Playing With Imaginary Friends While Growing Up...

I am a HUGE fan of the "Calvin & Hobbes" strip...

I have the entire collection(and will eventually get the Ultimate Collection) and frequently turn the pages to reflect on life as an adult.  It is an example of the sardonic genius that ink and paper can have.  Bill Watterson is a hermit who happens to be a brilliant storyteller.

And for what seems like forever I've wanted to see an animated film of this high spirited little fella and his vivid imagination.  I never thought I would get it knowing how Watterson was against marketing his creation outside of the newspaper pages.  It's not like he needs the money (he 's worth a reported $300 million just from the comic strip).  He's rejected offers since C&H was in syndication , which is why no child has been able to fall asleep with their very own, plush Hobbes to protect them.

The artist/author is notoriously recluse and has done less interviews than you could count on one hand.  Surprisingly, he has agreed to an interview with Mental Floss Magazine in which he talks candidly about his work, ripoffs and the possibility of a film of his famous creation.  He doesn't outright say no, but he makes it clear he doesn't believe there will ever be a film of his definitive work.

But isn't that what P.L. Travers said about her famous work, "Mary Poppins"?  She was stern, absolutely adamant  in her desire to not let Walt Disney make a film of her best selling book.

And yet it got made...

Hat Tip to /Film.

A Peek Into Pandora...

My favorite park in Florida's Walt Disney World is Animal Kingdom...

Not so much for what it is, but for what it could be.  There is a great deal for everyone in the Resort.  But the Magic Kingdom is not my favorite Disneyland clone.  Even with its expansion it still echoes that it's a copy.  Paris has one of the best designs and my favorite castle.  But not enough rides and not enough upkeep.  Tokyo's is a cleaner copy of Florida's, with a bazaar (both literally and figuratively) front entrance, but it feels even more of a clone than the one near Orlando.  Hong Kong?  A shadow of the original (but it's getting better.).  Shanghai?  Time will tell.

Epcot is a place of so much potential and undelivered promise.  Enjoy it for what it is, and for what I wish it were. But there have been compromises made over the past two decades that have misdirected what could've been a much better park than is. It is in no way the Epcot that Walt Disney envisioned, but it was built as a promising place for ideas he might've liked.   Over the years the bean counters and suits have made glaring errors that have watered down what Imagineers had originally intended/envisioned.  There are great things in the park, but there are also flawed things as well. Too many things unfortunately.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is a mixed bag. Starting out as a clone on the Mouse's competition: Universal Studios, it has morphed back-and-forth trying to find its purposes for guest.  While there are a lot of things that are right, there are many things that simply don't belong. Again, mainly the product of bean counters and not Imagineers. WDI has had clear plans from the beginning which were altered for business/economic purposes that have caused the part to stray from a more pure example of Hollywood movie love.   There have been proposals over the last decade or so that if implemented will make the former Disney-MGM Studio a much more attractive gate bringing it back on track as a "movie" park.

Which brings us to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Now, I'm certainly not saying that this park is perfect, but it does offer promise. And it does offer a much more unique Disney experience than any other park, and certainly any other Disney park.  It is different than a normal themepark, and different from a zoo like San Diego's famous destination.  It is a mix of message, environment, and entertainment all moving into one. For the most part is successful, but not entirely.  Michael Eisner and his bean counters are major players in the fault of the park's original purpose.

Those of you that follow Disney or happen to be regular readers of Blue Sky will know the background of this park and it's storied history.  Being as it is an "animal" park it was supposed to encompass all animal experiences.  By that I mean: living animals (the zoo part, with a Disney spin), extinct animals (Dinosaurs), and mythic animals (Dragons, unicorns, and fairies, oh my.).

Only two of these were actually built.  And for the most part it is a great experience in an amazingly lush and beautiful environment.  The one area that is the sore spot is Dinoland U.S.A.  An atrociously guady kids land that is a blight on the serene scenery everywhere else in the park.  Do they really have to make it ugly just for the young ones?  A revamp of this area so that it shares the same detail, and removes the "carnie" image that clashes with the rest of this hypnotic park would be welcome.

