Roberto Orci Exits 'Power Rangers'; Max Borenstein Returns to Pen 'Godzilla 2'; Gary Whitta Adapting 'Starlight'

That Power Rangers reboot everyone is dreading so excited about has lost exec-producer and franchise powerhouse Roberto Orci due to scheduling. It's not much of a surprise conflicts arose as he's set to make his directorial debut on Star Trek 3, which obviously is going to take priority. So where does this leave Power Rangers? Basically where it was before, with a pair of writers in Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class), a release date of July 22nd 2016, and nobody yet hired to direct it.

The Godzilla sequel is adding another familiar piece beyond director Gareth Edwards. Max Borenstein, who wrote that film as well as the King Kong prequel Skull Island, will return to hide Godzilla from us some more in the follow-up. We don't know much about the film other than its distant June 8th 2018 release date and that Legendary Pictures want to have Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidora in it. I keep stressing they did not "promise" to put them in it, just that they want to. Hopefully they'll find a way.

Mark Millar, the comics scribe behind Kick-Ass, Wanted, and Kingsman: The Secret Service, has another of his projects headed to the screen. 20th Century Fox picked up the rights to Millar's latest series, Starlight, last year before the first issue had even been published. Now they've added some impressive talent to get the adaptation going, hiring Gary Whitta to write the screenplay. Whitta previously wrote The Book of Eli and is currently working on Gareth Edwards' Star Wars spinoff. Starlight centers on former superhero Duke McQueen, who is called out of retirement to save the universe one last time. [THR]

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Mark Millar Says An X-men/Fantastic Four Crossover Will Happen "Without Question"

Considering what Marvel has been able to do with The Avengers, and Warner Bros. plans to crossover Batman and Superman, 20th Century Fox's model for their X-men and Fantastic Four films was looking outdated. While the studio has been content to fashion a more cohesive cinematic universe for their mutant heroes, they've kept it separate from Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot coming in 2015. But money talks, and there's a big pile of it waiting if Fox decides to go the Marvel route, which is exactly what creative consultant Mark Millar says is going to happen.

While talking to SFX, the chatty Millar (the guy who created Kick-Ass and Wanted) said that we can definitely expect to see some mutants battling Galactus or the Silver Surfer racing through the halls of the Xavier Institute or something like that....

Millar: “Without question I think you have to see some of these guys showing up in each other’s movies. I think the most exciting thing in superhero movies, until The Avengers came along, was when Nick Fury showed up in Iron Man. Even though it was a guy with an eye patch it was really cool – and I expect we will see more of that.”

In a way it would be a little sad to see Fox merging their franchises in this way, because the FF and X-men universes are rich enough to stand on their own. And unlike the Avengers and a hero like Spider-Man, the X-men and FF don't really have much of a connection.  The X-men don't typically do cosmic, and the FF aren't generally seen fighting for mutant rights, so it's a mix that can only feel forced and studio-mandated.

Next up on Fox's slate is X-men: Days of Future Past, arriving on May 23rd 2014, followed by Fantastic Four on March 6th 2015. Doubtful we'll see any crossing over that soon, but if The Thing shows up in a post-credits sequence punching Colossus in his steely mug, well you'll be ready for it.

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'Kick-Ass 2' Director Jeff Wadlow To Lead 'X-Force'

And just like that, we're no longer speculating about 20th Century Fox expanding their X-men universe, it's already moving forward with actual talent attached. Earlier today we learned of the studio's plans to bring Marvel's X-Force to the big screen, with an announcement to come at next week's San Diego Comic-Con, but whatever news they have in store has been beaten to the punch once again, as THR reports that Jeff Wadlow has been brought on to write and possibly direct it.

It's safe to assume that Fox's comics consultant Mark Millar had something to do with this, as Wadlow is the guy at the helm of this summer's Kick-Ass 2. What's unclear right now is what version of X-force Wadlow is planning to use. The original line-up consistent of younger mutants who had grown disillusioned with Charles Xavier's dream, and were led by Nathan "Cable" Summers, who happened to be the time-lost son of Scott "Cyclops" Summers.  Right now there are two versions of X-force on comic book store racks, one led by Storm, the other consisting of Cable, Domino, and Colossus. 

