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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2007

COMING TUESDAY

Buffy the Vampire Slayer news -- and much more!!!

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TALKS PAINKILLER JANE

Gil Grant, executive producer of Sci Fi's upcoming Painkiller Jane television series, said that the show will be "partly true" to its comic-book source.

"It's well done. It's quite dark," Grant said of the comic. "In the comic book, Jane was a vigilante and she fled the DEA and her powers came from an injection of drugs she took for other reasons.

"I really took the character herself. In the comic book, she does a lot of head thoughts and we hear what she's thinking. I took that, which I thought was a very cool device to work into the show -- what she's feeling. I took the DEA agent part of it. So I took some of the world."

Appearing at Sci Fi's presentation at the recent Television Critics Association winter event in Pasadena, Calif., Grant said he was given "carte blanche" to bring Jane to a series, which won't have anything to do with the previous pilot movie that aired on Sci Fi.

In the TV show, Painkiller Jane is the story of Jane Vasko, a DEA agent who is recruited by a covert government organization tasked with capturing "Neuros," genetically enhanced individuals who possess superhuman powers of the mind. During the course of her first investigation with the team, Jane inexplicably discovers that she too possesses extraordinary abilities that render her impervious to injury -- but not pain. She develops miraculous regenerative powers, healing from every injury and finding herself stronger than she had been before.

As she continues to work with the government to hunt Neuros, Jane tries to uncover the cause of her own transformation and what - if any - connection she shares with the very people she is pursuing.

"What I tried to do is take what I liked about the comic book and then put my spin on it," Grant said. "So that's what I did. I kept her as a DEA agent, kept her as a marine. The comic book was a little dark. I think it worked for the comic book's sake. I thought the tone was little too dark for the television series I wanted to do.

"We put it a touch in the future. I thought it would be fun to do this neurological thing that happens in this society and then integrate the character, Painkiller Jane, into that."

Grant said that series star Kristanna Loken is an ideal fit for the character.

"She's a character who's a tough chick in a lot of ways, but she's that hurt little girl inside still, and that's what I liked about the character," Grant said. "And that's what I liked about hiring Kristanna. She's got this great physicality about her and she's got the husky voice, but she has a very sweet face."

Painkiller Jane premieres on Sci Fi on April 6. Look for more on the show soon here in The Continuum.

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SPIDER-MAN 3'S GWEN STACY

The Continuum has obtained a new image of Bryce Dallas Howard as Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man 3.

The image is a fuller and bigger image of one that is currently on the film's web site. In the background is Dylan Baker, who returns as Doctor Curt Connors.

Howard said she anticpates Spider-Man 3 being huge.

"I'm sure audiences noticed that the second film was twice as big as the first film," she said. "And the third film is like three times as big as the entire franchise put together.

"And that's a testament to how much integrity and passion that everyone who was working on this truly has. They could just sit back and say, 'We've got it. We got the people who are going to be in seats the opening weekend. We've got it.'

"They don't do that. They work so incredibly hard and they push themselves artistically and they push themselves on how to make this the most entertaining film.

"And then what Sam (Raimi, director) really brings into this is, how do we make this above all a moral for all the kids that are going to see it. Bringing it back to Gwen Stacy, he's very reverent to everything people would expect, and yet it's surprising."

In other Spider-Man 3 news:

* Hasbro has previewed some of the products it will unveil at the upcoming Toy Fair, including the Spider-Man Deluxe Spinning Web Blaster.

Here's how Hasbro describes it:

"Columbia Pictures' Spider-Man 3 reunites the cast and filmmakers from the first two blockbuster adventures for a web of secrets, vengeance, love, and forgiveness that will transport worldwide audiences to thrilling new heights on May 4, 2007. For kids who love to pretend they are Peter Parkers alter ego, Hasbro delivers the most realistic web-slinging experience ever with the Deluxe Spinning Web Blaster. The amazing web blaster creates spiral webs with special web fluid. The blaster can also blast water. Included is one can of web fluid, with refills available separately."



SHAWN LEVY TO DIRECT THE FLASH

Shawn Levy, who guided Fox's Night at the Museum to the top of the box office and more than $225 million, is the new director of The Flash at Warner Bros.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levy replaces David Goyer, who exited the project several weeks ago and on Friday announced his departure via his MySpace page.

Levy is best known for his comedies, including last year's The Pink Panther, as well as Cheaper By The Dozen, Just Married and Big Fat Liar. He also served as executive producer of The WB's short-lived Pepper Dennis, starring Rebecca Romijn.

Levy graduated at age of 20 from the drama department of Yale University. He later studied film at USC, where he produced and directed the short film Broken Record. This film won the Gold Plaque at the Chicago Film Festival, in addition to being selected to screen at the Director's Guild of America.

Following his student film, Levy spent several years directing, writing and executive producing for television. His pilots for The Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, In A Heartbeat (all for The Disney Channel) and Caitlin's Way (Nickelodeon) were all picked up for series.

Levy spent two seasons as the executive producer of the Disney Channel series The Famous Jett Jackson. The series, for which Levy also wrote and directed several episodes, culminated in the telefilm Jett Jackson: The Movie, which Levy produced and directed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Flash won't be a comedy, but will probably be lighter in tone than Batman Begins and Superman Returns. Levy will oversee the new script, which might still incorporate elements of Goyer's story.

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SMALLVILLE ROUNDUP

Annette O'Toole, who plays Martha Kent on The CW's Smallville, told The Continuum that she doesn't really see her character filling the void of advice-giver after Jonathan's death.

