Get Well Peter David

Best Damn Writer EVER!!!

Peter David suffered a stroke while on vacation with his family.  He is an internationally famous writer of comics like Young Justice, The Hulk, Spiderman, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Starfleet Academy, several Star Trek novels, winner of the Eisner Award, Wizard Fan Award, UK Comic Art Award, Golden Duck Award for Young Adult Series, Australian OZCon 1995 Award for Favorite International Writer, Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Writer, Haxtur Award for Best Script, Julie Award for achievements in multiple genres, GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book and the 2011 International Association of Media Tie-In Writers Grandmaster Award (aka Faust Award), current writer of  X-Factor .  He says on his website, "We were on vacation in Florida when I lost control of the right side of my body. I cannot see properly and I cannot move my right arm or leg. We are currently getting the extent of the damage sorted out and will report as further details become clarified."  Get well Peter, we at the Hideout have you in our prayers and are pulling for your recovery.

January Knights

Classic from a Classic

Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns part 2 is set to release on January 29th, however if you're live in Los Angeles  or New York before that date you get to see it on the big screen.  Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns is the conclusion of the animation based on Frank Miller's classic and iconic tale of a retired Bruce Wayne who becomes Batman again because of the crime that takes over Gotham.  Hailed as a masterpiece by both comic experts and critics outside the medium, the story is what pretty much everyone credits and creating a resurgence of the Batman mythos and taking from the "biff, bam, pow" era of the Adam West TV show into a era of maturity the character has never returned from again.   On January 13th, 2013 the animation will screen at the Paley Center in New York City (25 West 52nd Street) with media interviews starting at 5:15 p.m. and screening commencing at 6:30 p.m.  Following the screening, cast and filmmakers – led by eight-time Emmy Award winning dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano – will take part in a panel discussion of the film. Additional panelists will be announced as confirmed.   On Monday, January 28, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 will screen at the Paley Center in Los Angeles (465 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills) with media interviews starting at 5:30 p.m. and screening commencing at 7:00 p.m.  A panel discussion will follow the screening featuring cast and filmmakers including executive producer Bruce Timm, director Jay Oliva, writer Bob Goodman and dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano. Additional participants will be announced as confirmed.  A limited number of free tickets are available for the general public.

DHep #210 - Chrismas Claws

In a show that define irreverent, a show so bad the Black Panther Party will reform just to kick our asses, we present our Christmas Show were we go from nude 50 ft cheerleaders, to a list of our personal black man's krytonite. Until Maya Angelou comes and smacks our faces, have a listen and enjoy.

DHep #209 - To 2013 & Beyond

This is our looking forward to 2013 episode, where first we have some words for Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church (I'd say we tried to be nice, but I'd be lying.) Then we discuss upcoming TV and Movie for 2013. It's blast to the future. Enjoy.

Fall On the S.H.I.E.L.D.

Can Joss pull it off?

Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s head of TV, is ecstatic about working on the S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot.  Loeb told Previewsworld, "Working with Joss, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeffrey Bell is a blast. And bringing in Clark Gregg to play Agent Phil Coulson--the best!  Hopefully we can be on the air in the fall of 2013 on ABC."  Loeb is not the only one to express excitement about the prospect of a S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series.  ABC TV’s President Pat Lee admitted to being both optimistic and excited about the potential of the Whedon-penned pilot, though he cautioned that "it was still early days, and it’s a long way to go between now and a successful series.

An American Nerd in BBC’s Court

Good for you Chris.

BBC America has expanded its commitment to Nerdist programming, ordering a 10-episode hour-long series of the comedy-variety talk show starring Chris Hardwick, according to Variety.  The show will anchor and Hardwick will host the network’s Supernatural Saturday block, which will include Doctor Who, Being Human, and Orphan Black.

Reboot at the Sign Post Up Ahead

What a twist!!!

A reboot of The Twilight Zone TV show is in development with Bryan Singer (X-Men) attached as executive producer, according to Entertainment Weekly.  It’s being developed by CBS TV Studios, but there’s no network or writer attached yet.

Break Bad Toys with Meth Set Walter White?

Stocking Stuffer?

Mezco Toyz will produce merchandise based on AMC’s Breaking Bad under license from Sony Pictures Consumer Products. The line of merchandise will include Mez-Itz, action figures, bobbleheads, accessories, paperweights, and plush. Mezco will be showing the new line at Toy Fair in February.

Dhep #208 - Sexy and we Know It

Another catch up show, recorded a few weeks after the Sandy clean up. Here we discuss sexy in geek culture - but the Hideout POV - so you know it's going to be a bit warped and sometimes twisted. Enjoy.