The other question that needs to be answered is where this will fit into the whole scheme of things, and if X-men: Days of Future Past will play into X-Force's formation. We can also assume that more titles will be revealed during the Fox Comic-Con panel on July 20th. 

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Mark Millar says 'Kick-Ass 3' will be the last; teases Sentinels in 'X-men: Days of Future Past'

It wouldn't be all that hard to do an X-men: Days of Future Past without giant robotic Sentinels, but it would be hella disappointing. Probably so much that Fox would never even consider leaving them out, despite the cost of putting them in. Mark Millar, the talkative comic book scribe who also serves as a creative consultant on Fox's Marvel flicks, puts any doubt to rest in an interview with SFX, saying the Sentinels will be in there and causing havoc...

Millar: "I don’t really want to give too much away but the Sentinels are a big feature of this story. They will be cool and this will deliver on all of the teasers. We’ve all been waiting for this ever since X-Men: The Last Stand showed us one of their heads. Now it is finally coming, and we only have to pay ten quid to see it in the cinema."

He also goes on to talk about the large ensemble of returning faces, comparing it to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. One name in particular he mentioned was the return of Ellen Page, who plays Kitty "Shadowcat" Pryde, an integral piece in the Chris Claremont comic. It's unclear if she'll be quite as important in the film, but Millar seems to think so....

Millar: "Kitty Pride fans will not be disappointed."

While X-men is hardly Millar's baby, Kick-Ass certainly. I'm certain that he'll hook up with John Romita Jr. on a third series of the hit comic book, but as for a third film? I'm not nearly as certain of that. It all depends on how Kick-Ass 2 performs at the box office in a few months. Millar seems confident, though, and recounted his discussion with Universal on the future of the franchise...

Millar: "Kick-Ass 3 is going to be the last one though. I told Universal this and they asked me, ‘What does that mean?’ I said, ‘It means that this is where it all ends.’ They said, ‘Do they all die at the end?’ I said, ‘Maybe’ – because this is a realistic superhero story. And if someone doesn’t have a bullet proof vest like Superman and doesn’t have Batman’s millions then eventually he is going turn around the wrong corner and get his head kicked in or get shot in the face [laughs]. So Kick-Ass needs to reflect that. There has to be something dramatic at the end, he cannot do this for the rest of his life.”

Makes sense to me. I can see Kick-Ass getting offed in some random fashion like Omar from The Wire.

Kick-Ass 2 opens on June 28th, X-men: Days of Future Past on July 18th 2014.

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Matthew Vaughn exits 'X-men: Days of Future Past'

If you recall the production process on X-men: First Class, you might remember that it was a rather torturous experience for Matthew Vaughn. He was crushed by a ridiculously short schedule, leading to a number of creative issues and personnel dropping out of the troubled film. But that doesn't appear to be the case for the sequel, X-men: Days of Future Past, which was set to begin filming early next year for release in July 2014. Plenty of time, right? So it's a bit surprising to learn that Vaughn has dropped out of the film, only sticking around as a producer.

As worrisome as that may be, there is some good news. Apparently the guy who is at the top of Fox's list to replace him is Bryan Singer, the man who directed the much-loved first two X-men movies. Singer was originally set to direct X-men: First Class, and his participation in future X-men flicks(possibly X-men 4) has been expected. It was Singer's departure to direct Superman Returns that really sent the mutant-verse over the cliff, and it never really recovered until Vaughn brought it back last year.

So what will Vaughn be doing instead? It sounds like he'll be tackling an adaptation of The Secret Service, a comic created by Fox's new head of creative consultant, Mark Millar. Vaughn directed Millar's Kick-Ass a couple of years ago, and the two have been close ever since. It was just last year that Vaughn acquired the rights to The Secret Service, as well as Millar's Superior, with plans of bringing them both to the big screen.

