Who Will Write the Movie Adaptation for Y: The Last Man?

Final negotiations are underway to determine who will write New Line Cinema’s adaptation of Y: The Last Man. Just when I thought Hollywood couldn’t possibly be any dumber, they go and do something like this… and totally redeem themselves!

The acclaimed comic book from Vertigo is easily one of the best modern comic series of our time. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man follows the misadventures of Yorick Brown, an amateur magician and escape artist, along with his pet and companion, a male Capuchin monkey named Ampersand.

Following the current trending of world ending plagues, Vaughn and Guerra came up with a better idea back in 2002. A world that was half-dead. Not undead, but where half the population all died simultaneously. An incident which is referred to in the comic as the plague kills every living mammal possessing a Y chromosome, including embryos, fertilized eggs and sperm. Well, except for Yorick and his monkey. Aside from these two, the plague persists and kills anything else that pops up with a Y chromosome.

Due to the near instantaneous deaths of all men worldwide, many disasters occur. Think of a driver passing out at the wheel on the highway. Now apply that to every piece of machinery and destructive toy out there.

What’s left of society is plunged into chaos as women everywhere try to cope with the loss of men and the knowledge that unless something is done soon, humanity faces extinction.

As if Carl Jung was correct about the collective consciousness or morphic resonance, Yorick is suddenly connected to a field that is near 100% full of women. It is the only explanation I have as to why Yorick travels the world, disguised as a woman in search of his lost love and the answer to why he’s the last man on earth. Yes, the last guy on earth is a nice guy who is finishing last. I get it.

The series that began in 2002 has since ended in 2008, but left an amazing and complex story. This isn’t a surprise as Vaughan has penned some great work, ranging from work on “Lost”; I’m assuming when it was good; to his exceptional creation of the comic Ex Machina. Gives me chills just thinking that they’ll make that into a movie someday, barring the whole 9/11 thing scenario contained therein. Vaughan hasn’t let up either, having just returned to the comic world recently with another new original series, titled Saga.

Wait a tic. Since Vaughan is an awesome writer, why can’t he pen the adaptation script? With other things going on, he might have too many irons in the fire already, or he’s just worried about screwing up his work. I’m sure the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender learned the hard way watching the live action movie.

Originally a script was written by Carl Ellsworth, with D.J. Caruso attached as director, but it has since been scrapped. It’s currently writing duo Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia whom are in final negotiations to write the adaptation. J.C. Spink, Chris Bender and David Goyer have been lined up to produce the film.

Speaking of writing, I suddenly understand why my friend Mina Kelly of Boomtron was asking me about this comic. This is what she had to say about Y: The Last Man…

“With the amount of content held in the series of Y, New Line may be looking at a franchise if the first film goes over well with audiences. Y touches on some very dark topics such as the collapse of society, cloning, and some disturbing scenes of mental and physical torture. Y takes you on a journey to save humanity where humanity is collapsing in on itself. It is reminiscent of the popular “disease” genre. Take for example zombies and how they came in to existence – usually its some biological virus that infects the human race. Much like the zombies coming after the last “live” humans, there are groups of women who want to get their hands on Yorick, either to kill him or to lock him up, take your pick, either way Yorick is a wanted man.”

“Even though this comic, and by association the film, may have dark undertones, there are some comedic moments to lighten the mood such as the instant noodles – the cheapest food in existence becomes the most wanted thing on Earth driving its price up to the price of a train ticket, and how Yorick nearly kills himself by not reading the label on canned food. Ok the last one might not be as funny unless you have a morbid sense of humor like I do.”

Here’s a bit of meta-morbidness, I think it was within the comic somewhere another comic called X: The Last Woman. Which is kind of like reading Watchmen. Just think how messed up it would be for the last woman on Earth surrounded by men. Dear Gott in Himmel! I can only hope it ends in suicide after the first few pages of the book.

Y: The Last Man is actually long and complex. I doubt it can be condensed enough to be made into one film, so a lot of awesome bits are going to be cut out. I also don’t see this being turned into a saga of movies. The novelty should wear off after the first film. Instead, I think the comic should have been adapted into a television series. Just look at AMC’s “The Walking Dead”.

The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook = Amazing! – Review

A few weeks ago I got a review copy of the Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook from Emily Ansara Baines. All the recipes had something to do with the book and the film. It was divided into several different sections that included:

Breakfast of Champions
Breaking Bread
Keep the Camp Fires Low and Forage – Soups, Stews, and Salads
Humble Beginnings
Sink or Swim Seafood
Don’t Call Me Chicken – Poultry Dishes for the Brave
Put Some Meat on Your Bones – Beef, Lamb, and Pork
Wild Games for Wild Girls
Just Desserts

Firstly, I LOVE THIS COOKBOOK. I am normally a TERRIBLE cook, but this book was so easy to understand and the recipes were so fun that it made me want to cook something every night.

