Potential 'Iron Man 3' Spoilers About Tony Stark's New Armor

At the beginning of Comic-Con 2012, a few days before the stage of San Diego Convention Center's largest hall would host the Iron Man 3 presentation, I learned that Marvel Studios had something special planned for the expo floor on that same day. They would be shipping in the new and yet-to-be-unveiled armor design from Iron Man 3 and showcasing it along with the Hall of Armor that has traditionally represented the centerpiece of the Marvel booth each year they promote an Iron Man film.

That armor (the Mark VIII) represents a drastic departure from the designs and color schemes featured in Iron Man 2 and the Mark VII from the final act of The Avengers. The traditional red primary color takes a backseat to a military beige-tan color and gone is the yellow gold that audiences are familiar with. Appearances aside, the functionality of the armor itself is also radically different thanks to Extremis technology. But there's even more tricks up Tony Stark's iron sleeve than we first thought.

As we learned back in March, before Iron Man 3 begin principal photography, the story of Iron Man 3 draws inspiration from Warren Ellis' 2005-06 'Extremis' mini-series. In that take on the character, Tony Stark is given a new contemporary origin of sorts where he's injected with what's essentially a bio-tech super-soldier serum that not only enhances his physical body and mental processes, but allows Stark to interface and control his armor and other machinery.

The few minutes of Iron Man 3 footage played for those in attendance for the Iron Man 3 Comic-Con panel demonstrated this new tech in action as Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark playfully called his new Mark VIII armor to him piece by piece by just thinking about it. Our Marvel scooping friends at Latino Review are reporting that the new Mark VIII armor does more than just attach itself to Stark upon command (as depicted in the Iron Man 3 Comic-Con character poster). Spoilers ahead.

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In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark's competitor Justin Hammer commissions Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko character to build what ends up being a fleet of remotely controlled Iron Man-esque drones. Vanko uses them to battle Stark and pal James 'Rhodey' Rhodes' War Machine armor but loses out to the good guys in the end. According to the report, it seems Stark was inspired by that idea and when overwhelmed by the Extremis-enhanced minions of the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), he will use a drone army of his own.

In chatting with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) in one scene, Stark name drops the Mark XLVII (that's 47) as the designation number of his current suit. Seeing as by the end of The Avengers, he's only at the Mark VII, that's an awfully large amount of armored suit upgrades, and Potts inquires about exactly that. The reason is that the 40 models in between are drones that Stark can control remotely from his Mark VIII suit.

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Tying in with the Extremis technology that new characters Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) will help develop, another character who may play a role in improving Iron Man's chances against the Mandarin may be played by Chinese actor Xueqi Wang as we learned yesterday. That character - who Andy Lau was initially meant to play ' is reportedly going to be a variant of Chen Lu/Radioactive Man from the comics and could have an interesting character arc as someone from the comics who once worked for Mandarin as a bodyguard.

Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black based off of his and Drew Pearce's screenplay, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, Cobie Smulders, William Sadler, James Badge Dale and the voice of Paul Bettany.

Iron Man 3 releases May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014 and The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: Latino Review

5 Things the Rebooted Batman Can Do Differently Than Nolan's

It's a bittersweet time to be a Batman fan: The Dark Knight Rises is still fresh in memory, and the cinematic future of the brand is uncertain. Though the truth may not be what fans want to hear, facts are facts: Christopher Nolan has finished his 'Dark Knight Trilogy' and confirmed that his time with the character is finally over. With Nolan gone, and Bale claiming to be gone with him, the door is open for a new director and actor to tackle the iconic hero.

Director and star may be finished, but DC and Warner Bros. certainly are not. The Justice League looks to be the next film after Zack Snyder's Man of Steel, is tasked with introducing several new heroes, and (according to reports) rebooting a new Batman franchise at the same time. While Nolan loyalists may claim the odds are stacked against the next actor to put on the cape and cowl, we see opportunity.

There are some major elements of the Batman character and comics that Nolan completely avoided, and were largely under-represented in past movies as well. If the next Batman films were to tackle those themes and angles, comic book fans could be in for a treat.

Open Discussion ' September 5, 2012

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

'Dredd 3D' Writer Gives Ideas for Potential Trilogy, Including The Dark Judges

Forget Sylvester Stallone, forget removing the helmet, and most importantly forget Rob Schneider. Lionsgate's reboot of the Dredd property promises to be a faithful adaptation of the IPC Media comic, preserving all that fans love about it, and leaving everything else out.

While Dredd 3D doesn't hit theaters for another couple of weeks, its writer Alex Garland is already looking towards the future. He's not yet attached to scribe a Dredd sequel ' and box office returns have yet to show audiences are interested ' but Garland, nonetheless, has begun mapping out how he'd like to see future stories play out.

Speaking over on the 2000 AD Forums, Garland revealed that if a Dredd sequel were to happen it would throw classic Dredd icons like Fargo, Giant, the Angel Gang, and even Satanus into the mix. Conventional audiences might not be familiar with this venerable feast of characters, but Dredd fans will know them as integral pieces of the fiction.

Chief Judge Fargo, for example, is the founding father of the Judge System and was Mega-City One's first chief judge. More importantly than that, though, Judge Dredd is a clone of Fargo, making them essentially father and son.

Back when Fargo was first introduced, the writers had yet to establish this connection, and even revealed Fargo's likeness, ostensibly giving the mysterious Dredd a face. That being said, we doubt that will happen in the films, as the fact Dredd keeps his helmet on from start to finish is a major selling point.

A character like Satanus ' a blood thirsty tyrannosaurus rex - is a really arduous undertaking, but if done well could make the sequel really unique. The Dredd films released thus far ' both the Stallone adaptation and Dredd 3D ' have tried to keep the story somewhat grounded, but the inclusion of Satanus would be the writers accepting every element of the comics whole cloth.

There could be  a lot of characters to balance for a single film, but Garland seems to have it more fleshed out than he's letting on. He reveals that he'd like the character of Chopper ' a graffiti artist turned sky surfer ' to balance out the story, opening and closing the events of this second film.

If I was involved in a second movie, it would be about origins and subversion, and Chopper would feature. In fact, I think Chopper would start and end the story. Apart from him, my rough plan involves Fargo, Giant, Angel Gang, and a version of Satanus.

Garland doesn't want the film to end there, though; he'd like to see Dredd round out a trilogy with the Dark Judges serving as the main antagonists of this third movie. The Dark Judges are the epitome of the Judge Dredd villains, as they are undead versions of Judges who believe in the eradication of all life. Their thinking is that, since only living things can commit crimes, eliminating all living things (mainly humans) will prevent the potential for crime.

Even cooler than that, the Dark Judges (Death, Fear, Fire, and Mortis) are like the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse in that they have unique appearances centered on a specific idea. Judge Fire, for example, is constantly immersed in flames. But Garland doesn't want these Dark Judges to be a comic book parody of the Horseman; he wants them to be truly scary.

I think I'd try to make [the Dark Judges] really scary. Not play them for laughs. Just make them totally malevolent and lethal. And use practical effects where possible, except for Fire, which would be an on-set nightmare'The existential side to the Dark Judges is that they don't see a point to life. If my film-trilogy daydream was to play out, I would completely rewrite my original script for the Dark Judges ' because it was junk ' and start again.

In addition to info on key story beats and characters, Garland shared a few more details about the proposed trilogy, including the presence of Anderson (played by Olivia Thirlby in Dredd 3D) in all three films, showcasing the Cursed Earth, and the potential of continuing the Dredd story lines in a TV series. Shows like Game of Thrones and The Wire have opened Garland's eyes to the storytelling possibilities of serialized pay-cable television, and it's entirely possible that Dredd could work in that space.

But by the way, just so it has been said, I actually think that maybe the best way forward for Dredd is television. American TV has completely rewritten the rule book where filmed drama is concerned. Game Of Thrones/The Wire/Breaking Bad' An equivalent version of Dredd would be fucking great. Imagine the epics'

It's a lot of (exciting) talk from Garland, but it's also something his busy schedule may keep him from seeing through. It's most important that Dredd 3D be a success at the box office, then maybe the 28 Days Later writer can be swayed into scripting out the trilogy.

Dredd 3D releases September 21, 2012 in theaters.

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Source: 2000 AD Forums (via Bleeding Cool)

Will Radioactive Man Be Introduced in 'Iron Man 3'?

Guy Pearce describes his role as Aldrich Killian in Iron Man 3 as a cameo-type appearance, and while we won't know until next summer if that's true, he may not be the only notable character from Marvel Comics popping up on screen in a limited capacity.

A few weeks before Comic-Con we shared rumored details about characters and the post-credits scene of Iron Man 3, rumors that indicated fans would be introduced to two super-powered characters from the books, both of whom would have a larger part to play in Phase Two of the Marvel cinematic universe. One of those characters was going to be played by Andy Lau who dropped out of the project, but we know who might be replacing him.

Before passing on the blockbuster role to spend time with his newborn daughter, we found out that Lau might have been playing the non-villainous version of Chen Lu (Radioactive Man) from the books, who would be introduced in Iron Man 3 and would (according to rumors) become a reoccurring character in the other upcoming films. Mtime caught Chinese actor Xueqi Wang meeting with Iron Man 3 executive producer Dan Mintz at a Beijing restaurant for tea last week, where they were overheard discussing the Chen Lu character, later confirmed by Wang's studio.

From our previous discussion on Radioactive Man: In Marvel Comics, Chen Lu is a nuclear physicist for the People's Republic of China and a villain of Iron Man who works for The Mandarin. His abilities from exposure to radiation give him green-colored skin and the abilities to control radiation in various ways. We don't expect much of those attributes to show up in Iron Man 3.

In the books, there's an interesting relationship between Radioactive Man and Ant-Man where they once fought each other and later worked together ' and that's a potential plot thread that could be teased in a post-credits scene for Iron Man 3 should rumors about Edgar Wright shooting that scene as a lead-in to Ant-Man prove true.

The fact that this meeting only took place now, this late in production, lends some credence to at least one detail about the character, in that Chen Lu ' should he be the character Wang plays ' will only appear very briefly. According to the Chinese trades, the casting will be confirmed soon and Wang would be shooting this month. With the seemingly small part Chen Lu will play in the film, we're curious as to how the character will be utilized. When Lau was up for the role, the part was described as a 'good guy' scientist who helps Tony Stark develop  tech to fight against the Mandarin. Would we see him working for the Mandarin before that? Is he or does he become a scientist for S.H.I.E.L.D.?

With each report it's becoming more clear that Marvel Studios is planning to attain the same level of scope and scale as The Avengers by not only exploring a major character redefining story from the books in Extremis, but by upping the ante on action and characters, potentially laying the groundwork for many stories to come.

Stay tuned into Screen Rant for more on this as develops.

Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black based off of his and Drew Pearce's screenplay, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, Cobie Smulders, William Sadler, James Badge Dale and the voice of Paul Bettany.

Iron Man 3 releases May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014 and The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: Mtime (hat tip Smitty)

'Man of Steel' Star Henry Cavill Talks the Pressure of Playing Superman

Every little boy dreams of being him, and every grown man, well'some things never change. The chance to actually play Superman on film is an honor bestowed upon few in history, and Henry Cavill is aware of just how many doors can be opened should Zack Snyder's Man of Steel reboot be a success.

Great opportunities come at the cost of great risks, and Cavill is all too aware of just how many people could be let down if his performance as the Man of Steel is found lacking. With all that pressure on his all-too-human shoulders, Cavill is focusing on his own concerns for the film, not those of comic book fandom.

Any fan of the character has likely heard of the 'Superman Curse' that struck both George Reeves and Christopher Reeve following their portrayals of the Last Son of Krypton. But these days, the risks of occupying the blue spandex aren't supernatural at all. Bryan Singer gave what could have been a one-way ticket to leading man status to Brandon Routh in his Superman Returns (2006) ' but things, as we know, ended up quite differently; and as far as we know, Tom Welling is doing fine.

All things considered, it's worth thinking about just how much pressure is being placed on Henry Cavill: playing the most famous superhero of all time, at the peak of comic book movie popularity (not to mention budget), with a successful film beginning a multi-picture deal rivaling Marvel's movie universe. Cavill has explained how his work on Immortals prepared him for the physical strain of becoming Superman, but keeping one's head clear with that kind of expectation has to be taxing for the most grizzled thespian.

 

In an interview with Cineplex, Cavill explained that the amount of people hoping for Man of Steel to deliver the goods is something he acknowledges. But at the end of the day, he's got the memory of the Big Blue Boy Scout to answer to:

''It's important to do the role justice. There are a lot of people relying on me to do this well. I gladly accept that responsibility, and it's a great one to have because it's a wonderful opportunity. I don't let the pressures get to me because that's going to hinder my performance and, therefore, let people down. So I choose to ignore the pressure side of it and focus on doing justice to Superman.'

Again reemphasizing Snyder's goal of modernizing Superman and making him easier to identify with, it's becoming clear just how much of an optimist Cavill truly is. Not that it wouldn't be anyone's dream to play as universal an icon as Superman, but for someone with a promising acting career already built, that's quite a gamble. Some may see the odds as stacked against Cavill from the start, since his face will be the one linked to Man of Steel's success or failure.

But for every Brandon Routh, there's been a Christian Bale, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans; the list of overnight stars goes on. Obviously the established names had more experience in the spotlight prior to their time in costume, but then again, Cavill is British ' and they tend to have a knack for this kind of thing. Success in this case might even mean a future stint as the world' most famous spy, but Cavill is clearly looking at the task at hand.

As far as betting on the outcome of his being cast as Clark Kent, it's hard to deny the quality of his past performances. And as much as Zack Snyder may be a somewhat divisive name among comic book fans, his casting choices have spoken for themselves. The selection of not just Gerard Butler for 300 (2206), but the casting of then-relatively-unknown Michael Fassbender earned praise. Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley being cast as Nightowl and Rorschach, respectively, were two aspects of Watchmen (2009) that are rarely attacked.

Now he's hand-picked a young British actor over other well-known names and faces in the running, despite his being passed on the last time around. Whatever else may happen, it seems unlikely that comparisons between Man of Steel and Superman Returns will be obvious. With a new face, a completely redesigned suit, a far more grounded artistic direction, and even a new origin story to tell, the tools are in place for a fresh start.

Just don't tell that to Cavill: he needs to focus.

Man of Steel will be arriving in theaters on June 14, 2013.

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Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: Cineplex

Kyra Sedgwick Talks 'The Possession' and Hollywood's Exorcism Obsession

The Possession, the latest horror offering from producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead and the upcoming Oz the Great and Powerful) and director Ole Borendal (Nightwatch), opens in theaters this weekend.

In the film, Kyra Sedgwick plays a mother who is forced to confront her own skepticism as her daughter is overcome by a malicious spirit that is housed in an old wooden box purchased at a garage sale.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Sedgwick recently to talk about the appeal of horror, the recent uptick in possession/exorcism tales in particular and the very creepy abandoned hospital that they shot the final, climactic scene in.

Synopsis:

Based on a true story, 'The Possession' is the terrifying story of how one family must unite in order to survive the wrath of an unspeakable evil.

Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie Brenek (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm when their youngest daughter Em becomes oddly obsessed with an antique wooden box she purchased at a yard sale. But as Em's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, the couple fears the presence of a malevolent force in their midst, only to discover that the box was built to contain a dibbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits and ultimately devours its human host.

Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan ('Watchmen') and Kyra Sedgwick ('The Closer'), 'The Possession' is directed by Ole Bornedal ('Nightwatch'), written by Juliet Snowden & Stiles White, and produced by horror master Sam Raimi.

Look for The Possession in theaters now.

Follow me on twitter @JRothC

Video Interview: Jeffrey Dean Morgan on 'The Possession' and 'Before Watchmen' Prequel

The Possession, the  latest horror offering from producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead and the upcoming Oz the Great and Powerful) and director Ole Borendal (Nightwatch), opened in theaters this weekend.

The film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a recently single father struggling to balance the demands of his career and raising his daughters in the midst of a divorce. When a mysterious box purchased at a garage sale starts to dramatically affect his youngest girl, Em (Natasha Calis), he must refocus his energies on saving her very soul.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Calis and Morgan to talk about the film recently. While the younger star was a bit shy during our time with her, we can assure you that she is a fearless talent (as indicated in our review of The Possession).

In addition to saying that he loves Screen Rant, Morgan jokingly instructed that we say nice things about him. We discussed his relationship with Calis as well as what inspired him to take on the horror genre (despite some of his reservations). Finally, we touched on whether or not he'd return as The Comedian were there to be a cinematic adaptation of the Before Watchmen prequels.

Film Synopsis:

Based on a true story, 'The Possession' is the terrifying story of how one family must unite in order to survive the wrath of an unspeakable evil.

Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie Brenek (Kyra Sedgwick) see little cause for alarm when their youngest daughter Em becomes oddly obsessed with an antique wooden box she purchased at a yard sale. But as Em's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, the couple fears the presence of a malevolent force in their midst, only to discover that the box was built to contain a dibbuk, a dislocated spirit that inhabits and ultimately devours its human host.

Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan ('Watchmen') and Kyra Sedgwick ('The Closer'), 'The Possession' is directed by Ole Bornedal ('Nightwatch'), written by Juliet Snowden & Stiles White, and produced by horror master Sam Raimi.

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Look for The Possession in theaters now.

Follow me on twitter @JRothC

Open Discussion ' September 3, 2012

Well, so much for Summer 2012, eh? Bummer.

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

'Doctor Who' Season 7 Premiere Review & Discussion

In the Doctor Who season 7 premiere, 'Asylum of the Daleks,' Steven Moffat takes on his first-ever Dalek storyline, transforming the Doctor (Matt Smith) from enemy predator to enslaved savior. But has the often-heralded Doctor Who scribe finally met his match with one of the Doctor's longtime foes?

Kicking things off with a visually stunning introduction with voice-over of equal quality, anticipation of the story to come was at an all-time high. Unfortunately, as the episode progressed, such anticipation turned into confusion. Not so much of what was occurring, but why, exactly, it was ' and why we needed to see it in the premiere. Though still representing some of most visually appealing, epic storytelling, the television medium has ever seen, Moffat's weaknesses (and challenges) may have finally revealed themselves.

Essentially a stand-alone episode, proving to be more of a future companion introduction than any type of continuation of past seasons, the Doctor's journey into the Parliament of the Daleks, then the Asylum of the Daleks, though thoroughly intriguing, leaves few story elements introduced still intact upon its conclusion. Largely lacking any type of attachment to previous episodes, even the newly parted Amy (Karen Gillian) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) storyline emotionally falls flat ' which may be for the best, as their marriage troubles last but a mere 48-minutes in the presence of the Doctor.

And for the companion introduction ' which logically becomes messy for fans who follow production news ' the ill-fated Oswin Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman) ' who will somehow be brought back, perhaps with a name change (Clara Oswin, like Doctor Donna) ' was too overpowered in her initial appearance. Though Moffat does make sense of it through his characteristically brilliant plot twists and ingenuity, the lack of Oswin's backstory for audiences to emotionally fall back on makes her participation in the premiere slightly overwhelming. In a sense, it felt as if Moffat was trying to prematurely sell the new companion to fans before it was actually needed. Still, there's more than poor character introduction and singular storytelling that make the Doctor Who season 7 premiere problematic.

Returning to the all too familiar, illogical combination of flesh and mechanics which burdened Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (amongst many other things), Moffat does little to change audiences perception of such sloppily conceived plot progressors. As one the Doctor's oldest foes, the Daleks are one of the series' few legacy enemies which don't require superfluous assistance in order to create a compelling story. And as the Doctor Who season 7 premiere shows, such assistance can unfortunately be more hurtful than helpful.

Taking into account the Daleks' emotionless mindset and will to destroy, there isn't anything that longtime fans can turn to in order to help make sense of the completely arrogant species ever looking to become lesser creatures (humans), even if it is to help progress their overall plan to conquer. With the same frivolity in which Daleks can become humans, Moffat completely cleanses the entire Dalek race ' and (almost) 50 years of Doctor Who ' of the combative relationship (and history) with the Doctor. It still remains to be seen as to the reason for this, but hopefully it's more than the Doctor wanting to return to the shadows and the premiere completely contradicting that fact.

Though the Doctor Who season 7 premiere may lead many to question whether Moffat has finally went the way of Russell T. Davies, in terms of blindly enjoying his work, it appears that there may have been too many new issues for the famed Whovian to take on at once. Putting aside everything that this premiere presents, Moffat is now dealing with having to cut 10-minutes out of every Doctor Who story, amongst other things. Typically coming in at 58-minutes, this episode clocks in at 48-minutes, which would be perfect for commercialized television but leaves much to be desired from the commercial-free, publicly funded, BBC.

Even though BBC America broadcasts of Doctor Who have always been edited for time, having to substantially do so at its origin causes problematic storytelling issues ' something that is clearly represented in the premiere (i.e. the quick TARDIS exit, Amy and Rory ending). What's likely the result of Doctor Who becoming more popular around the world, the production costs of each episode still roughly remain the same, just with less story.

Additionally, Moffat is also facing his first companion transfer, which is something that would make even the most skilled writer take pause. Being able to jump in and write iconic episodes of your favorite show is one thing, but Moffat, now leading the series, has to deal with transitioning the emotional attachment of the viewers from one companion (and Rory) to another. Wanting to establish the new companion early on is wise, and Oswin (Clara) shows promise as a character, but the execution of her introduction wasn't up to par with what we've seen him do with less-integral characters. A little too heavy-handed than need be.

Combining these two elements with Moffat touching his first-ever Dalek story and there's more than enough reasons for him to fall of his familiar path of quality. Up until now, Moffat has essentially only written for new characters that he's created. While completely enthralling and absolutely successful, having to take on the weight of so many years of character story can be difficult for someone as nimble with their writing as Moffat. That's not to say that he can't successfully do it, he just hasn't ' yet. Whether it be from boredom or not knowing what to do with the characters, there's a reason why we haven't seen a whole episode featuring a legacy enemy from Moffat, and this episode may be why. He may simply not know what to do with them.

All that said, Moffat has certainly delivered more than his fair share of terrific episodes, and his role as executive producer and head writer has lead the series down some amazing paths. Still, missteps do happen, and this episode is one of them. Having so many mismatched pieces being combined in a single episode is something that fans have come to expect now and then, but deciding to make this the premiere episode is something that probably shouldn't have happened.

Likely not representative of the type of storytelling that fans can expect to see in the whole of Doctor Who season 7, the premiere doesn't exactly have fans biting at the bit to see dinosaurs on a spaceship. Not because it couldn't be amazing (because it could), but because the new season simply hasn't built us up to a point where that's something we'd like to see.

Hopefully the coming episodes will shift the series back to the quality that fans know Doctor Who can deliver. Because with Amy and Rory's exit coming near, and a new companion entering the series at Christmas time, the last thing this series can be is weak on story. Not to mention the fact that nobody wants to see dinosaurs on a spaceship go to waste.

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Doctor Who returns next Saturday @9pm on BBC America with 'Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.' In the meantime, check out our Doctor Who Viewing Guide: Tips, Suggestions & Complete Episode List!

Follow Anthony on Twitter @anthonyocasio

Movie & TV News Wrap Up: September 1st, 2012

This week:

Bryan Cranston and Catherine O'Hara Rock; Hawke, Delpy, and Linklater have been here Before; watch The Mindy Project as well as Ben and Kate online, and what is Sony's Console War Movie?

Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and Catherine O'Hara look set to make an appearance on 30 Rock.

O'Hara will portray the mother of Jack McBrayer's Kenneth Parcell, while Cranston will play her 'friend'.

Details are sketchy at this point, and it's unknown when the pair will appear, but it looks like Kenneth's relationship with Hazel (Kristen Schaal) might hit a family speed bump.

Source: TV Guide

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Ethan Hawke has confirmed that he is in Greece with Richard Linklater and Julie Delpy developing a follow-up to cult hits Before Sunrise and Before Sunset.

Hawke is quoted by MTV as saying:

'We're here writing a third installment to Before Sunrise. If it works out, we'll film it, and if it doesn't, we won't. It's not really worth talking about. I'm just here developing.'

It's super good. We're just here workshopping it and developing it, trying to create a great script.'

It sounds like we might be seeing it sooner, rather than later.

Source: MTV

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The times they are a changin' and the way we watch television is changing too. You can now catch the pilots for The Mindy Project as well as Ben and Kate online ' here and here respectively.

According to IMDB, The Mindy Project is about a 'young Ob/Gyn doctor who balances her personal and professional life, surrounded by quirky co-workers in a small office', while Wikipedia states that Ben and Kate 'focuses on the lives of a brother and sister who are exact opposites.'

Watch them and see if they'll become part of your regular TV viewing.

Source: Collider

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Sony Pictures has registered a slew of domains featuring different combinations of Console War Movie. Does this mean that there is something in the pipeline?

The full list is over at Fusible, who speculate that it may be a new film, or potentially viral marketing to help sell the inevitable PS4 games console, that will be released against new machines from Microsoft and Nintendo ' console war indeed.

Time will tell ' however, feel free to chip in your thoughts in the comments section.

Source: Fusible

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That's it for now. See you at the movies.

Guy Pearce Calls His 'Iron Man 3' Role 'Cameo Stuff'

The casting of Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian was among the first details to tip us off as to where Iron Man 3's storyline might be headed. His character, and potential casting for Maya Hansen, suggested that Iron Man 3 would be taking on the 'Extremis' storyline from the comics, where Tony Stark adopts a more symbiotic relationship with his armor, becoming almost cyborg-like.

In the comics, Aldrich doesn't just help Tony Stark bond with his armor, he also adopts a few nefarious plans along the way, a detail we surmised might make him the film's big bad. However, the first footage of Iron Man 3 ' shown to 6,000 Comic-Con attendees ' confirmed that Ben Kingsley's character, revealed to be the Mandarin, would be at the center of it all.

Pearce is still an integral part of the Iron Man 3 storyline, but when talking to Vulture he reveals his role is little more than a cameo. Specifically, Guy Pearce is talking about starring in big budget summer action films, including his role in The Time Machine, when he reveals the info.

'The main difference was that, when I did The Time Machine, I was pretty much in all of it, so it was a really grueling experience. Prometheus and Iron Man are really kind of cameo stuff, so the experience of shooting them ' I mean, on some level, it's tricky because you feel like a bit of an outsider. You don't really live the experience that you do when you're there all day every day with everybody. But at the same time, it can be more fun sometimes because you're just working in concentrated spurts.'

This cameo talk from Pearce doesn't necessarily mean he is out as a villain or villainous character, but more than likely Iron Man 3 will only feature him as the creator of Tony Stark's new reverse-colored suit, and he'll be pushed to the side (or saved for a larger role in a future Marvel universe film). If he does return for the Iron Man 3 climax, however, that will mean he has some part to play in Mandarin's plans.

In Iron Man 2 the character of Justin Hammer (played by Sam Rockwell) could have been considered a cameo performance ' seeing as how he wasn't on set constantly ' but it was a pretty meaty role. If that's what Pearce is referring to by the 'concentrated spurts' of filming then there should still be plenty of screen time for moviegoers to discover more about how this new armor works.

Aldrich's partner, Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), will also figure into that storyline, but there's no word on if her role is also considered a 'cameo.' Marvel was fighting pretty fervently to get these roles cast, and went with some recognizable faces, which leads us to believe they are integral to the entire plot (or the larger Marvel universe), not just the set-up.

This also isn't the first time we've heard Pearce possibly hide the full scope of a role ' as the actor had previously downplayed his screen time in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

With director Shane Black now at the helm, audiences are going to get a fresh new perspective on the Iron Man mythos, and a chance to see the films take on one of the comics' more exciting storylines. We'll find out if it pays off early next summer.

Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3, 2013.

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Source: Vulture

Third 'Hobbit' Film Gets a Release Date; Second Film Now Titled 'Desolation of Smaug'

Back when Peter Jackson assumed the directorial role on Warner Bros.' adaptation of Tolkien's The Hobbit, it was envisioned as two films, one titled An Unexpected Journey and the other titled There and Back Again. The first film's title was a creation of the writing team while 'There and Back Again' was a reference to the book Bilbo writes to sum up his adventures.

Now that Jackson has revealed he's going to make three films out of The Hobbit, that original plan has changed. Most figured that the original two films would keep their titles, and Jackson's third film ' which encompasses ancillary pieces of writing from Tolkien and would bridge the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings ' would adopt a new subtitle, but that is not the case.

In fact, as The Hollywood Reporter has revealed, the third film in the newly formed trilogy will be titled There and Back Again, and the second film will now be subtitled The Desolation of Smaug. Back when Warner Bros. registered domains for Desolation (and for Riddles in the Dark) we hypothesized that the third and second film might swap titles, and now that theory has been confirmed.

In addition to new titles for the second two films, THR reports that There and Back Again (now the third film if you're keeping track) will release on July 18, 2014, less than a year after the release of Desolation of Smaug (Hobbit film number two).

It's a lot of new information for Hobbit fans to take on, but it also makes sense in terms of the films' presumed layout. An Unexpected Journey is most blatantly a reference to Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) taking on the major quest in The Hobbit, while Desolation of Smaug establishes the setting in part two. Some spoiler-phobic moviegoers are reading the film's subtitle as telling of its climactic conclusion, but really it's only a reference to where Smaug the dragon resides.

As was mentioned before, There and Back Again is a title that references Bilbo's book, and makes for the perfect way to round out the trilogy. This third film will still, likely, encapsulate mostly non-Hobbit storylines, and will be a perfect place for Lord of the Rings' cast members like Elijah Wood to reappear.

In essence, fans now know how Peter Jackson would like to lay things out in The Hobbit trilogy, and more importantly when they will be able to see each film in theaters. There's still plenty more to be revealed about the movies, including where An Unexpected Journey ends and when Desolation of Smaug begins, not to mention what we'll actually see in There and Back Again, but we'll get to that in due time.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases on December 14, 2013; it's sequel Desolation of Smaug releases on December 13, 2013; and the final film in the trilogy, There and Back Again, releases on July 18, 2014.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter

'God of War' Movie Writers Talk Adapting Sony's Popular Video Game

When Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton were given the high task of revising the script for the God of War adaptation it appeared as if the project, which has been gestating for the better part of three years now, was finally gaining some traction. Working off a David Self-penned script, the Piranha 3DD duo was brought in to breathe a little more life into the popular video game's big screen adaptation.

While we have nothing to announce as far as a new director or cast is concerned, Dunstan and Melton have provided quite a substantial update regarding how they are approaching the script. Fans of the Sony-published video game might scoff at the idea of the writers behind films like Saw IV and The Collector handling such a precious property, but the two's take appears to be rather unique.

