The Russo Brothers (Joe and Anthony) are in final negotiations to direct Captain America 2 according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Russos are known for their television comedy work (Community, Happy Endings.)
Chris Evans returns as the Star Spangled Avenger April 14, 2014. No word on story but I’m hoping for a big screen version of The Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker.
The next Marvel hero to get a solo movie…Black Panther? Latino Review is reporting based on what they call several sources that T’Challa will get his own movie. The cinematic Captain America’s shield is made from vibranium, a metal found only in Wakanda, home of the Black Panther.
T’Challa was introduced in Fantastic Four, became a member of the Avengers, has his own solo series and married Storm of the X-Men. T’Challa was King of Wakanda a fictional nation in Africa that’s the only source of a metal called vibranium. T’Challa was dethroned and became the star of Daredevil’s title and briefly held his role as protector of Hell’s Kitchen in New York City.
The Black Panther recently appeared in Fantastic Four #606. Writer Jonathan Hickman discussed the status of the fan favorite hero. Black Panther and Storm’s romance has turned rocky since they are on opposing sides of Avengers vs X-Men so I expect T’Challa to be a single King again and ready for a solo comic book series.
My dream cast is Idris Elba as Black Panther, Mads Mikkelsen as Klaw and Paula Patton as Monica Lynne. The storyline could follow T’Challa as the Prince sent by his father as an Ambassador to the United Nations and have urban adventures in New York City then have him brought home when Ulysses Klaw and ROXXON invade Wakanda to exploit the vibranium.
By Editor
Zombies. Gladiators. Barker. The limits of undead carnage are about the pushed beyond the limits. The man who gave us Pinhead in Hellraiser is unleashing the undead on ancient Rome. Amazon.com has signed Clive Barker to write and direct Zombies vs Gladiators for Amazon Studios.
From the press release:
Based in ancient Rome, the Zombies vs. Gladiators story opens as a shaman who is about to die in the Coliseum casts a spell that unleashes the world’s first zombies. It’s up to a gladiator to stop the spread of the zombie horde and save Rome. From the moment it debuted at Amazon Studios, Zombies vs. Gladiators has been one of the most creatively engaging scripts, spurring tremendous interest within the community and movie fans alike, indicating it’s mainstream and commercial viability for the studio. As a result of this overwhelming and popular support, Amazon is moving forward to develop the project with Clive Barker at the helm.
“Zombies vs. Gladiators is now in the hands of someone who has written genre-defining material throughout his career,” said Roy Price, director, Amazon Studios. “We are excited to see how Clive will add his unique narrative to capture the essence of this story and propel the project into something unique and original that could one day be enjoyed by all audiences.”
Said Barker, “I’m excited by the opportunity to interweave two very rich narrative threads. One of them concerns itself with the reality of the decadence of Rome and its rise and fall. The other is a fantastical narrative element – the living dead. My brief to myself on this project is to give the audience not only zombies they have never seen before but also a Rome they have never seen before.”
Barker added, “Amazon Studios offered up the dream ticket with this project. In twenty five years of working in this town, I’ve rarely had people listen to what I had to say as closely and as carefully as they did and then simply give me the freedom to go do it. Amazon Studios is an innovative creative concept. I am looking forward to providing my own perspective to make Zombies Vs. Gladiators a highly commercial and entertaining movie.”
Thanks to TwitchFilm – which has a great bio of Barker.
This Geek’s Opinion:
The idea of Gladiators written by Barker is awesome. The idea of zombies by Barker is huge! Barker has always been a daring creator pushing the boundaries of sex and violence in his storytelling. From The Books of Blood to Hellraiser to Cabal – Barker’s writing is so visceral.
While it’s easy to remember Barker’s explicit work his projects include the compelling Gods and Monsters and his Abarat fantasy children’s book series.
I still hope to see his The Damnation Game on the big screen. Here’s the official Clive Barker site.
By Editor
What will The Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan pick for his next project after the Batman finale? Nolan has expressed interest in directing a James Bond film. The director has said the big action sequence at the snowbound fortress in Inception was inspired by On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
In a new interview Empire Online with The Playlist Nolan says he’s serious but cautious about a potential 007 film.
“It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things.”
I have to agree with the editors that say Nolan’s comment suggest he would only like to take on the job if he got to make a fresh start, including casting a new Bond. Craig is lined up for more films so a potential Nolan helmed 007 movie may be more than a decade away.
