Posts with tag X-Men Origins Wolverine
Can Superheroes Save 20th Century Fox From Itself?
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », Box Office », Fandom », 20th Century Fox », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
Fox has not had a good year -- and as with most drama-filled issues, they really have only themselves to blame. Variety points out that they were the only studio this summer that didn't have a $100 million domestic earner. What they did have was a lot of widely-derided flops like The Happening, Space Chimps, and Meet Dave. They also had films that might have done well, had they chosen to actually sell them, like The X-Files: I Want to Believe. They were also dealt a bit of bad luck when it came to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which was supposed to come out this summer, making it the greatest superhero year ever, but was delayed due to Hugh Jackman's commitment to Australia. (A film which the studio is really hoping bails them out come fall, along with Marley and Me.)Faced with so much failure and drama, what is a studio to do? Well, turn to superheroes, of course! As you read this, they're holding strategy meetings to dust off or create some new franchises off their comic book properties. They're looking at more X-Men spinoffs, including a young X-Men project that might just be X-Men First Class. They're also looking at giving Deadpool his own movie -- which seems a no-brainer when you have Ryan Reynolds playing him in Wolverine. Why, they're even looking at reviving Daredevil. (Frank Miller and Jason Statham, call on line two.) It's enough to wind up any Marvel fan.
Continued after the jump...
Is 'Wolverine' in Trouble?
Filed under: Action », RumorMonger », Celebrities and Controversy », 20th Century Fox », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
.jpg)
It seems my favorite superhero is about to enter the land of ugly rumors. According to Hollywood Elsewhere, there's trouble on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It seems that director Gavin Hood and Fox co-chairman and CEO Tom Rothman are butting heads over the look and feel of the film.
Hood, being a smart man who knows his character, wants the film to be dark and gritty. Rothman wants a happier, friendlier, Iron Man sort of film. Apparently, things came to a head at least once on set when Hood came to work to find one of his dingy and somber sets completely repainted into something brighter and more cheerful. (I bet they even put one of those "Hang in there!" kitten posters on the wall.) The set revamp had been done on Rothman's orders, who has a reputation for being stubborn and micromanaging. It's not clear from the second-hand story who won out on this particular battle, but if we see a chirpier set design on opening day, we'll know.
Word around town had production troubled for awhile (it's all anyone talked about prior to the footage screening at ComicCon, though it's all been very hush hush) -- and I'm also under the impression from ComicCon that the film has finally wrapped, so all this set redecoration may be very old and irrelevant news. Perhaps Hood has already won out, as the teaser footage certainly suggested that it was a bit grittier than Iron Man or the previous X-Men films. Please, let that be the case. If I'm disappointed by Wolverine (and I inevitably will be), I don't want it to be because my beloved Logan has a penchant for kitten posters.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st, 2009.
The Geek Beat: Take a Stand
Filed under: Action », Fandom », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », The Geek Beat »
If you're a faithful Beat reader, you may remember that one of the very first installments dealt with the nasty, critical side of fandom. You know the types – the ones who spend so much time hating that nothing could satisfy them. (Seth Rogen summed it up in a pithy quote that, somehow, I only just caught: "They could find out Jesus Christ was making a movie with Frank Miller and they'd say, 'That's a terrible combination!'") But now, I'd like to address the other side of the coin – and yes, one side of it is defaced to help me decide these things – and that's the uncritical element of fandom. It's a side I didn't really grasp until I started writing here, where anything vaguely critical can be followed by screams of "You're such a hater!! You want it to fail!"
When I was at ComicCon, I tried to keep up with the news of the outside world. One of the "quietest" geek stories (and something I would have talked about much earlier, had con and editorial demands not sidetracked me) was the release of The X-Files: I Want to Believe. The bad reviews were pouring in right and left, even garnering heavy discussion on sites where the interests of geekdom are generally disdained. And no matter where you went, the comment fields were populated with X-Philes, and for every one who was verbose and rational, there were ten saying "F--- the haters! They want it to fail!"
