Tuesday, May 29, 2001

JOHN DYKSTRA TALKS SPIDER-MAN MOVIE

Although the Spider-Man movie is more than 11 months away, the film's post-production will be on a taxing schedule, visual effects supervisor John Dykstra told The Continuum.

"It sounds like a long post-production because we're in production now and the film is in release much later, but in truth the film has to be finished significantly sooner than when it's released," Dykstra told The Continuum. "So the post-production is not that long. It's more like the normal post-production on a film of this level of complexity."

Dykstra, coming off Stuart Little, said that his goal is to make the CGI seamless in Spider-Man.

"We're going to make a character that is indistinguishable from the live actor," he said. "And each bring to the part their particular qualities. It's an incredible collaboration in the sense that Tobey (Maguire) is going to be the persona and soul of the character, and we are going to give to that soul the enhanced capabilities. So we get to do the super part. And he gets to be the hero."

Look for more on Spider-Man soon here in The Continuum.

MICHAEL BAILEY SMITH IN MEN IN BLACK 2

Actor Michael Bailey Smith, who played Ben Grimm in the never-released Fantastic Four movie, told The Continuum that he will have a part in the upcoming Men in Black 2.

"I play a character called Creepy," Smith told The Continuum. "I met my demise by getting eaten by a super model. Hey, if you got to go, why not it be that way!"

Filming of the sequel - which again stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones -- is expected to begin next month.

Smith said he also expects to return to The WB's Charmed in the role of Belthazor.

"I'm the alter ego of the character Cole, played by Julian McMahon," Smith said. "It's a lot little like the relationship in the Incredible Hulk. I should be back next season as the same character. It's very cool and has a pretty big following."

Smith also has two movies coming out this year, Black Mask 2 - which also features Tyler Mane from X-Men - and Undisputed.

"In Black Mask 2, I play a professional wrestler who refuses to take a steroid-like potion that changes wrestlers into creatures," Smith said. "As a result I get pretty beat up. I got to work with the world famous, Woo Ping.

"If you don't know, he is THE most respected martial arts fight coordinator in the world. He did all of the fight coordinating for the Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and on and on. It was awesome working with him. I spent six weeks in Bangkok, Thailand doing this film and I was glad to get back to the States."

Undisputed features Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames.

"It's a prison boxing film and I play the Arian Brotherhood Gang Leader called Skinhead," Smith said. "Very cool and crazy film and I did some pretty intense stuff."

X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE

Kids' WB! will air two episodes of X-Men: Evolution on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. as part of its "Click & Pick" promotion. One of those episodes will be the season finale, "The Cauldron, Pt. 2."

As part of Saturday's programming, Kids' WB! will show facts about the X-Men throughout the morning.

The network is also staging a "Make Me a Mutant Sweepstakes," with the winner becoming a mutant in an upcoming Activision X-Men game.

In other X-Men: Evolution news:

* For the May sweeps, X-Men: Evolution was the No. 2 show in the Boys 2-11 demographic for Saturday morning shows, tying Nickelodeon's Rugrats, and was also No. 2 in Boys 6-11, tying Kids' WB!'s Jackie Chan Adventures. Against broadcast competition, X-Men: Evolution led in Kids 2-11 and in Kids 6-11 for the May sweeps.

* The episode for Saturday, June 16 will be "The X-Impulse," which spotlights Shadowcat and Avalanche.

FIRST LOOK: THE BROTHERHOOD #1

The Brotherhood #1 will arrive in stores on Thursday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by X, with art by Essad Ribic and Kent Williams and a cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"The dark side of the mutant war gets its own ongoing series. A message from the frontlines: 'Perhaps you think you know us. That costumed charlatans such as Magneto and his ilk are representative of our people. You are wrong. We are your neighbors. Your co-workers. The homeless you callously step over on your way to your safe, meaningless jobs. We will not announce ourselves with bright red uniforms or gloating public pronouncements. We will simply strike. When you see your streets run scarlet with blood, and your cities aflame, you will know your time is at an end. You have taken our homes from us. Our families. Our future. You despoil the world we were meant to inherit, plundering the resources that rightfully belong to our children. No more... from this day forward, The Brotherhood declares open war on humanity. Its end will not come until the power to govern rests in our hands. Or until you are, once and for all, extinct.'"

The Brotherhood #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: WOLVERINE #164

Wolverine #164 will arrive in stores on Thursday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Frank Tieir, with art and cover by Sean Chen and Norm Rapmund.

Here's how Marvel describe the issue:

"Guest-starring the Beast. Accused of a crime he didn't commit, Wolverine unlocks 'The Cage.' But is it a person, place or thing? The answer may shock you... but not as much as it will Logan."

Wolverine #164 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: ULTIMATE MARVEL TEAM-UP #4

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #4 will arrive in stores on Thursday from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Brian Michael Bendis, with art and cover by Mike Allred.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Suave millionaire Tony Stark, head of his cutting edge company Stark Industries, possesses the unique Irontech technology, from which springs his greatest achievement: the armored assault suit codenamed Iron Man! And despite how carefully Stark guards his invention, a certain maniacal Latverian dictator is determined to have it. To ensure that it is his, the monstrous monarch sends his deadly Mandroids to enforce his will. And that's when Stark's young admirer, Peter Parker, shows up at Stark Industries... and it all hits the fan."

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #4 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY