Updates On All Comic Movies!

Big Ghost Rider Movie Update!
Source: SuperHeroHype!
October 12, 2004

Scooper 'Robert' sent us a big update on the Ghost Rider movie, written and to be directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil). You can click the names below to learn more about each:

CREW
I found out that Don Zepfel (Hidalgo, Mummy Returns) has come on board as Executive Producer. Concept work on the project started a few months back. A great artist/illustrator by the name of Marc Vena(Rush Hour, Dr. Dolittle, Sahara) has been working on the various artwork/designs with a few others. (Oscar winner) Russel Boyd (Master and Commander) is on board as the DOP - Bennett Walsh (Kill Bill, Stealth) is also on board as executive producer!

SHOOT
The official website for Film Victoria has been updated and states that Ghost Rider will shoot from January 2005 - June 2005.

CHARACTERS
The following casting call confirms the rumored villain and another familar character!

"GHOST RIDER"
COLUMBIA PICTURES
Location: AUSTRALIA
Start date: JANUARY

NOW SEEKING THE FOLLOWING:

MEPHISTOPHE, male, a demon, the most evil creature to ever walk the earth, LEAD ROLE

ROXANNE, age 20's, female, a natural beauty, a smart, likeable writer, vulnerable, gets caught in a bizarre and deadly game of vigilante justice, LEAD ROLE

Don't Expect an Avengers Movie Soon
Source: USA Today
October 22, 2004

In an article in USA Today talking about Marvel Comics' revamping of the Avengers comic book, Brian Bendis says not to expect a movie based on the comic anytime soon.

"We own all the comic-book characters, but different studios own their film rights. An Avengers movie would cost $700 million," says Bendis.

New Date for the Elektra Trailer
Source: Superhero Hype!
October 22, 2004

We've had some questions asking why there is no Elektra trailer yet, considering we mentioned that it would play on Access Hollywood this week and then hit theaters Friday. Superhero Hype! has learned that 20th Century Fox is now targeting the week of November 1st for the release of the trailer.

That Friday, November 5th, is when Disney's and Pixar's The Incredibles hits theaters, so there's a good chance it will be playing with the anticipated animated superhero action-comedy.

Fox has already announced that the first "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" teaser trailer will be playing with The Incredibles that weekend.

Blade: Trinity Receives the R Rating
Source: Superhero Hype!
October 24, 2004

As was expected, Superhero Hype! has learned that New Line's Blade: Trinity has been rated R for strong pervasive violence and language, and some sexual content. The second sequel, written and directed by David Goyer, hits theaters on December 8th.

Clayton Watson May Have a Ghost Rider Role
Source: The Advertiser
October 24, 2004

The Advertiser talked to "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions" star Clayton Watson who says he's up for a role in Ghost Rider.

"We're just sort of in talks about that at the moment," says the former Pembroke College student, who has auditioned for a role. "To play opposite Nic Cage would be awesome."

He is in the running to star alongside Nicolas Cage and Jon Voight in a $40 million adaption of the comic classic Ghost Rider.

Filming on the big- screen version of the Marvel comic is expected to start at Melbourne's Docklands studio in January.

Hit the link below for more of the article.

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,11149190%255E31624,00.html

First Look at Typhoid Mary in Elektra
Source: USA Today
October 24, 2004

USA Today has published this first photo of actress Natassia Malthe as Typhoid Mary in 20th Century Fox's Elektra, starring Jennifer Garner and coming to theaters on January 14.

The newspaper says that in the scene, shot this past summer in Vancouver, B.C., Typhoid Mary pins Garner's Elektra to the ground, preparing to plant a fatal kiss on her lips.

Click on the link below for quotes from Malthe on the character! http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-10-24-elektra-kiss_x.htm

😱 greatness!!

damn that chick looks creepy, the scene looks kind of lesbian lol (no offense to anyone)

Originally posted by Havoc470
the scene looks kind of lesbian lol (no offense to anyone)

That was their intention. She is suppose to be kissing Garner in that scene. That way they make more money from us guys.

Johnson Reveals Ghost Rider Filming Locations
Source: Herald Sun
October 25, 2004

The Herald Sun talked to Ghost Rider writer/director Mark Steven Johnson who revealed where the production will be filming starting January 31st.

