Comic Book Blockbusters Coming to a Theater Near You

Hollywood is abuzz with rumors, speculation, and confirmations, all concerning movies in development that have been adapted from comic books. From the sequel to the enormously popular Batman Begins, to WB’s Justice League, the comic book is once again back in vogue.

Beware of Spoilers!

Batman the Dark Knight was the focus of some intense speculation and rumors a month or so ago, climaxing with the explosion of the “Gotham hospital”, in downtown Chicago. An old candy factory that had been dormant for some time was given a quick makeover in to the “Gotham Hospital”, before it was destroyed in a fiery explosion. The live cameras will be nothing compared to what the film will show us, considering just how close that helicopter was. You can check out the videos at MyFox Chicago’s website here.

Rich Johnston in his “Lying in the Gutters” column at Comic Book Resources managed to secure a nice little tidbit of information, even though his first “revelation” was inaccurate. Early in September Johnston reported that a source had witnessed a funeral scene being filmed, with Morgan Freeman’s photo upon the coffin. However, after a week, he was corrected and instead of Luscious Fox’s character being killed off, it was Commissioner Loeb, played by Colin McFarlane.

Lastly in the Bat-news, Heath Ledger, who is portraying the infamous “Joker” in the sequel, has apparently been enjoying his time on set immensely, and according to knighted Sir Michael Caine, is warming up to his role as the sadistic villain perfectly. Caine said of the Australian born actor that “…it is quite an extraordinary performance.”

Moving on to the film receiving the most speculation at the moment, the Justice League movie is definitely the pick of the week.

Rumors of Jessica Biel to take on the role of Wonder Woman were soon scrapped when Biel announced she was not going to don the star-spangled-leotards. Tyrese Gibson though, famous for his role in Transformers is a candidate for the role of the Green Lantern John Stewart.

The storyline is out there in full detail for anyone who wants to read it, and with the original seven founding members - Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter – the story is shaping up to bear a similar resemblance to the recent DC crossover Infinite Crisis.
However all of that may be put on hold if the Screenwriters Guild gets their way, as they prepare to possibly use the JL movie as a bargaining chip in their plans to acquire revised yet decent contracts from Hollywood studios.

Hugh Jackman is currently in training with his long time friend Michael Ryan to help him get back in to fighting shape for his role in the currently-in-production Wolverine movie, the sequel/prequel to the popular X-Men Franchise.

The critically acclaimed comic series The Watchmen is well in to production, under the competent direction of Zack Snyder, and with the writing of Alex Tse writing the original draft, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Transformers) re-drafting the script, and Snyder himself polishing to get a script that is likely to blow our minds.

To gloss over anything else would be a crime, and I will end the wrap up here. However for all the comic book movie news you ever wanted (and if my editor allows this small plug), chug along to ComicBookMovie.com, where you will find a comprehensive wealth of information to satiate even the greatest hunger for movie rumors and news.

Posted by Josh Hill

Links:
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/
Gotham Hostpial Explosion Videos - http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=31909A33453AE114D86DDF6407D7BEA3?contentId=4207595&version=13&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1