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SPRING 2003

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"  ... Michael Stevens highlights 'the big picture' behind
the best upcoming films ..."

 
MGM TAKES A BIG STAKE IN DARK HORSE "CRIMINAL MACABRE"

MGM has optioned film rights to Steve Niles' Dark Horse comic book "CRIMINAL MACABRE".

The first installment of the 5-issue mini-series debuted May 14 of this year.

Premise of the 'film noir' horror series, revolves around private eye 'Cal MacDonald' who rids contemporary Los Angeles of monsters, ghouls and vampires.

Niles will adapt the screenplay for producer Mike Richardson, topper of Dark Horse Comics and producer of "The Mask" and "Timecop". Richardson and Dark Horse are currently in production on "Hellboy" for Revolution Studios.

Niles also created comic book "30 Days of Night," in development at Columbia Pictures with Sam "Spider-Man" Raimi and Robert "Xena" Tapert producing.

Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery #2 (of 5) Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery #2 (of 5)

The celebrated creators of "30 Days of Night" continue their two-fisted assault on all monsters!

'Cal McDonald' has a lot of problems. He's got a drinking problem, he's got a drug problem, and the police have a big problem with him.

But he's the only thing standing between Los Angeles and a wave of vampires and werewolves ...


Criminal Macabre Black Cat Club Zippo Criminal Macabre Black Cat Club Zippo



Author Steve Niles has topped his smash hit "30 days of Night" with Dark Horse mini-series "Criminal Macabre".

Hard-drinking, chain- smoking anti-hero 'Cal MacDonald' frequents the eerie LA nightspot "The Black Cat Club", known to harbor exotic and dangerous creatures of the night.

Now Dark Horse has immortalized the Club on this limited edition 'Zippo' lighter ...


CHANGES IN STORE FOR HASBRO'S "THE TRANSFORMERS"

CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS COLLECTOR'S COMIC BOOK

Hasbro's toy line "THE TRANSFORMERS" is being developed as a live-action feature by Don "LXG" Murphy of Angry Films and writer/producer Tom "X2" DeSanto.

Based on popular Japanese toys and licensed to North America in 1984, premise of "The Transformers" focuses on a group of robots that are able to 'transform' into high-tech weaponized machinery. The screenplay itself will center on an intergalactic war between two races of robots: the heroic 'Autobots' and the evil 'Decepticons'.

"We loved the creative take that Tom and Don presented to us," said Jane Ritson-Parsons, president of Hasbro Properties Group. "And for Hasbro, the center of our corporate strategy is extending our core brands in a variety of entertainment forms.

"This is a franchise where the next story arc and the next destination is on the big screen ..."

Transformers Armada: Starscream and Mini-Con Swindle Action Figures Transformers Armada: Starscream and Mini-Con Swindle Action Figures

The 'Autobot' and 'Decepticon' robots battle for control on their home planet Cybertron.

The fate of the Earth and the universe depends on who controls the Mini-Cons -- will it be the heroic Autobots or the evil Decepticons?

When 'Swindle the Mini-Con' attaches to the rear of 'Starscream' the jet, the jet's missile launchers flip forward and fire. Flipping weapon feature can also be activated in robot mode.

Starscream comes complete with electronic firing sounds.

Measures approximately 9 inches long in airplane mode. Requires 3 "button cell" batteries (included).


PARAMOUNT AND VALHALLA AIM FOR LIVE-ACTION "AEON FLUX"

Geoff Stier has joined Gale Anne "Hulk" Hurd's Valhalla Motion Pictures, to oversee development/production of the company's slate of film/television projects, including Paramount's developing live-action feature "Aeon Flux".

Created by Peter Chung and Howard E. Baker, the ruthless heroine "AEON FLUX" debuted as an animated series June 1991 as part of MTV's 'Liquid Television' format.

BULLWINKLE SETTING THE WAYBACK MACHINE FOR CGI "MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN"

Sony-based Sprocketdyne Entertainment and Bullwinkle Studios will develop/produce live-action/CGI feature "Mr. Peabody & Sherman", based on the cartoon characters first appearing in Jay Ward's 1959 classic animated TV series "Rocky and His Friends."

Premise of "Peabody" features a super-intelligent dog and his human 'pet' Sherman, travelling through time in Peabody's 'Wayback Machine', setting history on course through programmed encounters with famous historical figures.

Bullwinkle Studios is a venture between family entertainment company Classic Media and Jay Ward Prods. Sprocketdyne's Rob Minkoff/Jason Clark will produce with Jay Ward's daughter Tiffany Ward.

"V" ALIENS HUNGRY FOR NBC RETURN

NBC has made a script commitment to Warner Bros. TV for "V: THE SECOND GENERATION".

