The worlds of comic books and "Twilight" overlapped unexpectedly back in August when "Youngblood" director Brett Ratner mentioned a desire to see "Twilight Saga" star Robert Pattinson in the lead role for the superhero team-up movie. Now, on the eve of the "New Moon" premiere, we have another "Twilight"/"Youngblood" crossover for you.
"Youngblood" creator Rob Liefeld revealed on Twitter earlier today that "New Moon" director Chris Weitz had drafted a script in 1996 for a movie based on Badrock, one of the fan-favorite Youngblood superheroes. Describing the screenplay as a "Beavis/Butthead/South Parky take on a kid superhero," Liefeld said studio New Line balked at the film's initial budget and eventually dropped the project.
I got in touch with Liefeld to find out more info about the "Badrock" movie that never happened, how Weitz got involved and some details about the film's plot. Read more...
Rick Remender, Seth Peck and Francesco Francavilla's horror comic “Sorrow” has been optioned as a potential feature film by Twisted Pictures, the production company behind the “Saw” franchise.
Screenwriter Michael Hidalgo (“The Butcherhouse Chronicles”) is set to adapt the script, according to Shock Till You Drop. First published as a four issue miniseries in 2007 by Image Comics, “Sorrow” follows a young woman and her friends who are stranded in a literal ghost town where the spirits of the dead threaten to claim the bodies of the living.
Read more...
“Sin City 2” producer Stephen L'Heureux’s Solipsist Films has picked up the options for two more comic book adaptations: Joe Casey and Caleb Gerard’s “Full Moon Fever” and Glen Brunswick and John Romita Jr.’s “The Gray Area.”
According to Mania.com, Casey and Brunswick are both attached to adapt their respective titles.
“Full Moon Fever” was originally published as a graphic novel in 2005 by AiT/PlanetLar. The story follows an interstellar plumber—or “lunar waste disposal technician”—named Zeke Kirby who encounters a werewolf on a moon-based space station. Director Renny Harlin optioned “Full Moon Fever” a month before it was published, but the rights subsequently reverted to Casey. Read more...
Halloween season always provides reminders of the various creatures permeating popular culture, but you don't need the spook-filled holiday to raise awareness for vampires—thanks to shows like "True Blood" and the blockbuster "Twilight" franchise, everybody and their grandmother are well aware of the blood-sucking menace.
What some might not be as aware of is the multitude of both terrifying and terrific vampire characters within the comic book pantheon. There are so many compelling vampires on the paneled page, in fact, that I can only list a handful of my favorites.
Check out five of my personal favorite comic book vampires, then check back in with us in the comments for some of yours! Read more...
The film rights for Das Petrou and John Watkiss’ original graphic novel “Ring of Roses” have been picked up by Spice Factory and Persistent Entertainment.
According to Variety, Jason Piette and Michael L. Cowan of Spice Factory and Matthew Rhodes and Aaron Cruze of Persistent are on board to produce the film.
Originally published in 2005 by Image Comics, “Ring of Roses” takes place in an alternate world in which England is ruled by the iron hand of the church. Following the horrific murders of six high-powered priests; an ambitious lawyer and a hardened criminal are tasked to uncover the conspiracy behind the events amidst a lethal outbreak of the bubonic plague. Read more...
Longtime Sam Raimi collaborator and "Spider-Man" cameo aficionado Bruce Campbell is said to have a "meaty role" in "Spider-Man 4," but whether that means he'll play one of the film's villains or just have a larger guest stint is unclear at the moment.
Right now, Splash Page readers have the opportunity to weigh in on who Campbell should play in the fourth "Spider-Man" movie, but the brainstorming doesn't end there!
Campbell—an absolute superstar in the geek genre thanks to the "Evil Dead" franchise, "Bubba Ho-Tep" and more—would be great in a variety of comic book roles outside of "Spider-Man 4," don't you think? Read more...
As longtime readers know, we've been closely following the ups and downs of a potential adaptation of Brian Bendis' graphic novel "Torso" for quite a while now. The crime drama follows a post-Untouchables Eliot Ness as he investigates the one of the nation's first serial killers, and at one point in the project's move to the big screen, David Fincher was attached to direct with Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Rachel McAdams tagged for lead roles.
While the project initially attracted significant buzz, Paramount let its rights to the adaptation expire back in January, leaving many people—including Bendis himself—uncertain if it had a future in Hollywood. However, just like any good comic book character, the project isn't staying dead for very long, and Bendis revealed during a recent visit to Splash Page HQ that the "Torso" movie has found momentum once again.
"A week ago I had final, but this weekend, not so much with the final," said Bendis when I asked if he had a "final word" on the project's status. Read more...
Earlier this year, there seemed to be some big news on the feature-film adaptation of Josh Howard’s “Dead@17,” as the comic’s creator revealed that “Superman Returns” and “X2: X-Men United” screenwriter Mike Dougherty would be writing the script.
But before the tale of Nara Kilday can be reborn, it seems, it has to be killed much like its heroine.
“That’s so early in development,” shrugged off Dougherty—whose stock is soaring these days now that he’s made his directorial debut with last week’s flying-off-the-shelves DVD release of “Trick ‘r Treat." “There’s just nothing to talk about right now.” Read more...
Say what you will about the live-action movie, but HBO's late-'90s animated series "Todd McFarlane's Spawn" was one of the most faithful adaptations of a comic book to ever hit the screen. Taking full advantage of the network's restriction-free environment, the 18-episode series managed to offer the same violence, sex and dark, adult-oriented tone that made McFarlane's "Spawn" comic such a success.
And now the Emmy-winning series could be headed back to television.
I spoke to McFarlane about his recent announcement that the "Spawn" animated series could be returning to production in 2010, and got the lowdown on why next year could be a big one for the popular Hellspawn, and what form his big comeback could take if it happens. Read more...
Longtime artistic collaborators Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner recently weighed in with their preferred actress to portray the lead character in “The Pro,” a proposed live-action adaptation of their 2002 graphic novel with writer Garth Ennis.
“The Pro”—a comedy which follows the misadventures of a prostitute who gains superpowers and reluctantly joins a superteam—has been in development as a potential animated series for several years. While a “killer demo” has reportedly been produced, the series itself has not found a home.
Over on his blog, Palmiotti revealed that the creative team is now considering “The Pro” as a potential live-action project. He also had a surprising casting choice for the lead character. Read more...