Superman Rules

A new ruling was issued and an immediate appeal filed in the litigation over Superman rights between DC Comics and the Siegel and Shuster estates and Marc Toberoff.  The ruling was another win for DC, certifying the court’s October ruling as final.  The ruling specified that "…the copyright termination notice served by the Estate of Joseph Shuster on November 10, 2003 is deemed invalid and ineffective," and the "rights-encumbering agreements,” including movie deals by the heirs side, were "invalid and unenforceable."

Luke, I am Your Movie

According to Geek Tyrants, the focus of the upcoming Star Wars movies will be on Luke Skywalker - and Mark Hamil is coming back to reprise the role.  George Lucas will have input but will not have creative control and Disney is working to get as much of the original cast back as possible to keep Star Wars within the original cannon.  Also they are seriously considering moving forward with the live action TV show.

"You can expect to hear more news on the live action TV show in the near future, as the scripts already written will be absorbed in some way into a TV format. The nature of the show and the technical requirements needed to meet a TV budget and schedule are pretty ambitious. Basically they are 45 minute long feature films. With concepts that are very ambitious and the fact that it focuses on characters that are not known and are completely different to what people may have in mind about a STARWARS TV show. This was the problem at the time, and I am pretty sure this is still a problem. At least on the live action front. I am told that soon there will be some kind of material released relating to shot footage and tests on that concept. So look out for that."

They are also talking about restoring the original trilogy taking out some of the changes Lucas made but upgrading the quality to a more modern digital look.  (Yes, people, Hans will in fact be shooting first again.)  Also Disney wants to go beyond the next set to do 10, 11, and 12 which will focus on the offspring of the original characters.  Read more about this on www.geektyrants.com.

McFarlane's Suit

The suit that Todd McFarlane filed against former employees Al and Melanie Simmons over the publication of Al Simmons book, The Art of Being Spawn, has been settled with no disclosure of terms.  The parties simply asked the court to dismiss the case with no possibility of it being refilled.

Movies Like a FOX

Fox has assigned its Josh Frank-directed Fantastic Four sequel to open March 6, 2015, according to Hollywood Reporter.  Mark Millar will be a creative consultant on the film.  The company also   announced that it will release four new movies, including two Marvel films, in 3-D: The Wolverine - July 16, 2013, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - August 16, 2013, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes -May 23, 2014, and X-Men: Days of Future Past - July 18, 2014.

DHe #207 - Boo Scares

What would have been a Halloween episode is now an After Sandy Catch-up show. On this episode we talk about movies or TV shows that scared us, either as kids or now or when even. Join the mad house for the first is a couple of catch-up shows. Enjoy.

The Old and the Young

Yeah, it's THAT cool.

It's the tweet heard round the geek world.  Director Bryan Singer confirmed on Twitter that both Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen will be appearing in the upcoming X-Men:  Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men:  First Class.  He also announced that the younger versions of their characters will also be played by the original actors, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy.  The film is planned to be released on July 18, 2014. Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult are also returning for the sequel.

Super Tie-in?

Not Superman Returns!

In an interview with the New York Post, Zack Snyder dropped some hints that his upcoming Superman: Man of Steel may tie-in to DC/Warner Brothers 2015 Justice League movie.  The post asked Synder if there is any chance that the studio would be integrating MoS with Justice League and he gave a non-denial denial.  "I can’t really say anything to that, because that’s a big spoiler," Snyder said.  "I will say, yeah, they trust me to keep them on course."  Considering how Super-Heroes seem to be huge money makers, the performance of the Marvel Movies leading up to the Avengers and the huges success of the Avengers itself, DC/Warner would be perfect idiots not to follow suit.  Superman:  Man of Steel releases on July 14, 2013.

Avengers Assemble. . .again

Unstoppable

Remember that special edition briefcase that Marvel was going to release featuring all the Super-Hero movies leading up to the mega-hit Marvels: The Avengers that got stopped when German luggage maker Rimowa BhmbH filed a lawsuit? Well looks like no immediate settlement is in sight, so Marvel has decided to release another version of the briefcase/box set (called, "Marvel Cinematic Universe:  Phase-1 -- Avengers Assemble").  That's right geeks of all walks of life they want to get this release on track - and make even more money, of course, so Marvel has released the blu-ray set this Fall and the pre-orders are most likely going through the roof.  The new release is going to be in box format and is expected to be a huge lift in the home entertainment market. The Avengers four-disc blu-ray is already the number one video release of 2012, mirroring how the movie did - which took in over 1.6 billion dollars at the box office. One up for comic book films.

Geek Writers Strike Back

It's Alive!!!

