Boom! Studios has announced it is teaming with Universal Pictures and Producer Marc Platt to turn Steven Grant’s graphic novel 2 Guns into a motion picture.  Company founds Andrew Cowsby and Ross Richie will also produce through the company’s Boom! Entertainment banner.

2 GUNS was created and written by Steven Grant, a veteran comic book scribe well known for developing Marvel Comics’ THE PUNISHER into a franchise character. Story follows two thieves targeting a mob bank - unknown to either, they’re both undercover agents. They pull off their heist, only to find out they’ve stolen cash from a CIA black bag operation, not the mob, and are now in over their heads. Project is targeted to be a throwback to classic 80s buddy movies in the vein of LETHAL WEAPON and 48 HOURS, but with a modern spin.  Grant is well known to comic book fans for his online Comic Book Resources column Permanent Damage as well as his work on the Dark Horse Comics character “X” and the Marvel series X-MAN.

If you want to find out what all the hub-bub is about, Boom! is posting a page a day from the 2 Guns comic on the company website.

via Boom! Studios

In addition to the above image, there are some pretty good looking shots of individual characters here. Who would have guessed former Real World starlet Jamie Chung would look so hot as she prepares to kick your ass.

And since it is Friday, and I’ve called out a hot girl, there are some pics of Jamie after the jump.  Oh, and while there is no nudity, those prudes might want to avoid the jump.

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Disney has picked up the rights to the Transplants for an upcoming gig for Sam Raimi.

The parties are keeping a tight lid on the high-concept project, though it is described as a four-quadrant ensemble superhero story with a comedic bent.

It will be interesting to see how Raimi deals with the family friendly crowd at Disney - you can bet Transplants won’t be Darkman.

via THR

Superhero Hype! found an interesting listing in Production Weekly announcing X-Men: First Class.  While this could just be a way of securing the property should Fox decide to move forward with the movie, it is more likely in pre-pro hell as a potential X-Men prequel ala Wolverine.

via Superhero Hype

Xingu Films has announced it has acquired the rights to American Reaper, an upcoming graphic novel by Pat Mills and Clint Langley for Repeat Offenders.

The story is set in a future where identity theft leads to victims having their minds erased and replaced by those of the elderly rich seeking a second youth or by criminals and terrorists with more sinister motives. A team of special agents, known as Reapers, are formed to track down and terminate those responsible.

Too bad this is all fiction, as I would love a team of comandos to track down and punish identity theft offenders.

via THR

David Goodman, the showrunner/executive producer for the Family Guy has been hired to adapt the zombie horror comic book Last Blood from Blatant Comics into a screenplay.

“Last Blood,” created by Bobby Crosby and Chris Crosby, follows the human survivors of a zombie massacre who find themselves protected by a band of vampires who need their blood to survive.

via THR

It’s not a surprise that Warner Bros. Dark Knight movie took the top spot again this past weekend, raking in another $75.6 million, bringing the 10 day total for the film to $312 million.  Last week, I guess the movie would only see a 20% drop in ticket sales.  I was proved wrong, as the film ended up dropping 52%.  I wonder if Comic Con had anything to do with that…

via Variety

Terminator Panel with McG, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anton Yelchi.

Here’s another highlight reel from San Diego.

To help promote the upcoming Watchmen movie, promo posters, like the one above began appear at the show.  The teaser posters recreate Dave Gibbons in house ads used to promote the mini-series back in 1986.

Head over to The Omlette to see all six of the posters.

Lots of movie panels at San Diego this year - probably more than ever. Here are the highlights from Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla Panel.

Watch the trailer after the jump.

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Thanks for the tip Hermit!

Following the most amazing launch of the Watchmen trailer last week (and that really cool shot by shot comparison of the trailer and the graphic novel), DC is reporting that it has ordered 200,000 new copies of the trade to meet demand.

“Its all very exciting,” DC’s President Paul Levitz said. “A graphic-novel went to No. 2 on Amazon because of a movie trailer. That’s not something we’ve seen before.”

At least DC is acting now in trying to meet demand. When 300 hit theaters, Dark Horse wasn’t able to get the book on shelves fast enough, frustrating many interested in the original source material.

via LA Times

Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry Productions has made several plays in the comic book marketplace, first snagging up Rob Liefeld’s Capeshooters, and now Radical Publishing’s Freedom Formula by Edmund Shern.

Freedom Formula is a five-issue mini-series that is very mecha-esque with exo-suits replacing fighter jets, and the racer who learns his bloodline has the power to change society.  Like Capeshooters, Singer will only produce this flick through his production company.

For Radicial, this is another feather in the cap of a week of major movie announcements.  With the hype over Freedom Formula, the company told Variety that it has plans to expand the comic book into interactive games and anime.

via Variety

I like Darren Aronofsky.  I think his films are something quite different than what we get from the usual mill of standard movie fare.  So when I heard he is going to be directing the Robocop reboot flick, I’m suddenly excited about the franchise, even if Peter Weller won’t be in it.

“RoboCop,” which is being fast-tracked for a 2010 release, becomes the first potential tentpole to come together since Mary Parent took the reins of MGM in March. Aronofsky’s involvement has been one of the worst kept secrets, with rumors rampant in the blogosphere that “The Fountain” helmer was eyeing the project.

There has been a flurry of franchise reboot films announced over the last couple of months.  Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?  For years H’wood has been diving into the remake bin in hopes of attracting new audiences, and I had hoped with the tidal wave of comic properties being adapted, tinsel town was going to put a stop to the remakes for a while.

via Variety