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Thursday, May 31, 2001

DAVID TISCHMAN TALKS CLOAK AND DAGGER MOVIE

Writer David Tischman told The Continuum that he is working on a treatment for the Cloak and Dagger movie, with hopes to start on the script in the next month.

The movie will come from Dimension Films and follows Ghost Rider and Werewolf by Night as Marvel projects at the studio. Tischman said he has worked with producer Rick Alexander for more than two years in developing Cloak and Dagger as a movie.

"We are adhering fairly close to the comic book in the sense of who the characters are and what their powers are and what they can do," Tischman told The Continuum. "They will be wearing movie versions of their comic-book costumes, but those costumes will come out of the story in an organic way, in the same way that Bruce Willis' 'costume' in Unbreakable is organic to what he does.

"We're keeping the same sort of set up and who the characters are, but obviously updating that for today's audiences."

Tischman said that the basic light-and-dark nature of the characters makes them easy to translate for a mainstream movie audience.

"One of the great things about Cloak and Dagger is that these are real kids - late teens early 20s - who get these powers and are posed with the Marvel dilemma, with great power there comes great responsibility," Tischman said. "And they choose for that responsibility to fight for those people who can't fight for themselves -- people who are like them. I think that gives the movie an incredibly wide appeal.

"It's sort of - excuse the pun - a dark movie, but there will be bits of comedy to lighten it up, and the action sequences are going to be great."

Tischman, who is the new writer of Marvel's Cable comic book, told The Continuum he and frequent collaborator Howard Chaykin are writing Marvel's Mutant X comics series, based on the upcoming television series.

BLADE 2 UPDATE

David Goyer, writer of Blade 2, has returned from his second trip to the set in Prague and told The Continuum the movie is progressing well.

"I've been back for about a week and it looks like I may be returning again this Sunday for my third trip," Goyer told The Continuum.

"It's a big, crazy movie. The sets are gorgeous, Guillermo (del Toro, the director) is in fine form, and it feels like we may have a hit on our hands," Goyer said.

Goyer said that two-thirds of Blade 2 have been filmed.

"We should be finished in early July," Goyer said.

New Line Cinema has not established a release date for Blade 2 yet.

MUTANT X CASTING

Official casting for the Mutant X television could be announced as early as Thursday - and that casting might include John Shea.

Tribune Entertainment is readying a press release, pending the confirmation of the lead role, which, according to Continuum sources, might be Shea, who is best known to comics fans as Lex Luthor from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Shea's possible character is named Adam, although the previously reported Xero surname might not stick.

Fireworks Entertainment, a Toronto-based production partner for Mutant X, has released casting information about several of the roles. Victor Webster will play Brennan, who can conduct electricity; Lauren Lee Smith will play Emma, a telepath; Victoria Pratt will play Shalimar, whose DNA is half human-half animal; and Forbes March will play Jessie, who can alter his body density.

While Marvel and Fox are in litigation over Mutant X and its alleged ties to the X-Men world, it appears production of the show will begin in Toronto within two weeks. Marvel officials are not commenting on the litigation.

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

ONI'S MAGIC PICKLE

Oni Press will release Magic Pickle, a four-issue, all-ages mini-series by Scott Morse, beginning in September.

A mutant pickle engineered to defend the innocent and punish the guilty, Weapon Kosher briefly appeared in Scott Morse's Smack Dab collection of shorts published last year.

"Scott's always been a creator with a diverse set of interests," said Oni publisher Joe Nozemack, "He's done gripping crime tales, touching ghost stories, and a genre-spanning epic. Magic Pickle is Scott's unique vision applied to a concept that can appeal to readers of all ages."

Here's how Oni describes the book:

"Magic Pickle showcases Weapon Kosher, a government weapon who has been locked away in a refrigerated slumber awaiting the return of the evil he was created to fight. But when the Brotherhood of Evil Produce resurfaces after years of being underground, Weapon Kosher finds the world isn't exactly as he left it! For starters, there is a family living directly above his secret headquarters and a little girl's bedroom happens to be covering up the entrance to his underground base! While this frustrates the Magic Pickle to no end, the girl, little Jo Jo Wigman, is on cloud nine! Now they both have a new friend and playmate, much to the Pickle's chagrin.

"After doing a project that had the breadth and scope Soulwind did, I thought it was important to do something a little more fun and carefree," Morse said. "Magic Pickle is a blast to work on. I just hope kids and their parents have as much fun reading it as I'm having drawing it!"

Jim Mahfood's Smoke Dog - from last year's Oni Color Special -- will appear in back-up stories in each of the four Magic Pickle issues.

"Magic Pickle is a comic in the same vein as Jay Stephen's Jetcat Clubhouse or Cartoon Network's Powerpuff Girls cartoon," Nozemack said. "You have a variety of fun characters, exciting adventures, and every once and a while a little tug at the heart strings. Like Alison Dare and Jetcat Clubhouse, Magic Pickle is a true all-ages comic. One that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!"

The first issue will be 32 pages and will cost $2.95. It arrives in comics stores on Sept. 15.

BRIEFLY

  • Adam Kubert has provided The Continuum a first look at his cover to Ultimate X-Men #7.

    GIVE'EM A CLICK

  • Marvel Studios' Rick Ungar said he is pleased with the development of the second season of Kids' WB!'s X-Men: Evolution. "It's terrific," said Ungar, who is executive producer. "The scripts are great."

  • Grand Toys announced that it will be releasing X-Men and Spider-Man PuzzMobiles this year. PuzzMobiles are diecut two-sided foam puzzles that can be hung as a mobile or displayed on a stand when completed.

  • Coming Friday: DC news - and much more!!!
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