Singer's been in a funk for years, and with Jack the Giant Slayer not really gaining much in the way of positive momentum, a return to the X-men universe may be what he needs. [Deadline]

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A new female character to be introduced in 'Wanted 2'

"An unbelievable thing happened three weeks ago. Because we stopped, we didn't know what to do for three or four years. Three weeks ago I came up with a great idea and I pitched this idea and everybody fell in love with it. And now I think we're on track. Right now the writer is working on the script, and it will be shocking. It's a continuation of the story, with Wesley Gibson. Other people are dead, you know, we can't bring them back. The story is the same character, same mythology, but it's got a great twist."

That was what director Timur Bekmambetov told us a few months ago when asked about the state of Wanted 2, which has been stuck in place for a few years while they try to figure out how best to tackle the sequel. After courting Angelina Jolie to return, she ultimately refused, and practically no movement was made on it since. James McAvoy was obligated to come back, and there were rumors at one point that Kristen Stewart could come aboard as a new female character. Whether or not Stewart does it is anyone's guess(probably not), but the idea of a new female lead seems to have stuck.

Screenwriter Derek Haas was asked by Hollywood.com about the film, and he revealed the story picks up four years later, with Wesley facing a very familiar situation....

Haas: "The only thing I can tell you is that Wesley [James McAvoy] is now, four years later, recruiting a young woman who is in his situation in the first movie. She's got a sh**ty life. He's sort of in the Fox role. This new girl is brought into the world"

Does anybody still care about a Wanted sequel at this point? It's been four years already and that film was very much a product of the moment, like many Mark Millar stories tend to be.  Although it made over $340M, there hasn't been much of a clamor for a follow-up, and without Jolie attached I doubt it will draw much attention.

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Mark Millar says 'Days of Future Past' is "X-men meets The Terminator'

King of hyperbole Mark Millar certainly knows how to draw attention to his projects, whether they be on the printed page as one of the top comic book creators, or in his new role as 20th Century Fox's creative consult on all Marvel properties. That puts him as the lead mouthpiece for the mutant wing of the superhero universe, and he was recently talking up Matthew Vaughn's X-men: Days of Future Past, and he draws a comparison that's sure to get fans buzzing. Talking to SFX Magazine, he had this to say on the upcoming mutant sequel....

Millar: “Vaughn is going for a big sci-fi style thing with X-Men: Days of Future Past. It’s X-Men meets The Terminator. You’ve got robots, you’ve got time travel, you’ve got superheroes – it’s got everything in one film.”

Longtime X-men fans won't be surprised by this comparison at all. Days of Future Past is probably the most important storyline in the comics' long lifespan, the time-bending tale presents a future in which the X-men have failed in their mission of peaceful co-existence with humans, leading to a despotic where mutants are hunted by giant robots known as Sentinels and thrown in camps or outright killed. In true Terminator fashion, a future version of Kitty Pryde(played by Anna Paquin in the Bryan Singer/Brett Ratner flicks) goes back in time to the present to warn the X-men of the importance of their mission.

While it should have been obvious that the Sentinels would play a part in Vaughn's film, Millar's words all but confirm it. It used to be tough taking anything he had to say seriously, but recently he's been a very reliable source of information. Right now his comic, Kick-Ass 2, is being filmed with Vaughn as writer and Jeff Wadlow directing.

X-men: Days of Future Past will open on July 18th 2014.

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Mark Millar hired to consult on Fox's Marvel Comics films

If you don't know the name Mark Millar yet, chances are you know his work. We talk about him all the time on this site, usually because the acclaimed comic book scribe has a tendency to shoot his mouth off. But when he's not running his trap, he's also the creator of a number of properties you recognize, such as Wanted and Kick-Ass. While he's currently developing a number of his comics for feature films, he'll be splitting his attention a little as 20th Century Fox has hired him to act as consultant on all future Marvel Comics adaptations.

It's a move that makes sense for the studio, as Millar is intimately familiar with the X-men and Fantastic Four franchises, both of which are the two major properties they hold the rights to. In particular, Millar wrote Old Man Logan, one of the best Wolverine stories in years. Here's hoping they can find a way to make a movie out of it. Fans are certainly eager for it. The press release states that Millar will be working to create new avenues for both properties. He'll be working alongside his buddy Matthew Vaughn on X-men: Days of Future Past, and also with Josh Trank(Chronicle) on his Fantastic Four reboot.

