Mar 12 2009 Marvel Wants You to Save the Date(s)!

Marvel Studios has released some new and changed dates for their super comic men movies. Save the date(s)!:

Iron Man 2 - May 7, 2010
Spider-Man 4 - May 6, 2011
Thor - June 17, 2011
The First Avenger: Captain America - July 22, 2011
The Avengers - May 4, 2012

Summer of 2011 is going to be so superhero movie rich. I'm barely going to have time to catch waves, work at the local ice cream parlor, and fall in and out of love with a girl I meet at summer camp with all this nerd shit I have to do.

Feb 26 2009 Samuel L. Jackson Playing Nick Fury Until He Dies

Marvel still reportedly won't pay Mickey Rourke enough to put on a big metal suit and fight Iron Man, but the studio has signed Samuel L. Jackson to continue his role as Nick Fury for up to nine more films, locking the actor down for single, after-the-credits scenes for years to come. From Variety (thanks again, Joshua):

Jackson's deal is a long-term commitment to play Fury, the leader of the espionage unit the Shield. His deal contains an option to play the character in nine future Marvel superhero films, efforts that are expected to include "Captain America," "Thor," "The Avengers" and "The Shield" as well as potential sequels.

Jackson introduced Fury in the closing moments of "Iron Man," when the character asked Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark to join his group. Fury is a natural to show up in multiple Marvel franchises, as he crosses paths with many Marvel superheroes in the comicbooks.

Jackson's Marvel future looked murky, after he reportedly expressed his displeasure with the producer-financier's initial offer to reprise his role. Jackson was hardly alone: Even though "Iron Man" grossed more than $600 million worldwide, Marvel brass has been sparing in offers to talent like Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell to play villains in the sequel, sources said.

With how cheap Marvel seems to be acting with everything, expect that, in the unlikely event of Jackson's illness or death, they'll make sure they get their contract's worth by using footage from Shaft and a lot of Deal or No Deal-style silhouetted phone calls.

Nov 10 2008 Johnston Directing That Captain America Movie

Joe Johnston has signed on to director Marvel Studio's First Avenger: Captain America, says THR:

Joe Johnston has inked a deal to direct "First Avenger: Captain America," Marvel Studios' take on its classic comic book character. Marvel's Kevin Feige is producing.

No writers are on board, but the studio, which is hearing pitches, expects to hire shortly.

"This is a guy who designed the vehicles for 'Star Wars,' who storyboarded the convoy action sequence for 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' " Feige said. "From 'Rocketeer' to 'October Sky' to 'The Wolfman,' you can look at pieces of his movies and see how they lead to this one."

Actually, Kevin Feige, if I had looked at a directing career that went from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids to The Rocketeer to Jumanji to October Sky to Jurassic Park III to Hidalgo to Wolf Man, I wouldn't have seen how it naturally led to Captain America. I see how it could lead to an epic film battle between wolfmen with jetpacks and miniature dinosaurs riding horses on rockets, not Captain America. But hey, let's give the guy a shot. He can't do any worse than this.

Oct 14 2008 Sort of Captain America in 'The Incredible Hulk'

Over at Film School Rejects, they're saying the above image is evidence of a Captain America cameo on the Incredible Hulk DVD. Director Louis Leterrier has previously mentioned there would be a glimpse of the patriotic hero, saying:

It’s an Easter egg. It’s not like oh, it’s Captain America and it changes everything. It’s still a Hulk movie, but it’s really Captain America and it’s there, you’ll see. It’s the real deal. You have to look for it.

So this probably is legitimate, even if it does just look like someone buried a tie-dye shirt. But in case you're still doubtful, or even just confused at what you're looking at, I've added some clarifying shots under the cut that should make it all crystal clear.

Continue Reading " Sort of Captain America in 'The Incredible Hulk' "

Aug 5 2008 American Gladiator Might Be Captain America, Conan

/Film has received a tip that Mike O'Hearn, better known (only known) as the American Gladiator Titan (aka, the one who occasionally turns into a blonde Hulk), revealed to an Omaha radio show that he's up for the leads in Conan and Captain America.

I don't know about this. Sure, he has the physique, but an American Gladiator playing Captain America. I mean, yeah, when I say it like that it sounds like it makes perfect sense, but come on. What are this guy's qualifications? Let's see what NBC.com has to say:

With nearly godlike strength and skill, he is the ultimate warrior. Able to physically dominate foes with his impressive physique, he is equally adept at mind games and will attempt to mentally defeat opponents before the battle even begins. Titan is a double threat who will find a way to win... one way or another.

Well, I guess it doesn't matter if we like these casting choices or not; he's going to take the roles one way or another regardless. Unless this is just another one of Titan's famous mind games...

Jun 13 2008 Marvel Wants DiCaprio, Pitt for 'Captain America'

In "yeah, I bet you would" news: Marvel Studios reportedly wants Leonardo DiCaprio to play the lead in the Captain America movie they have planned for 2011. But, recognizing they might not be able to get him, the studio is willing to settle for like a Brad Pitt or whatever. No, that's seriously what they're saying.

Are either of these reasonable possibilities? I know superhero movies are getting pretty big-name leads lately, but I really can't see (and don't want to see) Leonardo DiCaprio putting on a hood with wings on it. Unless the movie were about a mentally handicapped guy who wore a hood with wings as part of an endearing schtick, in which case I could totally see him taking that role. Whatever--it's weekend time!

Marvel Wants a Titanic Star for Captain America [Latino Review]

May 5 2008 Marvel Studios Announces Schedule up to Age of Flying Cars

Riding high on the overwhelming success of Iron Man this weekend, Marvel has decided to reveal its feature film slate for the next three years. This way, we'll say, "Ooh, goody, Thor will totally be the next Iron Man!" instead of, "A Thor movie? Are you f***ing kidding me?" Which will probably be the more likely sentiment after The Incredible Hulk. Here's the tentative schedule:

The Incredible Hulk - June 13, 2008
Iron Man 2 - April 30, 2010
Thor - June 4, 2010
The First Avenger: Captain America - May 6, 2011
The Avengers - July 2011
Ant-Man - Writer/director engaged

Here is additional schedule I've made up, but suspect may come true:

Another Stab at The Hulk - May 2012
Iron Man Ruts Against Thor (see exclusive first shot above) - June 2013
The Avengers IV - August 2013
Darkhawk: Why Not? - July 2015
Hulk: No, This Time We Got It - May 2020
Hulk 5 - June 2020
Whoever's Left - 2020-?

Marvel Reports Q1 [Business Wire]