The Blog of OA: Superman

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5/4/12

Who's the "New Guy" in the New 52 FCBD issue?

5/04/2012

The DC New 52 book for Free Comic Book Day featured a tantalizing glimpse at some upcoming events with the main focus the big reveal of a big event for 2013 entitled "Trinity War". DC released the gatefold center spread early, intentionally leaking the end of the book and an interesting image of a future event, but for Green Lantern fans there is an additional bit of information to be gleaned from that image (shown below). Don't read past the image if you don't want an advance spoiler prior to reading the issue for yourself.

First Look of Green Lantern From Upcoming Lego Video Game

4/25/2012

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Warner Brothers Interactive have been slowly releasing more and more details about the upcoming Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes game and today they released a nice rendering of Hal Jordan as he looks all Lego-ized. While Superman, Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor have also been announced to join Batman, Robin and the Joker in the game, there's no word if Sinestro will join the blocky fray.

According to the game's developer, TT Games, Green Lantern can fly and create constructs made of pure energy, generating anything including massive green fists and has the ability to construct unique Green Lego objects.

Source: Comics Alliance

Justice League: Doom Review

2/17/2012

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Having never read the popular "Tower of Babel" story written by Mark Waid I was really interested in seeing how the late Dwayne McDuffie would adapt the story of how Batman's contingency plans to take out his fellow Justice Leaguers. The new animated DC Universe direct to video feature, Justice League: Doom, represents the last script McDuffie completed before his untimely death in 2011 as a result of complications from heart surgery. The film is suitably dedicated to him and is in fact being released as digital download on February 21st, exactly one year after his death.

Doom showcases how well McDuffie understood the need for powerful drama with these larger than life characters as well as how much he understood the characters wearing the masks. While there is humor in places where needed, Justice League: Doom is first and foremost an action filled drama where the secrecy and insecurities lying beneath Batman's well protected exterior lead to events that not only drives a wedge between the Dark Knight and his fellow heroes, but could very well lead to a global cataclysm.

The script does assume that the audience has some familiarity with the DC universe with there being no time spent on establishing background information so the uninitiated viewer understands things such as Hal and Carol's history or why there are two Martians, but that certainly should pose no problem for the film's target audience. I will say too that like some of the other DC animated films the short running time that the production team is forced deal with creates a problem for a story of this magnitude. Not enough time is spent driving home how deeply the existence of Batman's plans drives a wedge in the League and the final sequence lacks the punch that the Justice League: Starcrossed movie had.

The Return of the Superfriends....Sort of!

12/18/2011

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This is a fun tribute to the classic Super Friends cartoon based on the Fisher Price DC Super Friends action toys for young children. I'd love to see this become a regular show as a great introduction to the DC Universe for the very young, and those of us who fondly remember the old show despite it's goofiness. The Green Lantern voice over work is super cheesy!

The Justice League Meets its Doom on February 28th

12/12/2011

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Warner Home Video issued a press release today for the upcoming Justice League: Doom home animated feature. Based on the Mark Waid "Tower of Babel" storyline from his run on the Justice League, the next animated film also marks the last script penned by the late Dwayne McDuffie and the home video release will include a tribute to the late writer who passed away in 2011.

Justice League: Doom is the latest in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie line from Warner Home Video.

ENEMIES AT EVERY TURN …

EXECUTING A PLAN CONCEIVED FROM WITHIN

GET READY FOR THE NEXT ALL-NEW DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIE

JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM

COMING FEBRUARY 28, 2012 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

Primetime TV stars & Justice League cartoon alums fill stellar voice cast led by Nathan Fillion, Tim Daly and Michael Rosenbaum;

Available as Blu-rayTM Combo Pack & DVD

Earth’s greatest super heroes face foes on all fronts – using a plan initiated from within – in the all-new Justice League: Doom, the next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Produced by Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation, the all-new, PG-13 rated film arrives February 28, 2012 from Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP), On Demand and for Download. Both the Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and DVD will include an UltraViiolet™ Digital Copy.

