"X-Men: The Last Stand" - Take A Stand

"Casino Royale" Screenplay Spoilers ...

February 10, 2006

latinoreview are reporting they have seen the screenplay to 'Bond 21', "Casino Royale".

*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***

The script is considered a contemporized origin story.

The 1st 4 pages before the main title sequence show how 'James Bond' earned his 'double O' ranking, killing MI6 Section Chief 'Dryden' (for selling secrets) and 'Fisher', Dryden's contact in Lahore, Pakistan.

The MAIN TITLE sequence highlights photos from Bond's CV, including his stint in the SAS. The sequence ends with crime scene photos of Dryden and Fisher. Bond's ID Badge is stamped with a '0' - until it is laminated as '007'. A hand places the ID badge in the folder with the photos and a clerk carries it off.

Cut to a jungle camp in Gulu, Uganda, introducing 'Steven Obanno', leader of the 'Lord's Resistance' army.

A man with gold-rimmed glasses, 'Mr. White', introduces Obanno to 'Le Chiffre', who pulls up in three SUVS.

Le Chiffre has previously provided funding for 'freedom fighters'. Obanno gives Le Chiffre three metal boxes of money.

This scene also introduces 'Valenka', Le Chiffre's sexy bodyguard.

On page 7, Bond and teammate 'Carter' are at a commune in Madagascar watching a fight between a cobra and a mongoose. They are tailing 'Bomber' who is in the crowd watching the fight. A chase scene ensues at a construction site, spilling over to the 'Nambutu' embassy.

Bond kills Bomber, but is caught on a security camera. He takes Bomber's wallet and finds a playing card ripped in half - the Queen of Hearts. On Bomber's cell phone he sees the text message - "Ellipsis."

Cut to Le Chiffre hosting a high stakes poker game on his yacht.

'Kratt', Le Chiffre's henchman approaches and whispers in Le Chiffre's ear. Le Chiffre goes into his bedroom and logs on to his laptop. On the screen is the news headline "British Agent Executes Embassy Employee", with a photo of Bond firing his gun.

Cut to a London newsstand, with more shots of newspaper headlines, including "Our Secret Murder Squad" with security camera angles of Bond killing Bomber. More newspapers come into frame: "MI6 kills Unarmed Prisoner."

Cut to the The House of Parliament.

Inside a private corridor, 'M' strides out with her aide, 'Villiers'. M now regrets giving Bond his 'Double O' status.

Cut to Bond breaking into M's house, using her laptop to do a trace on the sim card from the cell phone of the Bomber. M regards Bond as an arrogant prick. He leaves.

Cut to Nassau, Grand Bahama Island.

Bond tails 'Dimitrios' and his wife 'Solange'. Logging onto a secure website, using M's password, Bond learns that Dimitrios is a government contractor in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechneya, Rwanda, Nicaragua and El Salvador, going back to the 1970s.

Bond also looks up known associates of Dimitrios, finding a photo of Le Chiffre who was supposedly executed in Iraq in 1998.

Cut to Bond winning an Aston Martin car from Dimitrios at the 'One and Only' Country club. He drives the married Solange home.

Bond follows Dimitrios to Miami, steals his cell phone and fights bad guy 'Carlos'.

A huge action set piece then occurs on the tarmac at Miami airport, causing Le Chiffre to lose over $100 million.

Bond goes back to Dimitrios house and re-connects with M.

A MI6 CSI team combs the crime scene. Solange is found dead.

Bond gets a tracer installed into the back of his wrist so that MI6 can track him at all times.

We learn Le Chiffre was a private banker to terrorists and organized crime.

To recover the $100 million he lost, Le Chiffre sets up a high stakes poker game at Casino Royale in Montenegro, featuring ten players with a ten million dollar buy-in.

M puts Bond in the game.

sneakpeek

Sneak Peek Update ...

