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Tuesday, August 12, 2003

PUNISHER MOVIE UPDATE

Nerissa Prest, who works as WFLA News Channel 8's weekend anchor, was recently part of the very first scenes filmed for The Punisher movie. The production actually visited the station's studios for an authentic look for a newscast scene.

The Continuum caught up with Prest, who joined the station last November, to talk about the filming. To read the interview, CLICK HERE.

In other Punisher movie news:

* Roy Scheider will be play Frank Castle's father.

* Artisan Entertainment followed its appearance at Comic-Con International with a booth at Wizard World Chicago over the weekend. The studio gave out cards, pins and T-shirts. Click on the image above for a larger look at the booth.

MARVEL MOVIE/TV ROUNDUP

A Blade animated series for MTV was among the TV/movie projects that Marvel Enterprise listed in its second-quarter financial results on Tuesday.

In the report, the third Blade movie from New Line Cinema is listed for an August 2004 release.

Other projects listed include The Punisher from Artisan for spring/summer 2004; Spider-Man 2 for July 2, 2004; and Fantastic Four from 20th Century Fox for December 2004.

In development are X-Men 3 from Fox, The Hulk 2 from Universal, Namor from Universal, Elektra from Fox/New Regency, Iron Man from New Line, Deathlok from Paramount and Ghost Rider from Sony.

Look for more Marvel animation news this week here in The Continuum.

AVENGERS/JLA #1 PREVIEW

Marvel Comics on Monday released a seven-page preview of Avengers/JLA #1, the first of the four-issue crossover series by Kurt Busiek and George Perez.

The issue is scheduled for release on Sept. 3, with the second issue shipping from DC Comics on Oct. 22.

Marvel editor Marc Sumerak told The Continuum that work continues on pace for the rest of the series.

"It's going to be great," Sumerak told The Continuum, "everything that fans are hoping for."

Each issue will be 48 pages and will cost $5.95.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

CROSSGEN MOVIE UPDATE

Mark Alessi, CEO of CrossGen Entertainment, said the company is on the fast track in its television and film development.

"I am extremely confident that we will have six movies in production in the next two years," Alessi said last weekend at Wizard World Chicago.

The first CrossGen movie likely to go before cameras is Way of the Rat, written and directed by Chuck Russell. Alessi also said that Russell is involved with a Scion movie and a television mini-series based on The Path.

And on Monday CrossGen announced it has been signed by the Endeavor agency for representation in the world of film, television and video games.

The pact adds Endeavor to CrossGen's Hollywood team, which includes Branded Entertainment's president Michael E. Uslan and VP F.J. DeSanto, and entertainment attorney Nancy Newhouse-Porter. Uslan and Porter will continue their work in ushering CrossGen's properties into other mediums, with Endeavor providing a punch of talent and connections that will complete the task of moving CrossGen more firmly into the mass consumer entertainment industry.

Endeavor co-founders Rick Rosen and Ariel Emanuel will be handling CrossGen's client relationship, along with a team of Endeavor agents from the worlds of film, television and video games.

"CrossGen has some of the most exciting intellectual property in the business today," said the Endeavor partners in a joint statement. "With titles like Sojourn and Way of the Rat, CrossGen has become a leader in the comic book industry. We're thrilled to be working with them as they expand into television, film and video games."

"As we move our stories and characters into other mediums, the focus for us still has to remain the creation of great comics," Alessi said. "Endeavor's people understand that, and their response to our material shows that every day we work with them. Their people are comics fans and movie fans, and they are committed to helping us bring our stories to life in ways that make sense. They get it, and we're proud to be with them."

FIRST LOOK: SOJOURN #25

Sojourn #25 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from CrossGen Entertainment. The issue is written by Ian Edginton, penciled by Greg Land, inked by Jay Leisten and Justin Ponsor.

Here's how CrossGen describes the issue:

"Join the new journey with a special stand-alone $1 issue. Captured by sinister soldiers serving the wicked warlord Mordath, Arwyn the archer must turn to her hated enemy, the troll warrior known as Bohr. Surrounded and outnumbered, they former foes will have to find a way to fight together... or die together! This is it: your chance to jump onboard one of the industry's best-reviewed titles as new writer Ian Edginton, Greg Land and the rest of the acclaimed creative team kick off a brand-new story arc."

Sojourn #25 will be 32 pages and will cost $1.

GIVE'EM A CLICK