Welcome to Comic-Book Central
Who would have thought comic-book creators would be the next movie moguls? With the successes of the Spider-Mans, the Supermans, the X-Mens and all the graphic novels in between, that’s just what these guys are turning into. And at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International–one of the hottest conventions these days–the deals are flying fast and furious. First up, comic-book artist Frank Miller, who made his helming debut co-directing Sin City–adapted from his graphic novel–with Robert Rodriguez, will adapt and direct The Spirit, based on comic legend Will Eisner’s classic strip. The Spirit, which debuted in 1940, tells the story of a masked detective who is believed to be dead. Using a mausoleum as his home base, Eisner’s character fights crime in the dark shadows of Central City, using cunning and ingenious forms of punishment. Wow, something we haven’t seen before [eyes roll]. Producer Michael Uslan (Batman Begins) told the Hollywood Reporter he shopped The Spirit to various studios with no luck. “They would say, ‘This is great, but we have to get him out of a suit and tie and into spandex. Also, he doesn’t have any superpowers.'” Miller, who became friends with Eisner before latter’s death, added, “When (Uslan) invited me to do this, first I said I can’t do this and then I said I can’t let anybody else touch it…It will be much scarier than people expect.” Oh, well, at least there’s that.
Next…
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, the man behind the Hellboy franchise, is in talks to direct a feature version of the cult DC Comics superhero Deadman, which is about the ghost of a circus acrobat named Boston Brand, who was murdered during a trapeze performance. His spirit was granted the power by a Hindu goddess to possess any living being in order to find his killer. In the ensuing search, Brand finds himself obliged to help others. Now, that’s a twist! Del Toro will be at Comic-Con talking about his upcoming projects, which includes Hellboy 2. Also, I reported a few weeks ago that they were revisiting The Hulk, with Brendan Fraser and Dominic Purcell in talks to play the Incredible one. Now, the project also has a director: The Transporter’s Louis Leterrier. Go, green!
And Finally…
The Doom Patrol, an idiosyncratic DC Comics superhero team, is heading for the big screen. According to the Hollywood Reporter, created in 1963, Doom Patrol featured a collection of super-powered misfits brought together by a man in a wheelchair, much like another superhero team that debuted in the same year, The Uncanny X-Men. The similarities ended there, however, and the Doom Patrol developed a cult following, especially during the late 1980s, when writer Grant Morrison introduced elements of surrealism into the series. The main characters include the Chief, a paraplegic genius; Elasti-Girl, who can shrink or grow her body; Negative Man, a man in bandages who could release a silhouette form of himself; and Robotman, a former athlete whose brain resides in a robotic body. Among the villains the team fought was an intelligent gorilla named Monsieur Mallah and a shapeshifter called Madame Rouge. Hmmm, sort of a cross between X-Men, The Incredibles and Mystery Men–the superhero spoof starring Ben Stiller. This one actually does sound pretty cool.
Other Casting News…Reynolds, Fisher a Definite Maybe
Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends) and Isla Fisher (so funny as the wacky little sister in Wedding Crashers) have signed on to star in the romantic comedy Definitely, Maybe. The project centers on a soon-to-be-divorced political consultant who has to answer some hard questions from his 11-year-old daughter as he explains his promiscuous past. Yes, and? That’s it?
Johansson’s the Other Boleyn Girl; Leguizamo, Tyrese on the Take
Scarlett Johansson will join Natalie Portman and Eric Bana in The Other Boleyn Girl for helmer Justin Chadwick. I reported on this awhile back. The story, based on the bestselling novel, centers on two ferociously ambitious sisters, Mary and Anne Boleyn, who were rivals for the bed and heart of King Henry VIII. Portman and Johansson will star as the sisters, with Bana playing the King. Imagine a catfight between those two actresses. Meanwhile, John Leguizamo and Tyrese Gibson will star in the indie revenge saga The Take. Leguizamo plays an armored-truck driver who is shot during a heist in East Los Angeles and goes to great lengths after rehabilitation to track down the criminal (Gibson) who shattered his life. The low-budget film will be shot guerilla-style without sets in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Rosie Perez will play the wife of Leguizamo‘s character, while Bobby Cannavale will play an FBI agent. Rapper RZA, Meagan Good and newcomer Astrelle Johnquest round out the cast. Sufficiently gritty, I suppose.
Lee Moves Off the Mountain
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee has found the two stars for his follow-up to Brokeback Mountain. Tony Leung and film newcomer Tang Wei have landed lead roles in the World War II espionage thriller Lust, Caution (great title). In the short story written by the late Chinese author Eileen Chang, a main character tries to seduce and assassinate a Chinese spy working for the Japanese government. Leung (In the Mood for Love, Hero) stars as a powerful Shanghai politician who becomes entangled with a young woman (Tang). Chinese pop idol and actor Wang Lee Hom also has been cast, as a student involved with the woman.
Until next week…
