Marvel Studios Conjuring Up "Dr. Strange"

Development continues on Marvel Studios comic book adaptation of a younger version of Marvel Comics' 'Sorcerer Supreme', "Dr. Strange", with Disney very interested in getting in on a potential, billion dollar earning, "Harry Potter"-type 'sorcery' movie franchise.

According to reports, the latest screenplay draft by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer ("Conan the Barbarian"), has been turned in, with Marvel Studios preparing a list of potential directors.

Following their Marvel Comics' success with "The Amazing Spider-Man", creators Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko debuted 'Doctor Strange' in the comic book "Strange Tales" #110 (July 1963), fashioning the physical look of the character after creator Lee Falk's popular, 1930's comic strip character "Mandrake The Magician".

'Dr. Stephen Strange' was an arrogant, world-renowned neurosurgeon, until a car accident damaged his hands, preventing him from conducting surgery. In desperation, a bitter Strange seeks out a legendary Tibetan hermit living in a 'Lost Horizon' of the Himalayas who may have the cure to his debilitating condition.

Strange finds 'The Ancient One', possessed of the knowledge of sorcerous spells and incantations, invoking names and aspects of extra-dimensional objects and beings of power.

Some of these phenomena include the 'Flames of the Faltine', the 'Shades of the Seraphim' and the 'Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth'.

When Strange selflessly thwarts the evil ambitions of the Ancient One's disciple 'Baron Mordo', the 500-year old wizard tutors Strange in the 'mystic arts', teaching him how to use magical artifacts to augment his power, including the 'Cloak of Levitation', the all-seeing 'Eye of Agamotto' and the 'Book of the Vishanti'.

Strange's residence in New York's Greenwich Village, referred to as his 'Sanctum Sanctorum', figured prominently in stories focusing on extra-dimensional battles in the Big Apple.

Strange uses his magic to achieve a number of effects, including energy projection, teleportation, telepathy and astral projection.

Strange was also schooled in the use of addictive and corruptive 'dark magic' by one-time foe 'Kaluu', using it to destroy the entity known as 'Shuma-Gorath'.

Doctor Strange has been featured in several self-titled Marvel Comics series and Marvel-endorsed products including arcade/video games, animated TV series, a direct-to-DVD film and merchandise including trading cards.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Doctor Strange"...

'The Charmed Ones' Face Another Threat

Zenescope Entertainment's "Charmed" #15, available October 2012, continues the adventures of the TV series in graphic novel format, written by Paul Ruditis, with illustrations by Dean Kotz and a cover by David Seidman :

"...trouble comes knocking for 'Paige' at her front door when a mysterious fire nearly burns down her house. The nature of the attack suggests a 'firestarter', but the real answer might not be that simple. Are 'The Charmed Ones' about to face another threat from the past or is the culprit a more recent addition to their lives? A secret that 'Piper' has been keeping might hold the answer to more than just Paige's question or it could lead to a whole new set of problems..."

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"Salem's Daughter: The Haunting"

Zenescope Entertainment's "Salem's Daughter: The Haunting" #4, available October 2012, is written by Ralph Tedesco, with illustrations by Allan Otero and covers by Stjepan Sejic/Natali Sanders :

Heigl Dreams Of "I Dream Of Jeannie"

According to studio reports, Columbia Pictures wants Emmy Award winning actress Katherine Heigl ("Grey's Anatomy") to star in a big screen remake of the classic 1960's TV sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie".

Created by Sidney Sheldon in 1965 to compete against ABC's "Bewitched",  "I Dream Of Jeannie" starred actress Barbara Eden, as a 2000-year-old female 'genie' and actor Larry Hagman ("Dallas") as an astronaut who becomes her master (and eventual lover), for directors Gene Nelson, Hal Cooper and Claudio Guzman.


In the pilot episode, "The Lady in the Bottle", astronaut 'Captain Tony Nelson, US Air Force', is on a space flight when his one-man capsule 'Stardust One' comes down far from the planned recovery area, near a deserted island in the South Pacific.

On the beach, Tony notices a strange bottle that rolls by itself. When he rubs it after removing the stopper, smoke starts shooting out and a Persian-speaking female genie (wearing an enticing harem costume) materializes, kissing Tony on the lips with devoted passion.

Tony expresses his wish that 'Jeannie' could speak English, which she then does. Then, per his instructions, she "blinks" and causes a recovery helicopter to show up. A grateful Tony tells Jeannie she is free, but Jeannie falls in love with Tony, re-enters her bottle and places it in Tony's duffel bag so she can accompany him back home.

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"The Dark Knight Rises" In Pittsburgh

Sneak Peek new set shots and video from "The Dark Knight Rises", Warners upcoming 'Batman' movie currently shooting in the Pittsburgh area.

Through fake snow blowing through the air, the pictures show a fight scene between Batman (Christian Bale) and the villain 'Bane' (Tom Hardy).

Director Christopher Nolan's third and final "Batman" motion picture is based on DC Comics vigilante superhero character.

The feature is co-produced by Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures.

Leading an international cast, Oscar winner Bale ("The Fighter") reprises his dual role as 'Bruce Wayne/Batman', with Anne Hathaway, as 'Selina Kyle' aka 'Catwoman' and Hardy, as 'Bane'.