When I was at ComicCon, I tried to keep up with the news of the outside world. One of the "quietest" geek stories (and something I would have talked about much earlier, had con and editorial demands not sidetracked me) was the release of The X-Files: I Want to Believe. The bad reviews were pouring in right and left, even garnering heavy discussion on sites where the interests of geekdom are generally disdained. And no matter where you went, the comment fields were populated with X-Philes, and for every one who was verbose and rational, there were ten saying "F--- the haters! They want it to fail!"
Elisabeth's Favorite Moments of SDCC 08
Filed under: Festival Reports », Fandom », ComicCon »
How fast time flies! A week ago today, we were all hitting the convention floor, and having to battle for seats to the Masters of Web panel. I can't believe it's all over -- and I can't believe I haven't recovered. The bright-eyed Lara Croft you saw only days ago is barely recognizable in the physical wreck that I am now. Despite the toll it takes every year, I'm always sorry when it ends. I miss San Diego, the ocean, the fabulous tacos at the Tin Fish, and the surprises around every corner. But most of all, I miss meeting up with my friends after a long day of panels, enjoying my well-earned dinner, and showing off my swag. While I'm happy to be home in my own bed, and snuggling with my pug, I can't help but miss the thrills of con. So, it's my turn to recap my favorite moments of the con, and hope that those of you who were there have recovered enough to share yours, too.
-- The Watchmen panel. Maybe the Q&A wasn't all that great (no fault of those onstage), but the footage was just so cool. There is a lot of film footage trotted out at SDCC, and while much of it is cool, very little is jaw-dropping. 300 was probably the last time I was truly impressed with what I saw in Hall H, Watchmen may have topped it. (It's even convinced my mom to read the graphic novel! Let's all cheer!)
-- The Owl Ship. The floor displays this year were pretty tame, but this would take the cake in any given year. Whenever I doubt that anyone at SDCC has read a comic book, something like the Owl Ship lands and sends everyone into a nerdy tizzy. At any given time, you could find a crowd exclaiming over it, not because it was from a movie, but because it was from a comic book. Amazing.
-- The Watchmen panel. Maybe the Q&A wasn't all that great (no fault of those onstage), but the footage was just so cool. There is a lot of film footage trotted out at SDCC, and while much of it is cool, very little is jaw-dropping. 300 was probably the last time I was truly impressed with what I saw in Hall H, Watchmen may have topped it. (It's even convinced my mom to read the graphic novel! Let's all cheer!)
-- The Owl Ship. The floor displays this year were pretty tame, but this would take the cake in any given year. Whenever I doubt that anyone at SDCC has read a comic book, something like the Owl Ship lands and sends everyone into a nerdy tizzy. At any given time, you could find a crowd exclaiming over it, not because it was from a movie, but because it was from a comic book. Amazing.
New 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' Photo
Filed under: Action », Fandom », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Movie Marketing », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels », Images »
Talk about a holiday weekend -- at least for me! The latest issue of Empire is boasting a new photo of Hugh Jackman as the titular Wolverine. It's obviously from the same photo shoot that gave us the very first photo since he's sporting the same white tank top. So, truth be told, it's not that exciting. I want to see an official still of Sabretooth and Wolverine going claw to claw, or one of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. I'll even settle for Gambit, Beak, or Silver Fox. I like a glimpse of Jackman's biceps and adamantium claws as much as the next girl (or guy) but at this point, I'm hungry to see a little more.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st, 2009.
[via SuperheroHype.com]
X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st, 2009.