Justice League: Doom finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded JLA: Tower of Babel.

Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Tim Daly (Private Practice), the reigning voices of Green Lantern and Superman, respectively, join a group of eight actors reprising their famed Justice League cartoon roles. Fillion made his debut as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan in the recent Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, and took his initial DC Universe movie bow as the voice of Steve Trevor in the 2008 hit Wonder Woman. Daly originated his role as Superman’s voice in the landmark cartoon, Superman: The Animated Series. He has reprised the role in two DC Universe films: the 2009 extravaganza Superman/Batman: Public Enemies and the 2010 thriller Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.

The grand reunion of actors who provided the voices of the Justice League for the cartoon of the same name and its follow-up, Justice League Unlimited, includes Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Breaking In) as Flash, Susan Eisenberg (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) as Wonder Woman and Carl Lumbly (Alias) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson (A Different World, Transformers: Animated) joins the cast as Cyborg.

Olivia d'Abo returns as Star Sapphire

The Justice League faces two sets of villainous teams in the film – The Royal Flush Gang and a sextet of notable evildoers. The latter group includes three voice acting alumni of the Justice League animated series: Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld) as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (Angel) as Mirror Master. Also opposing our heroes are Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) as Bane, Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) as Metallo, and Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate SG-1) as Cheetah.

David Kaufman (Danny Phantom) also reprises his Justice League role of Jimmy Olsen.

The film is executive produced by Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One), and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Batman: Year One), who is also credited as producer alongside Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series). Justice League: Doom is the final DC Universe film script from the late Dwayne McDuffie (All-Star Superman, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths), who passed away in February 2011. Casting and dialogue direction is once again in the capable hands of Andrea Romano (Batman: Year One, Justice League).

“Justice League: Doom has all the classic ingredients of a great super hero film – a cavalcade of dynamic villains, internal strife amongst our heroes, treacherous twists and turns, and a cast that brings together some of today’s popular primetime television actors with many of the fans’ favorite voices from the original series,” said Hersin Magante, Warner Home Video Marketing Director, Family & Animation. “I think fans will embrace Dwayne’s McDuffie’s final DCU script, particularly as it has been nuanced by Bruce Timm and the Warner Bros. Animation team. Warner Home Video is proud to distribute Justice League: Doom as the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie.”

Justice League: Doom Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack has 3 hours of exciting content, including:

Standard and high definition versions of the feature film
UltraViiolet™ Digital Copy,
Sneak Peak at Superman vs. The Elite, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie
Featurette – “A Legion of One: The Dwayne McDuffie Story” – The skilled writer penned some of the best stories which consistently entertained fans. From his early writing career to adapting the popular work of All-Star Superman, this is the story of Dwayne McDuffie, as told by his family and friends.
Featurette – “Guarding the Balance: Batman and the JLA” – Everyone has a weakness and so do superheroes, yet when they go rogue, their power can topple more than a few egos, they can shatter worlds. The Justice League is the most powerful organization of superheroes on the planet, but what if the Justice League went rogue, and decided to use their power for harm?
Mini-featurette – “Their Time Has Come: Cyborg and the DC Universe’s New Diversity” – 2011 will go down in DC Comics storied history as a year when a rich diversity of characters were re-introduced into the spotlight alongside Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. One of the most celebrated of the re-imagined characters is Cyborg, who became the new Man of Steel in Geoff Johns’ altered universe storyline, Flashpoint.
Creative team commentary
Two bonus episodes from the Justice League animated series handpicked by Bruce Timm: Wild Cards, Part 1 and 2, written by Stan Berkowitz and Dwayne McDuffie
Digital Comic

About Warner Premiere:

Warner Premiere, part of Warner Bros. Entertainment, specializes in the development and production of both features and digital content for home entertainment platforms. Past projects include Another Cinderella Story, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins and Batman: Under the Red Hood, as well as the digital series Watchmen Motion Comics. Warner Premiere is at the creative forefront in the made-for-home entertainment marketplace, producing properties that exemplify the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group:

