First look on the Peter Perg adaptation of the Vertigo comic hits the web!

Watch the teaser here. But the full trailer is below:

• Smallville • Whedon • Push • Kick-Ass! •
• Atlanta • Powers • Torchwood •

SMALLVILLE: ABSOLUTE JUSTICE
The Geoff Johns’ penned “Smallville” event “Absolute Justice” has a new trailer and it looks good. Surprisingly good—you get Golden Age Green Lantern and Flash props with some nods. I will return to watching “Smallville” Friday, February 5. Check it out over the DC’s The Source Blog.

WHEDON TO FX?
Reports are floating around that Joss Whedon might be planning his next series at FX. (Whedon’a current Fox show, Dollhouse airs its final episode next Friday.) If Whedon and the network that brought us “Always Sunny in Philidelphia,” “Sons of Anarchy” and “The Shield” can come together we’re all for it.
Read about it here.

PUSH GETS A TV SHOW
Nikkie Finke asks why the Summit feature, which only made $50 million, is getting a TV show and we agree. Read Finke over at Deadline Hollywood Daily.

SCOTT PILGRIM
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World reviews are starting to come in from early screenings and AintItCoolNews.com has them here.

FINAL KICK-ASS POSTER
Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s “Kick-Ass!” film adaptation from director Matthew Vaughn hits theaters April 16. We have seen it and it lives up to its name and then some.

ATLANTA COMIC CON
Andy, Casey and I come back to the ATL for the first time since our road trip a decade ago. Who will eat a bug this year? Dates and venue TBD. Read the press release here.

POWERS STILL MOVING AT FX
Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming’s “Powers” series—currently published through Marvel’s Icon line—is still inactive development at FX according to the network prez. Read it over here at Premium Hollywood.

TORCHWOOD AT FOX
Our main man Double B Double D reacts to the news that the Doctor Who spin-off, Torchwood will be adapted for the U.S. on Fox. Doctor Who and Torchwood mastermind Russel T. Davies is involved and writing the script, so there’s hope, but DDBB justly points out it’s Fox which has killed both Firefly and Dollhouse. Read it here.

Marvel Studios announces IMAX debut!

Official Press Release:

Los Angeles, CA – January 14, 2010, – IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX), Marvel Entertainment and Paramount Pictures today announced that the highly-anticipated action-adventure Iron Man 2, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey, Jr., will be released to digital IMAX® theatres simultaneously with the film’s worldwide release on May 7, 2010. The film’s limited IMAX release will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® technology. Iron Man 2, the sequel to Marvel’s box office hit Iron Man, will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

“The success of the first Iron Man movie catapulted the franchise from the comic books to theatre screens, and we’re excited that the IMAX format will offer fans an even more immersive way to experience the sequel,” said Tim Connors, Chief Operating Officer, Marvel Studios.

“Iron Man 2 is a fantastic addition to our growing film slate for 2010, which is filling out faster than any previous year,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “The rollout of our digital projection system has enabled us to add more films to the slate, and we’re very excited to partner with Marvel and Paramount on this next installment of the incredible Iron Man franchise.”

“We’re thrilled to once again be working with Paramount and our long time friends at Marvel Entertainment as we help to bring their characters to life in IMAX,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “The combination of Marvel’s iconic Iron Man story, Jon Favreau’s brilliant vision and Paramount Pictures’ talented team coupled with IMAX will make for a wild cinematic experience.”

Based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero, Iron Man 2 continues the story of the 2008 summer box office blockbuster Iron Man, the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Studios. The first film in the franchise has grossed over a half billion dollars worldwide at the box office. The IMAX release will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics). Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world, including feature films, consumer products, toys, video games, animated television, direct-to-DVD and online. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR technology. IMAX DMR is the Company’s groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2009, there were 403 IMAX theatres (280 commercial, 123 institutional) operating in 44 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group, and Worldwide Television Distribution.

Also at DHD, The Pee Wee Herman show is back and somehow we hadn’t heard yet.

WHEDON WAR ONE
That header sounds badass, but the story’s just kind of weird. Here’s what you need to know: The Buffy book from Dark Horse is really good, and you should read it. And coming up in said really good Buffy book is the fact that one-time lover Angel is actually the big bad Twilight—a reveal that Bill Willingham, writer of the IDW-published Angel book, is none too pleased about. Rich Johnston and Comic Book Resources have it all pieced together.
Read here for part one.
Here for part two.
And the final here.

SIMONE RETURNS TO BoP
Gail Simone is back on Birds of Prey, and that’s pretty exciting.
Quote Simone: “Birds of Prey was the DCU gateway drug. It was the book that a thousand girlfriends and wives and daughters insisted get picked up, the first book they followed on their own. I’ve always been really proud of that, and I think the book being gone left a real hole in the superhero genre that other female-led books don’t really fill, somehow.” Read about it here at Comic Alliance.

