Monthly Archives: February 2012

Steampunk Batman: The Video Game That Disappeared

A video of an abandoned Batman game has surfaced on the internet. Based on the Gotham By Gaslight graphic novel from DC Comics, this Victorian era take on the Batman was written by Bryan Augustyn and drawn by Mike Mignola; the creator of Hellboy. This sprang from a series of What If type comic books called Elseworlds.

The Elseworld tag:

“In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others that can’t, couldn’t or shouldn’t exist. The result is stories that make characters who are as familiar as yesterday seem as fresh as tomorrow.”

In this Elseworld comic, Gotham By Gaslight, the book begins with Wayne retelling a dream to Dr. Sigmund Freud; where Wayne watches as his parents are shot down by a bandit, then gets saved from the bandit by annoyed bats hidden in trees. Freud’s all into this because he’s got a symbolism obsession; not a far stretch for the greatest charlatan and father of modern Psychology. Wayne insists that it’s just a dream flashback, while Freud gets his oral fixation on with his cigar; sometimes a cigar really is just that.

The backdrop for this story is in Victorian-era setting, where Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham City after training all around the world. Freud even mentions that Wayne trained under a London Detective; perhaps the fictional Sherlock Holmes? That’s right. If Batman started off back then, he would have been the first Behavioral Science Unit.

Antsy to get started on being Batman in the Gotham equivalent of Victorian-era London, Bruce Wayne wastes no time establishing himself as the original darkness that flaps in the night; move aside Darkwing Duck. The primitive screw heads are no match for his fisticuffs and bat-horse-mobile. One problem, everyone thinks that Bruce Wayne is Jack the Ripper. Can Batman stop one of history’s elusive serial killers while behind bars?

A lot of people think of this version of Batman to be steam punk. The first book shows no steam punk like gadgets or cool technology. If it were to be redone today, they’d have shown Batman using a modified Nerf Maverick gun, while wearing goggles with brass gears glued to the thing. However it’s just Batman, dark brooding gentleman in a cowl. Without computer technology and a victim to leech based medicine, this dark knight is no match of another Elseworld comic called Superman: Red Son.  Comrade Batman!

Originally the game was being produced by Day 1 Studios, but was later on dropped when THQ passed on the sales pitch back in 2009 reports Siliconera. Probably a smart move as Warner Bros. Picked up DC Comics the same year. It could have turned really messy with copyright and trademark legalities.

So the speculation right now is that the video is a deliberate leak by Day 1 Studios, possibly hoping to get Warner Bros attention in the wake of Batman video game popularity. Let’s hope the attention that it does get from Warner Bros. doesn’t turn into the Eye of Sauron. I somehow picture a horde of ring wraith lawyers charging into the night.

So the video that’s surfaced is probably the prototype video for the project. Let’s take a gander at the game that could have been.

The video depicts a barrel chested Batman skipping across rooftops and the streets of old day Gotham. Like the Matrix, we see duplicates and people holding guns that make sudden jerking movements, pointing at the Batman like a counterstrike arrow bot. We also see the Batman leaps on top of buildings in a single bound. Again, this is forgivable as it’s a prototype.

What catches my eye is the cape. It ripples in the air and swings with each movement. Sometimes it just moves with a mind of it’s own. Over all, the cape looks amazing as it appears a lot of code must have been invested in it. Like a lot. Like DOA-bikini-volleyball-mammary-glands-physics lots. Was this the focus of the pitch? The cape physics are almost Spawn like.

If they wanted to give Batman an Elseworld gimmick that would have completely held the interest of comic book gamers, they should have created a whole new storyline revolving around current day Batman getting his hands on a Green Lantern’s ring of power; not the In Darkest Knight horror they spun together either.   I can almost imagine the weeks of game play I could get out of that as Batman goes mad with power.

So in the end, this video should remind the world that the steampunk genre and Victorian-era storylines are the untapped markets ready to be exploited today. The closest I’ve come to seeing a proper airship was in the 3 Musketeers movie. So chop, chop, Hollywood. Give me steam!