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

About DC Entertainment:

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s11)

About Warner Bros. Animation:

Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) is one of the leading producers of animation in the entertainment industry, with an innovative and talent-rich roster boasting some of the most accomplished writers, producers and artists working today. The studio is on the cutting edge of animation technology and has both CG and traditionally animated projects in current production and development. For TV, WBA produces series such as Green Lantern: The Animated Series, The Looney Tunes Show, MAD, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, ThunderCats and Young Justice, for Cartoon Network. WBA will also produce series and additional original content for Cartoon Network’s multiplatform branded DC Nation programming block, which debuts in 2012. In addition to TV series, WBA produces theatrically released CG cartoon shorts featuring iconic Looney Tunes characters, rendered in stereoscopic 3D. The first three shorts premiered in 2010; the most recent short — I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat — was released in November 2011; and two additional cartoons will debut in 2012. WBA also creates the highly successful series of DC Universe Original Animated Movies for DVD. Producing for multiple platforms including TV, digital and home entertainment both domestically and internationally, WBA is highly respected for its creative and technical excellence, as well as for maintaining the Studio’s rich cartoon heritage. It is also the home of the iconic animated characters from the DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. One of the most-honored animation studios in history, WBA has been honored with six Academy Awards®, 35 Emmy® Awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, an Environmental Media Award, a Parents’ Choice Award, the HUMANITAS Prize, two Prism Awards and 20 Annie Awards (honoring excellence in animation).

Sequel and Justice League Film Rumors Surface

11/14/2011

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With Warner Brothers not officially announcing anything regarding the future of their DC Entertainment projects beyond the next Batman and Superman films, rumors have surfaced that there are indeed plans for a shared DC film universe. These plans, if the information is true, includes a sequel to Green Lantern as well as a Justice League movie spearheaded not by Warner Brother, but by DC Entertainment itself.

Cosmic Book News is reporting that there are plans being put together for a Justice League movie for 2015 or 2016 and that the movie will be run by DC Entertainment and distributed by Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures with Chris Nolan's name being thrown around as the producer. Geoff Johns will supposedly be acting as the Executive Producer and will provide the treatment for the movie to David Goyer who will be writing the script.

According to the report Warner Brothers also wants a sequel to Man of Steel before they Justice League, but are also looking at the Green Lantern sequel as a way to debut the shared universe, likely as a film loosely based on Sinestro going bad, but maybe with elements from the wildly popular Sinestro Corps War. There obviously nothing official coming from Warner Brothers or DC Entertainment yet and the article admittedly says that they cannot confirm any of this information, so this could likely be nothing more than hopeful speculation.

Source: Cosmic Book News

Stand Up to Your Fears at Six Flags

8/14/2011

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My son's friend Kurt, my son Ryan, my wife Debe and I stand up to our fear at Six Flags Great Adventure

A couple of weeks ago I made a trip to the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in Jackson, New Jersey with my wife, my son and his best friend with the mission to ride the new Green Lantern "Stand Up to Your Fear" roller coaster. The ride features the novelty of riding it from a standing position during all five of its inversions, reaching a top speed of 63 mph and a maximum height of 154 feet. While you're experiencing the ride from a standing position, rest assured that you are not going to fall if your legs buckle since there is a mini bicycle seat under your body that gives you a bit of support in addition to the brace that gets lowered over your head and locked down.

I've always been a coaster enthusiast, but since having major back surgery about twenty years ago and being told by my doctor not to ride coasters anymore I haven't ridden very many. But, come one, this is a Green Lantern roller coaster and I wasn't about to let a bad back get in the way of my enjoyment! The ride was quite a thrill and I left the ride with my legs a little wobbly for a few minutes, although my wife, who isn't a coaster fan, was in serious need of some Dramamine to get through the rest of the evening! I don't think it helped too much that I insisted on riding in the front row! There are a lot of lateral g-forces at play and the ride lasted more than two minutes so you really get a lot of thrill in your thrill ride.

