Updates On All Comic Movies!

Avi Arad on Marvel Studios' Upcoming Slate!
Source: SHH!
March 1, 2005

Marvel Studios' Avi Arad talked at a webcast from the Bear Stearns Conference today and gave an update on the company's upcoming movie slate. Here is the rundown, thanks to 'a1ant':

X-MEN 3: (Paraphrasing) "Going to the future...we are feverishly working on X-MEN! The cast is IN. We will shortly announce the director. This week was active, because everyone was in this week for Oscar. Our choices are very interesting. X-Men is a drama, and we want to get it right for X3. An announcement will come very soon!"

PUNISHER 2: A script is finished. They did bad in the box-office, because of KILL BILL 2, said Arad.

SUB MARINER: "It's STAR WARS, under water. It's our version of the TERMINATOR."

LUKE CAGE: They wanted Jamie Foxx for the project, before his Oscar win. Now he's not sure if they could get him, but said they might find "the next Jamie Foxx".

DAREDEVIL 2: "Daredevil's going to take a rest."

HULK 2: "Active development."

FANTASTIC FOUR: The "feel good movie of the Summer." There's supposed to be a presentation and premiere of new footage at the Showest Convention.

Wizard's Mega Movie Issue Coming March 9
Source: http://www.wizarduniverse.com/
March 1, 2005

Wizard magazine has sent us this press release about their new "Mega Movie Issue" coming on March 9th, along with the cover which you can view below:

It's the biggest event in Wizard Entertainment history.

With so much movie material—over 150 pages worth—Wizard: The Comics Magazine had to create an extra issue. For the first time ever, Wizard unveils a 13th issue, the Mega Movie Issue, on sale at your favorite comic store March 9 featuring an exclusive "Batman Begins" movie photo cover.

Get ready for some of the biggest and best features you've ever seen in Wizard: The Comics Magazine. We take you behind the scenes of some of the biggest comic movies—"Batman Begins," "Spider-Man 3," "Fantastic Four," "Superman," "X-Men 3," "Iron Man," "Namor," "Ghost Rider," "Silver Surfer," "Deathlok," "Wonder Woman"—the list goes on and on.

And we also let you get up close and personal with some of the biggest names in comic book moviemaking, including "Spider-Man 3" director Sam Raimi, "Superman Returns" director Bryan Singer, "Batman Begins" star Christian Bale, "Fantastic Four" stars Michael Chiklis (The Thing) and Julian McMahon (Dr. Doom), Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad and more. Singer takes you onset for his first extended "Superman Returns" interview from Australia in a 9-page mammoth exclusive that touches on everything from why he chose Brandon Routh to play Superman to a review of the entire cast to why he left the X-Men movie franchise.

But it wouldn't be a regular issue of Wizard without plenty of controversy and debate you can't get anywhere else. Debates like: Who's the best comic movie hero of all time—Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) or Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)? Best comic movie ever—"Spider-Man 2" or "X2"? Best villain—Magneto (Ian McKellen) from "X-Men" or The Joker (Jack Nicholson) from "Batman"?

We also give you exclusive art you won't see anywhere else—photos of Dr. Doom in action from the "FF" movie, a look inside the Batsuit and Batmobile from "Batman Begins," our own versions of movie posters for upcoming projects like "Iron Man" and "Namor," a visual rundown of the top villain candidates for "Spider-Man 3" and a peek at what a solo "Wolverine" movie might look like. We even throw open the door to Marvel Studios and spend a week inside their offices, watching their every move from trying to decide on a director for "X-Men 3," plotting out the future of movies like "Ghost Rider," "Black Widow," "Silver Surfer," "Deathlok" and more and also their plans for the "Ultimate Avengers" DVD.

Comic creators also weigh in with their favorite movie moments, we cast the "Iron Man" and "Namor" movies and we run down the 55 Comic Movie Things We Can't Wait to See…including CGI Sentinels, the Green Lantern Oath Onscreen and Spider-Man's Black Costume/Venom.

Haven't had enough comic movie madness? Well Wizard analyzes whether a JLA movie will ever get made and even give you a rundown on the status of every…major…comic…movie…EVER…optioned!

In-depth reading more up your alley? Check out the investigative feature digging into the mysterious death of TV's Superman, George Reeves. Murder or suicide? Read this 10-page thriller and you decide for yourself.

There's also the usual array of Wizard goodness, including the 63 Most Collectible Batman comics of all time, just in time for the "Batman Begins" movie, complete Hollywood memorabilia and movie poster price guides and a special edition of Magic Words as celebrities answer your burning questions. As a bonus, you'll receive a special 20-page Wizard Edge supplement, running down the 49 Things You Need to Know About Indie Comics in 2005, including titles such as Dead@17, Owly and Emily the Strange and top creators ranging from James Kochalka, Brian Wood, Craig Thompson, Becky Cloonan, Jhonen Vasquez and Scott Morse.

Pick up the Mega Movie Issue at your favorite comic book store on March 9.

Cool news and Doom.

I'm especially frightened by your sig.

-AC

Thanks, lol

Marvel's Film Slate From 4th Quarter Report
Source: SHH!
March 7, 2005

Marvel Enterprises, Inc. just held their 4th Quarter Earnings Conference Call and some interesting items were covered by Marvel Studios' Avi Arad. X-Men 3 is now scheduled for May 22nd, 2006 (that's a Monday and he mentioned Memorial Day which is the following Monday - perhaps he meant May 26 instead?). The movie was previously set for the first weekend in May. He added that the story for the third film is better than the first two films and that Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are back and that they're putting the video game into development early.

