Conan O’Brien is Superman. Jim Carrey is Kick-Ass

Conan O’Brien sings “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” with Jim Carrey for “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour” on 4-25-10 in the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk.


Source: Bleeding Cool

Cool Minimalist Posters – Thor, Hulk, Captain America and more

Check out the excellent work of Rogan Josh. He’s really done excellent jobs in the minimalist style. Hell, he’s even included a reference to Frog Thor. Lots more to check out on his Etsy site and you can buy them for $18.00 a pop.

I think the Doctor Strange one is my favourite.



Source: Scifi Wire

Superman or Batman – Billy Zane chatting to Christopher Nolan?

Bit of an odd one this. I got an email from someone in the States saying that Billy Zane had been talking with Christopher Nolan – director of the Batman films and shepherd of the Superman films whenever they get made.

As you will know I am a big fan of Billy Zane. He’s a cool dude after all. Even when the film is poor, and many of his are, Zane is always fun to watch and let us not forget he was in Titanic which made a bit of money. He was also in The Phantom which wasn’t too good and had the distinction of one of the worst taglines for a comic book movie – Slam Evil! – What were they thinking.

Getting back to the Zane and Nolan chatting. I thought this is obviously a rumour, but then I got another email from a different source who is usually pretty reliable. They said the same thing. I’ve asked for clarification, but nothing yet. I still have my doubts about the while thing.

However, I thought this would lead to some good discussion as to what character Zane could play if he was somehow involved in the next Batman film or a Superman reboot. Hell, let’s throw it open to the Marvel Universe as well.

What character could Zane play in a comic book movie?

Andy M and I always thought he would have been a perfect Batman back in the day. His Bruce Wayne would have been brill. Now he could make quite a cool Lex Luthor or Brainiac. As for Marvel I somehow see him a “Dum Dum” Duggan for SHIELD.

Now over to you.

Superman vs Muhammad Ali Statue

Corny yet cool.

It’s the Man of Steel versus the man known as “The Greatest of All Time” in this statue that features Superman taking on Muhammad Ali.

Based on the cover art of the original 1978 tabloid version of the book “All-New Collectors’ Edition: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali,” this classic scene of the two greats squaring off against one another is available in 3-D form for the first time.

The release of this statue coincides with the reprinting of the story in two hardcover editions.

This hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue includes a logo base, measures approximately 9.25” high x 9.625” wide x 6.5” deep and is packaged in a 4-color box with a 4-color Certificate of Authenticity.

Limited Edition. Manufactured to order.

Advance-solicited; on sale November 10, 2010 * Statue * $250

Read more about the comic and story here.

Source: Topless Robot

Cool Images – Superman redesigned

Over on his blog Warren Ellis recently posted the following challenge:

You are an artist/designer. You have to put together the cover for a comic called SUPERMAN. It is issue 1 of this book.

You have been told that Superman is a man who dresses predominantly in a shade of blue, and wears a red S symbol. You know nothing else about the character.

The cover must include a logo and the text THE COMPLETE STORY OF THE DARING EXPLOITS OF THE ONE AND ONLY SUPERMAN.

And that’s it.

It’s up to you what kind of company you’re at. What kind of comics you make. How you translate that description of Superman. What era you’re in. Who you are, even. Go nuts with it.

You have one week. Go.

I think you will agree that it has produced some excellent ones so far and it runs until Sunday. Check out Whitechapel for more images.




Images by mthemordant, Paul Sizer, hellomuller, DBed and Rooth.

The Flash gets a director

Another day, another DC Comic book film moves ahead. We have the possibility of Goyer and Nolan working on a Superman film and now IESB has the news that Greg Berlanti is the favourite to direct the fastest man alive, The Flash.

Berlanti wrote a draft for the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern movieand was going to direct it before Warner Bros went with Martin Campbell.

