Update on THE WALKING DEAD Spin-Off Series

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There hasn’t been a lot of talk or information regarding the new Walking Dead spin-off series that AMC is developing. In a recent interview with Vulture a couple executives from the network gave an update on the series, saying that it’s still early in development.

AMC Programming head Joel Stillerman said,

“That show is not as far along (as Breaking Bad spin-off ‘Better Call Saul’). Robert has some things on his plate. He continues to write every issue of the comic and hasn’t finished season four of The Walking Dead, which he is very intimately involved with and will continue to be. That’s really in the incubation stages. The one thing that I’ll share is just an anecdote that Robert shared with us. He has such a specific vision that he laid out really clearly in the first issue of the comic book. And I encourage anybody who’s interested in the show to go read the note that he wrote in the first issue of the comic. His motivation for telling that story was so clear and so powerful, and it served as such a great north star for the show. We kicked around a few ideas, but primarily what he’s working on is, what is the idea that gives [him] as clear a mandate to make another version of this show as [he] had for the first one? What is going on [now] is a more philosophical discussion over why there should be another version of the show. Once we answer that, we’ll zero in on the specific creative.”

AMC network chief Charlie Collier added,

“What we want to do is not diminish the mothership. What we want to do is find something that everyone involved feels as passionately about as being a unique vehicle and unique enterprise as compared to the original series. We’ll take our time, and we’ll do it right.”

Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, and David Alpert are executive producers on the series, with AMC Studios set to produce. The new show is working toward the premiere date of 2015. I can’t wait to see what story they are going to tell.

Michael Douglas to Play Hank Pym in Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Michael Douglas Ant ManAfter winning the Golden Globe Sunday for “Behind the Candelabra,” Michael Douglas has found a high-profile new gig as scientist Hank Pym in Marvel’s “Ant-Man.”

Edgar Wright is helming the pic from a script he wrote with Joe Cornish.

“With Hank Pym’s rich history in the Marvel Universe, we knew we needed an actor capable of bringing the weight and stature to the role that the character deserves,” said Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. “We felt incredibly relieved when Michael Douglas agreed to step into the part with the charm and fortitude he brings to every character he inhabits, and couldn’t be more excited to see what he will do to bring Hank Pym to life.”

Observers ave been curious for some time to see how Wright would handle the universe of “Ant-Man,” since the superhero was portrayed in the comicbooks by both Pym and Scott Lang, whom Rudd will be playing. Pym was the scientist who originally created a chemical that allowed him to change his size, and when he retired, he handled the title of “Ant-Man” to Lang.

Wright had already surprised people by naming Rudd, who is better known for comedic roles than action roles, for the part of Lang, so it seems he’s going to be taking “Ant-Man” in a different direction than fans of the comic might be expecting.

Plot details are being kept under wraps. Feige is producing. Marvel had pursued Douglas early on for the part, but the actor was cautious until sources said he had a change of heart over the holidays.

GOTHAM TV Series Will Also Tell a Batman Origin Story

gotham-tv-series-will-tell-a-batman-origin-storyA few months ago Fox announced that they would develop a series called Gotham that would focus on the roots of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that put Gotham on the map. It didn’t seem like the series would include Bruce Wayne, but we’ve now learned that the series will also tell a Batman origin story.

In a recent interview with Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly, he explained,

“This is not one of the things where you bought a franchise and then none of characters people know. We will follow Bruce Wayne right up until the point where he gets interesting.”

Which is basically kind of like what was done with Smallville and Clark Kent. It’s a solid formula that could really work. He goes on to say that they are looking to cast a young boy–around 12 years old–to play Bruce, and that he won’t put on the cape or cowl until the end of the series. Reilly went on to say,

“The show won’t have a bunch of characters you’ve never heard of. We see Detective Gordon, before he’s a commissioner, all the characters you know, Bruce Wayne, the Penguin, all of them. It’s Gotham teetering on the edge, and we see what makes these characters become who they are, [like] Catwoman. It’s an operatic soap that has a slightly larger-than-life quality to it.”

All this new information makes me even more excited about what they are going to do with the series! It sounds like it going to focus on the decline of Gotham city and the rise of the villains whom Batman will eventually have to protect it from.

MAGIC: THE GATHERING Headed to the Big Screen

Via: THR

We’ve got another big, epic fantasy game world coming to the big screen! 20th Century Fox has closed a deal with Hasbro to acquire the rights to the fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering. The studio has hired writer and producer Simon Kinberg to help develop the project into a feature film. He’s previously helped in developing the X-Men and Fantastic Four universes for the studio.

The plan is to adapt it into an epic film franchise like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. This is one of the games I played a ton with my friends growing up in the ’90s. I haven’t played in years, though. I don’t really even remember how to play it, but I did enjoy it. I just didn’t have the time to keep up with it.

