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Marvel
Entertainment
Marvel
Heroes Omega - Official Announce Trailer 
News ‘Ant-Man’
moves to July 17, 2015; ‘Superman/Batman’ shifts to 2016 Guardians
of the Galaxy: official synopsis Disney
Announces New Marvel Entertainment Films for 2016 and 2017 
Websites Graphic
Novel Collection Marvel Entertainment Profiles Marvel
Entertainment Marvel
Studios Comics
Superheroes
Art Creative
Arts News SDCC
Recap & Top 5 Marvel Comics! - The Watcher Ep 28 Disney
Sets Another Untitled Marvel Entertainment - Marvel Comics themed movie for 2016 Marvel
75th Anniversary: Stan Lee Interview (multimedia) 
Disney
Will Rule the World in 2015 - 25th June 2013 Fightin
Fanboys: WWE Fightin'
Fanboys: WrestleMania 29 - 4th April 2013 Marvel
movies: Amazing Spider-Man, Thor 2, The Avengers et al boost popularity of Marvel
slot games Marvel
Entertainment and DC Comics / Warner Bros. Hollywood movie news Robert
Downey wants USD 100 million for 'The Avengers' sequel Marvel
Entertainment: Marvel Heroes Facebook game saves the mobile world with launch
of Avengers Alliance Dave
Bautista signs on for Marvel Entertainment's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' - 14th
March 2013 The
fighting champion joins Chris Pratt in the sci-fi adventure being directed by
James Gunn Mixed
martial artist and WWE based professional wrestler Dave Bautista has inked his
deal to play Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Studios’
sci-fi adventure movie being directed by James Gunn. 'Bautista
has been in the running for the part since late last year, competing with actors
such as Isaiah Mustafa, Patrick Wade and Jason Momoa. Momoa was tipped as the
man for the gig in February by online geek bloggers, who got it wrong. Bautista
now becomes the second actor after Chris Pratt to join the project, which has
connections to The Avengers and will also connect to other Marvel movies - which
usually means better pay days and merchansiding deals for those involved with
the project. Galaxy
centers on Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Pratt), a U.S. pilot who ends up in space in
the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons
who have something everyone wants, according to the plot description. Drax
is a human resurrected as a green warrior for the sole purpose of killing Thanos
(the villain in the final-scene tease of Avengers). His powers include flight,
super-strength and energy blasts.
The
movie’s lineup will also include Groot, a giant tree-man; Star-Lord, a gun-toting
half-human/half-alien intergalactic vigilante; Rocket Raccoon, a genetically engineered
animal with a knack for guns and explosives; and Gamora, the last survivor of
her species, who was saved by Thanos to be his assassin but now battles him. While
Bautista has been wrestling for more than a decade, it’s only in the last
couple of years that he’s been pile-driving his way into acting. Last year,
he appeared in The Man With the Iron Fists playing a villain named Brass Body,
and he will be seen squaring off against Vin Diesel in Riddick, which opens Sept.
6. Bautista is
repped by Gersh and Jonathan Meisner Management. Websites Marvel.com Marvel
Entertainment - Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians
of the Galaxy Facebook WWE
- Batista website News Marvel
Entertainment Movies: Amazing Spider-Man, Thor 2, The Avengers Et Al Boost Popularity
Of Marvel Slot Games... The
Media Man agency reports that Marvel
themed online slot games across the network, and featured at partner PartyCasino,
are boosting the popularity of the superhero themed online slot games. Bwin.Party
currently offers The Incredible Hulk, Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man and Fantastic
Four, with more expected to soon hit the popular gaming and entertainment website
destination.
News
Official
Marvel's The Avengers Blu-ray and DVD Announcement Press
Release (U.S)... Coming
this fall, the third highest-grossing movie of all time and the #1 movie in the
world, “Marvel’s The Avengers” assembles as you’ve never seen
it before on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand platforms
on September 25, 2012. In anticipation of this release, Marvel is also launching
an all-new App in July - “The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen
App” (available for the first time on iPhone) – that gives fans unprecedented
access to exclusive content building up to the home entertainment release. The
announcement comes as “Marvel’s The Avengers” crossed the incredible
$600 million domestic box office threshold on June 26 – only the third film
in history to do so. It has now grossed an estimated $1.44 billion globally. Providing
viewers with the ultimate in-home experience, the premium 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo
Pack provides 5-unique ways to enjoy “Marvel’s The Avengers” (on
Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy and Digital Download of “Avengers
Assembled” Music from and inspired by the film) and brings to life the Super
Hero team-up of a lifetime in a whole new dimension on Blu-ray hi-def with stunning
visual effects, superior sound and unparalleled bonus content. Extras
include a gag reel, a first for a Marvel Studios film, the chance to hear from
the cast and Joss Whedon on their experiences in bringing these larger than life
characters to the big screen, a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking visual
effects and stunning cinematography, the creation of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Helicarrier,
Soundgarden’s “Live to Rise” Music Video, deleted scenes and more! Also
for the first time ever, fans will be able to enjoy even more of the Marvel Universe
via the all-new “The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App.”
By downloading this onto a secondary device, consumers will be able to gain unprecedented
access to exclusive content building up to the home entertainment release on September
25. Pieces will be unleashed bi-weekly in July & August and weekly in September
leading up to a full immersive experience accompanying the film on Blu-ray. Content
includes special access to the S.H.I.E.L.D. database, becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D.
agent, invitations to “special missions” either remotely or in the field,
links to character profiles, stories and scenes, interactive Marvel digital reader
comic books and more. App owners will receive push notifications whenever new
content is uploaded and available for their viewing. The
suggested retail price for “Marvel's The Avengers” is: 4-Disc Blu-ray
Combo Pack = $49.99 U.S./$59.99 Canada; 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack =$39.99 U.S./$46.99
Canada; 1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada. And for Digital & On-Demand
platforms, please check with your television provider or favorite digital retailer
for pricing. Source:
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
June 29, 2012 News EPIX
Celebrates Superheroes and the Legendary Stan Lee With Marvel Heroes Weekend April
27-29 - Hosted by Stan Lee Marvel
Entertainment, Marvel Studios, Marvel Comics and true believers... here's some
excelsior news you've been waiting for. The
Marvel Heroes Weekend is coming up in late April, so mark it down. The
comics world has been buzzing about this - from Bondi Beach, Sydney, to Hollywood,
to manga crazy Japan and all points in between... EPIX
Celebrates Superheroes and the Legendary Stan Lee With Marvel Heroes Weekend April
27-29
--Hosted by Lee, Event Features World Television Premieres of Captain
America: The First Avenger & EPIX Original Documentary With Great Power: The
Stan Lee Story --National Free Preview Makes Marvel Heroes Weekend Available to
Subscribers of Affiliated Partners... NEW
YORK, March 19, 2012 - EPIX, the multiplatform premium entertainment service,
will present Marvel Heroes Weekend, April 27 - 29, a marathon of superhero movies
including Iron Man 2, Thor, the world television premiere of Captain America:
The First Avenger and the EPIX Original Documentary With Great Power: The Stan
Lee Story. Hosted by legendary comic book creator Stan Lee, the marathon also
includes EPIX Extra: Mighty Movie Superheroes, examining the origins and fan following
of the mighty team. The weekend celebration of Marvel's famed superheroes and
their creator features the movies that have led up to the highly anticipated theatrical
release of The Avengers on May 4. The
EPIX Original Documentary With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story follows the life
and creations of Stan Lee, the co-creator of Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk,
X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and over 200 other characters that can be found
in Marvel comic books, on movie screens and in retail stores around the world. "These
action-packed superhero films are some of the most highly viewed titles among
EPIX audiences across all platforms," said EPIX CEO and President Mark Greenberg.