Kenneth Johnson, creator of the 1980's TV series "V" is back on board to write, direct/executive produce the developing project and is currently in talks with original stars Marc Singer, Robert Englund, Jane Badler and Faye Grant.

Premise of "V", first airing May 1983, revolved around a legion of aliens, encircling the earth, whose stated purpose is 'to serve man'. Unfortunately their mission statement turned out to be more culinary than benevolent and the reptilian-visitors eventually dominated the planet.

"The Second Generation" is set 20 years after the original, with the 'Visitors' still in control of the Earth.

"The alien force is deeply entrenched, has turned many Earth people into followers and is sweeping them toward a dangerous new conquest," said Johnson.

"The Resistance seems to be fighting a losing battle when suddenly Earth gains a powerful and mysterious new ally."

REVOLUTION PREPARES FOR THE RELEASE OF "HELLBOY" 

Revolution Studios' supernatural action adventure film "Hellboy," written and directed by Guillermo "Blade 2" Del Toro and based on the popular Dark Horse Comics series of the same name, will be released across North America on the Memorial Day weekend 2004, it was jointly announced by Revolution Studios Partner Tom Sherak and Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The film stars Ron "Beauty and the Beast" Perlman, Selma "Legally Blonde" Blair, John "Alien" Hurt and Jeffrey "The Larry Sanders Show" Tambor.

"We are confident that with Guillermo Del Toro at the helm, 'Hellboy' will deliver the fantastic action, special effects and excitement that summer moviegoers have come to expect," said Revolution Studios Partner Tom Sherak.

"The swell in business over Memorial Day weekend is an excellent spot to place an event-style project like 'Hellboy,'" said Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, "especially given the current playability of comic book-based films. 'Hellboy' not only has a loyal core following but is joined by a growing general audience making this date the perfect choice."

"Hellboy" is being produced for Revolution Studios by Lawrence Gordon, Dark Horse Comics' Mike Richardson and Lloyd Levin. Patrick Palmer is serving as executive producer and Dark Horse Comic's Mike Mignola is serving as associate producer. In addition, six-time Academy AwardŽ-winner Rick Baker ("How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Men in Black," "The Nutty Professor," "Ed Wood," "Harry and the Hendersons," "An American Werewolf in London") is creating the special makeup effects for the film.

Born in the flames of hell and brought to Earth for the purposes of evil, Hellboy (Perlman) was rescued from sinister forces by the benevolent Dr. Broom (Hurt), who raised him to be a hero. At Broom's Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development, Hellboy forms an unlikely family with the telepathic "Mer-Man" Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and Liz Sherman (Blair), the woman he loves who can control fire.

With their fantastic powers they stand as the only line of defense against the evil that threatens mankind ... hidden from the very society they protect.

buy hellboy products at tfaw.com

 
SINGLETON IS FRONT-RUNNER TO UNLOCK MARVEL'S "LUKE CAGE" 

Director John "2 Fast 2 Furious" Singleton is the front-runner to direct Marvel's "LUKE CAGE" for Columbia Pictures. Columbia is currently fast-tracking the property with screenwriter Ben "The Big Hit" Ramsey penning the script, based on the Marvel Comics' character.

Producers of the super-hero actioner will be Neal Moritz for studio-based Original Films and Marvel Studios Avi Arad.

"LUKE CAGE" is about a former gang member framed for a crime. In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that gives him super-strength and bulletproof skin.

Director Singleton has been talking up directing "LUKE CAGE" as far back as the press rounds for Columbia's 'Baby Boy'.

*** FROM JUNE 2001 ***

'Comics2Film' followed up on recent rumors that filmmaker John Singleton is attached to the big screen version of Marvel's "Luke Cage".

A few weeks back, the 'Sneak Peek' website ran an interview with Singleton, whose new movie "Baby Boy" is in theaters now. Singleton told that site that he definitely will direct the movie adaptation of Marvel comic book hero Luke Cage.

We checked in with Kevin Feige, Senior Vice President Marvel Studios. Feige couldn't talk about the details of the project except to say, "Singleton is a big fan of Luke Cage, and we're a big fan of his."

Marvel Limited: Power Man Mini Bust Marvel Limited: Power Man Mini Bust

Luke Cage, Marvel's first African-American character to headline his own comic book, debuted June 1972. Cage was a streetwise gang member who was sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Behind bars, he volunteered for a medical procedure that transformed him into a powerhouse with ultra-dense body mass.

But Luke Cage was no traditional super-hero motivated by responsibility - after breaking out of jail he used his abilities for profit and established a mercenary business called "Hero for Hire."

Cage eventually took the name 'Power Man' and formed a long-standing partnership with 'Iron Fist'. After his associate's assumed demise, Power Man once again dodged the law until Iron Fist resurfaced and the pair rekindled their coalition as 'Heroes for Hire'.