Disney might not have a director yet, but it is sure lining up writers for their plan making of the Star Wars sequels.  According to Hollywood trades Lawrence Kasden, writer/screenwriter of Silverado, Return of the Jedi, and Mumford, and Simon Kinberg, who wrote the first big budget Sherlock Holmes film, X-Men the Last Stand, Mr & Mrs Smith and the upcoming X-Men: Days of Future past, have both been hired to write the eigth and ninth sequels to the Star War saga.  Reports are also saying that they will be producing the two films as well. Say what you will about Disney buying Lucasfilms, but the addition of two veteran writers of geek fair seems to be a step in the right direction for where things are going.  More news on this as it comes in.

DHep #206 - Conned for 4 Days. . .Again

The show after the New York Comicon and our topic will be a review of the con, and some TV, no new movies, interesting news on Superman and the Justice League movie and the horror show that is America's political commercials. Coming to you like a speeding ferret on crank 2, it another episode of The Hideout. Enjoy.

Hollywood Sci-Fi Shuffle

Robot of Iron Man Wanna-Be?

Sony has pushed the debut of Jose Padilha’s Robocop reboot back to February 7, 2014 and given the Robocop remake’s prime summer release date of August 9, 2013 to Neill Blomkamp’s science fiction film Elysium.  In 2009 Sony released Blomkamp’s first film District 9 in August and the low-budget sci-fi film turned into a worldwide $210 million hit.  Elysium, which stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, takes place in a future Earth where the rich inhabit a luxurious space station while the masses struggle on an ecologically-devastated and overcrowded Earth.  Look for Sony to repeat the marketing pattern that it used to great effect on District 9, which was also a science fiction thriller with strong political overtones. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the delay in the release of Robocop will allow more time for post-production: "though that wasn’t the reason for the move."  The Reporter doesn’t explain what the reason was, but part of it undoubtedly comes from Sony’s assessment that Elysium offers a better chance to create a hit.

Arrow Hits Its Target

It's Not Smallville.

Things are looking good so far for the CW's new show, Arrow  - which is an adaptation of the long running DC comic Green Arrow.  Arrow performed exceptionally well in the ratings this week as the series’ second episode matched the show’s premiere ratings in the key 18-34 and 18-49 demographics.  The second episode drew 3.5 million viewers down from the premiere’s 4.1 million, but the losses were confined to the over 50 crowd, since the show’s 18-34 rating (up to 1.2 from a 1.1 rating for the premiere).   It may be a little too early to call Arrow hit. Wednesday night was not as competitive as normal as a baseball rain delay on Fox meant that Arrow didn’t have to face a normal X-Factor.  Still the show appears to be performing well and though it trailed Survivor on CBS and The Middle and Neighbors on ABC, Arrow actually beat the NBC comedies Animal Practice and Guys With Kids.   While network promotions can get viewers to sample new series, the hard part is keeping that premiere audience around and Arrow has done a good job of that.

A League of Their Own part 02

Good Luck with this.

Warner Brothers and DC comics announced that the Justice League movie is a go and is set to be released in 2015.   With that announcement came rumors that DC plans to release their super group movie at around the time Marvel/Disney will be releasing Avengers 2 - whether this is to have honest competition or an attempt to ride the wave of the success of the Avengers is pretty much up to speculation.  What is known is that instead of attempting to release single movies featuring the lesser exposed members (such as Flash, Wonder Woman and the Atom), DC seems to be planning to work backwards in that they will most likely do the individual movies if the JLA movie succeeds.  One report that is real is that Warner Bros. and DC are banking on the success of Zack Synder's Superman:  Man of Steel - whose footage and San Diego Comic Con got a lot of favorable fan reviews.   This is pretty much a wait and see, and we'll have more news on this as it happens.

Superman: The Endless Battle

In Court Forever?

U.S. District Court Judge Otis D. Wright has ruled in favor of Warner Bros. and agreed that a 1992 agreement between then DC Comics head Paul Levitz and Jean Peavy, the sister of Superman co-creator Joe Schuster, precludes the Schuster heirs from terminating DC’s Superman rights.  This is a big victory for the studio, but the battle is by no means over.  It appears quite likely that the Schuster heirs will appeal.  Four years ago another California judge ruled that the Siegel heirs did have the right to terminate their agreement and assigned part of the Superman rights including the costume, Clark Kent and the Krypton origin story to the heirs.  In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Toberoff  said "We respectfully disagree with its factual and legal conclusions, and it is surprising given that the judge appeared to emphatically agree with our position at the summary judgment hearing."

Going Ape

Remake Done Right

The sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, titled Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is about to go through it final re-writes of the script and they got Mark Bomback to do the final re-write.  According to reports Mark Bomback will be doing the final draft before shooting beings on the sequel slated to open on May 23rd, 2014.  Bomback has been involved in many script re-writes, including work on the first ape movie, and Live Free or Die Hard and the Total Recall remake.  Matt Reeves, who directed Cloverfield, is set to direct the sequel since Rupert Wyatt - who directed Rise of the Planet of the Ape - bowed out of the sequel.

