‘THE DARK KNIGHT RISES’ Production Schedule Update – Script By January, Filming By May

MICHAEL CAINE

Source: EmpireOnline.com

[THE DARK KNIGHT RISES] shoot will kick off in the summer and be done and dusted in six months. Per MICHAEL CAINE:

“Emma [Thomas], the producer, said we’d get the script in January. Christopher said: ‘Script in January, shoot in May, finish in November.’”

Read more HERE.

BATMAN 3 Gets A Title: ‘THE DARK KNIGHT RISES’ – RIDDLER Will NOT Be The Villian

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN has spoken: New BATMAN movie to be titled; 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES'

Source: HeroComplex.com

Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film will be called “The Dark Knight Rises” and though the Gotham City auteur isn’t ready to reveal the villain of his 2012 film, he did eliminate one of the big contenders: “It won’t be the Riddler,” Nolan said.

Read more HERE.

No 3-D either. As THRALL WORLD previously posted, TOM HARDY has been cast as the likely and still unknown villian.

BATMAN 3 Update: TOM HARDY Joins Cast As Villian? Role A Secret..

TOM HARDY

Source: Deadline.com

[Tom] Hardy [STAR TREK: NEMESIS] has been set by his INCEPTION director CHRIS NOLAN for a lead role in the next Batman film at Warner Bros.

Insiders are keeping the role secret and won’t even say if he’s up for a villain role, but that seems a reasonable assumption.

Read more HERE.

Tom Hardy was solid in INCEPTION, had an icy presence as the foil to CAPTAIN PICARD in the STAR TREK: NEMESIS movie and has already been cast as the lead in the upcoming MAD MAX remake/reboot; MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Watching him go head to head with CHRISTIAN BALE in a third NOLAN directed BATMAN movie sounds very interesting indeed..

'STAR TREK: NEMESIS' - TOM HARDY (left) and PATRICK STEWART face off

It’s Official: ZACK SNYDER To Direct New SUPERMAN Movie With GENERAL ZOD As Villian

ZACK SNYDER

Source: Deadline.com, HeatVision

Zack Snyder has been chosen to direct the new installment of Superman for Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. Snyder was on a short list of directors that I recently revealed met with the studio as well as producers Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas. Other choices at the time included helmers Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, and Duncan Jones.

Said Snyder:

“I’ve been a big fan of the character for a long time, he’s definitely the king of all superheroes, he’s the one. It’s early yet, but I can tell you that what David and Chris have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I’ve always felt he was kind of awesome. I’ll finish Sucker Punch and get right at it.”

Also from Snyder:

“I defintely expressed my love for the character and interest in seeing him treated right. The character deserves to be loved. It’s his time.”

Also an update on the villian that SUPERMAN will be facing in the film:

Goyer is writing the script, which is rumored to have, like “Superman Returns,” a Richard Donner Superman connection. In the movie’s case, it’s a villain connection: General Zod.

Read more HERE and HERE.

Snyder proved without a doubt his understanding of epic comic book characters in the super hero world with his very underrated and unduly criticized take on ‘WATCHMEN’. ’300′ was also a fantastic translation of the FRANK MILLER retelling as was the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake. The upcoming SUCKER PUNCH and the animated LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE look impressive from a distance… Throw in the producing savvy of one CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and SUPERMAN could very well top THE DARK KNIGHT in terms of story and all around amazingness.

A tall order? Sure. But these are two of the best visionaries out there right now so if anyone were be able to leap tall stories in a single bound it would be them.

SUPERMAN teaming up with super-producer CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and super-director ZACK SNYDER

BATMAN 3 Update: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Confirms He’s Directing – MICHAEL CAINE Says Filming To Begin May 2011 – Who Is The Villian??

BATMAN 3: CHRISTIAN BALE and director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN reteaming for the follow up to THE DARK KNIGHT

Source: EmpireOnline.com, ComingSoon.net

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN making the gossip rounds for the past several days – a lot of it surrounding his producing role on SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL. But what about directing the inevitable follow-up to THE DARK KNIGHT – which has never been 100% confirmed but that most of us in the blogosphere have pretty much taken for granted?

