Fox now has a commitment to Joe Hill‘s Locke & Key comic series. It is reported that Josh Friedman, of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fame, will be responsible for this television adaptation. The series, as described by IDW‘s website,

“tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them…. and home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…”

source: NYMag

Warner Brothers Television is looking to adapt Neil Gaiman’s ‘Sandman’ series for Television according to an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter’s HeatVision blog. Warner is in the process of acquiring the rights from DC Entertainment and is looking to “Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke to helm the project. Gaiman’s “The Sandman” has been seen previous attempts to jump from the page to live action, including a possible movie adaption. DC had previously been in talks with HBO to adapt the series to TV.  HeatVision also reports that Gaiman isn’t involved in the project at this early stage, but that could be subject to change.

“The Sandman” is described as the “New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s transcendent series SANDMAN is often hailed as the definitive Vertigo title and one of the finest achievements in graphic storytelling. Gaiman created an unforgettable tale of the forces that exist beyond life and death by weaving ancient mythology, folklore and fairy tales with his own distinct narrative vision.”

Between this and Death’s entrance into the main DC Universe, it’s finally time for me to jump into Gaiman’s award winning Vertigo series. What do you think of this? Sound off in our comments below!

According to Ain’t It Cool News, Kick-Ass 2 is officially greenlit. The official word is said to come from none other than Mark Millar himself. Apparently, Mr. Millar was on Radio 5 in the UK when he let out the good news. This, he said, was due to the smashing success of DVD sales for the first title.

Matthew Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, is currently working on X-Men: First Class. So, we probably won’t see this film until 2012-ish. This is all assuming the same director and crew will be working on the sequel, which is highly likely, yet not official. Stay tuned.

The Walking Dead hasn’t begun it’s first season and already AMC has picked the series up for a season 2. What is that you say? This isn’t new news?

Well, the people over at Fangoria.com have their fingers on the pulse… of… the zombies? That’s not right. They have their ears to the ground and have come up with news from a source that says they will begin shooting in February. No word on when season 2 will air.

This comes as fantastic news to people who are anticipating even the first episode of the series, which will debut this Halloween.

UPDATED:

Eric Goldman from IGN just tweeted that AMC has contacted IGN to say that The Walking Dead has NOT been renewed for a second second. More on this as it develops.

Marvel Studios is picking the ball up on the Iron Fist project by hiring screenwriter Rich Wilkes. Wilkes is best known for the first XXX film starring Vin Diesel.

Iron Fist has been around since 1974 and was created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. The story’s main character, Daniel Rand, is a martial arts expert with the power of the Iron Fist, which he earned by defeating a dragon known as Shou-Lao. After winning the battle, he plunged his hands into the heart of the beast, thereby being granted with the abilities of the Iron Fist.

Iron Fist has been in movie limbo since 2000, when actor Ray Park was set to star as the films lead role. It’s good to see that the acquisition of Marvel by Disney didn’t destroy the prospects of the film. Much like Runaways and Ant-Man, Iron First looks to be distributed by Disney.

source: Deadline.com

Heavy Metal Publishing’s Last Man Standing was just picked up for the big screen by Paramount.  This is huge seeing as it debuted only a few weeks ago at San Diego Comic Con.  The popular graphic novel will be extended into a comic book by the house of Eastman.  You can read more about the deal and the novel at Slashfilm.

Today, Dynamite Entertainment announced that the wonderfully talented Eric Trautmann will be the new writer on Vampirella.  The relaunch will occur this November with a brand new #1 and a cover from J. Scott Campbell. Here’s some early plot details from the Press Release that Comic Book Resources received this morning:

Vampirella’s back and is hot on the trail of her nemesis, Vlad Dracula. It’s a darker world for Vampirella, and something even more sinister than vampires lurks in the shadows, something that even Dracula himself has cause to fear. Vampirella is all that stands between us . . . . . . .and the end of the world!

Hit the jump for even more details from Eric and for the full J. Scott Campbell cover!