No word on a script or star so still early days, but this is further along than a Flash film has been in the past. At one point Ryan Reynolds was rumoured to play him, but as he will he Green Lantern I doubt that will happen (it being the same universe). That gives us the splendid oppotunity to put our comic geek heads on (my fave after films) and wonder who would make a good Flash – not sure whether it will be Barry Allen or Wally West. I’m guessing the former. Neil Patrick Harris could be good. Bradley Cooper missed out on Green Lantern so he could be up for it.

Who should play Flash? Suggest some names in the comments and I’ll put a poll together.

Superman – What do we need for the film to be good?

A story broke yesterday in Latino Review stating that David Goyer would be penning the proposed new Superman film. Since then there has been conflicting reports from all directions; Goyer is involved, Goyer is not involved, Hell even Christopher Nolan is not involved! Until a spokesman clears the situation up we are left to speculate and we all know the internet loves to speculate, so for arguments sake let’s say Goyer is involved. Would he be the right man? Will he be writing alone? What story will he be using?

David Goyer has a chequered track record. On one hand, he successfully developed Marvel character Blade in the first two instalments before single-handedly destroying what he had built with Blade Trinity which he directed as well as writing. Other blemishes on his resume include the farcical Jumper as writer, The Invisible (not to be confused with Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles) as director and one of the worst horror films ever made, The Unborn, which he both wrote and directed. Along with television series Flash Forward, Goyer has his fair share of detractors. Arguably his greatest success along with Blade was his involvement in Christopher Nolan’s Batman double, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight in which the later he shared a writing credit with Nolan’s brother Jonathan. With the monumental success of The Dark Knight and the news of Christopher Nolan being installed as ‘Godfather’ to the new Superman project it was inevitable Goyers name would be mooted.

Would he be the right man? Well as previously mentioned, Goyer does have some good and some bad but his writing credits are far greater than his directing efforts. Blade, Blade II, as well as Alex Proyas’ underrated sci-fi classic Dark City show that he does possess a deal of talent, but all of those projects pale in comparison to The Dark Knight.

With its dark undertones of crime and politics, The Dark Knight was more than just a superhero movie but is that what Superman needs? With two of The Dark Knight trio rumoured to be involved in Superman, it begs the question if Goyer is writing the script, will he be alone? Jonathan Nolan has worked with brother Christopher on The Prestige as well as The Dark Knight, but was not involved in Insomnia, Batman Begins or Inception so they are by no means inseparable and with Christopher’s role in the project still a little hazy it does not guarantee any involvement on Jonathan’s part. But until some confirmed facts about who exactly is working on the project surface and a director is named we can only speculate.

Stories for comic book adaptations are always a source of heated debate. Fans have their own favourite arcs and characters. Should it be an origins story? “Well that seems too commonplace these days and I suppose there’s Smallville for its sins”. “But it needs to be freshened up, it’s always the same with Lex and Lois and Clark!” What about a darker version? “Well that goes against Superman. Why does everything need to be dark these days?” These are arguments I hear all the time but what are the options? To be honest, we could spend all day discussing great Superman stories; Superman: Red Son, The Death of Superman, Whatever Happened to The Man of Tomorrow? But the rumoured story says the new film is set to adapt is John Byrne’s 80’s series The Man of Steel (although John Byrne has said he has not been approached about it) which is essentially an origins story. How much of this will be used is again up for debate, but a meeting between Batman and Superman in issue three is a little odd. Of course Batman and Superman have met in numerous comics over the years but the news of Nolans involvement in a Superman film from a comic which features both characters seems a little strange or even convenient. A lot of fans are keen on an epic idea that comic book scribe Mark Millar had planned well over a year ago. In an interview with Empire in late 2008, Millar talked about creating an 8 hour story which would chart the life of Kal-El from his birth until he is the only man left on Earth. Read the full interview here.

Lex Luthor

So very little to go on as a rather confusing cloud surrounds the future of Superman, but what would you like to see? Villains? Story? Writer? Director? Star?

