Metal Head

"Stop, in the name of love ..."
Robert Downey Jr. in a natty designer business suit? Check.

A redheaded Gwyneth Paltrow as "Pepper" Potts? Check.

Two incredibly awesome exoskeleton super suits? Double check.

Cue up the Black Sabbath, the Iron Man trailer is here.

Links via Imbd.com and Apple.com.

Hammer Time!

Something tells me that Robert Downey Jr. is not in that Iron Man armor (pictured). Isn't it ironic that, for the most part, they cast all these big stars in these superhero movies only to cover their faces with masks (Spider-Man), make-up (half the X-Men) or just CGI 'em (Hulk).

One superhero that doesn't wear a mask is Thor - although he does get to wear a little winged hat. Stardust director Matthew Vaughn has signed-up to direct the movie, which, you will be happy to know, will need a tall, muscle-bound, golden-haired hunk for the title role.

I can just see the casting notice now:

"WANTED: Built, blonde Norse God, no previous experience necessary. Must look good in long hair and a cape and not speak with a lisp (dialogue will include a lot of "thee's" and "tho's"). Please bring your complete measurements and a current headshot. Prop hammers will be provided."

Any guesses who will don the mantel of "The Mighty Thor"? How about ... Channing Tatum?

And in related superhero news, AfterElton.com wonders if Watchmen's gay hero will make it to the screen.

Links via Imdb.com, Wikipedia.com, Variety.com, MostBeautifulMan.com and AfterElton.com.

Comic-Con '07: That's a Wrap!

This year's Comic-Con is history and let me tell you, if all the geeks who dressed up looked like this Spartan 300 dude, then the joint would have been even more crowded. (No offense to geeks, of course ... the whole pot/kettle/black thing.)

To wrap things up, some odds and ends from around the web:
- For a lot of blood, a little skin and a few choice four-letter words, check out the R-rated trailers for 30 Days of Night, Beowulf and Shoot 'Em Up. That last one looks like a hoot and a half, with a badass Clive Owen, a homicidally wacky Paul Giamatti, a baby and a carrot.

- On the G-rated front, WALL·E was not the only Pixar-related news: a collection of their award-winning shorts will hit DVDthis November 6 (which will reportedly also see the release of Ratatouille). In addition to such favorites as Geri's Game, For the Birds and Boundin', a documentary on the creation of the animation powerhouse, The Pixar Story, will also be included on the disc, which will be released both in standard and Blu-Ray formats.

I expect there will also be some kind of sneak preview of WALL·E as well; in the meantime, take a look-see at the collectable WALL·E postcards that were handed out at the Con.

- As for the superhero franchises (this was Comic-Con, after all): Check out the super-cool Hellboy 2 poster; Sam Raimi talks Spider-Man 4 (you knew that was coming); Seth Green talks Green Hornet (not a comedy); and get this - Edward Norton wrote the script for The Incredible Hulk.

Hope you caught that Iron Man footage on YouTube earlier this week, 'cause it ain't there no more. In addition, Jon Favreau discusses the possibility of a whole mess of heroes hitting the big screen in a Marvel Universe movie ... and that sound you heard was millions of fanboys' heads exploding in anticipation.

And sure, Tony Stark may have an awesome ride, but he uses the john just like the rest of us.

- My sources say that J.J. Abrams' mystery project (a.ka. 01.18.08 and/or Cloverfield) will be titled ... Monstrous. Or it could be Furious or Overnight depending on who you talk to ...

- Bond 22 does not have a title yet either, but it may have a new Bond girl.

- And finally, in all things Indiana Jones: Frank Darabont talks about his script (that wasn't used); co-star John Hurt doesn't say much about his secret role; and take a look at the Con exclusive poster ... and a plot synopsis. Turns out Marion is not the only aspect of the Raiders of the Lost Ark to return for the fourth film after all.

Links via Cinematical.com, ComingSoon.net, ObsessedWithFilm.com, UpcomingPixar.blogspot.com, Amazon.com, Variety.com, KungFuRodeo.com, MoviesBlog.MTV.com and IGN.com.

Comic-Con '07: Four Color Fun

The 38th Annual San Diego Comic-Con is in full swing this weekend, and the makers of all the remotely genre-related movies lined up for the next year or so are making announcements faster then the Millennium Falcon in warp speed ... or something like that. This first batch of items will cover various comic book and superhero franchises, so get your geek on.

