Thundercats promo

Promo image and video for the new Thundercats cartoon. Really looking forward to this, I loved the original and enjoyed the various comic mini-series. For those of you who are die-hard originals and don't like the look of the new cartoon, enjoy an image of Lion-o by Jim Lee at the bottom of the post.

Bond gets Miss Moneypenny?

The Daily Mail are reporting that Naomie Harris could be playing Miss Moneypenny in the next Bond, to be directed by Sam Mendes.

Miss Moneypenny, 007’s tart-tongued, flirtatious foil, is returning to the James Bond movies in the shape of Naomie Harris.
The actress met with Sam Mendes, director of Bond 23, earlier this year and is now in the final stages of negotiations to play the long-running Bond girl — although, strictly speaking, Moneypenny isn’t a Bond girl at all; she’s the assistant to Bond’s boss, M.
Naomie made her name in Danny Boyle’s film 28 Days Later. Many will also know her from the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, but I think she did her best work in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, The First Grader (an enjoyable low-budget recent release) and Danny Boyle’s National Theatre production of Frankenstein, in which she played the leading lady opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.
The actress is poised to appear alongside Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench when filming begins later this year.
The Moneypenny character, who holds the rank of Lieutenant RN, hasn’t been seen in a Bond picture since Samantha Bond played her in Die Another Day back in 2002, when she appeared with Pierce Brosnan.
Samantha appeared in four 007 thrillers, starting with GoldenEye. It’s widely thought she threw the best retort ever at James Bond. Having bedded his Scandinavian tutor, he tells Moneypenny: ‘I always enjoyed learning a new tongue.’ Moneypenny responds dryly: ‘You always were a cunning linguist, James.’
It’s too early to know whether Mendes will want Naomie to play Moneypenny in the same drier-than-a-shaken-martini vein, but she’s an astute actress who will be able to deliver her character any way he desires.
Lois Maxwell was the original (and still the most famous) Moneypenny, appearing in the first Bond picture Dr No in 1962. She retired following A View To A Kill in 1985.
Caroline Bliss played the part in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill before making way for Ms Bond.
Barbara Bouchet played her in the 1967 Casino Royale, and Pamela Salem had a go in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.
Both of those movies were made outside of the Eon organisation, which controls the screen rights to Bond creator Ian Fleming’s works.
A spokeswoman for Eon said that Naomie had met with producers but stressed it had not been confirmed she would be in the film.

Source: Daily Mail

What is Pottermore?

It looks as though Pottermore will be part online encyclopedia, part offical website, part fan-fiction site and, perhaps, part choose-your-own-adventure.

Check out the introductory video from JK Rowling and share your thoughts below.


Source: Pottermore/

Uncharted gets new director

Uncharted movie has picked up a new director very quickly. This is a good sign that the studio want this franchise to succeed. I hope that this builds momentum now and we can get a decent movie out of it.

With a third installment of the PlayStation franchise "Uncharted" hitting consoles this fall, Sony is eager to get a version of the videogame onto the bigscreen, tapping "Limitless" helmer Neil Burger to write and direct the first adventure, "Drake's Fortune."
Burger replaces David O. Russell, who recently left the project due to creative differences.

Sony is high on "Uncharted," eyeing a film adaptation of the Naughty Dog-produced property as the potential launch of its own "Indiana Jones"-like franchise after the first two games turned into a standout hit exclusive to the PlayStation division.

First game, "Drake's Fortune," bowed in 2007, and introduced Nathan Drake, a descendant of explorer Sir Francis Drake, on a quest for goes on a quest to seek the lost treasure of El Dorado with the help of his friend Victor "Sully" Sullivan and a journalist. The sequel, "Among Thieves," was released in 2009, while "Drake's Deception" hits store shelves Nov. 11.

Overall, the games have sold nearly 6 million copies.

Title would be the first of the PlayStation-exclusive franchises -- which include the "God of War," "Resistence," "inFamous," "Ratchet & Clank," "Little Big Planet" and "Killzone" -- to be turned into a film at a time when Hollywood is eager to adapt videogames, toys and other pop culture properties.

