“Dark Knight” credits to include tribute to Ledger
The Associated Press is reporting that the credits to “The Dark Knight” will pay tribute to Heath Ledger, and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed in a stunt accident.
Warners has been walking a fine line in promoting the film without being seen to exploit Ledger’s death, and I believe continues to do a sensitive and professional job.
– Matt Price
Collider: SAG strike could affect Comic-Con
Collider has a very drama-filled report about how a possible Screen Actor’s Guild strike could “ruin” Comic-Con.
“One important thing that most fans probably haven’t thought of — if the actors go on strike,they aren’t going to Comic-Con next month.
A strike means the SAG members won’t be promoting anything.
That means no actors from Watchmen. No one from Star Trek. No one from SAG would be promoting. Of course, an actor can still go to Comic-Con as a fan and walk around, they just won’t be on stage in Hall H or signing autographs at studio sponsored events.
Um, I’m as jazzed about comic-book movies and TV shows as anybody, but really, ruin Comic-Con? Couldn’t we all still, I dunno, talk about comics? Since that’s what the Con is ostensibly about? I don’t want an SAG strike for a number of reasons — and I kind of think there won’t be one — but I don’t think it would ruin Comic-Con for me, at all.
– Matt Price
Uncanny X-Men 500 preview
Matt Fraction joins Ed Brubaker as a co-writer on “Uncanny X-Men,” and I may not have been this potentially excited about the X-Men since Grant Morrison left. (Well, I liked “Astonishing” an awful lot, too.) Greg Land begins his run as the artist on “Uncanny,” and Marvel sent out four preview pages from “Uncanny X-Men” #500. Also included — the Alex Ross, Greg Land and Michael Turner covers for “Uncanny X-Men” #500. “Uncanny X-Men” #500 goes on sale July 23.
– Matt Price
Joel Hodgson returns to movie riffing
Most readers of this blog are probably up on Mike Nelson’s return to riffing on movies at RiffTrax and on DVD with The Film Crew. But I have been a bit out of the loop, as I just found out that the original occupant of Mystery Science Theater 3000′s Satellite of Love, Joel Hodgson, is also back in silhouette form with Cinematic Titanic.
Cinematic Titanic features the original cast and writers of MST3K, which is Hodgson (Joel Robinson), Trace Beaulieu (Crow), and J. Elvis Weinstein (Tom Servo). Filling out the ensemble is Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester) and Frank Conniff (TV’s Frank).
Meanwhile, Nelson’s crew features Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy. Corbett replaced Beaulieu as Crow T. Robot for the episodes that aired on the Sci-Fi channel, while Murphy replaced Weinstein as Tom Servo after the first season on the Comedy Channel (now called Comedy Central).
Meanwhile, catch Mike and Joel, Trace Beaulieu, Paul Chaplin, Frank Conniff, Bill Corbett, Jim Mallon, Kevin Murphy, Bridget Nelson, Mary Jo Pehl and J. Elvis Weinstein at the 20th Anniversary MSt3K panel at this year’s Comic-Con International.
And while you wait for Comic-Con, here’s a short excerpt from the Film Crew’s take on “Wild Women of Wongo.”
– Matt Price
The Film Crew: Wild Women Of Wongo - The best bloopers are here
Edgar Wright updates on “Scott Pilgrim,” “Ant-Man”
In an interview with PiQ magazine, director Edgar Wright indicates that “Scott Pilgrim” will be his next film, slated to begin filming at the end of this year or early next. Meanwhile, he’s in the midst of a second draft on “Ant-Man.”
Wright says: “I wrote that for Marvel and I’m in the process of doing a second draft. I had a lot of fun writing that script, I wrote it with this guy Joe Cornish, who is a really funny UK writer. It’s not really an out-and-out comedy. I think some people assume that it must be a spoof, but it’s not really. I guess it’s as funny as something like Iron Man is, it’s on that level of entertainment, really. It’s a big, high concept, special effects comic book adaptation, and very character-led and we found a way of… I guess in a similar way to Iron Man, the thing that worked with that and hopefully will with this is that it’s a different way of seeing a superhero origin, because you’ve seen so many of them and we really tried to figure out a fresh take on that story. So it’s definitely a Marvel film but it’s got a little twist on it in terms of the way that it plays out.”
– Matt Price
Comics shipping 6/25/08
It’s a hefty comics week as the month comes to a close, with new issues of “Final Crisis,” “Marvel 1985,” ”Captain America” and “Hulk” among the heavy hitters. “Conan” gets a relaunch as “Conan the Cimmerian” #0, Warren Ellis launches a new series with “No Hero,” and “Superman” welcomes writer James Robinson. Full list and commentary after the break.
Wolverine back to TV in 2009
Check out the second trailer for the 2009 cartoon “Wolverine and the X-Men.”
Supervising producer Craig Kyle, head writer Greg Johnson and others involved with the new X-Men cartoon will speak about the series at Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 26 at 8:30PM PT in Room 6CDEF, where fans can be the first to see the three-part pilot. The series will air on Nicktoons in 2009.
Marvel.com has more information:
“When an explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, the beaten heroes walk away from it all.
But then they’re given a rare glimpse into the future, and see a world in utter ruin, ruled by mutant hunting Sentinels. A world that spiraled out of control because the X-Men had given up.
So now the most legendary of all X-Men takes the lead – Wolverine! Reuniting these broken heroes, Wolverine embarks on the ultimate mission – to prevent the world’s destruction.
To rescue us from ourselves. To save the future.”
– Matt Price
Midnight Gaming returns to OKC
Get ready for more midnight gaming, as the Midnight Gaming Championships return to Oklahoma City this summer.
Gamers will compete in featured games including Guitar Hero III, Madden NFL 08 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The schedule for Oklahoma City area events is as follows:
July 12th – McDonald’s at 1300 E. 2nd St., Edmond, OK 730334
July 19th – McDonald’s at 501 E. Reno, OK City, OK 73105
July 26th – McDonald’s in Wal-Mart parking lot at 1200 Garth Brooks Blvd. Yukon, OK 73099
Aug. 2nd – McDonald’s at 9000 SE 29th, OK City, OK 73130
For more information, visit http://www.midnightgamingchampionship.com/
– Matt Price
Wallpapers, more at official “Dark Knight” site
While several viral sites have been going for the last year or so, Warner Brothers now has the official site for The Dark Knight up and running with wallpapers, icons and the like.
And of course, if you can’t get enough “Dark Knight,” keep checking this blog and the NewsOK “Dark Knight” site at www.newsok.com/batman.
– Matt Price
DC “Heroes Con” report
After a week of rumors and speculation about DC Comics, DC Executive Editor Dan Didio may have felt a bit under the gun at the DC Nation panel at this weekend’s Heroes Con. This Newsarama report gives the lowdown on the panel, in which Didio gives his take on a lot of the recent online kerfuffles, like the lack of “Final Crisis” tying in correctly to “Countdown” and “Death of the New Gods.” The most interesting bit of news, to me, is that Ethan Van Sciver seemed to indicate he’d be working on a “Flash” project.
– Matt Price