New Poster for The Avengers Revealed

A new poster has hit the internet for the upcoming movie The Avengers, only one day before the new trailer kicks off. Adapted from Marvel comics, the Avengers are a team of superheroes who gather together to battle problems that each singly can not.

The eye catching poster features the main cast in in their superhero glory, posing ridiculously as they would in comic books. I’m more surprised that Black Widow isn’t showing more cleavage or more in a cheesecake position. It would have been more inline with the comic book industry standards of, “making it big.” Go google “black widow comic” and take a look. It seems that all superheroines have their hips permanently locked and should have problems moving. As silly as the poses are for the Avengers, it still strikes a chord of badassery. At least it’s not the Ginyu Force team pose.

The backdrop for the poster shows the heroes set in what appears to be a semi-destroyed New York still under attack. Without their headgear to obscure the star studded faces, the poster shows Chris Evans as the pro-drug use Captain America, Robert Downy Jr. as the Incredibly Pompous Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Space God of Thunder and Abs, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury; such a bad ass that he stopped being white, Jeremy Renner as the Bullseye version of Hawkeye, and a CGI Hulk who’s alter ego is played by Mark Ruffalo. Then we come back to Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow. Her superpower set is using a gun and launching a luchador wrestling technique that disables men with her swinging crotch.

The Marvel Comics that the movie is actually adapted from is called The Ultimates, a dark and gritty reboot of the Avengers franchise. The comics did well to distance itself from more campy versions of the Avengers and other complex storylines.

Too bad the poster in the U.K will label the upcoming film adaptation as “Avengers Assemble.” Which is understandable because the Brits have their own team of heroes that fight crime called The Avengers.

In the states, the Marvel comics version of The Avengers debuted in September 1963. While in the U.K. Citizens tuned in to watch a spy adventure television show January 1961. It was also called the Avengers which was well produced before Marvel ever started cranking out their comics. So to protect everyone from confusion; and obvious questions about trademarks and copyright laws; it was probably for the best that the movie was renamed. Though I think Ultimate Avengers would have been better move.

One of the more memorable opening sequences of the show explained the spy adventure succinctly:

“Extraordinary crimes against the people, and the state, have to be avenged by agents extraordinary. Two such people are John Steed, top professional, and his partner Emma Peel, talented amateur. Otherwise known as The Avengers.” The opening narration would then cut to the theme song.

Though it happened so long ago, doesn’t make it any less of a cultural icon. I grew up on black and white versions of the show, and still to this day want a sword umbrella. A real proper gentleman one. Not a samurai sword handle umbrella or a shiv umbrella. That and add a intelligent, yet beautiful sidekick wearing a catsuit. That wouldn’t be bad either.

Mrs. Peel, we’re needed.

Battle Royale VS The Hunger Games – A Comparison

I will go ahead and say this, yes; there are some major similarities between The Hunger Games and Battle Royale. But when you take a moment to look at individual components of each, you realize that while they are similar, the feel and details are very different.

So I’ve created a comparison of the two works to see where they stand.

Origins

Both films, Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, were initially based on novels. BR is a 1999 Japanese novel written by Koushun Takami. It has also been adapted into a film and a manga series. HG was written by Suzanne Collins as part of a trilogy that is being adapted into a four film series.

Setting

This category is a little bit of the same and a little bit different. HG takes place in a dystopian future in which North America has collapsed and everyone is ruled by the central governing body, The Capital.

BR takes place in an alternate timeline, in Japan. And it is in the pretty close future you know give or take 20 years.  In this world, the dystopian world is most likely linked to economic collapse (and is pretty plausible the way the world is heading now – minus the “BR Act”).

While both are indeed set in dystopian settings, they have enough differences to safely say they are different.

