Cool News
Warner Bros. Hires A Sixth Writer For SHAZAM!!
I am – Hercules!!
Warner Bros. believes veteran TV actor Bill Birch (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Unit”) can do what veteran movie writer William Goldman (“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Princess Bride”) could not: write a screenplay that will finally put “Shazam!” in production. Birch will be co-writing with funnybook veteran Geoff Johns (“Blade: The Series,” “Robot Chicken”), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Birch is at least the sixth writer assigned to put the classic Fawcett Comics superhero Captain Marvel on the big screen, following Goldman, Bryan Goluboff (“The Basketball Diaries”), Joel Cohen & Alec Sokolow (“Evan Almighty”) and John August (“Go,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Corpse Bride”).
Peter Segal ("Nutty Professor II," "Anger Management," "50 First Dates," "The Longest Yard," "Get Smart"), who has been working with Birch on the period action comedy "One Finger Salute" (a.k.a. "Pre-Astronauts"), is still attached to direct.
“Shazam” is the magic word that transforms preteen Billy Batson into Captain Marvel, the world’s mightiest mortal.
Warner Bros. can’t call the movie “Captain Marvel” because Marvel Comics cleverly trademarked its own (far less famous) Captain Marvel character (a filthy extraterrestrial!), even though Fawcett’s Captain Marvel first appeared in 1939 and Marvel’s Captain Marvel didn’t saunter along until 1967.
Find all of The Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here.
Follow Herc on Twitter!!
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... without being either a kids wish fulfillment type movie or cheesy as hell.
Sadly. -
Next to Superman I'd like to see Cap'n Marvel on the silver screen. Hopefully not too tongue in cheek.
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Thats how it should be.
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It could work.At least this wasn't made in the 90s."Shudders thinking of Steel."
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I always knew they'd remake the ultimate genie movie in history!
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...that run the studios to play it safe and make sure that the movie isn't bad, but terrible!
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That girl lion had some mighty big balls!
Poor Lion :( -
He doesn't try to get laid at every opportunity? Harry Knowles winning the Mr. Universe contest is more plausible!
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He should be Black Adam. He would make a far more terrifying villain than Marvel. You could get that guy from Mad Men to be Captain Marvel. And not play it cheesy. Due it with some kind of grandeur. All DC heroes are Gods and she be treated like that. They aren't heroes that's how DC rights them at least. They are just better than us. Everyone one of them but Booster Gold. But he's funny so it doesn't matter.
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Aug 20, 2009 2:54:52 AM CDT
I SAY LET LARRY CLARK DIRECT IT!!! GUARANTEED ENTERTAINMENT!!!
by carlthormark1978
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Shazam! PYLE!
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Isn't it strange that comic book writer Geoff Johns is also handling the project, and yet, he gets no mention?
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Aug 20, 2009 3:01:31 AM CDT
RED BAND TRAILER FOR ROB ZOMBIE'S EL SUPERBEASTO....
by carlthormark1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APBCOV9BP-A
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...The movie rights to all the comic book characters were tied up in litigation? When 1979s Superman was as good as it got? Now we have Spiderman, Superman returning, Fantastic Four, Punisher, Iron Man, Batman, Hulk(s), Xmen (and their origins) - soon to be Thor, Green Lantern, Avengers, Flash, Captain America, more spiderman, more superman, more origins... Boy, I sure hope this trend doesn't get run into the ground to a point that nobody cares anymore.
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Not Black Adam. Don't waste him on this.
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Goldman actually grew up reading the Captain Marvel comic books. How in the hell could Warner Brothers turn down a script from him? Oh, wait! It's Hollywood.
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....and it looks like we're getting 'APOCALYPSE NOW in space'... Check out marketsaw.com for details.Remember that the trailer comes out online TODAY....see apple.com/trailersTotal fucking awesomeness coming very soon to an internet near you.... That is all.
