TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009
THE CW RENEWS SMALLVILLE FOR SEASON 9
Smallville has been picked up for a ninth season by The CW, sources have confirmed for The Continuum.
Tom Welling, who stars as Clark Kent, will return to the role for the new season. It is unclear which other Season 8 cast members -- Allison Mack, Erica Durance, Justin Hartley, Aaron Ashmore, Sam Witwer and Cassidy Freeman -- will be back.
Darren Swimmer, Todd Slakin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson took over showrunner duties in Season 8 from Al Gough and Miles Millar. Swimmer and Slakvin are working on The CW's Melrose Place pilot and will remain there if it's picked up as a series, leaving Souders and Peterson to continue.
Smallville was one of six series to get a pick-up from The CW, according to the Hollywood Reporter, joining Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210, Supernatural and America's Next Top Model.
MARVEL STUDIOS ROUNDUP
A launch date for the Spider-Man musical and production updates on the Iron Man 2 and Thor movies were among the highlights of Marvel's fourth-quarter conference call on Tuesday.
Following is a rundown:
* Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark will open on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at Broadway's Hilton Theatre at 213 West 42nd Street in New York. Preview performances will begin on Jan. 16.
Julie Taymor and Glen Berger and writing, with Taymor directing. Taymor is a past Tony Award winner whose credits include The Lion King and Across the Universe.
Bono and The Edge from U2 are creating music and lyrics for the show.
Casting was not announced.
* Production on Iron Man 2 is expected to begin in "six or seven weeks," according to David Maisel, chairman of Marvel Studios. He announced Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow as cast members and to "stay tuned" for future casting. Jon Favreau returns as director.
* Production of Thor, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh, is expected to begin this summer. Maisel, who had no casting news, said that Marvel will have to coordinate the shoots of Iron Man 2 and Thor.
* Marvel Studios has moved into its new offices in Manhattan Beach, Calif., accompaned by five major sound stages for use on its self-produced films.
* Despite the sluggish economy and slumping DVD market, executive vice president and chief financial officer Ken West said that sales of the Iron Man and Incredible Hulk DVDs were "at or above our expectations." The sales were credited to the quality of the films, the strength of the brands, a built-in fan base and successful marketing.
He also noted that he was encouraged by the performances of both films in the newer Blu-ray market.
* Iron Man was the No. 2 film of 2008 at the domestic box office with $318.4 million, with Incredible Hulk No. 15 at $135 million.
* COO Peter Cuneo noted that television series remain the most effect way for Marvel to "reach out to our fans worldwide." He said that the animated shows help all of the company's business aspects.
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT FOR MAY
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Dynamite Entertainment has released its solicitations for May.
For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.
TOP COW PRODUCTIONS FOR MAY
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Top Cow Productions has released its solicitations for May.
For a rundown, with images, CLICK HERE.
BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS' LEGEND OF ISIS
Bluewater Productions has announced that its flagship property, Legend of Isis, will launch as an ongoing series in June.
The new series will start off as Isis' life is getting back to normal when a mysterious package arrives at her doorstep, leading her toward a battle with the gruesome Scarab Queen. The series will also be a launching pad for the upcoming Bluewater series Tony & Cleo.
The first arc will be written by AE Stueve, with art by Ivan Barriga.
"I tried to take a classic approach to Isis, telling pulp style stories that would appeal to anyone who likes comics," Stueve said.
The new series will follow the April release of the Dogs War trade paperback.
HEROES: "COLD SNAP"
NBC has released a description of "Cold Snap," the Monday, March 23 episode of Heroes.
Here's how the network describes the episode:
"HRG (Jack Coleman) convinces Emile Danko (guest star Zeljko Ivanek), a.k.a. The Hunter, to release Tracy (Ali Larter) from Building 26, in hopes that she will lead them to Rebel. As Angela (Cristine Rose) evades capture, she turns to an old friend (guest =tar Swoosie Kurtz) for help.
"In Los Angeles, Hiro (Masi Oka) and Ando (James Kyson Lee) continue on their latest mission from Rebel to protect the newest hero."
Look for more Heroes news soon here in The Continuum.
DC COMICS FIRST LOOKS
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For covers and four- to five-page previews of DC Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
Titles include Wildcats #8, Resistance #3 and Push #6.
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT FIRST LOOKS
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For covers and five- to nine-page previews of Dynamite Entertainment titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
Titles include Garth Ennis' Battlefields: Dear Billy #2, Terminator Revolution #2 and Dan Dare Vol. 1 Omnibus Hardcover.
