To handle international properties for worldwide distribution, Sony has created the Intl. Product Expansion Group according to Variety.

Tony Ishizuka will serve as Vice President of the unit. T. Paul Miller, senior VP of international for home entertainment said the “goal is to recoup its investment in each project in the country in which it was produced or acquired. The unit will then assess each title’s prospects for distribution on home entertainment in other markets.”

A deal has already been signed with Japan’s Madhouse which will involve the previously announced deal to produce Easternized versions of Marvel’s heroes. The shows will be broadcast in Japan on the Animax TV network and then be handled worldwide by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Originally designed as animated fare, the long-range plans call for the Marvel Japanese Universe to be found on mobile devices and comic books.

The first characters to undergo transformation will be Iron Man and Wolverine in thirty-minute anime intended for Japanese television in 2010.

Madhouse was founded in 1972 and is seen as a creative powerhouse in Asia, perhaps best known for its Vampire Hunter D.

Ardden Entertainment announced The Stand-In, a new title to be written by Jim Krueger (Avengers/Invaders). Described as a four-issue spy thriller mini-series, the project twill be illustrated by Alex Cal (The Amazing Spider-Man Family).

The new title will chronicle the adventures of Dexter Laumb, a talented but troubled and out-of-work actor who’s desperate for money.  When he’s offered a job to "stand in" for a low level Senator who has double-booked two events for the same evening, Dexter is excited by the prospective paycheck and thinks the job will be a breeze.  Hair dye and make-up transform Laumb into a virtual double of Senator Joe Murphy.  However, he soon realizes that he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he’s partnered with one of the Senator’s senior aides, beautiful but acid-tongued Jennifer Forsythe.  The two quietly go at it like cats and dogs while Dexter acts the part of the Senator, schmoozing and boozing as necessary.  However, when a bullet rips through Dexter’s shoulder and the crowd scatters, he soon finds himself on the run with Jennifer, attempting to unravel the truth behind the assassination attempt, and finding himself in the middle of a conspiracy with earth-shattering consequences…

Brendan Deneen, Ardden’s co-publisher, said in a release, "It is a huge honor to be working with one of the most successful comic book writers currently working in the medium.  I’ve known Jim for years and we’ve been trying to find something to work on together that whole time.  The Stand-In is the perfect collaboration and I feel privileged that he’s publishing it through Ardden."

A zero issue will be released at the New York Comic-Con in February.  The issue will feature a story that takes places before the events of the miniseries.

Ardden Entertainment debuted earlier this year with a new take on Flash Gordon, written by Deenan.  Additional titles are expected to be announced between now and the convention.

Legendary Heroes, the official website for Davis-Panzer Productions has just announced the Blu-ray release of Highlander: The Series – Season 1. The first 1000 who pre-order will also receive a Duncan Katana Mini-Sword so you too can swash buckles like an immortal. The box set contains all 22 episodes and will be released in February, retailing for $39.95. All subsequent seasons are anticipated to also receive Blu-ray releases.

The company let TV Shows on DVD know that Blu-ray releases for Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess are also being planned.

All three series are only going to be available through the website and not circulated to other stores.

Halcyon Games has won the license to develop a third-person shooter videogame based on Terminator Salvation.

A release states that “the game offers players the chance to assume the role of John Connor, a soldier in the resistance, battling for survival against the far superior forces of SkyNet. Terminator Salvation – The Videogame is a third-person action game with concentrated armed combat against all of the SkyNet enemies from the film while encountering new enemies specifically designed for the game. The game was developed by GRIN Studios, published by Equity Games, co-published by Evolved Games and distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

"Terminator Salvation – The Videogame allows players to battle for survival against SkyNet enemies utilizing an incredibly fluid and realistic control set," said Cos Lazouras, President of Halcyon Games. "The player will be led through a visceral story with extremely polished production values to create a fully interactive Terminator experience."

"Building on the incredibly strong franchise, Terminator Salvation – The Videogame will be a cinematic gaming experience that complements the upcoming film," said John Quinn, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Operations, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Working with Halcyon and Equity Games, we will expand on the Terminator universe on next generation consoles with action packed gameplay and detailed environments."

Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello broke the news that Tricia Helfer will shift from Battlestar Galactica skinjob to spy when she guest stars on NBC’s delightful Chuck. She’ll play a fellow Special Agent and wind up being considered as a replacement for Special Agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski). “General Beckman — who has been growing increasingly concerned about Chuck and Sarah’s intensifying bond — considers bringing in a new G-woman to work alongside Chuck. Enter Agent Forrest, who shows no fear, no remorse and, much to Agent Casey’s delight, is very easy on the eyes.”

As the first half of the television season reaches its conclusion, lots of network shuffling has been occurring so follow along:

First, NBC has scheduled the remaining episodes of Lipstick Jungle for Friday nights on December 5 and 12, and January 2 and 9.

Where’s Crusoe? Dumped on Saturday nights, beginning December 6, and likely to be canceled when the final six episodes air.

Life on Mars, the Americanized series based on the BBC show of the same name, will be taking a break after December 11 but will return and ABC intends to order additional episodes. The show returns January 28, scheduled after Lost on Wednesday evenings.

Speaking of breaks, Smallville will take a long break as well, not coming back with new episodes until January but it will kick off its second half with the eagerly anticipated Legion story from writer Geoff Johns.
 

Since 2002, 4Kids has been programming Saturday morning fare on Fox but as the deal ends in December, the network has decided to abandon children’s programming in favor of infomercials according to Variety. 4Kids will continue to provide programming for the CW’s Saturday morning schedule under a separate deal. Some of the Fox shows will move to the CW but none were named.

4Kids had been paying Fox $20 million for the four hour block filled with animated fare based on games, toys and original properties. Two of those hours will now be returned to the local channels with the other two, 10 a.m. – noon, devoted to the paid advertising.

"These are hopefully not infomercials," said Fox Networks Group chairman Tony Vinciquerra. "These will be long-form programs that highlights their product. In that regard, it will have a little better quality." But we suspect that’s exactly what will be offered.

Saturday mornings used to feature a wide array of choices for children dating back to the 1950s but in more recent times, cable channels such as Disney and Nickelodeon siphoned away the audience so bit b bit, the network programmed less for the kids and are now closer to abandoning the once sacred hours entirely.

The deal ended after an acrimonious suit between Fox and 4Kids over money based on the percentage of affiliate stations carrying the animated shows. 4Kids contended the number fell below 90% entitling them to a $13 million refund while Fox said nothing was owed. Although 4Kids continued to provide programming, they did not pay $13 million owned between April and October. The settlement had 4Kids agree to pay $12.25 million and end the partnership now rather than next September.