Frank Miller Talks 300 Follow-Up

The Los Angeles Times received an update from Frank Miller about his follow-up to 300, which earned $456 million in theaters worldwide.

Miller says the new project, now titled Xerxes, begins about 10 years before the events of 300, and Zack Snyder has expressed interest in it as a film property as well. "It's the battle of Marathon through my lens," Miller said. "I've finished the plot and I'm getting started on the artwork."

Miller said that during his research trips to Greece he realized that the myth and history overlap begins to blur, which adds to the storytelling allure. "The fact and the myth are inseparable and, believe me, when you go sailing for a while in the Aegean Sea, you start believing in Poseidon."

David Goyer Talks Ghost Rider 2

MTV talked to David Goyer about what we can expect for Ghost Rider 2, which he says is "not exactly a reboot," picks up eight years after the first film, and is targeting a 2010 shoot.

"I hate to say it's more realistic, because he's got a flaming skull for a head, but it's a bit more stripped down and darker," Goyer added. "It's definitely changing tone. What 'Casino Royale' was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to 'Ghost Rider.'"

Sin City 2 Actually Moving Forward, May Be Followed By Hard Boiled

Sin City 2 has been a project sitting on the horizon for several years. It has started to seem like one of those things that co-director Robert Rodriguez likes to keep on the table because he knows it gets fan attention, while not necessarily being a film he really plans to make.

Now producer Stephen L’Heureux says that Sin City 2 will go into production at the end of 2010, and that Frank Miller will follow it with a film version of Hard Boiled, the uber-detailed and hyper-violent comic written by Miller and drawn by Geoff Darrow.

Mania has the report. They offer the news that the sequel will be based on an original script by Miller, rather than drawing from any of the original comics material he produced a decade ago. He also explains that Miller is also currently scripting Hard Boiled, and that he’s attached to direct. “We’re still developing it,” L’Heureux says. “We got the project in turnaround from Warner Bros and Frank. It’s such a pleasure to work with someone like Frank Miller.” Let’s take one step at a time, eh? After The Spirit, Miller has some provin’ to do.

Now, according to Mania Robert Rodriguez is planning to co-direct Sin City 2 with Frank Miller. But recent reports have suggested that the next priority for Rodriguez after Machete and Predators are done will actually be Spy Kids 4. Why? As Variety’s report on the Short Circuit remake recently said, franchises are a priority for Dimension right now and the studio has got a good hold on the director. The Weinsteins need cash flow and Spy Kids 4 is evidently seen as something that will generate it.

So, yeah, Sin City 2 may well be moving forward. But if the timeline places it as a go within 2010, don’t be too surprised if Miller directs alone while Rodriguez produces it and spends more of his time making Spy Kids 4 and Nervewrackers.

Jackie Earle Haley Tapped For Sinestro In Green Lantern, Superman to Cameo

Probably the most disappointing thing about Green Lantern is that the protracted and delayed production is going to ensure, without any doubt, that director Martin Campbell can’t be in charge of the next Bond film and turn that franchise round again (for the third time).

It’s not all bad news, though. On the plus side, a new rumour has pegged Jackie Earle Haley for the role of Sinestro in the picture. You may recall that he’s the mentor character that might just turn out to be a baddie (if they don’t save that for the sequel). The same unnamed gossipmonger has Superman down for a cameo role in the film, which sounds like a wild and unlikely idea but the character was in at least one draft of the script and since Marvel’s multi-picture mashup scheme, I wouldn’t be surprised to see DC try a similar tactic.

On the other hand, this particular use of Superman could be motivated by back and forth over the rights to the character as per the ongoing legal issues.

I like this Superman rumour because it means another silly season of speculating on the character’s casting is about to start all over again. What sport! Brandon Routh? DJ Cotrona? Jim Caviezel? Zac Efron?

A cameo would at least be a safe-ish way to test out the casting of a new Superman with the public and the internets before committing the actor to a full-on starring role.

Since his grand return in Little Children, Jackie Earle Haley has been signing on to franchise and high-profile genre pictures left right and centre. I guess he knows all too well what it’s like to suddenly drop off the radar and find roles hard to come by, so I wouldn’t blame him for getting some serious fat in his piggy bank while he can. It would be nice to see him do something else too, though, far away from the more stylised worlds he’s been inhabiting lately. And no, Shutter Island doesn’t count - that’s going to be as stylised as they come.

