Michael Fassbender joins Ridley Scott’s New Film – Updated

Michael Fassbender in Prometheus courtesy 20th Century Fox

  Michael Fassbender has officially joined Ridley Scott’s next film The Counselor. The Cormac McCarthy penned thriller is being called “No Country for Old Men on steroids.”

  Scott went for Fassbender as his lead after working with him on Prometheus. The actor will play an attorney who gets involved in a drug operation. Thanks to Deadline for breaking and now confirming the story.

  This marks 3 scheduled projects with previous directors for the in demand star. Fassbender will work with his Shame director Steve McQueen on 12 Years A Slave and director Matthew Vaughn on a X-Men: First Class sequel that will reportedly focus on Magneto.

Update:

Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper and Brad Pitt have been mentioned as potential actors to play the film’s villain. Thanks to Deadline and Dark Horizons.

All of those actors would be perfect but there’s something about the physicality of Renner that is most exciting – or maybe it’s the geek in me picturing the guys who played Magento and Hawkeye in the same cool movie?

Batman Artist’s Steampunk Inspired Talon

courtesy DC Comics

  The Court of Owls has been manipulating Gotham City for centuries. The Talons are the secret society’s enforcers. Talons from different eras will arise to attack Batman and his allies.

  Batman artist Greg Capullo is designing Talons from various periods of Gotham’s past and revealed his latest creation to The Source.  

  “It was like using a magnet in a junkyard. Just a lot of stuff that doesn’t mean much, but looks cool.”

  Batwing will face this Steampunk influenced Talon in the Night of the Owls crossover.

New James Bond Photo Shows M Underground

Courtesy MI6-HQ.com

  The second official photo from the set of the new James Bond film Skyfall has been released. Director Sam Mendes is working with Dame Judi Dench as M in what appears to be an underground bunker.

Skyfall set photo courtesy MI6-HQ.com

  There’s an unofficial photos of Dame Judi Dench and the crew filming in London. A rain-maker rig was set up for a scene in which M is escorted at night in a downpour to or from a Jaguar.

Thanks to MI6 for the story and you can see more photos of the London shoot.

AvX: Cyclops at the Jean Grey School

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #10 courtesy Marvel.com

  Cyclops is coming to the Jean Grey School but not to be a guest professor. The Extinction team leader goes to the school in Wolverine and the X-Men #10 but will the staff and students join Scott against the Avengers?

 Schism tore X-Men apart. I can see how the return of the Phoenix will equally divide Logan’s school family of mutants. Rachel Grey has a huge connection to the entity and this could bring back feelings of her mom and make her want to support Scott.

  If that’s not enough of a reason check out this issue – the May solicit promised Iceman Vs. Red Hulk! Good thing Bobby has reached a new level of power. I’d love to see Iceman go all Omega Level and take out RULK!

AVX: An Avenger’s Betrayal

Avengers #26 courtesy Marvel

  “An Avenger must betray the team to fill their destiny with the Phoenix.”

  Brian Michael Bendis is joined by the legendary Walter Simonson on Avengers #26. This tie in to Avengers Vs. X-Men is called a “game-changer for the Avengers franchise…and it’s not who you think,” according to the just released May 2012 solicits.

 The cover shows Thor and Protector (I think that’s him) fighting so does this mean the Asgardian or Kree will betray the team? 

  Remember Thor was on the cover of Secret Avengers #26 on what was hailed as a suicide mission in space to confront the Phoenix. Does Thor learn something in on that mission to change his allegiance?

 And don’t forget the New Avengers #25 and #26 cover showing Iron Fist apparently feeling the Phoenix Force and defending Hope Summers.

  For all of Marvel’s May solicits click here.

  It’s easy to think Wolverine, Beast, or Storm will be the Avengers that side with their fellow mutants, but time to rethink the cosmic connections between certain Avengers and Phoenix entity.

Black Panther Returns in Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four #606 courtesy Marvel.com

  The Black Panther’s solo title ended but the King of Wakanda returns to Africa in Fantastic Four #606 according to Marvel’s solicitations for May 2012.

  Jonathan Hickman sends the FF back to the African kingdom with the ominous questions: “What happens when the world completely runs out of vibranium?”

  The precious metal is what made Wakanda one of the most technologically advanced nations on the planet and a target for enemies out to exploit its natural resource.

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive had T’Challa in New York City taking up the role of protector of Hell’s Kitchen for Daredevil.  

FF # 18 features the Future Foundation kids on their first field trip in Africa and we meet the science club of Wakanda.

I’m thrilled to see the Black Panther staying in the Marvel Universe and back in Wakanda. Now let’s get working on that script for the movie starring Idris Elba!

Batman Must Save Arkham

 

Batman #5 courtesy DC Comics

  The battle for Gotham City bleeds into Detective Comics #9 as the Night of the Owls crossover spreads across all the Batman titles.   The secret society strikes Arkham Asylum in the issue by written and drawn by Tony Daniel. Sandu Florea co-illustrates the issue.

 Here’s what Batman Series editor Mike Marts told The Source:

 “In Detective #9, Batman finds himself in the unlikeliest of situations—saving Arkham Asylum administrator Jeremiah Arkham from a mysterious Talon assailant,” said Marts. “What is the secret connection between the Court of Owls and Gotham City’s oldest institution for the criminally insane?”

Top 5 Picks for 2/22/12

Batman: Dark Knight #6 courtesy Marvel

 

 

Batman: Dark Knight #6 Bane will challenge Batman in The Dark Knight Rises on the big screen. This week Batman must find the mastermind behind the toxin in Gotham City’s most notorious supercriminals and confront the evil force that once broke his back – Bane.

Star Wars: Jedi: Volume 1: Dark Side  An early adventure of the Jedi Master who trained Obi Wan. Young Qui-Gon Jinn is sent to investigate an assassination and prevent civil war on his homeworld. A mission that will bring Qui-Gon close to the dark side and affect the Jedi Order.

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 courtesy Marvel.com

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 It’s Gambling 101 when Logan and Quentin hit an outer space casino hope to win big and save the Jean Grey School. It’s Casino Royale meets Star Wars as the mutant odd couple go ‘all in’ to save Logan’s dream.

I, Vampire #6 The Queen of Blood’s army overruns Gotham City. Batman must ally with Andrew to fight off the vampire infestation.

All Star Western #7 Jonah Hex vs a giant bat! If that’s not enough to suck you in Jonah and Amadeus Arkham (as in the Asylum from the Bat books) team up to escape a deathtrap and save Gotham’s children. These tales of the past uncover some of Gotham City’s darkest legend including Court of Owls.