After World of Warcraft was picked up to get a movie adaptation I knew that Magic: The Gathering wasn’t far behind. The game was introduced in 1993, and it involves cards featuring a bunch of fantasy races, wizards, creatures, weapons, and spells that the players use to defeat each other. The cards and characters varied in strength, and some of the cards are incredibly valuable.

There’s so much awesome potential here, they have a ton of stuff to work with, and I’m really excited about the possibilities. If this thing turns out to be successful, we could have another badass fantasy franchise on our list of things to follow and watch! I’m hoping for the best.

First Look at Bill Paxton in Marvel’s AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in! I haven’t really been enjoying Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. My interest has faded, and I honestly think the show should be a lot better, with more interesting characters. Well, it looks like Bill Paxton has joined the series for a four-episode character arc. He will play Agent John Garrett, and according to Joss Whedon,
“We wanted to bring in a rough-and-tumble former cohort of Agent Coulson with a little bit of attitude and cigar-smoking swagger.”
Which is something the show has definitely been missing. Executive producer Maurissa Tancharoen added,
“He is the type who wants to stay out in the field no matter how high-level he gets.”
Agent John Garrett first appeared in the Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz comic Electra: Assassin, in which S.H.I.E.L.D gave him some cybernetic upgrades after suffering injuries in the line of duty. Who knows, maybe we’ll see some of that in the show. Whedon did say though…
“when Garrett got his promotion to Level 7, he refused to sit behind a desk and doesn’t like the formalities of S.H.I.E.L.D. He’s going to help Coulson solve some mysteries and is not afraid to rig an explosive or two.”
All I know is Paxton in the man, and I’m going to have to watch the episodes that he’s in. Thanks to TV Guide we have our first look at the character above.

DESPICABLE ME 3 and HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS Set for 2017

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Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment have announced the release dates for three of their upcoming projects that include Despicable Me 3, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and an untitled comedy from writer-director Garth Jennings (Son of Rambow, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy).

Despicable Me 3 will be released in theaters on June 30th, 2017. It’s coming from the same team who brought us Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. There’s no details about what the third film would entail, but it will continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and of course, the Minions.

Then we have a new animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The movie is set for release on November 17th, 2017, and it will be directed by Pete Candeland from a script written by Michael LeSieur. You all know the story for this, it’s just another reimagining.

As for the original animated untitled comedy, it’s about courage, competition, and carrying a tune. It will hit theaters December 21st, 2016.

BATMAN and SUPERMAN Won’t Face-Off Until 2016

Art by spidermanfan2099

Looks like Batman and Superman are going to have to wait a little bit longer to fight each other and then team up. Warner Bros. announced that the Zack Snyder directed film will now be released on May 6th, 2016. The previous date was July 17th, 2015. What’s interesting about the new date is that the movie will be going against an unannounced Marvel film, which could very well be Doctor Strange.

Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman had this to say in a statement:

“We are happy to take advantage of these coveted summer dates, which are perfect for two of our biggest tentpole releases. We share the fans’ excitement to see DC Comics’ most popular figures, Superman and Batman, together on the big screen for the first time, which will now be arriving in theatres in May 2016.  Peter Pan has delighted people of every generation for more than a century, so we are thrilled to bring him back to the screen next summer for today’s moviegoers.”

In case you haven’t heard, there’s also a rumor going around that the studio will be shooting Batman Vs. Superman back-to-back with Justice League. That may be one of the other reasons that the studio decided to push it back–so they have more time to shoot both films.

It will be interesting to see what Marvel film they are going up against, and if Marvel doesn’t move the date… which one will do better at the box-office?

NORMAN REEDUS FROM WALKIMNG DEAD GETS PRANKED ON INTERVIEW!

Daryl’s pretty solid, right? That didn’t stop Rick (Andrew Lincoln) pranking the hell outta Normal Reedus.

Lincoln teamed up with pro ‘Zombie Prankster,’ Nick Santonastasso, to give Daryl the shock of his life. Check it out!

THOR’s Lady Sif to Appear in Marvel’s AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Marvel has announced that Jamie Alexander will reprise her role as Lady Sif from the Thor films in ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s another gimmick that is going to keep me watching this crappy TV series that already needs a reboot into something better.

The report says that she is coming to Earth for a very specific mission, but they give no details on what that mission will actually be. I really like the character Sif. She’s great, and I wish she would have a slightly bigger role in the cinematic universe, but I’ll take what I can get, which is why I’m still watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I can only hope that the show will get better. It should be fun to see Stan Lee, but I’m mostly excited for the four episode arc that will include Bill Paxton.