Author: Robert Greenberger

‘The Witches’ Adds del Toro to Cuaron

  • News
  • December 3, 2008

Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) has given up his plans to direct an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches and has decided to produce it instead. Stepping in to direct the stop-motion film will be Hollywood’s busiest man, Guillermo del Toro.

Cuaron told England’s Empire magazine, “Well I am involved with Guillermo del Toro, but as a producer, not director. I think it started because I’ve always wanted to do a version of Roald Dahl’s very naughty ‘Uncle Oswald’. So we were talking to Lucy Dahl, when we got onto the subject of The Witches. Then Guillermo wrote this amazing screenplay really quickly. It won’t be like the original Nicholas Roeg version, which was a beautiful film — because Guillermo wants to do it completely in stop- motion animation. I’m excited about it- I really hope we can put it together.”

The 1983 novel was turned into a 1990 live-action film directed by Nicolas Roeg and starred Angelica Huston in the tale of a young boy trapped in a hotel during a convention of witches. Given the subject matter, it’s no surprise the charming story appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at number twenty-seven.

‘Secret Invasion’ Wraps up on Thursday

  • News
  • December 3, 2008

Now that Batman RIP has wrapped up, comic readers are turning their attention to the conclusion of Marvel’s Secret Invasion. The Skrull invasion of Earth will be resolved, setting the stage for a new status quo on Marvel’s Earth to be explored in 2009’s Dark Reign event.

The extra-sized Secret Invasion #8 is from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Lenil Francis Yu, along with special guest cover artist Gabriele Dell’Otto.

Also out on Thursday will be Marvel Spotlight: Secret Invasion Aftermath #1 and Secret Invasion: Frontline #5.

SECRET INVASION #8 (OF 8)

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Cover by GABRIELLE DELL’OTTO
Rated T+ …$3.99

SECRET INVASION: FRONT LINE #5 (OF 5) (SEP082363)

Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by MARCO CASTIELLO
Cover by JUAN DOE
Rated T+ …$2.99

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: SECRET INVASION AFTERMATH #1 (OCT082418)

Written by JOHN RHETT THOMAS
Cover by GREG LAND
Rated T+ …$2.99

‘The Straw Men’ Optioned for Film

  • News
  • December 3, 2008

Michael Marshall Smith’s The Straw Men novel and its graphic novel adaptation have both been optioned by Benderspink for feature film according to Variety. The crime novel was released in 2002 and was adapted by Zenescope Entertainment this past summer. Envisioned as a trilogy, the first book involves serial killers, some apparently random brutal murders, and a dark conspiracy.  The film will focus on ex-homicide detective John Zandt who comes out of retirement to track down the serial killer who may have been responsible for the murder of his daughter.

The film will be produced by Benderspink’s Chris Bender and J.C. Spink along with Zenescope’s Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco serving as executive producers.

Benderspink has been one of the most active Hollywood production companies engaged in adapting comic book properties.  Among the numerous comic-based projects that Benderspink has initiated are adaptations of Y: The Last Man, Pet Robots, Pencilneck, Zombies of Mass Destruction, Last Blood, Starkweather, Area 52, The Ghouly Boys, Power and the Glory, Drafted, and The Gray Area.
 

Scott Frank Turns ‘Apes’ into ‘Cesar’

  • News
  • December 3, 2008

Genesis: Apes, the reported remake of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, was acknowledged as a live project by Fox president Tom Rothman and now 20th Century Fox has turned the project over to Scott Frank (Minority Report).  The writer/director has already renamed the film Cesar and told CHUD that the film is an original story and not a remake.

The movie, the site notes, “will not feature talking monkeys, and it will not end with chimpanzees running wild in the streets, taking over the world. But it isn’t entirely divorced from the world of Planet of the Apes, either. In fact, Frank sees his movie as the opening chapter in a saga that could span the thousand years between today and a world where apes rule.”