Burger landed the offer after the studio and producers Avi Arad, Ari Arad, Charles Roven and Alex Gartner sparked to his new take on the pic -- one that's more closely tied to the game.

He will rework the project after Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer penned the first draft.

Mark Wahlberg had been interested in starring, but his status is unclear now that Russell (who worked with him on "The Fighter") is no longer directing.

Burger's "Limitless," which starred Bradley Cooper and was produced for $27 million, has scored $153 million worldwide since its March release for Relativity and Virgin Produced.

Source: Variety

Batman Live from ITV

Source: GothamKnightsOnline

Batman: Year One trailer

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Source: MTV

Scott Lobdell and Brett Booth on TEEN TITANS

Teen Titans writer Scott Lobdell and artist Brett Booth talk about the upcoming relaunch of the series (I have to admit, this is the series that I am most concerned about).

THE SOURCE: What about DC’s new 52 titles excites you the most?
SCOTT LODBELL: Seeing what everyone else is doing! There are so many books that I can’t wait to read — and that’s just as a fan! I haven’t been at DC long enough to know if you get free books as a writer, but that’s how excited I am that I’m even going to shell out money for every one of the titles. Everyone, after all, deserves a look!
BRETT BOOTH: I think it’s actually getting in and reading things from (or close to) the beginning. Plus I might get a chance to draw the original Batgirl!
How and why are you shaking up the series’ status quo?
SL: I find myself trimming mostly. While there are certainly some changes, I really want the first issues to FEEL like first issues… not, say, issue 101 of TEEN TITANS. Brett Booth and I want any new or lapsed readers to be able to pick up issue one and feel like they aren’t walking into a story somewhere in the third reel.
What new characters will debut in the series?
SL: In RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS, Kenneth Rocafort and I will be introducing a young African-American who takes the name Crux — he’s made a lot of sacrifices in his effort to become the first best line of defense against hostile alien life on Earth. But all his previous notions of the dangers of aliens are challenged when he meets and almost defeats Starfire.
BB: Lots! We have some new heroes but mostly villains. TITANS has sort of only had a few notable bad guys – Trigon, Deathstroke – we’re trying to come up with a whole new pantheon of evil! MWAHAHAHAHA! Plus the bad guys are just plain fun to draw. I’ve been sworn to secrecy … but the name Bugg has been mentioned.
Will we see new character designs?
SL: Will we?! Anyone who has seen the TEEN TITANS promo-art knows that Brett and I are the “worst offenders”. But you know, when you have a team where a Robin grows into a Nightwing and Thug Superboy finds his way to getting a decent haircut and isn’t wearing a T-shirt from Hot Topic… TEEN TITANS is a book that has always been changing and redefining itself. We’ll see a lot of that in oft-changing costumes. How many teenagers do you know who wear the exact same outfit every time they go out on the street or to a club? Why should these kids be any different?
BB: I don’t think we kept any of the old ones, just hints and references to them here and there. So maybe.
What’s the first line of dialogue in the first issue?
SL: I’ll let you know! Unlike, I think, most of the other writers, the way I work is: I’ll plot an issue, the artist will lay it out and then I add the script only after the pages come in. I find it the most organic way to tell a story… and it also means I get excited and inspired almost daily as Brett, Kenneth and RB Silva are constantly turning in new work!
What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had working on this character/book?
SL: I’m surprised by how much I like Jason and Roy in RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS. Yeah, they can be a bit rough around the edges but their hearts are in the right place. Part of me wants to give them a hug and just reassure them that everything will be okay. (I don’t know that it will be okay, but that’s why I am a writer and not an Outlaw!)
BB: How easy Bart is to draw, character wise. He just sort of plops out!
What’s the unofficial tagline for this series, in your own words?
SL: “Read me!”
BB: “LOBDELL!” But you have to yell it like Kirk does Kahn in Star Trek 2!
What were your thoughts about the day-and-date digital announcement?
BB: Great!

