ARAD RESIGNS AS CHAIRMAN/CEO OF MARVEL STUDIOS, WILL STAY ON TO PRODUCE

Press Release
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), a global character-based entertainment and licensing company, today announced that the company has entered into a new arrangement with Avi Arad to independently produce films for Marvel under his own production company banner, Avi Arad Productions. In this new capacity, Mr. Arad will remain actively involved in Marvel's upcoming film slate, including Iron Man and Hulk, the first two films anticipated to be financed and produced by Marvel under its new film financing slate. Mr. Arad will also remain attached to produce various licensed productions, including the upcoming Spider-Man 3, scheduled for release next year, and subsequent sequels. Consistent with this restructuring, Mr. Arad is resigning from his corporate positions as Chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios, Chief Creative Officer of Marvel and a Marvel director, but will continue to serve as Creative Advisor for Marvel through the remainder of 2006.
Michael Helfant, President and COO of Marvel Studios, and Kevin Feige, Marvel Studio's President of Production, will lead Marvel Studios and its continuing development of a growing slate of feature films, television and other entertainment projects. Mr. Helfant, an
industry veteran with over 17 years of production experience, was recruited to Marvel last year to manage the expanded scope of studio operations; and Mr. Feige, recently appointed President of Production, has worked side by side with Mr. Arad for the past eight years during Marvel's impressive production run.
"I have helped to build Marvel into a very special company, and on the heels of the tremendous success of X-Men: The Last Stand, I felt like it was the right time for me to move away from the day to day corporate responsibilities in order to focus on what I love best - creating and producing. I am leaving behind a great team to run the studio, and I expect to remain actively involved in the development and production of many Marvel films in the years to come," said Mr. Arad.
Mort Handel, Marvel's Chairman of the Board, commented, "Avi has been a driving force at Marvel, and he and his team are credited with producing some of the highest grossing films in history, including this past weekend's blockbuster X-Men: The Last Stand and Spider-Man, Hulk, and Fantastic Four. His vision and leadership will be missed, but we understand Avi's desire to pursue a broader array of opportunities and wish him the best of luck. Going forward, we are fortunate to have a deep bench led by Michael Helfant and Kevin Feige who will assume the bulk of Avi's company responsibilities." In addition, Sid Ganis, a Marvel Director, Independent Producer and the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will assist Marvel during the transition.
Michael Helfant, who joined Marvel in November 2005, has over 22 years of entertainment industry experience, most recently as COO of Beacon Pictures, a major independent motion picture production company whose recent feature film releases include Open Range, Raising Helen and Ladder 49. Prior to Beacon, Mr. Helfant was Senior Executive Vice President of Dimension Films (SPY Kids, Scream and Scary Movie franchises, and The Others), a division of Miramax Film Corp. from 1999-2002. Mr. Helfant also served as Executive Vice President, Head of Business Operations and Acquisitions at Interscope Communications, Inc. (Runaway Bride, Pitch Black, Mr. Holland's Opus and Jumanji), and
Senior Vice President of Sovereign Pictures, Inc (Reversal of Fortune, My Left Foot, The Commitments and Cinema Paradiso). Mr. Helfant started his career as an entertainment attorney with Loeb & Loeb in Century City. Mr. Helfant is a graduate of the JD/MBA program at UCLA.
Kevin Feige has over ten years of entertainment experience, including eight years developing feature films and entertainment based on Marvel characters. He joined Marvel Studios in 2000 as Executive Vice President and was recently promoted to President, Production. He has been actively involved in Marvel's feature film projects, serving
as Executive Producer on X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 2, The Hulk, The Punisher and Fantastic Four; Co-Producer on X-Men: United and Daredevil and as a production executive on Spider-Man. Prior to joining Marvel Studios, Mr. Feige worked for Producer Lauren Shuler Donner and Director Richard Donner at The Donners' Company. While
there, he worked on films including Volcano, starring Tommy Lee Jones and the hit romantic comedy You've Got Mail, directed by Nora Ephron and starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. He then transitioned into development which led to an Associate Producer role on the film that revamped the comic book genre, X-Men. It was there that he started his
work in the Marvel Universe, developing the X-Men feature for two years with Lauren and Director Bryan Singer, and serving as the film's Associate Producer. Mr. Feige graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television.

