News last week that Don Cheadle was replacing Terrence Howard in the Iron Man sequel probably didn’t suprise anyone more than Terrence Howard.

It was the surprise of a lifetime. There was no explanation. [The contract] just…up and vanished. I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on, sometimes. Promises aren’t kept, and good faith negotiations aren’t always held up.

That’s Howard in an interview with NPR this past weekend. Having been on the short end of contracts several times, I know how these things look like they are going somewhere and then disappear in the middle of the night.  If there were contracts that were signed, then there may be more to this story than what we are hearing on NPR and the H’wood trades.  However, if no contracts were signed and things were being negotiated between Marvel and Howard’s agent, then anything goes.

via Chud

I’m not a big fan of spooky eyes Dakota Fanning, but this trailer for Push has me wanting to head to the theaters…providing it isn’t a rip off of Jumper.

While I like the look of the poster, I’m sad.  Not because many are worried Frank Miller is taking a dump on Will Eisner’s creation, but because the latest poster only features Gabriel Macht, and none of the hot ladies from the upcoming Spirit movie.

via Cinema Blend

Dark or not, Green Lantern is well into production, and in an interview with MTV, Marc Guggenheim gave the low down on what Green Lantern stories inspired the movie.

“Certainly ‘Emerald Dawn’ was one of the things that we read at the outset,” said Guggenheim when asked about the connection between spoiler and screenplay. Of course, looking to “Dawn” only reveals one piece of the puzzle.

Also included will be characterization from the 1970’s Neal Adams/Denny O’Neil comics dealing with drug use and other social issues, the Dave Gibbons era, and we might also see elements from Geoff Johns recent Secret Origin arc.

Sounds good to me.  I’ve always equated Emerald Dawn as the definitive origin of Green Lantern, even with that dopey yellow Legion robot.

via MTV Splash

The Henson Company has picked up the rights to move ahead with a movie based on the Happytime Murders novel.  The best part is the movie is not going to be targeted toward the young set, but will be an adult themed movie.

Written by Todd Berger from a story by Dee Austin Robertson and Berger, the story takes place in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, with the puppets viewed as second-class citizens. When the puppet cast of an ’80s children’s TV show called “The Happytime Gang” begins to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet — with a drinking problem, no less — takes on the case.

I saw this story when I was putting the Major Spoilers Podcast to bed, and the only thing I can think of is HOW FREAKIN’ AWESOME IS THIS GOING TO BE?  If the Happytime Murders is anything like Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the Disney movie or the original book take your pick), then this movie will rock.  But it has to be handled delicately.  The Henson Co. needs to treat this like they did The Dark Crystal - aim it directly at adults, do not put any recognizable muppets in any advertising (although seeing Kermit in a cameo would be cool), and go for a hard PG-13 rating.

via THR

Check out this weird casting news - apparently Terrence Howard has been given the axe for the Iron Man sequel, and is being replaced by Don Cheadle.

Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor, who is shooting Antoine Fuqua’s “Brooklyn’s Finest” with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke.

I really dig Don Cheadle, and can’t wait to see his Jim Rhodes character get a larger role in the sequel.

via Yahoo

Burbank, Calif., October 8, 2008 — Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution today announced the renowned graphic album “Batman: Black & White” and graphic novel “Superman: Red Son” are being developed into short-form digital Motion Comics. In addition the first and highly anticipated second chapter of the “Watchmen” Motion Comics are now available for download via iTunes, Amazon Video on Demand, Xbox Live and the Sony PlayStation Store. Summary editions of the “Watchmen” Motion Comics are available to Verizon Wireless V Cast customers as well as Sprint TV customers via the DC Comics Channel.

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For the last two years, I’ve heard the rumors and have seen the still images from Bruce Campbell’s feature film My Name is Bruce.  And while it looks like the movie is finally going to make it to the indie movie circuit, there are still a lot of questions that fans are asking about the film.  Some of those questions are answered in Dark Horse Comics’ release of the My Name is Bruce one-shot from a couple of weeks ago.

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Marvel Studios has announced the principle filming of the next four films will stay in the Los Angeles area, using the Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studio lot.

Deal keeps Marvel’s pics in Los Angeles, which has been hit hard by runaway production.

Louis D’Esposito, Marvel’s prexy of physical production, said Raleigh had been “incredibly accommodating in terms of financial structures” that allowed the company to stay local.

The Raliegh studio has 14 sound stages and 300,000 square feet of office and support space.  Marvel will use that office space to move its executive and production offices there and out of the Beverly Hills area.

Full press release after the jump.

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Pray it isn’t as bad as Batman Forever, but better than Turkish Batman.

I love Indiana Jones.  Love the first three movies, the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on television, and the comic books.  Just listen to the Major Spoilers Podcast about all things Indy, and it is clear nothing did more in my formative years than Dr. Jones cracking the whip, cracking wise, and cracking the heads of Nazis.

While I liked Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I didn’t care for Mutt Williams (aka Shia LaDoof) one bit.  And the very hint that there might be a Mutt Williams franchise based off of this has me sick to my stomach.  Perhaps the word has filtered to Mr. Lucas, because there’s a buzz that a fifth Indiana Jones movie might become a reality.

Harrison Ford said Friday that momentum is building for a fifth movie in the “Indiana Jones“  franchise and that George Lucas is already cooking up a suitable plot for a heroic senior citizen with a penchant for whips and fedoras.

“It’s crazy but great,” the 66-year-old Ford said. “George is in think mode right now.”

Think wisely, Mr. Lucas.  Think wisely.  Keep Mutt Williams as far away from the next story as possible.

via LA Times

The latest issue of Production Weekly, has the synopsis of the upcoming Captain America film from Marvel.  The good news - it will be a WWII movie.

“Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment … Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the ‘Super-Soldier Serum’ and bombarded by ‘vita-rays.’ Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and leader of the Avengers.”

While the May 6, 2011 date has been set (with the Avengers movie coming out a month or so later), no word on who will direct this period piece, and more importantly, no word on who will play Steve Rogers.

Wouldn’t it just be 10 kinds of kick-ass if Marvel and Paramount were able to keep the lid on this movie so clamped down, that we wouldn’t find out who any of the key players were until a month or so before the films release?  No?  Ok, then. I predict we’ll have answers to these questions and more no later than CCI: San Diego 2009.

Who’s on your short list to play Captain America?

via Film School Rejects

Here’s your chance to check out your favorite Dragonball characters in action in the official trailer for the upcoming movie.

Dragonball Teaser from dbthemovie on Vimeo.

There’s a shorter one after the jump.  Oh, and Jamie Chung.

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A quick glance at the USA Today 150 Best Sellers for the week has the Watchmen trade paperback tumbling to the number 51 spot on the list.  Readers will remember Watchmen climbed high on the charts following the very brief Watchmen trailer that was tagged to the Dark Knight movie this past summer.

In other Watchmen news, Zack Snyder has confirmed that the movie will come in at 2 hours and 43 minutes in order to tell the story he wants to tell.

via USA TODAY

I loved Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, and apparently so did everyone else, as a sequel is in the works.  With all the things going on in Dr. Horrible’s life, we may not see much of him in the new DVD, but we will see a lot of other characters from the Evil League of Evil.  And that’s where you come in!

Make the bad horse gleeful, or he’ll make you his mare.

1. Henchmen need not apply. Please contact your union.
2. Evil can be something of a family affair.
3. We’re evil, not stupid.
4. Finalists may be contacted by the League or its agents.

Sounds good to me.   If any Major Spoilers die-hard fans make the cut, let us know.

via Evil League of Evil