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*spins in a circle*
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I mean he has some great characters. And Black Adam is one of them. The original Captain Marvel. Who has all kind of shit happen to him for century's turning him spiteful and a little agitated. Then he gets locked away after destroying a few cities/ countries. I mean who has destroyed a few cities. Then along comes some young punk taking what was yours. Yeah there might be some trouble there. That's a good way to go about this movie. From Adams point of view.
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Clash of the genie titans!
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Make it so.
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Shazam? Aw hayyilll naww!
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not to see Geoff in your article, then. sorry.
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and it was completely bizarre, would this work.
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Well done.
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Of such television series as "Blade: The Series" and "Robot Chicken." Jesus H. Christ, next time ask one of the A$$holes for information on WHO GEOFF JOHNS IS!
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Disney would know what to do with this character. I would love to see a Shazam animated movie by Disney or Pixar.
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geeks want there superheroes "Dark Knight" realistic. People don't want the C.C. Beck superhero. They want a Neal Adams/Alex Ross hero. Just another reason why Disney/Pixar should take this one over.
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WTF?
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Doesn't exactly bode well. Though the effects should be good but wacky but good.
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Has the potential of greatness, on the level of Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, yet in LIVE ACTION. Could be a hoot!
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Horrible character to feature in a movie. Nuff said...
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Yeah, Geoff Johns is one of the most accomplished comic writers of the last decade or so. Why is his part in this being played down? Him being involved is the only thing that might make me see it!
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Aug 20, 2009 8:28:29 AM CDT
If William Goldman and John August couldn't crack the story...
by orbots commander
...a pairing of *some guy* who is an actor on TV and a comics writer will? (Rolls eyes) Ah, Hollywood, you disappoint me yet again.
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Aug 20, 2009 8:32:35 AM CDT
Johns' involvement is the only thing that might get this moving
by spyguy
Johns knows story structure and he studied under Richard Donner, the man who gave us what is still the best comic book movie of all time, SUPERMAN.
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track and looks like a scene from Lost. Coincidence?
I remember when my cousin cheated me into swapping my Superman comics for his Shazam... fucker. Heh. -
DC was run by beasts and they couldn't stand competition so they ran Fawcett out of business and kept the character - "borrowing" traits from him and giving them to Supes - Example - Captain Marvel flew before Superman - he could only leap. Mary Marvel was copied for Supergirl - and her power to visit a "phantom zone" was given to Kryptonian background. Marvel jr was copied and turned into Superboy.
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If William Freaking Goldman couldn't do it ... give up.
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I was hoping someone would get that reference. I knew someone would.
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As a movie, it's only good for kids. That's about the only way it'll translate.
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Why this isn't a Pixar movie?
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I got the reference too..good one..a lil surprised that no else mention that.. I was expecting more people to say it or does that just show my age.
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of The Scorpion. Cobras... scorpions... eh, all troublemakers. Nice hood!
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My dad used to love that show, even in reruns. I would look at him and wonder how the hell was he my father. Maybe if I was adopted or mom cheated on him.
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It would be an awesome kids movie. Yes, it would just be a tale of ultimate child wish fulfillment. What is wrong with that?
There is something really disturbing about how adults have co opted the tales of people with powers and in costumes as something for them. Kids need tales of wish fulfillment; there is something pathetic when adults need them as bad as we do now, and as outlandish as super-heroes are. -
This movie (and the entire concept) isn't really anything more than basic childhood wish fulfillment/nerd power fantasy. There's nothing wrong with that though. That's basically what every comic book EVER is/has been. I'm excited to see this one, hopefully the hollywood suits don't screw it up to badly.
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PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE
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I was actually doing the Simpsons version of that Pyle joke =).
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You have the talking Tiger, and a Winnebago--and yer all set.
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But a Joe Johnston is the guy you wanna have direct it. We'll see. I think Patrick Warburton woulda been GREAT, but--they'll go for a nobody.