"We're excited to give fans more access than ever before to the mastermind
behind it all, Stan Lee." Marvel
Heroes Weekend is part of a free preview of EPIX for all subscribers of affiliate
partners, which will also showcase Hollywood blockbusters Transformers: Dark of
the Moon, Rango, Conan the Barbarian, True Grit, The Lincoln Lawyer and more,
along with EPIX original comedy and music events Lewis Black: In God We Rust,
Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell and Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball.
Over 30 million homes nationwide will have access to the free preview, including
over 150 titles available On Demand and more than 3000 movie titles available
online at EpixHD.com and through EPIX apps. *please
note: Australian residents may not be able to access all functionality from EPIX.
If you have any issues please contact EPIX technical support. The
weekend event and free preview will be supported by television, print, online
and out of home advertising and a national contest hosted by EPIX which will send
winners to the Hollywood premiere of The Avengers. For more information or to
enter, visit the EPIX Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EpixHD. Additionally,
EPIX has partnered with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment for Avengers-themed
sweepstakes promoted across Ryan Seacrest's nationally syndicated radio shows
and website and across several local Clear Channel stations in the top 10 media
markets. EPIX
is the first all screen network, available anytime, anywhere, on any screen. Studio:
Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM About
EPIX delivers instant access to thousands of Hollywood Blockbusters Plot
Outline WHAT
IS EPIX?
EPIX, a joint venture between Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate, is a
next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service
launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures
spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a
powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online
and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing
its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original
series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand
and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies. EPIX has
made the commitment to deliver the industry’s most expansive online collection
of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service
is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners
including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications,
NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS. That's
it fans. Stay tuned to Media Man and Street Corner for more entertainment news
and scoops daily. News Marvel
Entertainment and Marvel Studios news: Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America
- movies, games and auction - 8th March 2012 Ultimate
Spider-Man Premieres at SXSW... "Ultimate
Spider-Man," premiering April 1 on Disney XD as part of the Marvel Universe
block, is the super hero show everyone’s talking about--and you can experience
the world premiere at South By Southwest Interactive Festival! At the historic
Marvel: House of Ideas, panel Sunday, March 11 at 1 p.m. on the IGN stage at the
Palmer Events Center, Jeph Loeb (EVP/Head of Marvel Television) will debut the
entire first episode of "Ultimate Spider-Man" for fans in attendance.
This can’t-miss panel also features the unveiling of Marvel’s bold new
multimedia plans that includes the announcement of Marvel's revolutionary new
ways to read comics, courtesy of Axel Alonso (Marvel Comics Editor in Chief) and
Peter Phillips (SVP & GM, Marvel Digital Media Group). Don’t forget,
this event is free and open to the public, so fans of all ages can be in attendance
for the first look at the series that will redefine super hero animation--and
the announcements that will change how you see comics!
“We’ve
heard that Austin has some of the best Marvel fans in the world and we couldn’t
imagine a better ‘thank you’ for their support than the world premiere
of 'Ultimate Spider-Man' which comes to Disney XD on April 1,” said Loeb.
“Working with top writers and talent, we’ve produced an animated series
that brings Spider-Man to life like you’ve never seen him before. They say
they do it up big in Texas--and we can’t wait for the smiles on the crowd’s
faces when they get the first look at Ultimate Spidey in action!”
Once the Marvel: House of Ideas panel concludes, fans in attendance will receive
a limited edition Marvel lithograph (while supplies last) and a chance to have
it signed by Loeb and Alonso in a special Marvel signing session.
Stay
tuned to www.marvel.com and www.sxswscreenburn.com for more details on the Marvel:
House of Ideas panel and Marvel’s plans for SXSW. Marvel
Studios presents 'Marvel Avengers Assemble' trailer... It's
one of the most popular movie trailers on YouTube. Thus far it's attracted over
15,377,000 views via Marvel UK YouTube. Marvel's The Avengers Trailer 2 has so
far snatched over 666,000 views. Marvel
Studios presents 'Marvel Avengers Assemble' the Super Hero team up of a lifetime,
featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain
America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens
global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping
agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world
back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort
begins. Starring
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel
Avengers Assemble” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series
“The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever
since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular
special effects, when “Marvel Avengers Assemble" hits UK cinemas on
April 26 and Australian fans can expect it on the big screen around the same time
this year. In
“Marvel Avengers Assemble” superheroes team up to pull the world back
from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security. You've
got themes such as loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a rural England and
Europe during the First World War. If you liked 'Captain America: The First Avenger',
you are going to love this. Cast:
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson
'AVENGERS' MEMORABILIA: Capt. America's Shield, Thor's Hammer ... FOR SALE!!!
Marvel
fans rejoice -- 221 of the coolest, awesomest “Captain America”, “Thor”
and “Iron Man” props are hitting the auction block ... and they can
all be YOURS ... if you got a 6-figure bank account. The
auction -- run by a group called Profiles in History with help from Marvel Studios
-- is set to kick off online April 14th ... and in-person at the Chicago Comic
& Entertainment Expo. Among
the ridiculously expensive collectibles (with their starting bids) -- --
The full Mark II “Autopsy” Suit from "Iron Man 2" ... $60,000
-- Chris Evans' complete Captain America Suit ... $20,000
-- Steve Rogers’
Hero Motorcycle (Harley Davidson) ... $12,000
-- Thor’s Hammer ... $4,000
-- Captain America Stunt Shield ... $3,000
... And hundreds of other pricey
gadgets, props, and costumes from the movies. AVENGERS
ASSEMBLE ... your life savings. Avengers
Jewellery Released In Japan; Likely To Get Worldwide Distribution... While
nearly two months remain until Marvel's The Avengers hits theaters, as we approach
the anticipated May 4th release date, more marketing and licensing deals unveil.
