Green Lantern Co-Writer Talks Easter Eggs & Cut Clark Kent Cameo

 

Marc Guggenhelm is the co-writer of the upcoming Green Lantern film and recently had a few things to say about easter eggs in the film and the cut Clark Kent cameo. 

He first speaks about the actors performances:  "Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are so good together it is ridiculous. Peter Sarsgaard is unbelievable. People are going to draw comparisons in his performance to Heath Ledger in 'The Dark Knight.' It is just that good. Mark Strong is ridiculously great. The cast is amazing. The look of the movie is unlike anything you’ve ever seen — and it needs to be. That’s what the concept requires. I think it’s going to be really spectacular."

The Cut Clark Kent Cameo: "Without trying very hard, you could probably find the leaked script on the internet. The Superman cameo is in the leaked script. It survived several drafts. Ultimately, it was cut for budgetary reasons. We took it out in one of our later drafts. After my interview with you, of course. The Clark Kent cameo is still near and dear to my heart. I really wanted it to be in the movie. You never know — it can still happen. If Tom Welling has a free hour or two, you never know."

Easter Eggs: I think there will be plenty of Easter Eggs in the movie on other fronts. I’m a sucker for those. I’m the voice for those. I’m always thinking we can fit in that name or we can fit in that character. I’ll always do that. I can pretty much promise that Ch'p will not be in the movie. Martin’s favorite Lantern, who is in the movie, is Bzzd. The funny thing is, from our very first meeting with Martin, he came onto the project and really knew his stuff. He was able to quote Lanterns and said 'I love Bzzd' from the start. I was like, 'Okay, I guess Bzzd is in the movie.'"

Green Lantern hits theaters in June 2011!

Green Lantern Video Interviews

This video has surfaced from comic-con with new interviews with the star of the upcoming Green Lantern film, Ryan Reynolds and it's director Martin Campbell.  Check it out!

The Joker Will Not Be In The Dark Knight Rises

Rumors have been running rampant this week that Christopher Nolan was going to use cut footage of Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight Rises.  Nolan has finally spoken and said that this is absolutely not true.  He did confirm that Tom Hardy is in the film but no further details as of yet as to what it will be about.  Most likely though, it will be amazing.  The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters in 2012.

SWAGAPALOOZA! Comics Of The Week

New books hit most stores on Thursday this week due to the holiday last week and here is what you will find.

Wolverine The Best There Is #1

Written By Charlie Huston

Art By Juan Jose Ryp

When Wolverine faces a problem of the villainous kind there's a good chance that he'll use his Adamantium claws to whip up a lethal solution to it.  What happens, though, when he faces an opponent who becomes a much bigger problem if he's killed?  Enter: Contagion, a bold new addition to Wolverine's rogue's gallery.  But first, Logan must contend with Contagion's defenders, the aptly named crew known as the Unkillables. 

Batman Orphans #1

Writen By Eddie Berganza

Art By Carlo Barberi & Juan Vlasco 

Robin's been found dead! And that's not an easy thing to face - especially when you're Tim Drake! In this pre-Red Robin tale, Tim and Batman must solve the murder of an impostor Robin and follow the trail of someone putting together a new team of teenaged sidekicks made up of kids who've been promised that they'll become the new Robin...if they survive! 

Brightest Day #15

Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS

The hottest series in comics blazes on as the legacy of the new Aqualad is forged and the extent of his powers is revealed! Plus, Aquagirl joins the battle, and Firestorm seeks out the Justice League's help!

The DVD Update (All Star Superman Announced)

All Star Superman
Release Date February 11, 2011

Press Release: Grant Morrison’s beloved vision of Superman’s heroic final days on Earth is brought to animated life in All-Star Superman, the latest DC Universe Animated Original Movies coming February 22, 2011.

      In All-Star Superman, the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) and, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s safety before his own impending end with one final, selfless act.

     The celebrity-packed voice cast is headed by James Denton (Desperate Housewives) as Superman, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) as Lois Lane, and Anthony LaPaglia (Without A Trace) as Lex Luthor. The stellar cast includes seven-time Emmy® Award winner Ed Asner (Up) as Perry White, Golden Globe® winner Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) as Ma Kent, Matthew Gray Gubler (Criminal Minds) as Jimmy Olsen and Linda Cardellini (ER) as Nasty.
Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Catherine Cavadini (The Powerpuff Girls), Finola Hughes (General Hospital), Alexis Denisof (Angel), Obba Babatunde (That Thing You Do!), Michael Gough (Batman) and John DiMaggio (Futurama) round out the voice cast.

     Based on the Eisner Award-winning DC Comics series/graphic novel of the same name by Grant Morrison with illustration by Frank Quitely, All-Star Superman is executive produced by animation guru Bruce Timm and directed by Sam Liu (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by acclaimed comics writer Dwayne McDuffie (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths).