Bryan Singer Interested in More X-Men

Bryan Singer said Sunday he's interested in making another "X-Men" movie and has discussed the possibility with 20th Century Fox, according to The Associated Press.

"I'm still looking to possibly returning to the 'X-Men' franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it," the X-Men and X2: X-Men United director said at South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival. "I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast."

Singer said the "X-Men" series is about tolerance and social structures. He said he likes to "trick audiences into thinking they're seeing fireworks, but they're learning about themselves and listening to what I have to say."

"The excitement about working in science fiction and fantasy is — the stories, if they are good, are about the human condition," he added.

Gary Ross To Write/Direct Venom Movie

Sony has been developing a Marvel Comics spin-off of the Spider-Man villain Venom for some time now, but I never actually believed it would happen. Screenwriting team Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese had written two drafts on the character before moving on to Zombieland. And before Wernick/Reese, the company had previously commissioned Jacob Estes (Mean Creek) to pen a take. It seemed like one of those projects that was just doomed to development heck. Apparently not…

But BFDealMemo has learned that Sony is talks with Spider-Man 4 scribe Gary Ross to rewrite the script and possibly even direct the Venom spin-off. Ross plans to begin the rewrite as soon as he finishes up work on Spidey 4. I enjoyed the hell out of Zombieland, and was actually really interested to see Wernick/Reese’s version. At the same time, I’m also interested to see what Ross will bring to the table. Ross’ screenwriting credits include Big, Mr. Baseball, Dave, Lassie, as well as his two-directorial efforts Pleasentville and Seabiscuit.

Even though the character appeared in Spider-Man 3 with actor Topher Grace playing his human counterpart, the intention is to completely reboot the character in this spin-off. And I think hiring someone other than Topher for the role is a smart move as they really need to do everything they can to differentiate the spin-off from what many believe to be a lackluster third film.

When I was younger, and had more time to read comics, Venom was one of my favorites. But never once did I actually buy an issue of the Venom spin-off series, because I never thought it would be that interesting. And my thoughts are virtually the same on a Venom spin-off film. Venom is one of those baddies who is only as interesting as his opponent. And I’m pretty sure this project would be Spidey-free.

Sony has announced a May 6th 2011 release date for the fourth installment of the Spider-Man series. No word on if the Venom film would somehow be related or connected to that fourth story. Heatvision reports that the studio had no comment on Grace’s involvement nor on Ross writing the project.

Ed Norton Cautiously Doesn’t Say That He Won’t Appear in The Avengers

It’s fairly unfortunate that when there’s a chance to sit down with Ed Norton, who has turned in some of the more immersive performances of a popular actor in his generation, and is currently impressing many with dual roles in Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, the conversation is eventually going to derail into baseless, speculative talk about his future as the Hulk. (And here I am perpetuating the trend, so shake your head at me, too.) Last week was all about Norton’s admission that seeing the Hulk as the villain in The Avengers would be fun. This week, the theme is time.

Speaking to MTV at Toronto recently, Norton said that scheduling an appearance in another Marvel movie is a matter of time. Not as in “it will happen eventually,” but “we all need to find the time.” Asked about whether he’s more reluctant than other actors to go back to the Marvel fold, the actor said:

I get very busy. You have to deal with the demands of your moment. I tend to keep my head in the thing I’m doing and I don’t speculate or worry too much about what two or three blocks down the thing is going to be. I know all these things will reveal themselves and work out or not.

All of which is a really polite, roundabout way of saying “I don’t know if I’m going to do it, and if I did I probably wouldn’t tell you. Hey, have you heard that I play dual roles in this current movie?”

I liked Norton’s Hulk. A lot. I enjoyed the direct, energetic nature of the script and the movie it became. I’d like to see Norton back as Bruce Banner, and would love to see him playing off Robert Downey Jr. But let’s agree to let this one lie for a while. Is Norton really going to drop an “I’m going back to Marvel” bomb anywhere but in an official press release or larger press event? Doubt it.

Venom Movie Moving Forward?

SCI FI Wire got a chance to talk to Zombieland co-writer Paul Wernick about the script for "Spider-Man" spin-off Venom that he wrote with Rhett Reese.

