FANTASTIC FOUR 2 Gets a New Poster
It’s funny how “under the radar” the “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” movie is. Summer is almost here, and all the media attention has been on “Transformers”, “Grindhouse”, “Spider-Man 3″, and all the other rest. But “Fantastic Four 2″ is just sliding underneath everyone’s notice. Which is strange, because it’s a big Summer movie with a big budget, and is a sequel to a successful original. But anyways, in case you still care about the adventures of a non-acting Jessica Alba and her superpowered first family, here’s a new poster for “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”, this one featuring all five main characters, via SuperheroHype.
The “X-Files” Movie Sequel is FINALLY a Go. Right?
So after a lot of fits and starts, stops and gos, then stutters and futters — well, you get the idea — word comes from on top (well, from David Duchovny, anyway) that the “X-Files” movie sequel is finally a go. IMDB.com says: “…X-Files creator Chris Carter and writer Frank Spotnitz are busy working on a script for the new film. The news comes after weeks of speculation surrounding Anderson’s involvement in the project. Duchovny says, “This week, they’re starting some kind of road towards doing it (the film). Gillian and I both want to be in it now. We’re happy to do it. At this point all of the kind of fatigue and anxiety that we had towards the end of a nine-year run is gone.” Sounds like a plan to me.
Comic Book Writer Grant Morrison to Script “Area 51″
If you don’t know the name Grant Morrison, then you don’t (or ever did) read comic books. The Scottish comic book scribe has been responsible for some great titles, not least among them his version of “The Doom Patrol” and the monstrously cool Batman graphic novel “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth”. Fans of Morrison should get happy, because Variety reports that Morrison has been hired by Paramount Pictures to write the big-screen adaptation of “Area 51″, which is supposedly an adaptation of the videogame of the same name. I say “supposedly” because, frankly, there’s no reason for them to even stick to the videogame’s storyline, the game being a piece of lame crap and all.
New “Transformers” Images — Optimus Prime, Bonecrusher, Barricade
Yahoo! Movies has got your first look at a couple (as in, three) new “Transformers” pictures. One showcases a rad looking Optimus Prime throwing down with a freaky looking Bonecrusher, another shows Decepticon Barricade (a police cruiser) trying to bash Shia LaBeouf’s head in, and the last one has Bonecrusher (still doesn’t look “right” to me) chasing something on the highway. The one with Optimus Prime and Bonecrusher, and how so much bigger the two look compared to the other cars, is just so fraggin cool.
Latest “Transformers” 30-Second Clips, “Destiny” and “Hidden”
Here are the latest 30-second “Transformers” spots that have been going around TV sets all around the world and forcing geeks to fix their pants. One is called “Destiny” and the other “Hidden”, and they both look friggin’ incredible. The Earth is caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between two races of robots, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations. “Transformers” opens July 4th, 2007.
Because You Demanded it: “Mortal Kombat 3: Devastation”
It’s been a whopping 10 years since the last “Mortal Kombat” movie, 1997’s “Annihilation”. For one reason or another, Hollywood has never gotten off its collective ass to make a third film. Both the 1995 original and the 1997 sequel were hits at the box office. Why, one can’t possibly fathom why a third movie wasn’t made years ago, because frankly, it’s not like Hollywood not to milk a successful franchise until it’s bled dry. It’s so…unHollywood of Hollywood. Of course, they did try a TV series, but that sucked monkey balls, so let’s not talk about it. So what’s happening with “Mortal Kombat 3″? Moviehole says it’s happening…
BSG’s Tricia Helfer to Slip on the Supergirl Tights?
Well, she made the uber depressing “Battlestar Galactica” TV show worth watching, so why wouldn’t Tricia Helfer make a movie about the female version of Superman also worth a gander? Via Joblo.com, who hears from someone in the know that Warner Brothers has begun the first stages of making a movie based on the Supergirl character — they’ve paid someone to write a script. One of the names on the list of possibilities is Helfer, who happens to be 33-years old, way too old for someone called “supergirl“. Personally I think the producers should look at Helfer’s “Battlestar Galactica” co-star, Grace Park. An Asian superhero? Why not, it’s the 21st century!