The latest comes via Colantotte, a "top" jeweler brand in Japan, whose
known for their upscale magnetic jewelry. Using full promo images from The Avengers,
previously seen, on their official site, new character bios, and products developed
for the movie, check it out! You
may recall when filming was underway in Cleveland, Ohio, which is doubling for
New York City in the film, one of the many false storefronts built had a "Colantotte"
sign atop it. So it seems, similar to the Dr. Pepper truck being blown to bits,
the Colantotte store's inclusion is yet another case of cleaver product placement. The
store's screentime in the film reportedly depicts Japanese store owners running
out of the building, and looking up frightened by the mystery aliens' "mothership."
Anyhow, check the source link to visit and explore the Colantotte site, and their
products! “Marvel’s
The Avengers” Promo Marvel
Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The
Avengers”--the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel
super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and
Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and
security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as
S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the
brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring
Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, & directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay
by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular
Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and
a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie,
packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The
Avengers” assemble on May 4, 2012. The film is distributed by Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures. In addition to "Marvel's The Avengers," Marvel
Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including
"Iron Man 3" on May 3, 2013!; and “Thor 2” on November 15,
2013. New
Marvel Films Boost Popularity Of Marvel Entertainment Themed Online Games The
Australian arm of the Media Man publicity and internet publishing agency is reporting
that the new and upcoming Marvel hero themed movies (Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man,
Ghost Rider and Wolverine) has boosted the popularity of Marvel slot games at
world's leading online casino brand, PartyCasino,
as seen across the Media Man network. The casino gaming brand is owned and operated
by bwin.party digital entertainment, the world's leading igaming company, which
is even listed on the London Stock Exchange. Impressive and even Excelsior! The
Media Man agency has reviewed the games for the fanboy (or) fangirl in all of
us.
'Chronicle's' Josh Trank looks to spit some Venom...
With
Sony’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” looking to kick-start a Spidey
resurgence this summer, the studio is taking a crack at another character associated
with the superhero: Venom. The
studio is negotiating with Josh Trank, the hot director of this winter’s
found-footage hit "Chronicle," to take the reins of the Spidey spin-off,
said a person familiar with the project who was not authorized to talk about it
publicly. Sony was not immediately available for comment. The
film would center on the gooey villain who was a mainstay of the Marvel comics
and was a nemesis, incarnated by Topher Grace, in the third “Spider-Man”
picture in 2007. (The character attaches himself to a human host and becomes as
powerful as the web-slinging superhero.) A
Venom film has been long-gestating at the studio, dating back at least to 2008
and preceding plans for this summer's Marc Webb-Andrew Garfield take on the character.
Gary Ross negotiated to direct a Venom film back in 2009 but moved on to other
projects, including the upcoming “Hunger Games.” Jacob
Estes (“The Details”) wrote a draft of a “Venom” script several
years ago, but producers are seeking a new writer, said the source. (The Ross
version was to craft Venom as less a villain than an antihero.) The film also
would be seeking a new actor; Grace is not expected to reprise the role. With
"Venom," the 27-year-old Trank would not only return to superhero territory
but would also bring a flair for shoe-leather storytelling that resonates with
audiences: Despite an absence of stars as well as a modest budget, “Chronicle”
has grossed more than $60 million since coming out last month. (Credit: LA Times)
Spider-Man ride reopening at Universal Orlando...
ORLANDO,
Fla. - As Universal Orlando theme park prepares to open a new and technologically
eye-popping version of its iconic 3-D Spider-Man ride this week, creator Stan
Lee says it's sort of a fluke that the costumed web-slinger ever came into existence
at all. Lee was
a writer and editor at Marvel Comics in the early 1960s when he went to his publisher
with a new idea: A superhero with the abilities of a fly or some other insect
to crawl on walls and flit from place to place. Oh, and the character's alter-ego,
Peter Parker, would be a shy, orphaned teenager with all sorts of adolescent problems
and anxieties. "My
publisher said to me, `Stan, that is the worst idea I have ever heard,"'
the 89-year-old Lee recalled in a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home
this week. "First of all, people hate spiders so you can't call a hero Spider-Man.
Secondly, a hero can't be a teenager. Teenagers
are only sidekicks. And three, superheroes don't have problems -- they're superheroes!" Lee,
who had already dreamed up the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and other popular Marvel
beings, worked up a Spider-Man story with artist Steve Ditko -- "just to
get it out of my system," he says -- and put the new character on the cover
of the last ever issue of a 12-cent magazine called "Amazing Fantasy." "It
sold like crazy," Lee says of the August 1962 comic. Spider-Man was well
on his way to becoming the flagship of the Marvel Comics universe, star of TV
shows, major motion pictures and more lately, a famously elaborate Broadway musical.
Spidey's general appearance has changed little through the years, although Peter
Parker has been allowed to grow up into a young man.
That brings us to the
updated version of the Universal 3-D dark ride, "The Amazing Adventures of
Spider-Man," which reopens Thursday. It quickly gained popularity among theme
park fans after debuting in 1999 but has only had minor tweaks since. Lately it
had slipped into the also-ran category of Universal rides with the 2010 opening
of the immensely popular Harry Potter attraction in another corner of Islands
of Adventure. The
ride, which combines motion vehicles, a towering screen and special effects, was
reanimated in digital high-definition 3-D and got updated sets, sound system,
lighting and music. Universal says the clearer, brighter animation allowed the
addition of loads of new details and high-tech gimmicks to the ride, in which
the wise-cracking web-slinger battles villains Doctor Octopus, Scream, Electro,
Hydro-Man and the Hobgoblin. "We
saw an opportunity to make it ready for a whole new generation of fans, and this
was a perfect time to do so," said Mark Woodbury, president for Universal
Creative, the park's design and development group. "The technology was available
to us, (and) we saw the opportunity to create something really unique -- more
immersive, more detailed, more visual." As
Lee has done in some of the movies based on his characters, he steps into the
ride for a cameo. He said he's not surprised at the enduring draw of his most
famous creation, but he's quick to distribute the credit for Spidey's longevity. "The
people who are doing the stories after I stopped, and the people who are doing
the cartoons and the rides and the motion pictures are doing such a fantastically
wonderful job that the public seems to have a renewed interest in Spider-Man every
time (something new) comes out," he said. Interestingly
enough, Universal rival Disney bought the Marvel empire in 2009 for more than
$4 billion, but a licensing agreement keeps the Spider-Man ride firmly in Universal's
clutches at the Florida theme park. Universal
opens another 3-D ride, based on the animated "Despicable Me" movie,
this summer featuring similar 3-D technology. It will be on the other property
at the Orlando park, called Universal Studios, which requires a separate admission.