"We've written two drafts of Venom, and the studio has it, and they're pushing forward in whatever ways they push forward," Wernick said. He was tight-lipped about whether there was a relationship between Spider-Man 4 and the Venom project.

"We can't really talk about that, unfortunately," he added. "Basically, the studio and Marvel and the Arads are taking our drafts and going beyond and figuring out what's the next step."

Columbia is Definitely Rolling Forward With Ghost Rider 2; Daredevil and Silver Surfer Projects Confirmed

We’ve heard plenty of word over the last two years that a sequel to Columbia’s Ghost Rider film starring Nicolas Cage (who would return for the sequel) could come roaring down the highway, and now there is confirmation that the studio is actually moving forward.

David Goyer is currently in talks to write the story and then oversee another writer’s screenplay, but his spokesperson says that Goyer hasn’t actually signed on at this point. Variety does report that the current plan is to base Ghost Rider 2 on a Goyer script written some time ago. Weird, since we’ve heard in the past that Columbia had already gone out to writers for the sequel. That’s all the data we’ve got at this point, but revisit Nic Cage’s comments from a couple of months ago to get an idea of what Ghost Rider 2 (or Ghost Rider v2.0, as it may be) might be like.

The Variety source article also mentions in passing that Fox is “quietly developing a new version of Daredevil and working on a Silver Surfer film.” We’ve known both of those projects existed in theory, but this is the most recent word of forward motion. If I remember correctly (and do let me know if I’m wrong, as after the first film I stopped paying much attention to a Fox-developed Daredevil project) the last time we heard about this, another Daredevil flick was merely being ‘considered’.

Would a Silver Surfer film essentially reboot the character? You’d think so, since Fox is already committing to rebooting the studio’s take on the Fantastic Four, making the Surfer’s cinematic intro moot. Rebooting the FF but continuing with the established Surfer would be some real Earth 2 sorta shit.

X-Men: First Class Shooting in 2010?

Tim Pocock, who played the young Scott Summers/Cyclops in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has revealed that he will reprise the role in 20th Century Fox's X-Men: First Class.

"Currently shooting Australian TV series till February 2010...then X-men first class," he said on his Twitter account. "Wolverine" producer Lauren Shuler Donner recently hinted that a new "X-Men" movie would start production in 2010.

Written by Josh Schwartz, the film will likely draw from elements of the Marvel Comic of the same name, launched in 2006.

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Millar Says 'Kick-Ass' Ending Teases Sequel

When "Kick-Ass" premieres on April 13, audiences will not only be seeing one of the year's most-anticipated comic book movies, but they could also get the first look at what's in store "Kick-Ass 2."

The "Kick-Ass" sequel that writer Mark Millar said would begin shooting within two years already has a premise, and he says there will "definitely" be a follow-up. Though it's unknown whether Matthew Vaughn will return to direct or Marvel Entertainment's new Disney owners would distribute a sequel instead of Lionsgate, the miniseries' creator remains certain that "Kick-Ass 2" will happen.

"There's a basic plot," Millar told MTV News. "The series ends on a teaser for the next one, and the movie ends on that teaser, too."

Now that the first film is on its way to theaters, Millar has his eyes on a speedy follow-up, much like the soon-to-be-filmed sequel to his last theatrical success, "Wanted."

"We don't want to sound too cocky, but we know this is good," Millar said. "It didn't cost that much money to make. There will definitely be another one."

EXCLUSIVE: 'We Don't Have Any Current Plans For Superman,' Says DC Entertainment President

On Friday, I spoke with the new head of DC Entertainment, Diane Nelson, who offered up some thoughts on how the recent changes in and around Warner Brothers will affect Superman, Batman and the rest of DC's stable of characters in comics, movies and various other media.

However, one particular portion of the interview seemed to merit its own post. While discussing some of the specific projects on the horizon for DC ("Ryan Reynolds can be anything he wants to be," said Nelson of the "Green Lantern" star's ability to play both Hal Jordan and the Marvel character Deadpool in upcoming films), the conversation eventually turned to one of the company's most iconic characters: Superman.

"We actually don't have any current plans for Superman," said Nelson when asked if the new environment (and the recent legal decision regarding the character) made a "Superman" movie more or less likely in the near future.

