Author: Robert Greenberger

‘The Lone Ranger’ gets 75th Anniversary DVD Set

‘The Lone Ranger’ gets 75th Anniversary DVD Set

Among characters celebrating anniversaries this year is the Lone Ranger and to commemorate the occasion, Genius Entertainment will release The Lone Ranger – 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on November 11. Season 1 and 2 of the classic Clayton Moore/Jay Silverheels television series will be collected on 13 discs.

Extras include three bonus episodes from the 1960s Filmation animated series, a classic episode of Lassie which features The Lone Ranger, an original Lone Ranger radio show broadcast from 1950, an 88-page Commemorative Book, a complete episode guide, reprints of rare comic books and photos, and limited edition collectibles.

The cost will be $119.93 but no doubt a must have for collectors.

The character, currently controlled by Classic Media, is enjoying renewed comics popularity with Dynamite Entertainment’s series featuring art from John Cassady.

 

‘Ghost Rider 2’?

‘Ghost Rider 2’?

While promoting Bangkok Dangerous, actor Nicholas Cage told a roundtable full of reporters that he and Marvel Studios have begun talks about a sequel to 2007’s Ghost Rider. If the story goes forward, Cage indicated Hell’s bounty hunter would next be found in Europe, working with the Catholic Church. The first Ghost Rider film was written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson and made on a $110 million budget.  Worldwide, it grossed $228,738,393 while earning mostly poor reviews. It did, though, perform fairly well on home video, a determining factor these days.

But first, Cage will begin shooting Kick-Ass in Toronto in the next few weeks. "I play a guy named Damon and I’m the father of Mindy, who is Hit Girl and I’m Big Daddy and I’m training my daughter to become a super-hero."

Beyond that, the lifelong comic book fan confirmed he will do a voice role for next year’s Astro Boy CGI film.  He also lent his support to the long-stalled Sub-Mariner film which has languished at Universal Studios for over a decade. The most recent Subby news is almost two years old with the studio thern announcing director Jonathan Mostow was signed to rewrite David Self’s script and direct.
 

Guillermo del Toro Fills his Calendar

Guillermo del Toro Fills his Calendar

Director Guillermo del Toro has pacted with Universal Studios to helm four new films, three remakes — Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Slaughterhouse-Five – plus an adaptation of Dan Simmons’ novel Drood.  The director has also discussed his desires to make a film based on H.P. Lovecraft’s "At the Mountains of Madness” and there’s also the matter of Hellboy III.

These will all follow del Toro’s four year commitment to live and work in New Zealand as he mounts the two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Script work on that project has already begun with del Toro working alongside producer Peter Jackson, and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Drood, which was released by Little Brown in February, is likely to be the first of four Universal films, according to Variety. The novel posits a train accident altered author Charles Dickens’ mind, turning him into a killer which inspired his The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Del Toro has made it clear for some time now his desire to remake Frankenstein, the 1931 film that began Universal’s journey into movie monsters that became its hallmark.  "To me, Frankenstein represents the essential human question: ‘Why did my creator throw me here, unprotected, unguided, unaided and lost?’ “del Toro said.”With that one, they will have to pry it from my cold dead hands to prevent me from directing it."

He has also indicated a desire for Jekyll and Slaughterhouse to both be more faithful to the source material than previous incarnations.

"I think they’ll decide when the last euro hits the piggybank," del Toro said of Universal hedging their bets on letting him complete the Hellboy trilogy he envisioned. "We laid the groundwork to have a magnificent third act. I’d like to return to an action franchise with 60-year-old actor Ron Perlman, because he’ll be scratching at that age when I get to it."  Universal indicated they may take a viral marketing approach to better prepare audiences for the final film if the decision to go forward is made.

As a producer, del Toro is already committed to working with Mark Johnson on Hater, based on David Moody’s novel plus Crimson Peak, a gothic romance del Toro and Matthew Robbins (Mimic) cowrote.

"No one expected The Hobbit to come about; it was the most marvelous monkey wrench tossed into my life," del Toro told the trade. "I consider (the new deals) the renewal of my marital vows with Universal."

