The Dark World Of Television...

There seems to be a lot of collusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

While DC Entertainment seems to be still struggling to make their plans solidify, Mighty Marvel marches on.  The newly started DC Cinematic Universe will extend only to films, while their television shows both animated and live-action are two other separate worlds. Marvel Studios on the other hand, seems to be including most of their live-action as one whole universe. While letting the animation department be its own world, it too though has influences with the MCU.

Many of you saw the announcement that an upcoming episode of "Agents of Shield" will tie in directly to the latest Marvel Studios film, "Thor: The Dark World".  This also stands to reason that the upcoming Marvel Studios film, "Captain America: Winter Soldier" will also play an important role in the series should AOS get a green light for a season two.  Even more so when "Avengers: Age of Ultron" rages across the screen.  It turns out it was a good thing making Marvel's first series a part of the MCU. Or maybe it was just unbelievable luck? Either way, there appears to be a lot more of it coming down the line.

With the monstrous deal signed with Netflix, Disney has placed on Marvel into an even broader playing field with even more platforms to distribute their brand.  And the shows appear to be connected to the main universe as well. Which means, we might see crossovers with other shows and possibly even additional movies.  It appears they've adapted a strategy for television similar to their successful film plan.  While Marvel Studios started out with Ironman and built up various characters until they had a group that could form the Avengers, these television heroes are each building until they become a group of their own, "The Defenders".  Television-sized of course.

Starting off first with Daredevil, then Luke Cage, Iron Fist and ultimately Jessica Jones, these grittier heroes will embark upon an area of the Marvel Universe not seen so far.  It will also be the introduction of Marvel's first superhero characters with secret identities. Something that the films avoided so far.  Unlike DC with their "Arrow" series, their "Flash" spin-off series, or their upcoming Hour Man show, these characters will be in the same universe as The Mighty Thor and The First Avenger.  There might even be a tie-in/crossover with Agents of Shield.  Although that could prove difficult since the AOS series is designed as a family show, and these four series (+miniseries) will be of at least a slightly more mature content than offerings on networks.  It's an exciting time right now for Marvel fans, comic book fans, and geeks in general.

It's hard for a DC Guy like myself to say, but Marvel really is doing a pounding on the former National Periodicals right now...

Wayne Enterprises Leaves Gotham, Relocates To Burbank...

Looks like Batman will be looking for a new Batcave...

It isn't too surprising with almost every other part of DC Entertainment in California along with Suit/Creatives Geoff Johns and Jim Lee already West Coast planted.  For those that haven't heard or didn't care, DC Comics has announced it is moving out of New York City.  Burbank, California will be the new home of the famed comic company.  This also happens to be the home of the company's owner, Warner Bros.

The plan is a gradual one which won't be completed until 2015.  We don't know how creative decisions will be affected by hue change.  Will Superman tanning himself in Malibu make him less likely to travel around saving lives?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Here's the internal e-mail that DC Comics suits sent out to their employees explaining the decision:

Dear DCE Team,

As I hope you know, I and the entire DCE exec team work hard to offer transparency about as much of our business plans and results as we possibly and responsibly can.  In an effort to continue to do that where possible and to ensure you are hearing news from us, rather than a third party, I am proactively reaching out to you this afternoon to share news about our business.

I can confirm that plans are in the works to centralize DCE’s operations in 2015.  Next week, the Exec Team will be in New York for a series of meetings to walk everyone through the plans to relocate the New York operations to Burbank.  The move is not imminent and we will have more than a year to work with the entire company on a smooth transition for all of us, personally and professionally. 

Everyone on the New York staff will be offered an opportunity to join their Burbank colleagues and those details will be shared with you individually, comprehensively and thoughtfully next week.  Meeting notifications will be sent tomorrow to ensure the roll out of this information and how it affects the company and you personally.

We know this will be a big change for people and we will work diligently to make this as smooth and seamless a transition as possible. 