DHep #205 - New TV & Comics vs Mainstream

In this Pre-Comicon episode the gang, hyped up about NYCC talks about the New seasons shows, what's old and whats new

AnL on BSG

1st Series cover

The crowd princes of the space epic (Jim Starling is still the king) is keeping the reboot that could in  comics with their own flavor of story telling.  Dynamite Entertainment has renewed it's license to do Battlestar Galatica comics and have tapped Abbnet and Lanning to write it.  AnL (as they are known in geek circles, will be writing a new series based in the BSG universe, and anyone whose read their Legion of Super-Heroes or Guardians of the Galaxy or Annihilation knows these are just the writers to do it.  Under the sci-fi masters the series will be relaunched and Dynamite’s Nick Barrucci has gone on record as saying they are the perfect writers for the series they were simply meant to write.  Can't think of anyone that would disagree.

One "Happy" RZA

R Z A ain't nothing to @$%& with. . .

The buzz on the upcoming Man With the Iron Fist is so strong RZA is already tapped to work on his next movie.  Teaming with Reginald Hudlin, Wu-Tang Clan member and now director RZA will be bringing Grant Morrison's Happy to the big screen.  Happy is about a corrupt cop turned hit man who starts looking to change his life when he begins seeing Happy, a blue horse who has more optimism and cheer then a clown on a laughing gas bender.  Grant Morrison will be writing the script.  The project is described by all concerned as It's a Wonderful Life meets Sin City.  No date has been set for the movie yet, but if the buzz of RZA directorial debut pays off, it won't be that long.

The Secret Life of Mary Jane

Since Amazing Spider-Man did $700 million at the box office, it's no surprise that the sequel is on it's way.  They've already announced a new Mary Jane.  Shaulene Woodley from Secret Life of an American Teenager and the recent George Clooney dramady Decendants will be taking the role that Kirsten Dunst made infamous with upside down kisses and perky. . . masses of land.  Mark Webb will be directing the sequel and Andrew Garfield will be reprising his role as Spider-Man.

Generation Brown - 3D

It's 3-D Charlie Brown

The Peanuts are coming to the 21st Century, and in computer animated format.  That's right blockhead and Red Baron hater lovers, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios have reached an agreement with the estate of Charles M. Shultz to produce an all new computer generated Peanuts feature.  (In other words the truck full of money was heard backing up all the way in Sarah Palin country though not as loud as the ARRRRGH! from the fans.)   It doesn't have a title yet, but will debut on November 25th 2015, which coincides with the 65th anniversary of the first Peanuts comic strip as well as the 50th anniversary of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas.   More on this as the news comes.

Dynamite Diggle

Andy Diggle, who has penned the pages of such books as Swamp Thing, Thunderbolts, Hellblazer, Six Guns and, of course, the Losers has signed with Dynamite Entertainment to write a new crime line for the company in 2013.  Diggle just got off an exclusive contract with Marvel as is now moving to Dynamite for the project which no details have been put out about yet.

DHep 204 - Falling Into Previews

In this episode the boys discuss the upcoming fall season. what to look foward to and what not to feel so good about.

Robocop Has No House

Hugh Lurie, who made a semi-big TV splash playing the grouchy doctor with OCD and an odd resemblance to Lionel Luther from Smallville, House, was in talks to play the evil head of the corporation that turn a cop into a Robocop has bowed out of the project. Some rumors are saying he turned down the role because of the bed reviews to the script which was given pretty bad reviews by the usual internet suspects. No word on where this puts the remake project.

"Snikking" Biel

Jessica Biel, who was in talk with 20th Century Fox to play Viper in the upcoming Wolverine sequel (call The Wolverine) reported that contract talks have broken down and she is walking away from the project. 20th Century Fox is reported to “be in talks with other actresses.” Viper is villain who heads the evil faux-Nazi organization call Hydra in Marvel Comics and is a villain with benefits to James (Logan) Hudson – aka Wolverine. “The Wolverine” is expected to get underway in a month’s time – shooting occurring in both Australia and Japan – so expect the replacement to be named fairly quickly.

What a Night-Bitch

The contentiously cute Lindy Booth is in talks to join the cast of Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall as Night Bitch, according to Hollywood Reporter. Booth has some racked up her own set geek creds, including multiple appearances in series The 4400 and Eerie, Indiana, and a role in Dawn of the Dead. Kick-Ass 2 will premiere June 28th, 2013

Another Black Actor in Thor (Damn that Obamacare)

Racists, line up for your meaningless protests now, because Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who made a huge splash playing Mr. Echo in LOST, will play the dual roles of Algrim the Strong and Kurse in Thor: The Dark World. Akinnuoye-Agbaje had a recurring role on Lost that was cut short due to family problems and made an appearance in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Fan-Fiction Porn Comes True

Looks like DC has decided to make the dirty wet dreams of dozens of fan fiction writers (and probably a porn pardoy) come true as everyone is talking about the Superman/Wonder Woman hook-up coming to the pages of their respective comics. Lois Lane might be a spunky reporter but she just can’t compete with a leggy big-boobed Amazon who walks around in a skin-tight one piece and hooker boots. (To be fair, could anyone compete with that.)

