Superman Returns...Again...

...sorta.

About a month ago, TMT's own Michael Martinez reported on a Japanese television commercial for the 2009 Toyota Prius (the first in a series most likely filmed all around the same time) featuring Chuck's Matthew Bomer as Superman/Clark Kent instead of the current silver-screen Man of Steel Brandon Routh.

Now the second installment has been unveiled this time showcasing Superman in action:

Interestingly, the filmmakers behind said ads are using the suit designed and used in Bryan Singer's Superman Returns. Hell, Bomer himself looks kinda like Singer in costume. Weird!

Is Mad Max 4 Moving Forward? Apparently, Yes!

I'll admit it. I.was.wrong!

Around lunch-time, I was writing up an article about the Australian publication Daily Telegraph reporting that Mad Max 4 was a go with George Miller back at the helm (and already scouting locations and meeting with "specialised technicians") but without the presence of Mel Gibson as the title character. Granted Miller told the MTV Movies Blog a few months back that the film would be done as a 3-D anime production instead.

Then mid-sentence, I stopped and thought to myself, "This is fucking bullshit!" and deleted said article before publishing it. Why? Because some Australian out-lets have had a bad reputation for literally re-posting old news-items and/or quotes and presenting them as new. They did so regarding the cinematic abortion formerly known as Justice League: Mortal a year ago - among others. That, and this honestly sounded like 100% Grade-A Internet bullshit.

Cut to: Me having egg in my face.

Aint-It-Cool-News big-cheese Harry Knowles has come out and confirmed (via his Aussie informants) that yes Mad Max 4 is a go. Like Drew "Moriarty" McWeeny (formerly of AICN and now HitFix), Harry knows his shit. If you'll remember, he was the one who broke the casting news of Christian Bale headlining Terminator: Salvation as John Connor.

The news of Gibson being off isn't a surprise. Although I'm rather curious if the decision to move on was made by ol Mel or George Miller. Who wants to make a $200+ million production with a lead actor whose still yet to get back in the public's good graces - what with the drunken anti-semitic remarks and all. Meh - maybe that's just me...

Movie Moan - So Many Simpsons References, So Little Time

On this week's edition, Phil and Jamie are joined by their pal Ed Hocken whose working to become a member of Pod Caust. So jump over there, listen to their shows and let em know you want Ed on more often, dammit!

Among the many topics brought up on this special extended Movie Moan, the news of Chris Hemsworth (aka Captain Kirk's ill-fated father) being cast as Thor, the future of Terminator 5 and just who the Hell will actually make it, the much anticipated (by about ten people) film version of American Gladiators and how Harlan Ellison probably stalked Jamie as a child.

All of that plus Phil reviews Angels & Demons which Ed and Jamie refuse to watch due to the lack of Ewan McGregor full-frontal nudity. As well as the second edition of "A Memo to the Executives" discussing the next James Bond film, Nikki Finke, The Apprentice, Hal Sparks and exactly what Aaron Sorkin might write for television after Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip bombed a few years back.

And yes by the title of this week's show, our heroes quote The Simpsons...a lot.

"Heh heh, it's funny because I don't know them!"

Movie Moan - So Many Simpsons References, So Little Time

Terminator 5: The Future for Distribution Begins

We're just a week away from the opening of Terminator: Salvation. The advanced buzz has overall been "It's good, but not great!" and all of the key principals involved are already getting their shit geared up for a fifth installment of the newly-revived franchise. Christian Bale is signed up for two more outtings, McG is said to be already working on outlines for Terminator 5 with (now uncredited) writer Jonathon Nolan and a Summer 2011 was officially announced last December.

Well, things are about to get really messy. As it stands there is no distributor locked down for any additional Terminator films beyond Salvation - which Warner Brothers is distributing here in the U.S. and Sony is handling the international side of the matter.

As per Variety, MGM has a 30 day "first right of refusal" to both bankroll and distribute the next Terminator film. Something that I'm sure really pisses off Warner Brothers and Sony right now - as both studios stand to make a nice pay-day from Salvation and would prefer to stay in the "Terminator business" for years to come.

The bigger question of course can MGM even afford to be involved. It's not like they're in the best of shape themselves - what with being bought by Sony a few years back and all. Not to mention, their plate is pretty full with $150-$200 million tentpoles like The Hobbit (which they're doing with Warner Brothers) and the next James Bond film with Daniel Craig (whenever the Hell that happens!)

It'll only make matters worse if Salvation earns the kind of boffo-box office numbers that most are expecting. When something is successful, people have a funny way of coming out of nowhere to get involved.

From Batman to Terminator to Mars?

As per his sources and using his keen sense of detection (i.e. reading between the lines), Drew "Moriarty" McWeeny reports that Christian Bale is a candidate to play the title role in John Carter of Mars. A film adaptation of the book-series has been in development for years under various directors (including a pre-Iron Man Jon Favreau and Robert Rodriguez) and currently set up at Pixar with Wall-E director Andrew Stanton at the helm.

Now let's be fair here. He flat-out asked Bale during his Terminator: Salvation junket about the possibly with the answer: "I don't know what that is."

The thing is though McWeeny knows his shit. His track-record speaks for itself. So let's just assume for the sake of argument that this is true and Bale does in fact headline John Carter of Mars.

Doesn't he honestly have enough frachises on his plate already? To headline one franchise spawning three films would be enough for one actor. But Bale's currently doing press for Terminator: Salvation. And if that does as well as many are expecting, we'll certainly get two more installments.

