Access Week In Geek, 3/12/10: Superman Soars Again!

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‘Dark Knight’ director Christopher Nolan
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Corey Haim in 1988

FIRST PUBLISHED: March 13, 2010 12:21 PM EST

By Jim Kiernan

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO HELP “SUPERMAN” SOAR

Perhaps the biggest comic book movie news to hit the web this week was the end of the speculation over whether “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” mastermind Christopher Nolan would be involved with the reboot of the Superman franchise. In an interview with the LA Times, Nolan not only confirmed he has a “fantastic story” mapped out for the next big screen adventure of the Man of Steel, but that his brother Jonathan is also hard at work on the screenplay for the third Batman film.

Nolan’s take on the Superman legend will no doubt be an exciting new spin on the iconic hero. While it seems unlikely he would direct the film, he will however, as the term has been used often in conjunction with this story, “godfather” the production to the screen as much like Peter Jackson did with director Neil Blomkamp and “District 9.”

While I sit firmly In the camp of those who was looking forward to seeing what director Bryan Singer would have done with his follow-up to 2006’s “Superman Returns,” where he had promised to “Wrath of Khan”-up the storyline (referring to the subtitle of the 1982 “Star Trek” sequel, which heavily amped up the action for the Enterprise crew), obviously Warner Bros chose to go with a safer bet with Nolan’s camp rather than risk another high-priced film met with tepid reviews and box office returns.

There isn’t much one can argue with that train of thought given the across the board success of the revitalized Batman franchise and the Oscar-winning performance by Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Though we will have to wait a while longer before we see Superman soaring on the big screen once again. Nolan doesn’t expect a new adventure until 2012 or 2013 at best. That should at least however, give “Smallville” on The CW a chance to wrap up its run nicely and let Tom Welling have his well-earned final shot of the show soaring into the sky in the iconic red and blue.

CAPTAIN AMERICA’S CASTING CALL CAROUSEL

So if you’ve been following the nearly daily updates from various sources all over the web regarding who in Young Hollywood has been reportedly in talks to take on the title role in director Joe Johnston’s “The First Avenger: Captain America,” the list has been a virtual whirlwind of speculative ‘Who’s In & Who’s Outs.”

Some of the names recently bandied about include Chase Crawford (“Gossip Girl”),”Mike Vogel (“Cloverfield,” “She’s Out Of My League”), Chris Evans (“Fantastic Four,” “Push”), John Krasinski (“The Office”), and Scott Porter (“Caprica,” “Friday Night Lights”). And I dare not leave out comedian Dane Cook, who Tweeted on Monday, “Im minus 7% body fat now, bones replaced w/lightweight scandium alloy! Had 2 get shredded 4 Captain America audition & standup tour.”

Some of these names sit better than others in the vocal fanboy community, but whoever signs on when the dust settles, let’s not forget that not only does he need to suit up for the crucial lead role in this potential franchise, but also have the commanding screen presence to cross over and lead the team of Marvel’s Mightiest Heroes in “The Avengers.” It will be no easy task going toe to toe and subsequently taking charge of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor in 2012’s super team-up film.

Additionally according to The Hollywood Reporter, Hugo Weaving, a fan favorite from his roles in “V For Vendetta” and the “Matrix” and “Lord of The Rings” trilogies, is in talks to play Captain America’s nemesis The Red Skull. I think this possible re-teaming of “The Wolfman’s” Weaving and director Joe Johnston will be a major in the plus column for the film.

COREY HAIM (1971- 2010)

Whenever I encounter firsthand someone with the feverish enthusiasm for the “Twilight” series, I always date myself as a child of the ‘80s and make note to said Twi-hard that they owe it to themselves to take a rewarding rewind back to “The Lost Boys.” With Cory Haim’s passing this week, there is perhaps now a tragic shadow cast over this 1987 movie’s legacy among what can be considered one the best of the big screen vampire films in any decade. But his memorable performance alongside Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Jason Patric helped make this a big screen precursor to “Twilight” by portraying vampires as angst-ridden teens walking among us in everyday life rather than Transylvanian Counts that turn into bats. “The Lost Boys” boasted a haunting soundtrack, raging ‘80s fashion, and a forbidden romance between a vampire and a mortal. It also gave a new generation of fans their 101 on the rules of vampire, most notably in the line delivered by Edward Herman to Haim towards the film’s conclusion, “Don’t ever invite a vampire into your house, you silly boy. It renders you powerless.”

Joel Shumacher, the prolific director who helmed “The Lost Boys,” released this statement to Access Hollywood regarding Haim’s death — “I’m heartbroken. This is a senseless tragedy.”

Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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New ‘Iron Man 2’ Trailer!

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‘Iron Man 2’,Robert Downey Jr.,Gwyneth Paltrow,Mickey Rourke

Now that the world is aware of Tony Stark’s dual life as Iron Man, he faces pressure from the government to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, he must forge new alliances as he confront powerful enemies.