The Walking Dead Creator on David Morrissey as The Governor

David Morrissey courtesy IMDB

  The Walking Dead fans are buzzing with the announcement of The Governor appearing in Season Three on AMC. Creator Robert Kirkman praised British actor David Morrissey.

  “More than any other actor, David Morrissey came in and wanted to embrace everything that there is to the Governor,” Kirkman told MTV News. “He knew this is a complicated character, and he knew this was a character that people are going to hate to love.”

 “He recognized that this character is a villain,” he added. “A lot of people came in and were like, ‘But he’s a good guy inside, right?’ They want that nuance, and that’s definitely important. We definitely have that. The Governor isn’t a one-note character; there are a lot of layers to that onion. But this is a sadistic guy. David Morrissey, more than any other actor, really wanted to sink his teeth into that role. He wants to embrace everything there is about the Governor.”

The Governor from The Walking Dead by Image Comics courtesy screenrant

  The Governor commits unspeakable acts against the survivors fans know and love in the graphic novel series. Kirkman says the Governor’s television counterpart will be just as sadistic.

  “It was really important to me that no one gets the sense that we’re neutering the Governor from the comics or holding anything back in any way,” said Kirkman. “We’re definitely going to do the character justice, and season three will be that much crazier and that much more intense because of it.”

 For the entire interview here’s the MTV News link.

 A big question for fans is if Michonne will make her debut on the series too since she’s part of the action in the Governor arc in the books.

Avengers Maria Hill First Look

courtesy Marvel.com

  Fans got a brief shot of Cobie Smulders as SHIELD agent Maria Hill in the new The Avengers trailer. Marvel.com revealed two photos showing Agent Hill ready to support the Avengers Initiative. The Avengers debuts May 4th.

courtesy Marvel.com

 Smulders (known for How I Met Your Mother) plays the tough, resourceful agent supporting SHIELD Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson.) Brian Michael Bendis created Hill in his New Avengers run. Hill became head of SHIELD and ally of Iron Man during the Civil War storyline.

Bloodshot Goes Big Screen

Bloodshot courtesy Valiant Comics

  Sony eyes Valiant series Bloodshot for the big screen according to Deadline. The comic book series starred a ruthless mob assassin set up and framed for murder. The killer goes to witness protection but is betrayed and subjected to experiments that give him super strength and healing powers but no memory of his past.

 The Valiant Universe is relaunching with new issues this May. The publisher made headlines with the announcement of the first talking comic book cover. I’m sure a new Bloodshoot series is in the works. It was a huge hit in the 90’s.

Muppets Sequel

   

  Miss Piggy was shamefully denied a Best Actress Oscar (not even a nomination!) but The Muppets will get a sequel! Director James Bobin and co-writer Nicholas Stoller will return for the Disney sequel according to Variety. No word on if Jason Segel (please) or Amy Adams will return. After earning $154 million at the box office I’m sure Miss Piggy’s demands will increase – but that’s one charming pig!

 

The film did win an Oscar for Best Song (Man or Muppet.) I was a fan of Me Party since I’m single.

 

Here’s a link to The Muppets movie if you this news makes you nostalgic. The Muppet Show comic book from Boom is a fun read too.

 

John Carter & Marvel Comics

Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Disney's John Carter

  I’m excited for Disney’s John Carter. Some lucky fans got be see a Q & A with director Andrew Stanton hosted by Geoff Butcher of Hero Complex. What I share with director Andrew Stanton is our early love of Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter began with Marvel comics*. Stanton tells why the pre-teen boy in all of us can relate to John Carter of Mars.

  “When you’re 10 or 11 years old, and you’ve discovered girls, but they haven’t discovered you yet, and you’re reading about this ordinary guy that’s suddenly extraordinary on another planet, he’s got the coolest best friend, the coolest pet, and he’s winning the heart of the most beautiful girl in the universe, that’s like a checklist of everything you’ve ever wanted,” Stanton told the audience.

 

John Carter Warlord of Mars #1 courtesy Marvel

“My gateway drug was the Marvel comics of John Carter,” Stanton said. “My friends were drawing these four-armed creatures with tusks, and I said, ‘What are those?’ And they said, ‘Those are Tharks. This is Tars Tarkas,’ and then they threw the comic book at me. … By the time I was in high school finishing [the books], my girlfriends would call them my romance novels.”

Watch the entire interview here.

