Posted 12/15/09 12:31 pm EST by Splash Page Team in Hot Stuff, Lists
As 2009 draws to a close, it's time to look back on best and brightest comics, comic book movies, comic book swag and, well — everything else that found its way into our bookshelves and longboxes this year. Over the next few days, we'll be rolling out a trio of "Best Of 2009" features, starting with today's list of the best comics in print and digital form released in '09.
Posted 12/10/09 9:53 am EST by Rick Marshall in DC Comics, Hot Stuff, News
"Green Lantern" and "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds isn't the only guy pulling double duty with some of comics most popular characters these days. Next year, "Green Lantern" movie (and former "FlashForward" television series) co-writer Marc Guggenheim will jump into the driver's seat on DC's "Action Comics" series and script the adventures of the Man of Steel himself, Superman.
With DC already announcing that its next big event will kick off in 2010 with the title "War of the Supermen," it looks to be a big year for Kal-El. I caught up with Guggenheim to get more details on his upcoming debut as the regular writer on one of the industry's longest-running series, and what he has planned for one of the world's most popular superheroes.
Posted 12/9/09 10:31 am EST by Rick Marshall in Hot Stuff, Marvel, News, Oni Press, Video
Back in October, Brian Michael Bendis joked with MTV News that the sequel to his graphic novel "Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story" (chronicling the trials and tribulations of adapting his creator-owned comics in Hollywood) should be called "Not Dead Yet" due to the on-again, off-again status of the "Torso" movie over the last decade.
And while Bendis might have been joking about the title of the book, he was serious about publishing a follow-up to the critically acclaimed book.
"Yes, I've been writing the sequel over these years," Bendis told MTV News. "There's plenty of stuff going on — even, as we've talked about, with 'Torso' itself. We're almost at the point where the behind-the-scenes of 'Torso' would be a more interesting movie than the movie." Read More...
Posted 12/8/09 4:01 pm EST by Rick Marshall in DC Comics, Hot Stuff, Marvel, News
Yesterday, we brought you an update on the "Deadpool" movie's writer and director search, straight from leading man Ryan Reynolds — and now we have the promised follow-up with the man tagged to bring both the Marvel mercenary and one of DC's most iconic characters, Green Lantern, to the big screen.
"No, there's no Deadpool suit that I've tried on," Reynolds told MTV News when asked if he's had a chance to see himself in the character's familiar red-and-black costume. However, that doesn't mean he hasn't given any thought to other aspects of Wade Wilson's solo debut.
"I've told Fox already that the only way there's ever gong to be a 'Deadpool' trailer is if Deadpool makes his own trailer," he laughed. "He needs to be talking to the movie audience ... with the movie trailer voice: 'In a world... gone mad... one man... must stand alone...'"
Posted 12/8/09 2:01 pm EST by Rick Marshall in Hot Stuff, Polls
It's that time of year when we run down our favorite projects from the world of comics and comic book movies, folks. And while that's all well and good, this year I want to make sure Splash Page readers have a say in all the "Best Of" madness, too!
Next week, we're rolling out bunches of "Best Of" lists covering our favorite books, series, films and anything else that made big waves around Splash Page HQ over the last year — and along with rolling out our own picks, we'll reveal your pick for the best comic book movie of 2009.
Was "Wolverine" the best there was at what it did (this year)? Has distance (and the rest of the year's films) made you fonder of "Watchmen"? Or was one of this year's animated movies (i.e., "Hulk Vs." or "Green Lantern: First Flight") better than anything the live-action world had to offer? Read More...
Posted 12/2/09 10:44 am EST by Eric Ditzian in DC Comics, Hot Stuff, News
Quentin Tarantino recently revealed to MTV News that in creating his band of scalp-collecting Jewish-American soldiers in "Inglourious Basterds," the writer/director relied heavily on Marvel Comics' World War II-focused series, "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos."
But Tarantino's presence at the intersection of comics and movies extends beyond his latest epic. During our interview, the filmmaker also divulged that he was once offered the chance to direct a big screen adaptation of an iconic DC Comics superhero.
"I was offered the 'Green Lantern,' " Tarantino told MTV News. "Not since it's been a script, but just like, 'Hey we own the 'Green Lantern.' Would you like it?'" Read More...
Posted 11/30/09 2:01 pm EST by Rick Marshall in DC Comics, Hot Stuff, News
Last week, we explained why "Deadpool" and "Green Lantern" actor Ryan Reynolds is one of the actors we're thankful for this year around MTV HQ. In fact, he's the actor we're most thankful for this year — and not just because he shared more details with us about the pair of upcoming, much-anticipated comic book movies he's starring in soon. (Though that was certainly an added bonus!)
After offering up some thoughts about Green Lantern's costume, Reynolds told MTV News that the scenes in which Hal Jordan isn't in costume will likely be the most memorable from the film — much like Robert Downey Jr.'s time spent out of Tony Stark's armor in "Iron Man."
"I think you walk away from this first film, and the moments that you remember and the moments that mean so much to you, not unlike 'Iron Man,' are the moments where the guy's not in the suit," said Reynolds. Read More...
Posted 11/30/09 10:02 am EST by Larry Carroll in Hot Stuff, Marvel, News
Nicolas Cage’s 2007 hit “Ghost Rider” may have made $115 million, but two years later it seems to be existing in that same state of Hollywood limbo as barely-blockbusters like “The Sum of All Fears,” “Hairspray,” or “The Italian Job” — sequel rumors pop up, but there’s some doubt whether one would cement a bigger “Bourne”-like box-office increase, or a “Tomb Raider”-esque over-anticipation of demand. And despite reports of movement on David Goyer's "Ghost Rider" sequel script, Cage says he’s the wrong person to ask these days for updates.
“You probably know more about it then I do,” laughed the veteran actor when asked about the project. “What have you read?"
Cage said he hadn’t heard anything about Goyer's sequel — which is set 10 years after the first film — and is afraid to comment on his future with the character these days. Read More...
Posted 11/23/09 1:27 pm EST by Brian Warmoth in Hot Stuff, Marvel, News, Video
Natalie Portman has a lot to look forward to in Kenneth Branagh's "Thor" film, which she's scheduled to begin production on soon as Jane Foster. Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba and Chris Hemsworth are all confirmed to be starring at her side, but Portman dropped a potential casting bombshell this weekend while promoting her new film "Brothers." "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" star Kat Dennings may have a role in "Thor" as well.
"Well I'm really excited," Portman told MTV News. "Kat Dennings is going to be in it with me and she's a good friend and an amazing actress, so I'm looking forward to that." Read More...
Posted 11/18/09 10:51 am EST by Rick Marshall in DC Comics, Hot Stuff, News, Photos
Yesterday, we told you about our visit to the new Tim Burton exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art, but just in case you haven't checked out our full photo gallery yet, you might want to do so — and this means you, comics fans. Among the many pieces of awesome art from films like "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" and "Mars Attacks!" there are also a few pieces from Burton's "Batman" films and — here's the kicker — some art from Burton's never-made "Superman Lives" movie (famously set to star Nicolas Cage).
Check out this (slightly cropped) image of Brainiac from an unfilmed "Superman Lives" scene:
Pretty great, right? Check out the full-size Brainiac image, as well as another piece of "Superman Lives" art in our Tim Burton MoMA photo gallery.
Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!