Superman/Batman Next DC Animated Feature

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, based on the Jeff Loeb and Ed McGuinness comic series, will be the next DC direct-to-DVD animated feature, according to Ain’t It Cool News. The new feature will follow Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth feature in the series, which is due out in July.

SciFi Becomes Syfy

SciFi Channel will change its name to Syfy Channel on July 7th, when it launches the new series Warehouse 13, according to TV Week. The network believes that the new name more accurately reflects content on the channel, which is broader than traditional science fiction. Warehouse 13, about a secret government facility where mysterious relics are stored, exemplifies this broader content.

The new name may make it easier to attract audiences not traditionally attracted to science fiction, particularly female viewers.

Scar-Jo is the Black Widow in Iron Man 2

Scarlett Johansson signed to play Black Widow in Iron Man 2 on Wednesday, according to Mark Malkin’s blog on E! Online. The signing confirms rumors that began last month when Emily Blunt, who was originally signed for the role, ran into a scheduling conflict.

The cast also includes Mickey Rourke and Samuel Jackson, in addition to Robert Downey Jr.

Marvel Retools Movie Schedule

Marvel announced Thursday morning that it is rescheduling three of its upcoming films to allow a longer run-up to its Avengers film, which was moved back from July 15 of 2011 to May 4, 2012. Thor was moved back from July 16, 2010 to June 17, 2011. The First Avenger: Captain America was moved back to July 22, 2011 from May 6, 2011.

Iron Man 2’s release date remains unchanged: May 7, 2010.

And Marvel confirmed that Spider-Man 4 will release May 6, 2011.

The changes give Marvel the first weekend in May for the next four years (X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st of this year).

New Death Note Theatrical Event

Viz Pictures has announced that it will partner with NCM Fathom to present the Death Note movie spin-off Death Note: L, change the WorLd in a two night event in multiple cities on April 29th and 30th. The subtitled version will be screened on April 29th, and a dubbed version on April 30th, with L’s voice played by Alessandro Juliani from the anime series.

L, change the WorLd tells the story of the final 23 days of L’s life, and shows what happened before and after the two earlier Death Note events. It stars Kenichi Matsuyama, who also appeared in Death Note.

Wonder Woman comes to Animated Life

It's been a long time coming, but DC Comics' most famous female super-hero finally comes to (small) screens in her own movie today. Some folks might try to dismiss Wonder Woman without a closer look, since it's an animated film, and it's direct-to-DVD, but they'd be fools to do so.

This updated take on the classic warrior-in-a-strange-land tale is an enjoyable mix of butt-kicking and empowered romantic comedy that will satisfy geek guys, gals, and kids alike.
The action starts (and starts big) millenia in the past, where the Amazons are fighting for the fate of all humanity against the armies of Ares, god of war (voiced by Alfred Molina), whose very proximity inspires chaos and conflict. Pegasi and Amazons battle gargoyles, Minotaurs, and every other dark member of classical mythology while Ares watches it all, literally feeding on the death and destruction. But Queen Hippolyta (Oscar nominee Virgina Madsen) isn't afraid to bring the battle, and a bit of tragic vengeance, straight to the gods.

To draw Ares out, and to make him angry and careless, she kills his son on the battlefield. The anti-Oedipal nature of the act is that this is Ares' son from an act of rape he committed on Hippolyta.

No, this isn't your average Saturday-morning super-hero cartoon. Wonder Woman is a PG-13 movie, and doesn't shy from it. Indeed, in interviews producer Bruce Timm has admitted that the first cut of the movie sent to the MPAA received an R rating. Parents may want to screen the movie before showing it to younger kids, but on the scale of other DC animated super-hero movies, Wonder Woman is much more palatable for younger kids than, say, Superman: Doomsday.

Ares is defeated, at least for the time being, but the gods intervene to keep Hippolyta from exacting ultimate justice. Ares' dad Zeus (David McCallum of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and NCIS) can't bear to see his son killed, but at least mom Hera (Marg Helgenberger- China Beach and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) understands things from a woman's point of view. Ares will be imprisoned under the Amazonians' care, and his powers capped via a pair of magic wristbands. And to assuage Hippolyta's outrage at justice denied, Hera gives the Amazon women the hidden isle of Themescera and extended lifespans so they can perfect their manless paradise. And she grants Hippolyta one more gift - the chance to have a daughter without needing one of

those horrible, nasty, and brutish men to plant the seed.]
That's the setup that brings the story into the modern day. Fighter pilot Colonel Steve Trevor (the always hilarious Nathan Fillion - Firefly, Dr. Horrible) gets shot down over the Meditteranean by nasty middle-easterns with black jet planes, and through a chance of fate, crash lands on Themescera, only to be found by the now grown-up Princess Diana (Keri Russell - Felicity, Mission Impossible III). Trevor is something of a charming rogue, intriguing Diana while confirming most of her monther's negative images of the male of the species. Hippolyta is ready to execute him and be done with it when Ares escapes, and the fate of the world once again comes into peril. Now they need to send Trevor back to the world of men to warn them of the danger Ares poses, and one Amazonian must go with him as the ambassador from the hidden isle. If you remember anything of your Wonder Woman origin story, you'll easily guess who gets the job.