The Final “Spiderman 3″ Trailer is Online
The final “Spiderman 3″ trailer is now online for your viewing pleasure. You can view it by clicking here. Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well, bringing out the dark, vengeful side of his personality that he is struggling to control. The third (and possibly last?) outing of the Arachnid Knight hits screens May 4th, 2007.
Batman, Superman, and the Justice League Movie Rumors
Will Batman be in the announced Justice League movie currently being written over at Warner Brothers? Will Superman? Will Wonder Woman? Will Hawk and Dove? Okay, so we can probably do without Hawk and Dove (although I gotta say, I’ve always been a fan of those two, but I have bad taste, so…), but a Justice League movie without Batman or Superman? Inconceivable! But that’s been the rumor for a while now, and now the reverse is happening — more rumors that the two superheroes will be in the movie. True? False? Can I survive a full day without two cans of Red Bull? We’ll never know.
Emile Hirsch is Speed Racer
According to Variety, the Wachowski Brothers have found their Speed Racer, and it’s — some dude name Emile Hirsch. Who the hell is Emile Hirsch? Apparently he’s an actor. Um, well, he’s done a lot of movies, but I’ve never heard of him. His credits include “The Girl Next Door” and “Alpha Dog”. Basically, the dude has worked a lot, but since he’s not really famous, I’m going to assume he’s more concern with his craft than he is with the whole movie stardom bit. Then again, starring in a movie where he gets to simulate nailing Elisha Cuthbert in the back of a limo after prom night is a pretty good benefit.
Cobie Smulders was Almost Wonder Woman!
The big buzz around the fanboy water cooler is that before he left the Wonder Woman project, “Buffy” dude Joss Whedon was set on making Cobie Smulders his Amazonian asskicker. For those who don’t know, Cobie Smulders is one of the stars of CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” — she’s the one who plays the ex-Canadian. No word on whether Cobie Smulders would remain Wonder Woman now that Whedon is off the project, but according to the same rumors, Joel Silver, the film’s producer, also liked Whedon’s choice of Smulders. Then again, it could all be crap, as by now I don’t think Wonder Woman will ever make it to the big screen.
Emma Watson Ditches Harry and his Potter
Emma Watson has apparently tired of playing with magics and pretending to play second fiddle to that Harry Potter guy, and has declined to show up for the last two “Harry Potter” movies despite the promise of some hefty paychecks. According to this, Watson says she’s tired of the role, and wants to try other things so people don’t just know her from the franchise. Which lead me to this observation: Um, Emma, you’ve already been in, what, 5 of these Harry Potter movies? What’s two more? I think the next Potter movie is “Harry Potter and the Jackass Donkey”. Or I could be wrong. Can you tell that I don’t give a rat’s ass about the Harry Potter franchise?
Is the Green Hornet Movie Finally Going to Happen? Eh…
News is that Columbia Pictures has nab the options for the classic Green Hornet, and seems ready to make a big screen movie version of it. In case you don’t know, the Green Hornet was about a rich white guy (aren’t they always?) who is a Playboy by day and a vigilante (aka the Green Hornet!) by night. Or maybe he was the Green Hornet by day, too. Look, I don’t really know, it’s not like I’m old enough to remember the show or anything. I wasn’t even born when it came on! Anyways, I do remember that the important thing is that the Green Hornet had a Japanese sidekick, and in the original TV series he was played by BRUCE LEE!
A Bevy of “Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer” Posters
The upcoming “Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer” is a curious beast. I don’t think I know anyone who really loved the first one. I know a lot of people who liked it, but they were mostly caught off guard. No one really thought the movie would be that good — or at the very least, that not bad. As it turned out, the first “Fantastic Four” was not a disaster, and that somehow made it kind of good. One can only hope for the same kind of results from “Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer”, but I’m not holding my breath. And oh yeah, writer/director Tim Story has said that Yes, Galactus WILL make an appearance — at the end of the movie, one presumes, since that would make a logical cliffhanger for the planned third part.