“It’s becoming inevitable, I’ll put it that way,” says Nolan. “I feel myself falling into it, I guess. And getting it all figured out and I’m pretty excited about what we’re doing so… If I haven’t announced it, I think that people probably all know at this point that I’m doing it.”

And:

“I think you can at this point, yes [I will be directing BATMAN 3].”

According to Sir MICHAEL CAINE who is expected to reprise his role as Bruce Waynes mentor/butler Alfred, filming will –

“probably start in May next year…”

And finally:

Chris [Nolan] and co-writer Jonathan Nolan are not telling anyone who the villain will be in the new film.

THRALL WORLD would love to see Nolan tackle the KNIGHTFALL storyline so we would say BANE!! But the whole point of Nolan’s so-far incredible BATMAN retelling was the YEAR ONE BATMAN and BANE didn’t show up on in GOTHAM until Year 10 (???) or something like that.

Announced BATMAN 3 release date: July 20, 2012.

‘SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL’ Update – Bigger Role For CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Overall As Two More Join List Of Potential Directors

DARREN ARONOFSKY: reportedly in the running as director of the new SUPERMAN movie

Source: Heatvision

Lots of noise about the upcoming SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL movie being produced by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. Hot topic is who will direct? THRALL WORLD posted a handful of leading contenders a couple of days ago that included DUNCAN JONES, JONATHAN LIEBESMAN, MATT REEVES, TONY SCOTT, and ZACK SNYDER.

Here’s the latest:

The derby to helm the Christopher Nolan-produced Man of Steel pic has become the talk of the town. Nolan is knee-deep in the selection process, and he and producer/wife Emma Thomas will be heavily involved in the movie, so he’s looking for a director who is able to handle the elaborate production and willing to collaborate.

“Willing to collaborate” is new. A bigger role for Nolan as the movie is realized. This can only be a good thing.

BEN AFLLECK was apparently on the short list:

..extremely popular at Warners after making “The Town,” a critical and box-office hit. But according to insiders, the actor-director — who, ironically, once portrayed the actor who played Superman on TV in “Hollywoodland” — met about “Superman” last week but is nolonger pursuing it.

DARREN ARONOFSKY also:

..riding high on buzz generated by his upcoming “Black Swan,” is still in active talks, according to sources. But it’s early.

Read more HERE.

Check out Nolan’s comments this past March on his upcoming projects HERE which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

Who Will Direct The New CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Produced SUPERMAN Movie? Leading Contenders Emerge

SUPERMAN movie directors in the running from left to right: DUNCAN JONES, JONATHAN LIEBESMAN, MATT REEVES, TONY SCOTT, ZACK SNYDER

Source: Deadline.com, ComingSoon.net

On the list: Unstoppable’s Tony Scott, Let Me In director Matt Reeves, Battle: Los Angeles helmer Jonathan Liebesman (who just got the Warner Bros/Legendary job of directing Clash of the Titans 2), Duncan Jones, who just directed Source Code, and Sucker Punch helmer Zack Snyder.

Nolan has already started meeting with candidates and will submit his choice to the studio within the next few weeks.

Warner Bros and Legendary have to get the picture made by 2012, because the studio stands to lose certain rights to the iconic character in 2013 after a judge ruled favorably on behalf of the heirs of Superman creator Jerry Siegel.

Read more HERE.

Check out Nolan’s comments this past March on his upcoming projects HERE which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

‘SANDMAN’ Television Series In Development – NEIL GAIMAN Not Yet Personally Involved

NEIL GAIMAN

Source: Heatvision

“The Sandman,” the Neil Gaiman-penned comic book series considered a seminal work in the medium, is in the early stages of being developed into a TV series.

Warner Bros. TV is in the midst of acquiring television rights from sister company DC Entertainment and in talks with several writer-producers about adapting the 1990s comic. At the top of the list is Eric Kripke, creator of the CW’s horror-tinged “Supernatural.”

“Sandman” told the tale of Morpheus, the Lord of the Dreaming, a deity who personifies dreams. The book began in the horror realm but quickly made its mark in fantasy and mythology as Gaiman introduced the Endless, a group of powerful brothers and sisters named Destiny, Death, Destruction, Despair, Desire and Delirium (as well as Dream).

