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Ever since new "Spider-Man" director Mark Webb opened up to MTV News about his appreciation for "Ultimate Spider-Man" less than 48 hours before getting the gig, fans have been wondering just how influential Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley's work could be on the future of the film franchise.

Well, Bendis added fuel to the speculation this afternoon when he posted on Twitter, "Just spent a very interesting morning at Sony with the entire spidey movie team!! Very very cool stuff!!"

Even though the writer's message doesn't necessarily spell out an "Ultimate" adaptation, Bendis' role in shaping Marvel's "Iron Man" and the upcoming "Thor" (along with Hollywood adaptations of his creator-owned content) certainly adds weight to the notion that his long-running series could provide source material for the big-screen "Spider-Man." Between Zac Efron's attachment to "Fire," the "Powers" television series picking up steam and his continued role as an architect of the Marvel Comics universe, it's no secret that Bendis has Hollywood's eye. Read more...

Tags brian michael bendis, Mark Webb, spider-man

By Steven Roberts

I think it’s safe to say that everyone knows one or two things about the Wu-tang Clan. First off, “The Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nothin’ to F--- Wit” — and they also happen to be some of the biggest comic book fans around.

So, when it was time for Raekwon, Ghostface and Method Man to plan the cover art for the trio's new collaborative album, “Wu-Massacre,” it should come as little surprise that they enlisted artist Chris Bachalo.

Noted for his work on “The Wheel" (a short story about the character Death, created by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman), Bachalo has drawn various characters for Marvel and the Vertigo over his career, including Death, Sandman, Captain America and the X-Men. His work on "The Wheel" was inducted into the Library of Congress in 2003. Bachalo was also one of the main illustrators for "Amazing Spider-Man" during Marvel's “Brand New Day” event. Read more...

Tags chris bachalo, wu-massacre, wu-tang clan

Remember the good old days of 2005? MySpace was taking over the Internet, Mel Gibson was unleashing R-rated tirades that weren’t in any film script — and some long-forgotten hermit named James Cameron was making public appearances, claiming he had two boundary-breaking projects on the horizon.

Well, as it turns out, he was right — and choosing “Avatar” as the first of the two films to make seems pretty damn brilliant in retrospect. But what about the other movie?

“'Avatar' was something Jim had written before, but we were about to embark on a film called ‘Battle Angel: Alita,’ and then we looked at ourselves and said ‘Wait a second, ‘Avatar’ is something that Jim always referred to as his magnum opus, and we can do it now,’” remembered the filmmaker’s producing partner, Jon Landau. “But [‘Battle Angel’] is something that Jim is very, very passionate about. It was actually brought to our attention by another filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro; Guillermo saw those things in the property that he thought would really relate to Jim, and Jim responded to it immediately.” Read more...

Tags Alita: Battle Angel, Avatar, Battle Angel Alita, James Cameron, jon landau

Jim Lee and Geoff Johns have no shortage of friends in comics, and they're likely to get a lot more now that Lee has been named co-publisher of DC Comics along with Dan DiDio, and Johns holds the title of Chief Creative Officer. Congratulatory tweets flooded the feed this morning after the press release went out, but Johns had other priorities to worry about, such as preparing donuts.

Shaun White's gold medal run in the snowboarding halfpipe event last night earned a lot of interest as well, even if Pia Guerra was more concerned with catching a picture of Stephen Colbert's taping. There's a link to her TwitPic post after the jump, where you can also find out who got into the "StarCraft 2" beta and what Kalman Andrasofszky listens to while drawing Dazzler.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for February 18, 2010. Read more...

Tags andy diggle, bill amend, geoff johns, jamal igle, jill thompson, jim lee, kalman andrasofszky, mark brooks, mike norton, Pia Guerra, Twitter Report

Back in 2008, it was announced that "Clash of the Titans" screenwriters Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay had been signed by Kickstart Productions and Columbia Pictures to adapt Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's "The Boys"; an ongoing series published by Dynamite Entertainment which follows a super-powered CIA squad tasked with watching over superheroes and keeping them in line — often in brutal fashion.

While details about the film adaption have since been scarce, Manfredi and Hay recently indicated that they have completed a script for "The Boys" and that a director is currently being sought for the project.

During an interview with Superhero Hype, Hay said "The Boys" was "a total dream project for us because we're such huge fans of the book and of Garth Ennis." Read more...

Tags garth ennis, matt manfredi, phil hay, the boys

"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock ("Super-Size Me") are reportedly teaming up for a documentary about the hub of the geek culture: San Diego Comic-Con International.

According to EOnline.com, Whedon and Spurlock are currently searching for "a still-to-be-cast group of convention-going superfans" while they develop the project.

"They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year's Comic-Con," claimed the site's anonymous source. "And then they want to film them there. They're looking at all types of people." Read more...

Tags joss whedon, morgan spurlock, san diego comic-con international

DC Entertainment announced its new executive team today, and comics fans are already very familiar with the new crew that will shape the future of Superman, Batman and the rest of the DC Universe.

Veteran creator Jim Lee was named co-publisher of DC Comics alongside former Senior Vice President and Executive Editor of DC Comics, Dan DiDio, while fan-favorite writer Geoff Johns ("Blackest Night," "Smallville") was named Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. John Rood was named Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development, and Patrick Caldon was named Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration.

All of the newly appointed members of the executive team will report directly to DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson, who announced the news this morning. Read more...

Tags dan didio, dc entertainment, geoff johns, jim lee

With the adaptation Andy Diggle and Jock's "The Losers" under his belt and the film's release once again scheduled for April, director Sylvain White is turning his attention back towards Frank Miller's "Ronin." First published in 1983 by DC Comics, "Ronin" follows a Japanese warrior reborn in a futuristic dystopia to settle an ancient feud with a demon.

While White has indicated that his "Ronin" would not be a straight adaptation of Miller's story, he appears to be willing to take the time to make sure that the comic is successfully translated for the screen.

"It's a very complex graphic novel and it needs very careful attention," White told ComingSoon.net.

Read more...

Tags frank miller, Ronin, sylvain white

As some of you following MTV Splash Page on Twitter already know, "Avatar" director James Cameron made a somewhat unexpected visit to the MTV Newsroom yesterday to discuss his record-breaking 3-D epic. Of course, while he was here, we had to follow-up with him about his "Avatar" co-producer Jon Landau's assertion that the pair had met with newly appointed "Spider-Man" director Marc Webb about Sony's plans to film the reboot using 3-D technology.

"I didn't talk to him directly," clarified Cameron. "I'm more than happy to. I'm more than happy to talk to any filmmaker who wants to author their picture in 3-D." Read more...

Tags Hot Stuff, James Cameron, Marc Webb, spider-man, Video

Let's get this out of the way right at the start, folks: I would kill for Hasbro's new, oversized (19 inches tall!) Galactus action figure. Seriously.

I want the big ol' planet-eater on my desk, and I want to be able to press the button on his chest to hear him announce to the entire MTV newsroom that HE IS GALACTUS AND HE WIELDS THE POWER COSMIC. It's a simple request, really.

And even though the giant Galactus was easily my favorite of Hasbro's Toy Fair 2010 offerings, there were a lot of other products that caught my eye from their various toy lines based on Marvel Comics characters. Along with some great new Captain America and Thor action figures, Hasbro also featured a variety of new Spider-Man figures, as well as toys based on the kid-friendly "Marvel Superhero Squad" animated series.

Heck, they even made M.O.D.O.K. look cute enough to hug. Read more...

Tags Hasbro, toy fair 2010