The Hook

The Hook, and the main proponent that the two are so similar is the fact that they involve a countries young children fighting each other to death in an arena type situation. It is true, they are VERY similar ideas, but they are ideas that are unique to the novels as a whole.

Both BR and HG the event, called “The Program” or the “BR Act” in BR and “ The Hunger Games” in HG, is punishment by the government to instill fear and oppression upon their citizens,

However, in BR, the program is used mainly to deter the young citizens from forming or joining gangs and enacting violence in the already desolate world they live in.

In HG, the games are primarily used to show the overwhelming power that the government holds over its citizens. The Capitol uses the games to show people that they are so powerful they can make their children fight to the death whether they like it or not.

But it is important to point out that in BR, the program is basically secret, no one knows when or where it is happening while the games in HG are broadcast like a terrible reality television show that you are forced to watch (another way the Capitol secures its power over its citizens). In BR it is even unclear if most of the country even knows what the BR Act is or that it is even happening.

Also the means of which to choose its victims is different between the two. In BR, a random classroom of teenagers are chosen against their will and knowledge and placed in an secluded area and are given three days to kill each other so that one can live.

In HG, the whole country watches as they send tributes off to the arena where the games can last a week or more (although if there isn’t enough action, they make sure people die).  There is also a volunteer choice people can make. Either for the honor to win and live or (as in the novel) to save a loved one from going in to the nightmare of the arena.

Another big difference in the setting is that while District 12 in Panem (HG) is poor, the whole country isn’t. In fact some are relatively well off and the Capitol is the definition of a hedonistic lifestyle. While in BR, the whole country is in shambles with an unemployment rate climbing and the country crumbling.

Dynamic Between Participants

I think it is interesting to point out that the dynamic between the participants in the games or the program is vastly different. This lends itself to being one of the biggest differences between the two stories because it changes the whole feel of the novels.

In BR, they choose a whole classroom to go in, which means everyone there knows each other pretty damn well as they have probably been in school together for years.

In HG, many are just meeting for the first time, and thus, have no emotional attachment to each other besides their district mate and even then because they could be years apart in age and in status of the community, they still might know each other and have no attachment.

In BR, it is much worse because now friends and lovers must kill each other rather than strangers killing strangers to live (which would be much easier for the contestants).  So when other tributes like Glimmer or Clove get killed, you don’t really mind so much because you don’t know these people, they are strangers.  But in BR, you are watching friends kill friends, which add a whole layer of sadistic sadness to the situation.

The Weapons

Of course this is similar in that the participants have random weapons, but how they get them is what makes them different.

In HG, the tributes are set in random spots around each other and at the starting mark they have to make a choice. Run for the Cornucopia where there are a plethora of weapons and items and possibly get killed (this is where most of the tributes die) or run and find water and a hiding place till everyone else is spread out and then try to get your bearings and a weapon.

In BR, it is much different. The contestants in BR are given a survival pack before entering the area. The packs contain different supplies and a random weapon with which they will kill each other. The “weapon” could range anywhere from a gun, to a bow, to a random ass item like a frying pan. It is a surprise grab bag basically for all the contestants.

One very similar idea, however, is that both works do contain a failsafe incase people are not dying fast enough. In HG, the game makers will rain all kinds of shit down to make sure people at home aren’t bored with the entertainment. This could include an earthquake or fireballs raining down.  The game masters in BR also use this same tactic to try and encourage these friends to kill each other.

I’d choose the girl who was on fire over the pot lid any day.

LOVE

Yes, it is true that the love aspect of HG is one of the higher selling points of the novel, that has spawned squeals of girlish glee and teens clamor over whether to buy a “Team Peeta” or a “Team Gale”. But there is also a love story written into the pages of BR except that this one is downplayed as a way to make room for much MUCH more violence.

In HG, Peeta Pocket and Male Gale internally fight over who deserves and loves Katniss the most. While she proceeds to play with them both in attempt to A) LIVE and B) figure out her own confused feelings of life and love. (And yes I am all for Peeta Pocket and Katniss together so they can make delicious bread together).

