alike, yet every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Finally, the super-powers on display also nicely correlate to the alchemical elements of earth, wind, fire and water; it’s too bad that Fantastic Four director Tim Story didn’t actually incorporate any of these concepts in the FF film, choosing instead to focus on hokey jokes and endless talk — and, you know, when I think ’cosmic action,’ I can’t think of a better choice than the guy who directed Barbershop. 6) Wonder Woman What it’s About: An Amazonian Princess comes to Washington, D.C. to help America fight fascism and other enemies, armed with strength, skill and a lasso that can makes anyone in its bonds unable to lie; regrettably, if herself bound, Wonder Woman loses all her powers. What it’s Really About: On one level, it’s full of feminist assertion and power; on the other, Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston, a psychiatrist who (along with his wife Elizabeth) dreamed up the Amazonian heroine. Marston has been credited with inventing an early version of the lie detector; add in his penchant for saying things like "The only hope for peace is to teach people who are full of pep and unbound force to enjoy being bound. ..." and it’s fairly obvious Marston had some tie me up/tie me down issues. Good luck getting that in the script, Joss Whedon! 7) Spider-Man What it’s About: Teenage science buff Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider — and gains proportionate strength and speed, along with other abilities. What it’s Really About: Much as Superman might be construed as the ultimate immigrant, Spider-Man is the ultimate teenager — harried, poor, clumsy with chicks. Add in the fact that, like most teenagers, Parker’s concerns have to do with dating, juggling his time and always being short of money, and you have a superhero any teen can sympathize with. |
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| From Wonder Woman to the Flash, which stars are best suited to these roles? Who we’d cast Kevin Williamson Calgary Sun May 26, 2006 In the old days, celebrities used to go out of their way to avoid being photographed in spandex and leather. Angelina Jolie as Wonder Woman? Now there’s no better career move. Just ask Hugh Jackman, who reprises his star-making role today as Wolverine in the third X-Men, or Brandon Routh, the unknown actor now in the global spotlight, thanks to his role as the Man of Steel in June’s Superman Returns. While the costumes of Batman (Christian Bale) and Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) are occupied for now, there is no shortage of other superheroes awaiting cinematic adaptation — and no shortage of A-list actors circling these projects in the hopes of being part of Hollywood’s next billion-dollar franchise. (Exhibit A: Nicolas Cage, who has been previously linked to almost every comic book-based flick in the pipeline and will next year star in Marvel’s Ghost Rider.) With that in mind, we mulled which actors might be the best fit for these spandex-clad creations, all of which are coming soon to a multiplex near you. • • • • • WONDER WOMAN THE MOVIE: Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) will direct. Expect it in 2007 or 2008. SHE’S GOT: An Amazonian set of pipes, a golden lasso that makes anyone ensnared tell the truth and an ill-advised invisible plane, considering she wears … THREADS: … Star-spangled panties. Not surprisingly, Whedon has said he plans to tweak his leading lady’s outerwear underwear. UP FOR THE PART: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel and Evangeline Lilly. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast one of those hens from The View. OUR PICK: As much as we adore Lilly, we’d go with Biel, who is young (she could churn out two sequels before morphing into Cougar Woman), gorgeous and buff (see her in Blade: Trinity). • • • • • CAPTAIN AMERICA THE MOVIE: No director or star. Marvel wants it out by 2009. HE’S GOT: Enhanced strength and an impenetrable shield. THREADS: Stars. Stripes. Dorky wings on his head. UP FOR THE PART: This was Brad Pitt’s favourite comic book. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Donald Rumsfeld. OUR PICK: Pitt. That shield will come in handy when Jennifer Aniston puts on enough weight to lift a gun. • • • • • THE SUB-MARINER THE MOVIE: Back in development after Harry Potter director Chris Columbus dropped out. HE’S GOT: A bad attitude, gills, superstrength and wings on his feet. THREADS: If having wings on your feet wasn’t humiliating enough, this King of Atlantis is naked except for bracelets and green bikini briefs. UP FOR THE PART: Matt Damon, Nicolas Cage and The Rock. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Philip Seymour Hoffman. OUR PICK: The Rock, because feet-wings and bikini briefs still aren’t as embarrassing as wrestling. • • • • • IRON MAN THE MOVIE: Jon Favreau (Zathura) has signed on to direct. HE’S GOT: Armour that lets him fly and blast things to smithereens. THREADS: Think RoboCop meets Sir Lancelot. UP FOR THE PART: Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage have both expressed interest in the role. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Cruise, who entered the Bizarro Universe last year and hasn’t been heard from since. OUR PICK: Convincingly suave and smart George Clooney. • • • • • THE JOKER THE MOVIE: The Batman Begins sequel, due in 2008, is expected to introduce the scenery-chewing villain last played by Jack Nicholson. HE’S GOT: A killer smile. THREADS: More purple than Prince. UP FOR THE PART: Who isn’t? The list of contenders includes Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Paul Bettany and Jude Law. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Vin Diesel. OUR PICK: Napoleon Dynamite’s Jon Heder: “It’s a poison-gas pellet — gosh!” • • • • • THE FLASH THE MOVIE: David Goyer (Blade: Trinity) will direct this film about the fastest man alive. HE’S GOT: Fleet feet. THREADS: Red tights and lightning bolts on his head. UP FOR THE PART: Goyer has said he wants Ryan Reynolds to star. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Kevin Smith. OUR PICK: After Just Friends, Reynolds is out of steam. How about Leonardo DiCaprio? • • • • • SILVER SURFER THE MOVIE: Rumour has it the character may be introduced in next year’s Fantastic Four 2. We hope not since Fantastic Four 2 will undoubtedly be as crappy as Fantastic Four 1. HE’S GOT: A rad surfing board, dude. THREADS: Silvery bodysuit. Or maybe he just has no genitals. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: They’d cast Bjork. OUR PICK: Dude, who better than Keanu Reeves to inhabit a metaphysical hero who surfs more than he emotes? • • • • • GREEN LANTERN THE MOVIE: Jack Black was rumoured to playing this ring-powered intergalactic hero for laughs. HE’S GOT: The ring comes — shockingly — with a lantern. THREADS: Mask and tights. UP FOR THE PART: It’s up for grabs. Black’s off the project. IN THE BIZARRO UNIVERSE: How is this not the Bizarro Universe when Black is being considered to star? OUR PICK: If you’re going to make it a comedy, Jim Carrey. If you’re going to play it straight, we suggest Jake Gyllenhaal. |
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| From Rottentomatoes.com - By Scott Weinberg - 2006-06-18 DC Comics Movie Update: Watchmen, Flash & Shazam ! Scott Weinberg writes: "What with the Marvel Heroes always getting a lot of extra attention, the arrival of "Superman Returns" allows the other comics giant to get a little extra spotlight. Yesterday DC president Paul Levitz spilled a few beans regarding Joss Whedon’s "Wonder Woman" adaptation, and now come several more beans regarding Batman, Watchmen, Flash, Shazam, and (yes) Aquaman. From IGNFF: ""Warner’s is looking at Watchmen right now," Levitz comments. "They are looking for a director I believe at the moment." "It is a creative property that is very, very specifically designed for the medium in which it is published. I think it’s a real challenge to break out and do it. I think they had a very interesting script and certainly [Paul Greengrass] is a great director, so I had some hope for the Paramount one, but I hope Warner will be able to put something great around it." "There’s a long list under development and announced things that are being worked on include: Flash with David Goyer writing, Shazam and Pete Segal is directing that for New Line, we have another Batman coming of course, New Line is developing out of our newer properties [such as] Y the Last Man... Warner Brother’s has a draft of other ones [including] Under the Roof. A lot of stuff [is] going on." |
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| Arad Will Re-Do Hulk Avi Arad, an independent producer for Marvel Comics, plans a "do-over" of the Hulk movie, he told iF Magazine. "It’s a 'do-over.' I loved the Hulk movie. It was just a different approach, and it wasn't exactly the comic," Arad told the magazine. "We want to be much closer to the comic. It's what we would rather do." Although Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk film didn't perform as expected, Arad said, "A lot of people are looking forward to the comic-book version of the Hulk. That's the one we are making, and I think it will be incredibly satisfying. It will be big and awesome and a big ride." Arad also confirmed that a Thor movie is in the script-writing phase and that The Black Panther film project is awaiting an OK from a specific actor. Nick Fury and Ant Man are other projects Marvel wants to bring to the big screen. A TV series based on Blade is debuting this summer, with 13 episodes on Spike TV. Arad said he's excited about other cartoon shows: "We've got a new Fantastic Four cartoon," Arad added, "We've got a new Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon; it's going to be based on the comics. We're going to do another Sony Spider-Man cartoon. We are probably going to do an Iron Man cartoon after the movie." |
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| Snyder On Watch Dawn Of The Dead helmer Zach Snyder will develop and direct Watchmen, a film about the world's last remaining superheroes. This adaptation of the seminal DC Comic series has been in development hell for years with names like Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass and screenwriter David Hayter attached at various stages. Scribbling the latest draft is Alex Tse whose only previous writing credit is on Spike Lee drama Sucker Free City. Warner Bros have hired Snyder because they're said to be "impressed" with his w**k on 300, a CG-heavy rendering of Frank Miller's graphic novel about an ancient clash between the Greeks and Persians at Thermopylae. |