He said half the film would be shot in Melbourne streets. The rest will be shot in the Central City Studios at Docklands, with a small portion in Broken Hill.

Melbourne won over Sydney and Brisbane because of its versatility, Johnson said.

"I just thought it was such a cooler town," he said. "This film is really going to be a showcase for Melbourne."

He pinpointed Little Collins St, some the city lanes and Telstra Dome as key locations.

"There's a huge set-piece on the river downtown near an abandoned railway line, where we're having a big police chase with helicopters," he said.

Hit the link belowe for more of the article! http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11185694%255E2902,00.html

New Ghost Rider Details Revealed!
Source: Zon
October 27, 2004

Scooper 'Zon' attended the "Melbourne On Screen" event at the ACMI in which Ghost Rider director Mark Steven Johnson and producers Bennett Walsh and Gary Foster talked about the anticipated film. Here's what was talked about:

I just attended an information session on the Ghost Rider film being shot in Melbourne Australia in January 2005. The session was held at ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and featured writer/director Mark Steven Johnson and producers Bennett Walsh and Gary Foster.

Amongst topics discussed were the long development process that the film had undergone, which was relatively fast tracked once Mark Steven Johnson came aboard the project and offered his take on the story. LA based company Imageworks was confirmed as the effects house for the production and the casting of Nic Cage was effectively confirmed, although apparently no official announcements have been made.

Johnson stated that he will be keeping as faithful to the comic book concepts as possible, while trying to make the concept of a demonic character fighting evil more plausible within the logic of his story. To this end, he is approaching the Ghost Rider as a "Bounty hunter for the Devil", and he described the feel of the film as a modern day western with supernatural elements.

The story will feature the Johnny Blaze version of the Ghost Rider and will also feature Mephistopholes and Blackheart as villians, and was described as a "faustian" tale.

It was confirmed that CG effects will be used for the Rider character (no surprise given the flaming skull). Costume-wise the look of the Rider will continue to develop over the course of the movie, so we'll get to see him in stunt-rider gear as well as the chains and spike look from the 90's comics version.

The film will start filming in Melbourne on January 31 in locations around Melbourne and Broken Hill - including a stadium shoot - quite probably for one of Johnny Blaze's stunt shows. An 80 day shoot is planned.

Originally posted by TheFilmProphet
First Look at Typhoid Mary in Elektra
Source: USA Today
October 24, 2004

USA Today has published this first photo of actress Natassia Malthe as Typhoid Mary in 20th Century Fox's Elektra, starring Jennifer Garner and coming to theaters on January 14.

The newspaper says that in the scene, shot this past summer in Vancouver, B.C., Typhoid Mary pins Garner's Elektra to the ground, preparing to plant a fatal kiss on her lips.

Click on the link below for quotes from Malthe on the character! http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-10-24-elektra-kiss_x.htm

post it at the Elektra thread..

(Jumpy)

😮

Blade: Trinity Costume Design Images
Source: Yahoo! Movies
October 27, 2004

Yahoo! Movies is featuring new costume design images from Blade: Trinity plus a few new official photos from the film. You can view them all at the link above.

The New Line Cinema sequel, written and directed by David Goyer, hits theaters on Wednesday, December 8.

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808473210&cf=pstills

Here is one of MANY below

Marvel's Film Slate From 3rd Quarter Report
Source: Marvel Enterprises
October 28, 2004

Marvel Enterprises has released its Third Quarter financial report and in it the company mentions the status of the various superhero projects it has in the works. Here are some highlights from the report.

Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2005
-Elektra, New Regency/ Fox - Filming completed, Jan. 14, 2005 release
-Fantastic Four, Fox - Filming started, July 1, 2005 release

Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2006
-X-Men 3, Fox - May 5, 2006 release
-Iron Man, New Line Cinema - Script, Slated for 2006
-Ghost Rider, Sony - Script, Director, Pre-production, Slated for 2006
-Luke Cage, Sony/Columbia - Script, Director, Slated for 2006
-The Punisher 2, Lions Gate - Writer, Director, Slated for 2006
-Deathlok, Paramount - Script, Director, Slated for 2006

Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up For 2007
-Spider-Man 3, Sony/Columbia - Director, May 4, 2007 release
-Namor, Universal Pictures - Script, Slated for 2007
-The Hulk 2, Universal Pictures - Development, Slated for 2007
-Wolverine, Fox - Development, Slated 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, Iron Man and The Hulk.