WARNERS TUNES INTO JAPANESE "DEATH NOTE" ...
STONE CROSSES THE LINE FOR "BASIC INSTINCT 2" ...
PARADOX BUYS INTO HOWARD'S "RED SONJA" ...
HBO AND PICTUREHOUSE WHIP "BETTIE PAGE" INTO SHAPE ...
LIONSGATE CONJURING UP ANIMATED "DOCTOR STRANGE" ...
MARVEL'S "IRON MAN" MOVIE DEAL IN THE CAN?
TORONTO FILM PRODUCTION UPDATE ...
PARAMOUNT SEES A FUTURE IN "JOHN CARTER OF MARS" ...
"STAR WARS" ALUMNI SNAG OSCAR NOMS ...
ATMOSPHERE AND PLATINUM "KILLING DEMONS" ...
SPIKE SINKS TEETH INTO 13-EPISODE "BLADE" TV SERIES ...
PARAMOUNT MUSCLES IN ON BIG SCREEN "CAPTAIN AMERICA" ...
WARNERS "V FOR VENDETTA" FOCUSES ON IMAX ...
SNEAK PEEK THE SPITTIN' IMAGE OF "VENOM" ...
"RUN ROBOT RUN" WRAPS TORONTO SHOOT ...
SUPERHERO IN THE CITY WITH CBS' "ULTRA" ...
'DARK PHOENIX' RESURRECTED FOR "X-MEN: THE LAST STAND" ...
CAN GHOST HOUSE RESIST THE CALL OF "SIREN" ? ...
WEINSTEINS GRAB THE "FACTORY GIRL" ...
THQ TAKES "STORMBREAKER" ...
OWEN AND BELLUCCI "SHOOT 'EM UP" ...
RED CIRCLE CHILLS WITH SCHIFRIN'S "ABOMINABLE" ...
GIBSON PUMPED OVER MARVEL'S "LUKE CAGE" ...
MAD DOC CRAFTING "STAR TREK: LEGACY" ...
"16 BLOCKS" POSTER RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY ...
WARNERS DIGS "CREEPSHOW III" ...
MANDATE RUNS WITTH "THE GHOULY BOYS" ...
GANS' "SILENT HILL" MAKING A LOT OF NOISE ...
GEAR UP FOR LIVE-ACTION "TRANSFORMERS" ...
DREAMWORKS PUSHING THE "BUTTON MAN" ...
MONTREAL INDIE JOINS THE "MONSTER CLUB" ...
WARNERS CUTS A DEAL WITH "CONAN" ...

Paradox Buys Into Howard's "Red Sonja" ...

February 6, 2006

Paradox Entertainment, literary rights holders to the estate of author Robert E. Howard, the creator of "Conan", have now purchased the remainder of Howard's character library, including approximately 800 other literary properties.

Among Howard's 'sword 'n sorcery' characters that Paradox now controls are 'Kull', 'Bran Mak Morn', 'Solomon Kane' and 'Red Sonja'.

Howard published most of his stories throughout the 1920's and 1930's in 'pulp' magazines including titles "Weird Tales", "Spicy Adventure" and "Strange Detective".

Paradox purchased "Conan" in 2002 and bought the rest of the library from the Texas-based Alla Ray Morris Generation Skipping Exemption Trust.

Paradox will now license its Howard properties for film, TV, video games and toys.

Stone Crosses The Line For "Basic Instinct 2" ...

February 6, 2006

According to reports, US censors have cut a sex scene out of "Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction".

Britain's Daily Star newspaper quotes a Sony studio spokesman saying that the upcoming film is "... a hard 'R' rated movie which means it includes strong sexuality, nudity, violence, language and some drug content."

Previous to the cut, the censors had threatened to give the film an NC-17 rating which would have excluded under 18 audiences.

The MPAA did reportedly allow a sequence featuring Stone's character having sex as she drives a sports car through the streets of London at high speed.



January 10, 2006

The sequel "Basic Instinct 2", starring actress Sharon Stone, opens wide this coming March.

Directed by Michael Caton-Jones and written by Leora Barish/Henry Bean, the Columbia Pictures/MGM production focuses on psychotic novelist 'Catherine Tramell' (Stone).

Scotland Yard appoints psychiatrist 'Dr. Michael Glass' (David Morrissey) to evaluate the beauty, but like Michael Douglas' 'Det Nick Curran' in the first film, Glass is seduced by Tramell's deadly head-games.

Other notable cast include 1970's fave Charlotte "Zardoz" Rampling as 'Milena Gardosh', David "Dragonheart" Thewlis as 'Roy Washburn', Hugh "Blackhawk Down" Dancy as 'Michael Tower', Anne Caillon as 'Laney Ward', Iain Robertson as 'Peter Ristedes' and Stan Collymore as 'Kevin Franks'.

Working title for the film is "Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction".

Warners Tunes Into Japanese "Death Note" ...

February 8, 2006

According to Fangoria.com, shooting began February 1 at Tokyo's Nikkatsu Studio on the film adaptation of Takeshi Obata’s "Death Note", a Warner Bros production, directed by Shusuke Kaneko.

Tatsuya Fujiwara, noted for Kinji Fukasaku's "Battle Royale" will play the lead.

"'Death Note' is an incredibly popular manga," said Fujiwara.

"While it’s exciting to be part of such a big project, I also feel a lot of pressure due to the manga’s huge fan base."

