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Check out InsideUAB.com’s guide to upcoming comic book movies:
Marvel
Iron Man 2
Release: May 7,2010
Robert Downey Jr. returns as the golden Avenger with an all star cast and action packed script. Don Cheadle will replace Terrance Howard as Jim ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes and fans will get to see him don the War Machine armor. Mickey Rourke will play the role of Whiplash, an overlooked villain from the comics. Fans were disappointed at this news but if the trailer is any indication then Rourke will make the character cool. Scarlett Johanson will make an appearance as the Russian spy Black Widow. This should create some tension between Tony and his assistant Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, as a new love interest. It is also confirmed that Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role as Nick Fury. The story sees Tony dealing simultaneously with some of his daddy issues and a global energy crisis of some sort. He’ll have to deal with this while fighting off Whiplash and the American Government trying to claim the Iron Man armor. The first movie was a huge success for Marvel. Let’s hope the sequel lives up to the hype.
Thor
Release Date: May 6 2011
The Asgardian god of Thunder is set to make his mark in the movies next year. Little is known about the plot as of yet but it sure has a star studded cast. Oscar-nominee Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Renee Russo and Kat Dennings have all been confirmed to play various roles.
Avengers
Release Date: May 12 2012
Set to be the centerpiece of the Marvel movie universe just as it is in the comics, The Avengers will be the first major studio attempt at such a diverse and star-studded roster of heroes on screen at once(no, Fantastic Four does not count). Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Nick Fury will all play a part as well as the supporting characters in each of their movies. It is also rumored that Marvel’s archery based hero Hawkeye could make an appearance. The studio has stated that all the actors from the stand alone films will appear in The Avengers as well. Hopefully Edward Norton isn’t still sore about his treatment during the filming of The Incredible Hulk.
Spiderman(reboot)
Release Date: Unknown
A reboot is in store for ole’ webhead, new actors, new director, new script and it will all take place in high school. Sony and Sam Raimi had a falling out after the bomb known as Spider-Man 3 and the director called it quits. This is a good thing. Spider-Man 3 sucked.
X-Men: First Class
Release Date: Unkown
Another reboot on the Marvel line-up, that seems to be going around lately. Bryan Singer is set to return to the director’s chair. Hopefully this will erase the failure of X-3. This should be a return to the early days of the X-Men’s career. Maybe they will give Wolverine a break and focus on the other characters in the franchise. One can only hope.
Deadpool
Release Date: Unknown
A spin off is planned for the ‘Merc with a mouth’ Ryan Reynolds’ will reprise his role from X-Men Origins:Wolverine. A rewrite will take place eliminating the incredibly stupid Weapon 11 storyline for Deadpool and giving fans the wise cracking assassin a proper big screen treatment.
DC
Green Lantern
Release Date: June 17, 2011
Warner Bros. has officially started production and finally has a release date. It remains to be seen whether it will be any good. Martin Campbell, Casino Royale, is set to direct and Ryan Reynold’s will play Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of space sector 2814, also known as the Milky Way. According to Reynolds, the story won’t be the typical origin story that we have seen a thousand times. Hopefully we will see Sinestro in the film. This is important because Sinestro is not only the central villain in Green Lantern mythology but Jordan’s partner when he begins his career as a Green Lantern. The story will supposedly have more action in space than on planet Earth so special effects will be prominent and important. Let’s just hope Reynolds has the chops to diversify the typical role he plays in films and that Hal Jordan and Deadpool don’t become the same character.
Batman 3
Release Date: Unknown
It’s still unclear whether or not Nolan will return to direct but rest assured Warner Bros. will keep the franchise alive even if he calls it quits. Almost nothing has been confirmed about this movie except that the cast is expected to return and that Gary Oldman expects filming to start within the next year or so. Rumors have surrounded this film since the credits began to roll in The Dark Knight. Some have been outlandish (Cher as Catwoman) and some have been cool (Johnny Depp as the Riddler) but no villain has been confirmed and the script is probably not even half done at this point. Keep your ears open for me information this month.
Jonah Hex
Release Date: June 18, 2010
Jonah Hex is not a super hero nor is he very well known outside of comics. This supernatural western adventure stars Megan Fox as a gun toting prostitute Leila and Josh Brolin as the title character. John Malcovich will play the film’s villain, Quentin Turnbull. The story is rumored to revolve around Turnbull attempting to create an army of undead to help liberate the south after the confederate’s lose the Civil War. Brolin and fans have both expressed some skepticism about the film’s rumored tongue-in-cheek tone but Brolin has stated that it grew on him and he now enjoys the role. Let’s just hope we avoid another Constantine. DC’s Vertigo line deserves better treatment than that.
Superman(reboot)
Release Date: Unknown
Warner Bros. wants to capitalize on the dark tone of Batman franchise and change the way the Man of Steel is seen on the silver screen. Whether this is a good idea for a character often touted as a savior for all mankind will work or not remains to be seen. Almost no information exists about this potential movie. I’m sure we will see ‘Supes in action sometime this decade though.
Green Arrow/Super Max
Release Date: Unknown
This one has an intriguing concept. Skipping the origin tale altogether this movie would find Green Arrow trapped in prison surrounded by prisoners he helped to put there. Watchmen utilized this concept to extreme success and I’m not sure it can be improved upon any, especially for an entire movie. Should be interesting to see how the character of Green Arrow is handled though seeing as he plays a rather unique role in DC Universe as he keeps to small crime(no intergalactic threats for Ollie) and stays out of the spotlight. He also fights with a bow that shoots arrows with boxing gloves on the tip.
Wonder Woman
Release Date: Unknown
This project may be completely dead by now but at one point it held a lot of promise. Joss Whedon(Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Serenity, Dollhouse) was rumored to write and direct the film about the Amazonian princess turned super hero. At one point Jessica Biel and Megan Fox were both rumored to play Diana Prince but no new information has been release. Fox has also stated on the record that she dislikes the character. Maybe now that Dollhouse has been cancelled Whedon will get to work on making this a reality. The character deserves it.
Alex Headley
Editor in Chief