Big Screen Blakes-7

Blake's 7, the cult British sci-fi hit from the late 70s and early 80s, is in development as a new series at Syfy, according to Deadline. The new version will be directed by Martin Campbell, who directed Green Lantern, two Zorro films, and two James Bond films, among many others. Joe Pokaski, who wrote ten episodes of Heroes and was supervising producer of 22 episodes, is writing. The series will go into production for a 13-episode series if Syfy likes the script.

DHep #203 - Reality TV

In this episode we talk about everyones favorite..... Reality TV! armpit of society or savior of sanity?

The Simpsons. . .nuff sed

The longest running comedy in the history of television, the longest running animation in the history of television, the largest amount of shows in the history of television and Pop Culture icons, “The Simpson” is returning for both a 25th and 26th season.   There were some stiff negotiations with cast and crew but FOX has locked in the deal and American’s  favorite ultra-disfuncsional family is still going strong and looks like it will keep going until everyone involved in the show’s making draws their last breath – and even that might not mean it will end.  You go, Homer.

Welcome to Fantasy Prime-Time. . . Indeed

This is a bit of old news but needs to be mentioned:  Once Upon A Time, the biggest surprise hit from last season is returning for a second season.  Not only has it been one of ABC’s biggest successes, boasting 13 Million viewers, its getting a lot of buzz because no one expected a show about fairy tale characters living in the real world to be so huge with audiences.   Also, strong out the gate rating performer, Grimm, is coming back for more fairy tale in the real world mayhem as NBC has picked it up for a 2nd season.  Let’s hope TV execs get the message and see that there’s a market for shows like this – after all the CW Network can’t possibly corner the marker in all the urban fantasy – even though so far they have.

100 Castles

Not only is ABC’s hit show Castle returning for another season, during this fifth season it’s going to hit it’s 100th episode, a number that not only says a lot about how strong a show it’s been for ABC in the Monday prime-time rating but put it in a lock of eventual syndication.   According the Hollywood Reporter, TNT has already slapped down the bucks to get this show on their schedule.  Looks like Nathan Fillion is still going to be too busy to get to that Firefly return certain fans keep wishing for.  (Is anyone but me surprise the Brown Coats haven’t launched a Kickstarter campaign over that one?)

Scandal for Felix

Three times Olympic gold medal winner and record beating track star Alyson Felix said in an interview that while training she mainline the Kerry Washington political drama Scandal.   This prompted the show’s creator Shonda Rhimes to invite the beauty and bubbly gold metal winner to the set of the current shooting for the upcoming 2nd season of the show.   This is not saying if the track star will be making a guest appearance (her admitted goal is to become a school teacher) but not only being a 3 times gold medal winner, 2 times silver medal winner and part of the relay team that broke the speed record which until the London Olympic stayed unbeaten since 1985 she is very photogenic and like most of USA’s gold winners she is currently a media darling – so her making an appearance on the show is not out of the question.  (Don’t be surprised if you find a certain “flying squirrel” popping up in places as well.)

Galactic Gunn

James Gunn is in talk to direct Marvel Studios upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy.  James Gunn has already got some action/comedy stuff under his belt, such as last years “Super” with Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson, the 2008 remake of Slither, and a couple of under the radar TV pilots.  He’s best known for his writing efforts on the Dawn of the Dead remake, the upcoming anime style zombie horror video game Lollypop Chainsaw and the two Scooby Doo movies

A Date With the Avengers 2

The date is set for the next installment of the record breaking super hero special effects fest, The Avengers 3, and it’s May 1, 2015.  Following its last patter Marvel plans to upcoming six films to be the lead in to the summer action movie.  While a lot of people are wondering how Ant-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy will fare in all of this, them being unknown properties by the general public and all – we at the hideout will remind those nay-sayers that this was said about Iron Man, Thor and Captain America – so chill out and wait and see.

DHep 202 Catch-up Episode

In this episode the gang is back and playing catch-up on all the events since they last crammed into the hideout, and new member joins us, lots of news and the pending return of Best In Podcast.

Whendenites ASSEMBLE!!!

Much to the collective joy of geeks, fans and the general social networking audience, Joss Whedon has been sign by Disney to direct both the Avengers 2 and and yet to be named live action TV project.  Whedon will write and direct Avengers 2, and "contribute creatively to the next phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe," Disney CEO Bob Iger said.  No release date for Avengers 2 has been announced yet and no word on what exactly the television show will be (except that it's live action and Joss is directing) but just the news alone of this great move is enough to send a collective sign of geekasms to everyone who knows the man and the great works he's done so far.  Stay tuned, as more news comes so shall we report it.