"Death Note" follows 'Raito' as he discovers a notebook that spells death for anyone whose name is inscribed in it. By using the notebook for 'good' Riato destroys criminals, arousing an investigation by government authorities led by detective 'L'.

The manga death dealer 'Shin-gami' will be a CGI, 8-foot-tall, blue-skin with spiked hair. A full-sized, animatronic has also been built.

Following a 2 month shoot, "Death Note" will be released June 2006 in Japan.

Lionsgate Conjuring Up "Doctor Strange" DVD

According to reports, the upcoming Lionsgate/Marvel "Doctor Strange" direct-to-video animated feature will highlight dreaded comic book demon 'Dormammu' as a villain.

"Doctor Strange" is the fourth film in the new Marvel super hero cartoon catalogue, following two "Ultimate Avengers" films and one "Iron Man".

Release of "Doctor Strange" is due early 2007.

Premise of the film will be an origin story focusing on arrogant surgeon 'Dr. Stephen Strange' who becomes a recluse after losing the mobility of his fingers. Strange wanders aimlessly through life until he finds salvation and magic through the mystical teachings of the 'Ancient One'. After saving the Ancient One's life from a deadly spell, Strange comes back to New York City's Greenwich Village and uses his new found knowledge to battle vengeful entities that continue to infiltrate his big city world.

Frank Paur of Todd McFarlane's upcoming "Spawn: The Animation" and "X-Men: Evolution" fame is producing both "Iron Man" and "Doctor Strange".

In addition to "Doctor Strange", writer Greg Johnson is also developing "Wolverine" and "X-Men" for television.

Full Metal Jacket : Is Marvel's "Iron Man" Movie Deal In The Can ?

February 3, 2006

According to reports, director Nick Cassavetes is back developing Marvel's "Iron Man" movie.

"...more mechanical than high-tech — that's the way to go on that", Cassavetes said about the look of his Iron Man, referring to his vision of the costume as a "flying tin can".

About when Marvel plans to announce the production, Cassavetes said, "Marvel is working things out right now."

November 3, 2005

Marvel Studios, a division of Marvel Enterprises, are in active development on "IRON MAN".

Produced by Marvel Studios' CEO Avi Arad and Angry Films' Don Murphy, "IRON MAN" is based on a script by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and David Hayter.

"IRON MAN" focuses on 'Tony Stark', heir to 'Stark Enterprises' a weapons manufacturer, who commands a corporate empire by day and becomes "Iron Man" at night, the embodiment of decades of hi-tec defense spending.

Strapping on billions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art armor and weaponry to fight crime and corporate espionage, Tony succumbs to alcoholism, cracking under the strain.

Hasbro And Marvel Toy Around For 2007 ...

Feb 3, Hasbro, Inc. announced that the Federal Trade Commission has terminated the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to Hasbro's license agreement with Marvel.

With termination of the waiting period, Hasbro's license agreement with Marvel Characters, Inc. and Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. is now effective.

This license grants Hasbro toy and game rights to Marvel's Super Hero franchises such as Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men and Captain America.

Hasbro will now have the right to bring those toys and games to retail beginning January 1, 2007.

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech.

Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

With a library of over 5,000 characters, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused on utilizing its character franchises in licensing, entertainment, publishing and toys. Areas of emphasis include feature films, DVD/home video, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Rooted in the creative success of over sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel's strategy is to leverage its character franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world.

About Spider-Man Merchandising, LP

Spider-Man Merchandising, LP is the limited partnership comprised of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., which oversees the licensing and merchandising for the Columbia Pictures Spider-Man feature films, and is overseeing the licensing and merchandising for Columbia Pictures Spider-Man 3 feature film.

Marvel, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Captain America, and related characters are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. and are used under license.

Toronto Film Production Update ...

Here is the latest Toronto film production update:

"Blaze"
Feature
Jan. 28 - Feb. 24, 2006. Toronto.

"Freedom"
Series.
October 2005 - May 2006. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal

"Rich Bride Poor Bride"
Series
November 2005 - June 2006. Toronto.

"Beautiful People"
Series
Jan. 24 - April 11, 2006. Toronto.

"Weirdsville"
Feature
Feb. 27 - March 31, 2006. Toronto.

"Naturally Sadie"
Series
Sept. 12, 2005 - February 2006. Toronto.

"Dirty Hands"
Feature
July 2005 - August 2006. Toronto

"Man of the Year"
Feature
Dec. 5, 2005 - Feb. 10, 2006. Toronto.

"Shoot ’em Up"
Feature.
Feb. 13 - May 8, 2006. Toronto.

"Rent a Goalie"
Series
Jan. 9 - Feb. 14, 2006. Toronto.