In its video game form, God of War follows the tale of Kratos, a Grecian warrior who turns to the god of war Ares for assistance. A byproduct of that allegiance is the destruction of Kratos' hometown and family, which sets him on a revenge quest to kill the god. If this sounds like Clash of the Titans, that's because in many respects the Sam Worthington-starring films borrow heavily from the game series.

Dunstan and Melton are well aware of this, citing that when original writer David Self turned in a script it was well before films like 300, Immortals, and the two Titans movies were released. Each of those films, while still borrowing from their own source material, feature similar visuals and plot points to the God of War video game. The film's new writers were going to need to find ways to make those action scenes, which depict epic battles between Kratos and god-like figures, feel original again.

One of the key ways the writers plan to make the project stand out is with their development of the character of Kratos. In the game he's seen as a blunt instrument, hell-bent on revenge without any concern for self-preservation. In the film, however, Dunstan and Melton wanted to ground the character; give him some back-story before setting him out on this quest.

'In the same way that Batman was grounded with Christopher Nolan's rendition, we were attempting to do that with Kratos so that when we meet him ' like they're doing in this newest game, which is sort of a prequel to the original ' we're seeing him before he became the Ghost of Sparta, when he was just a Spartan warrior and he had family and kids.'

They plan to use (at most) the film's first 30 minutes to establish Kratos' family life and his humanity, before stripping all of that away. This should help audiences unfamiliar with the game series better connect with the character, and root for his success.

As well as giving Kratos an extra level of depth, the writers plan to provide the film's key antagonist Ares (also known as the 'God of War') a more expanded role. In the game he's only featured in a few minor cutscenes before serving as the final boss ' but in a film that cannot work.

'In the game, you know, he's immortal, and he doesn't really do much besides raid Athens. So we're trying to build him up a bit more, too, so that he can become a true villain.'

Die-hard fans may cry foul of the decision to alter the God of War base story, but if it helps make for a more compelling film we're all for it. The decision to establish Kratos as a human before making him simply a big white ball of revenge could prove successful if the right context is provided, and giving his villain more screen time should help establish the stakes.

Dunstan and Melton's enthusiasm for the project, as well, is hard to overlook. Leaving their genre of choice might give audiences pause about their suitability, but if there's one thing they are sure to get right it's the overly violent action.

There are still obviously more pieces that need to come together before the project can truly get off the ground ' including pinning down a director ' but for now we're intrigued by where the film adaptation is headed.

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Source: IGN

'Doctor Who' Viewing Guide: Tips, Suggestions & Complete Episode List

Once viewed by many TV lovers as a niche sci-fi program, Doctor Who and the TARDIS have been popping up with increasing regularity on television screens around the globe. In the past few years, the cult British staple has become a full-on global phenomenon. These days, being a Whovian is, as the eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) would say, 'Cool.'

However, with over six seasons of the Russell T. Davies 2005 series reboot plus three spin-off shows (Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and K9) available online and in stores, it can be an especially daunting task to get started ' and that's not even taking the hundreds of classic Doctor Who episodes into consideration.

Fortunately, we've put together the following handy guide to help viewers figure out which episodes are a good barometer for whether or not someone will enjoy the series, where to find the show online (in addition to retail shelves), as well as a complete list of Doctor Who episodes, specials, shorts, prequels and crossovers ' including where the Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures, and K9 crossovers fit in (assuming you want the 'complete' Doctor Who experience).

That said, our guide will only focus on the Russell T. Davies reboot series (starting in 2005) ' since the copious amount of content in the classic series could be pretty daunting for most viewers who are new to Who. We recommend that interested viewers follow our guide and then, if they're up for it, go all the way back to the beginning of the franchise with Season 1, Episode 1: 'An Unearthly Child' (1963) ' which featured the first, and grumpiest, iteration of The Doctor (played by William Hartnell).

Continue reading for suggestions on where best to start adventuring with The Doctor'

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'Taken 2' Featurette: Liam Neeson Discusses His Character's Motivations

In the first Taken the story was simple: Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills' daughter is captured, and he heads off to France to rescue her. In Taken 2 the various pieces have changed ' it's Mills ex-wife that is kidnapped, and Istanbul serves as the setting ' but the goal has stayed the same: recover his 'taken' loved one by any means necessary.

In addition to a new setting and problem, Neeson must match wits with a new foe, played by Rade Serbedzija.  Serbedzija's character Murad ' who lost his son whilst Neeson's character was on his first recovery mission ' wants Bryan to share in his pain, and so puts in motion a plan to capture and kill all three members of his family ' a plan that obviously doesn't go over well with Mills. In a new featurette for Taken 2, Neeson elaborates on his character's drive, the relatability of the story, and what he is willing to do to recover his ex-wife.

An important element of the series that Neeson hones in on is the idea that this man, who has been put through so much, has become a machine. In Taken we saw how far Mills was willing to go to just to get information about his daughter Kim's whereabouts, and in the sequel he appears to have pushed his limits even further.

It's a relatable story ' going to extremes for one's family ' and that, Neeson feels, is the real appeal of these Taken films. Audiences might say it's the chance to see Liam Neeson serve up his signature brand of vengeance that brings them to the theater, but that's a debatable issue.

In addition to the brief interview with Neeson, the featurette includes several new looks at the film's various action scenes. As expected director Olivier Megaton (Colombiana) seeks to ramp up every element from the first film, but also keep the focus on the character of Bryan Mills.

There's a few more bombastic action sequences this time around, a byproduct of a bigger budget and fan base, but the hand-to-hand combat that sold audiences the first time around appears to be in top form.

Though, if producer Luc Besson is looking to turn Taken into a franchise, where Mills must constantly try and save another member of his family, that might test our patience ' and, more importantly, our suspension of disbelief. But for now the sequel looks to be a fun return to form for Neeson, and a chance for the first film's supporting actors (like Famke Janssen) to play larger roles.

Taken 2 hits theaters on October 5, 2012.

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Source: 20th Century FOX

Open Discussion ' August 31, 2012

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

Michael Bay Comments on Leaked 'Ninja Turtles' Movie Script

As one of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster directors, Michael Bay doesn't make a habit of defending himself or his filmmaking approach; frankly, he no longer ha$ to. However, the situation with the live-action movie reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bay is set to produce only seems to be getting worse and worse in the eyes of fans.