We recently ranked Superman as one of the most important properties for WB to prioritize in their new, movie-friendly arrangement regarding DC, so it was interesting to hear that the company currently has no plans for the Man of Steel.

Nelson then reiterated her stance on the lack of action on the Superman front, while acknowledging the character's importance in the DC universe.

"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," she said.

With rumored "Superman" director James McTeigue recently offering his own take on what he'd do with the Man of Steel if given the chance, Nelson's comments certainly call into question how far along any plans might be—and whether we'll believe a man can fly again any time soon.

Fox Will Reboot Fantastic Four

I find it funny that 20th Century Fox waited until the day when Disney revealed that they would be acquiring Marvel to announce the next step in the Fantastic Four film franchise. Or perhaps the information somehow leaked out when everyone was trying to gather all the details of what properties Disney would have and not have feature film rights to. Either way, tonight it was revealed that Akiva Goldsman has been hired to produce a new Fantastic Four film, a complete reboot.

Variety reports that a screenwriter has been hired to reboot the franchise: Michael Green, a producer/writer for Smallville, Everwood and Heroes (ugh…) who co-wrote the upcoming big screen adaptation of The Green Lantern. No other details are known at this time, as Fox has not commented about its plans. But one would assume that the creative talent (and I use that term loosely) from the original 2005 film and the 2007 sequel, will not be a part of this new attempt. And that includes director Tim Story and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis.

One can only hope that Fox takes a cue from the recent superhero films (The Dark Knight on one extreme, and Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk on the other) and allows a less corny take on the series. I’d likely be happier with a film even if they took a slightly more adult (yet still comic) tone of a film like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2.

Goldsman got his start in Hollywood as a screenwriter, and at one point wrote the bad Batman movies (Forever and Batman & Robin). More recently he has made the transition into producer of such films as I Am Legend, Hancock, and the upcoming comic book films Jonah Hex and The Losers.

Disney to Acquire Marvel for $4 Billion!

A huge announcement this morning - Disney is going to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion!

Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.

“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

UPDATE #1: In a conference call, the companies said that the deals for movies for characters at other studios (Spider-Man, X-Men, etc.) will stay in place under the terms set by Marvel and the other studios.

UPDATE #2: John Lasseter met with Marvel last week about a possible team-up between Marvel and Pixar and got "pretty excited, pretty fast." They say there's definitely an opportunity there.

UPDATE #3: The deal with Paramount Pictures to distribute five films--"Iron Man 2," "Thor," "Captain America," "The Avengers" and "Iron Man 3"--stays in place as well, but Disney would like to self-distribute down the line. "When the time comes we'll take a closer look at it."

McFarlane Starts Writing New Spawn Movie

"Spawn" creator Todd McFarlane has announced that he has officially begun writing the screenplay for a new movie based on the character.

"The story has been in my head for 7 or 8 years," McFarlane said. "The movie idea is neither a recap or continuation. It is a standalone story that will be R-rated. Creepy and scary."

He added that "the tone of this 'Spawn' movie will be for a more older audience. Like the film 'Departed.'"

In August of 1997, New Line released a Spawn movie that grossed $87.8 million worldwide. It starred Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo and Martin Sheen.

New Screenwriter To Board Super Max

New news on Super Max has been a long time coming. The state of play was this: Justin Marks was scripting, David Goyer was producing, DC comics’ Green Arrow was the lead character and the plot would see him incarcerated in the tip-topper most high security prison in the DC universe, framed for a crime he didn’t commit.

There have been any number of rumors surrounding the project along the way. Would Matt Damon star as the Green Arrow? Would Kevin Smith direct? Would Lex Luthor, The Riddler or The Joker appear? It has generated a healthy bag full of headlines over a couple of years without actually going into production, or even pre-production. Nonetheless, slow and steady can often win the race and Super Max is still chugging along steadily. David Goyer has spoken to MTV and given an update. Here’s the man himself:

We’re working on that. We’re about to bring on another writer. Obviously, Warner Bros. is now heavily into mining all of the various DC properties.

So the studio won’t let it die, though it isn’t yet in the shape they’d want for it? It would seem that’s what he’s saying here.

Justin Marks was one of the originators of the concept, so it’s actually quite sad to hear he’s off the script. Having said that, I don’t know of any evidence that he can actually write anything worth a jot.