"A Windigo Tale"
Feature
Feb. 22 - March 19, 2006. Hamilton, Ohsweken.

"Woman Scorned"
MOW
Feb. 6-24, 2006. Toronto.

HBO and Picturehouse Whip "Bettie Page" Into Shape ...

We received the following e-mail:

***

The pinup sensation that rocked the nation!

Hello

We’d like to offer you some exciting artwork to enhance your coverage of the HBO Films and Picturehouse Studios production of THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE.

In theaters on April 14th, the film stars Gretchen Mol (THE SHAPE OF THINGS, THIRTEENTH FLOOR) as 'Bettie Page', directed by Mary Harron (I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, AMERICAN PSYCHO) and co-written by Harron and Guinevere Turner (GO FISH, THE L-WORD).

Attached for your use is a sexy still photo of Gretchen Mol as Bettie Page.

(c) 2006 Picturehouse. All rights reserved. (c) 2006 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO (R) is a service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

We’re excited to be working with you ...

Best regards ...

***

Warners Looks At "The Watchmen"

"The Watchmen" superhero comic book series has been picked up by Warner Bros Pictures for development after being stalled at Paramount.

The property has been in development since the 1980's.

"The Watchmen" crime-conspiracy stories provide a behind the scenes look at the lives of superhero archetypes.

November 2005 the graphic novel was the only 'nonbook' on Time's list of the 100 best novels since 1923.

Premise of "The Watchmen", set in an 'alternate' America, focuses on costumed hero 'Rorschach', who lives a vigilante lifestyle because superheroes have been outlawed.

Investigating a crime, Rorschach suspects a much larger conspiracy.

According to sources, Paramount has the right of first refusal to co-finance the final picture.

"Captain Marvel" Going Through Some Big Changes

New Line Cinema is hiring screenwriting team Joel Cohen/Alec Sokolow ("Toy Story") to write the screenplay for the upcoming film version of DC's "SHAZAM".

Created in 1940, by artist CC Beck and writer Bill Parker for comic book publishers Fawcett Publications, the premise of 'Captain Marvel' centered on 'homeless young newspaper seller Billy Batson', suddenly confronted by a mysterious stranger who leads him into the New York subway system, where a 'strange' train appears and carries them both to the lair of the wizard 'Shazam'.

The wizard reveals that Billy has been chosen to be 'the world's mightest mortal' and commands the boy to say his name 'SHAZAM', an acronym for mythological/historical figures : 'S' for Solomon (wisdom), 'H' for Hercules (strength), 'A' for Atlas (stamina), 'Z' for Zeus (invulnerability), 'A' for Achilles (courage) and 'M' for Mercury (the ability to fly).

Saying the name, Billy is struck by a lightning bolt that transforms him into an adult superhero. Saying the name again turns him back into Billy Batson.

Having passed on his 'blessing', the wizard dies and Billy vows to fulfill his destiny.

He confides in his sister 'Mary Batson' who becomes 'Mary Marvel', a disabled friend 'Freddie Freeman' becomes 'Captain Marvel Jr.' and Billy's 3 cousins, saying "SHAZAM" simultaneously change into 'Lieutenant Marvels'.

Throughout the war years, "Captain Marvel" was an easily accessible comic book fantasy and a popular 15-part feature film serial, starring stunt man/western star Tom Tyler. The comic book itself began outselling industry leader "Superman", published by National Periodicals (DC). DC sued Fawcett for plagiarism, stating similiarities between the two characters. After years of litigation, Fawcett went into receivership and DC was awarded the Captain Marvel catalogue, reviving the character in the early 1970s. Because of a similarity in names to rival comics giant 'Marvel', the character's adventures were published under the "SHAZAM" title (Marvel since creating their own 'Captain Mar-vell' character.)

DC eventually introduced the entire Fawcett line of characters in their 1980's comic book mini-series "Crisis on Infinite Earths", fully integrating "SHAZAM" into the DC Universe ...

"MAD" About The Oscars ...

http://www.sneakpeektv.com/id29.html

No Dancing Hobbits For Musical "Lord Of The Rings"

On February 4 the curtain rises at the Princess Of Wales theatre, for the first Toronto preview of the "Lord of the Rings" stage musical.

Based on the books of author J.R.R. Tolkien, the production will offer musical traditions including works by Finnish group Varttina and Indian composer A.R. Rahman.

"In terms of spectacle and visual impact, it is as big as a Vegas show," producer Kevin Wallace said.

"It's as beautiful as what you'd expect to see in three-dimensional art".

Wallace is noted as an in-house producer with Andrew Lloyd Webber's London-based The Really Useful Group.

"We've taken Tolkien and found what is appropriate in our art form of theater and applied it to the story," he said.