“Stargate SG1: Continuum” Plot Details
If you’re a “Stargate SG1″ fan, you might care about this. I count myself one, even though I’ve stopped tuning into the show since, well, last year. The show, for those who don’t know, is being canceled, and the Powers That Be are making two direct-to-DVD movies as a farewell. Here’s the plot for the first movie, “Stargate: Continuum”: SG-1 attends the execution of Ba’al, the last of the Goa’uld system lords, when Teal’c (Judge) and Vala (Black) inexplicably disappear into thin air. Carter (Tapping), Daniel (Shanks) and Mitchell (Browder) race back to a world where history has been changed: The Stargate program has been erased from the timeline. As they try to convince the authorities of what’s happened, a fleet of Goa’uld motherships arrives in orbit, led by Ba’al; his queen, Katesh (Vala); and his first prime, Teal’c. SG-1 must find the Stargate and set things right before the world is enslaved by the Goa’uld.
Frank Miller to Direct Live-Action “The Spirit” Movie
Wow, this is interesting news. I had heard, and even reported on Frank Miller being somehow involved with the upcoming live-action adaptation of Will Eisner’s The Spirit character, but I didn’t know Miller was actually going to direct it himself, or if they (the studio) would let him. According to Yahoo! Movies, Miller is scheduled to direct the big-screen version of “The Spirit”, which would mean “Sin City 2″, which Miller will co-direct with Robert Rodriguez, will be put on the back burner for now. Maybe. I kind of think Rodriguez can direct that one by himself. Besides “Sin City 2″ and “The Spirit”, Miller’s “Ronin” is also coming to the big screen, but unfortunately it’s by that guy who did “Stomp the Yard”. What the frag is that about?
Will “300″ Lead the Way for “Watchmen”?
Nutcase comic book writer Alan Moore’s 1980s limited series “Watchmen” has been in development hell longer than, well, just about any movie I’ve heard of. It’s chewed out two possible directors, “Pi’s” Darren Aronofsky and “United 93’s” Paul Greengrass, and now “300″ director Zach Snyder, flushed off the success of “300″, has a $150 million dollar idea for the “Watchmen” movie. But the question is, “Will the studio go for it?” According to Reuters, the studio is looking at something under $100 million — then again, that was before Snyder’s $60 million dollar “300″ blew the roof off the box office over the weekend. Will Zach Snyder get his wish, and put “Watchmen” into production by Summer 2007? Time will tell…
Gerard Butler is Snake Plissken in “Escape From New York” Remake
Coming off the ginormous success of “300″ at the box office, Variety says Scottish dude with insane abs Gerard Butler is being packaged by Hollywood talent agency CAA as part of the “Escpe from New York” remake, in which Butler would play the role of Snake Plissken, originally played by Kurt Russell in the 1981 original. There’s no director attached yet, but Ken Nolan (”Blackhawk Down”) will write the script. The movie is about Snake Plissken, a one-eyed convict who is blackmailed into rescuing the U.S. president, who has been taken hostage after his plane goes down in a futuristic New York City that has been turned into a prison. That basic plot isn’t expected to change. After “300″, Butler and CAA are gonna have to beat off people trying to throw money at them to produce the movie with a spear.
Kristanna Loken’s “Painkiller Jane” is Not Like the Comics
“Painkiller Jane” the TV show for the Sci Fi Channel won’t be anything like the comics, says the chracter’s comic book creator Jimmy Palmiotti, who co-created it along with current Marvel Comics headman Joe Quesada. While the comic had Jane as an undercover cop who gets blown up, and instead of dying gains the ability not to feel pain and becomes a vigilante, in the series Jane is “a DEA agent recruited by a covert government organization tasked with capturing “Neuros”: genetically enhanced individuals who possess superhuman powers of the mind. She discovers that she too possesses extraordinary abilities: She is impervious to injury, but not pain, and she develops miraculous regenerative powers.”
“Babylon 5: The Lost Tales - Voices in the Dark” Images
Over at CGSociety.org, there is a piece on the making of the “Babylon 5″ movie, “The Lost Tales - Voices in the Dark”, including some pictures of Bruce Boxleitner (Sheridan) acting opposite Galen (from “Crusade”) against a green screen. The article gets into the technical side of the upcoming direct-to-DVD movie, so if you’re interested in that, read that. I just like the pictures myself. I’m very easy to please, in case you don’t know. “Babylon 5: Lost Tales” images below…