DC The Source

Catwoman short with Batman: Year One

Eliza Dushku is getting catty this fall. The Buffy and Dollhouse alum provides the sultry voice for Catwoman in the animated DVD-movie Batman: Year One and as an added bonus will headline a short film included as a DVD extra. In Catwoman, the femme fatale tangles with crime boss Rough Cut (a brand-new character created for this short, voiced by Futurama's John DiMaggio) in a breathless and brutal 15-minute chase through Gotham City tracking down a mysterious cargo shipment.

Batman: Year One — which goes on sale October 18 on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand and for digital download — is the latest in Warner Bros. Animation's popular series of adaptations of stories from the DC Comics archives. Based on the acclaimed comic book arc by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, the movie stars Southland's Ben McKenzie as a young Bruce Wayne at the beginning of his caped crusade against crime in Gotham. The cast also includes Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston (as Lieutenant James Gordon of the CGPD), Battlestar Galactica vet Katee Sackhoff and Dushku as Selina Kyle, a prostitute-turned-thief who becomes one of Batman's most notorious foes. "I found the attitude for this character deep down in the Eliza Dushku archive of bad girls," the actress says with a laugh. "They're in there somehow, somewhere for some reason, and I tap into them when I need them. They're characters with an edge."

Catwoman was written by popular comic-book and TV scribe Paul Dini (Batman Beyond, Tower Prep) and directed by Lauren Montgomery, who also helmed Batman: Year One (with Sam Liu) and many of the other Warner Bros./DC Comics animated films, including Wonder Woman and the just-released Green Lantern: Emerald Knights.
Source: TV Guide

Francis Manapul talks The Flash

THE SOURCE: What about DC’s new 52 titles excites you the most?

FRANCIS MANAPUL: What’s exciting about this initiative is the opportunity to introduce these characters to a new audience. It also allows us as creators the freedom to explore new storylines.

How and why are you shaking up the series’ status quo?

Relationships are a fickle thing, and things can change in a flash.

What new characters will debut in the series?

We’ll be introducing a villainous group called Mob Rule in the first issue.

Will we see new character designs?

Absolutely!

What’s the first line of dialogue in the first issue?

“I should’ve worn a tie.”

What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had working on this character/book?

The potential with experimentation of visual storytelling.

What secret has been the hardest to keep?

That would be telling it, wouldn’t it?

What’s the unofficial tagline for this series, in your own words?

Forge ahead. Keep moving. Always run towards something.

What were your thoughts about the day-and-date digital announcement?

The future begins this September.

Also here’s a fun little picture with myself, Eddie Berganza, and Marcus To. Flashing it up in the mountains of Banff:

Anyone who follows Francis Manapul or Marcus To on twitter or tumblr will no doubt have seen this already, but:

 Source: DCU Blog

Scott Snyder talks Batman and Swamp Thing relaunches

DC The Source spoke to Scott Snyder about his writing duties on Batman and Swamp Thing, both starting in September with DC's relaunch.

THE SOURCE: What about DC’s new 52 titles excites you the most?

SCOTT SNYDER: So many! Grant’s ACTION, definitely. Geoff and Jim’s JUSTICE LEAGUE, J.T. Krul’s CAPTAIN ATOM, and definitely Kyle Higgins’ NIGHTWING (he’s doing a great job on that, I can promise you). Deep down, though, I’m probably most excited for the “Dark” titles. I’ve read Jeff’s ANIMAL MAN and FRANKENSTEIN scripts and I can say that those are going to be mind-blowingly terrific series. Paul Cornell’s DEMON KNIGHTS. Pete Milligan’s JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK. Josh Fialkov’s IVAMPIRE (I do have a soft spot for the undead, after all). In the end, I’m just excited for the whole new shared world of the DCU – to get to open the books and know this is one big communal world, with all these exciting things happening around the corner from each other.

How and why are you shaking up the series’ status quo?