The legendary Marv Wolfman and Gil Kane created John Carter: Warlord of Mars back in 1977 for Marvel comics and ran for two years. I remember collecting these along with the Star Wars Marvel comics and my first Uncanny X-Men books.

Marvel is publishing new comics based on Edgar Rice Burroughs tales as prequels and sequels to the upcoming movie.

Star Trek 2 Villain’s Role “Kicking In”

  Intensity is up to warp 9 on the set of Star Trek 2. Benedict Cumberbatch tells MTV News “it’s great fun” filming. Recently photos and video show the British actor fighting with Zachary Quinto (Spock.) 

  “My part of the film is really sorta kicking in now. It’s great fun, great, great fun,” he said. “But what I’m trying to say is it’s a great thing to come into something that everybody’s familiar with and knows each other very well. So it’s [in] a weird way a very easy thing to get up to speed with, because everybody is so welcoming and gets along with one another.”

 For the entire video and interview here’s the MTV News link.

  No word on who Cumberbatch is playing or what species. From the recent photo* it looks like the British actor could be Vulcan or Romulan – although the trademark pointed ears are covered. It looks like he’s wearing a Starfleet communicator badge. When Benicio Del Toro was cast rumors began that he would be playing Khan (played by the late Ricardo Montalban in the original series and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.)

  I’m still watching for updates on the earlier story that Cumberbatch may play the Time Lord villain, The Master, for the 50th anniversary of the Doctor Who series opposite Matt Smith.

*When the photos and video came out last week I didn’t want to post because it may be considered a spoiler but I feel they are everywhere now. It’s an interesting thing of when and what to share when it comes to blogging. I hope this didn’t spoil it for you.

‘The Hunger Games’ Expectations

  Hollywood is buzzing over The Hunger Games like the Capitol erupted over the fiery arrival of Katniss in the book. According to studies the movie is on track to open to $70 million + and that’s bigger than Twilight according to Deadline.

  Here in the Emerald City fans are buzzing over The Hunger Games tour bringing Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson to Seattle’s Microsoft Store at University Village on March 10th. I wanted to share the latest information  from U Village if you want to be part of this big opportunity.

Here’s the schedule:

7am – Fans will be permitted to line up outside the Microsoft store.

9am – Wristbands will be handed out to the first 100 people for private in-store signing and VIP access in the Q&A area (parking lot in front of the Microsoft Store).

10am – Fans will be permitted access to the Q&A area; Q&A is free and open to the public.

2pm – 3:30pm – Private signing at the Microsoft store with the stars of ‘The Hunger Games’. Please visit the Microsoft Store for details.

3:30pm – 4pm – Q&A with the stars

Good luck!

Astonishing X-Men’s New Writer, New Controversy

Astonishing X-Men #48 interior art courtesy Marvel.com

  One of the most anticipated X change is Marjorie Liu and Mike Perkins taking on Astonishing X-Men with issue #48. The unique line-up includes Wolverine, Iceman, Gambit, Warbird, Karma and Northstar. The writer says she will show the characters lives away from the X-Men. Today Liu told Marvel.com how this cast of characters came together.

  “They’re all in the wrong place at the wrong time, basically, but being X-Men, they’re not the types to turn away from a dangerous situation. What none of them realize, of course, is that working together will lead them into some very unfamiliar—and uncomfortable—situations

  I’m excited Northstar found a home with the X-Men after Alpha Flight’s cancellation. Liu expanded on why she brought Jean-Paul back with the mutants:

Astonishing X-Men #49 preview art courtesy Marvel.com

  “Northstar has so much to offer in terms of character; not just his personality, but where he is now, where he wants to be, who he might become under certain circumstances. All of which will be addressed in these first two arcs. Also, despite being a powerhouse of experience when it comes to this super hero gig, he’s also a bit unpredictable; his emotions get the better of him, sometimes, and that’s very interesting to play with when he’s under pressure.”

   Marvel said the arc will be the most controversial story of the year. Liu said one character will be changed forever but she has a long-term plan in mind.

 “There’s a long-term mystery playing out over the first two arcs that establishes these individual X-Men as a real team. We have fights, deaths [and] explosions, but in many ways it’s a very intimate story, and by that, I mean these characters will literally live and die based on the strength of their relationships to one another. There’s an enemy, of course, but the battle against this individual’s machinations will force the X-Men to look inward, and at each other, in ways that may be very uncomfortable, and illuminating.”

 For the entire interview and more of Mike Perkins preview art here’s the Marvel.com link.