WIZARD WORLD CHICAGO: ASPEN COMICS PANEL

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Aspen Comics' Michael Turner said that 20th Century Fox's Fathom live-action movie is "getting really, really, really close" during the Aspen panel on Sunday at Wizard World Chicago.

"They'll be finishing the script in the next week and the studio's out looking for directors," Turner said. "The writers, Will Staples and Sean O'Keefe, are really on board with what we're trying to do."

Turner set up the film at James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment. In a weird way, art is imitating life as Cameron is fictionally making an Aquaman movie on the HBO series Entourage.

Asked if Cameron might direct Fathom, Turner said, "That's always been up in the air. The script is the most important thing. If the script is so good that Cameron likes it, maybe he'll do it."

Turner said that another good indication of Fox's intentions for Fathom came when NBC was about to launch a television series with the same name. Thanks to pressure exerted on the network, the name was changed to Surface.

"It was really good to see Fox get their attorneys going," Turner said. "That makes me feel they want to make the movie."

With optioning the film rights, Turner also loses final control over the character's film representation. "But they really are being respectful," Turner said. "And they think we have good ideas and they are listening."

In other news from the panel:

* Turner talked about his new deal with Marvel, saying he will be doing interiors and covers on a six-issue project as well as a "handful" of other covers.

"I'm not working on the Marvel stuff until Soulfire is completely done," he said, noting the Marvel material probably won't happen until the middle of next year.

Turner also noted that he is still working with DC Comics, including Supergirl and statue plans. "We continue to have a relationship with them," he said.

* Because of the Marvel work, Ekos is again getting pushed back. "That will come next," Turner said. "I apologize to Geoff Johns again, and he totally understands. He's pretty busy, too."

* Vince Hernandez has added editorial director to his chores at Aspen.

* Soulfire: Dying of the Light and Fathom: Cannon Hawke will both be five issues.

* Fathom: Cannon Hawke #0, originally released only at conventions, will ship to stores the first week of October, along with #1. The second issue will ship two weeks later.

* Aspen has signed with CAA and is developing a Fathom video game. Turner said toys are also on the agenda, although that's a different chore because of the cost of development.

* The next Aspen Seasons book will be in the fall.