:teehee: I'll start off with my general thoughts:
Thor, I'm very excited for, especially with Branagh at the helm, but at the same time I'm also kind of wary of that fact, since as a director in the past he has proven a bit self-absorbed. As far as the actors thus far... I haven't seen the Star Trek movie yet so I don't know how well Chris Helmsworth will do as Thor, he's definitely a younger Thor. As for the casting of Loki, Tom Hiddleston looks to be someone Branagh may have pulled from the stage, since I haven't heard of or seen any of the films he's been in.
Iron Man 2 Generally so far, there have been few tidbits out about this film, we know the main villain is going to be Whiplash, played by Mickey Rourke. Personally Whiplash is a very obscur character, and I don't understand how Iron Man wouldn't just blast him away, but I trust Favreau because of the first film, and Iron Man like the Hulk tends to have more obscure villains, if not ones that all seem to be the same. Magic is a hard element to introduce when so much of the first film is about technology, so I can understand why Favreau may not use Iron Man's greatest arch nemesis, the Mandarin. -- which when they cast it, I hope is played by an Asian Actor. LOL maybe they'll use Fin Fang Foom.
The First Avenger: Captain America not much on this film yet either even though it's supposed to be one of the earlier installments in Marvels upcoming slots of films. But from the sounds of things it'll play like a war film, which Captain America is deeply rooted in. Anyone know anymore about this project?
Spider-man 4 It is being rescripted again, which is done with any Hollywood film. Personally I was surprised who they got to do the second draft of the film. The Spider-Man 4 script was originally written by James Vanderbilt, and then rewritten by David Lindsay-Abaire, a good playwright, and now it's being rewritten by the guy who helped write other Tobey McGuire films, Pleasantville and Seabiscuit. The main villain has been stated as being specific to New York... so buzz has been around the king pin, but I can't remember if Fox still has the rights to that character. Plus when you think about it, almost all of Spidey's villains are rooted in New York.
It seems all the original players are back from the last film, and interestingly so is the guy who played the thief who killed uncle Ben, whom teased reporters about him having a bigger role in this film than the last three. If he winds up playing the villain my thoughts: meh. In the last film we saw Peter come to terms with what happened when he forgave Sandman, so what importance does this guy have?
Honestly, I wish someone else would take the helms and that they would get new actors. I like continuity in films, but it just kind of felt like everyone was tired of making these films in the last installments, especially the actors -- with perhaps the exception of Harry, who's role was just too fun. When the audience can tell the actor isn't enjoying themselves anymore, they have no stoke in taking them seriously. I want some new life breathed into the Spidey universe, since he's my favorite super hero.
Venom spin-off I didn't think they would have this one up so early, but the cogs have already begun turning on this project. The script is off, I believe they're on their second draft already, and rumor has it this film will come out before the next Spidey film.
I don't feel Venom makes a good protagonist. I've never read his stand alone comics for that reason, so I'm curious as to how this will turn out.
Deadpool Le sigh, another Ryan Reynolds project. It'll be funny, and again, he was my choice for the character. Ryan has reported that he will break the 4rth wall. So I wonder if they'll introduce some mysticism, seeing as that's how he knows he's a comic book character in the comics.
Magneto/ Professor X spin-offs honestly just not interested in these two films. We've seen many holocaust films already, and war films.
Wolverine 2 Word is they're already scripting this as well, but that the Deadpool film will come first.
Avengers I'm excited for this one because as seen the Hulk and Iron Man, under the cohesive production studio of Marvel, it looks like they've begun to shape their world already. It'll be nice to see how it turns out.
Superman project They haven't completely booted Brandon Routh out, his contract has just expired for making another one, but he said he'd come back to do one if asked. There's also an interesting stipulation. Due to the case between Warner Bros and the owners of Superman, WB must have the movie out by the end of 2011, otherwise they would have to pay additional copyright fees to the owners of Superman, who get the creative rights back in 2012. This means if they want to make this film, they have to fast track it.