Best,

Diane

I'm wondering where Bruce Wayne's new West Coast digs are...

Pulp From The Vine...

Blue Sky isn't the only one that sees a resurgence in pulp influences on pop-culture...

The guys over at Comic Vine have posted an article entitled: "The Resurgence of Pulp in Comics" that could be a companion piece to our very own "The Geek Codex" article.  Check it out for a thoughtful look at the gravitation toward the archetype characters that helped build what became comic books.

And then influence radio, film and television...

The Geek Codex...

It's amazing how the past can sometimes take control of the present...

Or predict the future.  Because that's what happened between the 1930's to the 1950's.  Much of the literature or films of these decades greatly influenced what we go to the theaters to see, or what we turn on the television to watch.  Now, I'm talking specifically about a certain type of literature (pulp magazines & comics) and a certain kind of film (serials).

Don't think so?  Think again.

Imagine some of the biggest hits in the last two decades, or even three decades and what do you come up with?  Star Wars?  It's a Saturday morning serial, especially "The Empire Strikes Back", as it's a pure matinee picture.  Raiders of the Lost Ark?  It's cut from the mold of old serials like "Spy Smasher" or "Zorro's Black Whip" among others.  Even it has imitators like "The Mummy" that play into the serial/pulp vein of pictures.  What is Disney's big tent pole picture this summer?  "The Lone Ranger" which is based on pulp stories that turned into serials like "The Lone Ranger" and "The Lone Ranger Rides Again" to the classic television series.

And then there are the pulp stories like "Doc Savage" that is walking right out of a tattered, old pulp magazine.  There have been some abortive attempts like "The Shadow" which has the correct look, but the wrong feel for the character.  And there have been efforts to bring him back, specifically, Sam Raimi a few years back before he got "Spider-Man" off the ground.  Disney's own "John Carter of Mars", which sadly didn't connect properly with audiences, comes from the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories printed in these old pulps.  Most people like to make fun of this that have never read the novels, or they simply forget because of Burroughs more famous pulp creation: Tarzan.

And comic books seem to be the biggest beneficiary of this resurgence.  There have been bad attempts at this over the decades, but around the end of the last century we started getting films that tapped the right fan artery.  Part of this was because Suit in charge were beginning to be the generation that read these comics so the stories were more authentic, and second, the introduction of computer graphics made it possible to create believable worlds; something that wasn't achievable a decade earlier.  A film of the Justice League or Avengers a couple of decades ago would have looked horrible, but with the help of CG and a script by Joss Whedon, look at what can be achieved?  A Justice League picture right now sounds like a monster waiting to be unleashed, not a film to be humiliatingly tucked away in a vault.

But a great deal of what you see on the silver screen today has been born from the DNA of these mediums.  And we're beginning o see more and more of them.  Expect if Doc Savage succeeds for The Shadow to be quickly green lit into production.  Studio Suits will go mining the pages of dingy pulps looking for the next character that they can exploit.  Something like The Spider could be the next one to go, or a less known pulp hero like Operator 5 or Secret Agent X.  If Warner Bros. wants to get on the band wagon, all they have to do is look through their DC Comics characters for "Spy Smasher", a little character they bought from Whiz Comics years ago.  He's the star of an incredibly entertaining serial by the same name that is utterly dear to me.

Not everything will be a hit.  For every Star Wars, there is a "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" that doesn't perform.  Or a "Rocketeer" that disappoints.  But even that film has developed a growing following as it's gotten older.  It's aged like wine to the point where the Mouse is thinking of rebooting it for the next generation.  Everything old is new again, or can be.  If you were a fan of "The Clone Wars" then you might not know that you were watching a serial.  Everything about that show flows back to the old Flash Gordon serials, from the action to the opening exposition setting up what's to come.