Scott explained that he’s been researching modern day science and extrapolating what it would take to evolve common apes into a “hyper-intelligent chimpanzee”. In addition to the hard science, he intends to make audiences relate to the characters including the simian dubbed Cesar.

CHUD reports Scott is at work on rewriting the script he inherited from Rick Jaffa (The Relic) and Amanda Silver (Eye for an Eye) in addition to figuring out how he can work with real animals and not CGI creations or people in suits. He also anticipates a final go or no go from Fox by February which means at earliest, Cesar wouldn’t be seen in theaters until 2010.

Review: ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’ DVD

The very best science fiction comments on today’s problems wrapped around a provocative story involving characters and situations that people can relate to.  They are also snapshots of moments in time and The Day the Earth Stood Still is a wonderful look at America between the end of World War II and the Cold War that gripped the world for decades.

There are few genre films of this era that hold up today and if you have never seen it, this two-disc commemorative set, on sale today, is well worth your attention.

The film is loosely based on a Harry Bates short story but thoroughly rewritten by Edward North and directed with a documentary and film noir feel by Robert Wise.  The tale of first contact is nothing new, but it’s all in the telling.  In this case, the film and its characters take matters very seriously. Wise is to be credited for giving us a culturally diverse montage of reactions throughout the movie, so we’re reminded that the arrival of the flying saucer affects everyone living on Earth.

Wise and Fox’s executives were smart to cast newcomer Michael Rennie as Klaatu since audiences had no preconceived notions when they see him, as opposed to Spencer Tracy, who we learn in the extras, wanted the role.  His lean figure and serious demeanor made him appear otherworldly and human at the same time. He’s paired nicely with Patricia Neal as a widow raising her young son, Bobby (Billy Gray).

So typical of mankind, no sooner does Klaatu emerge from the starship than a nervous G.,I. fires and wounds him, activating his security robot, the mammoth Gort.  When Klaatu asks the President’s secretary to arrange a meeting with world leaders, we get a little political satire as leaders of state put ego ahead of statesmanship. Klaatu decides to go out among mankind and find out something about the people of Earth and there he takes up residence at the boarding house where Neal lives.

The scenes of Klaatu and Bobby touring Washington are nice as we see things through fresh eyes which leads Klaatu to find Prof. Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), the stand-in for Albert Einstein, the era’s recognized smartest man alive. Fear wins the day as Klaatu is shot once more but miraculously survives in time to deliver a warning.  Mankind’s use of atomic weapons must never expand into space, threatening the galactic peace.  If they cannot do this, the planet will be reduced to a cinder. And then he leaves, mission accomplished.

Sure it’s a cautionary tale and far more simplistically told than the remake coming December 12 which changes fear of warfare to fear of ecological disaster.  Still, for its time, the movie is quite sophisticated in its script, direction, acting and message.  There’s an ironic moment as we see medical staff marvel over Klaatu’s prolonged lifespan as they light up cigarettes.

The first disc opens with Exclusive First Look At The New Movie [[[The Day The Earth Stood Still]]] which probably should have followed the feature.

The extras put the film into context starting with archival commentary from Wise (who died in 2005) and Nicholas Meyer (who followed his footsteps as a Star Trek director). The Making of The Day the Earth Stood Still does a nice job telling you the basics behind the film’s history but it’s the second disc that gives you “Decoding ‘Klaatu Barada Nikto’: Science Fiction as Metaphor” giving you the historic perspective.  The first disc also offers up “The Mysterious, Melodious Theremin” which even puts Bernard Hermann’s haunting score into perspective.

On the second disc there’s also a fairly rote look at the history of flying saucers plus bio pieces on Bates and North.  North made an anti-atomic bomb documentary, [[[Race To Oblivion]]], starring Burt Lancaster, this is also included.  Original trailers and a 1951 Fox Movietonews  round out the visuals. Still galleries including lobby cards, one sheets and the complete shooting script.

Troy Little’s ‘Angora Napkin’ Headed for Animation

  • Uncategorized
  • December 3, 2008

13835angoranapkinlg-4746538Troy Little’s graphic novel Angora Napkin is being adapted as an animated project to air on Canada’s Teletoon in March of 2009. 