The author is not involved in the new developments, though since it is early in the process, that may change.

Read more HERE.

Artwork from 'THE SANDMAN' comic book

BATMAN 3 Gets A Release Date!

BATMAN 3 release date announced - CHRISTIAN BALE and director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN moving forward on follow up to THE DARK KNIGHT

Source: ComingSoon.net

The wheels are starting to turn on the follow-up to what THRALL WORLD considers the greatest super-hero movie of all time; THE DARK KNIGHT!

Warner Bros. Pictures has set a July 20, 2012 release date for Christopher Nolan’s third Batman movie in conventional and IMAX theaters!

Read more HERE.

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CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Talks BATMAN And SUPERMAN Sequels In New Interview

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

Source: LA Times

Christopher Nolan has opened up for the first time to answer questions and to dispell rumors on his upcoming projects which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

On a new Superman movie:

“It’s very exciting, we have a fantastic story. And we feel we can do it right. We know the milieu, if you will, we know the genre and how to get it done right.”

On working with Superman screenwriter David Goyer (screenwriter for THE DARK KNIGHT, BATMAN BEGINS, JUMPER, and all three BLADE movies as well as director of BLADE: TRINITY):

“[Goyer] basically told me, ‘I have this thought about how you would approach Superman. I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get [Supermand producer (and Nolan's wife)] Emma [Thomas] and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way.”

On the new Batman sequel:

“Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third [Batman] film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story.”

Read the entire article/interview HERE.

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New SUPERMAN Movie?? DAVID GOYER Writing ‘THE MAN OF STEEL’, Early Script Details Emerge – BRANDON ROUTH Will NOT Star

BRANDON ROUTH: No longer expected to star in the next SUPERMAN movie - likely titled 'THE MAN OF STEEL'

Source: LatinoReview.com

Are we finally starting to see some real movement on a SUPERMAN movie? Maybe so. Here’s the latest:

* The talented David Stephen Goyer, the man who made sure Nolan stuck to the legend of [The] Dark Knight, has been hired to write the next chapter.
* Thomas Tull, the head of Legendary… went to Goyer and Goyer had an idea that actually takes the movies back to the John Byrne incarnation. Modern. Believable. FUN!
* The film will not be called Superman and will be called THE MAN OF STEEL.
* Brandon Routh will not star in the film.
* Bryan Singer is not expected to direct.

Rumored plot details: Goyer’s story involves Luthor and Brainiac. It is NOT an origin and assumes audiences already know about Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Perry. I know the Daily Planet is struggling due to the internet. And I know it sets up a huge Kryptonian mythology.

Also, re: the final word on rumors of MARK MILLER (WANTED) being involved:

…He was never even discussed to write it.

Read more HERE.

To update our previous post which stated Goyer was writing the new BATMAN 3 movie script:

Goyer is only helping in the story, he ain’t writing it. Just like The Dark Knight where he only helped with the story.

Read more on that HERE.

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BATMAN 3 Update: Script Being Written, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Overseeing SUPERMAN Franchise Too

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Source: Deadline.com, Deadline.com

[DAVID GOYER] co-wrote Batman Begins, and penned the story for The Dark Knight, and is now writing the third Batman installment with Chris Nolan’s brother Jonah.

Read more HERE.

Also:

The brains behind [the] rebooted Batman has been asked to play a “godfather” role and ensure The Man Of Steel gets off the ground after a 3 1/2-year hiatus.

Read more HERE on the interesting path the Superman movies took after the initial franchise with CHRISTOPHER REEVE sputtered out in the late 80′s.

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WARNER BROTHERS Creates DC ENTERTAINMENT INC.

WARNER BROTHERS

DC Comics Logo

Source: ComingSoon.net

Warner Bros. has officially announced the restructuring of DC Comics into a new company:

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI) has created DC Entertainment Inc., a new company founded to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms, to be run by Diane Nelson, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, and Alan Horn, President & COO, Warner Bros.