I just want them to make out right now!

In BR, we have Shuya and Noriko who you definitely want to live and love but when you realize that, hey, all these characters have dated one another, loved one another, have emotional attachments to one another, its hard to focus on the love story of these two characters. Not to mention the rape-y aspect of one of the characters is a little unsettling.

The Villain

In HG you have President Snow, in BR, you have the teacher. One is slightly to incredibly more powerful then the other, but surprisingly, the teacher is scarier. Yes, Snow smells of blood, but the teacher in BR you have a lonely angry man who has a wayyyy to weird obsession with children killing each other.

Both rulers also have an uncomfortable obsession with the lead female though, which is creepy in the “don’t leave the house” kind of way.

 The Characters

This NEEDS to be said. All the students in BR are freaking insane.  With the exception of Shuya and Noriko, everyone else in the story are literally just crazy. BR takes the characters to an extreme in which they will stop at nothing to kill each other and anyone who acts reasonably and logically like the leads, stand out as weird when surrounded by such insanity. (One of the characters doesn’t even feel real human emotion due to a brain injury!)

In HG, all the secondary tributes and characters are a little bit in the least relatable. The careers make sense, they want honor and they want victory in something they’ve been training for their whole lives, and everyone else was thrown in there under the same circumstances and they all want to live but they all have moral codes that at one point or another hold them back. Thresh doesn’t kill Katniss as a payback for her taking care of Rue, and often the tributes from each district form a partnership for as long as possible, protecting each other.

In BR, the only people who don’t go on a full on Patrick Bateman in the novel are considered weird and weak.

The Technology

Technology plays a huge part in both films/novels. It is used to police and monitor much of the world around them as well as control the arena in which contestants are dropped.

In HG, since they are in the future, they have crazy awesome technology like giant hovercrafts, the ability to manipulate anything in the arena as well genetically alter new species and creations. They even have the ability to create force fields, and biotech weapons as well a whole underground city complete with food and water.

Although BR isn’t that technological advanced, it still uses extreme technology to keep people in line. They use an exploding collar on the neck of every participant to make sure they either fight to the death, or die by way of the collar.

Each story uses the technology is a different way, but its results are the same, fight to death or die anyway if you refuse.

The Violence

 Pretty obvious right? I mean it is about kids murdering each other for basically entertainment. But while HG is very violent (this includes arrows to the neck, stones to the skull, and poison) BR still wins. It is gory and bloody to the very end with very little in between.

It has been pointed out that BR uses such brutal violence as a way to remind those watching that hey this is what the story is about. But in HG, we are seeing things from the eyes of Katniss, who internally struggles with killing, rationalizes it, and actually kills very little when compared to her fellow tributes who kill without second guessing themselves.

With that said, they are both pretty brutal.

The Overall Tone

In Panem, the tributes spends weeks in front of cameras, at events, touring, doing interviews and such BEFORE going into the arena where the whole country watches them die. The world gets to know each tribute only to watch them die horrifically weeks later.

In BR, the program happens secretly and is called “military research” so the biggest mind f*** is only between the participants.

Panem spends weeks building emotional investments to the tributes in front of the cameras so that can see them die. The Capitol must certainly uses this technique as another way to assert their dominance (albeit subconsciously).

In the program of BR, the only emotional investments have already been made over years and YEARS (instead of weeks) of friendships and time. So when the characters have to die, its even more heartwenching for the reader/viewer al though not for those involved because they are already insane.

This lends to the very different tones of the stories. In HG you get to know the characters as well, bond with them and move with them because we are seeing the story and the history through the eyes of someone living it.

BR is about blood, violence, hatred, and little touch of love set in a world that gives little explanation and very little connections between the characters. It is a good film, but doesn’t have the bonding quality that HG does.

