Prepare for a 2015 clash of the superhero titans: According to the LA Times, Warner Bros. is moving full steam ahead on their Justice League movie with an eye to hit theaters in Summer 2015, which also happens to be when Marvel’s set the blockbuster sequel to their enormously successful Avengers.
The announcement via anonymous studio tipster comes on the heels of yesterday’s huge legal win in a battle over the rights to the Superman character, without which any Supes projects would have been delayed another few years pending rights clearances.
LA Times reports that with a Justice League script on the way, the search for a director and stars is next as WB aims to begin filming next year. Per DC Comics lore, the Justice League is comprised of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and The Martian Manhunter. The plan is reportedly to debut the multi-hero team-up first, then spin-off characters into their own standalone films.
Avengers 2, meanwhile, has a jump on the development process; Marvel/Disney set a release date of May 1, 2015 back in August, and Avengers director Joss Whedon is returning to write and direct.
All of which begs the question: Will the summer of 2015 be the biggest moviegoing season in history? (And if you had to choose, which side of the Marvel/DC culture wars are you on?)
[LA Times]
Don’t try to conceal how wildly ecstatic you are over the forthcoming Birdemic 2: The Resurrection, “filmmaker” James Nguyen’s sequel to his micro-budget 2010 “classic” Birdemic: Shock and Terror. Weep, already. Don’t hold back — especially now that there is a teaser trailer.
Nguyen’s no-mage to The Birds has acquired a slightly more contemporary spirit, invoking the post-credits scene from The Avengers despite apparently setting to rest Nguyen’s insistence that his sequel would be in 3-D. Like I said, weep, already. Anyway, these 30 seconds may be light on screeching avian terror, but they do quietly portend the barely watchable joys to come.
[Bleeding Cool via Filmdrunk]
Joss Whedon has always kept his devout cult following close, even as his projects have made it big (or not — right, Dollhouse fans?). So with the mega-huge success of Avengers, maybe some of the Whedon faithful were right to worry that fame might alter their idol’s true path — the one that takes a step back from a big time Hollywood future to focus on Dr. Horrible 2 and homemade Shakespeare adaptations, for instance. And so Whedon took to his blog to thank the fans who’d been Whedonettes/Whedonheads/Whedonwhatevers all along, and also to link to a poop-related internet video he appeared in last week. Oh, that Joss.
But really, now that he’s hit the big time, will Whedon stay true to the core demo that hungers for his quirky musicals and side projects and the promise of Air Bud playing jai alai? All this and more (it makes sense, trust) in his totes Whedonesque appreciation post.
“People have told me that this matters, that my life is about to change. I am sure that is true. And change is good — change is exciting. I think — not to jinx it — that I may finally be recognized at Comiccon. Imagine! Also, with my percentage of “the Avengers” gross, I can afford to buy… [gets call from agent. Weeps manfully. Resumes typing.] …a fine meal. But REALLY fine, with truffles and s#!+. And I can get a studio to finance my dream project, the reboot of “Air Bud” that we all feel is so long overdue. (He could play Jai Alai! Think of the emotional ramifications of JAI ALAI!!!!)”
Seriously, how would Air Bud hold the basket? In his mouth?? Would he wear the funny little helmets and everything? The mind reels. …
Full Story »Remember that 1998 movie adaptation of the old British TV show The Avengers, starring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman? Me neither, but set artist Stephen Morahan does — if only because he was reminded after working on this week’s Marvel blockbuster of the same name: “[I]t looks a bit odd on your resume. So, I made this before, now it’s something completely different. And when you talk about it, people don’t even know about the other film. it didn’t do very well. I mean, that’s another big difference, too. The original Avengers was a big flop. It bombed.” [Huffington Post]
Here is your first look at Mark Ruffalo in his full motion-capture Hulk get-up from The Avengers. No spoilers on the home page; click through for the Hulk-y goodness/weirdness, whatever.
The faithful will find more Avengers photos at ScreenRant (via /film). That is all.
Signs continue to emerge suggesting that What to Expect When You’re Expecting is a real movie with real stars and a very real prospect of opening theatrically, as opposed to one of those mock all-star trailers that the Funny or Die crew coughed up over bad Chinese food at the end of a 14-hour day. The latest indication: Character posters! It’s like The Avengers of maternity anthologies! If, that is, the Avengers labored superhumanly on behalf of the beleaguered population of Cringe City.
Who’s got it worse? It’s a tough call, right? I mean, I feel worst for Anna Kendrick, but Elizabeth Banks wields arguably the least convincing paycheck baby bump in modern moviegoing. And Cameron Diaz. That face! That posture! And here I thought it was Demi Moore hitting the whip-its.
Anyway. Thoughts?
[via iVillage]
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