WB taps into ties at DC Comics

Co. has heroes like Wonder Woman, Flash

When it comes to superhero properties, Warner Bros. couldn't be sitting on a more enviable source: DC Comics, home to Batman, Superman and other well-known caped crusaders.
But to make its heroes fly at the megaplex, the studio knows it needs to make the right movies. The financial payoff is too big to squander with a creative misfire like "Catwoman."

"They can really be an evergreen source of enjoyment and income," says studio topper Alan Horn, referring to the coin a hit pic can collect at the B.O. and from sources like TV, homevid, vidgames and merchandise. The studio earned $1 billion from DC fare alone in 2005, when "Batman Begins" was released. "If you do it wrong, you're dead, you're out of there."

Getting out there, however, has taken time.

Warners and DC (both Time Warner entities) have labored in vain over another Superman, and launches for Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Arrow and Green Lantern. It's maddening for fans as rival Marvel Comics has successfully begun financing its own slate of pics, first with "Iron Man," then a reboot of "The Incredible Hulk" this summer.

That could soon change, as Warners is readying to revamp how DC's properties are developed -- changes that could be announced within the next month.

DC doesn't have a separate film division the way rival Marvel does, which is moving forward with an "Iron Man" sequel and adaptations of Thor, Captain America and the superhero team-up "The Avengers" for 2010 and 2011.

That means Warners doesn't have a sole cheerleader for its comicbook projects, or someone to work closely with filmmakers to develop them.

Until now, those duties have been shared by production prexy Jeff Robinov and Gregory Noveck, senior VP of creative affairs for DC Comics, who has served as a liaison between the comicbook publisher and the studio.

Some say Robinov's attention may be pulled in too many directions, given his other responsibilities, which include the rest of the studio's slate and marketing. Noveck formerly was Joel Silver's TV topper.

"We're having a lot of internal discussions on it," Horn says. "We haven't committed to any change at DC at this point," adding that both Warners and DC are committed to turning "the properties into viable movie product in an intelligent way so that we introduce them like planes on a runway. They have to be set up the right way and lined up the right way and all take off one at a time and fly safe and fly straight."

One high-profile property is "Justice League," which Warner Bros. had hoped would start production before the writers strike.

But given that it unites Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Arrow, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, the studio is trying to figure out how such the pic (cast with younger actors) would affect its existing Batman and Superman franchises -- and whether the script respects how the characters play off each other in the DC universe.

To put it simply: the studio doesn't want to piss off the Comic-Con contingent.

"We're not off the notion of a Justice League," Robinov says. "There's a massive interest and knowledge in the comicbook industry and it takes time to sort of catch up and understand the characters and the history, where they've intersected with each other and what their worlds are. That's part of the education that we're going through."

When it comes to Batman, the future of the franchise is in Christopher Nolan's hands. That's what a successful reboot with "Batman Begins" and breaking records with "The Dark Knight" will do.

There's a deal for the director to helm a third pic, but he has yet to decide on whether to tackle it yet.

"We have no idea where Chris is going with this," Horn says. "We haven't had any conversations with him about it."

Either way, there's no question Warner Bros. will produce more superhero pics. The question is when.

"These are big, iconic characters," Noveck says. "So when you make them into a movie, you'd better be shooting for a pretty high standard. You're not always going to reach it, but you have to be shooting for it. We're going to make a Justice League movie, whether it's now or 10 years from now. But we're not going to do it and Warners is not going to do it until we know it's right."

Robert Downey Jr. on Iron Man Sequels

Iron Man and Tropic Thunder star Robert Downey Jr. visited "Live with Regis and Kelly" this morning to promote the latter, but he was asked by Regis Philbin about Iron Man 2.

Downey Jr. would only confirm that it is happening and said he thought they would end up making a trilogy of it. He did, however, hint that he was willing to make more films beyond a trilogy!

Downey Jr. will soon start filming the Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes and will then shoot Iron Man 2 for an April 30, 2010 release.