Here’s an old quote from Goyer on the beginnings of Super Max:

The basic concept actually came about through Justin Marks, a terrific young writer my wife Jessika (a producer) had previously worked with. They thought the idea of a prison-break story set in a jail designed exclusively for super-villains was a cool one. And I heartily agreed.

It is a cracking good hook, that’s for sure. Let’s hope the new writer is a real talent and a suitable director follows soon after.

Hugh Jackman Offers 'Wolverine 2' Update: 'We're Starting To Work On It Now'

Late last year, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" star Hugh Jackman began teasing that he'd like to bring Logan to Japan for a live-action adaptation of Frank Miller and Chris Claremont's fan-favorite story arc that had the Marvel Comics hero learning Eastern philosophy and fighting skills. While the actor offered up a confirmation of sorts prior to "Wolverine" hitting theaters that he was "talking to writers" about going the Japanese route for the sequel, the studio made it official after the film found success at the box office.

During this weekend's Teen Choice Awards, Jackman devoted part of his acceptance speech ("Wolverine" won the action/adventure film category) to teasing the aforementioned sequel -- and Logan's impending journey to Japan.

"Who knows, maybe Wolverine will use one of these when he heads to Japan," Jackman told the crowd, holding up the surfboard that served as the award. "See you next time around!"

"The 'going to Japan' was pretty serious, the 'using the surfboard' was not. Not a lot of surfing in Japan," laughed Jackman when we caught him backstage.

Offering an update of sorts for the sequel, Jackman told MTV News "Japan is where we're heading, [and] we're starting to work on it now. We're in the ... first steps of developing that story."

Reiterating his desire to Miller and Claremont's story arc brought to the screen, Jackman said he's "made no real secret" of his fondness for that particular chapter of Wolverine's history. "I think the fans love that saga. It's my favorite saga of the Wolverine stories."

"That's a movie I've longed to make from the beginning, so that's where we're heading," he said.

Gary Oldman Claims Next Batman Movie Starts Shooting in 2010

During the Book of Eli presentation at Comic-Con 2009, Gary Oldman was asked when we would be seeing a third Batman movie. I, like many others, were expecting the standard answer “we’re waiting on Chris…” But we got something else entirely. According to Oldman, a sequel to The Dark Knight is not only happening, but it begins shooting in 2010.

“The next batman is next year, so I think it is two years away. But you didn’t hear it from me.”

It didn’t appear that Oldman was joking, nor did it appear that he was speculating. As far as we know, Christopher Nolan has yet to commit to a third film. We’ll keep you updated.

Nicolas Cage in Talks for The Green Hornet

Columbia Pictures is in early talks with Nicolas Cage to play the gangster villain in The Green Hornet, reports Variety.

Cameron Diaz is negotiating to play a reporter and love interest in the Michel Gondry-directed film that stars Seth Rogen as the masked crime fighter.

The picture is moving full steam ahead for a fall start date, even as the studio looks to replace Stephen Chow, who was going to play sidekick Kato. Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the script and Neal Moritz is producing through his Original Films.

The Green Hornet is targeting a July 9, 2010 release

Natalie Portman to Star as Jane Foster in Thor

When reporting on cast additions to Your Highness the other day I’d been thinking about what an interesting career Natalie Portman has crafted, in terms of playing in genre-ish films while keeping a pretty serious offscreen persona. And now Portman has been confirmed as part of the cast in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor opposite Chris Hemsworth (as Thor) and Tom Hiddleston (as Loki). She’ll play Jane Foster, nurse to Thor’s human alter-ego Donald Blake. Nikke Finke had reported the casting news back in March, but this is the first confirmation, and the first release to specify Portman’s role.

Jane Foster is a more sedate role than I’d hoped for her in this one, but I suppose it’s an offset to her warrior princess character in Your Highness. It also pegs the movie as taking place more on Earth than some had assumed; if Foster is a major character then we’ll be seeing a lot of the human version of Thor. She’s got to fall for him somehow, right? In the core storyline Foster learned that Blake was Thor, and even went with him to Asgard, but we don’t know if that’ll happen on screen. Let’s hope Hemsworth is able to work with Portman in a way that Hayden Christensen was never quite allowed to.

Here’s the synopsis from Marvel’s press release, which notes that the character will be ‘updated’:

Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: Thor. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.