News Around the Net
Is a TV-show adaptation of Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Avon Oeming’s wonderful comic-book series Powers finally going to happen? This project has been developed for YEARS, most recently at FX, but now it seems there’s a 10-episode order from Sony Pictures TV for Playstation, whatever the heck that means. Powers is a phenomenal comic about cops in a world of super-heroes (click here for my detailed thoughts on the series) and, if done right, this could be a fantastic TV show. I hope this actually comes together.
Is the new 24 twelve-episode mini-series going to be more like seasons 1-2 of 24 (good) or seasons 3-8 of 24 (not-so-good)? Dunno. Nice to see this first trailer, though there’s not much here to get me excited, just yet:
http://youtu.be/islN8Qus7hA
We also, at last, have our first glimpse at the long-in-the-works Sin City sequel. The trailer is good but not great. Here too, I need a little more to really get me excited. I desperately want this movie to be good, but I think the time for a sequel may have passed. Crossing my fingers on this one.
Each year, when I read about Paleyfest, I am insanely jealous and wish I could go to all of the panels. Here’s a phenomenal rundown of the Parks and Recreation panel. This is required reading for fans of Parks and Rec. Lord I love that show. I can’t believe it’s survived cancellation as many times as it has, and it was just renewed for another season!
So, they’re really truly going ahead with Ghostbusters 3? Without the participation of Bill Murray? With Harold Ramis having just recently passed away? With Ivan Reitman now saying he WON’T return to direct the film? You know, for years and years I wanted this movie to happen, despite the huge risk that, so many years later, it’d be impossible to recapture the alchemy and make a film that was any good. But now I’ve really soured on the whole idea. Is it in any way conceivable that a Ghostbusters 3 could be any good? Not to me. This lengthy interview with Ivan Reitman is a fascinating look at the process behind this eons-in-development sequel, but I just think it’s a totally misguided notion.
Now, Brad Bird working to develop The Incredibles 2? That is a sequel I can get behind!!! I would love to see that come together.
I am absolutely tickled at the idea of Marvel Studios moving to a pattern in which they’d release one new movie each quarter. That is an awesome dream!
Then there’s Fox, who still owns the rights to several Marvel series, including the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. In a move that could be bold, but that to me smacks weirdly of desperation, Fox has gone ahead and announced the years-ahead release dates for several planned super-hero films: a new Wolverine film on March 3, 2017, and Fantastic Four 2 on July 14, 2017. Their first re-booted Fantastic Four film hasn’t even opened yet!! They’re not even done filming!!
On the subject of comic book adaptations, I would be delighted if this planned film version of Greg Rucka’s Queen & Country, starring Ellen Page, actually happens. Queen & Country is a phenomenal black-and-white series about a British spy, Tara Chase. Ellen Page would be great in the role. I would love to see this film.
This lengthy interview with George R. R. Martin is a fascinating read. He’s got a plan for how to stay ahead of the pace of the show (though I’m not sure he can do it!). More Game of Thrones fun at the very bottom of this post.
This article is a fascinating look back on oscar campaign for The Lord of the Rings that wound up with The Return of the King dominating the 2003 awards. This is inside baseball, but I found it interesting.
Last month, when I posted my review of the second episode of the fan-made Star Trek series, Star Trek Continues, I noted that in an incredible confluence, both that series and the longer-running Trek fan series Star Trek: Phase II were both releasing new episodes in the very same week. That was incredibly exciting but, sadly, too good to be true, as Phase II missed their planned Feb 14th release date for their latest episode, “The Holiest Thing,” and they still have not announced an updated release date. Oh well. I remain an enormous fan of Phase II and am eager for their next episode, but boy they have missed a lot of announced release dates over the years. I think they need to stop announcing release dates until their episodes are 100% completed and ready to go. I do hope we don’t have to wait too much longer for “The Holiest Thing,” as it looks great.
Meanwhile, there is yet ANOTHER exciting fan-made Star Trek project a-brewing, and that is Star Trek: Axanar. This group has plans to create a feature-length re-telling of Captain Garth (from the classic Star Trek Original Series episode “Whom Gods Destroy”)’s battle with the Klingons in the years-long Federation-Klingon War (which occurred before the events of the Original Series). To test the waters, this group has launched a kickstarter — that has already been phenomenally successful — for a “Prelude to Axanar” short-film. They’ve assembled a pretty phenomenal array of professional talent, including Richard Hatch (from both the original and the modern Battlestar Galactica), Michael Hogan (Colonel Tigh from the modern Battlestar Galactica), J.G. Hertzler (General Martok from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and Gary Graham (who will be reprising his role as Vulcan Ambassador Soval from all four seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise). This seems like a super-cool project, I am eager to see what they put together.
Here’s a trailer for John Oliver’s new show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. This will need to distinguish itself more strongly from The Daily Show to be successful, I think, but I really like John Oliver and am eager to see what he’s put together.
Will Bond 24 be a spite-based remake of Thunderball? (The article isn’t as funny as the headline, it’s just a round-up of what we know about the next Bond film, but boy did that headline make me laugh.)
Happy 20th anniversary to Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. In honor of the 20th anniversary, Mr. Mignola has picked his ten favorite pieces of Hellboy art from the past twenty years. Gorgeous stuff. I read that very first Hellboy story, all those years ago. I was hooked right away, and I’ve been following the big red guy and all of Mr. Mignola’s many Hellboy spin-offs over the years. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years! Mr. Mignola’s Hellboy universe is, for my money, the very best comic-book continuing story being published today. Those books continually top my Best Comic Books of the Year lists, and for good reason. It all started with Seed of Destruction twenty years ago. Wow.
I’ll leave you with this. AAAH I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!
http://youtu.be/xIASaUUwklk