When “Quantum of Solace” director Marc Forster was chosen to helm the adaptation of Max Brooks’ “World War Z” zombie-stravaganza, we noted that it was a surprising pairing — but with noted television, movie and comics author J. Michael Straczynski already penning the screenplay and Brad Pitt’s Plan B producing, the project was certainly developing some heat. Now, with “Solace” in its fifth impressive week at the box office, MTV News spoke to Straczynski about the addition of Forster to the already buzzworthy project and how he plans to adapt Brooks’ novel.

“We talk about it as a thriller, the closest comparison being ‘The Bourne Identity,’” explained Straczynski, who’s also penning a “Forbidden Planet” revisiting. “Most zombie movies to this point have been small, focusing on a few people in a house. And this has got real scare. You’re in India with hundreds of boats trying to get out of there with a tidal wave of zombies. The scale of what we’re doing here is phenomenal.”

Straczynski told us the first draft of the screenplay was completed in the Spring, and the “World War Z” team had been waiting for a director for several months before Forster was attached.

“Now that Marc is here, I’m working with his notes to make one final pass on the script,” said Straczynski. “Our hope is to get it moving into production by the first of the year.”

As for how he plans to adapt the novel, which is written from the perspective of a United Nations agent reporting on the events of the zombie outbreak through interviews and eyewitness statements, Straczynski said he plans to preserve that storytelling angle as much as possible. In fact, the movie will serve to show how the book was produced in Brooks’ zombie-infested world.

“The fictional concept of the book is that its written by someone with the UN, so let’s tell that story,” he explained. “Let’s show the book being written. We follow this guy all over the world as he goes on these interviews, and he has his own personal story as well. You’re cutting between the past and the present, how he got to this point.”

“It has that international feel to it, and because it goes backward and forward in time, we can cherry-pick our favorite moments in the book,” continued Straczynski. “Some of it is crazy in scale. It’s huge. It’s as political as the book was. And it ends with that book being completed.”
Source: Movie Blog

Posted under Hollywood, Leaked

A curiously shirted Astro Boy runs out to kick Speed Racer’s ass…

2009 is gonna be a huge year for otaku Anime & Manga fans when the legendary ASTRO BOY finally hits the big screen in modern computer animated form in an eponymous feature based the highly successful Japanese franchise by OSAMU TEZUKA. Nicolas Cage’s inclusion in the film as voice “talent” will surely be a low point but hopefully they don’t mess this flick up completely. We need something to redeem last year’s “Speed Racer” fiasco bad…

Source: Supertouch

Posted under Leaked, Watch This!

The game takes you through the Batcave, the streets of Chicago (Gotham City) and rooftops, as you make tire screeching noises with your mouth and recreate famous lines like “he’s flying on rooftops!” and “it’s a black…tank”. Kotaku says there’s only about a minute or so worth of gameplay in there, which isn’t a horrible trade for $0.99

Posted under Gadgets, Gamers

SuicideGirls will be hosting their first ever Boutique/Bazaar at Meltdown Comics one day only to premier their new book, “SuicideGirls: Beauty Redefined.” This groundbreaking photography book contains almost 400 pages of full color pin-up photos of beautiful pierced and tattooed women from around the world.

A variety of SG products will be available for sale, from t-shits and hoodies, to DVDs and playing cards.

December 11th, 2008 6PM
Meltdown Comics and Collectibles
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
1.323.851.7223
MAP

Posted under Signing, The Beautiful People

Posted under Watch This!, You Tube

DARK HORSE COMICS, DC COMICS, IMAGE COMICS, MARVEL COMICS, Misc Press COMICS.

Read More…

Posted under Leaked, The List

Remember that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” animated series that never was? Turns out, it is getting new life — as the basis of an upcoming “Buffy: Season Eight” comic.

Called “After These Messages … We’ll Be Right Back!”, the storyline, out December 10, plops the Buffster down into the middle of her own animated show, in a sort of “Pleasantville”/”Peggy Sue Gets Married” kind of way. (And we have your exclusive, eight-page preview after the jump!)

“She arrives in the animated world, but she knows it’s not right,” said the issue’s writer Jeph Loeb. “In many ways, it’s a time-travel show. She’s having a day from hell and she wonders if life was always this hard, and when she wakes up, she’s got a ‘Season One’ bod and a ‘Season Eight’ brain.”

We as the readers know something’s off because of the different look (courtesy of animator Eric Wight), which is simpler to reflect what Buffy believes to be a simpler time: high school. And high school at a time when Willow is still crushing on Xander (i.e. she’s not yet gay), Angel has yet to become Angelus, Cordelia is still alive, Principal Synder is still alive and her mom is still alive. Buffy realizes all these things when she encounters these people (especially when she sees her mom, whom she overwhelms with a huge hug). But as much as she realizes how much things will change, Buffy’s also partly her old self, torn between going to a party or going on patrol. (She somehow manages both.)