(Credit: AP) Why
Paramount Studios Gets 'Avengers' Credit; Not Disney!... Knowing
Disney wanted to turn 'The Avengers' into a franchise and bank on the success
of 'Iron Man' after buying Marvel for $4 billion dollars, Paramount's top brass
negotiated a deal in which it continues to collect 8% of the B.O. as part of fees
it would have earned for distribbing the picture, as it did with the two 'Iron
Man' pics, 'Thor' and 'Captain America.'" To a point: Whenever 'The Avengers'
is discussed, it's Disney that's managing the superheroes, with the studio bringing
the pic's thesps to its D23 Expo, in Anaheim, California.
'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' is in the money...
Movie
website portal Box Office Mojo reports Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance earned
at least $9.7 million this weekend, though data remains somewhat incomplete at
this moment. Based on the information that is available, the movie has earned
a total of $58 million overseas so far.
The Wolverine (2013)
I
won’t lie to you, I have been talking to writers… I’m a big fan
of the Japanese saga in the comic book. Hugh Jackman. In September 2009, Gavin
Hood speculated that there will be a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which
will be set in Japan. During one of the post credits scenes Logan is seen drinking
at a bar in Japan. Such a location was the subject of Claremont and Miller's series,
which was not in the first film as Jackman felt "what we need to do is establish
who [Logan] is and find out how he became Wolverine". Jackman stated the
Claremont-Miller series is his favorite Wolverine story. Of the Japanese arc,
Jackman also stated that:“..there are so many areas of that Japanese story,
I love the idea of this kind of anarchic character, the outsider, being in this
world – I can see it aesthetically, too – full of honor and tradition
and customs and someone who’s really anti-all of that, and trying to negotiate
his way. The idea of the samurai, too – and the tradition there. It’s
really great. In the comic book he gets his ass kicked by a couple of samurai
– not even mutants. He’s shocked by that at first.” Jackman added
that another Wolverine film would be a follow-up rather than continuing on from
X-Men: The Last Stand. The inclusion of Deadpool and Gambit also leads to the
possibilities of their own spin-offs. Before Wolverine's release, Lauren Shuler
Donner approached Simon Beaufoy to write the script, but he did not feel confident
enough to commit. On May 5, 2009, just four days after its initial weekend run,
the sequel was officially confirmed. A Deadpool spin-off has also been confirmed
with Ryan Reynolds attached to reprise the role of Wade Wilson, but producer Shuler
Donner stated that she wants to "ignore the version of Deadpool that we saw
in Wolverine and just start over again. Reboot it." Christopher McQuarrie,
who went uncredited for his work on X-Men, was hired to write the screenplay for
the Wolverine sequel in August 2009. According to Lauren Shuler-Donner, the sequel
will focus on the relationship between Wolverine and Mariko, the daughter of a
Japanese crime lord, and what happens to him in Japan. Wolverine will have a different
fighting style due to Mariko's father having "this stick-like weapon. There'll
be samurai, ninja, katana blades, different forms of martial arts – mano-a-mano,
extreme fighting." She continued: "We want to make it authentic so I
think it's very likely we'll be shooting in Japan. I think it's likely the characters
will speak English rather than Japanese with subtitles." In January 2010,
at the People's Choice Awards, Jackman stated that the film will start shooting
sometime in 2011, and in March 2010 McQuarrie declared that the screenplay was
finished for production to start in January the following year. In October 2010,
it was confirmed that Darren Aronofsky would direct the film. Jackman commented
that with Darren Aronofsky directing that Wolverine 2 will not be "usual"
stating, "This is, hopefully for me, going to be out of the box. It’s
going to be the best one, I hope... Well, I would say that, but I really do feel
that, and I feel this is going to be very different. This is Wolverine. This is
not Popeye. He’s kind of dark... But, you know, this is a change of pace.
Chris McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has written the script, so that’ll
give you a good clue. [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s
going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as
you leave the theater, for sure”. Bryan Singer was invited by Shuler Donner
to direct, but declined. In November 2010, Aronofsky stated that the title of
the film will be The Wolverine and described the film as a "one-off"
rather than a sequel. Also in November, Fox Filmed Entertainment sent out a press
release stating that they have signed Darren Aronofsky and his production company
Protozoa Pictures to a new two-year, overall deal. Under the deal, Protozoa will
develop and produce films for both 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Aronofsky’s debut picture under the pact will be The Wolverine. It had been
reported that the film would begin principal photography in March 2011 in New
York City before the production moves to Japan for the bulk of shooting. In March
2011, Darren Aronofsky bowed out of directing the film, saying the project would
keep him out of the country for too long. In a joint statement with Fox, Aronofsky
stated, "As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it
became clear that the production of The Wolverine would keep me out of the country
for almost a year... I was not comfortable being away from my family for that
length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it
is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend,
Hugh Jackman, again". Fox also decided to be "in no rush" to start
the production due to the damage incurred in Japan by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake
and tsunami. In June 16, 2011 James Mangold was chosen to direct the film, having
previously been on a shortlist which included directors José Padilha, Doug
Liman, Antoine Fuqua, Mark Romanek, Justin Lin, and Gavin O'Connor. On June 27,
Jackman said in an interview that filming for The Wolverine would start in October.
Silver Samurai will be the film's villain. In September 2011, filming was postponed
to Spring 2012 so Jackman can work on Les Misérables. Location include
both Vancouver and Tokyo, with Mark Bomback working on a rewrite of McQuarrie's
script. A July 26, 2013 release date has been set. If
it sounds like 2012 is going to be a pretty good year for superhero movies, both
on an entertainment front (for fans) and business angle (for studios etc), that's
because it is. Enjoy brigadiers, and as Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say
- Excelsior!
News
Marvel
Entertainment Movies: Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, The Wolverine and Ghost Rider
- February 2012
Hollywood
is continuing its lover affair with superhero themes, movie revamps and the like,
and Australian fans are lapping it up with the superhero jackpot bonanza.
