team-up. Renner theorizes that the expert archer's costume will be
more "reality-based" and not the purple tights from the comics, and also hints
that the long-running hot-and-cold relationship between Hawkeye and Black Widow
(Scarlett Johansson) will find its way into the movie universe as well.
According to this, Warner Bros. Pictures will announce
(possibly by the time you read this) organizational structuring for its DC
Comics initiative, with a bigger rollout of the company's plans coming next
month. WB owns DC but has done precious little with the company's vast universe
of characters (except for Batman and Superman, of course) until now. "Green
Lantern," "Batman 3" and a "Superman" reboot are all on the way, but we might
also hear about movies based on The Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman, not to
mention other areas like DVD and toys. Why all this now? Because with "Harry
Potter" ending next summer, the studio needs a new cash cow!
Although "Devil," the first of three movies produced by M. Night Shyamalan,
did not fare well at the box office this past weekend, the second film is
already moving ahead and has enlisted Daniel Stamm to direct. Stamm was behind
the camera for "The Last Exorcism," acclaimed for being genuinely scary despite
a weak third act. Stamm's "Night Chronicles" entry, tentatively titled
"Reincarnate," will focus on a jury haunted by a supernatural force. Filming
begins early next year and will not be documentary-style like "Exorcism."
Other news bits: Director Gary Ross ("Seabiscuit") is reportedly in talks to
direct "The Hunger Games," based on the first book in the hugely popular trilogy
set in a ruined future where teenagers participate in a deadly reality series.
..."Mad Men" star Jon Hamm has denied reports that he will play Superman on the
big screen, although on "Live With Regis & Kelly" he did say, "I hope they
get in touch with me." ... Director David Fincher, earning raves for "The Social
Network," may finally get to make a film version of cult comic "The Goon" and a
new movie based on the fantasy magazine "Heavy Metal" through a new financing
deal. We can only hope ...
(Warner Bros.)