New Releases Wednesday May 31st

All New OHOTMU A to Z 5
Amazing Spider-Man 532
Books of Doom 6
Daughters of the Dragon 5
Fantastic Four 537 (2nd Print)
Halo Preview Book
Incredible Hulk 95
Iron Man the Inevitable 6
Punisher the Tyger
Runaways 16
Son of M 6
Storm 4
Thing 7
Ultimate Extinction 5
Ultimate Fantastic Four 30
Ultimate Fantastic Four 30 Land Sketch Incentive Cover
Ultimate Fantastic Four 30 Suydam Zombie Incentive Cover
Ultimate Spider-Man 95

Site of the Week

Here's one for all you vinatge toy collectors. Mego Museum

Original Soundtrack Recording Of The Incredible Hulk

1) Love Theme
2) Main Title
3) Gamma Ray Treatment
4) Growing Anger
5) First Hulk Out/Second Hult Out/Transformation
6) Growing Tension/Explosion/Hulk Rescue/Susan't Death
7) The Lonely Man Theme
8) The Incredible Hulk - Main Title Version 2
9) Married/The Wedding
10) Prometheus/Arrival at Project Prometheus
11) Ricky Montage
12) Stop Susan Williams Suite
13) Homecoming Suite
14) The Secret Empire Suite
15) Prometheus/Through the Floor/Hulk on the Rampage
16) Married/Prelude to Tragedy/Death Scene
17) Pilot/Graveyard Farewell/Lonely Man Theme Reprise
18) Main Theme (Disco Version)

Part 1 Zip
Part 2 Zip

ALEX TOTH 1928-2006

Alex’s son Eric left a message on the Alex Toth Forums confirming the news:

Hello.
I am Alex's oldest son Eric. I meant to be the one to let everyone know that my father did pass away this morning drawing/writing at his table. I do not have any further details other than I will forward an address for those interested in sending cards. We will arrange something appropriate at or around the convention this summer in San Diego. As John shared, all of your cards and letters of the recent past were very much appreciated by my father. Only in these last years did he begin to understand and accept the fact that his work had touched so many people's lives. In time, more information will follow.

Thank you.
Eric and family.

Toth was born in 1928, and had a career that took him both into comics and animation, and was perhaps best known for his stylistic interpretations at Hanna-Barbera during the ‘60s and ’70s while working on such properties as Space Ghost, Challenge of the Superfriends, Fantastic Four, Herculoids, Birdman and Jonny Quest. Toth’s artwork appeared in comics published by DC Comics, Marvel, Standard, Dell, Warren, Famous Funnies and numerous others. You can find out more about Toth at www.tothfans.com

X3 SCORES HIGHEST OPENING FRIDAY EVER - ESTIMATES RAISED

Early estimates for X-Men: The Last Stand’s North American Friday box office are beginning to come in and it looks like X3 is once again surpassing industry estimates and is poised to have the second largest opening day of any movie ever - trailing only Star Wars: Episode 3's $50m opening day totals last year - and the best Friday opening ever.
Various estimates are putting X3’s Friday take at between $44.2 and $44.5 million, a whopping 40 to 43% over X2: X-Men United’s at-the-time-surprising $31.2m opening Friday (which in turn was a huge surprise improvement over the first X-Men’s $21m opening).
Showing the power of DVD sales and pay-per-view and cable television showings, the Marvel/Fox franchise’s growth curve has continued, overcoming what was largely negative buzz surrounding the film during production.
Industry estimates projected X3’s opening four-day Memorial Day weekend total to come in around $100-110m, which would already set an all-time Memorial Day weekend record, but it’s now possible even those estimates will climb north based on Friday’s figures. X3 could reach those totals and set the 4-day record by the end of Sunday, and now may land in the neighborhood of $125m by the time people return to school and work on Tuesday.
This will leave Fox with enviable dilemma of what direction to take the franchise. Because of climbing production costs, as the film’s title indicates it was being set-up as to the last of this particular series, with somewhat smaller-scale/less costly spin-offs such as a Wolverine feature likely next in line. However, if comparable box office returns stay on-pace or even exceed the escalating production costs, Fox may have to rethink their long-terms plans.
Also interesting to observe will be if and how this affects the overall profile of comic books in Hollywood, and if this will fuel yet another new wave of studios searching for their next comic book franchise
Source