Reportedly a while back, Mark (or Frank I can't remember which of the two off-hand)Miller had already made a draft of a film for WB, one that supposedly saw the man of steel vs Brainiac. I don't know why they didn't do it. I believe it was around the time Dark Knight was still out. The studio re-thought their plans, believing that in order to make a successful Supes film, they had to make it darker like the Dark Knight... Okay everyone all-together now:
hopefully they've run that foolishness out of their minds. To me one of the things that didn't work about Returns is the Hero vs Villain dynamic. To me, the only way to make Luthor work is to use the dynamic of "Only one can defeat the other" meaning no one else in the world can best Luthor but Super man and vice-versa. They didn't do that, so in turn I simply wanted something for Superman to punch, but no once did he throw a punch in Returns... So yes, I'm a simpleton, but I hope he gets to hit someone or something.
Batman 3 honestly I felt the last film was so good, that if they didn't make a new one I'd be surprised but I'd also be okay with that. I know WB probably desperately wants to make another one. The rumor mill went completely wild about this film around the time the Dark Knight made it's second theatrical run to remind the Academy of it's performances and to try and sink 'the Boat'. The gamit ran from adult film star Tera Patrick to Angelina Jolie playing the role of Cat Woman, to Eddie Murphy or Johnny Depp playing the Riddler. Rumor mill aside, which villain would you like to see Nolan-ized? Originally for the second film they were going to introduce Talia as a villain but left that prospect unavoidably for the most famous Batman villain, the Joker. Me, right now I don't know who I'd see being the villain(s) in the third installment.
Green Lantern I told my roommate the other night that I'm very excited to see the DC films, since I'm not very familiar with them, other than their posterboys, Batman and Superman. So I'll be going into this one with a blank slate. Very excited.
Justice League film I said it in the other thread about GL but I'll say it here too: I don't think any of the main stand alone film versions will be seen in this film. The universe for Nolan's Batman seems too different.
Wonder Woman Supposedly awhile back when they were casting for the JL movie, they were going to use the WW from that film to make the stand alone, but then JL disappeared into a void and so did prospects for this film. If I remember right, they had gotten a super model to play the role and not an actress... usually a mistake. Thoughts? Any new news?
Green Arrow: Escape from Super Max Interesting sounding project. David Goyer, writing of Blade... one of them, and co-writer of Dark Knight, penned this and believe still is. It's interesting because it's about Green Arrow being set up for a crime he didn't commit and then being imprisoned in the super villain maximum security place with the some of the same people he helped imprison. From the sounds of the prison, it's one that constantly is movie, similar to the one constructed in "The Cube" movies, just... less violent.
Ant-man Yes... This film is still in creative limbo, but the director has me curious. It's Edgar Wright. The director of the famous Simon Pegg vehicles, Shaun of the Dead which I loved, and Hot Fuzz which is also fun but just not as smart. I just wonder, what they would do with the story. Any ideas?
Hulk 2 I seriously have doubts about this even lifting up from simple thoughts. It was hard enough to get it off the ground the first time, what with their star being so difficult, and pulling kind of a diva-ish act. Plus after Abomination I don't really see who else they could get as a good villain. The Leader is obscure and kind of too comical.
Hannibal King Van Helsing?
Smallville movie Interesting little news is that this has been slated by WB as something slated for the release by the end of next year. Does this point to the show's end? It could, and what better way then to have a bigger budgeted studio helm you make and release it?
Pandaman This is a Superhero from another country... and honestly of all the creatures to use as a basis for a superhero... it had to be a panda? They're like ... one of the slowest things on the earth aren't they? What's he going to do?? Sit around and eat bamboo? Anyway I caught a glimpse of this awhile back. As an interesting side note, apparently not many other countries in the world consider tight-wearing cape super heroes all that appealing. There was a festival though that showcase some up and comers from other countries and Pandaman stuck with me the most as... I was thinking exactly what I did above. And here's a random article I found describing it: Insert hilarious Panda Man theme song here. ... it looks like they're hoping to rival Batman and Spider-man with this... My thoughts: Okay, more power to ya. I know the Panda is a well respected creature in China... but... yeah, no more on that.
Hm... That's what I got for now, digest and discuss.
Feel free to add other Super hero news and tidbits, I haven't covered them all but I gotta go for now.