On SWAMP THING, it’s a big shake-up, in that Alec Holland, the main character, is human again. He’s been given his life back and now all he wants to do is escape the mantle of the Swamp Thing. But the Green won’t let him, because this threat has risen, something ancient and deeply tied to the mythology established by Moore. The series will honor everything that came before, though – I want people to understand this. With SWAMP THING (and BATMAN) none of us are interested in wiping away what was there before. These character ion particular have extremely rich histories, rich stories behind them, and what came before will stand in this series. It’s truly an expansion of the ideas and mythology established in previous runs. I really couldn’t be more excited about this series. When you think about it, Alec himself has only appeared in about what, ten pages of comics? With all the Swamp Thing stories, Alec himself is still a big mystery to us. Who was he before the accident that turned him into Swamp Thing? Is there more to his history? Is there something between him and other stories and mythologies in the DCU? Something about him and the Arcanes? Some reason he was chosen?

In BATMAN, it’s a shakeup by having Bruce front and center, back in Gotham, re-investing in the city. But again, much of what you’ve loved about Batman recently –the immediate bat-family – the stories that just happened in BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS and BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN INC – those are still in play. This is the Bruce you know and love, reinvigorated to be back in his home city, with new tech, new energy, and a deadly new villain. A villain written into the very architecture of Gotham (look closely for clues).

What new characters will debut in the series?

SWAMP THING and BATMAN will both debut new villains with ties to the mythology. Meaning, I wanted to create new villains for the heroes of both books, but I wanted them to have deep bonds with ideas and history set up by previous writers. Villains that matter and mean something and bring with them both twisted and huge revelations about the heroes’ respective pasts and presents.

Will we see new character designs?

Yep.

What’s the first line of dialogue in the first issue?

BATMAN: “It’s good to be home.” – Batman

SWAMP THING: “We need to talk.” – Superman to Dr. Holland

What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had working on this character/book?

How full a world you end up making for yourself with both. Swampy and Batman have always been books that people have injected strong ideas into – from Moore to Miller to Morrison… And when you start in on them, it’s like to write them, you have to imagine the entire world of the book in its entirety. It has to be your Gotham. You have to know it and live in it. It’s odd how quickly and easily it envelops you. Same with SWAMP THING. It’s a very personal take on the character of Alec. The whole world of the book is something close to my (black, twisted) heart.

What secret has been the hardest to keep?

That I’m getting to write these! These are literally my two favorite characters in the DCU – really in all of comics. I’m doing my dream job right now. Couldn’t feel luckier. Thanks again to everyone reading for getting me here. Promise to work round the clock to deliver something special and not let you down.

What’s the unofficial tagline for this series, in your own words?

I guess both have almost the same one for me:

There’s more – much more – to your own story than you could possibly know.

What were your thoughts about the day-and-date digital announcement?

I’m old fashioned – I’m still figuring out what that entails.

Source: DCU Blog

Arkham City's Tim Drake Robin concept

"We wanted to create a Robin that players would identify as a contemporary character and move away from the traditional “Boy Wonder” image that most people know. Our vision of Robin is the one of a troubled young individual that is calm and introverted at times but very dangerous and aggressive if provoked. The shaved head is inspired by cage fighters, because we thought that Robin might be doing that in his spare time to keep him on his toes. Still, we kept all the classic trademarks of Robin’s appearance, such as the red and yellow colors of his outfit, the cape and the mask.
We really hope that people will discover our Robin as one of their new favorite characters in the Batman universe. He is back and he means business." KAN MUTFIC, JULY 2011

Source: Batman: Arkham City Community

For some reason I can't respond to my comments, so here is my reply to the question below:
Generally I'm happy with it. If I were to nitpick though; I don't like the cape, I'd want a floor length cape for Tim Drake. The exposed thumbs provides a massive security risk (thumbprints). I'm not a big fan of the hood either. The reasoning behind a buzz cut is nulified by a hood. Enemies can't pull his hair, but they can easily grab a hood.