Shooting Pym Particles

If you can find this, read it!

Latino Review reports that Marvel had pretty much got it's ducks in the row for the making of an Actual Ant-Man movie.   Edgar Wright already showed his test footage at 2012 San Diego Comic-Con on the same panel where Marvel announced it's next set of film leading up to Avengers 2.   Oddly enough there tend to be two things that signal the forward motion of any project, the announcement at San Diego and a Latino Review scoop.  Latino Review is one of the few news sources that have been spot on with Marvel movie updates, so this is a strong indication that this movie is, in fact happening.

Another juicy bit of information is that shooting could begin in the summer of 2013, which works with Edgar Wrights schedule to wrap up shooting of the eagerly awaited "World's End" - the last part of what is known as "the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy" (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz then World's End) in the spring of 2013.  If all goes right Marvel, who usually releases two movies a year, will release three movies in 2014 - Thor:  The Dark World, Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. 

For those who are not aware, Ant-Man and his wife/girlfriend/partner (depending on the story being told) were Avengers from the beginning and pretty much is in every version except the last movie.   Many would ask if such a character who is obscure to the general public could make it on the big screen, one could remind those asking that this was asked about Iron Man and Thor, and this worked out okay.   Lets see where this goes and hope for the best.

Media Marvel

Avengers Assembled

According to Deadline, Marvel is in talks to develop a live action TV series connected to the Avengers movie but without the actual characters from the blockbuster but using other characters from the Marvel universe.  According to every report there are several unspecified ideas floating around the talks, so what this will be has a "wait and see" stamp on it so far.

This history of most comic super groups, especially the big two Justice League and the Avengers have rotated members more then a WB teen-angst semi-soap series rotates sleeping with each other.   Other minor characters within the highly known super groups have had varying success, most utter failures.  But what doesn't work in comic might work in a small screen format.   Most Fanboys are saying that a show styled in the form of a procedural cop drama might be the ticket, like NYPD Blue, or The Shield - with human characters in the forefront and Super Heroes only as a backdrop.

On the animation front Marvel is also developing a new cartoon series called Avengers Assemble which will include the actual characters from the movie.   Avengers:  Earth's Mightiest Heroes, has been running for two season so far but could end to make way for the new one.   (Though it would be interesting if they had both cartoons running.  After all Iron Man Armored Adventure runs on the same cable channel as the Avengers.)

Let The Knee-Jerking Begin

Beware Cartoon Guns

In the wake of the Aurora, Colorado shooting, Warner Brothers has announced it plans to "tone-down" the violence in the upcoming "Beware The Batman" cartoon.  According to Variety, "an unspecified number of alterations were made to some designs and situations on the series to minimize the amount of weapon imagery deemed too realistic." They plan to do things like make guns with square nozzles so they look more science fiction then realistic.  Yes, that's obviously the problem, cartoon guns.   Somewhere someone did statistics on the number of shootings caused by the guns being fired at Johny Quest and Haji.  It should go right up there with the stats on the number of mice who went after cats with frying pans after viewing a Tom & Jerry marathon.

It is inevitable that such a horrible tragedy such as the Aurora, Colorado shootings would spark a lot of conversations, some ranging from heart-felt grief to actual reporting of facts.  Others are completely stupid, such as the NRA and their legion of gun-nuts campaigning to put a gun in everyone's hands so everyone in the theater could get a chance to shoot, or the conspiracy theories with the government plan to have a complete nut job go and kill citizens so they can take guns from babies and people wearing Elmo costumes.  No reaction is more irksome then entertainment studio reactions to these things.  At least the NRA and conspiracy theorists are crazy - they have an excuse.   Studio reaction range from silly to just all out idiotic.  Changing guns in movies to walkie talkies or delaying shows with season finales that have some kind of gun play in them, or making cartoon guns fire lasers doesn't do anything but make a general audience go, "This is just. . .dumb."   It would be better of these studios would, oh let's say, donate money to the families to help defer funeral or medical costs - but this is said realizing we're talking about the same entity that will change guns in a cartoon while making a deal for eventual movie rights to the tragedy they claim forced them to change the gun in the first place.

Devil's Rights

The clock is most certainly ticking on 20th Century Fox’s rights to Marvel’s handicapped super-hero, Daredevil.   They have a script by Brad Caleb Kane – noted writer of cult TV fan favorite “Fringe.”  David Slade was the director attached to the project earlier this year, after giving the disturbing Hard Candy, the Comic-to-Film 30 Days of Night, the highly profitable The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, an episode of Breaking Bad and the Pilot for the failed series Awake - bowed out of the project to take on David Fuller's upcoming Hannibal TV series.  David James Kelly, another up and coming writer, is reported to have been brought in to do some re-writes and no new director has been announced yet.  With the clock ticking and Disney lawyers circling them like flying monkeys stalking Dorothy, 20th Century Fox has to hurry up and get this project green-lit or the rights to Daredevil (and the Fantastic Four) will revert back.  A movie studio in a rush to put out a movie?  What could go wrong?

