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FROM MTV MOVIES: We're as surprised as anyone that the folks behind "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" have been able to transform their epically troubled musical into a satisfying piece of Broadway entertainment. In January, as news of the show's creative and safety issues turned the then $65 million production into one of the Great White Way's most spectacular disasters, we admitted that while there were some enjoyable aspects, you were better off popping in a DVD of a Tobey Maguire "Spider-Man" flick than trekking to New York to see the musical.

What a difference a few months — and a new creative team — makes. Out went Julie Taymor, in came writers like comics vet Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and the results are just what the web-slinging wonderboy needed. We're not the only ones who feel that way. As "Turn Off the Dark" officially left its preview phase behind and opened on Tuesday, reviews have been pouring in, and many have been positive. Not all, mind you — not even close.

Continue reading 'Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark': The Reviews Are In! at Movies.MTV.com.

Tags spider-man: turn off the dark

We have Superman, Superman's girlfriend, Superman's adoptive parents, and one of Superman's greatest enemies all lined up for Zack Snyder's upcoming "Man Of Steel" reboot movie. Now we have his Kryptonian dad, too.

Variety reports that Russell Crowe is in negotiations to play Jor-El, the biological father of Superman, in the upcoming relaunch of the Warner Brothers film franchise. While the studio has yet to confirm the casting, the report indicates that an A-list actress is also being sought to play Lara, Superman's biological mother.

If the report proves true and Crowe takes on the role, he'll have big shoes to fill. Read more...

Tags Jor-El, man of steel, russell crowe, superman

With the new CG “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” set to premiere on Nickelodeon in 2012, some well-known actors have been pulled on board to voice the anthropomorphized fighting turtles. The latest is Sean Astin, perhaps best known as Samwise Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” films, who will be voicing Raphael.

The other three main characters have also been cast, with Jason Biggs of “American Pie” fame as Leonardo, Greg Cipes (Beast Boy in “Teen Titans) as Michelangelo, and longtime voice actor Rob Paulsen (“Pinky and the Brain” and “Animaniacs”) as Donatello. Ironically, Paulsen voiced Raphael in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series that ran from 1987 to 1996. Read more...

Tags teenage mutant ninja turtles

It's been a dangerous week for singer Joss Stone and "Game of Thrones" star Sean Bean. Stone was the target of an alleged murder conspiracy, while Bean reportedly survived a street attack in London. Brian Lynch and Phil Noto commented on these topics, while Dan Slott reflected on seeing Spider-Man and Bill Clinton in the same room.

Check out how that felt, along with which creator thinks he should have been invited to a "Green Lantern" screening and why Brian Michael Bendis doesn't hate DC comics after the jump.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for June 15, 2011. Read more...

Tags Adam Beechen, brian lynch, brian michael bendis, chris weston, dan slott, phil noto, scott lobdell, Twitter Report

FROM MTV MOVIES: After months and months of pre-production, including injured actors, troubles with the script, and a complete overhaul, the beleaguered Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" officially opened on the Great White Way on Tuesday night (June 14).

MTV News braved the rain and crowds at the Foxwoods Theater in the heart of midtown Manhattan to chat with the musical's production team about what the show's fits and starts have taught them along the way.

"It's just hard to do anything when you're trying to do something new and big and different," original director Julie Taymor said of the challenges. "If you are really trying something extraordinary, it's going to be difficult. And that's OK, because eventually you get there."

Continue reading 'Spider-Man' Musical Debuts After Web Of Issues at Movies.MTV.com.

Tags spider-man: turn off the dark, Video

"Green Lantern" hits theaters this weekend, bringing the adventures of ring-wielding superhero Hal Jordan to the big screen.

While many of you are probably well aware of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps, there's a good chance that the new film will be the first introduction to DC's cosmic police force for much of the audience. With that in mind, we had the stars of the film provide a brief explanation of their characters and role in the "Green Lantern" universe.

Describing Hal Jordan, Ryan Reynolds told MTV News his character is at "an all-time low" when the alien Abin Sur bestows upon him a powerful ring, inducting him into the "elite, intergalactic police force" known as the Green Lantern Corps. Read more...

Tags blake lively, green lantern, peter sarsgaard, ryan reynolds, Video

With “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” finally ready to make its official Broadway debut, composers Bono and The Edge — both from the band U2 — are opening up about some of the difficulties they’ve had getting this play to work.

Speaking with The New York Times, Bono said about the production, “If we thought it would take this long, there is not a chance on earth we’d have done it.”

Besides taking ten years and costing upwards of $70 million dollars, “Spider-Man” has been plagued with bad luck, including poor reviews and the departure of director Julie Taymor. Read more...

Tags spider-man: turn off the dark

Comic book creator gender ratios are always a hot topic in the Twittersphere when they get discussed, and Gail Simone broached the subject last night with her followers. B. Clay Moore, Jeff Parker and Lea Hernandez contributed to the debate, which you can dive into in more detail through their respective accounts.

There was another debate going on as well, however, as the Republican presidential front-runners for 2012 talked about non-comics stuff on TV. Ron Marz on his Michele Bachmann dreams, Chris Weston on "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" and Stephen Colbert on his Disney aspirations ranked atop our list of favorite posts for the morning.

I'm @brianwarmoth, and this is the Twitter Report for June 14, 2011. Read more...

Tags b. clay moore, chris weston, faith erin hicks, gail simone, jeff parker, lea hernandez, ron marz, stephen colbert, Twitter Report

We've heard from several of the "Avengers" stars recently about seeing the whole team in costume, but we're another step closer to seeing Earth's Mightiest Heroes assemble with today's debut of a new promotional image for the film.

During the Licensing Expo 2011 convention in Las Vegas, an eagle-eyed attendee snapped a photo of an image advertising the upcoming line of "Avengers" movie-licensed merchandise. And while it's not an official movie promo image, it does give us our first decent look at Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and the new costume Captain America dons in the modern era.

The photo was snapped by Twitter user theonlyesq, and shows Hulk, Captain America, Hawkeye, Thor, Black Widow, and Iron Man leaping — and smashing and flying and jump-kicking — into action. Read more...

Tags photo, the avengers

Casting announcements for "The Dark Knight Rises" have been rolling out at a steady clip the last few months, even after production officially began on the film last month. However, the latest addition to the cast of Christopher Nolan's final Batman film could be the last name added to the mix.

Actor Josh Stewart ("The Collector") has joined the cast of "The Dark Knight Rises," according to Variety. The 34-year-old actor joins the much-anticipated film's cast in an unspecified role — which is pretty much par for the course when it comes to Nolan's wildly successful Batman franchise. Read more...

Tags josh stewart, The Dark Knight Rises