Not to mention, he'll done the cape and cowl at least one more time for Batman III (eventually) - whether or not Christopher Nolan directs him for a third time remains to be seen.

Movie Moan - Trekgasm

On this week's edition of Movie Moan, Phil and Jamie are joined by their good friend and long-time supporter Lou Sytsma as they discuss Star Trek. Spoiler: They all fucking loved it!

Watch in shock and awe as three grown men are reduced to overly-excited nerds as they gush over J.J. Abrams' Trek "requel" - now a box-office smash, mind you.

In addition to talking about their favorite parts, minor pet-peeves and exactly how did William Shatner expect to fit himself into the newly rebooted film-series, a new feature is introduced. "Memo to the Executives" where our three heroes plead with the studio (in this case Paramount) about what they do and don't want to see in the forthcoming Trek sequel - which is currently aiming for a Summer 2011 release. Hint: No Khan and the more of Karl Urban's awesome Bones, the better!

Movie Moan - Trekgasm

From Kissing Rogue to Yielding the Power Ring?

It's been a busy week for Green Lantern, folks.

First, Drew "Moriarty" McWeeny reported on The Hangover star Bradley Cooper being a top candidate for the title role and just this morning, the news broke that Warner Brothers has moved its release date from December 2010 to June 2011. And now yet another scoop on the Emerald Knight.

The good folks over at Latino Review has received word that yet another actor has surfaced in the sea of potential Hal Jordans. With a filmography including X-Men, Diary of the Dead and I Love You, Beth Cooper, Shawn Roberts is said to be a favorite of director Martin Campbell - who interestingly enough just finished working with the young actor in his forthcoming film Edge of Darkness.

If you don't remember him from X-Men, he's the poor schmuck who kisses Rogue and ends up in a coma. Roberts certainly looks the part and has the "lesser known actor" factor in his favor (i.e. easy to nail down to a multi-picture commitment) as well as his previous working relationship with Campbell.

Movie Moan - Beware...Wolverine Discussion!

On this week's delayed edition, Phil and Jamie let out all of their bottled up frustration and angry towards X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Everything from its inevitable box-office plummet next weekend to the (many) inconsistencies (and Jamie hates on Halle Berry somewhere in between) are discussed.

And since they don't want to spend an entire hour bitching and moaning about the film (even though this podcast series is called Movie Moan), the trailers for G.I. Joe and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen are talked up and Phil gives his prediction of what will be the next 80s toyline turned into a $200+ million summer blockbuster franchise.

All that, and a deep philosophical chat about James Bond Junior and the (presumably many) bastard offspring of 007 and Captain Kirk on this week's Movie Moan!

Movie Moan: Beware...Wolverine Discussion!

Terminator Sequel to Involve Time-Travel?!? Kill Me.

As I said awhile back in my piece detailing the status of several "In Development" sequels to Summer 2009 tentpoles (along with the audio article I did with Peter), I can't see McG returning to direct Terminator 5 - especially considering the time-table with him directing Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo for Christmas 2010.

Nonetheless, McG maintains he will return to the director's chair and is already discussing what we might see in said Terminator follow-up. He revealed recently to Film Journal that time-travel will play a factor in the forthcoming fifth installment which will be conveniently set in a "pre-Judgment Day" 2011 - the year that Warner Brothers plans on releasing said film.

As the We Are Marshall director elaborates:

"John Connor is going to travel back in time and he's going to have to galvanize the militaries of the world for an impending Skynet invasion. They've figured out time travel to the degree where they can send more than one naked entity."

Eh, can't say I'm nuts about revisiting time-travel for the fourth time now (!?!) in this franchise. Not to mention, Warner Brothers has done a damn-fine job at selling Salvation as the "Terminator film we've all been waiting to see" - i.e. set entirely in a post-Judgement Day world. Don't know if it'd be the best idea to go "back to the tried and true formula" - especially if Salvation clicks with audiences the way many believe.

To be fair, I don't know what McG and Jonah Nolan have specifically cooked up and maybe it'll be something worthwhile. But just from the sounds of things, wouldn't surprise me if this was covering ground already treaded upon by J.J. Abrams' Star Trek - i.e. new continuity established because of time-travel tinkering. Meh.

And a special shout-out to TMT poster (and our pal) dark_b for doctoring up the quiet-awesome picture for this article.

Wall Street Sequel Gets Stoned and LaBeoufed

Never thought much would come out of Money Never Sleeps, the in-development sequel to Oliver Stone's Wall Street. This despite the fact that Michael Douglas signed on to reprise his Oscar-winning role of ice-blooded bastard Gordon Gekko last year.

To be honest, it wasn't until the good folks at Latino Review did their (quiet-awesome) video script review that I began to take any real notice of the project. Check it out here if you haven't already.

Now comes official word from 20th Century Fox, that the film now re-titled Wall Street 2 is a go. And surprisingly enough (in a good way, mind you!), Stone himself has agreed to direct the film. Also in the mix is Shia LaBeouf whose currently "in talks" to play the lead opposite Douglas' Gekko.

Now some will argue that Stone is only doing this because last year's W. bombed. Seriously who didn't fucking think that would tank?

The way I see it, LaBeouf stands to gain the most from this. He's a likeable actor and what not. But he seriously needs to headline a successful film that doesn't involve special effects, running a lot and/or has the name Steven Spielberg listed in the credits.