EXCL: Candyman Remake Buzz at Sony

Hear that? No, that's not the sound of bees. It's the buzz, buzz, buzzing of another remake. And this time it's Bernard Rose's Clive Barker adaptation Candyman.

Shock learned today Sony and the rights holder to the film franchise - which has spanned three installments - are mulling over plans to resurrect the hook-handed, pimp coat wearin' urban legend made famous by Tony Todd. It's all "early talks" (I was told one idea was to make the titular killer a Caucasian fella) with no writer or director attached at this time.

Candyman's screen life - based on Barker's short story The Forbidden - began in '92 at Sony. He bounced from MGM then to Artisan for the sequels Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and Candyman: Day of the Dead, respectively. The third chapter was released in '99.

The original film starred Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley and Kasi Lemmons.

Some can balk that it's too soon (or downright unnecessary) for a remake, but for Sony, it makes sense given the spate of remakes over the last five years dredging up revamped cinematic massacres featuring everyone from Leatherface, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees to even Harry Warden. Candyman represents one established horror icon they have in their vaults they could potentially bank on (Richard Fenton from Prom Night is going to cut it).

You almost knew it was coming. A Candyman remake was inevitable. The gears are in motion and we'll keep you updated as we hear more.

A Date to Stroll Through Dark Country

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will give The Dark Country its DVD debut on March 24, 2009.

Starring Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Lauren German - with Jane making his directing debut - Country picks up with a couple who, on their way to Las Vegas, discover a stranger by the side of the road who is barely alive. The man comes to and begins freaking out. The driver has to put the man down, which is only the beginning of the couple's problems.

Tab Murphy penned the screenplay. The film is part of a series of productions that went before the camera for Sony's Stage 6. Other films include The Lodger and Vacancy 2.

DMX Arrested In Florida After Court No-Show

DMX was arrested at a store in Florida yesterday (Aug. 14) for failing to appear in an Arizona court on drug charges, authorities said.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was taken into custody outside a Wal-Mart store in north Miami Beach on a warrant issued by a Maricopa County Superior Court commissioner.

The 37-year-old, who has a home outside Phoenix, failed to appear on Tuesday for a pretrial conference on charges relating to marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession, one of several legal battles he faces in Arizona.

He was arrested in May on drug and animal cruelty charges after sheriff's deputies raided his Cave Creek, Arizona, home. Authorities alleged that there were dog carcasses and malnourished pit bulls at the residence.

The rapper also faces two felony charges for taking the identity of another person and giving false information during a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., in an alleged attempt to avoid paying the bill.

"This guy is treating our legal system like a revolving door and it's time we closed the cell door on him," Arpaio told Reuters.

Master P Takes On BET With New Cable Network

Hip-hop entrepreneur Percy Miller, a.k.a. Master P, is launching a family-friendly cable network, Better Black Television.

The network will provide "positive content for a black and brown culture," according to a company statement.

BBTV, set to launch in 2009, will be a general entertainment channel running a wide range of scripted, unscripted and news programming, including drama and comedy series, movies, animation, reality, politics, sports and entertainment news, children's educational and teen programming, as well as "responsible hip-hop music and videos."

BBTV advisory board members include Oscar winner Denzel Washington; Vault Load Films president Jim Finkl; NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock; NBA player Derek Anderson; cable industry veteran Prof. Sal Martino; hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc; entrepreneur Olatokunbo Betiku; and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

BBTV chairman and CEO Miller said he's had the vision for BBTV for several years. "I believe that there is a market in our community for a new diverse network that provides a new brand of superior programming that caters to all aspects of television, from reality to original programming," he said.

The new channel is taking on the black-oriented cable channel BET. Miller stressed that he has "a great relationship with BET and MTV" and that he and his son, Lil' Romeo, "will continue to do work with them and support their networks."

Production on BBTV's programs has begun in California, New York, Louisiana and Florida. The cable channel is in the process of purchasing local cable channel affiliates across the country.

BBTV's programming in the works:

* "Sunset and Vine": Video show hosted by Vyshonn Miller and Brittany Phillips that will showcase the top hip-hop and R&B acts as well as play classic videos.

