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Monday, January 8, 2001
IRON FIST MOVIE UPDATE
Ray Park, cast last week in the lead role in Artisan Entertainment's Iron Fist movie, will likely wear a costume in the film, but it probably won't be exactly like the comics version.
"The image of Iron Fist is a very cool comic-book image," said Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige during The Continuum's recent visit to its Los Angeles offices. "If you put that right into a film, obviously it would probably not work. He's got slippers on.
"I think it's safe to say we will do something that, at most, mimics it at closely as possible, or, at least, suggests it ... maybe he's wearing something else that happens to be those colors."
Feige said that writer John Turman and Park - who played Toad in X-Men and Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace -- are getting together in England in the next week or two to discuss the film's story.
"Ray is obviously a martial artist, as is John," Feige said. "They're going to discuss their common backgrounds and their strengths. Ray, on X-Men, was full of ideas. He just wanted to do so much. And because of the special effects involved, obviously with his tongue and the way he leaped around, he didn't have a lot of room to improvise. He actually had a lot more room to improvise on Star Wars. A lot of that stuff he did he came up with on the spot.
"On this one, we're going to start early to catering to all his strengths."
Park, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, will be maintaining his accent in the role of Danny Rand. After being dubbed over in The Phantom Menace, Park used his own voice for the role of Toad in X-Men.
Like in X-Men, Park will not try to affect an American accent in Iron Fist. He will speak in his normal voice.
"It would be to our advantage to mention it, to explain it and to understand it, rather than try to ignore it," Feige said of Park's accent. "Schwarzenegger, being a normal suburban dad with this weird Austrian accent that no one seems to mention? It's sort of like a giant elephant in the room that no one's talking about. We wouldn't do that. We'll make it clear, and it will be fun. And there will be a fun explanation to it.
"Ray has a normal speaking voice when he speaks. He has an accent, without a doubt, but we will incorporate it into the character's background."
Feige said Iron Fist will be an "origin" movie. The story has Danny being raised in the Far East in a secret temple and as an adult returning to the United States to seek revenge on his parents' murderer.
"This is about the character Iron Fist, not about him fighting dragons," Feige said. "It's about him using his martial arts and his chi. And he will have the Iron Fist."
Artisan is currently seeking a director for the film to fast-track it before a possible actors strike. Feige said the film probably won't be shot in Hollywood, although a location hasn't been selected.
SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE
Will Flash Thompson and Robbie Robertson be in the Spider-Man movie? Most recent word is yes.
"Flash and Robbie are in the movie," Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige told The Continuum on Friday, refuting recent Internet reports.
Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire also acknowledged Robbie Robertson's part in the movie on Thursday during one-on-one interviews following the press conference on the Sony lot. Maguire admitted he wasn't familiar with the character through his reading of the early Spidey comics.
No word yet who will play either role.
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In other Spider-Man movie news:
Look for much more on Spider-Man here in The Continuum.
ZETA PROJECT DEBUTS, X-MEN: EVOLUTION MOVES
Kids' WB! has announced that The Zeta Project will debut on Saturday, Jan. 27, with X-Men: Evolution moving to a new time period.
The Zeta Project, a spin-off of Batman Beyond, will occupy X-Men: Evolution's 10:30 a.m. (ET) time period. X-Men: Evolution moves to 9:30 a.m., taking the place of Cardcaptors, which moves to Fridays at 4:30 p.m. starting Jan. 19.
Here's how the network describes The Zeta Project, which is produced at Warner Bros. Animation:
"The Zeta Project chronicles the futuristic adventures of Zeta, a renegade government-designed robot, and Ro, his 15-year-old street-wise companion - who are fugitives on the run from a government that doesn't understand them. Zeta was originally designed as a high-tech weapon for the government, capable to project a hologram around himself to become virtually anyone. But after deciding to deny his "destruction" program, he is now searching for his creator while trying to stay a step ahead of Agent Bennet and the other government agents intent on his capture. Ro is a savvy runaway from a state-supervised girls' home searching for her long-lost family.
"With his awesome gadgetry and moral conviction coupled with her street smarts and humor, Zeta and Ro are on the road and on the run in 2040, helping each other and those they meet along the way. The series will follow these unlikely allies on adventurous and heartfelt escapades."
Batman will appear in one episode of The Zeta Project.
Creative personnel on the show include executive producer Jean MacCurdy, supervising producer Alan Burnett, producers Robert Goodman and Liz Holman, associate producer Kathy Page, story editors Rich Fogel and Kevin Hopps, writer Hilary J. Bader, directors Bob Doucette, Curt Geda and Tim Malby and voice director Andrea Romano.
WB'S SMALLVILLE
Smallville is the name of The WB's new live-action series featuring a high school-aged Clark Kent, who is just discovering his superpowers.
The network, which is touting the show as "one of the most highly anticipated new series," has ordered 13 episodes from Warner Bros. Television/Tollin-Robbins.
The series is created by Miles Millar and Al Gough, and the first episode will be directed by David Nutter, whose credits include Roswell, X-Files and Dark Angel.
The WB is also planning a spin-off of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, which will star Melissa Joan Hart's sister, Emily Hart, and is being created by Bruce Ferber, executive producer of Sabrina. The series will also star Charles Shaughnessy, formerly of The Nanny, and is set at a boarding school for witches.
"Breaking a comedy continues to be a priority for us," said Jordan Levin, executive vice-president, programming for The WB. "We feel we made tremendous progress this season and want to build on that momentum. We have concentrated a lot of our development energy into finding a companion piece for Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on Fridays."