Arad said that you can expect the new Fantastic Four poster in 10 days. He also said the promotion for the film will be on par with the "Spider-Man" franchise and that the trailer will be seen with Fox films like "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" and "Kingdom of Heaven," and even Warner Bros.' Batman Begins.

While it was believed Ghost Rider would be an early 2006 release, Arad mentioned it will be a summer movie.

Here is the complete list of Marvel projects from the company's financial report:

Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2005
Fantastic Four, Fox - July 8, 2005 release

Marvel Character Feature Film Development Pipeline (Partial List)
X-Men 3, Fox - Summer, 2006 release
Ghost Rider, Sony - Script, Director, Filming started, Slated for 2006
Iron Man, New Line Cinema - Script, Targeted for 2006
Luke Cage, Sony/Columbia - Script, Director, Targeted for 2006
The Punisher 2, Lions Gate - Writer, Director, Targeted for 2006
Deathlok, Paramount - Script, Director, Targeted for 2006
Spider-Man 3, Sony/Columbia - Director, May 4, 2007 release
Namor, Universal Pictures - Script, Targeted for 2007
The Hulk 2, Universal Pictures - Development, Targeted for 2007
Wolverine, Fox - Development, Targeted for 2007

Marvel Character Feature Film Projects in Development
Ant-Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Nick Fury, Silver Surfer,
Thor

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 release slated for 2006. Characters include: The Avengers 1, The Avengers 2 and Iron Man.

Marvel Character Animated TV Projects in Development
Partnership with Antefilms Distribution to produce an original animated television series based on the Fantastic Four. 26, thirty-minute 2D/3D animated episodes are planned with initial TV airings in 2006.

Marvel Character Live Action TV Projects in Development
Blade and Brother Voodoo are two Marvel characters that are in development.

2005 Video Game Release Schedule
Spider-Man & Friends, Activision - Q1 2005
Fantastic Four, Activision - Q2 2005
Ultimate Spider-Man, Activision - Q3 2005
X-Men Legends II, Activision - Q4 2005
Marvel versus EA, Electronic Arts - Q4 2005
Punisher, THQ Inc - Q1 2005
Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Vivendi Universal - Q3 2005

some interesting looking games there...

I agree, the X-Men 3 game should be very interesting.

I can't wait until 2006 when we get 6 Marvel comic based films and Superman. 😮‍💨

when are they gonna start crossing over the characters. hey do you think after they finish all of the projects listed above they can do a Secret Wars movie??? thatd be awesome!

I'm not sure about that since they still have a heap of sequels that they will most likely work on after each of those films.

Yea 2006 looks very very promising... dont know why but i am really anxious for ironman even tho im not that big a fan.

tell me about marvel vs EA....

Originally posted by nimbus006
Yea 2006 looks very very promising... dont know why but i am really anxious for ironman even tho im not that big a fan.

I definitely can not wait for 2006 either.

In my oppinion 2006 will be the Golden Age for Marvel films.

Originally posted by Mainstream
tell me about marvel vs EA....

EA Announces Marvel Nemesis Game
Source: Electronic Arts
March 15, 2005

Electronic Arts announced today that Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects under the EA Games brand will be released this fall for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox, GameCube and PSP. The game will feature superheroes from the Marvel Universe as well as a new set of characters created through collaboration with EA and top comic book industry talent.

"Marvel Nemesis delivers the definitive superhero videogame allowing gamers to play as and against the world's greatest superheroes," said Marc Aubanel, Executive Producer, EA Canada. "Marvel Nemesis truly captures the Marvel Universe offering players an authentic superhero fighting experience that comic book fans and gamers have been asking for."

Ames Kirshen, Director Of Video Game Development at Marvel Enterprises, added, "We are thrilled to be working with EA and collaborating with some of the top talents in both the videogame and comic book industries in creating this groundbreaking comic series and innovative fighting game franchise."

EA is calling on the talent of top comic book writers and concept artists, such as Jae Lee, for Marvel character and game design as well as renowned artist, Paul Catling, among other industry talents, to create a new family of superheroes that will go face to face with an all-star line-up of Marvel characters for the ultimate showdown.

Lee has illustrated high-profile comic book titles including Spider-Man, Uncanny X-men, X-Factor, Captain America, Transformers Versus G.I. Joe and his own creation Hellshock. Catling is best known for his concept artwork and character design on Hollywood blockbuster films including Spider-Man 2, Alien Vs. Predator, The Punisher, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider".

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects will feature more than a dozen fighters in fully interactive and destructible environments. Gamers will have full control over the individual characters with each fighter having unique attributes and super powers that are true to their background, adding more depth and fighting strategy to the game.

The Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects videogame also spawned the new Marvel six issue mini-series, Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects, launching this May. In the comic book, Marvel superheroes including Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Thing and Elektra clash with EA's Niles Van Roekel, an evil alien scientist out to create a super army of vicious warriors. Through the comic books, the new EA characters will be unveiled each month leading up to the launch of the game.

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is currently under development by Nihilistic Software, an independent game development studio headquartered in Marin County, California, and is produced at EA Canada.

The official site for the game will be located here http://www.eagames.com/redesign/editorial.jsp?src=marvel_031505

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects Screen

saw those on gamespot too...

the graphics arent half bad...

They look pretty decent and they remind me of most of EA's past and present games.

yeah...

cyclops was always pretty good in beat em up games... hope he's in it...

as well as the usual marvel characters...

He will most likely be in it since he is the leader of the X-Men. Spidey, The Thing, and Wolvie have basically been confirmed to be in it.

yeah, i saw the comic strip thing... i might actually buy it if its any good...

same here,