Dini Joins Ultimate Spider-Man Team

The news was released a few months ago that a new animated series, Ultimate Spider-Man, will be coming to Disney XD next year, and will be based on the comic book series by veteran writer Brian Bendis. Now, more news about the show was announced at Comic-Con International. Ben 10 creators Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle, the team collectively known as “Man of Action” will be joining the project alongside Bendis himself.

And even bigger news for animation fans is that  veteran writer and producer Paul Dini will be joining the Ultimate Spider-Man team. Dini is known for his work on some incredible shows such as Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, the ABC television series Lost, and the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game.

MTV News has this interview with Dini who explained some of the team’s plan for the series and how it will differ from recent and existing Spider-Man cartoons. He also dropped some hints about what the upcoming “redefinition” of Peter Parker will entail.

MTV NEWS: First off, I have to ask about the roles you and the rest of the “Ultimate Spider-Man” creative team will play in the series. This is an all-star team, after all…

PAUL DINI: We’re really all just going to go off each other’s energy. Brian’s work is a great part of the inspiration for the series, and the Man Of Action writers are going to handle the bulk of the episode scripting. Everything is going to be produced under the watchful eye of Jeph Loeb. We had an early meeting last week with myself, Jeph, and a few of the directors and designers, and I think every body’s on the same page with what we want the show to look like and the feel of the show.

MTV: Given the title of the series, everyone expects it to be an animated version of Brian’s comic book series. Will it be an adaptation, or will it keep certain elements and go off in its own direction?

DINI: It’s 50/50. There are elements that are going to come directly from the comics, and there are elements that are just going to take it into an entirely new and different direction — and yet, they’re going to harken back to that particular iteration of Spider-Man.

MTV: How will it differ from recent and existing series, like “Spectacular Spider-Man”? Is there something that’s going to distinguish the “Ultimate” adventures of Spidey from the “Spectacular” stories?

DINI: We’re going to be pairing him up with new and different Marvel characters. There’s going to be a lot of guest-star action, and there’s going to be a redefinition of Peter Parker within the Spider-Man world. We’re going to change a few things — nothing too dramatically, but you look at the Spider-Man concept from the early ’60s and you take a look at where teens are now, and you realize you can’t really go back and redo what was done so well in the comics. You have to ask, “What if this was all happening today? How do you redefine ‘With great power comes great responsibility?’ How do you redefine the villains of that world and the supporting characters?”

You also don’t want to repeat the same old tropes. As much as I love elements of Spider-Man’s past, I don’t really want to go back in and retell the Gwen Stacy and Green Goblin story in animation just so I can do my take on it. I don’t want to redo the first Spider Slayer story. I don’t want to redo some of those classic Lee/Romita and Lee/Ditka stories just for the sake of seeing them rendered in animation. For now, I just want to approach Spider-Man with fresh eyes, taking a few things we know about him and just doing a new spin on the concept. I think old-time fans will find what we’ve done with the character to be pretty good and thoughtful, because we’re not out to junk-up Spider-Man. That’s not our intent.

MTV: You’ve said what you don’t want to do, but what’s the general approach toward “redefining” Peter Parker in “Ultimate Spider-Man?”

DINI: It’s sort of like what Brian did with the whole ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ idea. He just looked at it from a new perspective. There were things that made the fans sort of sit up and say, ‘Hey, I never thought of that before, but it really does work with Spider-Man’s universe.’ That’s the same thing we’re doing here.

We’re also taking a much different approach visually with the way we show how Spider-Man moves and works and acts within this new world. It’s going to be a complete change as far as the visualization of what it’s like to be Spider-Man.

MTV: So much of your career has focused on Batman and the DC heroes. What’s the appeal of Spider-Man for you?

DINI: I love Spider-Man, and I’ve never worked with the character before. It’s fun to try something new. There’s a different energy to Spider-Man than there is to Batman. Batman is dark and moody and spooky, and in some cases, methodical. There’s more of an element of a procedural around Batman, and there’s all sorts of great things you can do within his world. In animation, when we first rendered Batman’s world at Warner Bros., we were able to make it very dark and noir-ish and grim, which all takes its cues from Batman’s character.

