SMALLVILLE LIKELY TO RETURN FOR 10TH AND FINAL SEASON!

The CW network president Dawn Ostroff has given every indication that she's "very optimistic" about the Superman drama coming back for a tenth season. The show was dumped to a Friday night slot this season where ratings plunged to 2.5 million viewers per episode. That number is still a lot better than The CW has had in recent years. Ostroff says she and the showrunners "haven’t even gotten to how they’re going to deal with the last episode and whether it’s a season finale or series finale. But right now, I think it’s just a season finale"

THOR BEGINS PRODUCTION!!!

"Thor" Begins Principal Photography!!!

Marvel Studios has commenced principal photography on the highly anticipated feature film "Thor" directed by Kenneth Branagh.

The epic adventure "Thor" spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

In "Thor", Chris Hemsworth portrays the title character with Tom Hiddleston in the role of Thor’s brother Loki, and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Additionally, the studio has cast Academy Award® winning actor Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Renee Russo as Frigga, Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Tadanobu Asano as Hogun, Josh Dallas as Fandral, Jaimie Alexander as Sif, Idris Elba as Heimdall, as well as Colm Feore, Kat Dennings and award-winning actor Stellan Skarsgård.

The film is slated for release in theatres domestically on May 6, 2011 via Paramount Pictures which will also release the film on a worldwide basis. The screenplay was penned by Mark Protosevich as well as Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz, and Don Payne. MarvelStudios’ President Kevin Feige will produce the film. Alan Fine, Stan Lee, David Maisel, and Marvel Studio’s Co-President, Louis D'Esposito, will executive produce.

The film joins Marvel Studios upcoming slate of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 2" on May 7th 2010, "The First Avenger: Captain America" on July 22nd 2011, and "The Avengers" on May 4th

Thanks to Darkhorizons.com

Robert Downy Jr. Exits Cowboys & Aliens!

There is little doubt that Robert Downey Jr. is a busy man, but he won’t be helping director Jon Favreau fend off invaders in Cowboys & Aliens, the LA Times’ 24 Frames reports. Downey Jr. had been set to reunite with Iron Man director Favreau on the graphic novel adaption as the main character, Zeke Jackson, but scheduling became an issue.

Everything had come together quite nicely, including the fact that Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, who had co-wrote the screenplay for Iron Man, had also written the first adaptation for Cowboys & Aliens. Alas, it was simply not to be.

For the future of Cowboys & Aliens, plot synopsis, and what RDJ might fill his time with, See below.

While Downey will be missed, DreamWorks will move along with shooting set for sometime this year and a goal of summer 2011 for release. Favreau is still on board to direct, but the search for a new hero will have to begin soon. As promised, here is the logline for Cowboys & Aliens:

In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.

Meanwhile, Downey Jr. has had a monumental resurgence of late and has kept busy, headlining two franchises, including the aforementioned Iron Man and the recently released Sherlock Holmes. Additionally, Iron Man 2 is set to release on May 7, 2010, while the upcoming Todd Phillips’ comedyDue Date will bow Nov. 5, 2010.

In other words, Downey Jr. will have a busy 2010, with or without the filming of Cowboys & Aliens, and he has yet to fill what precious little time he has…for now. Just a bit of advice though, don’t be shocked if you see a Sherlock Holmes sequel fast-tracked.

***1-15-2010 UPDATE!*** It appears that Daniel Craig is now in final negotiations to replace Robert Downey Jr****

MORE On Spider-Man 4/REBOOT!!!!

SPIDER-MAN Reboot Already Written; Film to be “Gritty, Contemporary”    

More details have arisen regarding today’s massive news that Sony would be scrapping Spider-Man 4, kicking out Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, etc., and rebooting the series.  EW reports that Sony wants “a more gritty, contemporary redo of the series,” and are focused on younger, up-and-coming directors. 

EW also reports that Sony was always aiming to reboot the series in 2012 no matter what, but they did want one last outing with Raimi, Maguire, and co.  

Variety explains that Sony must continue to actively develop theSpider-Man franchise or else the rights revert back to Disney/Marvel.  Knowing that along with their intended 2012 reboot, it should come as no surprise that James Vanderbilt’s (Zodiac) script for the new film is already written.  The story of the teenaged Peter Parker is now in preproduction with the announcement of the new director and star expected in the coming weeks.  

There’s very little hope to be found in this reboot mess, but it’s hard to muster up any enthusiasm at such a rancid business move that cynically chooses to ignore the potential for better stories in order to water down the one we already saw and enjoyed.

Thanks to collider.com

Green Lantern has a villain!