Universal production president Donna Langley said,” We came out the other side of some tough conversations with a stronger bond and sense of long-term commitment," Langley said. "Guillermo is in the most prolific time of his life … Joe Johnston on The Wolf Man showed us the importance of entrusting the Universal franchise monsters to experienced filmmakers with voices. That was a big impetus for our decision to go with Guillermo to put his creative stamp on these properties."
 

Kevin Eastman Promises New Origin for ‘TMNT’

Kevin Eastman Promises New Origin for ‘TMNT’

Kevin Eastman told Heavy Metal that there will be one more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and this will be a fresh look at their origin story.

“Yes, it is true,” Eastman told the site, which he owns. “Although the CGI film did well enough to warrant a sequel, there has been much talk between Imagi and Warners to do a better ‘re-invention’ (newest Hollywood buzzword) of the TMNT’s, in a live action film — like what was done with Batman. Back to basics, back to the origin and the intro of the Shredder, etc…there have been talks, trips to Northampton to talk to Mr. Laird, and discussions with the original ‘first’ TMNT film director Steve Barron to come back and do it right — but no official word yet…will keep you posted.”

Barron directed that first film back in 1990.  It was followed in 1991 with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. Then 1993’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III. The film series took a break and was brought back, using CGI in 2007’s TMNT.

Additionally, the comic book spawned three television series and countless merchandise items.
 

Mark Millar Wants to Write Superman Movie

Mark Millar Wants to Write Superman Movie

Mark Millar is heating up in the eyes of Hollywood in the wake of Wanted‘s success so it’s no surprise to see him interviewed all over the place, including, most recently, G4. Mark is also given to shameless self-promotion and has discussed his business dealings so the news media has repeatedly pick up on his claims and treat them us news.  As is often the case, it’s Mark shilling for himself and making noise. Such may be the case with his latest interview where he spitballed his ideas for a Superman film. 

Now, Mark has clearly indicated his desire to write a Superman movie for several years now and he’s trying to stake his claim now that Warner Bros. has essentially apologized for Superman Returns by going in a different direction, without Bryan Singer attached.

He told Blair Butler, "I’ve had this plan for like 10 years for a big three-picture Superman thing, like a Lord of the Rings epic, starting over from scratch again with a seven-hour Superman story. One to be released each year."

Until Warner Bros. issues a confirming press release, take Mark’s comments with a grain of salt.

 

‘Clone Wars’ Debuts on Cable October 3

‘Clone Wars’ Debuts on Cable October 3

The Cartoon Network has announced that the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars will debut on Friday, October 3 at 9 p.m. The first night will feature a one-hour special, kicking off the cable network’s Friday night block of new programming. The first hour that night will be offering a sneak peek at their new Secret Saturdays. The following week will be the new schedule with The Secret Saturdays (premiere episodes); Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Star Wars: The Clone Wars (premiere episodes); Ben 10: Alien Force (premiere episodes).

Lucasfilm kicked off audience anticipation for the new television series by releasing a feature film version in August. As of September 1, the film has earned a disappointing $30,672,432 along with lackluster reviews from professionals and kids alike.  The movie hasn’t wowed them overseas either, taking in just $22,500,000.

Set during the Clone Wars between Episode II and Episode III, Lucas guarantees at least 100 thirty-minute episodes will be produced. Anakin and Obi-Wan will be featured prominently in the series, and Yoda, Count Dooku, Mace Windu, Palpatine, Padme, and General Grievous are also expected to appear.  An entirely different voice cast came on board since the movie stars couldn’t necessarily commit to 100 episodes each. The series exposes the front lines of the intergalactic struggle between good and evil, The Grand Army of the Republic led by Yoda and the New Droid Army of the Separatists, respectively.