IDW will publish the book as a 152-page hardcover in January and the publisher describes the book as “an adult comedy about a girl band pop trio.”
 
Little (Chiaroscuro) is involved in all aspects of the production of the Angora Napkin animated pilot.

Teletoon, in a Canada wide search for new and original adult animation ideas, selected Angora Napkin to be developed as an animated pilot. “The idea of Angora Napkin was originally developed by Nick Cross and me as an animated series so it’s really interesting to see the project come full circle” Little said in a release.  “We’ve teamed up with Mugisha Enterprises to produce the cartoon.  Both Nick and I are putting many hours into the cartoon and are involved in all aspects of production to ensure the unique look of the show remains fresh and creator driven”.

Troy believes the timing of the book and cartoon will do much to compliment one another and help draw attention to the product. “Angora Napkin is one of those quirky little concepts that could potentially draw a cult status. It’s very subversive humor coupled with a healthy dose of sex and violence”.

Angora Napkin graphic novel synopsis:

Halloween is upon us! Historically this ancient event has been identified as the day in which the boundary between the living and the dead becomes unstable. It is on this fateful night that we find Beatrice, Molly, and Mallory, the pop music group known as Angora Napkin, running behind schedule for their performance at the big Halloween bash. Taking a short cut on a dark, twisting mountain road, the girls cross paths with one of the wandering dead. Undaunted by such an unusual encounter, they offer him a lift to a secret underground party. It is here that they are introduced to a lonely, misunderstood zombie boy named Dennis who they unwittingly convince to eradicate life on Earth in order to keep the party of the undead going for all eternity! Will Angora Napkin be able to set right the horror they’ve unleashed upon humanity and still make the show on time, or will we all become worm food in the wake of the zombie apocalypse?

Devil’s Due Restructures

  • Uncategorized
  • December 2, 2008

devils-due-publishing-logo-5538662Devil’s Due Publishing has restructured their staff, with CEO PJ Bickett stepping down and two other staffers being laid off.

Bickett told Comic Book Resources, " I have officially separated from Devil’s Due." Replacing him on an interim basis will be DDP’s founder Josh Blaylock.

The lay offs include Editor Cody DeMatteis and Marketing Manager Brian Warmoth with Blaylock telling CBR, that their layoffs were “absolutely no fault of their own.”

"I have really enjoyed being a part of the DDP family for the past several years, and now it is time for me to move on to new challenges," Bickett said. "It was an honor working with such talented people, and I look forward to watching the company evolve."

Blaylock said in a release, "Coming from a strategic planning background, PJ was able to bring a fresh set of eyes to Devil’s Due. It has given us a unique perspective on the industry and where it’s going in years to come, and helped better prepare us for that."

Blaylock helped found the creative services outfit Kunoichi, Inc..and has been concentrating on that in lieu of DDP.  Now, Bickett will be spending most of his time on Kunoichi’s operations.  They recently entered into an agreement to purchase Arachia Comics.

Kunoichi and DDP have shared lineage and even shared Chicago offices blurring the line between the two. DDP currently works out of Los Angeles offices.

DDP has made its name with licensed properties, notably G.I. Joe and Halloween but lost the former to IDW and has suffered financially for it.  Their best known original title is Hack/Slash, which has been optioned by Rogue Pictures, a division of Universal Studios that just happens to be up for sale itself.
 

‘Green Lantern’ Completes Third Draft Script

  • News
  • December 2, 2008

Yesterday, we speculated that Green Lantern was the DC hero next going before the cameras and MTV’s Splash Page then ran an interview with co-screenwriter Marc Guggenheim that confirms this projection.

“This morning, we sat down to talk Green Lantern,” Guggenheim told MTV, “and we ended up riffing for an hour and a half on another, much more obscure character. Sometimes, you just have to roll with it when inspiration strikes, you know? I’m sure the studio wouldn’t be happy about it, but we’re not going to blow the deadline. We’ll get it in.”