This
year we're looking at a bush tucker bag of sequels, prequels, remakes... you name
it. The Hollywood studios will be pumping out their best efforts in order to make
as much money as they can muster, and who can blame them. Entertainment
kingpin Marvel Entertainment are going to be spinning out their “The Amazing
Spider-Man”, hitting us hard with "The Avengers", "Ghost Rider"
is about to ride into "Sin City" Sydney, Australia, and then there's
Australia's favorite son, Hugh Jackman back in "The Wolverine". The
Warner Bros. - DC Comics tag-team is going to attempt to combat that Marvel onslaught
with the next instalment of Batman - "The Dark Knight Rises", but most
tipsters are picking Marvel to win the movie superhero fight over DC Comics this
year, but time will tell. Here’s
a peek at some of this year’s coming attractions...(US dates) Nicolas
Cage provides a winter warm-up with “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”
(Feb. 17), returning as the bounty hunter from hell on a mission to rescue a child
from the devil. “The
Avengers” (May 4), teaming Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth
as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Incredible Hulk,
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. Next
is “The Amazing Spider-Man” (July 3), with Andrew Garfield taking over
as Peter Parker in director Marc Webb’s new take on how a mutant spider bite
turns a teen into a web-slinging hero. Christian
Bale returns as Batman in “The Dark Knight Rises” (July 20), director
Christopher Nolan’s third and final tale of the well to do vigilante with
all the cool gadgets. Anne Hathaway joins the cast as Catwoman. After
the late Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance as the Joker in
“The Dark Knight,” Nolan went with a lesser-known villain: This time,
it’s Bane (Tom Hardy), known to comic-book fans as the brute who breaks Batman’s
back and puts him in a wheelchair. The
Avengers are assembling... Disney
released more stills from its superhero superteam movie reving up fans who are
eagerly awaiting the answers to the age-old question, who would win in a fight
between The Incredible Hulk and The Mighty Thor. The
first image shows Captain America (Chris Evans) in full updated costume and shield,
flanked by Avengers teammates Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett
Joahnsson), the three heroes walking as if they mean business. The second still
is slightly less dramatic, simply showing Thor (Chris Hemsworth) gripping a conference
room chair, pondering heavy thoughts next to S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson (Clark
Gregg). "When
you walk out of your trailer and you bump into Chris Hemsworth with the cape on
and you see Downey in the Iron Man suit and that’s when you really get excited
and you start geeking out a bit,” Evans told The News last year from the
film's New Mexico set. Fans
are already starting to geek out, more than two months before the film's May 4
(U.S) release date. The
Marvel Studios movie, which is directed by fanboy favorite Joss Whedon, unites
three franchises (Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and The Hulk) within an even
bigger franchise that’s expected to be one of the biggest box office hits
of all time. Avengers
News cont... Marvel
Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The
Avengers”--the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel
super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and
Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and
security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as
S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the
brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring
Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay
by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular
Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and
a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie,
packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The
Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. Marvel
Release Dates Updated (U.S) In
addition to "Marvel's The Avengers," Marvel Studios will release a slate
of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 3" on May
3, 2013; and "Thor 2" on November 15, 2013.
Andrew Garfield as Spiderman Featured in an Avengers (English, 2012) Cameo...
Mumbai,
Feb 13, 2012 - A few days ago we reported the rampant Internet rumor that Andrew
Garfield’s Spiderman would be featured in an Avengers cameo. All of this
was built off a statement made by actress Jenny Agutter who has a small role in
the Whedon production. Well, we’ve stumbled across another source who confirms
Spider mans cameo in Avengers. “This
will be similar to how Wolverine made a quick cameo in X-Men: First Class and
Sony’s going to make sure to promote their new Spiderman movie any way they
can. Andrew (Garfield) isn’t a widely known actor so they want to get his
face on everything, including The Avengers even if it’s for a couple seconds.” This
is an absolute multiple bonanza for the superhero fans. Starring
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson,
and written and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers”
is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,”
first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. “Marvel’s
The Avengers” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount
Pictures. The film is being produced by Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige
and executive produced by Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito,
Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The film is distributed
by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The
movie is to release in India on 27th April, 2011.
The Wolverine Gets Release Date...
It
is official, a sequel to that 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie will be coming
to a theatre near you on or around July 26th 2013 (depends if your in the U.S,
Australia or elsewhere). After months of production delays, including replacing
Darren Aranofsky as director, that cigar smoking, 'bub' saying, furry Canadian
Logan will once again rip things up. The film sequel is running with the title:
The Wolverine and will take Logan to Japan where he finds a forbidden romance
and the Silver Samurai to deal with. Hugh Jackman has already praised the script
as being "one of the best we've ever had." This is good news for those
fans and critics who felt the first Wolverine movie offering could have been better.
We trust that director James Mangold and Hugh Jackman deliver on this to keep
both Marvel hardcore and casual fans happy. What the critics will think is anyone's
guess, but as a few stars have noted - movies are made for fans (not critics).
'Ghost Rider' movie controversy; Red hot back story...
The
new "Ghost Rider" movie's ticket sales are not very strong, but the
controversy raging in the comic-book community is like a mega fireball. The
story begins back in 1972, when the flaming motercyclist was created at Marvel
Comics by writer Mike Friedrich, editor Roy Thomas and artist Mike Ploog. Comics
creators in those days - and often today - don't own anything they create for
the major publishing houses, because of a contract called "work for hire."
But when the first "Ghost Rider" movie came out in 2007, Friedrich sued
Marvel for partial ownership of the character on a technicality - which would
result in a windfall from the movie. He
desperately needed the money. Friedrich, now 69, is unemployed, broke and suffering
from liver problems. He has been getting through the days by selling autographed
"Ghost Rider" items at conventions as a paid guest, which according
to documents amounted to a total of $17,000. But
ownership of trademark and copyright isn't something that comics publishers take
lightly. Both of the major comic publishers (ala Marvel and DC Comics) make more
income from licensing their library of characters than they do selling comic books.
Here's the thing: According to U.S. law, failure to defend a trademark can lead
to losing it. So
Marvel - and parent company Disney - went after the lawsuit, including a countersuit
demanding the $17,000. They were victorious. In December, the court threw out
Friedrich's suit and ordered him to pay Marvel. Also, his future income was constrained,
in that he can sign and sell only "Ghost Rider" material that he buys
retail. The
creative and fan community responded with fury. Blogs across the Internet excoriated
Marvel, or started petitions for the $17,000 to be forgiven. Steve Niles, creator
of "30 Days of Night," led a charge on Twitter and set up a Facebook
page for contributions (www.steveniles.com/gary.html). Creators such as Gail Simone
("Batgirl") and Jill Thompson ("Scary Godmother") tweeted
encouragement. Longtime creators'-rights champion Neal Adams was one of many who
auctioned original art, with proceeds going to Friedrich. As
you might expect, there were calls to boycott the new film, "Ghost Rider:
Spirit of Vengeance." That might have contributed to the film's disappointing
third-place finish on its opening weekend in the U.S, with $22 million at the
U.S box office. If
the movie did well, it would still be overshadowed by the back story - comics
creators and fans rising up like a tidal wave to help one of their own. What
a red hot and real superhero story. Check
out the "Support Gary Friedrich" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/supportgaryfriedrich)
for more.
Marvel Comics and Movies Alive And Well At Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment...
Marvel
superhero fans - great news... more superhero themed online games rumoured to
be soon hitting PartyCasino.