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Top Shelf Holds Major Sale

Top Shelf Holds Major Sale

Chris Staros at Top Shelf sent out the follow news regarding a sale worth sharing:

To celebrate The Surrogates movie wrapping principal photography, surviving San Diego, and all the cool new summer and fall releases, for the next ten days — thru Friday September 12th — Top Shelf is having a giant $3 graphic novel web sale. When you visit the site, you’ll find over 125 graphic novels and comics on sale — with 90 titles marked down to just $3 (!) and a slew of other key titles just slashed!

To go directly to the list of items on sale, just click here:
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

But here are a few sample sale items:

— $3 Books: Comic Book Artist, I Am Going To Be Small, Lower Regions, Regards from Serbia, That Salty Air, Alec – After the Snooter, The Mirror of Love, The King, Fox Bunny Funny, plus 90 more!

— Slashed Prices: From Hell Hardcover, Lost Girls, Blankets, Too Cool To Be Forgotten, Owly, Korgi, Super Spy, Essex County Trilogy, Incredible Change-Bots, The Surrogates, and more!

— Freebies with every order: Yearbook Stories,  The 2008 Top Shelf Sampler, and Owly & Friends!

Please note that Top Shelf now accepts PayPal (as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover — all secure), and that this sale is good for "direct market" retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices).

Tarzan Returns to the Big Screen

Tarzan Returns to the Big Screen

Tarzan is returning to the Big Screen but not as an animated musical sequel from Disney but a played-for-straight adventure from Warner Bros, and director Stephen Sommers (The Mummy). Variety reports this morning that Sommers and Stuart Beattie will be co-writing the screenplay. The duo last worked together on 2009’s G.I. Joe film for Paramount, which recently completed lensing.

Producer Jerry Weintraub has been trying to mount a new live-action version of Tarzan since 2003, working from a screenplay by John August (Shazam!) and at one point Guillermo del Toro was in talks to direct the film.

Ever since Edgar Rice Burroughs first wrote about his man raised by the apes in 1912, it has been repeatedly interpreted for serials, movies, radio, television and comic books. Burroughs penned some 23 books featuring his character in addition to creating other fantastic realms and characters including John carter, Warlord of Mars and Pellucidar.  While Johnny Weismuller’s performance informed the image in the minds of a generation or two of moviegoers, today more people probably know him from the 1999 Disney animated feature.

This will be Warner’s second go-round with the Lord of the Jungle after 1984’s underrated Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes from Hugh Hudson.  The film introduced us to actor Christopher Lambert later known for Highlander.  Warner’s television network, the CW, had a disastrous version of Tarzan in 2003.
 

MoCCA Celebrates Kim Deitch’s Career

MoCCA Celebrates Kim Deitch’s Career

We just received word that The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is opening a retrospective in honor of Kim Deitch’s distinguished career.  The exhibition will run from September 9 through December 5 at MoCCA in Manhattan.

According to a press release:

“Kim Deitch: A Retrospective will display original comics pages and other work covering the artist’s entire career to date, beginning with full-page comic strips drawn for the East Village Other in the sixties up to recent graphic novels including The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Alias the Cat, Shadowland, and Deitch’s Pictorama. The exhibit will also feature rarely seen work including elaborate preparatory drawings, hand-colored originals, animation cel set-ups and lithographs.
 

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SPACE Award Finalists Announced

SPACE Award Finalists Announced

Small press efforts are being recognized in 2009 at Canada’s SPACE show. Previously, there had been the Day Awayrd, selected and presented by Dave Sim in recognition of the work done by the late artist Gene Day.  Sim withdrew the Award for 2009 and it has been replaced with the SPACE award, with the 2007 winning team of Matt and Carol Dembicki and Tim Corrigan selecting the winner.

The finalists were just announced:

Birth by Michael S. Bracco
Blink: Barefoot in America by ONWARDStudio
Breathers 1 by Justin Madson
Clockwork Creature: Chapter One by Kyle Strahm and Wesley Craig Green
Concepcion by Rickey Gonzales
The Secret History of the Ineffables Part 1 by Craig Bogart
Lackluster World 5 by Eric Adams
The Serial Squad! by Paul E. Schultz and Jon Hodges
A Thorn in the Side by Bill Knapp