Premise follows 'Frodo Baggins' and his quest to save 'Middle-earth' by destroying the 'Ring of Power'.

Following previews, the production will receive a March 23 world premiere.

The show features a 55-member cast in three acts, running more than three hours.

"It's not a singing, dancing hobbit show," Wallace said.

"The music is completely in tune, moment to moment, with the story in Tolkien. It's almost as if it's injected right into your bloodstream."

Initially budgeted for C$27 million, the production has netted C$15 million in advance sales.

"You have to believe in the jeopardy of the story - the power of darkness and power of the light," said Wallace.

"The underlying principle is you have to believe in the power of the ring".

Marvel Plays With Hasbro Games And Toys ...

January 8, 2006

Hasbro, Inc. and Marvel Entertainment, Inc., have announced a license under which Marvel has granted Hasbro toy/game rights to its superhero properties including franchises "Spider-Man", "Fantastic Four", "X-Men" and "Captain America".

Through the agreement, Hasbro has obtained the rights to develop products based on Marvel's characters in a wide range of toy and game categories -- including action figures, role play, preschool toys, board games and puzzles. The agreement covers both the 'classic' comic book look of the characters as well as product lines inspired by Marvel-themed movies.

Marvel terminated its licensing agreement with Toy Biz Worldwide Ltd. December 31, 2005.

The five-year license with Hasbro, the home of "G.I. Joe", gives the company the rights to bring Marvel Entertainment-based toy products to retail beginning January 1, 2007.

Hasbro's first full line of products based on Marvel properties is expected to center on "Ghost Rider" and "Spider-Man 3" scheduled for release May 4, 2007. Marvel has also agreed to provide services to Hasbro in connection with the licensed toys.

The license guarantees Marvel $205 million in royalty and service fee payments, of which $70 million would be payable on the theatrical release of Spider-Man 3 and $35 million upon the theatrical release of Spider-Man 4.

"Hasbro's multi-year agreement with Marvel provides Hasbro with proven properties in categories where we have been long-time industry leaders," said Brian Goldner, Hasbro's President, U.S. Toy Segment.

Tim Rothwell, Worldwide President, Consumer Media Group, Marvel Entertainment, added, "Hasbro is renowned in the toy arena. It supports its key brands with heavy promotional and advertising campaigns and their innovation provides consumers with an unmatched retail experience.

"We believe aligning with Hasbro as our master toy and game partner sets the stage for us to further extend the global and domestic reach and image of the overall Marvel brand.

"Juli Boylan, Sr. Vice President, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, the limited partner in Spider-Man Merchandising LP, stated, "We are thrilled to have Hasbro develop toys and games for "Spider-Man 3".

"We are very proud of the "Spider-Man" film franchise and feel Hasbro will play a pivotal role in its continued success."

MORE MARVEL MOVIE UPDATES !!!

November 9, 2005

Marvel Studios :

X-Men 3, Fox - Currently filming, May 26, 2006 release

Ghost Rider, Sony - Filming completed, July 14, 2006 release

The Punisher 2, Lions Gate - Writer, targeted for fall 2006 release

Marvel Character Feature Film Development Pipeline (Partial List) :

Spider-Man 3, Sony - Director, May 4, 2007 release

Fantastic Four 2, Fox - Director, July 4, 2007 release

Silver Surfer, Fox - TBD
Wolverine, Fox - TBD
Deathlok, Paramount - TBD
Hulk 2, Universal - TBD
Namor, Universal - TBD
Black Widow, Lions Gate - TBD
Iron Man - TBD
Thor - TBD

Film Projects Included in the Marvel Film-Backed Credit Facility :

Ant-Man, The Avengers, Black Panther, Captain America, Cloak & Dagger, Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, Power Pack and Shang-Chi.

The first film is anticipated for release in 2008.

Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-Video Projects in Development :

Partnership with Lions Gate to develop, produce and distribute original animated DVD features.

Four projects in 2D/3D format are in development with the first releases slated for 2006.

Titles include: Ultimate Avengers (February 21, 2006 release), Ultimate Avengers 2, Iron Man and Doctor Strange.

Marvel Character Animated TV Projects in Development :Partnership with Moonscoop SAS (formerly Antefilms Productions) to produce an original animated television series based on the Fantastic Four. Twenty-six, 30-minute 2D/3D animated episodes are planned with initial TV airings in 2006.

Marvel Character Live Action TV Projects in Development :

Alter Ego, Blade, Skrull Kill Krew

September 5, 2005

Marvel Enterprises has announced its new name 'Marvel Entertainment' and raised the $525 million it needs to produce movies based on its 5,000 proprietary, comic book characters.