So, honestly, I didn’t cook everything in the book. I didn’t cook out of section 5 (I hate fish and so does my other half). I also didn’t cook anything out of section 8 because it involved ingredients like squirrel and such. (For real).

But I did cook probably 10 or so recipes out of it. I picked a lot of bread, breakfast, and desert recipes as those are my favorite things to make.

One of the best things about the cookbook was that every recipe had a tie-in to the book before the ingredients. Such as where the recipe can be found in the actual novels. I loved it! It was a fantastic touch for fans as it gave them a glimpse into the story they already love.

I have included a few of the recipes I cooked myself below.

Orange Muffins with Sweet Preserves (Chapter 1)

Yes, yes, I know it says muffins, but at the time, I didn’t have a muffin pan, and I do enjoy a nice loaf. The pictures doesn’t show the sweet preserves on it though. I picked this particular recipe because it called for actual orange juice and that intrigued me.

This was I think the third recipe I made. I was still getting the knack of baking, something that I’ve never been, well, good at achieving.

This did turn out pretty delicious though. The orange taste was not overbearing (although I could have added a touch more). It was a perfect addition to my coffee in the morning.

Brown Sugar Shortbread (Chapter 9)

This was one of my failures/wins. It did not turn out the way it was supposed to in the cookbook, but was still INCREDIBLE tasting. It was supposed to be more of dense treat, but turned out too fluffy.

I think this was the fourth recipe I made.

I also should have cooked it longer, but I was worried about burning the top. But we ate all of it anyway, and really enjoyed it.

Propos Grilled Cheese Sandwhich (Chapter 4)

I LOVE GRILLED CHEESE. Seriously. It is one of my favorite quick meals to make. The recipe in this book was a little different than the one I normally make, so I figured I would try it.

The recipe called for sourdough bread and mayonnaise instead of butter. I actually really enjoyed it. I had to say you could definitely taste the difference with mayo. It was slightly more bland, but felt much more healthier.

I enjoy sourdough bread as it is, but I really liked it with grilled cheese. I wish could use it everytime!

Capitol-Grade Dark Chocolate Cake (Chapter 9)

This recipe was supossed to be cake, but I made both cake and cupcakes out of it. These are the cupcakes and frankly, they were DIVINE! They tasted so good.

This was the most recent recipe I made (last weekend actually) and probably one of my favorites. I later frosted them with the Peeta’s Buttercream frosting recipe and that made them all the more delicious.

I plan to make a large cake with this recipe for my birthday this year.

I saved my two favorite (and the ones I am most proud of) for last.

Opportunistic Strawberry Bread (Chapter 9)

This is the very first recipe I made and just happens to be my first baking attempt in YEARS that didn’t burn AND cooked all the way through.

And it tasted good! I loved this recipe because it called for honey rather than sugar so it fit in really well with my diet. It was soft and the instructions were incredibly easy to understand.

I had some leftovers of this product and took it to my day job and EVERYONE loved it. They keep asking me when I will bring this in again.

Just so freaking good. Really.

Super Sweet Potato Rolls (Chapter 2)

This is my favorite thing I made out of the cookbook. It was also the most difficult thing I have ever made. But the payoff was incredible.

I had never thought to make dinner rolls out of sweet potatoes but I am so happy I tried this recipe.

They were just sweet enough that they went with dinner perfectly, but they were also pretty delicious on their own. These took me like four hours to make from the yeast and the cooling and the kneading and the baking. It took forever, but I was so incredibly proud that they came out deliciously.

I highly recommend trying a recipe like this.

This cookbook definitely awakened my desire to cook and bake. I had always been so terrible but this book was SO easy to understand, and because the subject matter was something I enjoyed already (love the HG!) I didn’t feel like cooking was a chore anymore.

Also, for those of you strained for time (like me) the good thing about the recipes is that it offers options off to the side of how to make your meal either healthier or quicker to make. That was a very handy tools as I am both someone who is always busy and on a diet.

I am definitely going to try some more of the recipes when I get the chance. And if you get the chance, I HIGHLY recommend buying this cookbook. So great for fans of The Hunger Games and anyone wanting to learn to cook new and fun recipes.

Note: Review Item provided in partner with this review.

First Image From CW’s Arrow Released

The news regarding the CW’s upcoming television series, “Arrow” has been sparse. But today the CW released the first image from the show, featuring Stephen Amell and Oliver Queen/Green Arrow.

The series will be based on the comic books originally published by DC Comics. It was created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. Since the revival of comics of late, he has been popular among comic book fans and most writers have taken an urban, gritty approach to the character.

As the general story goes, Oliver Queen gets shipwrecked on an island and learns to survive using a bow. Over the course of years, Queen eventually makes it back to civilization and back to his life as a billionaire; who owns a mansion and a very unreliable yacht. You can see some of the character profiles that CW has released for the show here. There is no word yet on who is set to play the rest of the cast though.

Having problems reintegrating with his former life, Queen snaps and decides to renounce his playboy/celebutard ways by helping the weak and downtrodden. Instead of giving to charities or using his money and influence to help society, Queen instead takes on a mission to personally handle crime as a masked vigilante.