The good folks over at Heat Vision reports

that the talented Peter Sarsgaard is in negotiations to play the baddie going up against Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan in Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern.  Sarsgaard would play Dr. Hector Hammond, “the pathologist son of a senator who is seen as a disappointment in his father’s eyes. He becomes infused with psychic powers when he discovers a meteor.”  Back in October there was a rumor that Jackie Earle Haley was in talks to play the Lantern’s greatest foe, Sinestro.  However this is not the case.  Returning to the present, Sinestro may be in the first film, and have a larger presence in a later film.  The character is just too big in the Green Lantern universe to cast aside so it will be interesting to see how (or if) they’ll tie him into the movie.

For those who don’t know the character, Jordan was a test pilot who received a ring from a dying alien.  The ring bestowed Jordan with special powers and he became part of an intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.  Green Lantern is scheduled to begin shooting this March in New Orleans.  Last Friday, Blake Lively was cast as Jordan’s love interest, Carol Ferris.

Thanks to Collider.com

SPIDER-MAN 4 IS DEAD!!!!! DIRECTOR SAM RAIMI AND STAR TOBY MAGUIRE ARE OUT!

So here’s your news story of the day: Deadline is reporting that Spider-Man 4 is no more, which was confirmed by a press release Sony Pictures sent out.  The next Spider-Man movie will be a reboot with a new director, cast, working off a script by James Vanderbilt.  The point of contention on Spider-Man 4 was that Raimi said he couldn’t make Sony’s Summer 2011 release date and make a creatively rewarding film.  Deadline also reports that Maguire wasn’t upset at the decision and feels he’s made three quality Spider-Man films.  Most fans would agree with two-thirds of his assessment.  However, Maguire could move to The Shire as he was rumored to play the lead in Guillermo Del Toro’s The Hobbit (a rumor which Maguire denied, but other sources say that he’s fibbing)  As for Raimi, this could open up his move to World of Warcraft or Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day.

Of course, I believe the news of Spider-Man 4’s collapse is a bummer for fans of the franchise.  Raimi won’t have a chance to redeem himself from the third film, and reboots are so overdone, and in the case of Spider-Man, completely unnecessary.  The first film came out in 2002 and Spider-Man 3, for all its faults, in no way killed the franchise.  We do not need a refresher.  There’s also a lot of blatant (and expected) spinning in the press release.  The one that stings the most is Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, saying, ” We have always believed that story comes first,” This casts aspersions on Raimi’s ability as a storyteller, they’re going back to a story they’ve already told, and I think even without Deadline’s report, it was clear that this was motivated more by release date than by story.

Hit the jump to read the press release and its poor argument for moving the character backwards instead of forwards.

Here is the full press release  from Sony Pictures:

Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012.

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.

“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter’s roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.

“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade.This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”

“Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”

The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.

My two cents: Here's is a perfect example of a studio headed in the wrong direction! Spider-Man came out in 2002 and does NOT require a re-boot. With this said however, the geek in me is excited that this provides an opportunity for Sony & Marvel to get things right this time out! Such as the webshooters!! Gwen Stacy as Peter's first love Etc.

What are your thoughts about a Spidey reboot?

Thanks to Deadline & Collider.com

More Spider-Man 4 News!!!

Spider-Man 4 has a number of things still up in the air, including the recent delay of shooting and who will be the villain(s) in the upcoming Sam Raimi superhero flick. Today, things got a bit clearer, asJohn Malkovich talked with “Quelli Che il Calcio,” an Italian soccer TV show, about his involvement in the film.

Badtatse.it reports that while Malkovich did not deny he would play the role of the Vulture, he did confirm that he was waiting for the script. Malkovich added that he hoped filming would begin soon.

This all but confirms that the Vulture is the film's main villain. While the clip itself is still being sought, this news certainlyconfirms that Malkovich will be involved Spider-Man 4. We can only assume that the hot rumor of Malkovich as the Vulture is all but set in stone.

However, what isn’t clear is what this means for the other potential villains in the film. Recent casting rumors had pegged Anne Hathaway in the role of the Black Cat (Felicia Hardy). That was, until we were all thrown a curve-ball withnews that Hathaway would actually be playing a new character: “The Vultress" which would clearly DEVIATE from the comics as every self respecting spider-fan knows that Felicia Hardy is "The Black Cat!"  This is  a HORRIBLE direction for the Spider franchise to take. The success of Marvel's films have been based soley on the fact that they stay true to the source material.  I am already pissed at Spider-Man 3's take on having the Sandman be Uncle Ben's killer!

With the confirmation that Malkovich is in the film, “The Vultress” becomes a scary possibility, though still a small one. Would Raimi, who had taken a mountainous amount of heat for Spider-Man 3, be willing to take a risk?

At this point, it is anyone’s guess, just like it is anyone’s guess when the film will actually begin. What we do know, though, is that Malkovich is involved, and that certainly gives Spider-Man fans some hope for Spider-Man 4.

Again thanks to the folks at collider.com