“Gamma Corps” cancelled; folded into “Avengers” cartoon
According to Marvel Animation Age, the in-development “Hulk: Gamma Corps” cartoon is being shelved. However, much of the work done there will continue as part of the upcoming “Avengers” cartoon. From the report:
Joshua Fine, Director of Animation Development for Marvel Animation, tells Marvel Animation Age that the Hulk: Gamma Corp animated series was in pre-production when the decision was made to fold the creative work being done there into the upcoming The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series. Even though the creative team was well into pre-production of Hulk: Gamma Corps, with scripting underway, they saw the chance to tell bigger stories that reached far beyond Hulk’s universe.
“It became apparent to us that the creative work that was being done to bring Hulk’s world and his villains to life was too good to relegate to his universe alone, and would be much better suited as part of an full-on Avengers scenario,” says Fine.
Loeb, Alexander off of “Heroes”
According to Blog @ Newsarama, co-executive producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander have been fired from “Heroes.” NBC is reportedly frustrated with the direction of the series, now averaging more than 9 million viewers an episode, down from 11.6 million last season.
– Matt Price
Tennant to step down as “Doctor Who”
The Associated Press reports that David Tennant will step down as the Doctor on “Doctor Who” in 2010. He’s starred since 2005.
From the AP:
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s best-known time traveler is ending his journey.
The BBC has announced that Scottish actor David Tennant will leave long-running science fiction series “Doctor Who” in just over a year.
Tennant has played the show’s time- and space-traveling alien hero since 2005. He will appear in a Christmas special and four hour-long episodes to be aired in 2009 and early 2010. But he said Wednesday that when the series returns for a full season in 2010, “it won’t be with me.”
“This show has been so special to me,” Tennant said. “I don’t want to outstay my welcome.”
“Doctor Who” was first broadcast in 1963 and is one of the BBC’s longest-running and most popular programs. Tennant is the 10th actor to play the title character, who has the power to regenerate in a new body.
Classically trained Tennant, 37, is currently starring in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Retro Thursday: Peter Cullen aka Optimus Prime
I talked to Peter Cullen, voice of the animated Optimus Prime, in late 2006 as anticipation for the “Transformers” live-action film was building. We talked about his time on the TV show and his role in the live-action film. It was exciting to talk to Cullen, who, as the voice of Optimus Prime, was a definite childhood hero of my brother and me. This interview ran on the cover of Weekend Look on Nov. 10, 2006.
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Twenty years ago, “Transformers: The Movie” hit motion picture screens. This week, a 20th anniversary DVD rolled out. Voice actor Peter Cullen, who played Optimus Prime in the original cartoon series and 1986 animated movie, talked about his role as the robot disguised as a semi truck who led the Autobots. Cullen is slated to reprise his role in next year’s live-action “Transformers,” directed by Michael Bay. In it, Cullen will voice the computer-generated Prime.
Cullen was already a successful voice actor, with stints on “G.I. Joe” and “Voltron.”
Cullen showed up at a general casting call and looked at the character sketch.
“I was used to doing animated characters, and here we have a truck,” he said.
But after he read the short bio of Prime, he began to get an idea of how to portray the Autobot leader.
“The character breakdown for Optimus Prime was pretty straightforward,” Cullen said. “The writers were … excellent. I got a sense of Optimus Prime having integrity and honor and courage and conviction.”
That courage and conviction, as evidenced in Cullen’s vocal portrayal, was inspired by Cullen’s brother Larry, a former Marine captain who served in Vietnam.
“I think I got a lot of Optimus Prime from my brother. Certainly, the control and the honor and definitely the spirit of command. Soft-spoken, sensitive but willing to kick a- – like a Marine can do.” Cullen said. “I tried to keep him cool under all conditions, and authoritative and convincingly powerful.”
Cullen found out about his character’s death in the 1986 movie while reading through the script with Frank Welker, who portrayed Megatron, the Decepticon leader.
“I looked at Frank Welker, and I said, ‘Did you read this? I’m getting whacked! I’m getting rubbed out, and you’re doing it,’ ” Cullen remembered. Cullen said he understands the business reasoning at the time, which was to introduce the new product line.
“It’s (toymaker) Hasbro, and it’s Hollywood, and it’s business, and that’s the way they operate. They don’t take it personally, and I don’t really.”
Optimus Prime’s cool leadership qualities made him a Gen X hero. But Cullen didn’t know about his influence until years later, when, on the insistence of his daughter, he attended a Transformers convention.
“My eyes were opened wide,” he said. “I was shocked, and I was surprised. The little information that I had was on such a minimal basis, you really couldn’t get an overall picture on how big it was. It still is kind of a surprise to me. I think about it, and I think gosh, it’s an honor.”
Cullen was moved by a young man who stood to speak to him at a question-and-answer session at the convention.
“He said, ‘Mr. Cullen, when I was a kid, you raised me. … You had such a great impact on my life. I didn’t have a father, and you became my father, every day. And I’m very grateful to you for that. You mean a lot to me.’
“I don’t think there’s any words to express the way I feel now, and did then. Ultimately, it was an obligation and a responsibility to never let that kid down.
“I found out subsequently that there were other young boys at that time in their life that felt the same way, because that’s been repeated to me. And without sounding as if I’m — it’s more of a humble reaction than it is anything else. It takes me back, and I get a little churn in my stomach when I hear that, and when I think about it, too. It affects me very deeply.”