This is a page from Robin 22 (so Tim would be about 13/14). In the story he goes undercover to join a 'summer camp' that is training 'ninjas'. It's basically a recruiting ground for thieves. The leader is a grown man who beats the kids up during the training sessions; a bully. Tim, usually level headed and calm, sees red and kicks his arse.

Compare this with Rocksteady's description:

"calm and introverted at times but very dangerous and aggressive if provoked."

Sounds like Tim Drake to me. If you are one of many for whom the cage-fighting doesn't sit well, just pretend that, like in this story, Tim is undercover in order to break up illegal activity.
I just hope that we see his intelligence reflected in the gadgets that he can use in Predator challenges (perhaps even a timed detective element to one of his exclusive maps?).
As I said, though, I think that generally it looks pretty good.

Tony Daniel talks about move from Batman to Detective Comics

In DC's September shuffle, Tony Daniel switches from writer & artist of Dick Grayson in Batman to writer of Bruce Wayne in Detective Comics.

Newsarama: Tony, you're relaunching Detective Comics -- and honestly, those three words ("relaunch Detective Comics") sound kind of surreal. Does it feel that way to you? What are your thoughts about it?

Tony Daniel: Well, first off I just want to say that this is such an incredible honor. It’s a big deal, I think, to relaunch any book, but this is Detective Comics. There is something surreal about it, especially saying it out loud. You know, it’s sort of sacred ground what we’re talking about here.

Nrama: How did you hear about the chance to do this, and what did you think at the time?

Daniel: Well, late last year I went to Mike Marts and raised the possibility of me writing Bruce Wayne as Batman. I knew I couldn’t stay on Batman forever, but before my run ended, I wanted a shot at Bruce. Not long after that conversation, Mike called me to gauge my interest in doing exactly what I wanted: Bruce Wayne Batman. But that it would be for a brand new Detective Comics #1. Mike knew I was not afraid of controversy, and guessed right that I would say yes to it.

Nrama: What are the differences you're finding as you now write Batman specifically for new audiences?

Daniel: The main difference is that I’m working within a set style that will be consistent throughout the series. This is more of crime thriller noir as opposed to action adventure. The stories will be short, but at the same time larger than life. The art will be bolder, bigger — I have Ryan Winn on inks and the coloring will have a European flair to it with Tomeu Morey handling that task. I think it will lend itself to the suspenseful gritty crime stories I’m going to do.

Nrama: Is there a little leeway you have since most people know the basics about Batman, or are you really approaching this as a new #1?

Daniel: Everyone gets Batman. Everyone knows who Bruce Wayne is. Who Alfred is, who the Joker is. Someone new jumping in won’t be lost. Because of how familiar the general public is with the Batman franchise, there isn’t a big need for reintroductions. But this is still being approached with new readers in mind.

Nrama: With several new #1 Batman comics being published in September, what's different about your Detective Comics?

Daniel: I think the tone. The shorter stories. The big art. It will be different from what I’ve done before and different from the other Bat books.

Nrama: Is there anything you want to tell fans about the general premise of the book?

Daniel: The premise is suspense/crime-thriller. If I could describe it in a word, it would be ‘hardcore.’

Nrama: As an artist, what do you think of the new look of the costume? What are your thoughts behind the look?

Daniel: Well, I’m a little bit responsible for the look. I gave a sketch of a futuristic style Batman to Mike Marts, who showed it to Jim Lee, who tweaked it a bit. So it’s a good example of what I was hoping we could use. So, I’m happy with it, naturally. I think it’s modern. I think it’s cool. But if we weren’t going ultra modern, I’m a big fan of the classic black and gray suit.

Nrama: Anything else you want to tell fans about your upcoming run on Detective?

Daniel: Thanks for giving it a read. I hope it’s the first of another 700+ issues.

Source: Newsarama

Arkham City gameplay

So after being one of the first people to post the news (over on arkhamcity.co.uk), I had to go out on Friday before my video had uploaded to youTube, so I couldn't post it embedded on here until now.
Sad, but true. These are the pitfalls of having a life.
Anyway, here is the full 12 minute, uninterupted gameplay video. Enjoy.