SPIDER-MAN MOVIE UPDATE
According to Mike Fleming over at DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com, Sony has a short list of directors for the Spider-Man reboot movie. Marc Webb, (“500 Days of Summer”) is apparently in the lead. Is Joseph Gordon-Levitt too old to play a high school-aged Peter Parker, or is the high school setting possibly up for debate? Flemming says yes to the first and no to latter. Read it all here.

SMALLVILLE
Smallville: Absolute Justice—the Smallville event movie—has a teaser poster and Topless Robot has some comments.

Ghostbuster 3
Ivan Reitman says the script is in and he’s directing “Ghostbusters 3.” Reitman says he hopes to start shooting this year. Video here from MTV.

Ultimate X
Ultimate X from Marvel, Jeph Loeb and Art Adams released it’s final teaser yesterday, and this is it.

Top Shelf Productions has announced a partnership with media entrepreneur John S. Johnson, and independent film producer Anthony Bregman. First up for development, Alex Robinson’s Too Cool to be Forgotten.

Announced today via press release, Johnson’s Likely Story Bregman’s film production company, have purchased a 33% interest in Top Shelf Productions, Inc. Johnson will join the board of Top Shelf, and Likely Story will get a first-look deal for all new Top Shelf publications for possible film and TV development.

Top Shelf also announced the first of their vast library to head to development—Alex Robinson’s critically acclaimed Too Cool to be Forgotten, which tells the story of a 40-something father who gets a chance to relive his teenage years.

Top Shelf publisher (and quite possibly, the nicest dude in comics) Chris Staros elaborated on the deal in the release:

“Two years ago, I casually mentioned that while I loved every aspect of running Top Shelf, Brett and I were starting to get
worn out with being the ‘personal banks’ for the company, and by the stress that this brought during the rocky periods
that publishing undergoes. Coincidentally, at that time, John S. Johnson, a long-time friend of Anthony’s (and big fan of literary graphic novels) mentioned to him that he was toying with the idea of graphic novel publishing, to possibly make it a part of his other new media interests. Anthony suggested we all meet, and over the last couple of years, our mutual friendship, common interests and goals, and respect for each other developed to the point that we decided to work together as partners in the future of Top Shelf.

“Behind the scenes, Top Shelf has been presented with several investment proposals over the years, but most of them were either proposals to buy out the company, purchase a controlling interest, or use the name of the company to do something different than what we had built our reputation on. What we really wanted, and what we have now, are people who believe in what we do and want to help it grow without changing what we are doing. The deal that is in place now
leaves Brett and me firmly in control of the company, and simply adds the capital, resources, and connections for new media and film that John and Anthony bring to the table.”

UPDATED: Raimi and Maguire out, rebooted franchise planned by Sony!

Hollywood guru Nikki Finke has the breaking news at her Deadline Hollywood Daily blog, but the bullet points are pretty clear:

• Raimi is out due to feeling like he couldn’t keep the film’s creative integrity and make the summer 2011 release date.

• Star Tobey Maguire and the rest of the cast are also out as of now.

• Sony will reboot the franchise.

Read Finke’s story here.

Official Press Release:

Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) — Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012. Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.

“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter’s roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.

“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade.This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”

“Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen.”

The studio will have more news about Spider-Man in 2012 in the coming weeks as it prepares for production of the film.

Joshua Dallas steps in as Asgardian warrior for director Kenneth Branagh

Stuart Townsend won’t be one of the Warriors Three come next May.

According to the AP and AintItCoolNews.com, Townsend has been replace in the upcoming “Thor” film by relative newcomer Joshua Dallas.

Townsend, who was also replaced in “The Lord of Rings” trilogy by Viggo Mortensen just before those films began shooting, left the role of Fandral over creative differences according to the AP, but AICN’s Harry Knowles reports it was due to Townsend showing up six hours late for a screen test.

“Thor” begins shooting today, co-stars Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Renee Russo as Frigga and Tom Hiddleston as Loki and is planned for a May 6, 2011 release.

Read the AICN story here and the AP story here.

‘Lady Death’ creator slashes into horror films

Hold on to your heads! Brian Pulido, creator of hairsprayed and hellbound horror comic icons Evil Ernie and Lady Death is back with “The Graves”—a Southwestern supernatural slasher starring the “Candyman”, Bill Moseley and a couple tough gals who aim to gouge the guts out of conventional female horror roles.

From the dry, hot, rattlesnake and mutant clan riddled hills of Arizona, Brian spoke to Wizard about the women who have inspired him, his favorite kill method and a man named Pig Man.