All-Star Superman 2-Disc Special Edition DVD features approximately 1 1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:

• Feature film (est. 75 min)
• Sneak Peak at Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
• Featurette: “Superman Now” – In a moment of inspiration, Grant Morrison was provided an opportunity to revamp the Man of Steel into something modern, something more relevant for today’s audience. This is the story of All-Star Superman – where it all started, and what it came to be
• Two bonus episodes from animated television series handpicked by Bruce Timm

All-Star Superman Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack will include approximately 2 1/2 hours of intriguing bonus features, starting with all of the content available on the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and adding:

• Featurette: “Incubating the Idea” – A conversation with Grant Morrison
• Audio Commentary: Bruce Timm and Grant Morrison
• All-Star Superman Digital Comic Book
• Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
• Digital copy on disc of the feature film

"The All-Star Superman comic was the work of two immensely talented creators at the absolute top of their game," said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer, DC Entertainment. "Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman is one of those modern classics, and I can't wait to see it brought to life as an animated film."

“Grant Morrison’s fascinating comic vision comprised all the aspects of a truly great film – action, drama, fantasy, romance, sacrifice and hope – and the animation team of Bruce Timm, Sam Liu and Dwayne McDuffie have passionately translated that vision into an enthralling movie experience no Superman fan can resist,” said Hersin Magante, WHV Marketing Director of Family and Animation. “As the next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies, All-Star Superman stands as a shining example of the creative heights possible from the partnership of Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video.”

Irvin Kershner Passes Away At 87

Director Irvin Kershner passed away over the weekend at the age of 87. His goddaughter, actress Adriana Santini, confirmed the news early Monday morning, but no further details were given at this time.

Kershner is best known for his work directing Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, the second and most well received of the six movie franchise. He also helmed the James Bond adventure Never Say Never Again starring Sean Connery, and the often maligned sequel Robocop 2.

The DVD Update

It's time for an update on what's coming to DVD!  Enjoy your holiday weekend and the CP blog will return after the holiday!

Let Me In

Release Date: February 1, 2011

The excellent remake of Let The Right One In (also an extremely good film) hits DVD and Blu-Ray in February.  This is probably my favorite vampire movie ever, the Swedish version and the American version.  I like them both a lot! Buy this movie if you like this sort of stuff!

Dances With Wolves 20th Anniversary Edition

Release Date: Janurary 11, 2011

As it really been 20 years? Wow.  This amazing pic film from Kevin Costner is finalyl coming to Blu-Ray.  If you have never seen this then you may have lived in  cave for a long time.  An epic masterpiece and one of the true modern classics.  It won multiple academy awards including Best Director and Best Picture!

Bambi

Release Date:  March 3, 2011

Disney's beloved classic hits next March in a completely restored edition for high definition disc! 

Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Release Date:  January 4, 2011

The entire El Mariachi Trilogy is hitting DVD on this date which includes El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon A Time In Mexico.  Robert Rodriguez may not make Oscar winning pictures but he sure makes very entertaining ones, and this trilogy is no exception.  Once Upon A Time In Mexico was one of the first films to shoot in all digital a few years ago when digital started taking off with directors so I bet it will look great in high def!

Is This Parallax?

This image hit the web thanks to The Daily Blam and is apparently the first shot of Parallax from the upcoming Green Lantern film.  Since the studio has requested several sites to remove it, I', guessing it's real!

The V.G.F. Report

Video Game Friday is here!  I'm looking into revamping the video game report in some way so bear with me as it may appear sporadically till after the first of the year!  But with Call Of Duty Black Ops breaking all kinds of sales records, some news has come down from Activistion and Infinity Ward, the developers behind Modern Warfare 1 and 2.

Source, gamespot.com) Global media giant Vivendi owns a controlling stake in the world's biggest game publisher, Activision Blizzard. So when Vivendi chairman and CEO Jean-Bernard Levy spoke at the Morgan Stanley TMT conference this week in Barcelona, it wasn't odd that the subject turned to the Call of Duty franchise.
      The Financial Times reports that, unsurprisingly, Levy was thrilled with the $650 million, five-day sales performance of Call of Duty: Black Ops, which broke Modern Warfare 2's record-breaking five-day sales of $550 million.
      "We have broken our own record. I am very, very pleased," Levy said. "The Treyarch studio, which made this year's game, has done better than what Infinity Ward could achieve a year ago."
Levy went on to directly discuss Infinity Ward, which was beset by mass staff defections after Activision fired studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West in March. He said that Activision has "got over" the problems and fully rebuilt Infinity Ward. "We have reconstructed Infinity Ward, [and] we are very happy with the way we have been able to reconstruct it," said Levy. Papers filed in a May lawsuit confirmed the studio is currently working on Modern Warfare 3.
      The executive went on to say that going forward, the Call of Duty series will have a three-studio strategy, with Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer Games each working on an offshoot of the franchise. Though little is known about the latter's unnamed COD game, it is rumored it will be a science fiction spin-off of the franchise
      "We believe this set-up of studios...has demonstrated it can do very well, for sure," said Levy, even though Sledgehammer's game has yet to see the light of day.