Read the entire press release HERE.

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GUY RITCHIE’s Next Movie? ‘LOBO’ Live Action Film Based On The DC Comic

GUY RITCHIE

Source: Variety

Warner Bros. has locked Guy Ritchie [SNATCH, LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS] to direct “Lobo,” the live action adaptation of the DC Comics drama about an alien interstellar bounty hunter.

Production on “Lobo” begins early next year. The character originated in 1983 in “Omega Men,” written by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen. Lobo has had several comic incarnations. In the film, he is a seven-foot tall, blue-skinned, indestructible and heavily muscled anti-hero who drives a pimped out motorcycle, and lands on Earth in search of four fugitives who are bent on wreaking havoc. Lobo teams with a small town teenaged girl to stop the creatures.

WB is aiming for a PG-13 rating.

Read more HERE.

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The Final Fate Of SUPERMAN: Lawsuit Settled In Favor Of Creators Heirs – DC And Warner Brothers Will Lose All Rights In 2013

CHRISTOPHER REEVE As SUPERMAN

Source: Variety

In an ongoing California court battle over Superman, Judge Stephen Larson issued a ruling Wednesday that awards the family of the superhero’s co-creator, Jerry Siegel, rights to additional works, including the first two weeks of the daily Superman newspaper comicstrips, as well as portions of early Action Comics and Superman comicbooks.

This means the Siegels now control depictions of Superman’s origins from the planet Krypton, his parents Jor-L and Lora, Superman as the infant Kal-L, the launching of the infant Superman into space by his parents as Krypton explodes and his landing on Earth in a fiery crash.

After a court order reverted rights to the Siegels in 2008, they owned the basis of the Superman character, including his costume, his alter-ego as reporter Clark Kent, the feisty reporter Lois Lane, their jobs at the Daily Planet newspaper working for a gruff editor, and the love triangle among Clark/Superman and Lois.

But that didn’t give them the full Superman copyright because DC owns other important elements like Superman’s ability to fly, the term kryptonite, the Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White characters, Superman’s vision powers and expanded origins.

The confusion exists because Superman first appeared in 1938 in Action Comics No. 1, which was sold by Siegel and co-creator Joel Schuster to DC. Everything after that was a work-for-hire, owned by DC.

However, copyright law dictates that full ownership of Superman goes back to the Siegels in 2013. That will give them the chance to set up Superman pics, TV shows and other projects at another studio.

Read more HERE.

THRALL WORLD is extremely curious as to how the Siegels will approach the future of SUPERMAN. There can be little doubt that Superman is completely misunderstood in todays world of “bad-ass-fukk-all” anti-heroes who seem to have a a gradually easier time of killing in the name of modern justice. And misunderstood applies to anyone who thinks Superman is “boring” or too “goody two-shoes”.

Superman remains the elusive dream of the perfect hero and a hero we choose to hold onto for clarity in our imperfect Thrall World. Now more than ever before we need Superman and we anxiously await his return.

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BATMAN Sequel Update: “We Start Shooting Next Year” – GARY OLDMAN

GARY OLDMAN As LT. JIM GORDON In 'THE DARK KNIGHT'

Source: ComingSoon.net

Gary Oldman just announced at the Warner Bros. Book of Eli panel that a third Batman film will go into production next year.

“I think the next Batman is next year,” he told a fan who asked about when the long-awaited “Dark Knight” follow-up would hit, “We start shooting next year. You didn’t hear that from me.”

Read more HERE.

Of course there’s always the possibility Oldman had heard the question a billion times and just gave it the “Sure, why not…” response. We heard this yesterday but wanted to make sure the rumor held before we passed it on. Pretty cool if it works out. THRALL WORLD is prepared to wait five years between Batman movies if necessary to uphold the standard director Christopher Nolan has brought to the franchise and comic book movies as a whole.

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DC Comics Movie Updates: BATMAN Sequel, SUPERMAN Sequel, FLASH, GREEN ARROW, TEEN TITANS, AQUAMAN – More

The 'JUSTICE LEAGUE' Movie Is Officially In Developmental Hell. But Movies Starring The Individual Members Of The JLA Pantheon Itself Appear To Be Taking Shape - With One MAJOR Notable Exception - No SUPERMAN Sequel In Sight...

