Hey folks, Harry here... I know next to nothing about CROSSGEN and FUTURE COMICS. So I can't really claim to be excited about any of this. However, I'll be checking the talkbacks to see what from this report gets you excited, cause I'm sort of... eh... on all of it. Here ya go...
Harry
Hello, how are you?
First I want to tell you you have an excellent web site, I really enjoy it. I think it's a little disjointed, but that's part of it's charm.
Second, I am writing you from my "stealth" web serve with no spell checker. This infomation is newly announced.
Third, I attended MegaCon 2003 and I write about comic books for Suite 101 at Suite101.Com . I am sure you are aware, that in addition to DC's planned Batman year one move, Hulk and X-Men2 movie, DC is also putting out the League Extrodinary Gentlemen movie scheduled for July 15th based on the mature comic of the same name.
In case you did not know, this is only the tip of the iceberg in comic related film. I suggest you become familiar with CrossGen comics and with Future Comics as they seem to have heavy deals in the works. CrossGen is planning on 8 to 9 comic related properties going either to live action feature film, CGI animated feature film, or live action TV shows. Future Comics, who put out three titles right now and will be going to a fourth yet unannouced title in August. (I know what type of comic it will be, but I cannot tell, sorry. I am the "unofficial" science advisor to Bob Layton at Future comics, and I am sworn to keep the secret). Future is talking about one movie deal based on Freemind comic and an animated TV show based on Metallix comic.
Anyway, you may be aware that Michael Huslin, executative producer on all three Batman movies now works exclusively for CrossGen. They also have Michael Eisner's former top lawyer to do contracts for them. They also hired Chuck Russell (Back to the Future) to write the script for "The Way of the Rat" comic book turned into a movie. The completed script was turned into the studio on March 3 and is expected to be in production this summer. "Scion" is slated to be the next feature film after "Way of the Rat". Maybe the interesting news is that "Crossovers" and "The First" are slated for live-action TV shows, possibly as early as Fall 2003. "The First" would loose the spandex and go for contemporary dress. The sereis is described as a "West WIng of the gods" type of story, between two fueding factions (families?) of gods. (I suppose one is yellow and one is red faction, based on the CrossGen original symbol of the sigil.)
Plus Bill Tucci, the man behind Crusade comics "Shi" (Actually,, the only person behind Crusade comics), produced and directed a short 19 minute film called "some trouble of a seRRious nature" based on a supposed letter to the servive manager of Vaught/Skorsky aircraft soon after World War II. Bill describes this movie as a live action cartoon, and describes the fun, and difficulty he had making it. Most of the difficulty stemmed from everyone offering "expert" advice to the director and trying to get the unions to do some work, and a lousy cameraman that messed up a bunch of shots. Very funny low-brow humor with a nod to a specific collectable comic. Bill plans on making a feature film this summer about a person with Alzheimers. He has some big names lined up for this yet unamed feature.
I am not sure you are aware, Bill had a very bad experience with a studio (don't remember the name) that choose to do "Battlefield Earth" instead of his "Shi" movie. (Brilliant decision by that studio, huh?) Bill is through with that studio, who he claims does not make any money on their pictures anyway, and is looking for Miramax to produce the "Shi" movie.
Anyway, you are welcome to put this email on your web page. Sorry, I am obligated to get the story on Suite 101 first.
Check out the complete scoop of all comic related movie and TV shows on my Suite 101 article here CLICK HERE .
Again, thanks for the great web page and I hope you find this information useful.
Robert