Marvel Entertainment plans to produce feature films, focusing on superheroes 'Captain America', the 'Avengers', 'Nick Fury', 'Black Panther', 'Ant-Man', 'Cloak & Dagger', 'Dr. Strange', 'Hawkeye', 'Power Pack' and 'Shang-Chi'.

In April, Paramount Pictures, under new chair Brad Grey announced a deal to distribute/market the Marvel slate.The first film is expected to be released in 3 years.

Marvel CEO Avi Arad said he officially will begin attaching scriptwriters to all 10 projects beginning this month.

"No character before its time," Arad said.

"The scripts will dictate which is first ... I cannot wait to tell the 'Captain America' story."

Marvel said it would budget each film in the $50 -$160 million range.

"These movies are tentpoles for either summer or the holidays," Arad said.

Paramount will participate domestically and in most countries, though not in Japan, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and France, where Marvel will sell its films directly.

The seven-year, $525 million 'debt facility' was arranged by Merrill Lynch and Pierce, Fenner & Smith and will be loaned to MVL Film Finance, an indirect Marvel subsidiary set up to protect the lenders' investment should Marvel ever declare bankruptcy.

Marvel also pledged theatrical film rights to 10 characters as collateral.Although rights to some characters could transfer to the lenders in as soon as five years, should Marvel's film plans go awry, Arad said that will never happen.

"Trust me," he said. "I've protected this (Marvel) universe with my life."

Marvel will fund early development including scriptwriting of each film and then be reimbursed from the $525 million film-slate facility as each movie is greenlighted by Marvel Studios.Previously, Marvel profited from licensing its properties to the major studios.With the new deal, Marvel gets profits from box office receipts, home video, television, soundtracks and ancillary toy merchandise.

"Marvel has emerged as one of the strongest, most successful entertainment brands around the globe, with an enviable track record in feature films," Paramount's Grey said.

"Flash" Feature Picking Up Speed ...

Find hard to find "FLASH" items on eBay!

"Blade : Trinity" director David Goyer will write/produce/direct a big screen version of DC Comics' "THE FLASH" for Warner Bros. Pictures.

Goyer's New Line' "Blade : Trinity" is based on the Marvel Comics property. His screenplay for director Chris "Memento" Nolan's "Batman Begins" is based on the DC Comics character.

The original comic book of DC's "THE FLASH" was created by artist Harry Lampert and writer Gardner Fox, debuting in 'Flash Comics' #1, January 1940.

The story focused on 'Keystone City' Kansas student 'Jay Garrick', who conducts a lab experiment on 'heavy water', accidentally releasing toxic fumes that give him super-human speed.

Wearing a helmet to look like the Roman messenger of the gods 'Mercury', Garrick becomes the crimefighter known as the 'Flash'.

After fighting for the Allies during WW II, Garrick retires from the superhero business.

DC's 1950's reincarnation of 'The Flash', 'Barry Allen', aka 'The Scarlet Speedster', 'The Fastest Man Alive', 'The Monarch of Motion', and 'The Sultan of Speed', debuted in 'Showcase' #4, Sept/Oct 1956.

A police scientist from Missouri, Allen was struck by lightning while working in his lab late one night, accidentally splashing himself with a combination of chemicals as he fell to the floor. When he recovered, he found he could run at super-speed.

Inspired by the 1940's adventures of Jay Garrick, Allen became the next crime-fighting 'Flash'.

Allen married twice, but both his wives were killed.

Tragically he died, trying to save the universe, breaking all limits of speed to merge with the 'other side' of light.

The third DC Comics Flash is 'Wallace West', aka 'Kid Flash', a nephew of Barry Allen, who was a mechanic for the Keystone City police.

West debuted as 'Kid Flash' in 'Flash' #110, Dec 1959-Jan 1960, and as the adult Flash in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' #12, March 1986.

His origins were similar to the others, getting splattered with chemicals that enabled him to gain super-speed, but now powered by an extra-dimensional 'Speed Force', able to accelerate towards light-speed, transfer 'speed' to others and travel through time.

In 1990, "THE FLASH" TV series was created by Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo, airing Thursday nights on CBS.

Cast included John Wesley Shipp as 'Flash', Amanda Pays as 'Christina McGee' and Richard Belzer as reporter 'Joe Kline'.

Costumed similar to the comic book character, scripts featured the 'Flash' battling drug lords, robot assassins and his own clone.

The series also introduced 1950’s 'Central City' crimefighter 'Nightshade' (Jason Bernard), who helped Flash battle the 'Ghost' (Anthony Starke).