So yeah, these stories have a few elements that are similar, but hey most of the world is similar if you look hard enough. And hey, who says two people can’t have similar ideas? Besides I am just as much a fan of the gore in BR as I am in the overall story of HG. I like them both but for different reasons because each film/novel gives me something different when watching it or reading it.

New Video From The Set of The Avengers Released

With new posters debuting, and more news coming out every day, it is clear we are super close to the film finally hitting theaters. Marvel’s The Avengers is about two months away from landing in theaters and fans are almost giddy with excitement.
To quench the “I can’t waits!” out there, ET revealed a sneak preview of their visit to the Albuquerque set. As well as a brief glimpse of the new trailer that is set to premiere tomorrow morning.
Marvel’s The Avengers is opening in 3D, 2D and IMAX 3D on May 4th. It is written and directed by (the amazingly awesome) Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston and Stellan Skarsgard.
The plot continues the epic big-screen adventures started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Marvel’s The Avengers is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.
The film has an all-star cast that is sure to please anyone watching the film. It includes:
  • Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man:
A self-described genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist with a mechanical suit of armor of his own invention. 
  • Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America:
A World War II veteran who was enhanced to the peak of human physicality by an experimental serum. 
  • Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner / Hulk:
A genius scientist who, because of exposure to gamma radiation, transforms into a monster when enraged or excited. Ruffalo was cast after negotiations between Marvel and Edward Norton broke down.

  • Lou Ferrigno will voice the Hulk.
  • Chris Hemsworth as Thor:
The god of thunder based on the Norse deity of the same name. Hemsworth was cast as part of a multiple movie deal. Hemsworth stated that he was able to maintain the strength he built up for Thor by increasing his food intake, consisting of a number of chicken breasts, fish, steak and eggs a day.
  • Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow:
A highly trained spy working for the international peacekeeping organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. 
  • Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton / Hawkeye:
A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and master archer known in the comics as the “World’s Greatest Marksman”. Renner said it was a very physical role and that he trained physically and practiced archery as much as possible in preparation. 
  • Tom Hiddleston as Loki:
Thor’s adoptive brother and nemesis based on the deity of the same name. 
  • Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury:
The director of S.H.I.E.L.D., who was revealed in previous films to be coordinating the “Avenger Initiative”. Jackson was brought to the project with a deal containing an option to play the character in up to nine Marvel films.
  • Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill:
A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who works closely with Jackson’s Nick Fury. 

Clark Gregg and Stellan Skarsgård reprise their roles from previous films as Phil Coulson and Erik Selvig respectively. Paul Bettany returns to voice JARVIS. Avengers co-creator Stan Lee will have a cameo appearance.

There is a lot of buzz about the awesomeness that this new film promises to deliver (and with someone as sexy as Scar-Jo in it, I believe it) and hopefully the project will live up the expectations.
You can watch the video from the set below:

Jonah Hill and James Franco Set Out to Film a True Story

Superbad star Jonah Hill and 127 Hours actor James Franco will be teaming up and getting ready to headline the film adaptation of True Story. Based on the memoir by Michael Finkel, True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa. The 2006 release of the book is a bit of twisted meta storytelling.

One of the official book descriptions:

The story begins in February of 2002, when a reporter in Oregon contacts New York Times Magazine writer Michael Finkel with a startling piece of news. A young, highly intelligent man named Christian Longo, on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for killing his entire family, has recently been captured in Mexico, where he’d taken on a new identity—Michael Finkel of the New York Times.

The next day, on page A-3 of the Times, comes another bit of troubling news: a note, written by the paper’s editors, explaining that Finkel has falsified parts of an investigative article and has been fired. This unlikely confluence sets the stage for a bizarre and intense relationship. After Longo’s arrest, the only journalist the accused murderer will speak with is the real Michael Finkel. And as the months until Longo’s trial tick away, the two men talk for dozens of hours on the telephone, meet in the jailhouse visiting room, and exchange nearly a thousand pages of handwritten letters.