After an early script for the film ' now simply titled Ninja Turtles ' was allegedly leaked online, it didn't take long to see that the writing bar had been set lower than fans were ready to accept. Now Michael Bay has commented on the script in question, claiming that it was produced long before he or anyone at his company was attached to the project. But that likely won't be enough to sway skeptics.

It would be hard to find anyone to vocally support the supposed script for Ninja Turtles, since its crimes against artistic license have been well-documented already. No longer mutants at war with the shadowy Foot Clan ninjas, Leo, Don, Raph and Mikey are presented in the new film as extraterrestrial beings facing off against a covert military force (can you tell Michael Bay's involved yet?), all while cracking pop-culture jokes and zany references. The script was so objectionable that Turtles co-creator Peter Laird deemed no aspect worth saving, recommending that it would be best for all concerned if it was trashed entirely.

Michael Bay has apparently decided that enough is enough, and is attempting to distance himself and his production company from the script. The comment from Bay was spotted by Latino Review, and might raise a few eyebrows among those who have been following the TMNT reboot for some time:

'The leaked script for Ninja Turtles that different sites continue to comment on was written well before I, or anyone at Platinum Dunes, was involved with the project.

That script saw the shredder a long time ago.

This is tired, old news ' Wait for the movie!'

While it's true that the script was not produced in the last few months, and is in all likelihood not the one that director Jonathan Liebesman will be following, the case is not that simple. For starters, the script ' if legitimate ' was dated as having been completed in January of this year, roughly a month before Michael Bay and Platinum Dunes were attached. It's fair for Bay to claim that the script didn't ever stand a chance of being accepted if it was lacking in quality, but there aren't many signs that producing a story that fans would approve of is the top priority.

One co-creator of the Ninja Turtles may have publicly denounced the absurdity of the leaked script (we believe the term 'fundamentally flawed' was used), but the other seems completely on board. Optimism on Kevin Eastman's part isn't a crime in itself, but his perspective on the potential of the reboot may not be as clear as some would like. When explaining the film's delay until May 2014, Eastman explained that the latest script being developed wasn't just strong, but 'as good as the last version ' they've really knocked it out of the park.' If there is any chance that the 'last version' referred to is the one that Bay claims saw the shredder (no pun) a long time (read: months) ago, then those words may not instill much confidence.

As for Bay's hope that fans will wait until the film is finished to pass judgement, that is a sentiment that even we can understand. Sure, there may not be many fan-favorite creative minds shaping the story ' not to mention rewriting the characters' origins ' but that doesn't mean the movie has to be terrible. Dropping the title to simply Ninja Turtles may serve the the purpose of slicker marketing, but it could also be the first hint that the movie could speak to the previous trilogy's now-adult audience.

Where the action and fight choreography of the reboot is concerned, there really is no better place to turn for inspiration than The Raid: Redemption. That's the style that's influencing the reboot, according to Eastman, and anyone who doubts it's a wise move need only read our review of The Raid. Should Ninja Turtles even come close to the tension and pace set by The Raid, fans might just see Raph and the gang in a whole new light. Pairing serious martial arts choreography with a slightly grander setting, and some beloved villains and thugs thrown in for good measure could be a winning combination, provided it's handled with enough care. 'Could' being the operative word.

We can only hope that the Internet unrest will act as a reminder to Bay and Liebesman that the Ninja Turtles may be a dormant film property, but there are still plenty of fans invested in its direction.

To what extent the film will be 'shredded' by fans remains to be seen, when Ninja Turtles opens in U.S. theaters on May 16th, 2014.

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Source: Latino Review

Screen Rant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PanzGAJnLl0

If men are going to talk about hamburgers, they should be going to a cookout, not going to kill someone.

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Looper: The 8BIT (Sorta) Version

Looper The Movie The 8 Bit Game from Deepak Chetty on Vimeo.

Made by Deepak Chetty

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Avengers Baby Shawarma

Click to continue reading SR Geek Picks: 8-Bit 'Looper', Life-Size LEGO 'Iron Man', 'Dark Knight' Meets 'Avengers' & More

]]> http://screenrant.com/dark-knight-avengers-iron-man-2-alternate-opening-looper-8-bit/feed/7http://screenrant.com/neil-marshal-black-sails-pilot-starz/ http://screenrant.com/neil-marshal-black-sails-pilot-starz/#commentsWed, 29 Aug 2012 15:48:11 +0000Sandy Schaeferhttp://screenrant.com/?p=202565

It's important for a TV show pilot to make a strong impression, which accounts for why film directors are often hired to take the helm. Martin Scorsese took charge on the first episode of HBO's Boardwalk Empire (he eventually earned an Emmy for his efforts), while Walking Dead TV show creator Frank Darabont called the shots on the pilot for his zombie-apocalypse saga ' back when he was running things.

Starz has likewise gone and set filmmaker Neil Marshall to helm the pilot for its Treasure Island prequel show, Black Sails. The high-seas adventure series has also secured Michael Bay and his Platinum Dune partners as executive producers.

Marshall has carved out a niche for himself as a master of low-budget horror and period-thriller fare, thanks to films like Dog Soldiers, The ...

Click to continue reading Neil Marshall Directing Pilot for Starz' 'Treasure Island' Prequel Series 'Black Sails'

]]> http://screenrant.com/neil-marshal-black-sails-pilot-starz/feed/1http://screenrant.com/september-2012-movies-preview/ http://screenrant.com/september-2012-movies-preview/#commentsWed, 29 Aug 2012 15:37:07 +0000John Hanlonhttp://screenrant.com/?p=201326

The fall 2012 film season has finally arrived. The summer blockbusters have come and gone. During the next few months, viewers will now be treated to some of the smaller movies that could win big come awards season ' though films like The Hobbit and James Bond's Skyfall will still deliver the blockbuster experience.

Two of the most highly-anticipated movies of the year will arrive in September with director Paul Thomas Anderson releasing The Master, his first movie since the Oscar-winning film There Will be Blood (2007), and Clint Eastwood returning to acting in Trouble with the Curve. Eastwood hasn't appeared in a film since Gran Torino in 2008, so there's much anticipation about his new project. PTA's return to the director's chair and Eastwood's return to acting are only two of the ...

Click to continue reading 10 Movies We're Looking Forward To: September 2012

]]> http://screenrant.com/september-2012-movies-preview/feed/12http://screenrant.com/open-discussion-august-29-2012/ http://screenrant.com/open-discussion-august-29-2012/#commentsWed, 29 Aug 2012 12:23:30 +0000Vic Holtremanhttp://screenrant.com/?p=198774

As usual ' talk about whatever you like as long as it's related to movies, TV or Screen Rant itself ' just remember to play nice.