Barry Windsor-Smith Weapon-X and Conan the Barbarian Creator/Artist

London native Barry Windsor-Smith, original artist on "Conan the Barbarian" and classic issues of many other comic books, has called Kingston home since 2001.
The artist/writer, also an accomplished painter of romantic fantasy themes using watercolor or gouache, will exhibit a small selection of framed prints at Mezzanine Bookstore, Cafe and Wine Bar beginning Saturday through June 28.
Mezzanine's bookstore specializes in science fiction, fantasy and detective novels, as well as thrillers and mysteries.
"We are really thrilled," said BC Gee, who co-owns Mezzanine with her husband, Larry Zalinsky.
The couple connected with Windsor-Smith through studio assistant Alex Bialy, who occasionally stops by the bookstore/cafe to peruse its selection of toys and titles, Gee said.
Windsor-Smith, who agreed to an e-mail interview with the Poughkeepsie Journal, will attend an artist's reception and book signing on Saturday — considered a coup for Mezzanine since Windsor-Smith is rarely seen in public.
Art prints as well as copies of the first two volumes of autobiographical art books, "BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH: OPUS," with text that is an anecdotal, often Continued from 1I
humorous, memoir of his paranormal experiences, will be available for purchase.
Windsor-Smith will autograph the art prints and copies of "OPUS" (new and previously purchased). He discourages fans from bringing comic books to sign.
But, the artist said, if someone turns up with a prized copy of "Conan the Barbarian," No. 1, he will not turn the fan away.
You made a major contribution to the comic book world with your work on the "Conan the Barbarian" series. You also designed many of the characters in the Valiant universe and contributed to the growth of the "X Men" series. Do you miss characters you have worked on in the past, or do you prefer to divorce yourself from properties once your involvement is completed?
It depends upon the characters and also if I created them. Even though I will retire myself from a series or certain character's stories I often feel that there was more to do; more stories to tell. "Archer and Armstrong" from Valiant is one such case. If I had stayed with Valiant I would have continued with "Archer and Armstrong" as I had many stories in my head that would apply to those characters.
With "Weapon X" I told the story from start to finish. Afterward I had nothing much more to say about the character or his circumstances.
You gave the world its first glimpse of Wolverine's origin with "Weapon X." Marvel continues to publish back stories for the character in "Wolverine: Origin" and the Weapon X project was featured in the "X-Men 2" film. Do you feel connected to a legacy? Do you feel your contributions to this character's history are honored?
I created "Weapon X" so I am, of course, connected to the character and the other people in the story. But those other people, the Professor, Dr. Cornelius and especially Miss Carol Hines, were the soul and sympathy in counterpoint to the horrors of the Weapon X story.
Marvel Comics' subsequent adaptations and applications have excluded the essential humanity of my original work. Focusing instead on cliches and the immature extremes of comic book violence.
To answer your questions then: No. My contribution to X-Men history is not honored at all.
It seems like you split your time between making fine-art paintings and sequential/comic art. Do you prefer one over the other? What are the differences in your process depending on what type of pieces you are working on?
The kind of comics stories and art that I am known for is one of the most difficult things in the world to pull off. It's enormously labor intensive. If I had a preference to create or not create comics art I would choose the latter. My other work, single pictures, is also difficult to do but it's a walk in the park compared to comics.
Each calling has almost completely different disciplines. Painting directs electrochemical impulses through areas of the brain that are not active when writing a story. Staging graphic sequences pumps electrochemicals through different channels of both hemispheres of the brain. The twin processes of sequential storytelling and single pictures are, as they say, apples and oranges.