Yes, pulp/serials/comics changed the world.  At least the one we pay money for a ticket to see.  They take us away from the boring, drab world we live in to take us to a world where good will win, and it will do so with style and presence.  It's a place where danger lurks around every corner, but fun pervades every bit of atmosphere.  Within this world we can escape the lives we live, to experience something missing from our day to day journeys.

Now sit back in your chair at that theater and watch these old tales live again...

Posters And Banners Of Steel...

More and more "Man of Steel" posters keep appearing...

And last, but not least, the fan community is pretty talented as well.  Take a look at this breathtaking poster not created by Warner Bros., but a fan.  A very talented one with a good eye for design.

Not much longer and we can judge if the film is as good as the posters...

A Badge Required To Enter S.H.I.E.L.D...

During tonight's episode finale of "Once Upon A Time", the Mouse is going to tease us...

But until then we have this peek at what the show might be from the app Vine. The ABC Suits are going all out with hyping this show.  I'm sure that Joss Whedon must be happy to have the support for his fledgling, new show.  The Fox Suits just never gave the support for "Dollhouse" when it was on the network.  I've never understood why a broadcaster will invest millions of dollars in a show and not properly try to promote/expose it to the public.  But Hollywood is filled with stories such as these.

Watching that makes you have to wonder who will show up on this show....

Doctored Adventures...

Where there's a whip, there a way, make mine Marvel...

So we broke the news about the Star Wars comic the other day, but we didn't address the elephant in the room...

That is, if Darth Vader is packing his bags, then the Man in the Hat will likely go with him.  While the confirmation I was given was only about Star Wars, it's simple math that determines Indiana Jones will also follow Han Solo over to Marvel.  So, then the question is what do they do with him?

Dark Horse has had a good run with Lucasfilm, being as they have had a better understanding of the properties than those that handled them in the past, and yes Marvel was one of those handlers.  The Indiana Jones adventures under their licence has consisted of some pretty good adventures for Doctor Jones.  From "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis," "Thunder in the Orient," "Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold" to "Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Invincible Ruby," there have been some grand adventures.  Dark Horse is a comic company that "gets" the pop-culture properties that it licenses.  So we have to wonder if Marvel will "get" them since their last tales were a bit uninspiring.

Perhaps it'll be different the second time around.  Perspective is everything.  With all those out there in the business knowing how well received the Dark Horse stories of Indy have been, it'll give the editors over at Marvel's bull pin a little more reason to stay frosty.  Hopefully, if the rights revert back to this in a couple of years they'll have a game plan ready.  This is just my advice, no secret info that has been given to me by a Bothan or Nazi double agent.  Take it for what it is: my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.

First thing they should do is something that they actually should NOT do.  Don't make it a monthly.

That was one of the smart things that Dark Horse did.  I mean, the books came out monthly, but it wasn't a monthly comic.  These adventures had a beginning, middle, and end.  There was no dragging out the story over a long period of months just to sell books.  Each story they create should be self contained.  With a certain number of issues, be it 6, 8, or maybe even a 12 issue maxi-series.  Next, there has to be talent brought together, like one puts together a director, producer and writer on a film.  Have different teams that can tackle adventures from every angle, every location, and have them have fun with the characters.

I personally would love to see John Byrne take another crack at Indiana Jones.  He may not of course, since his dealing with a Lucasfilm Suit resulted in it being one of the worst comic book experiences of his professional career.  But to imagine Denny O'Neil, Byrne and even Terry Austin together would be something I would gladly look forward to.  And if Austin couldn't do it, how about Karl Kessel, they're two of the best inkers to ever handle Byrne's pencils.

Then someone like Chris Claremont would seem to make a great writers to stick his hand at Doctor Jones' adventures.  How about you team him up with J. Scott Campbell, who's toyed around with the character for fun and is a fantastic artist.  His Danger Girl series is already heavily inspired by Raiders-type adventures; how about letting him draw the actual thing?