Trautmann had this to say about his upcoming run:

“There’s a long roster of talented creators – Forrest Ackerman, Archie Goodwin, Kurt Busiek, Warren Ellis, James Robinson, Grant Morrison to name just a few – have cast a long shadow over Vampirella. It’s an honor to be able to add to that long, rich history, and add some of my own peculiar brand of weirdness to it all. I think people will be really surprised by Wagner’s work; he brings a real sense of realism and danger to the page, and manages to create a sexy, intelligent, dangerous Vampirella. Dynamite has been very welcoming, and the experience of working with them has been tremendous fun, and hopefully that translates to the printed page.”

I found it VERY interesting that some of the biggest names in the industry have written Vampirella at one point or another. Hopefully this is another home run for Eric and for artist Wagner Reis. I know I’ll be reading, and I hope you’ll be too. Here’s the beautiful J. Scott Campbell cover:

Source: Comic Book Resources

This is a little behind-the-scenes look at creating the first zombie we see in the upcoming television series, The Walking Dead.  Greg Nicotero explains his genius and gives us a speed-up of the process him and his team used to create the decaying female.  You can Check out the vid here.

Warner Home Video’s “DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection” will hit shelves this November and will feature the previously released shorts focusing on “The Spectre” and “Jonah Hex,” as well as the upcoming “Green Arrow” short. The collection will also contain a brand new, original short featuring Superman, Captain Marvel, and Black Adam. The voice cast for the animated short includes Jerry O’Connell as Captain Marvel, with George Newbern as Superman, Arnold Vosloo as Black Adam, and versed actor James Garner as The Wizard.

See the official press release after the jump…

SUPERMAN/SHAZAM! THE RETURN OF BLACK ADAM ANCHORS DC SHOWCASE ORIGINAL SHORTS COLLECTION

THE SPECTRE, JONAH HEX, GREEN ARROW INCLUDED ON COMPILATION DUE NOV. 9 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

BURBANK, CA (August 5, 2010) – Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video have expanded the realm of superhero storytelling beyond the popular DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies with the introduction of the DC Showcase, a series of animated shorts featuring characters from the celebrated DC Comics vault. On November 9, 2010, Warner Home Video will distribute the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection, the first quartet of animated adventures featuring the never-before-seen Superman/Shazam!
The Return of Black Adam, as a Special Edition Blu-Ray™ for $29.99
(SRP) and single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP).

DC Showcase animated shorts initially appeared as special bonus content on the 2010 slate of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The 10- to 12-minute films include The Spectre, Jonah Hex and Green Arrow. All three titles will be presented in extended formats along with the first-ever release of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam.

In Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam, Clark Kent’s latest interview subject is street kid Billy Batson. What Clark doesn’t know is that Billy is more than a feisty kid with a lot of heart – he has been chosen by an ancient wizard to represent the good of man as the World’s Mightiest Mortal just by invoking the name of the wizard, “Shazam!” Billy’s powers come none-too-soon, as he also discovers he’s being pursued by a centuries’ old, murderous villain, Black Adam – a foe so powerful, even Superman can’t stop him alone. The all-star cast of Superman/Shazam! The Return of Black Adam is led by Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan) as Captain Marvel, George Newbern reprising his Justice League role as Superman, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Black Adam and two-time Emmy Award® winner James Garner (8 Simple Rules) as The Wizard.

Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday) is executive producer and Joaquim Dos Santos (Justice League, Avatar: The Last Airbender) is director of the first series of DC Showcase titles. Michael Jelenic (Wonder Woman) wrote the 22-minute script.

Other shorts included on the DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection:

The Spectre – A detective story with an ethereal twist featuring an otherworldly character. The short is written by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and the voice cast includes Gary Cole (Entourage) and Alyssa Milano (Charmed).

Jonah Hex – The tough-as-nails bounty hunter always gets his man – until someone else gets to him first – in this case a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just his bounty from Jonah Hex. Based on a story from the award-winning Jonah Hex comic series, and scripted by world-renowned author Joe Lansdale. The voice cast is led by Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

Green Arrow – At the Star City International Airport to pick up his girlfriend, Oliver Queen is forced into action as Green Arrow to protect the 10-year-old Princess of Vlatava from his old nemesis Merlyn the Magnificent and the League of Assassins. Greg Weisman (Young Justice) pens this action-packed tale, which features the voices of Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives) as the title character and Malcolm McDowell (Entourage) as his foe.

