Really, pretty self explanatory. This shot was released along with a USA TODAY article about Kenneth Branagh and Chris Hemsworth, and how the production team wanted to make sure they were ready for Comic-Con.
Large version of the picture below. Chris has definitely put on a LOT of muscle for the role.
Now that we've all got a look at Green Lantern's costume for the upcoming movie (and a wealth of opinions to match), there are a few assumptions we can make about DC's proposed "image"- namely, I feel that all these recent character modifications indicate that the publisher is more aware of its popular presence. We're all still finding our footing with the recent redesign of Wonder Woman, a switch to a more human, 90's aesthetic. I wouldn't be the only one to point out that Diana's new duds seem to be built with a more approachable real-life duplicate in mind. DC certainly wouldn't want their most iconic female character strutting around in boots and a bustier that can be found on most New Jersey boardwalks, not when the character faces so much exposition from the silver screen. In Ryan Reynolds' case, it seems the designers are going for a more "bad-ass" look; Gone are the dainty white gloves, the domino mask is more angular and edgy and the sinewy treatment for the chest aims to make Green Lantern look something like your standard RPG villain. As with any change though, DC is unraveling the iconic status of its established heroes. This poses a fundamental question; Does DC really need to so radically depart from its status quo to make its character set more approachable? Superheroes appear outside their home medium more and more everyday- if their owners feel the need to compromise their appearance, doesn't that propagate a feeling of alienation from the comics genre, where their original designs were accepted?
Amid the explosion of news this week based around comics in other media, from James McAvoy in the new X-Men movie to Green Lantern's animated series, there was also the confirmation of a Wonder Woman film "in development." Frankly, this comes off as a little dismissive of the project, considering that the prospective movie has been "in development" for nearly ten years now. The concept of Princess Diana on the silver screen is infinitely more appealing to me than the chance to see Ryan Reynold's abs starring as Hal Jordan, so what's the hold up?
Joss Whedon, who worked on a potential script from 2005 to 2007, cited troubles with world-building for the character, who would obviously require a different tone and approach than, say, Nolan's Batman films. Others who stepped up to the task wanted to avoid placing her in a historical setting. But these complaints seem so trivial when just last year, DC released a successful animated movie that balanced the feminist values and action sequences that will naturally spring up in a Wonder Woman script. A live-action venture would obviously cater to a different market, but there's no reason that can defend how long it's taken just to lay some basic groundwork for the film. It's obvious that DC execs can go for months without even thinking about the project, when there are fans who clamor for it every time news of a MAD Magazine movie gets PR. In an industry where every "major" superhero gets a film, this kind of exposure is necessary for Wonder Woman to stay in mainstream consciousness. No more excuses, DC. I want that movie.
You've likely heard it by now, but the Jonah Hex movie slated for this summer has its first trailer out. Sure, it's got Megan Fox and a literal trainwreck going on, but let's save our judgment for when the film actually comes out. The point is, if you're concerned for the gunslinger's credibility, it's best to immerse yourself in his other, more faithful incarnations.
There's already the mass of trade collections (though oddly no reprints to coincide with the film); But on top of that, DC has made motion comics available through various gaming consoles, iTunes and amazon. The motion comic stands at a reasonably priced 99 cents each, and you can find a sampling of what to expect over at USA Today.
Hex was also featured in Cartoon Network's Brave and the Bold cartoon, which you should already have watched and been in love with. The whole episode is available for free this week on the Brave and the Bold website. And later down the line, you can look forward to the direct-to-DVD Batman:Under the Red Hood (which is starting to look really good), which will have a featurette to accompany the main film. You're not the only one who thinks Mastodon and Megan Fox don't mix well, but at least you've got options.
Rumors are flying that one of my favorite comics of all time, Ed Brubaker's Incognito, is getting the big screen treatment via Fox:
The studio has acquired screen rights to Incognito, a graphic novel series written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips. Robert Schenkkan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of The Kentucky Cycle, will write the screenplay. Peter Chernin and his Chernin Entertainment will produce with Circle of Confusion's David Engel.
I have to say, hiring Robert Schenkkan to do the adaptation is pretty impressive. It sounds like Fox is stretching to try to establish artistic street cred right out of the gate. For those not into the theater scene - or in my case partnered into it - Schenkkan's Pulitzer-winning The Kentucky Cycle is a set of nine, one-act plays that explore the deceit, intimidation and violence perpetrated by and against several groups of people trying to settle the Cumberland Plateau. They're all stories of betrayal and greed and complicated allegiances, exactly the noir elements employed so well in Incognito. I consider this an excellent choice, and Schenkkan has also earned a few geek points by virtue of a recurring role in Star Trek: the Next Generation.