Speaking of Raiders-type things, there have been a few "Tomb Raider" comics over the years and some of the artist/writers that have worked on these books would fit the mold perfectly for an Indy comic.  I would love to see Andy Park illustrate a book by Marvel dealing with Jones globe traveling.  He's such a talented artist, not only in comics, but as a conceptual artist (he worked on "The Avengers" and created some fantastic pieces) too.  Maybe team him with Dan Jurgens, whom he worked with on Top Cow's Tomb Raider comic (the #1 comic of 1999, btw) and have them focus on some serial adventures?

Or take a iconic artist like Alex Ross and let him have his way with the fedora and whip?  Imagine a fully painted issue of fortune and glory done by this talented artist.  Team him up with a hot new talent like Sam Humphries or Rick Remender and you could have a very facinating adventure.

Or perhaps reach into the cinematic world?  Why should Joss Whedon be the only one that can write for both film and comics?  Someone who I think would be terrific for a Indiana Jones comic is Michael France (Cliffhanger, Fantastic Four - not the horrible Tim Story film, but the script which should have been made.), with the right artist, say someone like Ed Benes or Ivan Reis, they would make a fantastic comic book.  That would be a mini-series I'd want to see.

Then there's Mark Protosevich (Thor and I Am Legend, both of which have amazing screenplays better than the actual films that were released.), who would be great to see do an adaptation of Indy's mcguffin hunts, perhaps pairing him with Travis Charest, and having his amazing art translate Protosevich's prose?  I'm.  So.  There.

And these are just the ideas off the top of my head.  Imagine what the Marvel editors could come up with if they sat in a room with a bunch of writers and artists pitching tales of the famed explorer?  The mind truly boggles at that thought.  To keep Indiana Jones relevant and in the public's eye, these would be rather quick and easy steps to continue to mine this property until that day when Kathleen Kennedy approves Paul Dini's animated series.

Yes, I dream, but if you're going to dream, do it big I say...

Excelcior's Birth...

Ninety years, true believers...

There are five pillars of the comic book industry...

Three are at DC Comics and two belong to Marvel Comics.  DC, or as it was called way back in the beginning of comic book creation, National Periodical Publications, had Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Bob Kane.  Marvel had Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.

Today, Stan "The Man" Lee celebrates his 90th year on this planet.  Now, I don't how old he is on another planet.  You might have to ask Reed Richards since he knows the Marvel galaxies better than me.  But Stan would go on to co-create most of the Marvel heroes we know and love today.  From "Fantastic Four," "Spider-Man," "The Avengers," to countless others, the world of young boys and girls would change forever after the early 60's.  He has handled the celebrity and success over the years with grace, flair and dignity.  Stan Lee has become an icon of pop-culture, a living monument to American myth.

And with great power, comes great responsibility...

Gods Among Us...

My only son... 







 

So we finally have our first real look at the Last Son of Krypton...

And it's a very lovely look.  A dreamy, hyper-realistic look and feel of an American icon that many have thought was too old fashioned, too  corner and too dated.

If the film lives up to this trailer then those critics will be eating a lot of crow.  I hope they end up eating copious amounts of the bird.  My only real complaint is when Jonathan Kent talks about the act that Clark did.  He wouldn't say that.  He would be instilling values on his adopted son to do the right thing regardless of the consequences.  He would be the focal point of the young Superman's values.  He wouldn't say that statement, unless there are words on the other side of it that better elaborate what he was talking about.  But other than that, this looks like a film I can't wait to see.

The only thing that could spoil it would be if they tacked on a clip of Batman after the credits portrayed by a Bruce Wayne-less Joseph Gordon Levitt...

Five Comics Marvel Should Make Into Films...

Mighty collection of characters...












A while ago we focus on what lesser known comics DC should be made, now we go the Marvel Way...