Well damn, I guess this means all of Millar's blustering will carry even more weight. Hopefully he'll start talking about an X-men 4 soon.

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*UPDATE* Looks like Jim Carrey's in for 'Kick-Ass 2' after all!

*UPDATE* Yep, Deadline has confirmed Jim Carrey for the role of The Colonel in Kick-Ass 2. Check out the earlier story below where Mark Millar and Jeff Wadlow pretty much announced it themselves.

With filming on Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall set to begin soon, one of the more intriguing rumors had them seeking out Jim Carrey for the role of The Colonel, known in the comic as Colonel Stars and an ex-mafia figured turned costumed vigilante. Carrey's a proven fan of Mark Millar's comic and of the first film, but reports that followed pegged the deal is "unlikely" to occur. Turns out that may have been a little premature, though, as director Jeff Wadlow and Millar took to Twitter to confirm that Carrey has agreed to join the film. Thanks to Bleeding Cool for capturing the tweet conversation that follows....

6 days till we start shooting... and we officially have our Colonel. Alrighty f'n then! @chloegmoretz @mintzplasse @donald_faison #kickass2
— Jeff Wadlow (@JeffWadlow) September 1, 2012

@jeffwadlow who do we got?!
— Chris Mintz-Plasse (@MintzPlasse) September 1, 2012

@mintzplasse @jeffwadlow clue- he lives with 200 raccoons and parrots, owns the mask of Loki and named by spielberg as a genius.
— Mark Millar (@mrmarkmillar) September 1, 2012

That's a pretty big get for a film that a lot of people are already looking forward to and doesn't really need the starpower. Carrey joins the returning Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Yancy Butler, along with new faces Lindy Booth, Donald Faison, Morris Chestnut, John Leguizamo, Claudia Lee, Robert Emms, and Andy Nyman. Filming begins on Kick-Ass 2 in five days for release on June 28th 2013.

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Mark Millar says Will Beall's 'Justice League' will be "dark and mature"

The human misinformation campaign that is comic book scribe Mark Millar(creator of Kick-Ass) has been well documented in the past. He's been consistently wrong or proven to be wildly hyperbolic on so many things, mostly involving his comics being adapted, that it'd be tough to trust him if he said the sky was blue. He did prove to be dead on point about the start date for Kick-Ass 2, so maybe it's time to start giving him some leeway? Eh, probably not.

He's at it again with another potential whopper that may or may not be accurate, and this one involves Warner Brothers' Justice League film, which we just learned has Will Beall(Gangster Squad) penning the script. Millar took to his forum to discuss the script, which he apparently knows about through a guy who happens to know Beall. As always, take this with a grain of salt....

Miller: "A pal of mine is good friends with the new Justice League screenwriter and said his take on the team is incredible. Very real-world and not at all what you might expect. WB has a chequered history with their superhero characters. They’re great with their boy wizards, but less consistent with their DC stable. But my chum said that this could be a thing of beauty and has been in the works for a little while now, not just an Avengers knock-off. Best of luck to them. The tidbits I heard sound quite dark and mature, which isn’t what I expected. But word on Gangster Squad is great too, so I feel this is in really good hands."

I don't think anybody expected Justice League to be just like The Avengers. The two comics may both feature a ton of top shelf superheroes, but the tones aren't at all the same. Plus, a big reason why The Avengers was so light and fun was Joss Whedon's script, and Justice League won't have that. I've said in the past that Warner Brothers needs to start getting away from the "grim 'n gritty" comic book movies once The Dark Knight Rises wraps up, but Justice League isn't the right film for that to happen. Best to use their upcoming solo films, which looks like it'll include Wonder Woman, the Flash, and Lobo, to start showing the DC Universe as a place where everything isn't as dire as in Gotham City.

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Wait...'Kick-Ass 2' might really shoot this summer?