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Look, no offense to the guy if he's out there, but he IS a "funny book" writer as Hercules dubbed him in the article. And clearly he's NOT the top writer being brought in, but rather Bill Birch is given that he and Peter Segal (who is still attached to direct) are just coming off another project together. If you actually READ the Hollywood Reporter story, it even notes that Johns is merely a "consultant" that Warner Bros/DC hired to help with the development of different properties. The article also notes his involvement is to merely help shape a story, and not write the screenplay.Some of you comic fans need a reality check. Just because Johns works in comics doesn't mean he can create a good MOVIE. Mind you, I'm not saying he can't -- I'm just saying you shouldn't assume that just because he works in comics that he instantly knows what makes a good FILM. In the end, you might get something that's trying to be more faithful TO a comic, but that doesn't translate into a good MOVIE. If anything, it could actually spell trouble because you'd have a geek that's simply jerking off and trying to cram in whatever geek things he wants to see onscreen rather than balancing things out for the sake of the film.For some reason SpyGuy seems to feel we should bow to Johns involvement since he once worked as an assistant under Richard Donner. Well, if Johns is SUCH the great screenwriter, then why the fuck hasn't Donner himself ever bought a Johns script to direct? Or why didn't Donner's own wife, as a producer, hire Johns to write one of the X-MEN movies or one of the upcoming X Universe spin-off projects that are in the works? Frankly, other than his comics work, the guy's screenwriting creds are limited to a few episodes of BLADE: THE SERIES, which frankly was a pretty shitty and unwatchable show.This can be the problem when comic people get involved with comic films. Hell, even as a "funny book" guy getting to have a chance working in movies, look at Frank Miller. Given the things he's done in publishing, I would consider Miller a true comic legend. But even his Hollywood output (which has been spotty or downright awful) has shown that comic guys can't wave their wand and create magic that translates from one medium into the next.Then again this project has been in development hell for so long I don't ever expect to see it actually happen. Tt the rate this has dragged, Marvel will probably do a Captain Marvel movie of their own long before Warner or DC manages to get SHAZAM off the ground.
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Aug 20, 2009 6:51:11 PM CDT
Get Superman and Wonder Woman going properly first.
by malkovichmalkovich
And then worry about the other characters.
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When I was 8. DC has the lamest super hero's imaginable.
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I mean, if you are an adult shouldn't every super-hero be lame?
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Aug 20, 2009 7:26:25 PM CDT
We'll never see this & Jon Hamm will do a Marvel movie...
by big dumb ape
Six writers (and those are just the ones we really know about), years of development, and still nothing to show for it all. This thing really IS stuck in development hell. Clearly, this is just another classic Hollywood case where behind the scenes the suits are arguing because no one has any fucking idea "what" they want the final product to be. Which is NEVER a good sign for "what" we'll ultimately get.Of course, if they do ever make this, I'm with FilmCans. The BEST actor they could get for Captain Marvel would be Jon Hamm. That would rock and be picture perfect. However, odds are Marvel will scoop him up first for a project of their own since DC can't seem to ever get their movie shit together aside from the Nolan BAT films. And even when it comes to those, I'm now convinced that Warners luckily stumbled into them by pure accident!
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...I'm sure Hamm is being advised by smart people on how to transition effectively to movies, and I'd bet a good amount of money they wouldn't let him get anywhere NEAR a Shazam movie. It would be the end of his movie career.
Besides, the way it sounds, this thing is never getting made anyway. It'll be stuck in development hell forever. -
A good solid animated TV show ala the 90's Bats series. Stay away from the big screen. You'll not like what you see, and it will not end well.
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Let Johns come up with the story plot points. He has grand scale ideas. Plus he can bring in the other heroes from DC. All you Johns detractors, read his green lantern rebirth. It's just like a movie. Well written and believable. And just to be like everyone else around here. Your eyeballs will be soundly fucked.
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For a glittering 20 issues or so, this team made JSA a thrilling must-read for me, so much so that even though I worked at a comic shop at the time, I actually BOUGHT the book while they were co-writers. When Goyer left for Hollywood glory, it quickly became evident where more than half the talent in that duo lay and I dropped the book soon after. That said, if you're gonna go with a comic book writer for your screenplay (and for a comic book character, DUH!), why not grab one that has serious Hollywood mojo just now and give us a GREAT writing team?!