How often (if ever) do you visit your hometown of London? Do you still consider yourself a Londoner?
I no longer have family in England, they have all passed on. In the 35 years that I have lived in the USA, London has changed dramatically and not much for the better, in my old-fashioned opinion. I have little reason to return to my birthplace anymore.
A number of well-known fantasy artists and illustrators (Bernie Wrightson, James Gurney, John J. Muth, Stephen Hickman) have called the mid-Hudson Valley home. Why did you move to this area from New York City and what is it about the region that appeals to you?
Who are these people? I have never heard of any of them. I enjoy the mid-Hudson Valley's year-round sunshine and ample parking.
You usually do not permit journalists to visit your studio. Are you a very private person in general or do you have a circle of friends that regularly spend time at your studio?
Currently I have one studio assistant, Alex Bialy, and he is the only regular person at my studio. I have become quite a hermit since I moved here to Kingston in 2001. I live on the top floor of my large house and my studio is the entire ground floor. I hardly go out except to get food and wine. My friends are few and well chosen.
There is an In Memorium to the late Dr. John E. Mack and a link to the institute that bears his name, www.johnemackin stitute.org, on your studio Web site. Can you explain why his work is important to you?
John Mack was a pioneer. Although he was a tenured professor of psychology at Harvard, he dared to speak out loud about a subject that is either ignored, ridiculed or only whispered about. The subject being extraterrestrial intelligence on our proverbial doorstep. The Hudson Valley is rife with UFO sightings, I have witnessed several myself, so where do people think they come from ... France?
Do you regularly read comic books? If so, what titles are you reading now? Are there any artists or writers working in the comics world now that you admire?
Yes, there are several young talents in the field whose work I admire. But I quit reading comics in the mid-1980s. That was the founding time of the still prevalent reign of idiotic and disturbing violence over memorable stories with interesting characters.
What are some of your favorite themes to deal with in your romantic fantasy work? From where do you draw your inspiration and ideas for these pieces? Do they ever reflect personal experiences?
I suppose it should be explained that romantic is an indefinite art term. This does not apply to steamy novels or Meg Ryan movies. To answer your question, yes, they're almost always reflections of personal experiences whether presented literally or symbolically.
I have been known to do set pieces of fantasy figures and such, but generally I'm not interested in impersonal work; everything has to have some underlying meaning, an internal value, no matter its visual abstractions. The same is true of my latter-day comics work.
I coined romantic fantasy 20 years ago because fans and critics alike tended to categorize my work as "fantasy," although I referred to it as new romantic. The published material of modern fantasy painters like Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and a legion of copyists, are impersonal illustrations no matter how well-executed.
Having illustrated other people's work for a few years in the 1970s, notably "Conan the Barbarian," I decide to quit all of that as being emotionally empty and artistically meaningless.
Do you think that mythological themes can be found in any modern art forms other than comics and graphic novels?
Sure, of course. There are scores of movies dealing with mythology. The "Star Wars" series for instance. If you mean historical mythology there was Oliver Stone's "Alexander," and "Troy," and several others.
Many of the gaming programs are based on fantasy versions of ancient mythology and medieval knights and such. It may all be bastardized, but in 2006 what isn't?
How did the show at Mezzanine in Kingston come to be?
Excellent question.
Source
Barry Winsor Smith Official Site