Click to continue reading Open Discussion ' August 29, 2012

]]> http://screenrant.com/open-discussion-august-29-2012/feed/29http://screenrant.com/batman-the-dark-knight-returns-first-clip/ http://screenrant.com/batman-the-dark-knight-returns-first-clip/#commentsWed, 29 Aug 2012 05:49:42 +0000Robert Yaniz Jr.http://screenrant.com/?p=202525

Among hardcore comic book fans, there are few tales as memorable and iconic as The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller's 1986 contribution to the Batman mythos (even Christopher Nolan's epic trilogy capper The Dark Knight Rises borrowed several plot points and themes from Miller's work). Which is why it's no surprise that the story is in the process of being adapted as a two-part animated film.

Although we've already seen the film's trailer, Warner Bros.' first clip from  Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 offers a glimpse into the aesthetic and tone of the project. The animation looks like a more modern incarnation of the classic 1990s Batman: The Animated Series.

Bruce Timm ' who served as a writer on B:TAS and has remained involved with Batman's animated ...

Click to continue reading First Clip from 'The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1' Animated Movie

]]> http://screenrant.com/batman-the-dark-knight-returns-first-clip/feed/12

First Clip from 'The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1' Animated Movie

Among hardcore comic book fans, there are few tales as memorable and iconic as The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller's 1986 contribution to the Batman mythos (even Christopher Nolan's epic trilogy capper The Dark Knight Rises borrowed several plot points and themes from Miller's work). Which is why it's no surprise that the story is in the process of being adapted as a two-part animated film.

Although we've already seen the film's trailer, Warner Bros.' first clip from  Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 offers a glimpse into the aesthetic and tone of the project. The animation looks like a more modern incarnation of the classic 1990s Batman: The Animated Series.

Bruce Timm ' who served as a writer on B:TAS and has remained involved with Batman's animated adventures ' is executive producing the film with original RoboCop Peter Weller as the aged Caped Crusader himself.

For those Bat-fans who haven't read the graphic novel on which this film is based, here's the official synopsis:

It's been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor ' but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight's cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting ' simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new'and old.

Longtime fans and comic book aficionados will likely rejoice that this story is being adapted, but newbies to this particular Batman story may feel a sense of déjà vu, given the noticeable parallels between this film and The Dark Knight Rises. Even the Gotham police officers' reaction to Batman's sudden reappearance is almost identical to the one in Rises.

Whether or not this animated incarnation lives up to the hype, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 is likely to be as divisive a film for the geek community as Zack Snyder's Watchmen, with some praising the loyalty to the source material (the lack of a squid notwithstanding) and others criticizing its comparative shallowness.

What do you think, Screen Rant readers? Judging by this clip, is The Dark Knight Returns getting the treatment it deserves?

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 25th. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 will follow in early 2013.

Joss Whedon To Write & Direct ABC's 'SHIELD' TV Pilot

It only took five days after The Avengers opened in North American theaters for Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger to announce that a sequel would be in development, but it took three months the secure Joss Whedon's return as the writer and director. As part of the deal, Joss Whedon will be working with Marvel Studios for the next three years where he will help oversee Phase Two of the Marvel cinematic universe.

The unexpected part of the agreement is that Whedon would also be developing a live-action Marvel TV series for ABC, one which we can now safely say will be based on the S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) organization.

After Disney released the official statement regarding Whedon's involvement with the future of the franchise, we put together a list of 10 Marvel Comics properties that Whedon could potentially develop for the small screen. Of the suggestions, only two really made sense, one more than the other.

There was Runaways, a series Whedon actually wrote several issues for and one that was about ready to begin shooting last spring for a theatrical release this year alongside The Avengers with Peter Sollett directing. And there was our number one choice, SHIELD, a show that would follow the secretive organization that helped rally the superheroes introduced in the films thus far. This is what I said at the time:

With Whedon's show taking place in the same continuity as the films, and SHIELD being a part of all of them in some way, there are plenty of opportunities to have the show and movies promote each other. Just think of the guest appearance possibilities. Better yet, if the Helicarrier were to be used, Marvel Studios already has the sets and digital assets constructed from The Avengers film production. Adding credence to this rumor is Deadline's scoop from a few weeks ago indicating that Marvel's TV division has a 'a kernel of an idea' that they're talking with ABC about, one that would be set in the film universe but wouldn't star any of its characters. Its described as a 'high-concept cop show' and was 'referred to as Shield.' Coincidence?

For more discussion and thoughts on the series, check out episode 52 of the Screen Rant Undeground podcast.

Deadline has the confirmation that their initial scoop was correct and SHIELD is on its way to becoming a reality. Production will begin right away with Whedon co-writing the project with his brother Jed Whedon and Jed's wife Maurissa Tancharoen (sister of Mortal Kombat savior Kevin Tancharoen), both of whom Joss worked with on Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and Dollhouse.

The plan is for Joss Whedon to direct the pilot of SHIELD as well for the series that has a safer bet of lasting more than his previous television endeavors simply due to the nature of his involvement in the bigger picture plans of the studio. The show will not star the core characters of The Avengers but cameo appearances are very likely, especially in positioning the series to be set in the same universe. What this means is that as each of the films leading up to The Avengers debut, we could potentially see the series dealing with the events taking place in each of the film's stories. Expect Disney to take full advantage of cross-promotional opportunities.

While the idea of basing a show around SHIELD allows the series to practically explore all facets of the Marvel Comics universe in terms of characters and stories, we're very curious as to what Whedon's specific plans are. By signing the three-year exclusivity deal with Marvel Studios to helm The Avengers 2, it seems that this TV show is Whedon's reward of sorts for climbing aboard and we are excited at the potential and curious as to how much the show will actually integrate with the films.

SHIELD beats out Guillermo del Toro's in-development The Incredible Hulk show for ABC as the first live-action Marvel series to get the official green light. The last we heard on the Hulk front, just prior to Whedon's signing, was that del Toro is waiting on a certain unnamed writer's schedule to free up before they revise the screenplay.

Iron Man 3 releases May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014 and The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015.

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.

Source: Deadline