Spider-Man’s world is more chaotic, more kinetic — it’s almost like stream of consciousness. You have to really put yourself in that mindset to tackle Spider-Man effectively. If you’re redefining the character that way, you want to redefine his world along those lines as well, and move things along and make it a lot faster. He’s a character who makes mistakes and has to go back and set things right and then continue on. He’s somebody who’s constantly thinking on his feet and trying to figure this out, because he hasn’t been doing it as long as Batman — it’s all new to him. It really is “great responsibility.” As cool as it is to be Spider-Man at times, there’s also a price to pay for that — and he has to learn to balance things out.

MTV: As far as timing and stories go, how many episodes are you planning for the first season?

DINI: There’s 26 episodes in front of us, and we’re breaking it into two increments.

Avengers #4 Teaser Image

Marvel has released a teaser image for the upcoming Avengers #4, and this story looks like it has a whole lot going on. Front and center is Ultron, who can carry a comic by himself. He’s destroyed countries. He’s a nightmare. He’s one of those villians that make you say “Oh, $H!T” when you see him.

And if Ultron isn’t enough, we have Dr. Doom down in the right hand corner. And a bit above Doom is the Juggernaut. And you can see Magneto below Ultron’s right arm. What’s with all of the baddies? I wonder if it has something to do with Kang the Conqueror who is featured in the middle of the image. Kang is a big time Avengers villain himself, but it becomes more interesting with what’s around him. There’s Cyclops in his original costume near the lower left corner. You have Giant-Man knocked out on the left. And that’s not a character and costume that has been seen in a while. And there’s a few others in there that I’m not sure if they were deceased, or are possibly wearing old costumes. At any rate, this looks like a big story.

AVENGERS #4

On-Sale-8/25/10

$3.99

Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS                                                                                                                                                                                            Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.                                                                                                                                                                                          Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.                                                                                                                                                                                            Women of Marvel Frame Variant by JIM CHEUNG

Avengers Animated Trailer

The trailer for The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes has been released. I don’t know abotu the theme song for this show. It sounds like an 80s power ballad type of song, and I’m not sure if it works all that well for me. However, it looks like this could be a pretty cool show.

Thor Movie Trailer

The Thor trailer has been circulating out of Comic Con international. I just watched it, and it looks amazing. I’m getting jazzed to see the Thor movie next year. And I love Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson. The Destroyer lands and he has this nonchalant, been-there-done-that attitude about it. I like that nothing phases him. He may have small roles in these movies, but I like the way he plays it, and how he brings a little humor to the part. I can’t wait for next May.

Marvel Brings Back CrossGen

At the Comic Con International convention, Joe Quesada held a Cup O’ Joe panel to talk about some of the happenings at Marvel. During the panel he showed the above images on a screen while saying, “We received some intellectual property from Disney. Now, we’re not going to talk about it, but we’re just going to show you these pictures.” Gasps were heard in the crowd.

As he said, no information was given at this time, but it seems clear that Marvel will be bringing CrossGen, or at least some of their properties to Marvel. I’m wondering if Marvel will bring all, or just some of the former CrossGen titles over the the House of Ideas? Will they be using the CrossGen imprint to publish these comics under, or will it simply be under the basic Marvel banner? And will they keep these titles in a separate universe, or will they some how be merged with the mainstream Marvel Universe? It’ll be interesting to see what happens with these comic books.

Thor’s Hammer In The Stone

This image from the upcoming Thor movie has been floating around. This “sword in the stone” image hints at the bit of Arthurian legend that is mixed into Thor’s mythology. As comic fans know, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, can only be lifted by someone who is “worthy” to wield it.

Ruffalo Hulks Out? Luke Cage Is . . . The Old Spice Guy?

In the comic books the Hulk has been the host to some different personalities over the years. And in Hollywood the Hulk has almost as many different personalities tryign to get inside his head. It has been made certain that Edward Norton won’t return to the role of Bruce Banner when The Avengers come ot the big screen. And Eric Banna was left out after the first Hulk movie. However, the jade giant hasn’t run out of talented actors yet. It is beign rumored that Mark Ruffalo has been offered the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers.