Spidey swings into Gotham

"Spider-Man 3" starts location filming Friday, May 26, in New York City for five weeks.

No, he won't be climbing the Empire State Building -- that was "King Kong" territory.

However, he (Tobey Maguire) will be in Central Park and Times Square among many of the city's sites and sights. Some other New York scenes can also be computerized with "Spider-Man" in post-production.

The interiors started filming at Sony in Culver City, Jan. 16, and the sets are now in the process of being dismantled. Other New York street scenes will be lensed on Paramount's terrif New York Street sets in Hollywood. To date, Tobey Maguire and fiancée Jennifer Meyer have not revealed their wedding date.

Source

A Bunch Of X-Men 3 Cast Interviews

James Marsden and Famke Janssen

Anna Paquin, Ben Foster and Shawn Ashmore

Dania Ramirez and Aaron Stanford

Meet The Mutants

Have Doubts About The 'Iron Man' Movie? Jon Favreau Wants To Hear Them

Typically, the announcement of a big-budget blockbuster is followed by months (if not years) of avoidance. Stars, directors and producers dodge questions like jury summonses, fearing that they could reveal fan-angering character updates, in-development plot points, or build the hype to a fever pitch too early.
Jon Favreau is refusing to play that game.
The star of "Swingers" and director of "Elf" and "Zathura" was recently handed the keys to the next great superhero franchise, a highly anticipated adaptation of the five-decades-strong "Iron Man" comic series (see "Marvel Hires Hollywood Heavyweights For Slate Of Superheroes"). Now a few weeks into his new gig, the lifelong comics fan is battling questions with a weapon that even Tony Stark might hesitate to unleash: honesty.
"The questions are coming on the Internet," a grinning Favreau reported this weekend. "I've got a MySpace group set up just to discuss the movie, so I welcome the input."
Favreau is making himself available to diehard fans of the gold-and-red superhero, who will step in front of a movie camera for the first time at the beginning of next year.
"It's the first movie Marvel is self-financing," he said of a new deal that frees the makers of the "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" movies from studio control. "We're set to come out in the summer of '08, and we'll start shooting in January."
Favreau insisted that he's eager to construct his movie using input from the fans — because he is one himself.
"I remember watching the Iron Man cartoons when I was younger," Favreau revealed. "I remember reading the origin stories and some of the Silver Age stuff, and I read 'The Avengers' — 'The Defenders' and then 'The Avengers,' and that sort of brought me into 'Iron Man.' "
"It was later when [Marvel Studios CEO] Avi [Arad] approached me to work on this and we discussed [the history of the character]," he continued. "And then I did a lot more research, and really learned everything that has happened in the last 40 years."
Created in 1963 as an anti-communist hero, Iron Man originally played off national defense concerns and technological advancement themes of that period. The hero's alter ego is (with the exception of occasional fill-ins) Tony Stark, an American industrialist billionaire living out a Bruce Wayne-type life of privilege. His virtually impenetrable armor allows him to soar through the air, possess superhuman strength and unleash everything from repulsor beams to magnetic fields and holograms. Iron Man's suit has constantly changed with the times, a technological evolution Favreau is making plans to portray.
"We're gonna have it take place in the present day, but there will be an origin story that has the old, gray Iron Man suit; eventually it will progress into more of the modern look," Favreau said. "That's the fun of doing the first one."
Favreau is clearly having plenty of fun putting the project together. Recently on his MySpace page, the director posted the film's "first preliminary image." It was a stick-figure sketch by his 4-year-old son, Max.
Acknowledging the darkness of films like "Batman Begins," the director said that Iron Man can get gritty with the best of them. Indeed, Tony Stark's struggles have included alcoholism, bankruptcy and even homelessness — themes he'd likely tackle in sequels.
"The alcoholism doesn't come into play until later on in the story of Iron Man," he said. "[The comic] started off in the '60s, where it was about him as a successful manufacturer who developed this suit. Then, later, it spins off into that story about him fighting against himself. I think we're going to lay the groundwork for it, but the first one's going to explore him taking on this alter ego of Iron Man, and developing the suit, and what happens politically within the Stark Corporation."
Mentioning an eventual "Iron Man 2," Favreau said that actor playing Tony Stark for his franchise is unlikely to be a major star (Tom Cruise was briefly attached to the role years ago). Instead, the director hopes to announce his discovery of a relative unknown from the Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns") mold later this year.
"What's nice is that those movies don't require an expensive star; Iron Man's the star, the superhero is the star," the director insisted. "The success of 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man' without being star-driven pieces reassures [executives] that the film does have an upside commercially."
"I don't know that a movie like 'Daredevil' did better for having Ben Affleck then 'Spider-Man' did having Tobey Maguire, who was a relative unknown at the time," Favreau said, citing the Man With No Fear dud that he co-starred in alongside Affleck. "It gives you a little bit of latitude, because there's a lot of money that goes into getting that face on the poster."
Instead, the director (who reunites with friend Vince Vaughn in next month's "The Break Up") said he'd rather take those Affleck-level dollars and selectively distribute them on the look of his film. "I'm of a generation of director that came up understanding special effects," he insisted. "I don't throw the same amount of money [around] as some of the older generation directors who are just learning about it. There's a way to be scrappy, is what I'm trying to say. There's a way to get a lot for your money nowadays. There are a lot of talented people in that field, so I'm not concerned about it."
In the months to come, Jon Favreau will be putting those carefully managed Marvel dollars toward a solid script, some young stars and an "Iron Man" movie out to launch the next great superhero franchise. "It's really been a wonderful experience working on the script, and we're going to start talking about actors soon," Favreau added.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, concerns or comments about the details you read, this is one Hollywood star who is refreshingly eager to hear them. "I'm on MySpace," he offered with a broad smile. "Just search for 'Iron Man Movie Group' and I'm on there, answering questions."