Stay tuned to the Media Man network for
more on that. If
it sounds like 2012 is going to be a pretty good year for superhero movies, both
on an entertainment front (for fans) and business angle (for studios etc), that's
because it is. Enjoy brigadiers, and as Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say
- Excelsior! News Marvel
Entertainment News: Thor 2 director Patty Jenkins Fired; Natalie Portman furious
- 21st December 2011 From
Sydney, Australia to Tokyo, Japan, to Hollywood, California in the U.S, most of
the world loves superheros, and Disney's Marvel Entertainment are widely regarded
as the leaders of the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Frank Miller of 'Sin City'
fame and a bush tucker bag of others following. One
of the things a studio always tries to do with big name actors who are starring
in their big budget films is to keep them happy. But it looks like Marvel Studios
will be working overtime in that department as Natalie Portman is reportedly furious
at the studio over the firing of Patty Jenkins. Last
week, it was reported that Patty Jenkins was no longer directing ‘Thor 2’
due to “creative differences.” It seemed like it was an amicable split
as it was suggested that Jenkins would probably have another chance to direct
a superhero film for Marvel, it just wouldn’t be ‘Thor 2.’ Now
a report from THR is indicating that Jenkins was actually fired without any warning
and Natalie Portman is none too happy about it. Portman
was said to be instrumental in the hiring of Jenkins in the first place and strongly
urged Marvel to employ her. Prior to this happening, she was considering taking
a hiatus from acting to raise her baby boy who was just born last June. Portman
decided to return in the role of Jane Foster for ‘Thor 2’ once she heard
of Jenkins’ involvement. That and the idea of being part of a project that
involved having the first female director at the helm of a big budget superhero
movie appealed to her. So it was no wonder that Portman was livid at the studio
when the firing occurred. Even though Portman is contractually obligated to film
the movie, Marvel is said to be trying to smooth things over with the actress
by including her in the discussions to find a replacement director. What’s
interesting to note, however, is the behind the scene details that THR was able
to obtain as to why Jenkins was fired. According to a source near to the production,
Marvel felt that Jenkins wasn’t moving assertively enough and didn’t
think she could complete the film in time for its November 2013 release date.
They felt that she displayed “a lack of overall clarity in her choices”
which led them to believe that the filming process would be “difficult.”
Keep in mind, however, that although Don Payne had written a script before Jenkins
came onboard, Marvel wanted a rewrite so there was no official script in place
for Jenkins to be decisive about. This
seems to coincide with what an insider from Jenkins’ side says. This person,
however, blames the “lack of overall clarity” issue on Marvel’s
part. Although initially excited about hiring Jenkins, mainly based on Portman’s
enthusiasm, when the studio started to interview writers for a script rewrite,
it was then that they began to second guess their decision and have misgivings
about hiring Jenkins. “Marvel had certain things they needed to achieve,”
says another source. “There were constraints on what she could do creatively.”
Jenkins official statement of the situation is as follows: “I have had a
great time working at Marvel. We parted on very good terms, and I look forward
to working with them again.” Rumor
has it that Marvel is now considering hiring either Daniel Minahan (who has directed
on ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘True Blood) or Alan Taylor (who has directed
on ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Mad Men). Once a decision is made, we’ll
let you know. But one thing is for certain, whatever the decision, it will still
have to get the approval of Natalie Portman.
The Avengers full superhero line up revealed...
Marvel
Studios have just released the first set of international posters for the highly
anticipated superhero flick, The Avengers. Although The Avengers isn't due until
May 2012, its publicity campaign has already began. Featuring
an all star cast including Scarlett Johansson (as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow),
Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark / Iron Man), Chris Evans (Steven Rogers / Captain
America) and Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner) The
film also stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton / Hawkeye),
Tom Hiddleston (Loki - Thor's brother), Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury) and Stellan
Skarsgard (Professor Erik Slevig). The Avengers, a superhero team that join forces
to defeat an unexpected enemy that is threatening global safety and security.
Chris Hemsworth Sad To See ‘Thor’ Director Kenneth Brannagh Not Returning
For 'Thor 2'...
In
a recent L.A. Times interview actor Chris Hemsworth talked about ‘Thor 2'
and director Kenneth Brannagh’s exit from the film. Regarding
Brannagh not directing ‘Thor 2' Hemsworth said, “I’m really disappointed.
Ken built that character, and everything I know about the Thor world I learned
while shoulder-to-shoulder with Ken. I learned so much from him. As long as he’s
happy that’s the thing. I
learned so much from Ken while we built [Thor] so at least I had that time with
someone like that. The start of anything creative is the most important period
in a way. That’s when the most can go wrong and Ken made sure we got it right.” By
all accounts, Marvel was very happy with the results of ‘Thor’ at the
box office. It has grossed $447 million worldwide. ‘Thor 2' was immediately
greenlit and given a July 2013 release date. So, it seems the acclaimed director
was not ready to jump right back in with a visual effects heavy sequel. He is
instead getting back to acting on the British television series ‘Wallander’. As
Marvel works on the script for ‘Thor 2' as well as finding a director, Hemsworth
is in New Mexico filming Marvel and director Joss Whedon’s ‘The Avengers’.
The big ensemble film brings together many of Marvel’s biggest superheroes.
‘Avengers’ is set for a May 4, 2012 release date.
'Avengers' Movie Prelude Coming To Comics...
Marvel
Studios has done a fantastic job building up to "The Avengers" with
efforts like "Iron Man," "Thor" and "Captain America:
The First Avenger" on the big-screen. And if you thought the House of Ideas
would neglect a non-movie approach to what's surely their all-time biggest cinematic
endeavor, think again. Over
at Marvel.com comes news that an official "Avengers" movie prelude is
on its way in comic book form, courtesy of writers Chris Yost and Eric Pearson
and artists Luke Ross, Daniel HDR and Geral Parel. Keep on reading for more details
on the comic from the good folks at Marvel. Marvel
Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The
Avengers”--the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel
super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and
Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and
security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as
S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the
brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. Starring
Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson,
Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay
by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular
Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and
a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie,
packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The
Avengers” assemble in summer 2012. The film is distributed by Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures. In
addition to "Marvel's The Avengers," Marvel Studios will release a slate
of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 3" on May
3, 2013; and “Thor 2” on November 15, 2013. "Marvel's
The Avengers Prelude" #1 and #2, which kicks off a four-issue limited series,
launches in March 2012. Keep an eye out, true believers.
Joe Simon dies at 98; co-creator of Captain America...
Joe
Simon and fellow comic book industry pioneer Jack Kirby created Captain America
in 1941 and went on to become 'the first superstar creators of comics.' Joe
Simon, a comic book industry pioneer whose defining career moment came in the
dark days of March 1941 when he delivered a star-spangled superhero named Captain
America, has died. He was 98. Simon
died Wednesday night in New York City after a brief illness, according to a statement
from his family, and his death adds a solemn final note to the 70th anniversary
of his greatest creation, Captain America, who leaped across the big screen this
summer with the Marvel Studios film "Captain America: The First Avenger."