Ruffalo appears in the recent film The Kids Are Alright, a movie that is generating some Oscar buzz, and has shown plenty of personality, charm, and acting chops in past movies such as The Brothers Bloom, 13 Going On 30, and We Don’t Live Here Anymore.

Some sources are saying that he is now in late-stage discussions between Marvel and his brand-new agency United Talent to play the part of Bruce Banner. However, other are reporting that while Ruffalo does have an offer to play the rampaging hero, he has not decided whether he wants the role, and hasn’t even met the film’s director, Joss Whedon yet. Talks are underway for the actor and the director to meet sometime soon.

I have been a fan a Ruffalo’s for awhile now, and I think that he is a brilliant choice for Bruce Banner. Since Edward Norton won’t be back, I’m hoping that things work out and Ruffalo takes on the role. He may not be a superstar, but people who know movies know that he’s a top talent. This is a great chance for Marvel to score another top actor for its movies.

Then there’s the idea floating out there that Isaiah Mustafah, the actor in those comical Old Spice commercials would like to play Luke Cage. When he’s not selling deodorant he’s been commenting and answering fans questions on Twitter  (http://twitter.com/OldSpice), his most recent twit is pure gold. And he’s been doing some video responses on Youtube as well (http://www.youtube.com/user/OldSpice#p/p). The above video relates to him playing the part of Power Man.

It seems crazy on the surface, but who knows. Its not unheard of for actors to get their start in commercials, and we don’t have much to go by with him yet. If not Power man, maybe he could get a shot at playing Mr. Terrific.

Odin And Loki Revealed

The Los Angeles Times gives us this photo from the set of Thor. The big three of Asgard, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, and Sir Anthony Hopkins’s Odin will stand together, for a moment at least.

The L.A. Times also reports that Thor, as well as Captain America: The First Avenger, will have a 3-D release. However, neither film is being shot in 3-D. Post production work will transform the movie into a 3-D display, much like it was done with Clash of the Titans. According to Marvel Studios Executive Kevin Feige, “In being able to think in 3-D from the start — and having every bit of our special effects rendered in true 3-D — we have the opportunity to do it right.”

Joining Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, and Tom Hiddleston, will be  Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Kat Dennings as Darcy, Idris Elba as Heimdall, and Jamie Alexander as Sif. Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano and Joshua Dallas make up the Warriors Three. And the cast is rounded out with Rene Russo as Frigga, Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson, and Stellan Skarsgard as Professor Andrews. Colm Feore also has an undisclosed role as a villain of some sort. Thor crosses the Rainbow Bridge into Mid-Guard theatres on May 6, 2011.

Andrew Garfield Is Spiderman

Columbia Pictures has done what no super villain has been able to accomplish. They lifted off the mask of Spiderman, and revealed that it is Andrew Garfield.  Garfield has been cast to play Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, in Marc Webb’s reboot of the Spiderman movie franchise.

Here’s the full press release:

ANDREW GARFIELD CAST AS PETER PARKER IN COLUMBIA PICTURES’ NEXT INSTALLMENT OF SPIDER-MAN

After a comprehensive worldwide casting search, Andrew Garfield has been chosen to portray Peter Parker when Spider-Man swings back onto the screen in 3D on July 3, 2012. The new film will begin production in early December directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt. Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad will produce the film from Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios.

Today’s confirmation culminates what has been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements in recent memory. Bloggers, pop culture speculators, and everyday fans have pored over and analyzed every conceivable online rumor in an attempt to discover the identity of the next actor to play Peter Parker. Garfield will immediately begin preparing for the coveted role.

The Spider-Man franchise is one of the most successful in film history and the three previous motion pictures have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office.