Also starring are Oscar winner Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose") as 'Miranda Tate' and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as 'John Blake'. Returning to the main cast, are Oscar winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") as 'Alfred', Gary Oldman ("Bram Stoker's Dracula") as 'Commissioner Gordon' and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") as 'Lucius Fox'.

For the film, director Nolan is utilizing IMAX cameras more extensively than he did on "The Dark Knight".

Screenplay for "The Dark Knight Rises" is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. Producers are Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight." Jordan Goldberg co-produces. Executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull.

"The Dark Knight" is based on characters created by Bob Kane.

Locations for the film include the US, India, England and Scotland.

"The Dark Knight Rises" is slated for release, July 20, 2012.

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Great Depression For Fincher's "Dorothea Lange"

Executive producer David Fincher is now attached to a big screen biopic focusing on Depression-era photographer Dorothea Lange. Screenplay is by Angela Workman ("Brontë"), for director Leslie Dektor.

Lange was an influential American photographer/photojournalist, noted for her work for the "Farm Security Administration". Her photographs humanized the consequences of the 'Great Depression' while influencing the development of documentary photography.

Stricken with polio as a child, Lange was educated in photography in New York City, then informally apprenticed to New York photography studios. In 1918, she moved to San Francisco, opening a portrait studio and in 1920, married western painter Maynard Dixon.

With the onset of the Great Depression, Lange focused her camera lens on unemployed and homeless people, capturing the attention of local photographers and leading to her employment with the federal FSA.

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Sneak Peek "Spartacus: Vengeance"

From Starz, Sneak Peek a new trailer and images from "Spartacus: Vengeance", premiering January, 2012, starring Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, Dustin Clare and Lucy Lawless :

"...on the heels of the bloody escape from the 'House of Batiatus' that concluded 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', the gladiator rebellion continues and begins to strike fear into the heart of the Roman Republic in 'Spartacus: Vengeance'.

"'Gaius Claudius Glaber' and his Roman troops are sent to 'Capua' to crush the growing band of freed slaves that 'Spartacus' leads before it can inflict further damage.

"Spartacus is presented the choice of satisfying his personal need for vengeance against the man that condemned his wife to slavery and eventual death or making the larger sacrifices necessary to keep his growing army from breaking apart..."

Also Starz Digital Media in association with Double Barrel Motion Labs, will bring to market a four-part "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" 'motion comic' series, titled "Spartacus: Upon The Sands of Vengeance" :

"...these action-packed videos will feature gladiators battling for eternal glory in a gore fest derived from Devil's Due Publishing's official 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' comic book mini-series, from 'Spartacus' series writer Steven DeKnight.."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Spartacus: Vengeance", plus "Spartacus: Upon The Sands of Vengeance", the motion comic...

Vancouver Film Production Update- July 30, 2011

From VancouverFilm.Net comes the Vancouver Film Production Update, for July 30, 2011 :

"AUTUMN FROST" (AKA "SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL"), Feature Film

"BAJA DUNES", Feature

"GI JOE 2", Feature

"CLUE", Miniseries

"EUREKA", TV Series, Season 5

"FRINGE", TV Series, Season 4

"ONCE UPON A TIME", TV Series

"PSYCH", TV Series, Season 6

"SECRET CIRCLE, THE", TV Series

"SUPERNATURAL", TV Series, Season 7

"DECK THE HALLS", TV Movie

Toronto Film Production Update - July 30, 2011

From TorontoFilm.Net comes the Toronto Film Production Update, for July 30, 2011 :

"'AGAINST THE WALL', Season 1, TV Series

"COTTAGE COUNTRY", Feature

"FLASHPOINT", Season 4, TV Series

"HIGHLAND GARDENS", TV Series

"MURDOCH MYSTERIES", Season 5, TV Series

"SALEM FALLS", TV Movie

"STORY OF LUKE", Feature

"TOTAL RECALL", Feature

"WISH LIST", Pilot

"ALPHAS", Season 1, TV Series

"COVERT AFFAIRS", Season 2, TV Series

"FOXFIRE", Feature

"LOST GIRL", Season 2, TV Series

"NIKITA", Season 2, TV Series

"SECRETS OF EDEN", TV Movie

"SUITS" (aka: "A LEGAL MIND"), TV Series

"TRANSPORTER", TV Series

"DEGRASSI: The Next Generation", Season 11, TV Series

"GOOD DOG", Season 2, TV Series

"MICHAEL: TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS", TV Series

"NURSE", Feature

"STILL SEAS" (AKA "PACIFIC RIM"), Feature

"THE FIRM", TV Series

Paramount Takes On DC's "The Mighty"

Paramount has hired Drew Pearce ("No Heroics") to draft an adaptation of the DC Comics series "The Mighty", created by Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne :

"...an officer in an organization called 'Section Omega' , after learning that superhero 'Alpha One', has a connection to a personal childhood tragedy, has to stop the renegade from destroying the Earth..."

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"Bonnie Lass": More Pluck Than Plan

Red 5 Comics' "Bonnie Lass" #2 , available October 2011, is written by Michael Mayne and illustrated by Mayne/Tyler Fluharty :

"...spirited modern-day she-pirate, 'Bonnie Lass', has her hands on the mysterious map that even her legendary pirate father could not decipher. With more pluck than plan, her crew sets sail to find some treasure, kick some tail, raise some eyebrows and deal with some daddy issues..."

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