If you remember reading Blue Sky's post "Five Comics DC Should Make Into Films," you'll remember I said that we'd do a Marvel post on the subject also. Well, this is that post. Marvel has thousands of characters that can be used/exploited in many forms of media/television/film/Internet/merchandise. But deep within the catalog of characters like Deedpool, or Iron Fist, or The Vision, there are many more unknown gems that could be turned into desirable properties. These are some of the characters/groups that Blue Sky Disney thinks would make great and entertaining films and other media. Some are less known, while others you might never have heard of, but should have been.



Excelsior...
#5: The Howling Commandos - Tell me there are fans out there that watched "Captain America: The First Avenger" that didn't want to see more of the Howling Commandos? Wouldn't it be amazing to watch a true World War II action epic with them fighting Nazis/Hydra? Sign me up for that. Imagine a story with the likes of Dum Dum Dugan and his crew doing their best for the Allied Cause, with Howard Stark arriving at a pivotal point to hand them some amazing piece of technology to help them out of a bind. I'm there.


#4: Invaders - Ok, you can probably see that I have a thing for World War II stuff, so all of what I said about the Howling Commandos will apply here as well. I know that Captain America wouldn't show up, but having Namor, the original Human Torch and several other characters going up against the bad guy super-villians of the Third Reich. Nothing like magical powers on display between the forces of Allied good and Axis evil.


#3: Monster Hunters - Think of this as a collection of heroes going against the monsters that haunt the world. A film version of "Supernatural" set in the late 40's/early 50's sort of. Meeting at the Explorers Club in New York, a rag tag collection of occult and mystical powered explorers that search the night for what scares us, and rid it from us. If not a film, this would make an excellent television series on ABC. Hello Suits?


#2: Dominic Fortune - Set in the Thirties, this follows an old fashioned and flamboyant adventure seeker/mercenary. From his home base in Los Angeles, Fortune would fight for justice in the Depressionary Era against such known Marvel foes as Baron Zemo and Baron Von Strucker. His adventures took him around the world, from the mines in Africa where he fought Nazis stealing Vibranium, to the Los Angeles Underworld where he broke up a Japanese spy ring. Oh, and did I mention he's pretty good with the ladies? Think of him as an American James Bond set in the Golden Era of Hollywood. Lights, camera, action!


#1: Master of Kung Fu - This is one of my all-time favorite Marvel comics. Shang Chi, the son of the evil Dr. Fu Manchu, walks the earth. Trained by his father, he was sent out into the world to assassinate one of his father's enemies. It was in that world that he realized who his father was and what he intended. Chi became a secret agent and set about to work against his father's plan for world domination. Imagine a Marvel film that is an all out Kung Fu film, with fight action directed by someone like Yuen Wo Ping! This would be seven kinds of awesome.

Honorary mention:



Agents of Atlas - Actually a team of heroes created from various characters that used to belong to Atlas Comics before Marvel purchased them, this odd group of people could create a very interesting adventure film. What would it be like to have a giant talking gorilla walking around with huge guns blazing a path to victory? The team was formed in the late 50's/early 60's by a secret division of the FBI to rescue President Eisenhower from the villainous Yellow Claw. Imagine if Marvel films had a film that was James Bond/The Man from U.N.C.L.E. with super-powered elements set in the Sixties.



Alpha Flight - Imagine dealing with the Canadian military organization that created Wolverine? Think about a story examining his story from the standpoint of people who were involved in it? After all, he was Weapon X, but there were other experiments (like Weapon Alpha, that became Guardian). It's Canada's own super hero team and their battles against bad guys. Essentially, it's a "what if" story that asks what if the X-Men were a group that operated from the government instead of Professor X's leadership. Could be an interesting take and Marvel's chance to make another mutant story since they don't have access to the ones at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.


Legion of Monsters - Think of this as the "Monster Squad," except this time they're the good guys. A group of Marvel's monsters that work together: Morbius, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, even Ghost Rider (whom I wouldn't use for this) and FrankenCastle (think of it as The Punisher meets the Frankenstein Monster). What if "The X-Files" were told from these characters point of view? That would be the basis for this kind of film. Imagine a groovy tale of horror investigation that was investigated by the monsters themselves? A Marvel horror/adventure film would be an interesting tale.