Beastly Kingdomme was the land of mythical creatures that got cut.  It was to be a place where all mythical creatures came to life.  There was an immensely detailed roller coaster revolving around the ancient, ruined castle inhabited by a dragon that would've thrilled guest. There was an enchanting ride called "Quest for the Unicorn" that would've merge guest in the whole haunting world of these magical creatures. A giant garden maze for guests to walk in and even an area along the river where a dragon which you have flames upon unsuspecting guest.

Delightfully themed, intricately detailed shops and joyfully whimsical restaurants were planned to accentuate and accommodate the experience were all included as well.  This mythic part never came to be other than the Dragon on the logo for Disney's Animal Kingdom.   The area it was to go is ironically the same place in which the new land based on James Cameron's film will go.   The area with camp Minnie-Mickey.

For months Disney fans have talked about this new addition.  Many had spread rumors that the project of been canceled, (which we told you months ago it was not) really just hoping that it would since they didn't believe it belonged in Disney park.  And to be fair, it doesn't seem at first glance to be a proper fit. If you think it is from the standpoint of the main characters both human and Na'vi, it seems you're placing it in an entirely different park (Disney's Hollywood Studio is where most think it should  go, if they think it should go in a Disney park at all).

But, if you look at the world created in the highest grossing film of all time in the world, it's the environment that they are selling.  The creatures and locations that are in the science-fiction epic or what Walt Disney Imagineers are trying to convey.  The park, just like the movie has an environmental message (although I will admit that avatars message was a little heavy-handed).  The science-fiction creatures on this far-off world are what you experience which is why the area will be called "Pandora", or the "World of Pandora", and not "Avatar Land" as everyone is referring to it.  

Even though we haven't yet gotten those mythical dragons and other creatures, Joe Ronde's goal is to provide that mythic experience which was missing from the opening.  They will simply be science fiction imaginary creations instead of ancient lore creations.  It will finally helped develop the park into three divisions: living, extinct and imaginary animals.  And before you complain too much, this doesn't mean that we won't get something like Beastly Kingdomme.  It just means that it (and the proposed Austrailia area) will come later.

From what I've heard the Bothans tell me, this new land will be an incredibly immersive experience.  As we've said before, the land will be approximately the same size as Cars Land is in Disney California Adventure. There are at least three attractions, many restaurants and shops, and immersive surroundings which will startle guests throughout the park.  It'll also finally turn the park from a part-day to a full-day park. In fact, from what has been shown, and from what has been told to me, when this area opens in 2017 DAK will be the "must go to" park in the entire Walt Disney World Resort.  

I don't say this as hyperbole, I say this simply as someone conveying what people have told me. Imagineers are extremely happy, and proud of what they have done and are working on to create an experience unlike any other for guests to enjoy.  When I said nighttime experience, I meant "nighttime" experience. There simply will be no more beautiful place to be in than Animal Kingdom,, particularly Pandora at nighttime in Disney World.  It will be a hypnotic trance inducing trip for the young and the old alike.  

And even Hogwarts will be jealous...

UPDATE:  It looks like that Walt Disney Imagineering let D23 release the video presentation for everyone to see.  I guess you didn't have to travel to Japan to travel to Pandora after all.

Anti-Potter...

Someone should really hire me at the Mouse...

Yet another project I mentioned would be a good thing to adapt has finally started happening under Alan Horn.  For those of you that haven't heard, Walt Disney Pictures is partnering with Harvey Weinstein to make an adaptation of the fantasy novel series, "Artemis Fowl" as a potential new Mouse franchise.  Yes, the dreaded F word: the holy grail to most studio suits all around Tinseltown.