My main concern is that comic book adaptations have been so distressingly uneven, something true of basically all studios' work but arguably especially so at Fox. Incognito is a strange blend of Kick-Ass, X-Men, Global Frequency and Office Space, finding ways to interweave the alienation of being super-powered, civilian collateral damage, the liberation of finding and expressing one's truest identity and the soul-death of day-to-day corporate life in a way that could be very difficult to capture on film. In my opinion, Warner Brothers has much more consistently been able to find the strong characterization and sympathetic depictions that make stories like this work but Fox, as a corporate entity, has given us a range of results that runs the gamut from the fabulous first X-Men movie all the way down to X-3 and the god-awful Fantastic Four. I remain ever the optimist, however, because if even a bad adaptation of the film causes more people to read the book than would have in its absence, well, that counts as a win on my score sheet.
My mind is already racing with fan-casting potential. My immediate first thought of who should play Zack Overkill? William H. Macy. Not kidding. I don't know, he just comes to mind.
You've likely heard it by now, but most sources seem convinced that Captain America has been cast for his First Avenger movie, and it's not the Scott Porter you wanted, or anyone else from that first PR batch for that matter. It's Chris Evans.
Yet while some fans have voiced their trepidations about his performance in the Fantastic Four films, others have turned to the mysterious fact that neither Evans' publicist nor Marvel have confirmed him for the role. "Sources close to the company " claim that the terms of the deal need to be refined, but this expectant fan wonders if this cautious secrecy might be a sign of unannounced conflicts within the pre-production process. Reports earlier this month had seemingly guaranteed John Krasinski's involvement, only to be redacted a day later. Star writer Ed Brubaker, who has no involvement with the upcoming film, wrote
If Chris Evans actually has the role, I'm good with that. He was easily the best thing in the FF movies and he's been amazing in some others
But then there's the case of Stan Lee, who will have a signature Marvel cameo in the film. He tweeted
Your Generalissimo has faith in the judgment of the Marvel biggies. They've got a pretty good track record, wouldn'tja say?
Lee's expected enthusiasm aside, the various conflicting reports leave me wondering if there isn't trouble with America, especially since Evans, who is already scheduled to appear in the adaptions of Scott Pilgrim and The Losers, is a fairly bankable star that'll have to sign a contract for a rumored nine films as the Avengers movie gets assembled.
Director Joe Johnston's wishlist is out for his upcoming Captain America flick. The stars are mostly television up-and-comers, which comes as no surprise after seeing Kenneth Branagh's virtually-unknown choice for Thor. Whoever gets chosen to play the blue-eyed Steve Rogers, it's also important that they keep some clearance for Marvel's other film projects, as they'll be expected to lead in the upcoming Avengers film and cameo in Avengers-affiliated movies. Be sure to leave your opinion in the poll and hit the jump to better know your options.
Yes, I am using this post as an excuse to once again post Ryan Reynolds abs.
But, there is also relevant Green Lantern movie news! MTVnews have recently revealed to us a couple of interesting facts about the upcoming (and long overdue) film.
First, Ryan Reynolds talks about the costumes and how he fell in love with the character.
REYNOLDS: I think, seeing the prototypes for the Green Lantern costumes was a huge moment. It was a moment when I was like, "This is happening, and it's happening in the right way." That's a pretty cool, definitive moment for me.
MTV: Does your love of "Green Lantern" and Hal Jordan go back far?
REYNOLDS: I've known about "Green Lantern" my whole life, but I've never really followed it before. I fell in love with the character when I met with [director] Martin Campbell. When I sat down with him, I really got what it is that this guy is all about. When you have a guy like Martin Campbell, part of his charm is that he has ba--s of titanium, and the other part is that he's slightly crazy, and you have to be to take on something with the scope of "Green Lantern." He's less of the director and more of a general. He just really knows strategies, he knows the intricacies, and his attention to detail! It's infectious. I sat down with him, and I could not even believe what he was saying. When I went to the meeting, I was entirely cynical. I thought, "What the hell, I'll see what they have to say," and I left the room with a completely different perspective.
He also discussed the story of the film.
REYNOLDS: "It is [an origin story] to a certain degree, but it's not a labored origin story, where the movie [truly] begins in the third act," he explained. "The movie starts when it starts. We find out Hal is the guy fairly early on, and the adventure begins."
"That to me is the tough thing to get right," he explained. "And that's something that they did get right [in 'Iron Man']. You see why this guy's in the suit, and that's what's interesting to me. Not that he is in the suit, but why."
And one last little tidbit, apparently the Green Lantern film was initially offered to Quentin Tarantino! He turned it down however. To be honest, I am glad. I love Tarantino, but I don't think he'd be right for a Green Lantern movie. (He should do an Iron Fist movie though).
Review: Avengers: The Children's Crusade #1
I literally clapped my hands together and said OhMyGodYesssss when the friendly staff member at my regular shop held this book out to hand it to me. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung finally - finally - return to this title with a nine issue limited series. I will spare you paragraphs of pontification and cut to the chase: it's not just good, it's the best thing Marvel has going, period. Read on for the pontification and petty quibbles!...
