News

CBR.com  is reporting that a Morbius The Living Vampire movie is being developed at Sony.

Sony is looking to expand its Spider-Man shared universe with a film centered on Morbius, the Living Vampire. Power Rangers writers Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama developed the script, which was submitted to Sony “after a secret development process.”

Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane, Morbius first debuted in October 1971 in Amazing Spider-Man #101. Dr. Michael Morbius is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who attempted to create a cure for his own rare blood disease using vampires. Instead of finding a cure, Morbius turned himself into a vampire-like figure who needed to consume blood to continue living.

Sony has two Spider-Man spinoffs slated for release in 2018. Venom, starring Tom Hardy and written by Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, is expected to hit theaters on Oct. 5, 2018. Silver & Black (starring Silver Sable and Black Cat) is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and also has an October 2018 release date.

The pilot for the adaptation of Rick Remender’s Deadly Class, the comic about a secret school for assassins began shooting this week.

According to Inside Vancouver the Russo Brothers produced series was to begin shooting November 15th.

However, we have heard the production has started today, apparently a letter was circulated that stated filming started on the 13th.

The Anime Industry Has Hit An 2.9 Trillion Yen Milestone

The Association of Japanese Animations reported that in 2016 the anime industry reached an industry income milestone of 2.9 trillion yen (about $25.5 billion US) for the first time in history!

The Association of Japanese Animations calculates business done in 9 areas, including movies, television shows, home video distribution, and overseas distribution. According to the AJA, overseas movie distribution and overseas home video distribution accounts for about 767.6 billion yen (about $6.8 billion US) in sales, while the next biggest category, character goods, accounts for about 562.7 billion yen (about $5 billion US) in sales. And they say there is still potential for it to grow even more in the future!

The AJA states that the increasingly diverse methods of enjoying Japanese animation domestically and abroad spur the industry's continued growth, citing live concerts, voice actor events, and mega-popular movies such as Makoto Shinkai's Your Name. as examples. Mr. Hiromichi Masuda, vice chairman of the Japan Video Association Business Committee, said, "It is becoming a big market to establish business methods for people to enjoy animation.The size of the market depends on overseas sales There is a possibility of further expansion. "

What are your thoughts on the news?! Are you so pumped for how big the anime industry has become? Do you think it will continue to grow? Let us know what you are thinking down below!

Source  : Anime Mojo

During Secret Empire, Frank Castle — AKA the Punisher — chose to side with Captain America and Hydra. The deadly anti-hero’s choice proved to be a controversial one, and it seems that he’ll have some atoning to do in Marvel Legacy.

In an interview with CBR, series writer Matthew Rosenberg teased how the Punisher’s choice to side with Hydra-Cap will influence his behavior when he dons the War Machine armor in the next arc, starting with Punisher#218.

RELATED: The Punisher: Current Events Didn’t Change Series’ Final Edit

“His role in Secret Empire was troubling, even for a man like Frank Castle who is, himself, troubling,” Rosenberg said. “But it was supposed to be. Seeing Frank jump into bed with bad people to get the chance to go at other bad people is tough to swallow but it raises some interesting questions about what and where his lines are.

“When we pick up with Frank, he has moved past that in a lot of ways,” he continued. “I like to think he has regrets and sees a chance to set some things right, but he’s not really someone who is big on introspection or verbalizing his feelings. In our series, Frank is going up against a fascist military government, trying to do what he always does, kill the bad guys. Is his decision to do this a reaction to Secret Empire? It’d be disingenuous to say it wasn’t a factor. But is he also going to cross some lines and maybe fall into some of the same traps as before? Yeah, for sure.”

RELATED: Brokedown Castle: The 16 Worst Things Marvel Has Done To The Punisher

Guiu Vilanova will provide art for the series, which will see Castle take up the mantle of War Machine after the death of James Rhodes during Civil War II.

Source : CBR 

DEATHSTROKE Movie Starring Joe Manganiello Reportedly In The Works From THE RAID Director Gareth Evans

Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke may have been dropped from The Batman but there is some good news for the character today as Warner Bros. is reportedly moving forward with a solo outing for the anti-hero.