For those that haven't heard of the character, Artemis is a multimillionaire, twelve year old boy with a criminal mind bent on restoring his family's former glory.  To do that, he actually concocts a magical heist involving fairies.  At least that's the basic plot of the first book.  The film will be based on the first and second book.  I don't know why they couldn't just make the film out if the first one.  At least they have a talented writer to adapt it in Michael Goldenberg ("Harry Potter and the Orde of The Phoenix").

The popular eight book series created by Eoin Colfer is a very engrossing world that, if done right, could be a great addition to the fantasy creations of Disney.  And I'm sure the Suits would love to have this be the first in a long line of films.  Not to mention attractions, games, shirts, shoes, toys, comics, etc.

And maybe even more books...

Fairy Taled...

The Bunny has been trying to get this one made for a millennium...

Or it might just seem that long.  While Warner is taking their time getting the primary DC Comics characters to the silver screen, they are moving forward with some of their other DC properties.  Their Vertigo properties to be precise.

"Fables" which tells the tale of a group of fairy tale characters that get throw out of their own world and into ours.  No, I'm not talking about "Once Upon A Time" or even "Grimm" really.  This is, or was around well before those series were created.  In fact, it might be the reason that the studio decided to go the film route since there are already series with similar themes on network television.

Originally they were going to try and film it with the Jim Henson Company involved and that fell through.  A few years ago there was an attempt to make it as a television series for ABC and that went nowhere.  You have to love development hell, right?

Now Warner Bros. is going the feature route again and has attached Nikolaj Arcel to helm the film based on a script by Jeremy Slater (latest draft of the current "Fantastic Four" reboot).  David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford of Harry Pottor fame will be producing the film.  No one is currently attached as stars, but with the writer/director/producers all lined up expect casting to announced shortly.

I wonder if DC Entertainment has anything to do with this since it's an imprint of theirs...

Spirit Of The West...

The Man of Steel isn't the only hero coming out soon...

A Masked Man with silver bullets will be out soon as well.  The film looks to have crazy action and Gore Verbinski's twisted take on the Wild West also.  If you've seen the trailers then you've seen the scene where the Lone Ranger wakes up after being dead to find himself on a spirit tower and almost falling off.

Walt Disney Pictures has released a new featurette of the filming of that scene.  It shows you the prep that it takes to film even a shot that last only a few seconds.  But it's unique shots that make films stand out in this crowded summer of films.  Or maybe it's story that make films stand out?  Yeah, that's it: a great script.

I've been hanging around development suits too long...

From Yesterday, Today...

Another trailer for another remake coming to television this fall...

I don't know why the CW doesn't just change its name to The YA or The Twilight Channel.  Everything it does is directed toward this demographic.  But the CW Suits have taken "The Tomorrow People", a fun, British series from the 70's and have adapted it to the times where it'll fit right in between "The Vampire Diaries" and "Arrow" or several other shows.  It's going to be scheduled with "Arrow" this fall to maximize the success of that show, and hopefully the popularity of that show will transfer over to this one.  Suits think so at least.

For those of you that don't know, "The Tomorrow People" is based on a series about a genetically evolved group of people, hence "Tomorrow", that have jumped the strain of humanity and are ahead of their times.  They have powers and abilities that would classify them as superheroes or mutants.  And some might say that they're ripping off the current popularity of these shows and films, I'd have to disagree.  They might be taking advantage of those shows, but they're not ripping them off.

The British show was a great deal of fun.  With intriguing plot lines and very Doctor Who type of stories (with the quality of 70's Doctor Who effects, unfortunately).  I used to enjoy watching reruns of it on Nickelodeon in the early days of that network and my youth.  If the stories are as good as the original series, and the effects are better then the original series has a lot of promise.

If it's not, then it'll be no worse than some of the other shows on the CW...

Man Of U.N.C.L.E...

Well, now we know who might be taking the Solo role Tom parachuted out on...