And these are just five. Ok, eight if you count the honorable mentions, but you get the point. There are characters within the pages of these books that can be mined for decades. All they need to do is read through them. But knowing development executives, that's might be a hard thing for them to do. Luckily, Alan Horn is known to actually read scripts and have great taste, so Walt Disney Studios could have some very good properties over the next few years. Some from comics and many others from other sources, like magazine articles, books and even original screenplays. But with Horn, Lasseter, Feige, and a film partner named Spielberg, we can expect a good slate of projects through the middle of the decade.

And a few of them will be wearing capes...

Natural Selection...

I just hope it's not a musical...




Well, it didn't take long before we found out what that Marvel Television series would be about...

Today the story broke that the Marvel television series that Joss Whedon would guide for broadcast on ABC will be based on the secrective government organization ran by Nick Fury. S.H.I.E.L.D. does seem like an obvious choice for the show which will be based in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (I still believe people will be confused by shows like "Hulk," which will not be canon.).

For those of you that have been following Blue Sky Disney, we broke news of this possibility two years ago based on info from a couple of our Bothan spies. Of course, it was still in a very early stage, and the Suits at Disney/Marvel had no idea what the form would actually be, but the idea had been floating around.

With Joss Whedon producing/writing it with his brother, Jed Whedon and collaborator Maurissa Tancharoen, the show looks to have the makings of the most prominent series Joss has ever created. His budgets won't be cut like on "Firefly," and his time slots won't get shifted around like other series of his. The profits from "The Avengers" will have many of those problems as the winds at his back.

And with him writing and possibly directing the pilot, helming that little sequel, and having a hand in the story lines of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two, it appears that he's on his way to competing with J.J. Abrams for pop-CULTure icon of the 21st century. Is there anyone out there that can't also see Nathan Fillion all in black as a hardened Shield agent fighting against the powers of Hydra? Perhaps he'll be a bridge to the film series and appear in both? From Browncoats to Black Suits? It could happen.

Marvel certainly is firing on all cylinders right now...

Dark Metal...

The Iron Knight Returns...







The third and last (as of now) time Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark may be a shade different...

The other day someone leaked what sounds like the trailer for Marvel Studios "Iron Man 3" would be like. It seems to follow the tone of what some our saying about this third outing for the billionaire/philanthropist-vigilante/hero. It's going to be a darker, more harrowing tale of the comic character. Not so much, as following Stark down the neck of a beer as in "Demon in a Bottle," but as in watching a character take a stroll down a road where everything he has is stripped away from him.

Kevin Feige has sad as much when he was talking about taking Tony Stark back to that cave we saw him in the first film. But from what I hear, I don't think people realize how far into that dark hole he actually means. From what I'm hearing, this film will be closer to "The Dark Knight Rises" than "Avengers." While I don't believe it'll actually be that dark, I believe it'll cross over into territory near it. If you've ever read or seen the comic/motion comic "Extremis," then you'll realize that this Iron Man isn't going to be making as many flippant jokes.

We're going to see him brought back to what makes him who he is. And considering he's just seen an attempted alien invasion of Earth, things have changed. How could your world not be altered after experiencing something like that? And with Shane Black in charge and no writer's strike this time, I expect a script worthy of the actors in this film. I've made no attempt to hide my belief that this film could be the best of all three Iron Man films, and I'm certainly more interested in seeing it that the second outing of Marvel's God of Thunder. Black taking over the directing of the franchise is a primary reason why I feel that way (Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is awesome, and the reason Downey got the role of Tony Stark in the first place).