What really made me geek out about the ride was the attention to detail put into designing the panels that laid out the Green Lantern story for people waiting to get on the ride, the replica of Hal Jordan's (complete with the "Highball" call sign and a nice touch of using the sector number on the tail), and the use of a Ferris aircraft hangar design for the final que area, complete with the "Where Courage Takes Flight" slogan. There was also a Green Lantern kiosk near the exit of the ride where there were lots of shirts and collectible items.

The idea behind the ride, which you understand if you read the story panels during your wait, is that Parallax has come to Earth and you must stand up to your fear to help Green Lantern defeat the entity. Ride up the first lift hill you may hear the Green Lantern oath depending on whether or not the ride operator plays it during your ascent. As your round the corner of the lift hill and prepare to make the first drop you see a mock up of Parallax with mist spraying down on the track from under his face and his outstretched arms as he poises to attack. As you drop down you pass under Parallax's arms and into a high loop which is painted yellow to symbolize Parallax's tail. The ride continues through barrel rolls and a pretzel as you fly around the track before returning to the hangar to exit the ride.

No you get to stare down Parallax!

The pictures below show a lot of the detail work that Six Flags put into the ride and I've included a ride video from YouTube so you can get an idea of what it was like, although the video was shot before the Parallax display was added to it. I can't recommend the ride and the park enough with the number of DC Comics related rides - there are two Batman coasters and a Superman coaster as well - plus the Hall of Justice gift shop, the mock up of the Batmobile and the costumed superheroes found throughout the park.

The entry to the Green Lantern coaster - the Lantern lights up!

The Green Lantern story plays out on this and the following panels as you wait to face the ultimate evil.

Hal's jet - note the easter egg of sorts on the tail.

They even included Hal's call sign!

The Ferris Aircraft hangar design used for the final queing area.

Lego Launches DC Website and Contest

7/21/2011

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Hot off of yesterday's news about the new license deal between Lego and Warner Brothers, Lego has launched a new website to promote their expanded business venture including information on how to enter the contest to win a trip to Legoland and Warner Brothers Studio.

Also on site at the San Diego Comic-con are new lego versions of classic DC and Marvel characters.

Green Lantern Press Conference Transcript

6/11/2011

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SuperHeroHype was present at the recent press conference where most of the cast and crew were assembled to take questions about the Green Lantern movie as we enter the final week before release. The conversation covered a wide range of topics from Peter Sarsgaard's makeup to the subject of sequels to comparisons to Batman and Superman. Here's the text from the entire press conference courtesy of SuperHeroHype.

Q: Martin, you brought James Bond back twice. You brought Zorro to modern screens and now you're launching this DC Comic book franchise. What's ideal for you in creating and launching new things and what things will be on the DVD?

Director Martin Campbell

Martin Campbell: Well, I'm cheap. No, no. The thing is that I've never done a comic book movie before. Superheroes, I guess, yes. Bond is a kind of a form of a superhero and Zorro, obviously, but I've never done a superhero movie before. I wasn't even versed in the comic when it came through the door. Once having read them and so forth, it just sort of fascinated me, the whole world of Green Lantern – going to another planet, going to the center of the universe. So that's really why I did it. What is it about me? These things aren't about me. These things are a huge team effort by everybody. It's always sort of handed across to the director and I'm on the guy on the floor, certainly, but Donald, my producer, a huge contribution from him as with Greg, the writer, and the actors. So, unlike a lot of movies these things are very much a team effort, and in this case particularly so.

What's The Next Best Thing to Green Lantern Ring Pops? A Pez Dispenser

4/14/2011

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When I was a kid I couln't figure out why there were no Green Lantern Ring Pops, how great would that have been, right?! Word has come to me by a Blog Of Oa reader named Chris that we can soon look forward to the next best thing and a true sign that Green Lantern is catching on as a pop icon. We're talking about Pez dispensers!