So instead of just having the man that played secret agent Ethan Hunt taking on the part of secret agent Napoleon Solo, we'll have Kal-El play him?  That sounds interesting.  Word is the buzz surrounding "Man of Steel" is so positive among the Bunny Suits that Warner feels Henry Cavill can lead another iconic franchise.

So if this rings true then Cavil will be Solo to Armie Hammer's Russian spy Illya Kuryakin.  That will be a comely duo for Guy Ritchie to have some fun with.  Will "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." be a present day adventure, or a period-centric 60's spy pic?

We may need a secret agent to find that out...

Telling Tails...

If you're a fan of classic fantasy stories then this is for you...

That poster you see is the teaser for the upcoming animated film adaptation of Tad Willaims' "Tailchaser's Song".  It's an epic fantasy that is told through the eyes of a society of cats.  If you're rolling your eyes, please don't.  It's an enchanting tail, um tale about a particular cat that has to go on a quest to find out the who is killing cats.  It's sweet and haunting, involving cat gods, strange worlds and bizarre adventures.  Crazy, beautiful stuff.  It's been described as "Watership Down with cats", but that doesn't do the story justice.

Animetropolis Productions along with IDA and EFG-Renascence are in the process of animating it right now, so it'll probably be out around 2015, although there's no official release date yet.  But if the animation is good then this film could be a great film.  They already have great source material that is epic.

Not every animated film can start off with a great story, but this one does/can...

Hat Tip to Ain't It Cool.

Made. In Japan...

The special issue of Empire magazine is out...

It's got a swanky cool picture of Hugh Jackman in character from the film "The Wolverine" for the cover.  Pretty nice pose.  I really want this film to be good, but the trailers so far haven't given a great vibe.  Despite the fact that it has a great screenwriter in Christopher MacQuarrie, terrific source material in the Frank Miller/Chris Claremont mini-series, and a top level director in James Mangold, the trailer so far don't convey the classic tale of Logan in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Maybe Fox hired the people that marketed "John Carter" for Disney...

Impossible Mission: Man From Uncle...

Well, it appears Tom Cruise won't be starting a new spy franchise anytime soon...

The star has dropped out of the lead for Guy Ritchie's "The Man From Uncle" adaptation.  It appears that the scheduling conflict for filming this would have interfered with Cruise being actively involved in producing M:I 5 and he had to withdraw from the role.

So Warner Bros. and Ritchie are now on the hunt for another actor to play the role.  The film has had various actors in and out of the role (George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, etc.) since Steven Soderbergh was attached to make a retro-60's spy film for the Bunny.

Apparently the script is ready for production and the film was scheduled to film in late 2013, which is the reason it was a conflict for Cruise.  The fifth M:I film is currently being written by Drew Pearce, and is expected to be directed by Christopher MacQuarrie although he's not yet signed.  So who will get cast as Napoleon Solo?  Who will want it?  Robert Downey Jr. said something about wanting to create another non-Marvel franchise.

And he has worked with Guy Ritchie on another franchise...

The Geek Codex...

It's amazing how the past can sometimes take control of the present...

Or predict the future.  Because that's what happened between the 1930's to the 1950's.  Much of the literature or films of these decades greatly influenced what we go to the theaters to see, or what we turn on the television to watch.  Now, I'm talking specifically about a certain type of literature (pulp magazines & comics) and a certain kind of film (serials).

Don't think so?  Think again.

Imagine some of the biggest hits in the last two decades, or even three decades and what do you come up with?  Star Wars?  It's a Saturday morning serial, especially "The Empire Strikes Back", as it's a pure matinee picture.  Raiders of the Lost Ark?  It's cut from the mold of old serials like "Spy Smasher" or "Zorro's Black Whip" among others.  Even it has imitators like "The Mummy" that play into the serial/pulp vein of pictures.  What is Disney's big tent pole picture this summer?  "The Lone Ranger" which is based on pulp stories that turned into serials like "The Lone Ranger" and "The Lone Ranger Rides Again" to the classic television series.

