A Beginning And An Ending...

                                                         

So there's news on the the Marvel front...

Rumors are circulating hat the character of Black Panther will make an appearance in "Avengers 2" when it comes out in the summer of 2015: The Year Movie Theaters EXPLODE with awesomeness.  There's also a rumor that Marvel will replace Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye in that film since he's been conspicuously absent from any of the other films.

The first rumor seems to have something of substance behind it since officials in South Africa have been quoted as having conversations with Marvel scouts about location shooting. It could be true, but since Wakanda is a fictional country on the Continent of Africa there really is no need to shoot there between numerous locations and CG technology.

The other rumor is less substantiated since it's based on simply the lack of any scenes of Renner in the Captain America or Thor sequels.  Jeremy Renner was known to have been unhappy with the development of his character in the film, and wanted the chance to portray him more, but it's unknown if Marvel is unhappy about his being unhappy.  Rumors are that the character will be recast for the film, or recast and made available for the new "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." television series.  Until concrete news is announced I'd take this rumor with a huge grain of salt.  It could happen, but so Galactus landing on Earth and destroying it.

I'll believe it when I see it.

That being said, the first rumor has some weight to it since there seems to be plans for a "Black Panther" film moving forward.  Many sites (Latino Review, etc.) have been stating that T'Challa would be developed as one of the films in Phase Three.  But then, with the news about a possible "Doctor Strange" film it makes for a clearer picture of what we can expect from a P3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  So if these two projects become legitimate films we know that each phase is 5-6 films.  After "Avengers 2" we know that the beginning of the third phase is "Ant-Man".  So doing a little analyzing we can get a clearer picture of what MCU3 will look like:



Avengers 2 (End of P2)
Ant-Man
Doctor Strange ?
Black Panther ?
Captain America 3 ?
Thor 3 ?
Avengers 3 (End of P3)



So, if this is how it might look then it shows you that there are only two slots for returning characters.  The most obvious choices for films are Captain America and Thor.  It also makes it relevant as to why there might not be a need for a fourth Iron Man film if Marvel wants to introduce more characters.  There's only so many slot available, and Kevin Feige doesn't want to dilute he brand by having too many films.

Since there are a lot of characters that are yet to be seen, the studio is probably willing to let Shell Head take a more backseat role.  It doesn't mean there won't be an "Iron Man 4", but it does mean it's less likely.  Unless there happens to be a time when Feige feels that they can release three films in a year.  Which just seems unlike right now, but things could change.  But for now, we might have a clearer picture of what Marvel Studios has for a third narrative in this vast universe.  But what about another "Hulk" film?

Now, lets not get too far ahead and start focusing on Phase Four...

High & Low...

There's a new trailer for Disney's "Planes" film the Mouse just released...

The film, the first part of Disney Toon Studios' animated follow up to the "Disney Fairies" series was deemed good enough by John Lasseter that he and head suit, Bob Iger felt it was worthy of a theatrical release.  Now, we don't know if it's as good as they say, but the reports we're getting in, are that the screenings have gone very well, and it's a cut above what was expected to come out.

Keep in mind that, whether ou like it or not, the Fairy series was a far better offering for young girls and families that the Cheapquels that were produced under Eisner's regime   Lasseter has firmly put the storytellers in charge, and everything under the Hat Building and every other building in Burbank/Glendale that he controls knows that story is what drives it.

The Suits in marketing and Disney Consumer Products know they have things to push, but John and Ed Catmull have tried to raise the story level of each film/DVD that goes out to a higher level worthy of the Disney name.

From the look of this trailer they're succeeding...

Going Big...

The latest trailer for Guillermo del Toro's latest just came out...

Boy, does this look like a young boy's dream or what?  "Pacific Rim" is shaping up to be what kids have fantasized about playing with action figures for decades.  And from the buzz it sounds like Legendary Entertainment's Suits, particularly, head geek Thomas Tull, have made a friend for life.

Perhaps Guillermo is hoping that if he makes Warner/Legendary a mountain of cash, they'll give him a mountain?  As in buy the rights to his mountain over at Universal.  His opus, his dream is to make "At The Mountains Of Madness" since forever.  And it would have been done over at Universal with James Cameron producing and Tom Cruise starring, but the Uni Suits didn't want a R rated $100 million dollar picture.

If this film is a success then perhaps Universal will let him make that picture.  Or maybe Legendary will buy the rights to the project and let him have it as a gift for what he's done for them?  And while we're at it, maybe Alan Horn and the Disney Suits will finally bite the bullet and green light his "Haunted Mansion" reboot?  Now that would be a project I and many other fans have wanted to see.

It could all be riding on a bunch of giant robots and monsters...

Amazing Origins...

A new teaser trailer is for "Batman: Arkham Origins" is out...

It's only a scene from the actual trailer which will premiere on May 20, but it's quite impressive visually speaking.  The footage makes this game look much better than originally thought.  Since this game isn't primarily being overseen by Rocksteady, but instead Warner Bros. Games Montreal, many were wondering about the finished product.

So far, what's been seen is quite beautiful and the Creatives over at Rocksteady are keeping a hand in guiding the story.  That should calm some gamers, although the lack of Paul Dini doesn't question how the narrative will be in this film.  The writer of "Batman: The Animated Series" delivered one of the freshest, most thematically perfect movie experiences ever in a game.  Hopefully, Corey May (Assassin's Creed II & III) and Dooma Wendschuch are up to the job of trying to come close to his story.

Now, about that Justice League game Warner Games is working on...

