"Astro Boy," based on the long-standing manga and anime series of the same name, rockets into theaters this weekend with an impressive voice cast that includes Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell and Nicolas Cage.
While the animated adaptation already has connections to the comic book world by its very nature, several members of the film's cast have their own ties to the paneled page outside of "Astro Boy"—just check out the following five actors to see their connections to other comic book and superhero-related projects! Read more...
As "Astro Boy" prepares to lift-off into theaters this weekend, the many cast and crew members of the film are making the press rounds to discuss the upcoming manga adaptation's plot and thematic elements.
In an interview with Comic Book Resources, director David Bowers described the basic set-up for the plot of "Astro Boy," which is essentially an origin story focusing on the relationship between a scientist named Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage) and his son Toby, who is tragically killed — paving the way for Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) to enter the scene.
"Astro Boy is created and given Toby's memories," said Bowers of the plot. "When Astro comes back, he really is [much] the same kid, so I don't think you feel as though there's a horrible loss even though there has been." Read more...
From "Fanboys" to "Heroes," actress Kristen Bell has already made quite the dent on popular culture and geekdom without ever starring in a comic book film -- though all of that is about to change.
Bell lends her voice talent to "Astro Boy," the upcoming 3-D animated movie from Imagi Studios based on the popular manga series. In the film, Bell voices a human role opposite the titular robot hero, but she nonetheless insists that her character can hold her own. Read more...
Cinematical got their hands on an exclusive first look at the new theatrical poster and a whole mess of photos for the upcoming film, "Fanboys," and from the looks of things, the much-delayed film is dipping into every conceivable geek reservoir it can find.
The film tells the story of a group of, well, fanboys, who prior to the release of "Star Wars: Episode I," decide to break into George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch to steal a copy of the film to show to a friend who's dying of cancer. While the premise of the film is a bit dated by now (and can you imagine "Episode I" being the last movie you ever see?!), it does promise to have Kristin Bell in a Slave Leia costume, so take that for what it's worth.
After the jump, check out the poster in full. And maybe it's just us, but we think it's implying something about us fanboys skills with the ladies... Read more...
Two months ago, Australian artist Josh McMahon created fan art for his hypothetical “Batman 3,” casting “Veronica Mars” starlet Kristen Bell in the role of the Joker's accomplice, Harley Quinn. The images soon spread like wildfire across the internet.
(Ah, those carefree days of “Batman 3” rumors. Remember when we thought anything could be real? Before we talked to David Goyer and confirmed it was all “B.S”?)
Bell admitted to MTV’s Kim Stolz that she hasn’t yet seen the image. But man oh man, is she honored to be thought of.
”Jeez. Thank you,” she enthused from a weekend red carpet. “That’s awesome.” As it turns out, McMahon might have hit on something with his hypothetical cast. No, not a real casting announcement – but a real fan. Read more...
The computer-animated feature film based on one of the most popular anime/manga properties in the known universe, "Astro Boy," finally has a North American release date: October 23, 2009.
Summit Entertainment and Imagi Studios made the announcement yesterday evening, stating that the CG-driven film will appear on approximately 3000 screens and be accompanied by the standard fare of toy and fast-food merchandising. This marks the most prominent push the character has received in North America thus far, despite being widely recognized as the property that first brought attention to anime-style animation back in the 1960s. "Astro Boy" was so popular, in fact, that Japan named the character the nation's "envoy for overseas safety" back in November 2007.
The CG-driven film will feature the voices of Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Kristin Bell, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy and Eugene Levy, among other prominent names, with Freddie Highmore providing the voice of the film's hero. Read more...
Variety reports this morning that Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars") has been cast as the lead female role (possibly for the part of Uran, Astro Boy's sister, although no character was mentioned in the release) in Warner Bros.' upcoming CG-animated "Astro Boy" film, due to hit theaters next year. Bell joins a cast already brimming with huge names, including Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Eugene Levy and several others.
"Astro Boy" -- originally a manga created by the "Godfather of Manga," Osamu Tezuka, follows the story of a Japanese scientist who creates a robot boy with incredible powers to replace his dead son. Unable to live up to his creator's expectations, Astro Boy sets out on an adventure of redemption in the hopes of reconciling with his inventor.
Excited about "Astro Boy" making the jump to the bog screen in this CG-animated film? Let us know in the comments.