And then there are the pulp stories like "Doc Savage" that is walking right out of a tattered, old pulp magazine.  There have been some abortive attempts like "The Shadow" which has the correct look, but the wrong feel for the character.  And there have been efforts to bring him back, specifically, Sam Raimi a few years back before he got "Spider-Man" off the ground.  Disney's own "John Carter of Mars", which sadly didn't connect properly with audiences, comes from the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories printed in these old pulps.  Most people like to make fun of this that have never read the novels, or they simply forget because of Burroughs more famous pulp creation: Tarzan.

And comic books seem to be the biggest beneficiary of this resurgence.  There have been bad attempts at this over the decades, but around the end of the last century we started getting films that tapped the right fan artery.  Part of this was because Suit in charge were beginning to be the generation that read these comics so the stories were more authentic, and second, the introduction of computer graphics made it possible to create believable worlds; something that wasn't achievable a decade earlier.  A film of the Justice League or Avengers a couple of decades ago would have looked horrible, but with the help of CG and a script by Joss Whedon, look at what can be achieved?  A Justice League picture right now sounds like a monster waiting to be unleashed, not a film to be humiliatingly tucked away in a vault.

But a great deal of what you see on the silver screen today has been born from the DNA of these mediums.  And we're beginning o see more and more of them.  Expect if Doc Savage succeeds for The Shadow to be quickly green lit into production.  Studio Suits will go mining the pages of dingy pulps looking for the next character that they can exploit.  Something like The Spider could be the next one to go, or a less known pulp hero like Operator 5 or Secret Agent X.  If Warner Bros. wants to get on the band wagon, all they have to do is look through their DC Comics characters for "Spy Smasher", a little character they bought from Whiz Comics years ago.  He's the star of an incredibly entertaining serial by the same name that is utterly dear to me.

Not everything will be a hit.  For every Star Wars, there is a "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" that doesn't perform.  Or a "Rocketeer" that disappoints.  But even that film has developed a growing following as it's gotten older.  It's aged like wine to the point where the Mouse is thinking of rebooting it for the next generation.  Everything old is new again, or can be.  If you were a fan of "The Clone Wars" then you might not know that you were watching a serial.  Everything about that show flows back to the old Flash Gordon serials, from the action to the opening exposition setting up what's to come.

Yes, pulp/serials/comics changed the world.  At least the one we pay money for a ticket to see.  They take us away from the boring, drab world we live in to take us to a world where good will win, and it will do so with style and presence.  It's a place where danger lurks around every corner, but fun pervades every bit of atmosphere.  Within this world we can escape the lives we live, to experience something missing from our day to day journeys.

Now sit back in your chair at that theater and watch these old tales live again...

Last American Hero...

So the Mouse released the final trailer for their new summer film...

The fourth trailer for Walt Disney Pictures "The Lone Ranger" has come out.  More action, more comedy, more "splosions" and a really wild, Wild West.  The folks in Burbank are betting 200+ million on a genre that has been hit or miss over the past few decades.

Gone are the days when Hollywood studios would crank out Westerns on a weekly basis, because it was printing money.  People would go to see them no matter if they were good, or bad, or the cowboy was singing.  It was a distinctly American genre that defined this nation during the latter part of the Nineteenth century.  It was the emergence of this nation on the world as a place of opportunity, adventure and hope.

Maybe that hope is personified in the adventures of this tale of a masked man out for justice.  He doesn't wear a cape, or fly, or throw a car at someone to smash them.  He fires a bullet, rides a white horse, and wears a white hat.  He's the symbol of a dying breed of film and men.  Cowboys are a part of the film industry and the American past.  We'll see if it rides again this summer.

Remember they said pirate movies were dead a while ago too...

Leagues Lagging...

It appears the Nautilus has been delayed from submerging again...