Have you always wanted to make movies? Does this mark a full-on change in your career?

I still plan to do comics, in fact I’m writing an all new Lady Death series from Avatar starting next year. But it’s definitely an expansion. I had originally written the comic “Evil Ernie” as a screenplay many years ago. I had an offer to direct it, but I didn’t like the nature of the deal, they would own it afterwards, and that was what made me ultimately go and form [Chaos].

Why do you find yourself drawn to female leads? What makes the Graves sisters different from females in other horror movies?

When I was a kid I was mostly raised by my mother and my sister, so I’m really used to seeing women in positions of authority. In horror films in particular having female characters it’s easier to show vulnerability, it’s easier to show a transition from weak to strong, or a person finding their strength.
Meghan and Abby Graves are comic geeks. Their favorite authors between them are Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman. Meghan likes everything tough, so she likes Lady Death and probably likes Red Sonja and Powergirl. Abigail is a Neil Gaiman nerd and likes anything Goth, so her favorites are Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Durge, that kind of stuff. This is a fun geek kind of film. It’s the sort of film that a couple can go to and have a good time and the girl will not feel like she has to take a shower after having seen it. It’s a horror film that’s not derogatory towards women. In my movie the girls are heroes. I have nothing against women so I do not relish the idea of seeing them tortured. Its in homage to great old horror films like “Nightmare on Elm Street” where the main character Nancy, while she was Freddy’s victim, was also the hero of the story.

Will any of the kills in “The Graves” take us by legitimate surprise?

I’ll go on record: there’s a couple kills that have never been seen in a movie before. I’ve now seen it with audiences that didn’t know anyone from the film was there, and it works. We have a R rating specifically for strong, bloody violence. You’ve got to be proud of something.

What were the conditions like on set?

We got attracted to shooting in this real life location called Historic Vulture Mine. It’s an old gold mine with a building called the Assay Building where they would store gold, and next to it was “the hang-man’s tree”, where they hung 18 people because they were accused of stealing gold. So the theory is that those guys are still waiting around because they’re unsettled.
I don’t think anyone had shot there since the mid 70s. There’s no doubt the place is just creepy. In 1945 when the thing when bankrupt and the mine itself went belly up, the whole town left. What made things difficult was: the place was haunted, there were 6 different kinds of rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions where we were at, and we did have this crazy range of weather. We had security keep an eye on the set at night and one particular evening the security guy couldn’t make it. At some point somebody came on our grounds with a rifle and was shifting around, and the next morning on one of our main Winnebagos written in mud was “Get Out!” That stuff is really scary. Our location was 30 miles away from town. Literally in the middle of the desert. There could be crazy hill people out there. I was told that 10 miles south of us was a cult and then 10 miles north of us was supposed to be a giant Meth operation.

What can you tell me about Pig Man? Where did Pig Man come from?

Pig Man is 100% Bill Moseley’s invention. He plays a character named Caleb who is the town handyman. He has another persona, and that persona is Pig Man, and Pig Man is a serial killer. He has killed over 200 people, but he’s looking for a mate. For better or for worse, he thinks he finds it in Meghan, the older of the Graves sisters. That’s good and bad for her.

I remember when he first brought it up we were like “Yeah, we don’t know” and we got him the prop and stuff and when we saw him on set, most of the women in the crew became repulsed and freaked out. Then I knew for sure we were on to something. There’s just something about it that really, really disturbs people. When he becomes Pig Man, he’s a man who is a pig. He behaves like a pig, makes sounds like a pig, speaks like a pig, and that’s totally Bill. He’s got this crazy sense of adventure and madness. I felt like I was Martin Scorsese and he was Robert DeNiro. The idea that I could write this dialogue and he could interpreted and turn it into something that much wackier and insane and more disturbing was really exciting.

What are you working on next? Will there we any further convergence between your comic properties and films?

The next movie I’m working on is called “Damnation”. It’s about a family of con artists who perform fake exorcisms and con people out of their money when they unwittingly unleash a horde of demons. One day I would like to be the guy to direct the live action Lady Death movie, not unlike “300” but set in hell. I think I have the raw talent but to get the technical skill, I have to do a couple more movies to get my shots up. It’s something I’m willing to hold out for. • RACHEL MOLINO

Hailing from Lions Gate, “The Graves” debuts at Horrorfest 4 (AKA “8 Films to Die For”) on January 29, 2010 and in theaters across the country.

Deleted scenes in ‘The Quest for Peace’ add Bizarro, robot junk, more John Cryer

If these scenes don’t ruin any nostalgia you may fee about Superman IV, then go ahead and buy the DVD here and then punch yourself in the face.