More recently, Power Man, now preferring his real name of Luke Cage, has joined forces with 'Daredevil', 'Moon Knight', 'Black Widow' and other street-savvy 'Marvel Knights'.

The Power Man Mini Bust stands 5 1 / 2 inches tall and is limited to a production run of 5000 pieces.


 
'T3' TEAM SADDLES UP FOR WARNERS "WESTWORLD"

"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" screenwriters Michael Ferris/John Brancato will script "Westworld," the Warner Bros. remake, produced by Jerry Weintraub and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The team also wrote the upcoming Halle Berry-starrer "Catwoman".

Schwarzenegger will portray a 'good guy' vacation guest this go-round, rather than typing himself as a killer robot that turns an Old West vacation into a nightmare for a group of tourists.

"It is the same idea, but this Westworld will be a much bigger place," said Weintraub. "Hopefully, we can get it made as Arnold's next one ..."


 

Westworld "WESTWORLD"

Where Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong ...

Director Michael Chrichton's classic "WESTWORLD" is a technological resort in which a vacationer's wildest fantasies are made real. But all hell breaks loose when the resort's malfunctioning robots begin to kill the clients ...


 
PARAMOUNT GEARING UP FOR MARVEL'S "DEATHLOK"

 

Director Lee "Die Another Day" Tamahori is being touted as frontrunner to helm Paramount Pictures' live-action adaptation of Marvel Comics' "DEATHLOK" (The Demolisher) with a screenplay by Stu Zickerman/Raven Mentzner for Marvel Studios and Crystal Sky Productions.

Premise of the script centers on " ... a suburban family man,  unwittingly made a test subject for technology research that slowly turns him into a living computer."

According to Marvel Studios topper Avi Arad :
 
"We are all becoming more dependent on technology. One of these days it's going to be inside of us.

"For example, we won't need a cell phone; it'll be built into our ear. Now is that a cool thing, or will it destroy us as human beings?

"'Deathlok' explores what those consequences may be."

Premise of the original comic book story featured Army Colonel 'Luther Manning' who becomes critically injured. His superior Major 'Simon Ryker' salvages his body for use in 'Project: Alpha-Mech', a covert operation whose purpose is to create cyborg super-soldiers.

Manning's brain, nervous system and still living tissue are transplanted into a synthetic body during a clandestine operation performed by Major Ryker's brother 'Harlan Ryker' (code-named 'Hellinger').

Manning awakens from his weeks-long operation in a body partially his own, with a dominating mini-computer called 'Puter' occupying a portion of his cranium.

Manning is given the code-name 'Deathlok' and is at first an unwilling agent of Ryker, but eventually breaks free and becomes an 'independent' agent.

YOU CAN BUY THIS COLLECTOR'S COMIC BOOK !!! 

Marvel Limited: Deathlok Mini Bust Marvel Limited: Deathlok Mini Bust

Rich Buckler created 'Deathlok', Marvel's pre-Terminator robo-hero, in August 1974.

Critically wounded during war games set in the near future, 'Colonel Luther Manning' acquired cybernetic enhancements to 75 % of his damaged body as part of covert operation 'Project: Alpha-Mech'.

As 'Deathlok', an implanted computer coerced the embittered Manning into obedience as a super-soldier equipped with augmented senses, body armor, and a lethal laser pistol fuled by the cyborg's internal power supply.

Deathlok existed in a divergent reality, but entered the Marvel Universe via a time machine that was deactivated by the 'Fixer'. Agents of the 'Roxxon Corporation' cloned Manning's body and produced a new Deathlok, a silent, rampaging engine of destruction that wreaked havoc in Las Vegas, battling 'SHIELD''s AirCav unit.

The original Deathlok has returned to his alternate timeline, and the Marvel Universe fears the resurrection of his annihilative namesake.

The Deathlok Mini Bust stands approximately 5 1/2 inches tall, is fully painted and ready to display outside of the box. Limited to a production run of 4000 pieces.


 
VAMPIRE SCRIBE SINKS HIS TEETH INTO "BLADE III"

THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF "BLADE"

"BLADE" screenwriter David Goyer will direct "BLADE III" for New Line. The studio expects to begin production in Vancouver later this summer.

Marvel Comics' "BLADE" centers on a 'heroic vampire' born of human/vampire parents who is able to survive daylight.

In the third installment 'Blade' must reverse an apocalyptic event that threatens to bring Earth under 'vampire control'.

The first 2 "BLADE" features have earned $227 million worldwide.

Blade (DVD) Blade (DVD)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE "BLADE" THE DVD


Blade II (2-disc) Blade II (2-disc)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE "BLADE II" THE DVD


 
 

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WEBMASTER : MICHAEL STEVENS
BEASTMASTER : COMMAND ENTERTAINMENT

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MICHAEL STEVENS CREATIVE
michaelstevenstoronto@yahoo.com

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