David Fincher's remake/reinterpretation of the classic Walt Disney Picture: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" has hit another snag.  The current plan was to start shooting the picture down under late summer/fall of this year, but now the production has been pushed back until 2014.  The postponing of shooting means that the film would now likely get a late 2015/early 2016 release if the production doesn't experience another delay.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Mouse has decided to put off production since casting issues have resulted in no desirable actor to play the lead, Ned Land.  Brad Pitt was being courted by Fincher, but he eventually decided to pass on the part.  Reports that the part was being offered to Channing Tatum has not resulted in any commitments (thankfully, yeck).

The production has encountered several delays, but was supposed to be the directors next film following "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", but Fincher has several other films he's connected to.  If the schedule slips further he could board the helming duties of several properties.  Hopefully they'll get a lead that assuages the fears of Alan Horn and his Disney Suits and the green light will be given

This project has been waterlogged for too long...

Last Father Of Krypton...

Each day it seem they release another poster from the "Man of Steel" film...

The difference this time is that it's not one of Kal-El/Clark Kent, but his father.  The biological one.  The one that sent him off to survive the destruction of his home world.  And it's pretty cool, I'm sure you'd agree.  It's going to be great to see a new Superman film after the disappointment that was Bryan Singer's "Superman Returns" film.  He seemed to be treading on too much nostalgia for the Donner film.  This film will be our first glimpse into the world to come.

The one we've waited for...

Monstrous Year Just Got More Monstrous...

And yet another film joins that year...

And this is one of the few that's not a Disney film.  New Regency and Ubisoft have plugged in Memorial Day, 2015 for the release of their "Assassin's Creed" film.  Hmmmm.  I wonder what other film will likely be out in May of that year?  The film studio is moving ahead with the Michael Fassbender starring game adaptation.

The studio/game-maker studio are moving for forward with production to begin on the film by early next year.  No start date has been announced, but the film, produced by Fassbender as well is being targeted as a tent pole franchise.  The first of many from Ubisoft's film division.  Michael Lesslie is penning the screenplay at this time with supervision by Fassbender himself.

Now, if they only had a director...

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...

Mission Statements...

     
   
 

          

Tom Cruise is building momentum for a fifth Mission: Impossible film...

While it was thought that Christopher McQuarrie would write and direct the film, another writer has been hired.  Drew Pearce ("Iron Man 3", "Pacific Rim") has been hired to pen the script for the next outing.  McQuarrie is still in talks to direct the film, but it's not known if he'll share the writing duties.

Given his pedigree it's likely he might still be involved in the script.  Pearce was initially the sole screenwriter on Iron Man 3 and Shane Black was hired as just the director.  But being a writer it was impossible to keep Black from coming in and doing some typing.  In the end he shared writer credit with Drew.  The same could happen with this next mission if Christopher wants to put his imprint on the page.

Nothing is impossible...

A Broadening S.H.I.E.L.D...

We now have an extended trailer for Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." series...

It certainly does flesh out the series to give us a better representation of what Joss Whedon has in store for us.  We get to see the mysterious figure that saves someone from a burning building, expanded take on the agents who we'll see every week, and a little more depth on why Agent Coulson returns (hint: Level 7).

So will this series make it beyond "Firefly" or "Dollhouse" into a second or third season?  Who knows, but in the world we live, having the exposure of being connected to "The Avengers" should give it a better chance of attracting and keeping an audience.  Maybe it'll make it to seven season's like Whedon's pinnacle: "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" did.

Time will tell...

Debating Myths...

J.J. Abrams was on The Daily Show to talk about...

The difference between "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" mostly.  But he touched on filming, directing, all those series he produces and Jon Stewart as a Jedi.  Take a little time out of your day to reflect on those arguments you had in the sandbox with the other guy.  Which is better, who would win in a fight, Uhura or Princess Leia.

Here is the conversation: Part One which focuses on the debate, and Part Two which focuses on most everything else.

Enjoy...