Other villains included 'Captain Cold' aka 'Leonard Wynters' (Michael Champion), 'Mirror Master' aka 'Sam Scudder' (David Cassidy) and the 'Trickster', played by pre cartoon 'Joker', Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill.

Will Falk's "Phantom" Re-Appear ?

Screenwriter Mel Stewart, is the latest scribe to be tapped for the Crusader Entertainment/Hyde Park production "THE PHANTOM", based on the 1936 "ghost who walks" comic strip character created by Lee "Mandrake the Magician" Falk.

Steven "Die Hard" De Souza had previously submitted a screenplay.

"While I like the comic book franchises of the 1990s, I always wanted to be able to identify with my hero more," Stewart said about 'The Phantom'.

"Take all of the technology of 2004, where science fiction is no longer that -- it's science fact. If you had all that technology at your fingerprints, you would be a superhero."

Considered the first costumed super-hero to appear in print, premise of "The Phantom" begins with 'Christopher Standish', a cabin boy for explorer Christopher Columbus, who marries and becomes the captain of his own commercial vessel. But his ship comes under attack by pirates and his only son 'Kit', the sole survivor, washes up on a 'distant African shore', befriended by the 'Bandar' tribe of pygmies.

Swearing revenge against 'piracy and injustice', Kit fashions a costume and becomes a feared figure, riding a white stallion, with a companion wolf running alongside.

"The Phantom" that appears in the current comic strip is Kit's 21st descendant.

The first 1940's 'Phantom' comic books were reprints from newspaper strips, published in Ace, King and Harvey comics.

More recent comic books have been published by Charlton, D.C. and Marvel.

'Puppet Master' Hanging Around For Marvel's "Fantastic Four 2" ?

February 1, 2006

With the recent announcement of a June, Vancouver start date for Fox' "Fantastic Four 2", comes word that villain 'Doctor Doom' will re-appear.

On December 5, 2005, we reported that Fox had greenlit "Fantastic Four 2", set for release July 4, 2007.

Actors Ioan Gruffudd ('Mr. Fantastic'), Jessica Alba ('Invisible Woman'), Chris Evans ('Human Torch') and Michael Chiklis ('Thing') will return to reprise their roles.

Director Tim "Barber Shop" Story will return to helm the film, as the first "Fantastic Four" feature grossed a worldwide box office of $320 million, due in part to VFX produced by Canadian production companies.

"Fantastic Four" filmed in Vancouver, BC.

"We tried to do something different than the brooding, dark setting you usually get in superhero films," Story said.

"The key to that movie was how to play with a comedic tone and the action and have it feel respectable to the genre ... now that everyone's been introduced, you can just get right to it. That's why so many superhero sequels improve on the original."

September 2005

Marvel CEO Avi Arad has confirmed that the original cast of Fox upcoming "FANTASTIC FOUR", have been signed to return for a sequel.

Arad said he would like to see Marvel's "Puppet Master" as the next villain to challenge the super-hero team in "FANTASTIC FOUR 2".

"Puppet Master's a great character", he said.

"Don't we all wish we had this power - especially when we are mad at someone."

'Puppet Master', according to writer Stan Lee, introduced in Marvel Comics' "Fantastic Four" #8, is the stepfather of Alicia Masters, the blind artist and romantic interest of 'Ben Grimm' aka 'The Thing'.

Using 'radio-active' clay Puppet Master is able to control people by fashioning voodoo doll 'puppet' likenesses of them.

Arad noted that actress Kerry Washington's character 'Alicia Masters' will have a larger role in further sequels down the line.

"It's not a big role in this one," he said about the upcoming FF movie, "but it's establishing her".

"Spawn" Steps Out Of The Shadows

"For me, there are three things I focus on when directing," said Frank Paur about the upcoming "Spawn: The Animation" feature film, based on Canadian Todd McFarlane's super-hero character.

"The first is to decipher the intent of the scene -- are we letting you in on some information about the character or is the action key? Second, I ask myself, what is the emotion I want to convey -- terror, a hint of something to come -- the mood is very important. And third is the composition of the set and positioning of characters.

"This is vital with "Spawn" because of the use of shadows. It's almost like the shadow is another character, so you have to work really hard to show what you want in so much darkness."When I worked on "Spawn" at HBO, I just took over the third season. That experience was more taking what was already set up and adding my directing knowledge to it. I wasn't involved from the ground floor like I am with this "Spawn" project."

MCFARLANE TAKES A LOOK AT 3D ANIMATION

September 21, 2005

According to Canadian artist/entrepreneur Todd McFarlane, the 'hot topic' around his office are the 3D aspects of the upcoming "Spawn: Animation" currently in production with the 3D animators at Film Roman/IDT.