With Longo insisting he can prove his innocence, Finkel strives to uncover what really happened to Longo’s family, and his quest becomes less a reporting job than a psychological cat-and-mouse game—sometimes redemptively honest, other times slyly manipulative. Finkel’s pursuit pays off only at the end, when Longo, after a lifetime of deception, finally says what he wouldn’t even admit in court—the whole, true story. Or so it seems.

Hill will play the role of Finkel, opposite to Franco who will take on the role of Christian Longo.

Brad Pitt, who recently starred in the film Moneyball with Hill, will produce for the project through his Plan B production company. I’m sure Pitt will no problem funding the venture. Pitt can just use the opening day box office ticket sales of the upcoming World War Z film. Rupert Goold is set to direct and the movie will be his theatrical debut.

Hill must be happy to reunite with Pitt for a movie, particularly when he believes that they had a chemistry off the set; like in a one sided bromance. In a talk with MTV News, Hill said, “I think [Brad] and I are really close in the movie. The movie is really the two of us playing off of each other a majority of the time, so if that chemistry wasn’t there between us, I think the movie would have completely failed.” Hill went on to add, “So I think we both knew that going in, and I think we both happened to like each other a lot.”

First rule of bromance club.  Don’t talk about bromance!

Pre-Orders of the Game of Thrones Video Game Bundled with Bonus Art

Game of Thrones had a game under development before the HBO show came around. However, it seems that a late deal was reached to incorporate some familiar faces and voices into the video game from the television series. So from how things stand now, there will be a mixture of game development that combines the vision of Cyanide Studios; the game developer; ATLUS; the game publisher; and HBO’s vision; the television show adaptation.

The original story for the game was written under the supervision of George R. R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones book series. The game promises to deliver an interactive role-playing experience for avid fans. Gamers will visit Martin’s world of Westeros, containing within its own plane familiar locations and characters straight from the book. Fans of the intellectual property who can’t get enough just simply reading or watching the story will have a chance to take an active role, immersing themselves in the drama as it unfolds.

But wait, there’s more! Those that pre order the upcoming Game of Thrones RPG will also receive a hardbound art book, Game of Thrones: Visuals from the RPG. This offer is only available from participating retailers while limited supplies last. So those with impulse buying issues or want to have the extra swag, pre-order your game from from Amazon, GameStop, EB Games, or the HBO Shop.

The bonus art book offers sixty-four full color pages that include sketches, concept art, photos, screenshots and renders from the game, complete with DVD Commentary like text from the game’s developers. The package will also include behind the scenes materials, like a special message from Martin; possibly telling us to drink more Ovaltine; and a portrait of the development team. That’s what I’m missing from my life, more portraits of development teams. The bonus book measures at 8.5″ wide and 11″ tall, hardbound and printed on the most premium of stock papers. You know, the hard glossy kind that resists fingerprints and could kill children with paper cuts.

With the collector’s edition quality here in the bonus book, some may just want to get their hands on the art rather than the game. If they do, they’ll have to shell out $60.00 for it like everyone else. Though I’m sure that if you wait long enough online, you’ll be able to find the book being resold somewhere; to offset the cost of games and all. Yes, people will do it. I remember buying the Vampire: The Masquerade video game just for a hardcover Book of Nod. I ended up just giving a friend of mine the game.

In an official press release, The Game of Thrones: The Game, has been described as follows:

“In this 30-plus hour action RPG, players will enter the gritty and medieval fantasy world of Westeros. As one of two original characters with disparate motivations, both former soldiers of Robert’s Rebellion, players will forge alliances and wage battles as they play a pivotal role in the ongoing war for power of the Seven Kingdoms. Their journey will span numerous quests, during which they will interact with many characters and make key decisions that impact the realm.