“Joss [Whedon] and I talked about how, despite all her knowledge, she still can’t get over being in that time,” Loeb said. “Like ‘What am I going to wear?’ and ‘How am I going to get into Cordelia’s party?’ If you went back to high school and ran into the school bully, you’d still react the same way. She’s aware that what’s happening shouldn’t be happening, but she doesn’t share it with anybody.”

Well, not really. But Buffy makes comforting reassurances to folks, like, “No biggie, Will, maybe someday she’ll be dead and you’ll be a sorceress supreme,” in response to Cordelia calling Willow hopeless. Willow jokes, “Do I get to wear a pointy hat?” Or when Synder confiscates Xander’s skateboard, Buffy says, “Look at it this way, Xander. Maybe someday Synder will get eaten by a huge ginormous snake — and you’ll wear an eyepatch and be in charge of lots of womens.” Xander asks, “Really? Like a pirate? Can I be a space pirate?” No one gets that she’s telling them their futures — they think it’s just typical Buffy banter.

Buffy starts to wish she could stay in this so-called simpler time, even if her foreknowledge keeps reminding her of things to come. She asks Angel for guidance, but doesn’t come away with an answer that makes her feel any better.

“She doesn’t know why she’s there,” Loeb said. “And the question becomes, will she stay or not stay? If you knew something and could run away from it, what rabbit hole would you go down?”

(The issue is dedicated to Loeb’s late son Sam, with the proceeds to benefit the Sam Loeb Scholarship Fund for a teenage drama workshop at Cal State Northridge.)

source: Splash Page

Posted under Did you know?, News

Comedy Meltdown: YEAR ONE
The Anniversary Show

Date: Saturday, December 6th
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Place: The swanktastic Meltdown Gallery at the rear of the store which is located here:
7522 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046-3408, US
http://meltcomics.com/

Whom: DUNCAN TRUSSELL
HOWARD KREMER
MIKE PHIRMAN
MICHELLE BILOON
MATT BRAUNGER
THE WALSH BROTHERS
JEN KIRKMAN
JONAH RAY
ED SALAZAR
NATASHA LEGGERO
FRED BELFORD
Hosted by: BLAINE CAPATCH

Sponsored by: ASAHI & TeaZazz
L.A. Weekly’s BEST OF L.A.!
www.comedymeltdown.com

In addition to this stellar line-up we are charging NO COVER!

Please drink responsibly or designate a driver.

Something to be aware of: parking in this neighborhood is dodgy, so please plan accordingly.

Posted under Comedy Show, Do Something, Nightlife

We’re getting a shipment of the new Joker Graphic Novel by Brian Azzarello & Lee Bermejo in this Wednesday.  This red-hot book went out of print within days of its release; we’ve been waiting patiently for a restock, and finally this Wednesday we’ll have some.  If you’d like to reserve one(with no money down), please send an email to chris@meltcomics.com or call the store today at 323-851-7223 and we can reserve one for you while supplies last.  All reservations must be picked up by Friday, December 5th.  Forget the Wii — Joker is the must have item of the Holiday Season!

Posted under Just Arrived, News, This Week's Books

This week, new Releases will be on THURSDAY due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Here’s some of the big releases:

–Batman #682: Starting the R.I.P. Aftermath.  Maybe in *this* issue that Black Glove will be revealed…

–Jonah Hex #28: One of the best books you’re not reading.  Always done-in-one, twilight zone-esque morality plays, never disappointing.  Give it a shot; you won’t be disappointed.

–Secret Invasion #8: The Big Finale.  Also on Thursday, Marvel will publish a special edition of Marvel Previews, (finally) giving us a glimpse of the next evolution of the Marvel Universe, Dark Reign…

–Haunted Tank #1: I got to read an advance copy of this, and was very impressed–Vertigo looks to be in very good hands during a changing of the guard.  As stalwarts like Y The Last Man and 100 Bullets end, we get exciting new series like Air, Scalped, Unknown Solider, and now this reimaging of the Haunted Tank.  The Ghost of Confederate Soldier Jeb Stuart is sent to guard an African-American Sgt. and his unit in Iraq (set before Baghdad fell)–and as you can imagine, complications arise…

Punisher MAX XMAS 2008 Special: Jason “Scalped” Aaron writes it, I’ll read it.

–The Sword #13: The Luna Bros. are my favorite new creators of the decade–fantastic action grounded with great characterization.  Pick up the vol 1. Sword TPB or the Ultra TPB and tell me I’m wrong…

Criminal vol 2 #7: The Finale of the “Bad Night” Storyline, and still as good as comics gets.

Daredevil by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson vol 2 TPB: This volume covers the meat of Frank Miller’s legendary Daredevil run, including maybe the greatest Superhero comic of all time, Daredevil #181.  Fantastic Work that should be in every collection.

The Spirit Vol1 TPB: My favorite DC Comic of the last few years (Yes, I like it more than All-Star Superman)–if someone’s curious about the Spirit because of the movie hype, buy them this affordable package.

See ya Wed–oops, make that THURSDAY!

Posted under Commentary, News