- The Dark Knight just keeps us wanting more. If you're itching for more of Heath Ledger's Joker then just the picture above, you can also hear him in the newly released teaser trailer (tease is right; there are no actual scenes in this trailer, just dialogue). And yes, that is Maggie Gyllenhaal above, taking over for Katie Holmes as Batman's damsel Rachel Dawes. To read how Gyllenhaal feels about her predecessor, visit Cinematical.

- The eagerly awaited film adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' legendary graphic novel Watchmen just got closer to reality. Major casting has been announced, and a few of our favorites will soon be donning the ol' cape and cowl for 300 director Zach Snyder's next epic. As previously rumored, Billy Crudup will be the big blue Dr. Manhattan (although reportedly via Davy Jones-like motion capture CGI). Patrick Wilson is Night Owl, the Superfriendly Batman-type, and his Little Children co-star Jackie Earle Haley is Rorschach, the "dark and broody" Batman-type. Grey's Anatomy's Denny Duquette, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, will play "The Comedian", although something tells me he won't be funny. Rounding out the cast are Matthew Goode as the "glamorous Ozymandias" and Malin Akerman as the token female do-gooder, Silk Spectre. If this all sounds a bit confusing, head over to Obsessed With Film for the official plot synopsis as well as a look at the Con-exclusive poster. You'll have plenty of time to soak up the back-story: the announced opening date: March 6, 2009.

- Other DC Comics-to-films possibly in the works are the Justice League of America, the Teen Titans, Captain Marvel (Shazam!) and Jonah Hex.

- A slimmed-down Jon Favreau introduced some Iron Man clips at the Con that haven't made their way online yet. Samuel L. Jackson (as Nicky Fury) and Hilary Swank (as Black Widow possibly) will reportedly appear in cameo roles in this film, setting them up for possible spin-offs.

UPDATE: Watch it while you can: the Iron Man footage seen at the Con, courtesy of Obsessed With Film. If the actual footage is officially released, I'll post it ASAP; this is a phone cam job via YouTube.

- The Incredible Hulk, the sequel-that-is-not-really-a-sequel, is currently filming, with Edward Norton filling the purple pants of Eric Bana (yeah, I don't see it either). Tim Blake Nelson has been cast as the villainous Leader, a green-skinned baddie with a GIANT BRAIN (yeah, I don't see it either).

- Elsewhere around the Marvel Universe, the Silver Surfer and the Black Panther may have directors, while the Punisher has a new actor.

- Seth Rogan wants Kung Fu Hustle star Stephen Chow to be Kato to his Green Hornet.

- Meet Doug Jones, the unseen star of Pan's Labyrinth, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and the upcoming Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.

- Who knew Rosario Dawson and Guy Ritchie had their own comic books? Which will be made into movies, of course.

- The team behind Disturbia will next take on Vertigo Comics' Y: The Last Man for New Line.

- And finally, Todd McFarlane wants a do-over for his Spawn.

Links via Comic-Con.org, YouTube.com, Cinematical.com, Variety.com, MoviesBlog.MTV.com, ObsessedWithFilm.com, TheMovieBlog.com, BlackFilm.com, LATimes.com, Premiere.com, Imdb.com and HollywoodReporter.com.

Holdin' Out for a Hero

Thanks to a certain web-slinger, superhero movies are now all the rage, as witnessed by the next batch of comic book-inspired flicks:

- If you like Hugh Jackman the way I like Hugh Jackman (sportin' claws and 'burns), then you'll be glad to hear the X-Men spin-off Wolverine just nabbed an Oscar-winning director.

- A big screen Green Hornet has been rumored for years, with everyone from George Clooney to the late Brandon Lee attached. So how did they end up with Seth Rogan?

- Kevin Spacey will return as Lex Luthor in Superman: Man of Steel, directed by Bryan Singer after he helms the long-delayed The Mayor of Castro Street.

- Stan Lee says Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., will be "something totally different than anything we have seen before." Except that, like every other comic book-based film, it will have him in a silly cameo.

- Frank Miller's legendary Watchmen series inches closer to the silver screen, with the rumored casting of Billy Crudup as the Superman-like Dr. Manhattan. This is very good news for Crudup fans as the character does not wear a costume. Oh yeah, and he's blue.

- For the time being, it appears that all we'll get of Heath Ledger as the Joker in the next Batman film, The Dark Knight, is fuzzy pictures and even fuzzier plot information. Could a possible teaser trailer offer us any more?

Links via Cinematical.com, DarkHorizons.com, Variety.com, CinemaFusion.com, CHUD.com, Wikipedia.com, Batman-Dark-Knight.MovieChronicles.com and SuperHeroHype.com.