Source

Brett Ratner X3 Director Interview

Brett Ratner Video Interview

Robot Chicken True Hollywood Stories - "THE HULK"

Ghost Rider Trailer Online

Apple Trailer Page

Blade the Series Coming To Spike TV

Official Press Release
"Production on Spike TV’s first original scripted offering “Blade: The Series” has begun this week in Vancouver, Canada. New Line Television will produce 11, one-hour episodes of the weekly action-adventure series which premieres on Spike TV starting Wednesday, July, 5, following the previously announced two-hour kick-off episode that premieres on June 28.
Based on the Marvel Super Hero of the same name, "Blade: The Series" stars Kirk "Sticky" Jones ("Over There") as the title character who is half-man, half-vampire and employs his extraordinary powers in a crusade to save mankind from the demonic creatures who walk the night.
Spike TV's two-hour series premiere opens with Blade (Jones) setting up shop in Detroit, investigating the vampire House of Chthon. Along the way he forms an uneasy alliance with Krista Starr (Jill Wagner), a former military veteran who becomes entrenched in the world of vampires while investigating the murder of her twin brother.
The series also features Neil Jackson ("Stargate SG-1"), Nelson Lee ("Traffic," the TV mini-series) and Jessica Gower ("Blurred").
Acclaimed screenwriter and executive producer David S. Goyer ("Blade" trilogy and "Batman Begins") and popular comic book writer Geoff Johns who both worked on the "Blade" pilot, have also signed on for the series production.
Bill McGoldrick, Vice President, Original Programming and Lisa Ullmann, Director of Original Programming, are executives responsible for production at Spike TV. Avi Arad, Chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios and Ari Arad, Executive Vice President, Marvel Studios; David Goyer; David Simkins (insert credits); Jim Rosenthal and Jon Kroll of New Line Television will serve as executive producers."
"Blade: The Series" premieres on Spike TV Wednesday, June 28 with a two-hour kick-off episode (10:00 PM - Midnight, ET/PT) and then airs weekly on Wednesdays (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), starting July 5

Spike TV Website

THE AMBIGUOUSLY POLITICAL MUTANTS

THE AMBIGUOUSLY POLITICAL MUTANTS

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked On The History Channel

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked Part 1
Comic books--serious or escapist fantasy? This 2-part special shows how comic book superheroes reflect their times--from the 1930s to the 21st century--and how these wish-fulfillment figures became role models for generations of children. Following the most representative cartoon crusaders and villains, as well as the industry that formed them, we see how they mirrored society--from the Depression, WWII, the Cold War, and the turbulent '60s to today.
Monday, May 22 @ 6am ET/PT

Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked Part 2
Though comic books may be escapist fantasy, they have also provided a window on the real world--the Great Depression, hot wars and cold wars, through good times and bad--and helped define the "American Dream" and US power. We also look at how comic book heroes proved uniquely adaptable to other media, from radio and Saturday morning movie serials in the 1940s to cutting-edge TV serials and electronic games.
Tuesday, May 23 @ 6am ET/PT

X-Men: Last Stand Toys Come To Burger King

Here is a look at some of the X-Men: Last Stand toys coming to Burger King's Kids Meals. These will only be released internationaly, not here in the United States. For those in the states, you can look for new X3 Slurpee cups at participating 7-11 stores.

Uatu: Slurpee cup photos to follow.