So now we wait to see a trailer showing us the third installment of the film that started Marvel's foray into the control of their own filmic destiny. The chances that we'll see RD Jr. in an Avenger's sequel is a little higher now that the company has shown a willingness to re-up Joss Whedon for that film. Will they sign him for just "Avengers 2," or another round of Iron Man films? That's a question I don't think even Tony Stark knows the answer to.

But I do believe it's going to be a dark journey toward the light for this character, and this Disney division's future films...

Whedon Cinematic Universe...

Now, about that rewrite of Cap Am 2...








Bob Iger announced the news geeks have been hoping to hear for months...

Joss Whedon is signed for "Avengers 2." And not just that, but he'll develop a television show set in the MCU, likely the one we heard about last week. Now, Iger didn't reveal any details other than the fact that Whedon would be back. You have to expect the Mouse has got Whedon signed, because to announce that without the ink being dry wouldn't be very smart. And Iger is a very savvy businessman.

Along with being in charge of "Avengers 2," it also means that he'll likely have some say in the Second Phase of Marvel's films, and that is really good news. Joss knows comics, he knows characters and he knows story. So he'll like help guide the narrative of the scripts as they move forward towards the second Avengers film.

Now, if he'll just write that Hulk script I want to see...

The Studio Without Fear...

Born again in the MCU...




It appears another Marvel character may be coming home...

While earlier today there was talk of Marvel Studios in talks with 20th Century Fox about a character swap in exchange for an extension of the rights of another. In other words, a little longer to get filming on "Daredevil" for the rights to Galactus and the Silver Surfer (What, no Skrulls?).

But that appears to be premature. It seems that Fox is willing to let go of the Character and focus on their current reboot of the Fantastic Four. Their only interest seems to be a co-production of either a Daredevil film and/or a F4 film. And I can't image this being a deal that Marvel/Disney would be willing to do.

So if 20th Century Fox isn't filming by October 10, then the rights revert back to the Mouse, via Marvel. The Fantastic Four reboot has somewhere between a year and eighteen months before it runs out. So they appear confident that the Josh Trank's direction start over will be up by then. I wonder if Iger/Feige are crossing their fingers that this one falls apart as well? So this along with Ghost Rider will likely now be welcomed back into the Disney family. Ghost Rider hasn't officially been turned over yet, but with the box office returns of the sequel, it appear that Columbia won't be too eager to get another one going before the rights expire. And don't forget, all of Daredevil's villains revert back as well (Kingpin and Bullseye, etc.).

It'll be a while before "X-Men," Wolverine," and "Spider-Man" come home, but you can expect that Disney's lawyers will be counting down every second and making sure every word of the agreement is taken word for word. Any wiggle room to wedge these character from these contracts will be used to the limits the law provides.

But the clock is counting, and the dominoes keep falling...

Dealing With The Past...

Hugh Jackman and Michael Fassbender together...




There are more, and better reasons for using the story "Days of Future Past" than just it being a great story...

Structural story/character problems that deal with the original three films can be addressed. This would make it so that altering the future would create changes in the story that could justify taking a different path, freeing screenwriters from dealing the original stories. The same way that "Star Trek" used time travel to deal with the ability to go off in other directions and violate canon will be used here.

And now we have confirmation.

Brian Singer did an interview with IGN and revealed that the story is titled: "X-Men: Days of Future Past," and it will be loosely based on the 2-part comic story set in the "Uncanny X-Men" that was part of the legendary run of Chris Claremont and John Byrne. But the great news he mentions is that there may be other characters returning from the Singer-verse. So we may see Cyclops, Jean Grey and hopefully, just hopefully, Wolverine. Can you imagine seeing Hugh Jackman going after a Sentinel under Matthew Vaughn's direction?

Simon Kinberg is currently tasked with taking this story and making it work within the 60's framework of the new X-Men films. Of course it won't be an exact story as the original tale is told from Kitty Pryde's point of view, and they'll have to adjust the narrative.

Oh, the opportunities that could exist...