Standing before the majesty and bitter isolation of the Wall or walking through the streets and alleys of King’s Landing, players will not simply pass by locations and characters integral to the series; they will explore and interact with them, meeting and learning about the people and history that defines them and their importance. Key decisions and major events will have meaningful impact on Westeros, allowing the player to witness how the game world evolves over time based on their actions or inactions. Moreover, “Game of Thrones” introduces an innovative “active slowdown tactical combat engine” in which combat mirrors the series’ thoughtful approach to war and politics: fighting slows but never stops entirely, forcing the player to make quick, pressured choices before their enemy strikes again.”

Isn’t the slowdown tactical combat engine basically Matrix bullet time? I’m pretty sure they did that in the Max Payne video games and Prince of Persia. Either way, it remains to be seen whether or not the game lives up to the acclaim that Martin and HBO have brought to the franchise.

Check out the game trailer below.

True Blood Loses Part of Its Bite: Alan Ball Steps Down

HBO, the cable network announced on Monday night that writer and television producer, Alan Ball, would not remain the show runner for their hit show, “True Blood.”

Based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries novel series by Charlaine Harris, “True Blood” is about the co-existence of vampires and humans in a fictional world were vampires have revealed themselves to be unliving amongst humans. The American television series, which was created and produced by Ball will have to go without him for the potential sixth season. Yes, the same Ball who’s been recognized in the industry, winning an Academy Award for writing American Beauty and an Emmy for directing the pilot episode of his HBO series Six Feet Under. As much as Six Feet Under annoyed me, I couldn’t look away. It was also impressive to watch Dexter play an impressive such a neurotic role.

HBO states:

“When we extended our MULTI-YEAR overall deal with Alan Ball in July 2011, we always intended that if we proceeded to True Blood’s sixth season that Alan would take a supervisory role on the series and not be the day-to-day showrunner. If we proceed to season six, the show will remain in the very capable hands of the talented team of writers and producers who have been with the show for a number of years. This is the best possible world for both HBO and Alan Ball.”

One slight problem. “True Blood” just completed it’s fourth season and is gearing up for its fifth. HBO has yet to announce a sixth season. Even though it’s almost unthinkable to end a show that’s been lucrative; drawing more than 5 million viewers for new episodes, not including downloads; stranger things have happened. I still miss “Firefly.”

The cable network also went on to mention that Ball “will remain available as executive producer to consult and advise on “True Blood” and he will be free to develop new shows for both HBO and Cinemax. “Banshee”, on which Alan serves as executive producer, is the first in house series for Cinemax and is expected to begin production this spring.” In addition to this, Ball is also in the development process for a new HBO show, a medical drama about an abortion doctor.

“True Blood has been, and will continue to be, a highlight of not only my career but my life,” commented Ball. “Because of the fantastic cast, writers, producers and crew, with whom I have been lucky enough to work these past five years, I know I could step back and the show will continue to thrive as I look forward to new and exciting ventures.”

So what Ball and HBO are saying is that breakup from True Blood is mutual. Which when a couple say that, it’s often never the case. One of them will often be crying, sitting in a darkened room drinking a bottle of Jack. Listening to Linkin Park is optional, but often classic.

It’s sad to think that Ball and “True Blood” are breaking up. Especially when Ball recently casted the role of an ancient Authority vampire to a nine year old child actor. Just think how scarred the child will be if he only lasts a season on the show and never finds work again. Think Macaulay Culkin. No one wins when children are involved.

The Hunger Games Cast To Help The Fight Agaisnt World Hunger

The stars of The Hunger Games have teamed up to aid in the fight against world hunger. (seriously, could they have picked a better organization to team with!) Stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson have recorded a video announcement for the cause which you can view below.

The message from the video reads: “The Hunger Games, the cast and producers are teaming up with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Feeding America to raise awareness about hunger in the United States and around the world.”

I am loving that they did this. I think that with the popularity of the film, it will bring much needed attention to the cause and problem that is world hunger.

Frances Fisher Joins The Host

Frances Fisher joins the cast of Andrew Niccol’s The Host. The project which is being helmed by Open Road Films is based on the 2008 novel of the same name, written by author Stephenie Meyer, of The Twilight Saga fame.