The film took $369 million in worldwide box office and earned strong reviews despite
early skepticism about the 21st century pop culture potential of a Roosevelt-era
character who looks like a walking American flag. Simon
created Captain America with Jack Kirby, a key figure in American comics, and
they would work together for various publishers as comic books went from quirky
confections to American mythology. The
American superhero concept began in 1938 with Superman, the creation of Jerry
Siegel and Joe Shuster, but Simon and Kirby brought a different contribution to
the genre, not unlike the way songwriter Chuck Berry would later add more ambition
to the lyrics of the young form of rock 'n' roll. Mark Evanier, author of the
2008 Kirby biography "Kirby, King of Comics," said the signature duo
became more of a brand than the masked men they put on the covers of their comics. "Joe
Simon and Jack Kirby were the first superstar creators of comics," Evanier
said Thursday. "Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were hailed because of Superman,
but Simon and Kirby were hailed because of Simon and Kirby. They didn't just have
one or two great ideas. They were the go-to guys for the next thing in comics." The
pair had memorable creations such as the Newsboy Legion, the Fighting American,
Blue Bolt, the Boy Commandos and the Challengers of the Unknown, but it was Captain
America — a shield-carrying super-soldier created in a lab by American technology
but defined by the country's earnest patriotism and integrity — that would
resonate most. "I
was 24 when I first started creating Captain America, " Simon told the Philadelphia
Daily News in 2005. "It's been a guardian angel hanging over me my whole
life. Everywhere I went — in the service or wherever — I wasn't Joe
Simon; I was Captain America. It was like a cloud hanging over me, but a good
cloud. I loved it." He
was born Hymie Simon in Rochester, N.Y., in 1913, and as a youngster he was drawn
to journalism. Instead, he ended up in the scruffy, deadline-driven comic book
business that popped up in New York City in the 1930s. His first collaboration
with Kirby came in 1940 with a hero called Blue Bolt, but they struck gold with
Captain America — who was punching Adolf Hitler on newsstands months before
Pearl Harbor. It turned out to be a quick hit for Timely Comics, which would later
become Marvel Comics. Simon,
who was both a writer and artist, came up with the concept of the red, white and
blue character, but it was Kirby — by most appraisals the most important
comics artist ever — who created the dynamic artwork in the early issues. After
the success of "Captain America," Simon and Kirby followed opportunity
over to DC Comics, the publisher of Superman and Batman, where they worked on
titles such as "Boy Commandos" and "Sandman." Both
went into the military in 1943. On their return. they ended up at Harvey Comics
and toiled on titles including "Boy Explorers" and "Stuntman."
In 1954, the pair launched the creator-owned "Fighting American," a
clear conceptual descendant of their most noted character — a hero with a
shield and a costume Betsy Ross would love. In
the 1960s, Kirby began working with a new partner, Stan Lee, and they created
the Fantastic Four, Thor, Hulk, the X-Men, Iron Man and others. Simon
founded and edited Sick magazine, a publication that took the model of MAD magazine
and ran from 1960 to 1980. He also packaged educational and political comics for
various agencies, mostly in New York, and occasionally dipped back into the comics
world, with oddball efforts like 1968's hippie hero "Brother Power, the Geek"
and 1974's "Prez," about a teenager who becomes president. Those
comics were strange, politically informed and commercial fizzles, but they were
fascinating to readers such as Neil Gaiman, the Newbury Medal-winning author of
"The Graveyard Book" and the writer behind the DC Comics epic "The
Sandman." "What
attracted me to Simon's stories was how unlike anyone else's they were, how full
of life," Gaiman wrote in 2010 in a foreword to "The Simon & Kirby
Superheroes" collection from Titan Books. "He created strange villains,
part cartoon, part caricature, part embodiment of whatever he wished to talk about.
While the trends in comics were toward realism in writing, Joe Simon marched in
the other direction, creating his own reality.... The oddness of Joe Simon's work
is where it gets its power." Earlier
this year, Simon attended the premiere of the Captain America film and in the
surge of media attention he spoke often about Kirby, who died in 1994. For a younger
generation of creators — such as Ed Brubaker, who has been the award-winning
writer for Captain America for the last seven years — Simon and Kirby are
titan figures. "Joe
and Jack Kirby created Captain America at a time when the U.S. was not in World
War II yet and had to contend with pro-fascist Americans giving them death threats,"
Brubaker said Thursday. "I always think about that when I work on the book,
the origins of both the character and the comic. Those were two brave guys creating
what would be a classic character, who has definitely stood the test of time while
other 'flag-wearing' heroes haven't." Simon
is survived by two sons, three daughters and eight grandchildren. News Marvel
Legend Stan Lee On 'Captain America' And 'Amazing Spider-Man' Cameos; No 'X-Men:
First Class' - 19th May 2011 Marvel
Entertainment's The Avengers: New Mexico Connection... Marvel
Entertainment's biggest film project of all time is is now New Mexico’s biggest
film production ever as 'The Avengers' confirms its 2011 shooting locations. Thor
not only hits off the summer movie season of 2011, but it sets up events that
will culminate in the Marvel superhero team-up epic, The Avengers, the following
year. With story elements of Thor taking place in New Mexico, and the production
shooting in Santa Fe and Galisteo, it’s of little surprise to see Marvel
Studios returning once again for their biggest project ever. New
Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Marvel Studios officially announced the agreement
making The Avengers the single largest film production in the state’s history.