According to Pezcollectors.com Green Lantern will be joining Superman and Batman in a new line of Justice League dispensers. The packaging also shows the Flash but there is no word whether or not there will be a Flash dispenser for when you need a quick candy fix.

Source: PezCollectors - and thanks again Chris!

Green Lantern 63 Review with Movie Concept Art

3/03/2011

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The start of the War of the Green Lanterns is upon us with this week's 63rd issue of Geoff Johns run on the main Green Lantern title. This prologue to the next big green event lines up nicely with some of my speculation for what is to come in the month's ahead while revealing at long last the events that led to the massacre of Sector 666. While there's some redefining of what we have come to know about the history of the universe and the time line may be a little blurry, I'm certain that this story arc will redefine the Green Lantern mythos for years to come.

The Story -

A billion years ago the Maltusan Krona is confronted by his friend Ganthet about his research into origins of the universe, long held to be the event which spawned the creation of the Multiverse, the birth of evil and what ultimately led to the Maltusans dedication to making up for Krona's deeds by creating the Green Lantern Corps. Krona's motivations for wanting to see the birth of the universe stem from wanting to see the origin of the emotional spectrum in hopes of learning the secrets of harnessing their power. His fellow Maltusans, now the Guardians of the Universe, do not agree with Krona's desire to use emotion, rather they feel that it is only by suppressing emotion and letting intellect rule that they can bring order to the universe. With Krona's unwillingness to join the Guardians they and their Manhunters seek to apprehend the rogue scientist.

Green Lantern 62 Review with Kilowog Preview

2/20/2011

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The New Guardians story arc comes to a close, laying the path for the War of the Green Lanterns event kicking off next month in the next issue of the main Green Lantern title. This issue of Green Lantern is packed to the gills between the main story, the prologue the four page prologue for War of the Green Lanterns, and this month's movie column that focuses on everyone's favorite drill sergeant.

The Story-

Before we join the conflict between Hal and Krona a page is spent reminding everyone of who Krona is and why he is considered one of the universe's greatest threats to peace. There is an intriguing scene between Ganthet and Krona set in the days before the Green Lanterns existed with both of the Maltusans where white robes adorned with the White Lantern logo. Interestingly we see these again in the prologue in the back, but with a different design. Whether this be due to a lack of art continuity or simply another type of robes they wore remains to be seen, but the more interesting thing is the fact that this event involves the incarceration of a being possessing some major connection to one or more of the emotional entities.

The Award for the Most Unusual Green Lantern Toy Goes To....

1/06/2011

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With DC Entertainment working to get all the DC Universe characters more visible in the marketplace and the marketing for the upcoming Green Lantern movie getting ready to kick into full power, I've seen a number of unusual collectibles showing up on the marketplace. From Blammoids to the Funko vinyl and plush figures I thought I'd seen them all, but today I have seen what I think is the most unusual collectible so far.

They are called Squatz - miniature figures with interchangeable heads that look, well, squatty. They've released a DC Universe series of thirteen figures ranging from Superman to Batman to Green Lantern. What makes them so unusual is the way they are packaged - encased in an effervescent shell that reveals the figurine inside when you drop it in water. Now, they aren't targeted to the adult collector and are meant of the kids 4 and up, but they look like they would be fun for the intended audience. While this is perhaps the strangest Green Lantern toy out there, I have to applaud DC for trying to promote the characters in fun and unique ways in a time when it seems that Marvel's characters have been pimped out to every manufacturer on the planet.

The DC line of the Squatz figures come in two-packs containing one figure that you know the identity of and one mystery figure. Luckily for anyone who wants a Green Lantern figure he is one of the six "known" figures in the assortment. According to the manufacturer's website Squatz are available at Walmart retail stores and from online retailers Amazon and ShopWildPlanet.

Here is a video of a cute kid freeing his Green Lantern Squatz figure for anyone who, like myself, is curious about how the Squatz figures work.

Martin Campbell Talks GL Movie

1/18/2010

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Director Martin Campbell has been doing many interviews lately to promote the January 29th release of his latest film, "Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson. During the interviews the man directing the Green Lantern movie has provide more information about the film as it ramps up to begin filming in March.