Only thing is, ya gotta take it seriously and drop all the traditional cutesy-pie Captain Marvel stuff, i.e. talking anthropomorphic tigers, worms as supervillians, etc. Do it straight with the Marvel film adaptations as your guide: keep the powers and abilities intact, but ground the characters, story and look in the real, modern world. Look also to the "Power of Shazam" reboot of the character by Jerry Ordway that again took things MUCH more seriously and to great effect. -
I dont like how for him, "realistic" translates into "old and fat." His depiction of Wonder Woman makes her look like an aging dyke, even when he isn't doing her in the future (Kingdom Come). I also didn't like Kingdom Come. It was ok, but not great. I hate that it impacted the JSA story recently, but I actually do like how the JSA artist makes the alternate Superman look. Anyway, you are not alone. I find most of his art to make the characters look fat and old.
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the poor man's Superman. The whole concept is a rip off. I never like it, and I never will. The red and gold suit is gay too. Now Isis...she was fucking hot!
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...Should be the MODEL for doing a Captain Marvel movie. It was done with love and affection for the character, the story was done exciting and almost like a tribute to the Republic serial (still one of the best incarnations of the character on screen to date), it worked in the origin of Captain Marvel and Black Adam seemlessly, it had great action and fight scenes, and it didn't insult your intelligence in the slightest bit. Truth be told, that was a GREAT one-shot by Jerry Ordway with terrific art. It's a shame DC just doesn't make IT into the first movie or even use it as the template for an animated direct to DVD film. If you've never read it, go pick up a copy!
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case closed. Puddy!!!!
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Aug 22, 2009 4:25:02 AM CDT
lol.....he called Marvel's Captain Marvel a filthy extraterrestr
by peopleintrees
yeah pretty much spot on
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The Cobra Commander looks better back in 1939 than he does in the new piece of shit GI JOE movie of 2009. And CM flew better back in 1939 too. Damn cheesy (no pun intended) 70's and their lousy effects!
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Animation, I respect your opinion that you don't like the art - but your REASONS for not liking it comes from a weak premise. Ross' style is what makes it perfectly applicable to how real people would look in movies wearing superhero costumes. No adult female superhero is going to look like Kate Moss and no adult male superhero is going to look like a Jonas brother. Wonder Woman is an Amazon warrior, not a waifish Hollywood starlet or Victoria's Secret model. If you're gonna hold out for a superhero movie reflecting body types drawn by Rob Liefield, Todd MacFarlane or typical Anime, you'll never see another live-action superhero movie again. Old and fat? Try realistic.
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Wow another DC bomb. How can my favorite comic line still not get it right. This is at least in theory the only character in the DC universe Stronger than Superman. Because of MAGIC "yawn" Considering how well "SUPERMAN RETURNS" did, Box office wasn't horrible by any means. But how often do you hear about it talked about the way you hear people talk about "BATMAN BEGINS","THE DARK NIGHT RETURNS", the first two "SPIDER-MAN" movies or any of the "X-MEN" movies. Come on he is a secound rate character at best, and can't even keep his own title. Someone please prove me wrong and turn this into a good movie. All I have left to say is 6TH WRITER generally equals no movie, or worse yet STRAIGHT TO DVD.
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How about Dave Batista as Black Adam!
Black Adam is a MUCH cooler villain than that mongoloid Dr.Sivana, and why not start the franchise off right with a bang?
Personally I'd like to see it as a period piece set in the Thirties to take advantage of the excellent movie serial that you should check out if you havent seen it already but unfortunately films set in the thirties all seem to tank unless Indiana Jones is in them(The Rocketeer, The Shadow, The Phantom, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, etc) so I COULD live with it if it were updated and done WELL.
It's NOT rocket science, give the audience some good looking heroes, cool villains, good looking action, good sounding music, and wrap it all up with a happy ending and there you go! (As long as it's NOT set in the thirties. ;))
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