Sexy White

CW announced at the Arrow panel during San Diego Comic Con 2012 that Kelly Hu will be playing villain China White in the upcoming series.   China White was introduce in the late 1990’s in the Green Arrow:  Year One mini-series.  The insanely sexy Ms. Hu is no stranger to playing comic or pop culture roles.  She play Lady Deathstrike in X2:  X-Men United, s frequent voice contributor is Seth Green’s Robot Chicken, has a small role in the 2005 Dark Shadows TV movie, voice several video games including Star Wars:  Knights of the Old Republic II, Command & Conquer:  Red Alert 3, Ninja Black and the Afro Samuria video game.  Not to mention her voice can be found in some of the most popular cartoons and direct to DVD animations including The Spectacular Spider-man, Young Justice (she currently voices the villain Cheshire), Phineas and Ferb and Green Lantern Emerald night.   Her movie and TV credits range from China Beach and Friday the 13th: Jason Takes Manhattan to Vampire Diaries and Hawaii Five-O.   One things for certain, many geek fingers are crossed for the success of the show – and with Kelly Hu gracing the camera it at least give a lot of men a really excellent reason to watch.

As It is Written, So Shall It Be Fantastic

The studios who currently have the movie rights to Marvel properties are rushing to make sure they beat the deadline for the “use or lose” clause in them – mostly because they know the Disney/Marvel is waiting in the wings to snatch them back.  20th Century Fox took time to announce at San Diego Comic Con 2012 they have a writer and director for the Fantastic Four reboot.  Hot young director Josh Trank, who made everyone that hates “found footage” flick open their mouths and insert feet with the critical and box office success “Chronicles” has been tapped to bring the famous Marvel family to life again, and along with him is writer Jeremy Slater who, if the story is true, will be pretty much cutting his writer’s baby teeth on this project.  No  release date announced, nor cast nor filming schedule yet, but giving the green light to these things certainly helps keep the property squarely in the hands of someone else other than Marvel Studios and the empire that Walt built.

Legendary Monster

HELL YEAH!!!!

Godzilla is getting a reboot. . .again.   At the 2012 San Diego Comic Con Legendary Pictures wowed it's panel attendees by showing a teaser of an upcoming Godzilla movie complete with destroyed city and a hint of a big ass monster fight.  This time Gareth Edwards, British special effect wizard turned director who gave us 2010's indie cult favorite "Monsters", is attached to the project.  Like James Bond and Harry Potter, Godzilla is a character that keeps coming back - even when killed (which, ironically, is also true of James Bond and Harry Potter).  The first movie, Gojira, premiered in Japan in 1954 out of Toho Company Ltd and got an American adaption (or adoption, depending on how you see it) in 1956.  Between 1954 to 2004 there have been 27 movies, a short indie animation, several comics, and a couple of Saturday mourning cartoons.  Godzilla is a Pop Culture Icon and household name, since pretty much everyone knows the monster, its famous scream, the fire breath and it's bad attitude thanks to the miracle of syndicated television, VHS rentals and DVD sales. 

One thing that is clear from all the reports is that Legendary Pictures is running as far away from Roland Emmerich's 1998 attempt that generated almost as much hate as Phantom Menace. 
While the Legendary movie will most likely feature a CGI generated Godzilla, according to anyone with a blog or a Facebook page who attended the panel, we are getting "THE" Godzilla and not an overgrown iguana thing with no fire breath who took someone telling it to go screw itself to a highly questionable next level - a truly "WTF were they thinking" moment in movie history.  There hasn't been any word of a release date, and there's still some casting to be done, but this project looks like it's moving full speed ahead and the results and reactions should be interesting.

DHep 200: Hideout Assemble

Before there was Marvel's The Avengers - there was a bunch of middle aged geeks having a discussion about the Avengers, their history, their famous storylines, and what we hoped the movie would be. Enjoy

Lana and The Arrow

In the 6-degrees of Smallville News the CW network announced that it was adding Green Arrow in a show called Arrow to the fall line-up, and Kristin Kreuk is returning to television with the Beauty and the Beast reboot.  Arrow, which is produced by Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Katie Cassidy (Dinah Lance/Black Canary), and Willa Holland (Thea Queen).  Now that the series has made the schedule its next hurdle will be scoring high enough ratings to survive the first cut of new series.  The CW network is hoping Arrow can come close to the success of Smallville, the long-running DC Comics-based series, which featured Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang.  There's not much on what the reboot of Beauty and the Beast will be like.  The original series starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Pearlman and as it was it would be perfect for the type of programing CW does these days.  However it would be interesting if they went Battlestar Galactica on it, though judging from shows like Secret Circle and Vampire Dairies let's not hold our breaths.

