Sci-fi goes global with new Japanese VIZ Media imprint

VIZ Media has announced the launch of a brand-new imprint called Haikasoru, which will publish an array of contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English audiences. This is the first time an imprint with a dedicated focus on Japanese sci-fi has launched in North America. Haikasoru is scheduled to publish twelve books a ….

Will Angelina Jolie return for a Lara Croft: Tomb Raider reboot?

Warners Bros. and Dan Lin, who was a producer on The Departed, as well as the upcoming Terminator Salvation, Sherlock Holmes and Jonny Quest movies, are in early development on a “revival” of the Tomb Raider franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. We may not have too much to fear – yet, as the report ….

Iron Man scribes and indie thriller Elite Squad director team for Ludlum adaptation Sigma Protocol

Elite Squad was a tension-filled, gritty drama that I watched a screening of some time ago (Read my review RIGHT HERE). I am pleasantly surprised that Universal has taken notice of Berlin Fest Golden Bear prize winner Jose Padilha, and are negotiating with him to helm the international thriller The Sigma Protocol, which is based ….

Studios band together to form cable/streaming channel with newly released films and behind-the-scenes content

Studio 3 Networks, a joint venture formed by Viacom, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lionsgate, announced that it’s launching a next-generation entertainment service called epix. The service will provide access to films and original entertainment programming on television, along with on-demand access via broadband. Epix will make movies and entertainment accessible on multiple platforms, and ….

Joe “Narc” Carnahan and Ridley “Blade Runner” Scott bringing A-Team movie to theaters next year?

If this is accurate, it looks like the long-in-development A-Team movie, will happen. Fox has apparently assembled a creative team to finally adapt 1980s cult action TV series The A-Team into a film project for summer 2010, according to reports on Latino Review and other sites. Joe Carnahan has been tapped to direct, with Ridley ….

Win a limited edition copy of My Chemical Romance cover of Bob Dylan song from Watchmen

I posted last week that Warner Records is releasing a 12” vinyl picture disc of My Chemical Romance’s powerful cover of Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row, recorded exclusively for the upcoming feature film Watchmen, tomorrow, on January 27th. Well I placed orders immediately for three copies, and I’ve decided to give away one of these ultra-cool ….

Takashi Miike’s Yatterman world premiere at NY Comic-Con

Organizers of New York Comic Con revealed that maverick Japanese director Takashi Miike will appear at its 2009 event as a Guest of Honor, along with superstar actor and pop star Sho Sakurai. Miike and Sakurai will be speaking about their upcoming feature film Yatterman—and then present the world premiere of the highly-anticipated movie, produced ….

Last day for mailed tix to NY Comic-Con; also, Fringe/Heroes stars, Joss Whedon to appear

Today is the last day to purchase tickets by mail for New York Comic-Con (NYCC), and still receive them in the mail before the show. After today, you will still be able to purchase tickets online presumably, however, they will not be mailed, so you’ll have to wait in some very long lines at the ….

Keanu Reeves will top-line Cowboy Bebop live-action film for Fox

It’s been reported for some time that Fox is overseeing a big-screen version of the popular Japanese anime series Cowboy Bebop. Variety has confirmed that Keanu Reeves in fact attached to star as the easygoing bounty hunter Spike Spiegel, who wanders through space in search of fortune and good times, in the year 2071. Cowboy ….

Steve McQueen biopic on the way

Producers Michael Cerenzie and Christine Peters are developing a Steve McQueen biopic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The team have acquired rights to the Marshall Terrill’s biography Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel. The new film will primarily focus on McQueen’s Hollywood career, which began in 1956 when the Indiana native got his break ….

Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell in talks for Iron Man 2

Variety reports that Mickey Rourke, who is currently enjoying success from his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, is in negotiations to play the main baddie in the upcoming Iron Man sequel, which Jon Favreau starts shooting this spring. Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon, Choke) is also in talks to play another villain in the film, which ….