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By Josh Wigler

Not only have there been plenty of new comic book film adaptations announced recently -- see our report on Mark Millar's "American Jesus" -- but animated adaptations have been particularly popular. We've already heard the news about "Green Lantern: First Flight" and "Superman/Batman: Public Enemies," but why should DC Comics have all the fun?

Enter "Firebreather," an all-new animated project based on the creator-owned comic book from Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn. SlashFilm reports that the site received an anonymous tip that an animated version of the comic book is on its way to Cartoon Network with "Aeon Flux" veteran Peter Chung attached to direct. Read more...

Tags firebreather

Yesterday, we brought you an update on the recent deal between Marvel Entertainment and game developer Gazillion that offered up some exclusive details regarding the types of Marvel-based games we can expect from the deal and when we can expect to see them hit shelves. But that wasn't all we learned from my conversation with Simon Phillips, Marvel's president of worldwide consumer products.

While my chat with the Marvel exec offered up a lot of information about the gaming-side particulars of the deal, Phillips also addressed some of the issues likely to be foremost on the minds of Splash Page readers -- namely, the role of Marvel's upcoming movies and stable of comic book writers in the long-awaited "Marvel Universe" multiplayer online game.

"Marvel is all about the synergy between each of the different areas we're involved in -- from the comics to the movies to the animation to the merchandising, all of them work together," Phillips told MTV News. "And the ['Marvel Universe' game] is going to play off all of that." Read more...

Tags marvel universe mmo (game), simon phillips

By Josh Wigler

It's one of those "good news, bad news" type of days for "Wanted" writer Mark Millar. Hot on the heels of his report that his "Superman" movie trilogy is "not happening" comes word that another of Millar's comic books will get the big-screen treatment.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mark Millar will reunite with "Kick-Ass" director Matthew Vaughn for "American Jesus," based on Millar's comic book property of the same name. Vaughn is reportedly looking to this film as his next directing vehicle to start this summer. Read more...

Tags american jesus, mark millar, matthew vaughn

Not to be outdone by Monday's exclusive "Astro Boy" poster preview, an image from Imagi Studio's other ambitious anime-to-CGI feature film, "Gatchaman," has made its way to the Web.

Based on the 1970s anime "Science Team Gatchaman" ("Battle of the Planets" in North America), "Gatchaman" is takes place in a future dealing with environmental and technological issues and follows five super-powered teens in bird-themed uniforms as they protect Earth from alien invaders.

The new one-sheet poster, featuring second-in-command Joe Asakura (known as Jason in BOTP) and an unspecified 2010 release date, appeared on a Japanese Gatchaman blog after the Tokyo International Anime Fair. (Check out the full poster and more "Gatchaman" images after the jump.) Read more...

Tags Battle of the Planets, Gatchaman, Paul Dini

Nicolas Cage has played a lot of heroes in his varied film carrier. From doctors to detectives to demons, the 45-year-old actor knows a thing or two about fighting for the common good, especially given his roles in comic films "Ghost Rider" and the upcoming "Kick-Ass."

MTV News wanted to find out if the "Knowing" star would be interested in lending his talents to a decidedly darker kind of character -- namely, a costumed villain in Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise.

"I would love to play a supervillain. I think that would be a whole lot of fun," Cage told MTV News, welcoming an invite to take on the Batman. "Yeah. If they call and invite me, I'd do it. Certainly." Read more...

Tags batman begins, christopher nolan, ghost rider, kick ass, nicolas cage, the dark knight

By Josh Wigler

When it comes to "Superman," Mark Millar himself has been a Man of Steel of sorts -- but he's not invincible (though some would call him "Kick-Ass"). No, Millar's resemblance to metal stems from his stalwart desire to write a trilogy of "Superman" films as part of Warner Bros' planned reboot of the "Superman" movie franchise.

Unfortunately for Millar and his fans, it looks like the Scottish scribe won't be flying up, up and away with Kal-El anytime soon. In a recent post on his message board, Millar wrote that the WB's "Superman" plans "seem to be in stasis right now." Read more...

Tags mark millar, superman

When it comes to adapting anything associated with horror master H.P. Lovecraft, the first name to pop into your mind probably isn't Ron Howard. Nevertheless, that's who's interested in tackling Image Comics' graphic novel "The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft," which is set to hit shelves this April.

According to Variety, Universal and Imagine Entertainment have bought the rights to the novel, and are planning it as a potential director's vehicle for Howard.

The graphic novel is best described as a fictional biography of Lovecraft, as it borrows elements of his real life, such as his family's history of mental illness and his own writer's block, but has him encounter a book that puts a curse on him. His darkest nightmares come to life, and the evils of his imagination are set loose upon the world. As their creator, he's the only one who can fight the horrors he's created. Read more...

Tags hp lovecraft, ron howard, the strange adventures of hp lovecraft

Clark Kent hasn't demonstrated too many weaknesses over eight seasons on the CW television series "Smallville." Mostly, it's been Kryptonite causing headaches for the young Superman. However, Zatanna's guest appearance on tonight's episode, "Hex," might prove that magic and beautiful women are just as painful as irradiated rocks when it comes to the Man of Steel.

Played by actress Serinda Swan, Zatanna comes to the show in search of her father Zatarra's spell book so that she can summon up his spirit. Along the way, she switches Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan into each other's bodies, grants Clark's deepest wish and chains Green Arrow to a post -- all with mixed results. Read more...

Tags Serinda Swan, smallville, Zatanna

By Jeff Sneider

2009 is shaping up to be another banner year for "Knocked Up" star Seth Rogen. In addition to voicing a wisecracking blue blob named B.O.B. in the DreamWorks' 3-D animated film "Monsters vs. Aliens," Rogen is scheduled to “Observe and Report” for director Jody Hill in April and, well... be a funny person in Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” this July.

But the movie he’s currently buzzing about is "The Green Hornet," which Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) will now direct for Columbia after Stephen Chow ("Kung Fu Hustle") exited the director's chair. Despite the switch, Rogen told MTV News that Chow is still very much involved with the project, although he has still not officially signed on to play Brit Reid’s sidekick, Kato. Read more...

Tags green hornet (character), seth rogen, the green hornet (movie)

By Josh Wigler

Today's announcement about the new Ridley Scott "Robin Hood" film got us thinking around Splash Page HQ -- what the heck ever happened to the "Green Arrow" movie?!

While DC pushes ahead with "Green Lantern" and "Jonah Hex" adaptations, there's still no official word on "Super Max," the supervillain prison caper featuring DC's Emerald Archer, Oliver Queen. And what about some of the other comic book sharpshooters that have either had mild box office success or stayed out of theaters entirely? Is there a big-screen bullseye in their futures?

From bows and arrows to rifles and handguns, here's a list of our favorite marksmen heroes in the comics world... and some of the deadliest snipers known to the paneled page. Read more...

Tags bullseye, deadshot, green arrow, hawkeye, punisher, tulip