I was crestfallen too when I realized this wasn’t a Hollywood adaptation of Joon-Ho Bong’s 2006 cult classic film, The Host.

Here is a synopsis of The Host from the official Stephenie Meyer website:

“Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie’s thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer’s mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.”

Touted by Meyer’s as ‘Science fiction for people who don’t like science fiction’ it again tries to blend in genres from different walks of life. This time turning science-fiction horror into a romance story. It’s the romantic version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Here the parasites in your head will fight with you over the man you love. A far stretch from supernatural creatures fighting over a girl.

So that’s another nerd area of interest that’s been co-opted into teeny romance. First it was vampires, then it was zombies, now it’s science-fiction in general. What’s next? Chainsaw for hands action heroes that treat women with respect? Where will the sub-genre of blood obsessed nerds; which I dub Dark Nerd; take us next? What used to be the realm of socially inept males with no future romantic prospects has slowly turned into the goldmine for the romance infusion. The target demographic of teenage girls. Are these the girls that were raised by their single parent dads? The ones that manned up and took care of their daughters, only to infect them with their nerd values? Somehow I picture a D&D based romance coming on the horizon.

You know what would really bother me? A production company making a romantic bastardization of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. I can picture it now, teenage girls swooning over goth pretty boys with a unholy preference for knives.

Fisher will play the role of Maggie Stryder, Melanie’s aunt. Included in this film are Jake Abel, Max Irons, Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger and William Hurt. The movie is expected to hit theaters a few months after the end of the Vampire era, March 29, 2013.

ABC’s Beauty and the Beast Casts Darius Campbell

The Scottish platinum-selling, award winning singer and stage performer Darius Campbell lands his biggest gig yet as a lead. The role is for the part of Shiro, a mysterious “beastly” bodyguard in ABC’s upcoming adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Shiro will join forces with the war ready Princess Grace and her fiance Gorrick. While the leading lady role has not yet been casted, Gorrick however will be played by Australian actor Christopher Egan reports Deadline.

ABC’s version of Beauty and the Beast promises “a fantastical reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world wherein a beautiful and tough Princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.” Yves Simoneau is directing the show, from a script by Jonathan Steinberg; Jericho.

Yay! Another retelling of the classic fairy tale. In additional to the many literary remixes and reboots, I’m surprised that we haven’t felt the toxic effects of this over saturation yet. Since the hit comic book series Fables debuted and made waves, the entire market has been flooded with novels, television shows and movies. All clamoring to get their piece of the public domain money making venture.

The CW is also making a version of Beauty and the Beast as well. This one will be the remake of Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman’s cat faced beast; he really did look more impressive with the makeup; a series that was on the air from 1987 to 1990. Back when Fox made more compelling fiction than they air now.  It’s weird looking at Sarah Conner and Hellboy beside each other like that.  They don’t seem to be the loving type.

While this pilot for the show is the biggest gig that Campbell has landed in the states, he’s basically an unknown. While on the other side of the pond in the U.K. Campbell already has a reputation that has grown with him over the years. Campbell started out in entertainment notably as a finalist on the English version of Popstars and Pop Idol over ten years ago; he’s a karaoke star! This may have been the low point of his career as there are still some chuckles online about his debut. Over the years he’s transitioned more into theater, starring in a number of West End musicals, such as Chicago, Gone with the Wind, and Guys And Dolls. Campbell’s most recent stint was on a TV drama series in the U.K. This has marked his rise to this new role based on his merit and not the product of karaoke super-stardom. Hopefully this will be the mark of bigger and better things to come for him. Wait… Actually getting married to Natasha Henstridge was the moment things got good for Campbell. It seems his life is just a giant growing snowball of success. Bah!

To feel better about my lot in life, I’m going to watch Campbell in a clip from U.K.’s Popstars. This should at least give me some kind of relief to my jealousy.