There were comments earlier on that the Green Lantern film might have a cameo by Clark Kent and indeed the first draft of the script showed the ring flying past both Clark Kent and Guy Gardner on its way to Hal. Many have also speculated that the formation of DC Entertainment and the interest in creating a Justice League film might lead to alluding to a Justice League film the way that Iron Man dropped major hints about an Avengers film. However Campbell stated to MTV in an interview that none of DC's characters outside of the Green Lantern universe will appear in the film. While this may sound like a bad thing and that DC is not looking at a single universe approach to the film, it could be that given the scope of what's going on in the film there may not be a good way to integrate any of the DC universe that would not appear forced.

It also appears that the film will is inspired more by the "Emerald Dawn" retelling of Hal's origin than to the more recent "Secret Origin" retelling by Geoff Johns last year based on comments Campbell made to CHUD. It appears that Hal will certainly not be flawless and in fact appear on the surface as one of people least likely to be chosen by Abin Sur's ring and that the story will show how he goes from that point to being one of the greatest Green Lanterns. So long as they leave the drunk driving bit out that's fine by me.

By now anyone with a passing interest in the film is probably aware of the signing of Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, it is important to not that she and Ryan Reynold are the only people who have definitely been signed for the film. News earlier this week of Peter Sarsgaard being cast as Hector Hammond is not completely off the mark, but there has been no official announcement that a deal has been struck yet. And news of Mark Strong being cast as Sinestro is premature at this point and Campbell declined to confirm that information to the L.A. Times. The Times article did say that Strong is the "circled choice" for the role but that his schedule is tricky and that could discount him from being in the film.

One last bit of news to kick off the week is that Campbell might be up for a trilogy of Green Lantern films, likening his thoughts to Sam Raimi's tenure with the Spiderman films. He also routinely ensures that the film doesn't cross into the cheesy territory by employing a "cheese meter" to discuss when anyone thinks the story may make audience suspend their sense of disbelief too far. Campbell reportedly dropped out of a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" to do Green Lantern.

Sinestro Casting Rumor

10/18/2009

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Just days after The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the Green Lantern movie will not be filming in Australia, we have new rumors about who Martin Campbell may be casting as Sinestro. While it is all rumor, it could be a very interesting casting choice.

According to Ain't it Cool News, actor Jackie Earle Haley is up for the role of Sinestro. Haley is very familiar to comic fans having recently played Rorschach in the Watchmen film and he will be starring in the new Nightmare on Elm Street reboot and playing a role in the upcoming Human Target television show. What this means is unclear at this point, and again it's a rumor without any information behind it besides it supposedly coming from someone working on the film. It could mean anything from Haley being on Campbell's short list of people he's considering approaching for the film, or it could mean that he's tested for the role and is in negotiations to sign for the movie.

Collider spoke with Haley at the Spike TV awards that were filmed last night (10/17/2009) and asked him about the rumor, which he of course denied and said that he had just heard the rumor moments earlier as he made his way down the red carpet. His denial doesn't really mean anything as actors frequently don't comment on those kinds of rumors and he in fact denied being the next Freddy Krueger just three weeks before it was announced that he had the role. Collider has a video of the interview available here.

I have mixed feelings on the rumor. I don't deny that Haley is a good actor and I don't think he would do a bad job with the role at all in the first film. But when I look at how the character will transition from a mid-level character in the first film to probably the main villain in any hopeful sequel I'm not sure he could carry the role that far. I could be very wrong, look at the initial fan reaction Heath Ledger got during the filming of Dark Knight. And he will be doing similar duty as Freddy Krueger.

Martin Campbell has apparently had a lot of changes made to the script so he undoubtedly has a vision for what he hopes to accomplish here. Haley would be far less stunt casting that say, Jason Isaacs, who film-goers already see as a bad guy. So maybe Haley would be a good choice because he doesn't have that pre-conceived notion about him. At any rate Campbell could make far, far worse choices and I am cautiously optimistic at this point.