Last year, Ben Affleck shared a cryptic Tweet featuring Joe Manganiello suited up as Deathstroke and it took no time at all for us to learn that the character was set to take centre stage in The Batman. Since then, big changes have been made and Affleck has been replaced as the movie's director by Matt Reeves. He's ditched Affleck and Johns' script to work on a new one unlikely to include Slade Wilson.

Despite all of that drama, we have some good news for both Manganiello and fans of the anti-hero as it's been revealed today that The Raid helmer Gareth Evans is in talks to write and direct a Deathstroke movie which will star the Magic Mike actor. Evans passed on directing Justice League Dark but his Deathstroke pitch actually impressed DC Entertainment executives enough to get this the green light.

Both The Raid and it's sequel featured jaw-dropping fight scenes which will fit in well in a movie like this. How it will fit into the wider DC Films Universe remains to be seen, especially as the studio is now developing standalone features too. Regardless, it's good to hear the character is getting his due and that Manganiello will be given the opportunity to play the character he was cast all those months ago. 

Source: Comic Books Movie

Thunder Cats :

Hey guys, it's throwback Tuesday ,and in the spotlight today is Thunder Cats . ThunderCats is an American animated television series that was produced by Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment and Leisure Concepts debuting in 1985, based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. The series, ran from 1985 to   American animated television series that was produced by Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment and Leisure Concepts debuting in 1985, based on the characters created by Tobin "Ted" Wolf. 

First episode date: January 23, 1985

Final episode date: September 29, 1989

The animation for the episodes was provided by the Japanese studio Pacific Animation Corporation, with Masaki Iizuka as production manager. The studio was acquired in 1989 to form Walt Disney Animation Japan. Season 1of the show aired in 1985 (65 episodes), followed by a TV movie entitled ThunderCats – HO! in 1986. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 followed a new format of twenty episodes each, starting with a five-part story.

The series, for which Leonard Starr was the head writer, follows the adventures of a group of catlike humanoid aliens. The animation for the episodes was provided by the Japanese studio Pacific Animation Corporation, with Masaki Iizuka as production manager. The studio was acquired in 1989 to form Walt Disney Animation Japan. 

Season 1of the show aired in 1985 (65 episodes), followed by a TV movie entitled ThunderCats – HO! in 1986. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 followed a new format of twenty episodes each, starting with a five-part story.

Comic Books

The ThunderCats comic book series was based on the original television series of the same name. It was originally published by Marvel Comics through its Star Comics imprint in 1985, lasting for 3 years and 24 issues.

During this time, a new series was published by Marvel UK consisting of 129 issues and was also published for three years.

Beginning in 2002 Thundercats titles were published by Wildstorm Productions, and including 5 mini-series and several one-shots.

COMIC LEGEND:

Robert Kirkman lied to Image about The Walking Dead involving an alien invasion to get them to approve the book.

All through this weekend (and earlier in last week), I’ve been talking about the origins of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. When last we left our heroes, Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, the pair of creators had re-pitched The Walking Dead as a more traditional zombie book after getting rejected as a futuristic zombie story and being told by Jim Valentino not to have the book be a spin-off of Night of the Living Dead. So Kirkman and Moore pitched Image with a more traditional, modern zombie story. THAT pitch was rejected because the opening seemed to boring, so Kirkman revamped it again to come up with the now-famous opening where Rick Grimes gets shot and ends up in a coma and when he wakes up from the coma, the world has been overrun by zombies.

However, even THAT didn’t get the book approved, as again, Image just thought that it sounded too, well, NORMAL. Everyone knows a zombie story, ya know?

So Robert Kirkman took one last crack and came up with a lie about the series that he sold to Image’s then-Marketing Director, Eric Stephenson, telling him,

“Look, you’re right, it does need a hook and that’s why after a few issues I’m gonna reveal that this is actually an alien invasion story. That these zombies are actually put on Earth by aliens and it’ll eventually be revealed that it’s this really cool sci-fi epic involving alien invasion. You know, the seeds will be planted very early on, but it will be a while before it’s actuallt revealed.”

Stephenson liked the idea and told Jim Valentino and they approved the book.

The Walking Dead #1 came out and it was very well-received and everyone liked it.

However, Stephenson then contacted Kirkman to tell him, “Hey, I read the first issue. It’s great. But I didn’t see any hints at this alien ivnasion plot that’s being set up. Is it gonna come in at #2 or #3 or whatever?”