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| Marvel Entertainment intends to release a live-action film version of The Avengers, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie based on the superhero franchise is one of several projects that Marvel has in the works. Zak Penn, the writer behind the last two X-Men movies, is slated to write the screenplay. Marvel executives spoke briefly about their Avengers plan on Sept. 13 during a presentation to Wall Street analysts at the Merrill Lynch Media & Entertainment Conference in Pasadena, Calif., the trade paper reported. The Avengers began as a team consisting of the superheroes Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp, Iron Man and Hulk. Later, Captain America and a host of others joined. Executives didn't say exactly which of Marvel's superheroes would be depicted in the Avengers movie. |
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| Mostow Rescues Sub-Mariner Terminator 3 helmer Jonathan Mostow is rescuing the Sub-Mariner from drowning in development. Plans for adapting the Marvel comicbook have been gestating at Universal for years, but Mostow is determined to make it his next film. Road To Perdition scribe David Self has penned the script based on the adventures of a young man who discovers he's actually a descendant from the long-lost kingdom of Atlantis. Cue war between the underwater world and the landlubbers. The Sub-Mariner's special powers include super strength, the ability to fly and breathe underwater. And most importantly, he can spend hours in the sea without getting prune fingers. |
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| Arad Updates Marvel Film Slate Former Marvel Comics chief Avi Arad, who is now a producer, said that his plate is full with upcoming Marvel film adaptations through 2010, starting with Iron Man and the sequel The Incredible Hulk. That's in addition to the upcoming sequel for The Punisher, a possible fourth Spider-Man film and a second Ghost Rider; the first one opens Feb. 16. "We have Iron Man starting in March, and The Incredible Hulk is starting in June, and across town somewhere happening right now is a meeting about Punisher 2," Arad said. "And we will see what happens to Ghost Rider [2], but I would like to get that going." Coming in 2007 are Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Further out are proposed movies based on Captain America, Bratz: The Movie and Ant-Man. Arad also confirmed that Wolverine and Magneto are coming as spinoffs of the X-Men movies. As for a fourth X-Men ensemble film? "That's a question for Fox," he said. Films that seem less likely to be developed? Arad had nothing to say specifically about a Thor movie, which is also supposedly in the works. But Nicolas Cage, who stars in Ghost Rider, said that he is looking forward to Arad's proposed Sub-Mariner film. |
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| According to IESB, Marvel Studios is developing a live action version of Doctor Strange. The superhero sorcerer first appeared in Marvel comicbook Strange Tales in 1963. He is a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon whose career is cut short when a car accident results in nerve damage to his hands. The despondent doc then travels to the Himalayas to seek the counsel of a Tibetan mystic who teaches him the ins-and-outs of supreme sorcery. |
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| Matthew Vaughn, who will direct a film version of Marvel Comics' Thor, told Empire Online that his version will have a comic-book sensibility. "My only concern initially was that it's another fantasy film [after Vaughn's last movie, Stardust], but it's different in the sense that it's a superhero film set in the world of fantasy," Vaughn told the site. Vaughn added: "You've got Thor and Odin, and it's set in Asgard. It's not going to be like Lord of the Rings or even Narnia. I think it's important to keep it comic-book. We're not doing the Thor of Norse mythology. We're doing the Marvel Thor." But one thing is certain, Vaughn added. "They actually said to me, 'You are going to make Thor more macho? Right?' Well, don't worry: Thor's not going to be wearing a dress." |
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| Gale Anne Hurd and Kevin Feige, producers of the upcoming reboot of The Incredible Hulk, told SCI FI Wire that elements in the film lay the clear groundwork for a film adaptation of Marvel's character crossover saga The Avengers. "It's nice to be able to let things evolve, and we set things up with this film," Hurd said in an interview last week at New York Comic Con. "We have Tim Blake Nelson playing Dr. Samuel Sterns, and anyone who is a fan of the comic books knows that Samuel Sterns turns into the Leader, so there is an opportunity to explore that. It's in this film, but for people who aren't aware of that, it's not confusing." At The Incredible Hulk panel at New York Comic Con, the filmmakers also confirmed rumors that Robert Downey Jr., who stars in Marvel's Iron Man, may appear in Hulk; they showed a scene between William Hurt's Gen. Ross and Downey's Tony Stark at a bar. With the announcement in 2005 that Marvel Studios would produce their own films based on their comic-book properties, it opened up the door for Marvel character crossovers, which is the premise of The Avengers. "I can definitely say that part of the fun of doing all these characters in-house now, the ones we have the rights to, is all about being able to bring something that has never been on screen before, which is the Marvel Universe, " Feige said. "Any comic book reader knows that you can flip through any given issue of a comic and not know who to expect popping into a panel. That's part of the fun of what Stan [Lee] and Jack [Kirby] did so many years ago, by intertwining these characters. We haven't had that ability until now." Marvel Studios currently has Zak Penn attached as the writer for The Avengers, which is slated for a 2010 release. |