“The DC Showcase once again combines the respective creative talents of DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video to provide fans with vivid, new experiences alongside characters from within the vast resources of DC Comics,” said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

“The DC Showcase allows us to expand the DC Universe with short stories based on intriguing characters – from a 1940s comics sensation like The Spectre to a creation of the 1970s like Jonah Hex – just begging to be presented to a very worthy fan base,” said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.

“Whereas DC Universe films have given fans the broad strokes of superhero entertainment, we know devout comics fans will enjoy seeing the characters in the DC Showcase come to animated life – some for the very first time – and we believe this presentation will open a window for new viewers to experience these unique, textured heroes and villains,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Sports Marketing.

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection 1-Disc Special Edition DVD features more than 1 hour of exciting extra content, including:
• Four animation shorts (est. 62 min)
• Four additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm

DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection Blu-Ray™ features more than 2
1/2 hours of exciting extra content, including:
• Four animation shorts (est. 62 min)
• Commentaries by renowned writers Steve Niles, Joe Lansdale, Greg
Weisman and Michael Jelenic
• Four additional bonus TV series episodes handpicked by Bruce Timm
• Digital copy online of the shorts

“DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection” hits shelves November 9.

Via MTV Splash Page

According to a report from /Film, Disney has procured the movie rights to Tron: Legacy director Joe Kosinski’s “Oblivion.”  Oblivion is a graphic novel written by Kosinski, with art by Andree Wallin, and published by Radical Publishing due out later this year. Kosinski has been developing this story for roughly 5 years. Hit the jump for more information on the world and story of “Oblivion.”

For those unsure of the story of Oblivion, here’s a brief summary:

From Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and critically acclaimed creator Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) comes an original sci-fi adventure of epic proportions. In a future where the Earth’s surface has been irradiated beyond recognition, the remnants of humanity live above the clouds, safe from the brutal alien Scavengers that stalk the ruins. But when surface drone repairman Jak discovers a mysterious woman in a crash-landed pod, it sets off an unstoppable chain of events that will force him to question everything he knows.

Kosinski explained the plot in more detail to Comic Book Resources as:

“. . .a sci-fi adventure that spans two different worlds and two different times. It’s epic in terms of its scale and scope, but it’s a character driven story with a small cast.” … “I first came up with the concept when I moved from New York to Los Angeles. I was inspired by old sci-fi models like The Twilight Zone” to find an emotional, dramatic story that would raise interesting questions and play with perspective. I wanted to build the story around those few characters, but at the same time ask the bigger universal questions that are integral to science fiction, questions about our existence, our purpose in the big scheme of things. …  The main character, Jak, is an ex-soldier who works as a drone repairman on this barren planet. He fixes the drones that patrol the surface looking to destroy what’s left of the Scavengers, a savage alien race. Jak has a partner, Vika, who’s a by the book kind of career officer and she works as his “eye-in-the-sky,” scanning for damaged drones and monitoring Scavenger activity. One day, Jak comes across a spacecraft that’s crashed, and inside he finds this mysterious woman in “deltasleep.” He rescues her from the Scavengers and takes her back to their Skytower, which is high above the clouds. When the woman wakes up, her story turns their lives upside down and sends each of them on an adventure of self-discovery.

It was reported that Kosinski was shopping around the project and was due to present to Disney on Monday. I’m sure all the hype from Tron: Legacy’s outstanding showing at Comic-Con a few weeks ago played a large role in Disney’s acquisition of the film rights.

The premise sounds very interesting and ambitious. The book itself will contain around 40-50 wide page images (think 300) and is scripted by Arvid Nelson, based on story by Kosinski. You can read a segment from the story over at Ain’t It Cool News.  I eagerly await the release of the graphic novel, but until the end of the year, let’s take  a look at some of Andree Wallin’s art:

What do you think? Sound off in our comments below!