That's enough of the plot spoilerage, but suffice to say both action and a healthy dose of romantic comedy ensue. The crowd in the preview screening at Wondercon spent most of the movie straying between laughter and "boo-yah" style cheers.

Bruce Timm has been at Warner's for 20 years now, and continues to crank out the superior super-hero fare. What started with the gritty noir of Batman: The Animated Series continues with a serious, funny, action-filled look at one of the greatest super-heroes ever drawn, and all signs show he's perfectly happy to keep playing with the characters DC has given him (a Green Lantern animated movie is on track to be released this summer).

Director Lauren Montgomery demonstrates a well-balanced eye towards mixing the fun and serious aspects of the material, and Michael Jalenic's screenplay, from a story by him and well-respected comics writer Gail Simone, interjects great geeky moments of humor and action. And an all-star cast of voice actors, deftly handled by iconic voice director Andrea Romano brings it all to life. While Marvel seems to have hit upon the formula for turning its comics properties into successful live-action movies, Warner Animation has the market tied up when it comes to keeping the comics looking like comics while treating its audience like grown-ups.

Warner Bros./$13 Single DVD, $21 Two-disc Special Edition with Digital Copy, $22 Blu-ray DVD.

Green Lantern 'Direct-to-DVD Feature Set

Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth direct-to-DVD feature in the series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies, is slated for release on July 28th, 2009. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation in conjunction with DC Comics and Warner Premiere, the first ever feature film starring the "illuminated hero" will be available in a Special Edition 2-Disc Version as well as in a Hi-Def Blu-ray Edition.

Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) will voice the role of Hal Jordan, while Victor Garber (Milk, Alias) will do the same for Sinestro with Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Boodikka and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) as Kilowog.

Animation veteran Bruce Timm is producing and Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Superman Doomsday) is directing with four-time Emmy Award-winner Alan Burnett (The Batman) scripting.

The 2-Disc Special Edition will contain over three hours of extra content including two featurettes, a digital download copy, and two episodes of Justice League selected by Bruce Timm. The Blu-ray Version will contain all those extras plus two additional episodes of the Justice League animated series.

Marvel Studios Updates It's Pipeline

Marvel Studios Updates Its Pipeline: 'Iron Man 2' Starts Shooting in April; Kenneth Branagh To Direct 'Thor'

Below is an updated look at the Marvel Studios' product pipeline. The company also announced today that Kenneth Branagh is set to direct Thor which Paramount Pictures will distribute worldwide. It will be released domestically on July 16, 2010. And Iron Man 2 begins principal photography in early April.

Marvel Studios Entertainment Pipeline(According to its 4th quarter earnings report. Scheduled release dates are subject to change)

Self-Produced Feature Film Line-Up: Iron Man 2 (Marvel), scheduled for May 7, 2010 release, starts principal photography in April directed by Jon Favreau, stars Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle ;Thor (Marvel), scheduled for July 16, 2010 release, directed by Kenneth Branagh ;The First Avenger: Captain America (Marvel), Scheduled for May 6, 2011 release ;The Avengers (Marvel), scheduled for July 15, 2011 release

Licensed Feature Film Line-Up: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox), scheduled for May 1, 2009 release

Self-Produced Animated TV Series Line-Up: Super Hero Squad (Marvel Animation) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production with Film Roman, scheduled for Q3 2009 release on Cartoon Network ;The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Marvel Animation) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production with Film Roman; scheduled for Q3 2011 release.

Licensed Animated TV Series Line-Up; Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (Moonscoop SAS - France), 26 thirty-minute episodes airing internationally and on Marvel.com and Marvelkids.com ; Spectacular Spider-Man (Culver Studios - U.S.) Will air on Disney XD in the U.S. beginning in March and currently airing on various networks internationally ;Wolverine and the X-Men (Marvel Animation / First Serve Toonz - India), 52 thirty-minute episodes. Episodes 1-26 are currently airing on Nicktoons in the U.S. and are on air internationally, Episodes 27-52 are currently in pre-production ; Black Panther (Marvel Animation / BET) 8 thirty-minute episodes in production, scheduled for Q2 2009 release on BET ; Iron Man: Armored Adventures (Marvel Animation / Method Films - France) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production, scheduled for Q2 2009 release in the U.S. on Nicktoons and various networks internationally

Licensed Animated Direct-to-DVD Projects : Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (Lionsgate), released September 2, 2008 ;Hulk Vs. (Lionsgate), released January 13, 2009 ;Thor: Son of Asgard (Lionsgate), scheduled for September 2009 release

Licensed Broadway Stage Project: Spider-Man, the Musical, Julie Taymor director; music & lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge(Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel Entertainment/David Maisel, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Jeremiah Harris)Slated for a February 2010 opening