We've learned over time to not exactly trust the words that come out of Mark Millar's mouth. The creator of Kick-Ass, Wanted, and other buff comic book properties has a long history as a fountain of misinformation and hyperbole. For instance, he's been promising us Kick-Ass 2 for more than a year now, and nothing he's said has ever come to pass. In the last couple of weeks he was at it again, stating that the sequel would film this summer, and of course nobody believed him. Now a different, more credible source has said the same thing, and suddenly it's looking like this might actually happen.

While attempting a record breaking 50hr autographing and sketching session in Las Vegas, artist John Romita Jr. revealed to a fan that the deals are signed, sealed, and delivered, and that filming would begin this summer for a release next May. Romita Jr. is the artist on the Kick-Ass comics and credited as one of the creators, so he would know a thing or two about it. He also revealed there may be an animated sequence in the film that he would like to take charge of. That may be worth the price of admission alone.

With director Matthew Vaughn busy with the X-men: First Class franchise, he'll only be in a co-writer/producing role this time. However it's possible he may not be the only change afoot for the sequel. The most popular character in Kick-Ass was Hit Girl, played by rising star, Chloe Moretz. With her schedule looking mighty crowded(she'll be in Dark Shadows this weekend), it's possible the new director may have to look elsewhere for someone to don the purple wig. Moretz will be filming the Carrie remake this summer, and is also trying to work The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea(with Zach Braff and Jessica Biel) into her schedule. It's possible she could still fit Kick-Ass 2 in, but they would have to backload her scenes to do it. Plus, there's the issue of her age, as she's grown considerably in the last two years. I don't see it as too big of an issue, but others may see things differently.

If this all turns out to be true, then we should start hearing word on the creative make-up of Kick-Ass 2 very soon.  A new director must be found, the principle players locked up, and some fresh new faces added. It looks like this is actually happening, folks. [BleedingCool]

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Mark Millar says 'Kick-Ass 2' will shoot this summer. Yeah right.

Why does anybody believe anything Mark Millar has to say about...well, anything? The comic book scribe behind such film adaptations as Wanted and Kick-Ass is basically a fountain of misinformation when it comes to the progression of future projects. Like last March when he told us Kick-Ass 2 was greenlit, then two weeks later it was revealed to be a lie? The film still isn't officially a go as far as I can tell, but don't tell that to Millar, who claims it will actually be shot in just a few months...

Millar: “We shoot Kick-Ass 2 and American Jesus this summer. Then Matthew and I have Secret Service, which is a neddy James Bond.”

Whether or not he's trying to imply that the first film's director, Matthew Vaughn, will be involved isn't really clear. If so, it would likely be in a producer or co-writing capacity, as he'll be busy with an X-men: First Class sequel around that time. It should also be made clear that none of the Kick-Ass cast is signed to return, including it's breakout star, Chloe Moretz. Lionsgate has said nothing on the film's start date, so as usual take this with a serious heaping of salt.

While most of the Millar film adaptations have been straight forward action, American Jesus promises to be something totally different. The story follows a boy who discovers he is Jesus Christ, and sets out to find his place in a world in turmoil. The 2004 comic was provocative and insightful, and Millar sounds as if he'll adapt the material to the big screen faithfully...

Millar: “A lot of people are surprised because much of my work is irreverent and expect the same with American Jesus. But I want it to be a beautiful film. A film about the returned Jesus Christ has amazing artistic potential. Jesus shows up in the middle of the financial crisis, America is in turmoil and the Eurozone is collapsing. They are quite apocalyptic times that we are living in with the gap between rich and poor."

It was last October we learned Matthew Vaughn was set to take on two more Millar adaptations, one was the kid superhero comic, Superior. The other was The Secret Service, based on Millar's upcoming comic teaming him with Watchmen artist, Dave Gibbons....

Millar:  "We came up with this idea of a wee ned who becomes a gentleman spy, ditching his trainers for his Savile Row suits and being taught how to speak properly. I am halfway through the comic and Matthew and I are halfway through the script. There is a good role for a 50-something actor to play an older gentleman spy training this young kid. There are not a lot of tough actors in that age group but you would never believe Colin Firth or Hugh Grant in a fight scene. We are bouncing names around."

