Casting Updates On Joss Whedon's S.H.I.E.L.D. Series

Deadline reveals that Ming-Na Wen (Stargate Universe, E.R.) has landed the role of Agent Melinda May in ABC's S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot. The series is created and written by Joss Whedon who is now the creative guru of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was recently announced that Clark Gregg would head up the show reprising the role of Agent Coulson.

Summer Glau (Serenity, Firefly, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse, Alphas) was asked by IGN if she had talked to Whedon about role in the series.

Well, I have my fingers crossed behind my back. I try not to say anything to Joss about anything he’s doing because he has so many actors, and I know we all want to work for him. So I don't know, but if I could be a part of it in any way, of course, you know I want to.

Chronicle's Josh Trank Could Direct Venom For Sony

24Frames reports that Sony is in talks with Chronicle director Josh Trank to replace Gary Ross (Hunger Games) on their Spider-Man spin-off Venom. It had been originally setup with Ross set to direct along with a script from Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland, Deadpool). However, there were many rewrites and Gary eventually dropped out to focus on the Hanger Games franchise at Lionsgate. Josh was rumored to be in the mix for Fox's Fantastic Four reboot. He would later deny the rumors a couple of times. It's unknown if this is just wishful thinking but Trank is likely getting a bunch of offers.

At one point the studio's plan was to have a completely reboot of Venom, ignoring the events of Spider-Man 3. Perhaps, making this an Ultimate version of Venom to compliant Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man. There also had been talk of darker toned film than any of the Spider-Man films. It makes sense considering the anti-hero does end up becoming a hero of sorts even if he seriously hurts and kills the people who cross his path. Topher Grace won't be returning as the studio would be looking to find a new Eddie Brock. I personally think that Liam Hemsworth or someone of his size would make a good Brock.

Fox Unleashes The Wolverine For July 2013

It's official HeatVision reports 20th Century Fox has set July 13th 2013 as the release date for The Wolverine. The stand alone film that features our favorite Canadian mutant is expected to go into production this spring/summer. James Mangold (3:10 To Yuma) directs the film with a script by Christopher McQuarrie (Usual Suspects) and Mark Romanek (Total Recall). The film is a priority at Fox which makes sense considering how well First Class and the indie Chronicle have performed. The film's villains are expected to be Silver Samurai, The Yakuza, Viper and the ninja clan The Hand.

New Amazing Spider-Man Poster

Josh Trank Could Direct The Fantastic Four Reboot

20th Century Fox seems to have directors lined up for their current Marvel projects. Those names include James Marigold (The Wolverine), David Slade (Daredevil), Tim Miller (Deadpool) and possibly Matthew Vaughn for the First Class sequel. The one film that has been in limbo for years is their Fantastic Four reboot. ShowBlitz reports the studio is strongly considering Chronicle director Josh Trank for the new film. They are just waiting to see how critics and audiences react to Chronicle before making an official offer. The micro-budget superhero indie is gathering a lot of buzz and is expected become very successful. The studio has to make a new movie soon because the rights will eventually revert back to Marvel if they don't.

I just hope that Fox does for Fantastic Four what they did for X-Men First Class. Hiring aspiring talent and seasoned actors to fill roles instead of flavors of the week. The spandex costumes could also use a massive overhaul. The studio also holds the rights to a slew of other Marvel characters such as Doctor Doom, Galactus, Silver Surfer, Super Skrull, Ronan and Blastaar. Fox has a real chance to make Fantastic Four the cosmic adventure film that Green Lantern aspired to be.

Writers Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz Want A Crack At Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four is one of the most popular and recognizable Marvel properties. The comics themselves introduced us to Silver Surfer, Galactius, Rama-Tut (Kang The Conqueror) and Doctor Doom (one of the greatest villains in comics). So it's puzzling how three attempts to make a decent film has ended up in ethier disaster (Roger Corman's version) or average at best. Fox is giving the foursome one more shot before the rights revert back to Marvel/Disney. The relaunch has been stuck in development limbo for years now and it's status has yet to be updated.

Screenwriters Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz (via ComicBookMovie) think they have a way to reinvent the characters while keeping the fantastical aspect of the comics intact. Miller and Stentz are best known for their work on Thor as well as writing credits for X-Men First Class.They believe the Fantastic Four reboot  should be playing up the cosmic aspect of the comics.


"We would absolutely love to reboot the Fantastic Four. There is a franchise that's crying out for it. The Fantastic Four are adventurers, not superheroes, and we have not seen that so far.

"It should all be about venturing into the unknown, space, the Negative Zone, the Microverse. They are explorers. It should be Star Wars meets superheroes."


I have to agree with them as Thor and Green Lantern seem to be proving that science fiction can be included in the superhero genre. Considering they get their powers in space and a majority of their villains are aliens this makes a lot of sense. With Fox's massive success with Avatar they should understand the power of a space adventure spectacle. It would be interesting to see a Fantastic Four film on the edge of Star Trek and Star Wars. The studio doesn't seem to be revamping their recent comic properties without thinking things through. First Class brought the X-Men series back to it's roots while The Wolverine, Daredevil and Deadpool are expected to be on the nose faithful reinventions. Hopefully they will go the same route with Fantastic Four and putting the time into giving fans a solid film.