Now debate away…

Discuss in the Forum or the comments below.

By Richard Bodsworth

Real Life Film Curses

Whether you have been turned in to a hairy beast because you could not love, or have sold your soul for eternal youth, curses have been the basis for many a film plot. Sometimes it has been said however that the likes of Mrs Ganush herself have infiltrated movie sets causing some strange goings on during and after production has ended. Are these a series of unfortunate events, bad publicity stunts, or is there something more sinister going on? Carrying on from last weeks Film Production Nightmares, Live for Films brings you The Real Life Film Curses…

The Exorcist

The Exorcist – Widely regarded as a horror classic, William Friedkin’s adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel of a young girl possessed by a demonic spirit had its fair share of creepy tales.  The set itself was thought to be cursed after a fire burnt down and destroyed it forcing production crews to rebuild.  It is also believed that a priest was asked to come in and bless the set as well as the actors themselves.  A handful of cast and crew members are rumoured to have died during production, including actor Jack MacGowan who played Burke Dennings, but perhaps the strangest thing is Linda Blair, who played the possessed Regan, apparently foretold the deaths of crew members’ weeks before.

The Omen – You really have to wonder if making films about demonic children is a smart move.  The events surrounding this Richard Donner directed film were scarier than your friends’ kid with redeye in a birthday snapshot.  Along with trained Rottweiler’s attacking their handlers and the principal cast members being involved in a head on crash first day of filming, Donners hotel was bombed by the IRA,  star Gregory Peck and writer David Seltzers planes were struck by lightning in two separate events.  Peck would again have another close escape when a flight he cancelled at the last minute would later crash killing everyone on board.  But perhaps the most frightening was that Visual Effects Supervisor John Richardson’s wife was beheaded on the set of A Bridge Too Far a year later, in a scene eerily reminiscent of that from The Omen.       

Rosemary’s Baby – Another classic film another troubling aftermath for Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby.  The critically acclaimed tale of a woman (Mia Farrow) who believes she is carrying the son of Satan has been linked to some horrifying events following its release in 1968.  Director Polanskis pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, was murdered by Charles Manson at their home in 1969.  This was part of an infamous killing spree for the Manson Family which he named Helter Sketler after the Beatles song.  On the 8^th December 1980, Mark Chapman killed Beatles legend John Lennon outside the Dakota Building where Rosemary’s Baby was filmed.  Make of it what you will.

Poltergeist – Along with The Omen, Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hoopers Poltergeist is probably the most publicised example of the film ‘curse’.   The film which features ghosts communicating to the other side through a television set spawned two sequels and the basis for the curse comes from the fact four actors have died during the six year years between the first and third film.  Dominique Dunne who played the older daughter in the first film was strangled by her boyfriend in 1982, Julian Beck (Poltergeist 2) died aged 60 from stomach cancer in 1985, Will Sampson (also Poltergeist 2) died from post op complications from a kidney operation in 1988 and Heather O’ Rourke who played Carol Anne in all three films sadly died also in 1988.   

Superman – The Man of Steel may be able to stop, but the men who have played them have not been so lucky.   George Reeves portrayed Superman in the US television series in the 50’s, but was found dead in mysterious circumstances on his wedding day in an apparent suicide.  Ben Affleck would portray Reeves in Hollywoodland in 2006.  Perhaps the most well know incarnation of Clark Kent was that of Christopher Reeve who starred in Superman (1978) directed by Richard Donner, as well as three sequels.  In 1995, Reeve was involved in a tragic horse riding accident which left him paralysed from the neck down.  Reeve did however battle on, defying the odds and continued to star in TV and film before his death in 2004. Reeves co-star Margot Kidder who played the role of Lois Lane was found by police in undergrowth in LA after suffering a manic breakdown; she was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The Dark Knight – Christopher Nolan’s follow up to Batman Begins was a success both critically and commercially when it was released in 2008, but the death of Heath Ledgers just shortly after filming wrapped left a black cloud hanging above it and was the starting point for another curse rumour.  More strange incidents followed; a stunt driver was killed during filming, Morgan Freeman was involved in a car accident which would break his arm and at the opening premiere, Christian Bale would be arrested for allegedly assaulting his mother.

