Wednesday, September 4, 2002

TNT CANCELS WITCHBLADE

The Witchblade television series has been canceled by TNT.

After a pilot movie in August 2002, Witchblade ran two seasons on the network with 23 episodes. The show was based on the Top Cow comic of the same name.

"It's a very tough decision," TNT executive Steve Koonin told Daily Variety.

TNT's decision is somewhat surprising in that the series had drawn solid ratings, usually at least a 2.0, and had become a signature series for the network. Also, sources had told The Continuum that on at least one occasion The WB had shown interest in picking up Witchblade. The WB, TNT's sister network, had success with special airings of the show.

Witchblade hit a production bump in the second season when star Yancy Butler voluntarily entered alcohol rehab, but she returned and the second season was completed without any scheduling interruption.

In addition to Butler, Witchblade starred Anthony Cistaro, David Chokachi, Will Yun Lee, Eric Etebari and John Hensley.

The network has not announced if the show's second season will be rebroadcast.

SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED UPDATE

Rocker Rob Zombie and rapper Eve are providing voices of villains for MTV's upcoming Spider-Man animated series.

"Fascinating," producer Audu Paden said of working with musicians as voice actors. "They're some people who came in from the music business who did surprisingly good work as voice actors."

Zombie will be providing the voices of Doctor Curt Connors and the Lizard. In the series, Peter Parker will take a job as Connors' lab assistant before working at the Daily Bugle. Just as in the comics and previous animated versions, the doctor will become the Lizard.

Zombie, 36, recently directed the film House of 1,000 Corpses. He is a comics fans, contributing to the soundtrack of The Crow: City of Angel and, at one point, developing a Crow film. He was on MTV earlier this summer, visiting the set of the Daredevil movie for the network's Movie House program. His new CD, Sinister Urge, is now in stores.

Eve, 22, will be providing a character that will be similar to the Black Cat, but it is unclear if it will actually be the Black Cat. It could be a new character entirely.

Eve appeared in two movies this summer, xXx and Barbershop.

Also look for Electro to be in one of the first six episodes of Spider-Man. It is expected that at least two more classic Spider-Man villains will appear in the first season, which is targeted to start early next year.

Below are images of work on the animated series from MTV's Spider-Man movie special in May. Click the thumbnails for larger images. And for a story from The Continuum's visit to Mainframe last January, CLICK HERE.

MUTANT X UPDATE

The Continuum has obtained a new image from the third episode of the upcoming season of Mutant X.

The episode is called "Whose Woods These Are" and the image above shows John Shea (Adam), Victoria Pratt (Shalimar) and Victor Webster (Brennan)

The image also reflects the more real-world tone of the second season. "It's a big world and we're getting out there this season," Shea said.

The second season of Mutant X is scheduled to begin in syndication the week of Sept. 30.

Look for more on Mutant X soon here in The Continuum.

Y - THE LAST MAN COLLECTED IN DOUBLE FEATURE EDITION

DC Comics has announced that it will be releasing Y - The Last Man Double Feature Edition on Oct. 2.

The 64-page, $5.95 book will collect the first two issues of the Vertigo series. According to DC, the second issue has joined the first issue in selling out.

"Wow, this is great news," said Brian K. Vaughan, writer and co-creator of the series. "Co-creator Pia Guerra and I are extremely grateful to all the readers who asked for this second printing, and to DC/Vertigo for being so supportive of the series. I hope this will give everyone an opportunity to follow the misadventures of the last man on Earth (and his accursed monkey) from day one."

"With these issues of Y - The Last Man selling out so close together, it's clear that the heat is building on the series," said Bob Wayne, DC's vice-president - sales and marketing. "A compendium edition makes the most sense in terms of getting both of these stories out there so that new readers can follow the action."

FIRST LOOK: EXILES #17

Exiles #17 will arrive in stores this week from Marvel Comics. The issue is written by Judd Winick, with art by J. Calafiore and Eric Cannon.

Here's how Marvel describes the issue:

"Stand-alone issue! On a world gone reptile, will the Exiles become extinct?"

Exiles #17 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

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