TheHollywoodReporter.com

Update on DC movies. Among the more interesting nuggets are some of the other JUSTICE LEAGUE pantheon that are currently being developed – Flash, Green Arrow, and Aquaman. Also a ‘Teen Titans’ movie!

This past fall, Warners quietly hired three of DC’s biggest writers — Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Marv Wolfman — to act as consultants and writers for its superhero line of movies. The move involved taking back the reins on projects being handled by such producers as Charles Roven (“The Flash”) and Akiva Goldsman (“Teen Titans”).

Read more HERE.

Marv Wolfman is most likely overseeing the Teen Titans (although that is not confirmed in the article). His JUDAS CONTRACT Teen Titan storyline was my introduction to the series back in the day and some damn good reading.

There are no details as to what DC scribe whiz-kid Grant Morrison, might be involved with but this is the one we here at THRALL WORLD will be keeping an ear out for that bit of information as it is one of the more interesting reveals.

Also: A BATMAN sequel seems likely with Nolan returning once he has finished ‘INCEPTION’ but this is not really adding anything to recent gossip.

But a new SUPERMAN sequel? Oddly enough the most iconic of DC characters and the superhero that started it all seems the most questionable with the copyright set to change hands back to the original creators heirs in the next couple of years. Everything involving Superman including whether or not the character will even stay at DC appears up in the air. A sequel before then seems very unlikely in our humble opinion.

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‘SUPERMAN’ Movie Update: No Script, No Movie Until 2012 At The Earliest – Maybe Never Via WB As Copyright Set To Expire

BRANDON ROUTH As SUPERMAN

Source: Variety

In a decision announced Wednesday, U.S. Judge District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson found that the license fees the studio paid to corporate sibling DC Comics didn’t represent “sweetheart” deals as they weren’t below fair market value. That means the heirs will be able seek profits only from DC Comics — which earned $13.6 million from Warner Bros. for the 2006 release of “Superman Returns” — rather than from Warner Bros. as well.

Beyond that…

The judge, who conducted a 10-day bench trial, also noted that Warner Bros. chairman Alan Horn had testified that he hopes to make another “Superman” movie but added that the property wasn’t under development at the studio, that no script had been written and that the earliest another “Superman” pic could be released would be in 2012.

[Attorney Marc] Toberoff [who represents heirs Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson] also asserted in a written statement that the Siegel heirs and the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster will own the entire Superman copyright in 2013.

Read more HERE.

It’s not clear what the copyright and licensing future is for DC Comics which is a bit out of left field. If we had to guess? No new movie until post copyright turnover.

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SUPERMAN Movie Update: BRANDON ROUTH’s Contract Expires – Will He Return?

BRANDON ROUTH As SUPERMAN

Source: Omelete.com.br

Omelete.com.br recently sat down with actor Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) and asked about the status of a new Superman sequel.

“I do not know of anything. I’m sure that Warner Bros. is moving there, but everything is still uncertain. Really, I do not know anything.”

Another key reveal? Routh confirmed he has no contract to play the super-hero.

“The term contract has expired. But if they call me again, back to the character without thinking twice.”

Read more HERE. The original article is from Brazil and in Portugese.

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‘WATCHMEN’ Director’s Cut Set For Limited Theatrical Release – Details

'WATCHMEN' movie: Limited Rerelease Confirmed

Source: SciFiWire.com

Warner Brothers is giving Zack Snyder’s director’s cut of Watchmen—which will have an additional 25 minutes of footage, including the death of a supporting character—a limited theatrical run one week before Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The cut will screen in Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis and Dallas before the movie is released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 21.

Read more HERE.

Go see it if you get a chance. Better than the recent ‘Terminator Salvation’ movie. Better than the new ‘Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen’ (judging by the reviews), and billions upon billions of times better than the pitiful ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’. WATCHMEN is THEE super hero movie of the year! The critics were abhorantly WRONG about the movie.

Trust me. The missing squid is not going to ruin the Watchmen movie experience for you.

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