The current schedule has Joss Whedon’s The Avengers shooting in New Mexico
between April and September of next year, using both Albuquerque Studios and of
course, the beautiful and vast surrounding locations that so many other major
Hollywood flicks have used. The
Avengers also is set to shoot action in Michigan and New York but production will
primarily take place in New Mexico’s largest city Albuquerque. Governor
Richardson talks to local economic benefits to New Mexico: "In addition to
being our biggest production to date, The Avengers will be the most technologically
advanced and will provide cutting-edge training opportunities for our crew…
I’m announcing this as a Christmas present of sorts to the people of New
Mexico. This is a perfect example of the incredible job creation, economic impact
and global visibility this industry has brought our state over the past eight
years, and of the need to keep it moving forward." So
Marvel heroes fans, be looking out for Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth,
Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson. Thor
opens May 5, 2011; The First Avenger: Captain America hits July 22, 2011 and The
Avengers is scheduled to debut May 4, 2012. Spider-Man:
Broadway No Match For Movie; Spidy Fans Disappointed; Would Rather Play Spider-Man
Games And Play Dress Up... The
new and much talked about Spider-Man musical has another problem stuck in its
web. Sick to death of waiting for the problematic Broadway show to officially
open, critics for two mainstream news companies released early and negative reviews
of the $65 million musical, which won't officially open until February 7. Writing
for Bloomberg News, the influential financial news wire service, veteran critic
John Simon slammed the show as "an unfocused hodge-podge of story-telling,
myth-making and spectacle that comes up short in every department. A few good
songs would help, in which department the show is sorely lacking," Simon
wrote in the review late Sunday night. Like most rock stars, Bono and The Edge
haven’t a clue about writing for the theatre." The
U2 legends wrote the score for the show, which was directed by Lion King helmer
Julie Taymor. Both
Simon and Newsday's Linda Winer defended their premature reviews on the grounds
that the show was charging full ticket prices in some cases more than $200 a seat
for the performances, and that the opening date had been pushed back twice. Winer
called the show's infamous high-flying acrobatics "exciting and scary, in
a circus way" but dismissed the second act as "weak." Simon
was also impressed with the flying scenes: "An hour of anticipation for about
90 seconds of exhilaration," he wrote. Would
you believe four actors have been injured during the show's rehearsals, including
a horrible injury to lead aerialist Chris Tierney last week. Critics
almost never publish their reviews of productions before the official opening
night. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has pushed back its debut twice. The
New York Times said in a posting to its arts blog that it would not review the
show until the official opening. Media
Man loves Marvel Entertainment, Spider-Man and U2, but this project does not sound
good. Sorry guys. News Djimon
Hounsou Continues Campaign For 'Black Panther' Movie - 4th December 2010
(Credit:
MTV) As
Marvel Studios prepares for "Thor," "Captain America" and
"The Avengers," the successful comic book movie studio is undoubtedly
exploring future films starring some of their other popular superheroes. Could
Black Panther be one of them? That's certainly the hope, according to "Gladiator"
actor Djimon Hounsou. The Oscar-nominated actor previously lent his voice to an
animated "Black Panther" series, and in a recent interview with io9,
Hounsou said that his work on that show was an attempt to generate interest in
a big screen "Black Panther" film. "That
was the idea: using it as a leverage to tell a feature story," he said —
and his hopes for a "Black Panther" movie are far from over. "He's
a king, he's a man of the people, and he's very powerful — he challenges
himself throughout his kingdom, and I think that's rare when the king puts his
own life [on the line] and challenges [people] to beat him, in order to see [who's]
the best out there," the actor enthused. "He's really cool. He comes
from a world in Africa that is cool, and has all those minerals and it's very
exciting. It's just a matter of time for that to be realized." We
agree that it's just a matter of time before a "Black Panther" movie
gets off the ground, but will Hounsou be in the title role? He's certainly got
competition, as "Lost" actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje previously told
MTV News that he was working with Marvel on bringing the character to theaters.
(Credit: MTV) 
Profile
Marvel
Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) is an American entertainment company formed from
the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and Toy Biz, Inc.
A corporate
predecessor traces its origins to the May 1933 publication of Western Supernovel
Magazine. That magazine was only published for one issue before the title was
changed to Complete Western Book Magazine in July 1933.
The company's oldest character is Ka-Zar introduced in 1936. In 1939, the company
began publishing comic books as Timely Publications with Marvel Comics #1 History Ronald
Perelman's MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings group of companies bought the Marvel
Entertainment Group, the parent company of Marvel Comics, from New World Entertainment
for $82.5 million.
"It is a mini-Disney in terms of intellectual property," said Perelman.
"Disney's got much more highly recognized characters and softer characters,
whereas our characters are termed action heroes. But at Marvel we are now in the
business of the creation and marketing of characters."
Boosted by a massive merchandising effort, an increase in Marvel comic prices,
and an overall boom in the comic book industry, Marvel's profits spiked. Perelman
later added the baseball card and basketball card companies Fleer Corporation
and SkyBox International, Italian sticker manufacturer Panini Group, and comic
book publishers Welsh Publishing and Malibu Comics to Marvel's holdings for a
combined total of $700 million. Investors around the world recognized his efforts
and generated $80 million for Perelman when he issued Marvel's initial public
offering. He later added a significant stake in Toy Biz to Marvel's holdings.
His luck was not to last. Marvel's attempt to distribute its products directly
led to a decrease in sales and aggravated the losses which Marvel suffered when
the comic book bubble popped, the 1994 Major League Baseball strike massacred
the profits of the Fleer division,and Panini was hobbled by poor showings at the
box office by Disney (Licensing Disney characters provided a major source of revenue
for Panini, so when the movies performed poorly Panini performed poorly). A major
bondholder, Carl Icahn, fought to take control of the company from Perelman. Both
men failed as Toy Biz owners Ike Perlmutter and Avi Arad snatched Marvel from
Perelman and Icahn in order to protect their own financial interests. Estimates
of his profit on the deal vary widely. Chuck Rozanski estimates that Perelman
made $200-400 million off Marvel; Forbes thinks he made nothing;and the judge
in the Marvel bankruptcy trial estimated he made $280 million plus various tax
advantages. In December 2003, Marvel Entertainment acquired Cover Concepts from
Hearst Communications, Inc. On March 15, 2007, Stan Lee Media filed a lawsuit
against Marvel Entertainment for $5 billion, claiming that the company is co-owner
of the characters that Lee created for Marvel. Additional, a lawsuit over the
Ghost Rider Character ownership was file On March 30, 2007 by Gary Friedrich and
Gary Friedrich Enterprises, Inc Units The
company's operating units include:
Marvel Characters, Inc.: intellectual property
holding company;
Marvel Publishing, Inc.: publisher of Marvel Comics;
Marvel Studios: a film and television production company;
Marvel Toys (formerly
Toy Biz): a toy company owned by Isaac Perlmutter since the 1990s.
Spider-Man
Merchandising, L.P.: A joint venture of Marvel and Sony Pictures Consumer Products
Inc. that owns the rights to Spider-Man movie related licensed products.
MVL
Film Finance LLC: holder of Marvel's Movie debt and theatrical film rights to
the ten characters as collateral.
Marvel Animation: Subsidiary charge with
oversight of Marvel's animation productions.
Marvel Characters B.V. (The Netherlands)
MVL International C.V. (The Netherlands)
Marvel International Character Holdings
LLC (Delaware)
Marvel Entertainment International Limited (United Kingdom)
Marvel Property, Inc. (Delaware)
Marvel Internet Productions LLC (Delaware)
Marvel Toys Limited (Hong Kong)
MRV, Inc. (Delaware)
MVL Development LLC
(Delaware)
Marvel Film Productions LLC (Delaware)
Film Slate Subsidiaries”
MVL Rights, LLC: subsidiary holding movie rights of all Marvel Characters with
some on contract with MVL Film Finance
Iron Works Productions LLC: subsidiary
holding debt to finance the Iron Man movie.
MVL Productions LLC: an indirect
wholly owned a film development subsidiary
Incredible Productions LLC (Delaware):
subsidiary holding debt to finance the Incredible Hulk film
MVL Iron Works
Productions Canada, Inc. (Province of Ontario)
MVL Incredible Productions
Canada, Inc. (Province of Ontario)
Asgard Productions LLC (Delaware)
Green
Guy Toons LLC (Delaware)
Squad Productions LLC (Delaware) (Credit:
Wikipedia) Articles Drawn
from unreal life, by Geoff Boucher - 22nd March 2008 Movie
Review - Blade Movie
Review: The Hulk | 