The screenplay was written by Guggenheim, Michael Green (Superman/Batman) and Greg Berlanti (Eli Stone) and after three drafts, they think it’s about ready for Berlanti to direct. Locations have been scouted and production designs have been crafted by Aaron Sims, who is also working on X-Men Origins: Magneto for director David S. Goyer.

“[The changes are] nothing that’s affecting the storyline, really,” he said. “It’s pretty well set. But sometimes we’ll move a scene to a different location for budget purposes, perhaps in an already established location instead of a new one. It’s a question of, which locations can we live without? It’s a constant process to streamline what you’re going through, even after the film is shot, when you’re cutting things in the edit. That’s what the rewrite process is like, how you sand down the roughness of the a movie to its smoothest.”

Guggenheim also noted that a cameo for reporter Clark Kent appears in the script leading to speculation if Warner would go with Tom Welling (Smallville) or Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) for the wink to the greater DC Universe.

“There were rumors that Tom Welling would have a cameo in Batman Begins as a young Clark Kent, to meet up with a young Bruce Wayne,” Guggenheim said. “But you have to be careful when you do things like that, because it sounds great in concept, but when you sit down to watch it, it poses the danger of pulling you out of the film.”

He refused to talk about the current rumor of Ryan Gosling being eyed to play test pilot Hal Jordan.

Sci Fi Finally Green Lights ‘Caprica’

  • News
  • December 2, 2008

In an overdue announcement, Sci Fi Channel has formally picked up Caprica as an ongoing series.  The show, a prequel to Battlestar Galactica, will star Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson and Polly Walker in a story set fifty years prior to BSG.

Variety describes Caprica as a “Family-drama-themed series will focus on the Earthlike planet of Caprica as two rival families deal with, among other topical issues, the broader implications of their society’s emerging artificial intelligence technology sector.”

Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, along with Remi Aubuchon (24) will executive produce as they have on BSG. Caprica‘s pilot was co-written by Aubuchon and Moore and directed by Jeffrey Reiner (Friday Night Lights).

A promo for the series can be found at the Sci Fi website with a “Coming Soon” despite the trades saying it won’t air before 2010. Production will begin in the summer of 2009 while BSG will begin airing its final ten episodes in January.

"Battlestar Galactica was absolutely our flagship show. It put us on the map and helped transform the perception of the network," Sci Fi president Dave Howe told Variety. "We want people to come to this who have never heard of Battlestar Galactica. I think, because (Galactica‘s) backdrop was space and spaceships, there was a barrier to entry for some viewers. Caprica has none of that. It’s an intense family drama set on an Earthlike planet, in the near future, speaking to a lot of the ethical dilemmas that we as a human race are going to have to face very shortly." (more…)

International Animation Award Nominees Named

  • News
  • December 2, 2008

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations for its 36th Annual Annie Awards, recognizing the year’s best animated features, TV productions, commercials, video games and short subjects and a host of individual achievements.  DreamWorks Animation leads the way with a total of 27 feature nods, including 17 for Kung Fu Panda, followed by Walt Disney Animation Studios, which received 9 nominations, and Pixar with 8. 

Nickelodeon leads the way with 12 television nominations. 

The Annie Awards will be handed out at a ceremony on Friday, January 30, 2009, at UCLA’s Royce Hall in LA. 

http://www.annieawards.org

Animated Feature

Bolt – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Kung Fu Panda – DreamWorks Animation
$9.99 – Sherman Pictures/Lama Films
Wall-E – Pixar Animation Studios
Waltz With Bashir – Sony Pictures Classics/Bridgit Folman, Les Films D’ici, Razor Films

Animated Home Entertainment Production

Batman: Gotham Knight – Warner Bros. Animation
Christmas Is Here Again – Easy To Dream Entertainment
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Justice League: The New Frontier – Warner Bros. Animation
The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning – DisneyToon Studios (more…)

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