Daniel Craig recruited Oscar winner Sam Mendes to direct the upcoming Bond film Skyfall so it’s not a stretch to see an acclaimed filmmaker work on 007. And never underestimate producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson shaking things up. The change from Pierce Brosnan to Daniel Craig was a shock and look how it’s working. After the Daniel Craig era closes an innovative director like Nolan might be just what the franchise needs.
By Editor
The sequel of X-Men: First Class is moving ahead with director Matthew Vaughn back on board and a release date of July 18, 2014. The story continues the story of Professor Xavier and Magneto. Michael Fassbender has said he’s working with writer Simon Kinberg on the script. But could the next X-film be inspired by one of the greatest Chris Claremont/John Byrne era stories?
Ain’t It Cool News reports that the studio has registered the title Days of Future Past with the MPAA. That may not mean anything to the movie-goer just looking for a great action film. But to an X-Men comic reader – it’s close to the Holy Grail of mutant epics.
In Uncanny X-Men #141 and 142 the Days of Future Past was a powerhouse two-part story in two timelines. In a future North America rules by Sentinels (mutant hunting robots) most super heroes have been hunted down and exterminated or imprisoned. Magneto, Storm, Colossus and his wife Kate (Kitty Pryde) are in the camp. Rachel Summers (daughter of Scott/Cyclops and Jean Grey) and Franklin Richards (son of Reed and Sue of the Fantastic Four) are together and living in the prison camp too. Wolverine is with an underground resistance movement.
The future X-Men conceive a daring plot to rewrite history and change the nightmare future. Rachel uses her psionic powers to send Kate’s consciousness into the past and into the body of Kitty Pryde who just joined the X-Men. Kitty must convince the mutants to go to Washington, D.C. to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants led by Mystique. The killing of Kelly led to the country’s hatred of mutants and implementation of Sentinels. While the past X-Men race to prevent the assassination, the remaining future X-Men fight the Sentinels.
The next X-Men film will likely not follow the storyline exactly but it could be an exciting way to reboot the entire film franchise but like Spock created a new timeline in JJ Abrams Star Trek.
We could forget X-Men: The Last Stand ever happened. Professor Xavier and Cyke would still be alive. It could be a whole new beginning for the film franchise and I love Rachel Summers.
Thanks to Collider.
By Editor
When I think of a perfect union of artist and character I think of Terry Dodson and Black Cat. The Spider-Man femme fatale claws her way into a different kind of book this week. Black Cat graces the cover of Defenders #7. Matt Fraction sends Doctor Strange and his team to Wakanda which means the Black Panther (the Fantastic Four are currently having an adventure there too.)
I love every female character Dodson draws (I have a framed poster of the X-women from Uncanny X-Men #500 autographed by Terry and Rachel Dodson) but there is something about his Black Cat. Terry and Rachel Dodson are killing with The Defenders. Fraction has been taking the non-team and readers through the Marvel Universe from Wundagore to Atlantis and now into Wakanda.
The issue teases that Black Cat will get the offer of a lifetime. For a modern-day classic check out Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do limited series by Kevin Smith and the Dodsons.
Here’s hoping the Black Cat may steal Sony and director Marc Webb’s heart. I’d love to see Felicia Hardy appear in a Spider-Man movie in the future.
By Editor
Mads Mikkelsen has been cast as Hannibal Lecter in NBC’s Hannibal television series according to TVLine. The Danish actor played Le Chiffre in Daniel Craig’s first James Bond movie Casino Royale and is reportedly in talk to play a villain in Thor 2.
Hugh Dancy plays FBI agent Will Graham (William Petersen in Michael Mann’s Manhunter and Edward Norton in Red Dragon.) Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies)created the series. No word on a premiere date yet.
No word on if Mikkelsen is locked or what role he will play in Thor 2.
By Editor
The Avengers is still soaring and breaking records but Robert Downey Jr is back on the job. Marvel Studios revealed the first official set photo of Iron Man 3. Tony Stark is looking at his many versions of the Iron Man armor. Shane Black is directing this time but Jon Favreau is back on camera as Happy Hogan. Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle are back too.
Guy Pearce, James Badge Dale, Ashley Hamilton, Rebecca Hall and Ben Kingsley (is he or isn’t he the Mandarin?) are new to the series. The film is said to be based on Iron Man Extremis. Dale is playing Coldblood but sporting the Iron Patriot armor and Hamilton is playing Firepower.
Seeing the photo above and all those heavy metal bad guys make me wonder if the classic Armor Wars story may play a part in this new film. The Iron Man armor had been stolen to create weaponry for various super villains. The David Micheline penned storyline saw Tony Stark go after the foes using his stolen tech.
For the entire press release here’s the Marvel.com link.
By Editor