[via SuperheroHype.com]
Will.i.am Discusses John Wraith and 'Wolverine'
Filed under: Action », Fandom », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
Will.i.am, one of the biggest casting surprises in X-Men Origins: Wolverine has come forward to MTV to talk about his role in the film. It isn't much, but his enthusiasm is infectious, and the movie set sounds like a really happy one. Everyone, from the extras to the stars, has had nothing but good things to say.If you remember from our announcement way back in February (incidentally, the second post I ever wrote here -- wow!), Will.i.am is playing John Wraith, aka Kestrel. Wraith is a teleporter, and one of those unlucky men chosen to be genetically tweaked by Weapon X. From the sound of it, his character has been left true to the comics. "I'm a teleporter ... I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere. Boom, boom, boom!" Will revealed. "My character's name is John Wraith. He's a black Texan. He's not a cowboy, but his gear suggests that he is. He's just a badass who'll whoop your ass."
I wish I could have spent a day on this set, because the machismo and testosterone was obviously running high. Will revealed that one fight scene left a permanent impression. "You see that little scar I've got on my knuckles? I'm a newbie when it comes to big action films and stuff ... It was my fight scene. I was real into it, and then I missed my mark, and I punched the camera and broke the lens! But that goes to show you, I ain't to be messed with, because I break lenses!"
To read (or watch) the rest of the interview, head on over to MTV. X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st, 2009.
Scott 'Cyclops' Summers Appearing in 'Wolverine'?
Filed under: Action », Casting », RumorMonger », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
.jpg)
Admit it, we have all thought that the one thing X-Men Origins: Wolverine needed was another character. I mean, there's no possible way Wolverine could carry the entire movie by himself; what we needed were some mutants to share the load. Right?
Well, the most surprising addition yet has been made. According to Superhero Hype, there are reports that Cyclops has joined the roster. No, he won't be played by James Marsden, but an Australian actor named Tim Pocock. The news comes via an Australian agency, who confirmed that said actor was indeed cast as the young Scott Summers.
Now how the heck the two will meet is impossible for me to fathom. I imagine this will just be a cameo, a young Scott brushes past Wolverine at a train station or bus stop. Knowing how these origin stories go, there will probably be some wink-nudge storyline where Wolverine snubs Cyclops somehow, leading to the instant dislike that springs up when the two meet again as adults. Or he will rescue the young Summers, thus making their prickly relationship something to be regretted. (How Summers will not remember is a mystery -- he wasn't brainwashed by Weapon X.)
Sigh. I keep on defending you, Hugh Jackman, assuring everyone you've got a handle on the character, but you're making it so hard for me! Why couldn't you have just mindlessly fought bears in the Canadian snow, wearing nothing but computer circuitry?!
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the entire pantheon of Marvel superheroes, hits theatres May 1st, 2009. Filming finished last week, so ostensibly they can't add any more characters ... can they?
Hugh Jackman Talks About 'Wolverine' Again!
Filed under: Action », Fandom », 20th Century Fox », Newsstand », Comic/Superhero/Geek », Remakes and Sequels »
Hugh Jackman has been doing lots of press junkets for Deception -- and funnily enough, only Australia seems to be hearing about that film, whereas America is only letting him talk about X-Men Origins: Wolverine again and again. That has to be a bit of a bummer.MTV Movies caught up with him, and he was more than happy to talk about donning the claws again. "It feels different. But I don't think its going be night and day."
Then he gave one of those quotes that I always hold out as proof that he knows what he is doing. "We are dealing with a character who is probably one of the darker comic book characters ever created. The movie has a lot of fun elements, but there are layers of pain and darkness to this character. Tonally, I would put it more in the Batman Begins sort of realm. That's sort of where we're headed."
He's seen Batman Begins! Between this and his ongoing graphic novel grabs, I think the man is a bonafide geek.
_thumbnail.jpg)
Fan Made: Steampunk 'Return of the Jedi' Figures_thumbnail.jpg)
Exclusive: 'A Christmas Tale' Poster Premiere_thumbnail.jpg)
Cinematical's Fourth Annual Halloween Costume Contest is Coming!
Netflix Unleashes Another Batch of "Forgotten" Flicks
Geek Daily: Wolverine, 'Batman 3', 'Punisher' and 'Kick-Ass'
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg){kind=spacer}