While that may sound like a lot, it's not even close to all that Millar has in store. A sequel to Wanted has been in the works for years, with the major hang up being Angelina Jolie's refusal to return, and her possible replacement by Kristen Stewart. James McAvoy is contractually bound to come back. The latest news on the film came last September when the film's original writers were hired to start work on the sequel.

Also, Millar has an adaptation of his evil superhero comic, Nemesis, in the works as well. Joe Carnahan(The Grey) is set to direct the film about a Batman level genius who uses his powers to wreak havoc. Michael Fassbender and Liam Neeson are reportedly in consideration to star. [Daily Report]

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Sure Shots: Aubrey Plaza; 50 Cent; Matthew Vaughn

* If Roman Coppola wanted to draw attention to his long awaited(over a decade!) sophomore directing effort, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III, then he made a smart choice in snagging Charlie Sheen for a role that sounds eerily close to his own wacky life. But if Coppola wants the film to be any good, he'll need more help than that. And so along with co-star Jason Schwartzmann, he's now added the sardonic wit of Aubrey Plaza(Funny People). The story centers on Swan, a successful and irresistable graphic designer whose life goes into a tailspin after his girlfriend breaks up with him. [Variety]

* Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. >sigh< I know, it seems like the rapper/bullet magnet is in another film every single week. It's not that far from the truth, as he's hooked up with producers Randall Emmett and George Furla who are making movies just for him. The next is The Pursuit, about a cop and a criminal teaming inadvertently teaming up to capture a bank robber, each for their own personal reasons. They are pursued by a US Marshall trying to get to the robber so he can face proper legal justice. [Deadline]

* So chatty comic book creator Mark Millar has finally started to accept that Kick-Ass 2 may not even happen, and if it does Matthew Vaughn likely won't be back as director. Awesome. That doesn't mean the two won't work together again, though. In fact it seems like a certainty, as Vaughn has picked up the film rights to Millar's comic, Superior. It's a really good story, actually, and one of Millar's best. It centers on a young boy suffering from multiple sclerosis, who idolizes a comic book hero by the name of Superior. When an alien being arrives on earth and chooses the boy to have one wish fulfilled, he gains the ability to turn into his idol.

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Original writers brought back for 'Wanted' sequel

It's been a long time since we heard anything about a sequel to Wanted. Part of the reason is...well, I don't think anybody's actually dying to see one. Sure the original turned out to be a balls out, 4th wall breaking action hit, launching the Hollywood career of Mark Millar(Kick-Ass) and evolving him from a loud mouth comic book writer into a loud mouth wannabe filmmaker. In March of last year, the ever talkative Millar said that filming was set to take place later in the year, with a plan for the sequel to hit theaters at the end of 2011. That ain't happenin'. Production hit a stumbling block when Angelina Jolie quite openly refused attempts to be brought back, making the headshot her character took at the end of the first film more fatal than I think was intended. Rumors have been swirling that Kristen Stewart might take over, with James McAvoy legally bound to return.

Despite all the snags, it looks like Wanted 2 is definitely going to happen. Derek Haas, one of the writers of the original film along with Michael Brandt, tweeted that they'd been hired back to pen the sequel. He then went on to tell The Wrap that it will “pick up Wesley a few years later and go back in for another round.” Um, ok.

That doesn't tell us who else of the original cast may return. Would Common come back as the Gunsmith? And what about director Timur Bekmambetov? The more I think about it, the more I'm digging the idea of Stewart stealing the co-lead from McAvoy, if only to see how she handles her weapons.

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You might be waiting awhile for that Kick-Ass sequel

Matthew Vaughn's been slogging through(some would say struggling with) the production of X-men: First Class, which might make you think he'd want to escape the comfort of a pet project once that was over.  Something like say...Kick-Ass 2?  Mark Millar, who has been working on the comic book sequel to Kick-Ass, basically confirmed that a film version had already been greenlit, but no official word ever came down. Now it's looking like Vaughn might not be making Kick-Ass 2 for awhile, if his frequent writing partner Jane Goldman is to believed.

This is what Goldman tweeted....

Saw a few erroneous reports today that I’m currently writing Kick Ass 2 script – sorry if anyone’s disappointed, but not true. Currently writing for 2 other projects, then on to lovely Matthew V’s next thing (right now, looks unlikely to be KA2) when X-Men post-prod’ ends.

I'm pretty sure we'll get that sequel at some point, but Vaughn is way too busy to even be thinking about any future plans right now.  With that said, what are the chances of Vaughn and Millar re-teaming for a film version of Superior?

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Mark Millar knows all about Batman 3 and Wolverine 2

Or so he says. At the New York Comic-Con this past weekend, Mark Millar(Wanted, Kick-Ass) let fly a couple of choice tweets about the next Batman flick and the upcoming Wolverine sequel. Believe them if you dare....

"Oh, wait. Con gossip: I know who the villain(s) are in Batman 3 and the big scene outside Gotham sounds awesome. Totally timely locale."

"One of the villains is from my favourite childhood run on the character. Again, very unexpected."

Speculation has been that The Riddler would be the primary evildoer battling it out with Batman next time around. Could this be who Millar is referring to?

In regards to Wolverine...

"Also, a pal told me Wolverine 2 script is one of the best he's ever read. This is a guy I totally trust and he agrees the first one sucked."

I'm gonna cry bullpucky on this one. Fox? With an amazing script? Those two ideas don't even go together. I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe next time Millar is feelin' chatty he can enlighten us on the whereabouts of the Lindbergh baby. Thanks.

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Kick-Ass creator preps directorial debut, Miracle Park

Mark Millar isn't just content to have his own stories brought to the big screen by other folks. Sure, he's gained a ton of mainstream notoriety(as well as some fat paychecks) for his creations, Wanted and Kick-Ass, but now he wants to jump into the game himself in a more hands on role. It was back in November that we first learned of Millar's intent to make his directorial debut, but details on whatever the film was weren't clear. Now we have some actual details, as well as a few shots from on set.

The film is called Miracle Park, and it's being described as a cross between the X-men and Trainspotting. Seriously. It's being shot using handheld cameras in Scotland as we speak.  The plot involves animal rights activists who discover a secret government base beneath a low-level research facility. 

This one's being produced on the cheap, and there's no word on distribution as of yet. I'm assuming that with Millar's name attached we can expect some sort of theatrical release here in the States.  Check out the photos, courtesy of the fine folks at IGN.

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Wanted 2 Still On? Mark Millar Think So...

A few days we told you about Angelina Jolie's walking away from the sequel to Wanted, in order to star in Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi epic, Gravity. Well, that turned out to be mostly incorrect. The actress has indeed pulled herself from Wanted, but she's now no longer attached to Gravity and is instead eyeing Darren Aronofsky's Serena.  But that's another story.

Digital Spy(via STV) recently reported that Mark Millar, creator of Wanted, revealed that the film is proceeding without Jolie's involvement for possible release at the end of 2011...

"What I heard was that there's filming this year for a release at the end of next year, so the plot that they had will have some modifications now, her character will have to be written out completely. We'll see what happens.

"I don’t know, it changes every day. Again, things get so out of your hands with film because 300 people are involved, whereas with comics it's just you and your artist."

Millar went on to reveal that a story had been hashed out which would resurrect Fox(Jolie's character) from the dead, and that she was the potential star of the story, but now that story is being re-worked.

Hey, more power to 'em. I could do without another Wanted in any way, shape, or form, but I knew from the start that the project wasn't dead. It's too lucrative of a potential franchise to simply walk away from, especially with a wealth of A-list actresses who I'm sure would be happy to dive in and take Jolie's place. Expect this one to come out some time next year right on schedule.

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New Kick-Ass Redband Trailer featuring Hit-Girl! Not Appropriate for Work!!

Short and sweet. The redband trailer for Kick-Ass, featuring Chloe Moretz(500 Days of Summer) hackin' up a bunch of dudes? Pretty god damn crucial. Check it out and let us know what you think!

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