BOOM! STUDIOS FIRST LOOKS
For cover and seven-page preview of BOOM! Studios' Irredeemable #1, CLICK HERE.
For previews of BOOM! Stduios titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
For previews of Marvel Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
For previews of Image Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
For previews of Archie Comics titles arriving in stores on Feb. 25, CLICK HERE.
MAY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP
For previously posted May solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:
* Antarctic Press.
* Archie Comics.
* Aspen Comics.
* Bluewater Productions.
* Bongo Comics.
* BOOM! Studios.
* Dark Horse Comics.
* DC Comics.
* Devil's Due Publishing.
* IDW Publishing.
* Image Comics.
* Marvel Comics.
* Moonstone Books.
* Oni Press.
BRIEFLY
* FX will air X-Men: The Last Stand on Monday, March 2 at 8 p.m. and Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m.
COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES
If you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, following are links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.
* Thursday, February 19: The Middleman, Wolverine and the X-Men, Watchmen, Aspen Comics for May, Image Comics for May, Bongo Comics for May, Heroes, Image Comics First Looks and Marvel Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, February 18: Watchmen's Zack Snyder, Red 5 Comics for May and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Tuesday, February 17: Marvel Comics for May and DC Comics for May.
* Monday, February 16: IDW Publishing for May, Archie Comics for May, Battlestar Galactica, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks and Marvel Universe action figures.
* Sunday, February 15: Hasbro's Wolverine action figures, Marvel Comics First Looks, BOOM! Studios First Looks and Heroes.
* Saturday, February 14: Heroes, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li and Marvel First Looks.
* Friday, February 13: Watchmen, Marvel Comics First Looks and Image Comics First Looks.
* Thursday, February 12: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, John Malkovich joins Jonah Hex cast, January sales and Top Cow Productions First Looks.
* Wednesday, February 11: Archie Comics First Looks, The Human Target and Knight Rider.
* Tuesday, February 10: Wolverine and the X-Men, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Heroes, XIII, Marvel Comics First Looks, DC Comics First Looks and DC Comics roundup.
* Monday, February 9: Dollhouse, Marvel animation roundup, Brett Ratner to direct Youngblood movie, Watchmen, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Battlestar Galactica, The Simpsons, BOOM! Studios First Looks, Dynamite Entertainment First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks, Amazing Spider-Man: The Short Halloween and Marvel's Cup O' Joe panel at New York Comic Con.
* Sunday, February 8: Michael Chiklis at IDW Publishing, Vertigo titles and XIII's Jay Firestone.
* Saturday, February 7: XIII's Caterina Murino and X-Men Origins: Wolverine video game.
* Friday, February 6: From New York Comic Con -- X-Men, Dark Reign and Wars of Kings, Marvel Comics First Looks, XIII's Stephen Dorff and Wolverine and the X-Men.
* Thursday, February 5: Dark Horse Comics for May, Black Panther voice cast, XIII's Val Kilmer, Radical Publishing's The Last Days of American Crime, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Marvel Comics First Looks.
* Wednesday, February 4: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, The Spectacular Spider-Man, XIII, Top Cow Productions First Looks, Archie Comics First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks and Family Guy.
* Tuesday, February 3: Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Marvel Comics First Looks, DC Comics roundup and Vincent Price Presents.
* Monday, February 2: The Middleman, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Spider-Man 4, Knight Rider and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.
* Sunday, February 1: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dark Horse Comics First Looks.
* Saturday, January 31: Smallville, Dollhouse, Watchmen, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Bluewater Productions for May and Image Comics First Looks.
* Friday, January 30: X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Heroes, Boom! Studios First Looks, Marvel Comics First Looks and Wolverine and the X-Men.
* Thursday, January 29: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Necessary Evil, IDW Publishing First Looks, Bluewater Productions page counts and Family Guy.
* Wednesday, January 28: Moonstone Books for May, Wonder Woman's Nathan Fillion, Heroes, Wolverine and the X-Men, BOOM! Studio's Irredeemable, Marvel Comics First Looks, Top Cow Productions First Looks and Archie Comics First Looks.
* Tuesday, January 27: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, DC Comics First Looks, Heroes, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Marvel Comics First Looks, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Knight Rider and El Zombo Fantasma movie.
* Monday, January 26: Avatar Press for April, Antarctic Press for April, Dollhouse, The Simpsons and Dynamite Entertainment First Looks.
* Sunday, January 25: Batman: The Brave and the Bold, BOOM! Studios First Looks, The Simpsons, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dabel Brothers Publishing for April.
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