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Believe it or not, the feature film based on the hits 1980s television series "The Greatest American Hero" could be grounded -- at least, that's the word according to the actor claiming to have been chosen to play schoolteacher-turned-superhero Ralph Hinkley.

In an interview with Moviehole, "Fired Up" actor Eric Christian Olsen said he had been tagged for the lead role in the feature-length adaptation of the award-winning series, but financing fell through for the film before he ever had a chance to try on his character's red super-suit.

"I went in for it right after 'Fired Up,'" said Olsen. "They were like, 'This is our guy' but they didn't have financing in place. ... I booked it -- but because the budget was so huge, they couldn't get the money." Read more...

Tags Eric Christian Olsen, greatest american hero

Free Comic Book Day is the closest thing to a holiday you're going to find in the comic book world, and with only a few weeks until it happens, one of Hollywood's biggest supporters of the comic book scene has stepped up to spread the word about FCBD to the masses.

In a special message posted on YouTube by Diamond Comics, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" star Hugh Jackman talked up the looming May 2 celebration of all things comics and encouraged viewers to get themselves -- and any kids they know -- to head out to their local comic shop for the heaps of free, illiteracy-fighting swag they'll be able to pick up. Read more...

Tags free comic book day 2009, hugh jackman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

FROM MOVIES BLOG: We always knew that Nite Owl was the most sensitive of the "Watchmen" crime-fighting team, but Patrick Wilson's newly announced crossover into the realm of comedy is really sealing the deal.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wilson is set to star in "Morning Glory," a comedy from director Roger Michell for Paramount Studios. The actor joins an all-star cast that includes Harrison Ford, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton and Jeff Goldblum.

For more on "Watchmen" star Patrick Wilson's foray into comedy with "Morning Glory," head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.

Tags morning glory, patrick wilson, watchmen

FROM MOVIES BLOG: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" hits theaters in a few months (check out today's exclusive movie standee debut), but an MTV demo of the "Revenge of the Fallen" tie-in video game offered a few more peeks at one of the movie's most eagerly anticipated additions: the massive Decepticon called "Devastator."

While the game's developer had to keep quiet on the biggest (literally) addition to the film's roster of giant robots due to how closely the game is modeled on the movie, there were a few Devastator-related bits and pieces to glean from the event (though no images, unfortunately). Production coordinator Mike Mejia took MTV News through a climactic battle with the massive Decepticon set in streets of Cairo late in the demo -- an encounter that Mejia said was pulled directly from the plot of the film.

And that wasn't all there was to learn about Devastator and (as fans of the series will be glad to hear) the Constructicons that unite to form the villain.

For the rest of this "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" game report (and what it means for the movie), head over to MoviesBlog.MTV.com.

Tags transformers, transformers 2

Discussing "Doctor Who"-related projects in any medium always presents a conundrum for me as a journalist. At the risk of offering up the understatement of the decade, I'm sort of a fan. I grew up watching Tom Baker (and then Peter Davison) play the British science-fiction hero, and it's been thrilling to see the character and his infinitely layered universe begin to receive so much attention on this side of the pond lately.

Recently, popular comics columnist Rich Johnston announced (with no small amount of pride) that he'll be serving up his own take on the the popular Time Lord in a one-shot comic published by IDW -- who will also be launching a new, ongoing "Doctor Who" comic book series around the same time. Titled "Room With A Deja View," Johnston's story involves the investigation of a murder perpetrated by "a member of a species that lives in the opposite direction to the timeline."

Sound confusing? Johnston explained his plans for the "Doctor Who" tale -- and where it falls in The Doctor's own, oft-debated timeline -- in the following interview with MTV News. Read more...

Tags doctor who, doctor who: room with a deja view, rich johnston

When "Wanted" proved to be a surprising financial success, it was clear that moviegoers wanted more. But with Mark Millar and J.G. Jones' graphic novel limited in issues, it's hard to identify source material that could be mined for a sequel. But, as we learned from "Wanted" screenwriter Chris Morgan last year, that wasn't going to hinder a return to the story's supervillain-filled world.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Evan Spiliotopoulos, co-writer of "Pooh's Heffalump Movie," has been pegged as the screenwriter for "Wanted 2." The sequel's script stems from a story idea by Morgan, previously tapped to be penning the sequel. Read more...

Tags Evan Spiliotopoulos, wanted 2

Texans have a new reason to look up in the sky next summer. The city of Metropolis' man of steel is off to Dallas for a new remake of the "It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman" musical by playwright and comics scribe Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa ("The Stand," "Marvel Knights 4") and director Kevin Moriarty.

Based on the 1966 Broadway production and subsequent 1975 ABC TV special featuring the songs of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams ("Bye Bye Birdie"), the musical is slated to run from June 18 through July 25, 2010 at the Dallas Theater Center. Aguirre-Sacasa and Moriarty acquired the rights to create a new book for the show, which means a brand new script and brand new special effects to frame Strouse and Adams' songs. (Check out a clip from the original "Superman" musical after the jump.) Read more...

Tags Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, superman, superman (musical)

Though he's all over the map this summer with April's "Fighting," July's "Public Enemies" and August's "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," actor Channing Tatum's biggest regret is missing the chance to play Cajun card player Gambit in May's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine".

Tatum, a self-professed comic book fan, holds the trench-coated mutant near and dear to his heart. According to Tatum, Gambit has always been his number-one superhero and one to which he feels a personal connection.

"Man, I was dying to play [Gambit]," Tatum told MTV News. "My dad's from Louisiana and I think I've always just gravitated towards Gambit in general. He's just cooler than anything to me." Read more...

Tags channing tatum, gambit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Think you’ve got the ingredients to be the Movie Awards Insider? Can you write and report on the coolest movie awards show of the year for MTV.com? Can you keep your cool and go on-air as part of the MTV News team? Then click here to make your case. You'll have to tell us why you should join us at the Movie Awards in 250 awesome words. Be creative. Be passionate. Be persuasive. Be you! Show us why you are the one and only person who has what it takes to be a part of the MTV Movie Awards madness.

You’ll be whisked away to L.A., join the MTV News team and report on the days leading up to the night of the big show and the star-studded after party.

Do you have the right stuff? Then ENTER NOW!

Tags mtv movie awards

It's been a quiet day on the movie side of the comics world, but the gaming scene is hopping! Bane made his debut in the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" trailer we posted earlier, and now a new video featurette on the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" game has also hit the 'Net.

Titled "Uncanny ties," the new game video features the project's developers discussing some of their favorite elements of Logan's upcoming adventure in the gaming world (which I offered my own report on back in February). They've also included quite a bit of footage featuring Wolverine brawling with Sabretooth and, in what looks to be a pretty epic match-up, taking on The Blob in (where else?) a supermarket. Read more...

Tags X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (game)