Transformers Videos! Superman Trilogy in the Works! Wait what? Movie News is back?
Yup, that’s right. I know I haven’t posted in AWHILE! But here I am again ready to post away. Just some quick news to wet your guys lips.
The folks behind Transformers have struck a deal with Wal-Mart to release exclusive videos on the web. Check out the site here. You will need the code: AllSpark62609
Some Superman rumors are flying around right now: it is being said that Mark Millar from KICK ASS and WANTED fame is in talks to write a Superman reboot Trilogy. Also in talks is that Tom Welling from Smallville is a front-runner to portray Clark on the big screen.
Sticking with DC, recently Johnny Depp was asked about the rumor of him being cast as the Riddler in the upcoming third Batman movie from Christopher Nolan. He enthusiastically responded that would be a “Fun gig”. Also Aaron Eckhart has let slip that when he asked Nolan if he was coming back, Nolan told him he was “Dead as a door nail”. A lot of people are saying this response from Eckhart and Nolan were both before the tragic demise of Heath Ledger and there is a good possibility that Two-Face will be back.
Last little note to add some news from Marvel. In an interview, Nicolas Cage stated that he and studio executives have begun discussing the possibilities of Ghost Rider 2. The discussions included talk of Ghost Rider traveling through Europe using connections to the church to doing things his way.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Is Marvel dependent on the revenue from these films? I read a lot of negative info on the web about the comics industry is dying and what not. Is that true?
September 9th, 2008 at 10:10 am
This is tough to answer without research and footnotes, but here is the off the cuff answer:
I don’t think Marvel Comics is dependent on these movies, but they sure do benefit now (unlike with the movies before Iron Man). They are doing something right because Warner Bros. is taking a cue from them by lining up single character movies to lead up to the team (JLA) movie and beginning to work closely with DC Comics (Warner owns them).
Ever since I started paying attention to industry news (late 1980s), I have heard that comics are dying. Ever since the rise of the Internet folks have predicted the end of print. Not necessarily true.
Are comics in trouble? I don’t think so. Is this the best of times for the industry? No. Is this the worst of times for the industry? No.
In the 1940s, some comics had circulation near a million copies a month. Best-selling comics now sell a fraction of that. Best-selling comics sell a fraction of what they sold in the 1980s. There are comics in Diamond’s Top 100 that would have been canceled in the 1980s. Very recently comics sales have been down because of the recession.
Sounds bad, but I don’t think the sky is falling. Rarely has there been this much focus on the comics world. There is probably more variety now than ever. Comics, not just superheroes, are in the public consciousness. They are part of mainstream pop culture. We are seeing a change in the way people buy and make comics. There is an influx of customers new to comics or brought back to comics with projects like Watchmen and more.
I know WE are not packing up our long boxes any time soon.
Any other comments?