2 Many Dreams...

If you remember, Brad Bird was always my first choice for the "Episode VII" directing gig...

The genius director talked with The Hollywood Report's Heat Vision for an interview where he addressed the chance to be behind the camera for the start of a new Star Wars film.  His response was layered in his passion for stories and his love of pursuing dreams:

I’ve known Kathy [Kennedy] for a while and I know George. And they did come to me. But the problem was, the schedule they had in mind made it impossible to do…unless I dropped Tomorrowland. And I was just really deeply into this film at that point. It’s easy to say, “Just put it on hold.” But you’re moving now; you don’t know if you’re going to be able to move later. Maybe it’s true of filmmakers like Cameron or Spielberg, but I have to act on momentum. We had reached a critical mass where it would’ve thrown the furniture around from the train stopping. I really want to see this movie. I love the Star Wars films, and I can’t wait to see what J.J. does, but it meant I’d have to shut down one dream to participate in another. I feel like [with Tomorrowland] we’re making something that’s really special and unique.

He also got asked about the chances for another "Incredibles" film.  He probable has been asked this more than any other question every time he sits down for an interview:

I have been thinking about it. People think that I have not been, but I have. Because I love those characters and love that world. I am stroking my chin and scratching my head. I have many, many elements that I think would work really well in another [Incredibles] film, and if I can get ‘em to click all together, I would probably wanna do that. I like the idea of moving a little more quickly in films. I’m looking for ways to accelerate the pace a little bit and figure out a way to keep creative control over these movies to a level where I’m comfortable with the end result but also speed them up a bit and make more of them. I have many different films I wanna make. It’s like a big airplane hangar and I have different projects on the floor; half-assembled in my brain. I’m interested in all of them. You kind of have to move on the ones people are willing to pay for and the ones you’re most excited about.

I believe when he's done with "Tomorrowland" he'll be perfectly timed to gear up for "Episode VIII" to start pre-production...

Getting Justice...

The Hollywood Reporter has a great interview with screenwriter Damon Lindelof...

It taps into his thoughts on many of his own as well as several other projects.  From "Lost", to "Star Wars" to  several other entertainment iconography that he's been associated with.  But the reporter asks Lindelof about Warner Bros. difficulty in getting their "Justice League" film off the ground.  And his answer is analytically  precise and revealing about what he would do, if anything:

THR: If Warner Bros called and asked you to help solve their Justice League problem, would you take that call? 

Lindelof: The Justice League problem? I think a lot of that depends on Man of Steel. The Justice League problem is not a problem of, who is the bad guy that Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, Superman, whoever you decide to pit them against. The problem is: What’s the tone of that movie? They’ve been struggling with launching their own tone. The tone of Green Lantern is very different from the tone of The Dark Knight. They clearly inhabit two entirely different worlds. You want to feel like someone is establishing a world where the Justice League can exist, maybe Man of Steel is that movie. If Man of Steel works, and it’s great, I think it starts to make sense where Paradise Island is in that world. Because that’s an entirely different world than the one Christopher Nolan introduced.

What's interesting about his statement is that he draws on the fact that "Man of Steel" could provide the justification for the superhero team-up film, while denying, or more precisely, deflecting any desire to be involved in the film.  So, unless he has a change of heart, I don't think we'll see his name on the credit list.  My suggestion, have Zack Snyder produce it and get Jonathan Nolan to write it and give him the opportunity to direct it.  He can be DC's Joss Whedon.  He knows the characters and is able to write them.  Let him play around in a world where they all meet up.

After all the success he's given Warner, that'd be justice...

War Of Dragons...

A war is about to break out...

Last week it was announced that Warner Bros. would be making an adaptation of the role playing game: "Dungeons & Dragons" for the big screen with writer David Leslie Johnson.  By the very next day, Hasbro, who now owns Wizards of the Coast (owner of D&D) fired off had lawyers readying their arrows.  It seams they're developing their own Dungeons & Dragons film and don't like the idea of a competing one.

The case is mired in legalize, but it comes down to this:  Courtney Solomon, who made the stinker of a film a decade+ ago, has the rights to the name Dungeons & Dragons, but none of the adventure campaigns, worlds, modules or novels.  Hasbro/Wizards owns everything else, just not the actual name.  The rights ended up being settled in an arbitration hearing after Hasbro bought the company with the result being that Solomon did have the use of the name, but everything else Hasbro can use for whatever it wants.

That's apparently not enough, as Hasbro now intends to get lawyers involved, even after arbitration to try and secure the name back.  It believes that the value of the stories it makes would be greatly diminished with the D&D logo upon it.  Even though they have screenwriter Chris Morgan (Wanted, Fast & Furious 2 - infinity) making his directorial debut.

But I see a possibility to create two separate worlds, or multiple worlds here.  Sure, Dungeons & Dragons is better known, but not by a great deal of the movie going public.  If they have a compelling script with interesting characters, inspired casting, a good budget and smart marketing, they potentially have the opportunity for a major new franchise(s).  There are many worlds they can explore if they choose to.

The Dragonlance world alone should be a place you could fill a trilogy of films (not like the mediocre "Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight" animated movie).  Then there is the expansive World of Greyhawk with its great theming and adventures, the moody alternate universe of Ravenloft, and the gritty lands of the Forgotten Realms they could mine for stories.  And who says it has to be for just film?  What about a series on HBO or Netflix, or Hulu?  How about a mini-series/limited series on Amazon or A&E.  Perhaps a television film/series on one of the networks/cable?

Like the game, the worlds they hold are open to endless adventures...