Cullen said the hard-core Transformers fans are to thank for his reprisal of the role in the upcoming big-budget film.
“(The filmmakers) were thinking more Hollywood big names,” Cullen said. “They did start to consider the original voice actors because of the enthusiasm and the … stubbornness of the fan base. God, I’m grateful for those guys,” he said.
Cullen was called in to audition for Michael Bay at his offices in Santa Monica, Calif.
He was asked to read a scene with Optimus Prime and Ironhide, a gutsy Autobot who was a close friend of Prime’s, also played by Cullen in the original series.
“The script assistant was there, and she started reading for Ironside,” Cullen said.
“I said, ‘Excuse me, dear, do you mind if I read it?’ Because I actually played this character.’ ”
Cullen completed the read-through reading for both characters.
Cullen received a callback. This time, Cullen was called to act out a more personal, one-on-one scene.
“The reason for that was, they wanted to find out if I in fact could act,” he said.
“Optimus steps out of his normal frame, and becomes … a little more human.”
Shortly later, Cullen heard from his agent that he was again cast as Optimus Prime.
“And I said, ‘Oh, fantastic,’ and that’s when I started to get involved,” he said. “It started getting exciting, and it’s remained that way ever since.”
DVD review: Smallville, The Complete Seventh Season
The young Clark Kent isn’t, perhaps, all that young anymore, as Tom Welling and company enter their seventh season of “Smallville.” The season starts off with a bang, with Clark facing off against his evil “Bizarro” clone. Introduced early in the season is Clark’s cousin Kara (Laura Vandervoort), Supergirl in the comics.
After the first two episodes, the season turns uneven, with some of the losers including “Fierce,” in which Kara decides the best way to fit in is to don a bikini and enter the Miss Sweet Corn pageant, and “Action,” in which a superhero movie is filmed on the Kent farm. Still, there are some great Superman-related guest stars, with Dean Cain (“Lois and Clark”) as an immortal villain, Marc McClure as a Kryptonian scientist and Helen Slater (“Supergirl”) as Clark’s Kryptonian mother. James Marsters as Brainiac helps get the season back on track. Michael Rosenbaum’s Lex Luthor makes a full evil turn in what could be his final appearances on the series. “Smallville” remains frustratingly uneven, but the best episodes are still worth watching.
— Matthew Price
(From Friday’s The Oklahoman)
Graysons: Not a Smallville replacement, producers say
KryptonSite shares a message from “Smallville”‘s executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders saying that, while they’re thrilled to be working on “The Graysons,” they aren’t intending for “Smallville” to go anywhere. It had been speculated that “The Graysons” might be intended as a “Smallville” replacement.
The statement reads, in part:
Never have we been so committed to the continuing success of Smallville as we are to seasons 8 and 9. While we are extremely excited to be working hand-in-hand with Wonderland, Warner Bros. and the CW to create the origin story of Dick Grayson, it has never been intended as a replacement for Smallville, as is speculated in some media. The cast, crew, writers and producers are all working full-steam ahead on a story-line for Clark that allows for seasons of further trials and adventures for our favorite hero.
– Matt Price
“The Graysons” coming to CW
According to Variety, “The Graysons” will be heading to the CW network this fall. The series will follow a young Dick “DJ” Grayson before he takes the mantle of Robin. The show is seen as a possible companion piece to “Smallville,” or, should this season be the last of “Smallville,” a possible replacement, Variety says.
In the comics, Dick Grayson was Batman’s first sidekick, Robin, then eventually became the masked hero Nightwing. Robin was played by Chris O’Donnell in the 1990s films “Batman Forever” and “Batman and Robin,” and by Burt Ward in the 1960s film and television series.
– Matt Price
“Heroes” season 3 premieres tonight
After what many found to be a lackluster season 2, “Heroes” returns tonight at 7 p.m. Central for the beginning of the third series. This story arc will be called “Villains.”
Check back in here after the show to share what you think!
- Matt Price
DVD review: Desperate Housewives, the Complete Fourth Season
The women of Wisteria Lane return for a fourth season, though some plots feel a bit tired.
The “tornado” episode is meant to be the big shocker episode, like last season’s supermarket hostage episode. But while that episode was taut and scary, “Something’s Coming” goes too far over the top, causing inappropriate laughter rather than concern.
This season, Katherine (Dana Delany), moves to Wisteria Lane with her younger husband Adam (Nathan Fillion) and a teenage daughter in tow. As expected on “Desperate Housewives,” Katherine is hiding a dark secret.
Meanwhile, Susan (Teri Hatcher) deals with a pregnancy as her new husband Mike (James Denton) deals with an addiction. Bree (Marcia Cross) fakes a pregnancy to protect the reputation of her daughter. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) battles cancer, her mother, and the return of an ex-paramour. And Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker), bored with her stuffed-shirt husband, begins an affair with Carlos (Ricardo Chavira).
Excellent guest-stars, including Gary Cole and Justine Bateman, join a talented cast to show “Desperate Housewives” still has appeal, even in a somewhat flawed, strike-shortened fourth season.
— Matthew Price
Smallville tonight
The “Smallville” season premiere is tonight — after you’ve watched it, check back in here to tell me what you think!
– Matt Price