Halle Berry Hints At Fourth 'X-Men'

Actress Halle Berry has hinted that X-Men III: The Last Stand may not be the last movie in the comic book franchise.
Berry said that if there was strong enough demand she can definitely see another X-men movie being made and she would drop practically anything to play Storm again.
Newindpress.com quote the actress as saying: "There is no real significant talk about it, but I think if this one did well it would warrant a fourth one. I am sure the studio would be thinking that the franchise is not dead and people love X-Men and want to see another one and I think they would [do another one]. I would [do it] as long as I could.
"I have got some projects now that should keep me busy for the next two or three years if I am lucky. It is a franchise that I love and a character that I love and now that I have a voice in the movie I really love it.
"If another great X-Men came along I could probably change my plans."

Source

Uatu: I rest my case. Give her enough money and I'm sure she'd do just about anything. Unless it means having to wait for the cops to show up after she runs someone over in an intersection

Ghost Rider Teaser Trailer Out Next week

Next week, Sony Pictures will reveal the new teaser trailer for Mark Steven Johnson's Ghost Rider which will play in theaters with many prints of X-Men: The Last Stand. The official website for the British Board of Film Classification has listed the teaser with a running time of one minute and 23 seconds.

Written and directed by Johnson, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Wes Bentley, Eva Mendes, Matt Long, Sam Elliott, Peter Fonda, Donal Logue, Mathew Wilkinson and Daniel Frederiksen. It is scheduled for a February 16, 2007 release.

Check out the official movie site. Here

If you missed it here is a trailer that was posted online earlier this year.

Halle Berry Done With Superhero Roles

(AP) MEXICO CITY Halle Berry wants to hang up her superhero costume.
After playing Storm in three "X-Men" movies and the title role in 2004's "Catwoman," the 39-year-old actress says: "I think I'm done. I'm fresh out of superheroes at this point."
Berry was in Mexico City Monday for a screening of her new film, "X-Men: The Last Stand," which opens May 26.
The movie is the third in a series based on the X-Men comic books about mutant superheroes and villains whose special abilities make them feared by the world's human majority.
Berry said she wanted to depict a strong woman in her portrayal of Storm, who has the ability to control the weather.
The actress said she fought to keep faithful to the comic book version of Storm, which she felt was stronger and more interesting than in the original screenplay.
"If I'm only on camera for five minutes, that's fine, but let it be five meaningful minutes," said Berry, who won an Oscar for 2001's "Monster's Ball."
"It's not fun to play a woman that does nothing."

Uatu: She is totally full of shit. If they pay her enough she'll do whatever they want

Halle Berry Video Interview

Halle Berry Video Interview

Civil War: Front Line Podcast

Straight from the Trenches--Civil War: Front Line Podcast

Press Release

Join writer Paul Jenkins, Editor Tom Brevoort, and Associate Editor Cory Sedlmeier as they provide insight into the upcoming Civil War: Front Line series. This accompanying 10-issue series to Civil War covers all the ins, outs, and outcasts of the War--and the division it creates.
Helping to stir debate, Front Line's "Embedded" story arc will cover the war from the point of view of two embedded reporters from rival papers. Meanwhile, the "Accused" story arc will address the consequences that face the lone survivor of the New Warriors who is blamed for the Stamford tragedy that was the catalyst to war.
Using extensive research of wartime journalism and soldier's letters and diaries, Jenkins's Front Line will prove to be the most realistic and provocative account of embedded journalists and entrenched heroes ever to be inked onto a comic book page.
Listen to the podcast and hear what kind of Civil War backlash is brewing in the pages of Front Line.


Jam-packed with battles, betrayals, unmaskings, and cover-to-cover action, the 32-page (no ads!) 10-issue, bi-weekly Civil War: Front Line goes on sale June 7 for just $2.99 per issue!

Click to get the entire podcast!

Patrick Stewart Video Interview

Patrick Stewart Interview

STEWART FEARS FANS REACTION TO X-MEN SHOCKER

STEWART FEARS FANS REACTION TO X-MEN SHOCKER

Warning Spoliers

Site of the Week!!

Comiccovers.com

This site is awesome! They have a searchable database of over 50,000 comicbook covers. Site updates every week with over a 100 new scans each week.

Hollywood's New Reality Amid Special Effects Boom

Interesting article about the cost of Visual Effects.

Some Vintage Toy Commercials

Interview with Hugh Jackman

Thing Gets Clobbered After Only 8