Kirkman then came clean that he was not intending to actually tie aliens into the story (as noted in Wednesday’s Comic Book Legends Revealed) and the first issue had gone so well that they just let Kirkman do his own thing and, well, thank goodness that they did so!!

Thanks to Matt O. for the suggestion, thanks to Jamie Coville for telling me more about this stuff and thanks to Dave Marks at the Zombie Research Society for information about this and the rest of this weekend’s The Walking Dead-related legends! 

Source : CBR

McFarlane Toys has signed a toy license deal with CBS Consumer Products to create figures, role play weapons and accessories for the new Star Trek: Discovery television series. In addition, McFarlane Toys will also create merchandise from the entire Star Trek universe, ranging from the iconic classic television series Star Trek: The Original Series to the legendary films.

The initial line will highlight two of the most iconic characters in the Star Trek universe with articulated 7-inch figures of U.S.S. Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series and U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. These figures will debut in window box collector packaging and feature iconic accessories such as phasers and communicators. Various characters from the highly-anticipated Star Trek: Discovery television series and other adaptations will follow.

“Star Trek is hands down one of the most groundbreaking and innovative franchises in the history of entertainment,” said Todd McFarlane, Owner and CEO of McFarlane Toys. “We plan on carrying that forward with our upcoming toy lines, giving fans a fresh and detailed look, that their favorite characters deserve.”

“We are excited to sign McFarlane Toys as the first licensee for Star Trek: Discovery. Their commitment to quality and dedication to fans is the perfect combination to bring this lineup of products to life,” said Veronica Hart, Senior Vice President of CBS Consumer Products. “We know Star Trek fans worldwide are looking forward to it as much as we are.” 

McFarlane’s Star Trek toys will be available in the Spring of 2018 at major retailers worldwide starting at an MSRP: $19.99. For more information about Star Trek, visit www.startrek.com. For more information about everything McFarlane Toys, fans are encouraged to check out www.mcfarlane.com as well as the McFarlane social media channels for updates and news.

For over 20 years McFarlane Toys has produced toys for various entertainment properties, and is renowned for its attention to detail and unmistakable craftsmanship. This collaboration with Star Trek will undoubtedly give fans all over the world new and unique collectables that will be “true to life” replicas of both legendary and new characters from the Star Trek franchise.

Born from the mind of Gene Roddenberry, the original Star Trek series debuted on September 8, 1966 and aired for three seasons -- a short run that belied the influence it would have for generations. It spawned six more television series and 13 feature films spanning the course of half a century. Its newest chapter, Star Trek: Discovery, will feature a new ship, new characters, and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers. The series will premiere on the CBS Television Network with all subsequent episodes available on CBS All Access, the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service, and will be distributed concurrently by CBS Studios International on Netflix in 188 countries and in Canada on Bell Media’s Space channel and OTT service CraveTV.

Source : DC

Shanghai WingsMedia Strikes $250M Animation Co-Production Deal With Shellhut,

Tiny IslandWith what they say is the biggest animation film cooperation in Asia, the partners want to create the Chinese equivalent of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe for an international audience.

Singapore’s Tiny Island Productions and Thailand’s Shellhut Entertainment have signed a $250 million 10-film co-production deal with Shanghai WingsMedia, a subsidiary of China’s second-largest media group, Shanghai Media Group.

They struck the deal, which they said it the biggest animation film cooperation in Asia, under their joint venture Shellhut and Tiny Island Pictures. With the cooperation, the companies said they intend to create the Chinese equivalent of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe for an international audience.

The co-production partnership will start with a feature film bringing together two known properties, namely Shanghai Media Group’s reality TV series Starship MZ: 2049 and Tiny Island’s animated series Dream Defenders. That first film is targeted for release in 2020. The partnership plans to subsequently unveil a new film based on new IP every year.

Shellhut will use the new IP from the feature films to build theme parks in Thailand, while Tiny Island will use it for the development of more licensing and merchandising products.

Veteran animators, such as director Paul Chung, who has worked on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Shre, and Madagascarunder DreamWorks Animation, Disney, Warner Brothers and MGM, has been brought together to lead the development and production of the films.