"Clark's really his own man now," O'Toole told The Continuum. "She's really more of a friend than someone who tells him what to do."

O'Toole said she misses John Schneider, who played Jonathan. "Especially on the plane trips," she said.

She also noted that she's wary about Martha's relationship with Lionel. "You never know what's going on with him," she said.

In other Smallville news:

* The upcoming episode "Combat" will feature several Phantom Zone villains, all of whom are original creations for the show.

* The Feb. 22 episode will be a repeat of "Justice," which was the show's highest-rated episode this season.

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IMAGE COMICS FIRST LOOKS

For covers and five-page previews of Image Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 14, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Casanova #7, Gødland #16, The Nightly News #4 and PvP, Vol. 4: PvP Goes Bananas! TP.

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BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: "MAELSTROM"

Sci Fi Channel has released eight images from "Maelstrom," the Sunday, March 4 episode of Battlestar Galactica.

The images feature Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, Jamie Bamber as Lee "Apollo" Adama, Dorothy Lyman as Socrata Thrace and Callum Kieth Rennie as Leoben.

Sci Fi has yet to release a description of the episode, which is the 16th of the season.

Click on the thumbnails for larger and fuller images and look for more on Battlestar Galactica soon here in The Continuum.



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BRIEFLY

* Marvel Comics on Monday announced that each issue of Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born will feature a sketch cover, as chosen by Jae Lee, and an all-new variant cover by a different artist. Issue #2 will feature a variant cover by David Finch and the sketch cover by Lee seen for the first time here.

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.



COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

In case you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, here are some links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.

* Wednesday, January 31: Marvel First Looks, Legion of Super Heroes, Image First Looks, Adam Beechen on Teen Titans, Firebreather and Family Guy.

* Tuesday, January 30: KISS, George Perez, Heroes, Marvel First Looks, DC roundup, Krypto the Superdog and BlueWater Productions graphic novels.

* Monday, January 29: From Phoenix Cactus Comicon -- Hellboy's Mike Mignola, Mighty Avengers' Angel Medina and Feedback; plus, DC Comics First Looks, The Simpsons and Stephen Colbert.

* Sunday, January 28: Smallville, Rob Liefeld, Heroes and Archie Comics First Looks.

* Saturday, January 27: Ghost Rider movie, Free Comic Book Day titles and Battlestar Galactica.

* Friday, January 26: Marvel Comics First Looks, Smallville, Painkiller Jane, Hero Initiative's Ultimate Spider-Man covers and Fell trade paperback.

* Thursday, January 25: DC Comics teaser image, TMNT's Kevin Munroe and Tom Gray, 300 goes IMAX, DC's World War III, The Tick, Virgin Comics for April and Heroes.

* Wednesday, January 24: Smallville, Dynamite Entertainment for April, Marvel animation, Image First Looks, DC First Looks and Spider-Man 3.

* Tuesday, January 23: Marvel Animation, Marvel First Looks, 300, Transformers movie images, Kevin Spacey on Superman sequel, Oni Press for April, Avatar Press for April, Smallville and Heroes.

* Monday, January 22: Invincible Iron Man's Marc Worden, Markosia named editor-in-chief, Image Comics' Unravel, Dark Horse First Looks and Battlestar Galactics.

* Sunday, January 21: BlueWater Productions self-publishers, First Looks and HeroClix's Fin Fang Foom.

* Saturday, January 20: Spider-Man 3, Ghost Rider and Spawn.

* Friday, January 19: Smallville, Boom! Studios for April, Fathom: Kiani, 300 and Family Guy.

* Thursday, January 18: Smallville, Legion of Super Heroes, Devil's Due Publishing for April, Image First Looks and Marvel First Looks.

* Wednesday, January 17: Legion of Super Heroes' James Tucker, Image Comics for April, Iron Man's Gwyneth Paltrow, Heroes, Smallville and 300.

* Tuesday, January 16: Marvel Comics for April, Marvel First Looks, The Batman, Legion of Super Heroes, 2006 sales and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.

* Monday, January 15: DC Comics for April, Archie Comics for April, Doctor Strange animated movie, December sales, Image Comics First Looks, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and Painkiller Jane.

* Sunday, January 14: Legion of Super Heroes, DC Comics for April preview and Marvel First Looks.

* Saturday, January 13: Painkiller Jane, Smallville, Flash Gordon and Heroic Publishing roundup.

* Friday, January 12: Fantastic Four animated, The Amazing Screw-On Head and Archie Comics First Looks.

* Thursday, January 11: Painkiller Jane, Legion of Super Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Image Comics First Looks and Marvel Comics First Looks.

* Wednesday, January 10: Halle Berry talks X-Men 4, Smallville, Marvel First Looks and Civil War collections.

* Tuesday, January 9: Dark Horse Comics for April, Civil War #7 delayed, Smallville, Marvel First Looks and IDW Publishing's Tank Girl.

* Monday, January 8: Smallville's Erica Durance, Painkiller Jane, Bloodrayne one-shot and DC First Looks.

* Sunday, January 7: Dark Horse First Looks, Image First Looks and Masterpiece Comics' Wild Boys.

* Saturday, January 6: Aspen Comics for April, Smallville and Battlestar Galactica.

* Friday, January 5: Smallville, TMNT, Devil's Due First Looks, Archie Comics First Looks and Bluesman movie.

* Thursday, January 4: Marvel Comics First Looks, Painkiller Jane, Justice League Unlimited and Heroes.




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