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.

A Marvelous 2005 and 2006

You're one click away from getting our FREE Special Report, "3 Hidden Gems Ready to Run" - revealing the names of the 3 winning stocks Motley Fool co-founder Tom Gardner says are poised to return handsome double-digit gains.

By W.D. Crotty
October 28, 2004

Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation Marvel Enterprises (NYSE: MVL) is well on its way to having $200 million cash, and no debt, by the end of the year. Today, the company announced that third-quarter net sales rose 60%, operating income was up 44%, and net income was down 46%.

The net income drop was caused by Uncle Sam. Marvel has exhausted its tax credits, and the result of being a tax-paying corporate citizen was a $45.8 million "tax swing" -- more like a high-impact uppercut to the financial chin but good news for America.

The softness in the net income increase is tied to the quarter's higher reliance on toy sales rather than the higher margin licensing of the company's stable of 5,000 characters.

Income increased in all three divisions (licensing, publishing, and toys). Operating income, though, decreased for toys because of higher advertising and promotional spending before the competitive holiday season.

What investors were waiting to see was the company's 2005 guidance. The Sony (NYSE: SNE) film Spider-Man spiked 2004 movie and toy revenue and earnings. But 2005 has an Achilles heel -- a sharp increase in development expenses for 2006 projects.

Three feature films will produce revenue in 2005: Blade: Trinity, being released by fellow Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) in December; and Elektra and Fantastic Four, both from Fox (NYSE: FOX). Six feature films, four direct-to-video original animated features for a partnership with Lions Gate (AMEX: LGF), and a Fantastic Four-based animated TV series will be in production for 2006.

As expected, without Spider-Man's U.S. release, 2005 revenue is expected to drop $110 million from the up-to-$500 million expected for 2004. Surprisingly, 2004's net income of up to $111 million will be surpassed and come in at $126 million. The 2005 results won't include a $12 million charge for the early retirement of debt and Spider-Man's international box-office receipts and worldwide DVD income.

Poll being help at Superherohype!

Out of Marvel's upcoming movie slate, which are you anticipating the most?

Spider-Man 3 22.9%

X-Men 3 16.5%

Fantastic Four 12.5%

The Punisher 2 11.0%

The Hulk 2 7.7%

Iron Man 7.5%

Wolverine 7.2%

Namor 4.9%

Ghost Rider 4.6%

Elektra 3.3%

Blade: Trinity 0.9%

Luke Cage 0.7%

Deathlok 0.4%

Total votes: 2407 so far

http://www.superherohype.com/

I wanna see the Ant-Man movie!

No really, you think I'm kidding? I am so tired of muppets and puppets, make-up and padding, computer graphics and other nefarious special effects to create monsters, villains and bad guys, aliens and predators and demons.

Have you ever seen a close-up of a moth's mouth? Have you ever seen a battle between a wasp and a spider? Have you ever seen the chilling grace with which a preying mantis hunts?

Imagine you are the size of an ant, but you are super strong (like Atom-Ant!), in other words, still as strong as a human being (or something, I can't actually remember all his powers now, I might be a little confused). Man, don't you think that would be an awesome movie?

Forget aliens. Foget predators and demons. Our monsters are much more scary and now, after thousands of years of evolution, we finally have the technology to film these scary monsters that live all around us!

And these monsters are REAL!

Ok, I wrote this a little tongue-in-the-cheek, but I'm actually very serious as well. I think Ant-Man has the potential to be a brilliant movie, if they use for instance the IMAX technology they used to film Microcosmos.

If, on the other hand, they use the technology they used to film Honey I shrunk the kids, I hope the fleas of a thousand camels infest their nether regions and all their fingernails turn into fish-hooks.

Yeah a film made on his character would indeed be interesting to see on the big screen.