Avengers Smashes $1 Billion Dollars

1 Billion Dollars - that's the official worldwide gross for Marvel's The Avengers.  Friday, May 11th 2012, U.S. estimates are in at $29 million beating out Tim Burton's Dark Shadows.  It also beat Dark Knights second week gross, which earned $26 million US in it's 2nd week.  The Avengers set a new record with its $299.1 million total through eight days in theaters.  Over all Avengers took in $103.2 million to lead for a second-straight weekend and raised its domestic total to $373.2 million while raking in $95.4 million overseas lifting its international receipts to $628.9 million.  Together the reported take for the super hero team-up battle fest comes to a whopping $1,002,082,000.  Not only is this excellent news for Marvel/Disney and geeks around the world, and crazy thing is it's just the 2nd weekend and the numbers look like they are going to kick ass and take many names before this is all done.

MuthaF@#kin' World Record Update

Back in October, the Guinness Book of World Records named Jackson the highest-grossing actor in the history of movies, the result of Jackson's insane four-films-per-year work ethic, his willingness to take supporting roles in mega-productions, and and the fact the Samuel L. has grossed a combine 10 billion dollars over all - which beat out Tom Cruise who has a combined gross of 7 Billion.  Everyone is speculating that Avengers is pretty much set to make a billion dollars before it's run is over, and Samuel L. hae a nine-film deal for "Iron Man 3" and "Cap 2."  and  "Thor 2,", not to mention the coming Avengers 2 movie.   EW.com asks if anyone can beat Samuel L. Jackson.  The answer is obviously NO.

Blockbuster Assemble

On Sunday, May 6th 2012, Disney estimate a total ticket sales of $50.1 million domestic for The Avengers, which was far off from the film’s actual total of $57.1 million. This is a mistake we bet Disney and Marvel Studios can live with.  The Avengers’ Sunday performance pretty much beat the previous box office record of $43.6 million, which was set by Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.  The higher number also raised The Avengers 3-Day weekend debut record to $207,438,708. The Avengers did not set the record for Fridays, the Harry Potter finale did that, but it did set records on both Saturday and Sunday.  The Avengers has also earned $447.4 million through Sunday overseas, which gives it a worldwide total of $654.5 million that already is well clear of the $617.7 million earned by The Hunger Games.  This makes The Avengers 2012’s number one film to date worldwide. The Hunger Games has earned a accumulate $380 million domestically, so it is still well ahead in the North American market.  In addition to establishing a new superhero sub-genre, The Avengers also reaffirmed the comic book movie's top status among  summer blockbuster movie genres.  This is a clear message for those who say Super Hero movies are about to be over - which is an opinion voice fitfully since 2005, and to movie studios confused about whether Super Hero movies can make money - which is asked a lot even though Super Hero movies keep making money.  (Consider this,  Hancock - a movie made for $150 million dollar, earned $654 million dollar at the box office - and this wasn't based on any comic character.)

Valiant Digital

Valiant Entertainment has reached an exclusive digital comics distribution agreement with comiXology.  Starting today with the release of the new X-O Manowar #1 by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord, comiXology will offer same day as print digital releases for all of Valiant’s upcoming titles.  Valiant is returning with four new series X-O Manowar, which debuts in May, Harbinger in June, Bloodshot in July, and Archer and Armstrong in August.  In addition to those four series, every title of which will be available day and date in digital form from comiXology, the Valiant backlist is going to be made available via comiXology starting with some of the most popular story arcs from Valiant vaults including the first seven issues of X-O Manowar by Jim Shooter, Bob Layton, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Joe Quesada, the first seven issues of Harbinger by Jim Shooter and David Lapham, and the first five issues of Bloodshot by Kevin VanHook and Don Perlin.

Director Catching Fire

The Hollywood trades are reporting that Francis Lawrence, who directed Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in Water for Elephants, will helm Catching Fire, the sequel to this year’s most successful film, The Hunger Games.  Gary Ross who directed the first Hunger Games film bowed out of the second largely because of the extremely tight schedule necessary to meet Lionsgate’s announced debut date for Catching Fire, which is November 22nd, 2013.  Lionsgate announced that all the principal cast members including Jennifer Lawrence will return for the sequel with shooting expected to commence late this summer.  The initial Hunger Games film has now earned over $600 million worldwide.  Michael Arndt, who earned an Oscar for his screenplay for Little Miss Sunshine and wrote the story for Toy Story 3, is in talks to adapt Catching Fire.