On selecting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”

Commenting on the announcement, Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, President of Columbia Pictures said, “Spider-Man is a classic superhero — a young man who balances his responsibility to serve humanity and crush evil with the shyness and normalcy of someone struggling to find himself. The role demands an extraordinary actor. You need someone who can magically transform himself from Peter Parker into Spider-Man. An actor who will depict the vulnerability of youth and the strength and confidence of a legendary figure at the same moment. We have found that actor in Andrew Garfield. From the first time we saw him in the upcoming film The Social Network, to his glorious screen test, which floored all of us, we knew that we had found our new Peter Parker.”

Producer Avi Arad added, “I’m incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”

Producer Laura Ziskin said, “We are thrilled to have Andrew Garfield for this new incarnation of Spider-Man under Marc Webb’s direction. We were fortunate enough to meet with a group of fantastically talented young men. In the end, we all agreed that in addition to being an extraordinary actor, Andrew had the right mix of humor, youth, and pathos, along with an underlying sense of strength and power necessary to bring Peter Parker and Spider-Man to life on screen.”

The selection of Garfield was revealed at a press event in Cancun, Mexico for international journalists attending a media tour promoting upcoming films from Sony Pictures Entertainment. B-roll footage of the announcement will be available via satellite later this evening — see uplink times coordinate information below.

Garfield is fast becoming one of the most respected and sought-after young actors working in the industry today. In a short career, spanning only five years, he has already been directed by, and starred alongside, some of the greatest names and received a BAFTA for a role that won him international praise.

Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincher on the upcoming film The Social Network. He previously starred for Spike Jonze on his robot love story I’m Here, which premiered at Sundance this year. He plays the lead male opposite Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go, due for release later this year.

Other notable screen credits include Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus playing opposite Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law and the late Heath Ledger, Robert Redford’sLions For Lambs, where he starred alongside Redford, Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep; Revolution Films’ Red Riding Trilogy – 1974 directed by Julian Jarrold, where he lead a stellar cast including Rebecca Hall and David Morrissey, and his unforgettable portrayal of a young ex-con in John Crowley’s Boy A, for which he earned the best actor BAFTA in 2008.

Garfield’s career began in theatre and in 2006 his performances in Beautiful Thing (Sound Space/Kit Productions), The Overwhelming, and Burn / Chatroom / Citizenship (Royal National Theatre) won him the Milton Shulman Award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard awards and the Jack Tinker Award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. Other notable theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet (Manchester Royal Exchange) and Kes (Manchester Royal Exchange), for which he received the Most Promising Newcomer Award at the Manchester Evening News Awards 2004.

And here’s a video of the casting announcement:

Jeph Loeb To Head Marvel TV

Loeb, who has made his name known as a writer for comic books and as a television producer, has been named the head of Marvel Entertainment’s new television division. As executive VP and head of television for Marvel, Loeb will oversee the development and distribution of new live-action and animation series for TV and direct-to-DVD releases. He will report to Dan Buckley, publisher and president of print, animation and digital at Marvel.

During the 80s, he earned writing credits on the movies Teen Wolf and Commando. Later he could become one of the first writers to cross over from Hollywood to comic books. As a comics writer he has worked with some of the major flagship characters at DC and Marvel, including the X-Men, Batman, Superman and the Hulk. One of his best known works is the Batman: The Long Halloween mini-series that collaborated on with artist Tim Sale.

Loeb also has stayed active in television, having worked as a writer and producer on Smallville and rising to the role of co-executive producer on NBC’s Heroes.

“His work in the comic book field is in a class of its own,” said Marvel Studios executive VP and creative committee chairman Alan Fine. “Jeph’s work on multiple award-winning television series and popular films has shown fans worldwide his ability to deliver thrilling entertainment in a number of media.”

Marvel Studios’ executive VP and creative committee chairman Alan Fine said Lobe’s “work in the comic book field is in a class of its own.”

Given his experience in television, as well as comics, Loeb seems to be a good pick to head up Marvel’s TV department. And its not surprising that the Disney owned Marvel Entertainment would make a move like this. This is what the merger was all about. Tapping into the well of Marvel characters for Tv and DVD productions. I’m excited to see what Marvel projects we’ll be seeing in the future.