McFarlane says that "2D animation is a very repetitive and time-consuming process, involving tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of hand-drawn and hand-painted characters and backgrounds. If a shot needs slight changes, it involves drawing the whole scene over.

"With 3D animation, characters, environments and props can all be computer-generated prior to laying out scenes, allowing the animator or director to take any character, place them anywhere within the environment, light it however they like and even place the camera at any angle they desire."

McFarlane says that animation "over the last 20 years just keeps getting better -- growing, evolving, breaking new ground - as animators fine-tune their craft. 3D is not only the wave of the future, it is the here and now.

"2D and 3D producers have found that amalgamating the two art forms can generate the best product with the highest entertainment value ..."

MCFARLANE AND FILM ROMAN CASTING ANIMATED "SPAWN" !!!

July 1, 2005

Todd McFarlane, Canadian creator of comic book phenomenon "SPAWN" continues voice casting the upcoming Film Roman "SPAWN" animated series.

"The voice of the character is extremely important as it must convey many of the subtleties that are difficult to portray in animated body language," said McFarlane.

"We had to convince our producing partners Film Roman to use live-action actors instead of voiceover actors when filling our roles".

"Our characters are from various walks of life living in lower Manhattan and anyone who knows anything about New York City knows not everyone sounds the same ... One of the main things I listen for when casting animated characters is realism ... Although you cannot see the actual person talking, you can tell if a voice sounds fake. This is one of those small nuances many people don't find important, yet are actually vital to achieving the high standards that are expected when working with any of my companies, be it toys or animation.

"In my experience, the best way to achieve realism in the voices is to use real actors especially since I am treating this project as live action as compared to traditional animation."Overall I like the actor to resemble the character they are to voice. Not so much in appearance, but in background and ethnicity. For example, if we were casting a Puerto Rican from the Bronx we'd like to find someone who has experience around this type of person, or is from there, so they can take from their own personal reference how they should sound and what slang they should use. "

March 2005

Todd McFarlane Productions and IDT Entertainment have announced a multi-faceted development, production and distribution agreement to produce animated programming and merchandise based on 'Spawn' and other TMP original intellectual properties.

Todd McFarlane Productions is known for its multiple Emmy-winning 'Spawn' franchise. IDT Entertainment, subsidiary of IDT Corporation, is a vertically integrated entertainment/animation company, producing animation and film through DPS/Film Roman, Mainframe Entertainment and DKP Effects. Video distribution is through Anchor Bay Entertainment.

The initial project is the return of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn: The Animated Series and the story of a highly decorated soldier, executed by his own men. Reborn as a creature from hell, he fights a constant battle between the forces of good and evil.

The first Spawn series aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999 and won two Emmy awards. "Spawn", one of the world's best-selling comic books with hundreds of millions sold worldwide, has also been the subject of a live-action feature film released in 1997. Distributed by New Line Cinema, the movie grossed over $100 million international.

Todd McFarlane will oversee all aspects of development and production, as executive producer. Terry Fitzgerald, senior vice president of creative development of Todd McFarlane Productions, will serve as co-executive producer and Sidney Clifton, senior vice president and head of programming and development for DPS Film Roman, will lead the creative development team on the IDT Entertainment side.

DPS Film Roman is the IDT Entertainment company known for its award-winning production work on The Simpsons, King of the Hill and other popular broadcast television programs.

"Ever since the Spawn animated series left HBO in 1999, I have been asked -- almost daily -- when the show is going to return," said McFarlane.

"I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to not only bring the show back, but also do it with the intent of making it better creatively than its first incarnation. Teaming up with IDT Entertainment’s DPS/Film Roman will allow us to take it to the next level of animation technology."

McFarlane will also create two additional animated properties. All three projects include animated broadcast television series, DVDs, feature films, video games, apparel and action figures, as well as other consumer products. McFarlane Toys, one of the world’s premiere toy manufacturers, is currently on its 25th figure line for Spawn action figures and merchandise.The McFarlane Group of companies also produces animated television, feature films and music videos. Past projects include Pearl Jam’s animated music video Do the Evolution, Korn’s mini-movie-style video for Freak on a Leash and Jodie Foster’s critically acclaimed The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Animation and live-action projects under McFarlane and Fitzgerald have won a Grammy, two Emmys, two MTV Music Awards and a Much Music Video Music Award.

The McFarlane Group owns rights and trademarks to more than 250 intellectual properties and characters.

"Spawn" the comic book was first published in 1992, selling 1.7 million copies. The title is now distributed in 80 countries and translated into 30 languages.The character has since been developed into a run of popular McFarlane manufactured toys, a theatrical feature, and a series of 'adult' animated TV adventures.