Comic Book Movie Round-Up

Over the past week quite a few stories have broken or been updated surrounding various comic book properties, so instead of writing various articles, I figured I'd round them up for you in one nice package. Checkout details on "The Green Lantern" casting call, what seems to be the death of a Superman movie at WB and DC, the possibility of a "Kick-Ass 2" and also just who might be on board for "X-Men: First Class" below...



On Wednesday the casting call for "The Green Lantern" gave us specific insight to exactly who we can expect in the upcoming superhero film directed by Martin Campbell with Ryan Reynolds in the lead. The casting call, calls on two characters any Lantern fan would have easily assumed would be in the film, Sinestro and Abin Sur. For those of you who are not in the know on the Green Lantern, Abin Sur is an original Green Lantern Corps member who crash lands on Earth only to give his Lantern ring to Hal Jordan. Abin Sur's role, will most likely be very minor, but he could have a role that plays into back-memories. WB is looking for a "Mid-30s to mid-40s, he is a great warrior." Sinestro is probably Hal Jordan's biggest nemesis, however he begins as the trainer to Hal Jordan, showing him the ropes of the Green Lantern Corps. The official casting call is looking for "Mid-30s to Mid-40s, he is smart, tough, intimidating and in great physical shape." It is unclear whether we will see Sinestro make the switch from the Green Lantern Corps to Yellow here in the first film, but I would expect that Sinestro's treachery will play a major part in the script, being that "The Green Lantern" is an origin story.

Also announced in the casting call is Carol Ferris. Ferris is described as "26-32, a smart and attractive woman with an MBA. She started as a pilot and now runs Ferris Aircraft. She is a work-a-holic." She is also the love interest of Hal Jordan and later becomes known as a super villain Star Sapphire (I doubt we'd see that here in the first Green Lantern movie). The last character revealed on the casting call is Dr. Hector Hammond. Hammond is another foe of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps. He is described by the casting call as, "27-35, Character actor who is austere and impersonal, he is real "scummy." He is a pathologist and also the son of a Senator." Hammond in the comic books history also becomes a super villain, however he never used an alias, like so many other villains.


MTV spoke with Diane Nelson the new head of DC Entertainment and she revealed that neither WB or DC have any plans for a Superman movie right now. Why this is so alarming is the previous court decision that could see the WB and DC lose all property rights of the Man of Steel if a Superman movie isn't in pre-production by 2011. She said, "We've obviously done a lot of great things behind the property in our history, and it's a key part of the family, but we don't have current plans behind Superman." This news quiets the previous rumors that James McTeigue was currently being considered to helm another Superman film. For now, it definitely appears as though WB and DC are closing the book on Superman for the time being, which is a huge disappointment to this big Supes fan.


"Kick-Ass" has made a ton of progress since it's panel at Comic Con. Lionsgate has picked up the film for an April 2010 release and now Millar reveals that there definitely will be a sequel within two years. Fans of the original comic will know that Millar teased the end of the first book with a sequel and the film intends to do the same. Mark Millar told MTV, "The series ends on a teaser for the next one, and the movie ends on that teaser, too." He explained a bit further by saying, "We don't want to sound too cocky, but we know this is good. It didn't cost that much money to make. There will definitely be another one." Millar's comments a very premature, considering we haven't seen "Kick-Ass" perform at the box office, but regardless I am pretty excited to know we will get more than one of these films. Yet to be discussed is whether Matthew Vaughn would return to direct the sequel and with Disney buying Marvel, would Lionsgate be able to retain the rights to a sequel. All topics that will soon unfold and I will have the updates for you right here.


This week via Twitter Tim Pocock (who played a young Scott Summers aka Cyclops in X-Men Origins: Wolverine) tweeted, "Currently shooting Australian TV series till February 2010...then X-men first class." This tweet could be a couple of different things. One, he is talking out of his ass. Two, he said something he wasn't suppose to. I wouldn't doubt it is the later. It is no secret that Fox is gearing up to make "X-Men: First Class" and with Pocock in 'Origins', why not just add him to 'First Class'? Neither 20th Century Fox or Lauren Schuler Donner would confirm Pocock's tweet, so for now were just going to have to wait and see.

More news on all of these fronts as the develop...

Sources: Spoiler TV-Movies, MTV Slashpage, IGN

What say you? Any of the stories jump out at you? Disappointed Superman may never fly again at WB? Want to see Sinestro make the villain transformation? Strikeback...