I think this is great news.  Perhaps it will be too many Call Of Duty games, but we get a Modern Warfare 3 out of it because dammit, I want to know how the story ends after that wide opened ending to part 2!!!

The New Dredd

Judge Dredd is being rebooted as a film called Dredd and stars Karl Urban (Bones In Star Trek 2010) and below is the first image of him in costume!

Cars 2 Trailing Into Theaters!

Here's a teaser trailer for Cars 2.  Enjoy!

That's One Ugly Mug!

The latest issue of Green Lantern has this new image of the villain Hector Hammond from the upcoming Green Lantern film as well as some words from writer Geoff Johns!

Houston Comic Book Theft Ring?

Houston Comic book Thieves?  Apparently so!  This from Fox 26 News: A couple from Katy in Texas have been arrested for shoplifting comics books from Bedrock City Comics in Houston. Not that unusual, shoplifting is a common crime in the comic book industry.
But this is something more. The local police are investigating a shoplifting ring, and rather than walking out with the latest Walking Dead under your jacket, this couple, a man and a woman in their thirties, are alleged to have stolen tens of thousands of dollars worth of comics, repeatedly from stores across the region, and sold them on eBay, or tried to resell them locally.
And, naturally, that appears to be how they were caught. Here’s the news report from Fox;

Cowboys & Aliens Teaser Trailer

The upcoming sci-fi western based on the graphic novel now has a teaser trailer!  Watch out for Cowboys & Aliens!

Green Lantern Trailer Screencaps

Here are a few more screen caps from the excellent Green Lantern trailer!

Green Lantern Trailer! UPDATED: New Promo Art & Screen Caps!

Here you go....and here is apples website with the trailer in quicktime!

SWAGAPALOOZA!! Comics Of The Week

It's time for new comic books and the new era of Batman books begins this week at DC so check them out!

Batman: The Return #1

Written By Grant Morrison

Art By David Finch & Scott Williams

The event of the year is here! Bruce Wayne made his long journey back through the timestream in The Return Of Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson and Damian uncovered important secrets in Batman & Robin, Gotham City's bravest heroes made their mark in Bruce Wayne - The Road Home...and now it's time for Batman to return! What happens to Dick Grayson now that the "real" Batman is back? How will Bruce Wayne handle a reunion with his son, Damian? This special one-shot bridges two exciting eras of The Dark Knight and sets up a surprising new status quo that's just on the horizon. 

 Batman Inc #1

Written By Grant Morrison

Art By Yanick Paquette

Grant Morrison continues his earth-shattering run on the Batman titles with this exciting, new ongoing series! Featuring; Art by the remarkable Yanick Paquette (SEVEN SOLDIERS: BULLETEER), BATMAN, INC. marks the next stage of evolution for The Dark Knight. This can't-miss series will star not just Bruce Wayne as Batman, but also a huge number of guest-stars! Don't miss out on this all-new start to a stunning direction for Batman!

Batman #704

Written & Drawn By Tony Daniel

Bruce Wayne may have returned, but when an aging but wealthy technology developer comes to Gotham with his beautiful daughter, it turns out he's in search of a joint project with WayneTech. DNA tracking is the name of his game, and there are others interested in his proposal. But when the developer goes missing, Batman finds that his tracks stop in the city's violent Chinatown neighborhood, where a new deadly Triad gang has taken root. Guest-starring I-Ching!

Teaser Poster Reveals Alien Cowboy

Well that or it's a cowboy using alien technology.  Either way it's the teaser poster for next July's Cowboys & Aliens.  The movie is based on a graphic novel and Fred Van Lente, the books co-writer, will be attending Comicpalooza 2011!  I dig the poster a lot though, it gives the movie a lot of promise so here's hoping it's awesome!

The Wolverine To Hit Theaters Soon

     Director Darren Aronofsky has revealed the title  for the next Wolverine movie starring Hugh Jackman. The movie will be called The Wolverine, will not be a direct sequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

      Aronofsky told HitFix that The Wolverine will be a "one-off," or standalone project. The script, written by Christopher McQuarrie, involves Logan beginning a forbidden romance with a Japanese woman whose hand in marriage is, unfortunately, promised to another man. Since Logan won't take "no" for an answer, it puts him into battle with her father and her samurai-sword-wielding brothers.

Green Lantern Footage Screen Caps

Here are some screen caps from the Entertainment Tonight Green Lantern footage.  After watching it about twenty times, I'm excited.  The CGI is obviously a bit incomplete and you really can't judge it overall from a few seconds of footage.  Next week when we see the first trailer, a better idea of what the film is going to be like should make itself known.