Rebel without a Cause – It is a well known fact that James Dean died while driving the Porsche Spyder used in Rebel Without A Cause in 1955, while co-stars Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood both died prematurely years later.  However was the car itself cursed? A real life Christine? The mechanic who recovered the wreck apparently had his leg broken as the vehicle collapsed on him.  Later, parts of the car were sold to two separate buyers; both the cars also crashed claiming the lives of the drivers.

The curse is also known to have struck Quantum of Solace, Valkyrie and Blade Runner; in which companies like Coca Cola that were used for advertising suffered big losses. Shame.

So what do you guys think? Real, or desperately made up by people who should be doing something better with their time like working out what is going on in Lost or something?  Check out Good Actors Turned Bad next week…

By Richard Bodsworth.

Christopher Nolan to be Superman’s Godfather and Batman 3 is being written

Christopher Nolan is currently hard at work on his sci-fi film, Inception, which is due out on 16th July. Since The Dark Knight there have been constant stories and rumours about what would be happening in the third film. More on that in a bit as the more interesting news via Deadline Hollywood, is that Nolan has supposedly been asked by Warner Bros to have a look at the Man of Steel and see how Superman could be brought to the big screen.

Now don’t get too excited. They have not asked him to write or direct a new Superman film. Instead they want Nolan to use what he learnt to make Batman so successful and apply it to Krypton’s favourite son.

Basically, he is going to be a mentor or godfather to any future Superman film which should mean it will be a hell of a lot better than Bryan Singer’s Superman returns (I still wish they would go with Mark Millar’s proposed Superman trilogy, but what do I know) and I think Warner Bros have done the right thing with this. The one worry is that they will make Superman all dark and moody, but Nolan took the core elements of what makes Batman work and used them to great effect so I fully expect him to do the same with Superman. I would love him to sit down for a chat with Grant Morrison as his All Star Superman was one of the best Superman comics in recent years.

Of course one of the main reasons for a new Superman film to be developed is to do with rights. According to Deadline, Attorney Marc Toberoff warns that, in 2013, the Jerome Siegel heirs along with the estate of co-creator Joe Shuster will own the entire original copyright to Superman — “and neither DC Comics nor Warner Bros will be able to exploit any new Superman works without a license from the Siegels and Shusters”. He’s also pointed out that, if Warner Bros does not start production on a new Superman sequel or reboot by 2011, the Siegels could sue to recover their damages on the grounds that the deal should have contained a clause in which the rights returned to the owners after a given time if no film was in development. The heirs of Siegel have already been awarded half the copyright for Superman. And in 2013 the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster get the remaining half. After that, neither DC Comics nor Warner Bros will be able to use Superman without a financial agreement with the heirs.

if they don’t get a new Superman film sorted out super quick then they run the risk of having to pay out an awful lot of money.

As Nolan will have a hand in a new Superman film that could also pave the way for the big screen meet up of Batman and Superman. Wishful thinking, but it could happen.

What about Batman 3? Is that heading our way anytime soon? Turns out that Christopher Nolan came up with a story idea and Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer have begun work on a Batman 3 script.

Let the rumours of who and what will be in the next Batman film begin.

As for Nolan steering the direction of a Superman film do you think this is a good idea? Who would you like to direct it and what do you want to see in a new Superman film?

Check out some cool Superman T-Shirts over on Tees For All. The amazing picture at the top of the post is by the incredible Brian Bolland. I love his stuff.

Smallville – New Absolute Justice trailer with added Hawkman and Dr Fate