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| From Whedon.info - 8 upcoming superhero movies from "Iron Man 2" to "Thor" So, if you’re Superman, and you heard this week that Thor—Thor !—got a release date for his movie, do you wonder what on your adopted planet you have to do to get on the calendar ? The answer might be : Be a Marvel character. This week, hot off Iron Man’s $102-million opening weekend, Marvel issued a "partial" list of eight upcoming superhero movies, everything from Iron Man 2 to Thor. All but Ant-Man had scheduled release dates. Meanwhile, rival DC Comics’ characters, from Aquaman to Wonder Woman, and with the very large exception of Batman, remain in various stages of, if you’ll pardon the vulgar Hollywood expression, development. "I really don’t see a big difference between the potential of Marvel versus DC characters on the big screen," wrote Mike Voiles, editor of Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics, in an email interview. Well, actually, there is one big difference, as comic experts like Voiles are quick point out : Marvel is its own entity, cutting its own deals, and even financing its own movies. DC Comics is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. "Even higher profile DC properties have to fight through other Warner priorities and projects to get made," Voiles wrote. To Jim Littler, webmaster of ComicBookMovie.com, the long-planned Wonder Woman movie is a prime example of the superhuman challenges a DC superhero can face. "Warner Bros. was able to get Joss Whedon at the helm—AND THEN THEY REJECTED HIS SCRIPT ! Joss Whedon of Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more !" Littler wrote in an email. "I’ll bet the DC people were crying when that fell apart." More than a decade ago, it was Marvel heroes who were having all the rotten luck in Hollywood. Spider-Man wasn’t much more than a 1970s TV washout. The Fantastic Four were fit for an unreleased Roger Corman B-movie. Captain America was singed in a direct-to-video bomb. Now, it’s DC’s turn. While the comic giant’s characters continue to be huge small-screen players, on Smallville and in various animated series, they’re getting swamped by Marvel’s gang at the multiplex. Superman vs. Batman was scrapped. Justice League of America fell apart. And all sorts of cape- and tight-wearers are cooling their boots—even Superman, who’s doesn’t yet have a definitive start date for his next movie, two years after Superman Returns grossed $200 million. According to Littler, DC’s troubles have nothing to do with DC’s characters. "Many comic fans think DC has a much stronger lineup than Marvel does," Littler said. "I can think of at least three or four more franchises that they haven’t even touched yet that could be as big as anything Marvel has put out." Few, in fact, expect any comic-book movie to be bigger this summer than The Dark Knight, starring DC’s own Batman (with an assist from Christian Bale). Filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated Batman Begins sequel opens July 18. Even in star-crossed times for his JLA colleagues, the Caped Crusader reigns. "I’ve never run into any comics fan who doesn’t like Batman," Littler said. Now, if only some of his mojo could rub off on the Green Lantern. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming Marvel-based movies, and their scheduled release dates, per the company : • The Incredible Hulk (June 13) • Punisher : War Zone (Dec. 5) • X-Men Origins : Wolverine (May 1, 2009) • Iron Man 2 (April 30, 2010) • Thor (June 4, 2010) • The First Avenger : Captain America (working title) (May 6, 2011) • The Avengers (July 2011) • Ant-Man (no announced date) And here’s a look at the statuses of some of the planned DC-based movies, per ComicBookMovie.com : • Aquaman : "According to Comic Book Resources, the producers want to make a screwball comedy of it." • The Flash : Wedding Crashers’ David Dobkin was signed to direct last year. • Green Lantern : Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone) is writing a script ; Jack Black won’t star—at least he promised as much back in 2006. • Justice League of America : "Tabled." • Superman : The Man of Steel : Director Bryan Singer’s on board. Superman Returns star Brandon Routh’s on board. Filming might begin "early next year," per Routh, who admittedly doesn’t have the power to schedule such things. • Wonder Woman : "Sitting uncomfortably on the backburner." |
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| The Marvel Comics series Runaways is getting the big-screen treatment from Marvel Studios, with Brian K. Vaughan, who co-created the series with artist Adrian Alphona, writing the adaptation, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige will act as producer. Vaughan is also a co-producer and writer on ABC's Lost. Runaways launched in 2002 and won critical praise for its honest portrayal of teens and their issues; in 2006, it won a Harvey Award for best series. Runaways follows a group of teenagers who find that some family secrets are bigger than others when they discover their parents are actually supervillains. Running away from their homes, the teens band together and begin a journey of discovery, both of their parents' origins and of their own inherited powers, while trying to make up for the evil done by their folks. Vaughan is well known in comic circles for his creator-owned works, including Y: The Last Man, which is in development at New Line, and Pride of Baghdad. |