For a glimpse at what Haley might look like in the role, fans have already begun working on photo manipulations of him as Sinestro. The best one I've seen out there comes from poster "guymandude" over on the Superhero Hype forums.

The bigger concern is the change in location and the impact it could have on the film. If the Australian dollar was officially valued at $.62 when the process began, then Warners would essentially be getting almost twice as much value for the money they would have spent there. With the move to the rumored Mexico, New Orleans, or Canada location Warners is not going to get as much for the dollars they spend. Warners is probably not going to increase the film budget by that much, so where does the budget get trimmed? If they cut salary will be we get actors who can bring the roles to life as well? If they trim the special effects will it look like garbage? Again, I'm placing my trust in Warner Brothers because they are relying on this picture to do well and it will be the first tentpole film in their DC Entertainment shared universe and there are high hopes that this film with do very well. So I think they are going to work very hard to make sure that this film has the same level of success as Iron Man did.

The other rumor that continues to gain some steam is that Superman will indeed have a cameo in the Green Lantern film. It's a strange rumor to me because Warner Brothers has been saying that there's no movement in a new Superman film but there have been other rumors out there contrary to that information. But if there were going to be a cameo in the film I would think you'd need the role cast. I think we definitely need to see some kind of shared-universe approach and I really want to see that happen, but if they are going to do it they need to make sure that they aren't putting someone out there that isn't going to be playing the same character later on.

I'm sure as we get closer and closer to the start of filming in April we are going to see more and more rumors surface about casting. For now it's fun to speculate on who we'd all like to see in the film, but I'm just happy that we are finally going to get to see Hal Jordan on the big screen.

Blackest Night Superman #2 Review

9/28/2009

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Of the three initial Blackest Night spin-off miniseries, I've liked the Superman one the best. And maybe that's just because I'm more of a Superman guy, or maybe because of the three series so far it's been the one that I think has been the most personal. Blackest Night Superman #2 is another example of what I want to see in Blackest Night - the story of the rise of the Black Lanterns goes beyond the physical attacks on the living and strives on the emotional attacks.

James Robinson does a great job of using Earth-2 Superman to his advantage and striking at our Kal-El by playing the Pa Kent card effectively. And when the Psycho Pirate Black Lantern shows up the whole situation goes from bad to worse. I really liked how he used his abilities to manipulate the emotions of the people of Smallville so that he can get the most emotion out of them once they are harvested. And you know that it was hard enough for Superman and Conner to try to stop Earth-2 Superman, but when the Pirate turns Connor against Superman it just adds so much to the sense of hopelessness that's been generated throughout the whole Blackest Night event.

If I have a main criticism of this series it is in the inability to keep the pacing of the Smallville story from being affected by the insertion of the New Krypton portion. I think it would have served both stories better had the New Krypton part been a "back up" to the main Smallville story instead of being inserted into it. In this issue it's only a few pages but it kind of stops the flow of the main story at it reaches the issues climax.

It's certainly not because the New Krypton section isn't great in its own right, that's for sure. The scene where Zor-El taunts Kara is almost painful to read in how delightfully sinister it is. As a parent I could never say those things to a child and I can only imagine how those words stung. Seeing Supergirl be so resolute in her response despite the emotional toll says much of how far she has come as a character. In fact, right now I find more to like about Supergirl than any other character in the Superman family - a far cry from how I felt about her during the days where she seemed resigned to be a cover girl.

Eddy Barrows art is nothing if not consistent. His take on Black Lantern Zor-El is horrifying and I just love the closeup panels of Zor-El both when he's doing his number of Kara and when he's regenerating after she punches the top of his skull off.

All in all the issue keeps the pressure on and the story pushes forward. I'm not sure where this story is going since it doesn't really seem to have a purpose other than to provide a reason why Superman, Superboy and Supergirl are absent from the main Blackest Night series, but it's a fun and frightening story anyways.

Four out of five lanterns.