* "One Shot Comedy Show": Comedy show hosted by Gary Johnson (a.k.a. G-Thing) featuring established and upcoming comedians.

* "Gee Gee the Giraffe": Children's educational show (will air Saturday morning on BBTV Kids).

* "Manage Your Money": Featuring financially successful people lending tips to promote financial literacy.

* "Close to the Starz": A behind-the-scenes show that takes the viewers up close and personal to their favorite celebrities.

* "Karma TV Show": Bilingual soap opera with an African-American and Latino cast.

* "What's Cooking TV Show": Talk show that covers wide aspects of entertainment and current events while cooking healthy, budget-conscious meals.

* "The Black List Movies": Film showcase featuring classic and contemporary movies, as well as original BBTV productions.

* "Hip-Hop Garage Show": Saturday show that will play new and upcoming music.

Steve Carell and Tina Fey Go on Date Night

Steve Carell and Tina Fey are set to play a married couple in Date Night, a 20th Century Fox comedy to be directed by Shawn Levy, reports Variety.

Josh Klausner wrote the script, based on an idea by Levy, whose 21 Laps will produce. The story follows a couple who find their routine date night becomes much more than just dinner and a movie.

The film will begin production next year, with the exact start date predicated on matching a scheduling hiatus from Carell's sitcom "The Office" and Fey's "30 Rock."

Levy, who is shooting Fox's Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, intends the film to be his next directing assignment.

Three Board Mel Gibson's Edge of Darkness

Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts and Bojana Novakovic have joined the Mel Gibson thriller Edge of Darkness, says The Hollywood Reporter. Martin Campbell is directing the movie, which is being produced by Graham King and Michael Wearing.

The film centers on a veteran cop (Gibson) whose only grown-up child (Novakovic) is murdered on the steps of his home. The cop unearths his daughter's secret life and discovers a world of corporate cover-ups and government collusion. Huston takes on the role of a shady businessman while Roberts will play the role of the daughter's distraught boyfriend.

Robert De Niro is also in the film, cast as a CIA cleaner.

Filming is due to start later this month on location in Massachusetts. William Monahan and Andrew Bovell wrote the screenplay.

Matthew Vaughn is Ready to Kick-Ass

Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) is moving ahead to direct Kick-Ass, an adaptation of the comic by Mark Millar, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse is in negotiations, while Chloe Moretz has been cast in the film, whose violent nature has forced Hollywood studios to pass on making it. Vaughn, however, is such a believer in the project that he raised the money for the $30 million indie project himself.

Kick-Ass, written by Millar and drawn by John Romita Jr., follows a high school dweeb who attempts to reinvent himself as a real-world costumed superhero named Kick-Ass who seems doomed to failure because he's not athletic or coordinated until he runs into real bad guys with real weapons.

Moretz's character is a ferocious, potty-mouthed 11-year-old who chops down crime thugs with a ninja sword. Mintz-Plasse will play the Red Mist, the angry teen son of a mobster who tries to find uncover Kick-Ass' identity.

The main character, Dave Lizewski, has not yet been cast. Vaughn also is talking to several high-profile stars to play parents or mobsters.

Vaughn wrote the adaptation with Jane Goldman and is producing with his Marv Films partner Kris Thykier. A fall start date is eyed.

Katzenberg Planning 3rd Madagascar, 2nd Kung Fu Panda

DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg expects at least one additional "Madagascar" sequel after Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and said that the studio, as was previously rumored, has also begun talks aimed at creating a sequel to its summer hit Kung Fu Panda.

Katzenberg said "Escape 2 Africa" is the "second chapter in one story," adding that "there is at least one more chapter. We ultimately want to see the characters make it back to New York."

An announcement about a Kung Fu Panda sequel could come within two months.

"We've started conversations about it, and I think in the next 30 or 60 days, we'll be able to talk completely about that," Katzenberg said.

Kung Fu Panda has earned $560 million worldwide. In 2005, Madagascar took in $530 million globally.