DEMONSLAYER TO AVATAR PRESS
Avatar Press announced that it will publish a series of mini-series and specials featuring Demonslayer, the Marat Mychaels title which was previously published by Image Comics.
The title launches at Avatar with Demonslayer: Vengeance, an April release which features story, art and covers by Marat and an additional cover by Andy Park.
"When I started following the Demonslayer saga over a year ago, I kept finding myself thinking, 'Damn, I wish I had thought of that,'" said Avatar Press editor-in-chief William A. Christensen. "Because Marat's vision for the book makes it such a good fit with some of the things we do at Avatar. So even though the title launched strong at Image, I think we can take it to even greater heights at Avatar because this is the kind of book that we do best. Able to portray dark fantasy, beautiful women, and engaging drama with equal skill, Marat's work on Demonslayer displays a talent which has grown even greater since becoming Image's first 'rookie artist' in 1992."
"William's belief in Demonslayer is inspiring," Mychaels said. "Every time I talk to him I get a little more excited about working on the book, and I think the quality of the work reflects that. I'm extremely happy to have Avatar as the new publisher of Demonslayer."
Demonslayer is the story of Jaclyn Hayes, an archeologist from Boston whose trek to Tibet ended in disaster. Saved from certain death by a group of enigmatic monks who took her arrival as the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, Jaclyn was trained to the limit in both mind and body and sent out into the world once again -- as the Demonslayer.
CARTOON BOOKS FOR APRIL
Following is Cartoon Books' solicitation for April, with information coming from the company.
CASTLE WAITING #4
By Linda Medley.
Robert sets out to win Nessie's heart and hand, with a little help from the Solicitine Sisters. Meanwhile, Peace discovers the Abbey has an enemy: the evil and wealthy Toddy Miller, who'd love to see the Abbey shut down.
24 pages, black and white, $2.95.
FIRST LOOK: ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #588
Adventures of Superman #588 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Joe Casey, with art by Mike S. Miller, Jose Marzan and Walden Wong, Jr. and a cover by Miller.
Here's how DC describes the issue:
"Writer Joe Casey joins the Super-team -- just in time to end Satanus's threat over Metropolis. Even if that menace is a soulless Man of Steel. Plus the final fate of the Prankster (hint: it's messy)."
Adventures of Superman #588 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK: ZERO GIRL #2
Zero Girl #2 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from WildStorm Productions and DC Comics. The issue is written and illustrated by Sam Kieth, with a painted cover by Kieth.
Here's how DC describes the issue:
"Kieth's new series continues to explore the world of Amy Smooster. She's still in denial about having any telekinetic powers, and she refuses to hide her feelings for Mr. Foster. And, of course, she still refuses to admit she's crazy, even though she's taken to attacking lawn mowers with baseball bats."
Zero Girl #2 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.
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FIRST LOOK: TRANSMETROPOLITAN #42
Transmetropolitan #42 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Warren Ellis, with art by Darick Robertson and Rodney Ramos and a cover by Matt Wagner.
Here's how DC describes the issue, which is part three of "Streets at Night."
"Tag along for an episode of real-time writing as Spider thrashes the pavement on his walkabout, reciting his latest column. Through seedy downtown alleys, and at every junction, corner and churchyard, he maps the human topography of the City -- the lives upon which it's built."
Transmetropolitan #42 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.
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FIRST LOOK: BLACK PANTHER #28
Black Panther #28 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Christopher Priest, with art and cover by Sal Velluto and Bob Almond.
Here's how Marvel describes the issue:
"The cold war goes hot as the Black Panther and Wakanda face a war with Namor and Atlantis, Magneto and Genosha, Lord Ghaur and the Deviants, and Doctor Doom and Latveria."
Black Panther #28 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.
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FIRST LOOK: GENERATION X #73
Generation X #73 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Brian Wood, with art by Steve Pugh and cover by Art Adams.
Here's how Marvel describes the issue, which is the third part of the four-part "Four Days" arc:
"The spotlight falls on Skin and Banshee. When news of a tragedy hits Sean, the team's mentor finds himself barely able to deal with a a situation that he and Angelo encounter."
Generation X #73 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK: GAMBIT & BISHOP: SONS OF THE ATOM #1
Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Scott Lobdell, with art by Georges Jeanty and Sean Parsons and a cover by J.H. Williams III.
Here's how Marvel describes the issue:
"Bishop has been captured, and it's up to Gambit to free him. There's only one problem: Bishop's captors are the X-Men. What dark forces are behind the X-Men's villainy? And can Gambit survive their combined power?"
Gambit & Bishop: Sons of the Atom #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK: X-FORCE #111
X-Force #111 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Ian Edginton, with art by Jorge Lucase and a cover by Whilce Portacio.
Here's how Marvel describes the issue, which the second part of the four-part "Rage War" story arc:
"It's spy vs. spy as X-Force tries to stop a Soviet superhuman death squad. Plus: Meltdown and Cannonball face their past."
X-Force #111 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.
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FIRST LOOK: MYSTIC #8
Mystic #8 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from CrossGen Comics. The issue is written by Ron Marz, penciled by Brandon Peterson, inked by John Dell and colored by Andrew Crossley.
Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:
"Attempting to find a way to exact revenge upon Giselle, the Master of the Dark Magi Guild attempts to conjure up a threat that nearly destroyed Ciress centuries ago. Meanwhile, the relationship between Darrow and Giselle becomes even closer as he teaches her more about the sigil. But a pair of onlookers - Genevieve and Thierry - are convinced Darrow's interest is anything but charitable."
Mystic #8 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95.
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BRIEFLY
Copyright © 2000, The Comics Continuum