Armed only with his billions of dollars, access to the latest crime fighting technology, supporting cast of quirky yet over talented allies, and a crippling dependency on bows and arrows, Oliver Queen dons a mask and calls himself the Green Arrow.

The suit that Arrow will wear in his newest incarnation on television was designed by three time Oscar winning costume designer, Colleen Atwood.

“Arrow” pilot director/executive producer David Nutter said:

“When I directed the pilot for ‘Smallville,’ I knew that making Clark Kent relatable would be the key to audiences believing in him as a hero. ‘Arrow’ is a different show — darker and harder-edged — but it’s the same core idea. We’re creating a real, believable world in which Oliver Queen can do incredible things. Colleen Atwood’s great work on the Arrow costume reflects that effort.”

I will have to give them props. “Arrow” doesn’t look nearly as lame (at least in this image) as I expected the CW to make him. He kind of looks bad-ass but I think it is safe to assume that the show will have a ton of love interest drama and backstabbing that the CW is infamous for having in every one of their shows.

You can see the new image below:

The Walking Dead Season 3 Casting Revelation

::::Spoilers Ahead if you haven’t seen the finale of Season 2::::

In the finale of the season 2 of AMC’s mega hit show, “The Walking Dead” a new character was introduced (if only briefly) that will be a major part of season 3. However, if you haven’t watched the finale yet, it would be wise to not continue on.

As promised by the show runner Glen Mazzara, the season 2 finale did indeed have several surprises that fans of both the show and the comic book series were sure to enjoy.

In the climatic season finale, Andrea (played by Laurie Holden) was about to be eaten by some very angry (or hungry) walkers when she is saved by the slice of a mysterious sword, which belongs to a character that fans of the comic book have been patiently waiting for since the beginning of the series. The scene pulls back to only reveal a cloaked female figure. The female is also oddly walking two walkers chained behind her like pets.

If you have read the books, you know this character is set to be Michonne, an incredibly bad-ass chick with a samurai sword. And yeah she could probably kick your ass.

Up until recently, the producers were keeping quiet on when this character would be revealed along with the identity of the actress that was set to play her. but following the season finale, in AMC “Talking Dead” show, the creator and executive producer Robert Kirkman revealed the identity of Michonne to be Danai Gurira.

You might know her from HBO’s drama set in New Orleans called, “Treme” since she has appeared in six episodes of the series. But she is a veteran actress of several television shows and movies.

Since the series is now over, we have to patiently wait for season 3 which has been set to have 16 episodes.

Along with Gurira, David Morrissey has been cast as the major antagonist for the show, The Governor and Michael Rooker will reprise his role as Merle Dixon, Daryl’s older brother.

You can read the official AMC press release about the casting of Michonne below:

AMC has cast actress Danai Gurira (Treme/The Visitor) in the coveted role of Michonne in its original series, “The Walking Dead.” Tonight’s season two finale first featured the iconic character who will reappear in season three of the AMC series. Michonne, a fan favorite from Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, is a mysterious woman armed with a sword.

“The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years after a zombie apocalypse, following a group of survivors who travel in search of a safe and secure home. The series goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by walkers, where the interpersonal conflicts often present a greater danger than anything else and over time, the characters grow willing to do almost anything to survive.

“The Walking Dead” received rave reviews from countless critics, both domestically and internationally. “Above all else, “The Walking Dead” hasn’t lost the most important ingredient in its strangely successful recipe: it’s thrilling” (The Hollywood Reporter). “…with Dead’s riveting cast of characters, the personal dynamics are almost as potent as the gory thrills” (US Weekly). “The Walking Dead is a feast. Dig in.”(The Guardian- UK). “It doesn’t even take three minutes to realize that this series is setting standards” (Der Tagesspiegel-Germany).

“The Walking Dead” secured a 2010 Golden Globe nomination for best television series and won the 2011 Emmy award for outstanding prosthetic make-up. It is executive produced by Glen Mazzara, Gale Anne Hurd, Robert Kirkman and Dave Alpert.

Filming for season 3 will begin in May and is set to begin the new season in October 2012.

Hunger Games Producers Talk Battle Royale Debate

With the release of The Hunger Games just around the corner, the comparisons to the Japanese film Battle Royale are rampant, even we did one here. So in the spirit of debate, the producers of The Hunger Games talked about the two films.

The Hunger Games is the movie adaptation of the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins. It is followed by the sequels Catching Fire and Mockingjay.

The plot for the film is as follows:

Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the governing body, the Capitol, of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains. Katniss Everdeen volunteers as a tribute to save her sister from going in to the ghastly arena. She is joined by Peeta Mellark, a boy she knew who once saved her life.

Battle Royale (バトル・ロワイアル Batoru rouaiaru) is a 2000 Japanese thriller film directed by Kinji Fukasaku based on the novel of the same name. It was written by Kenta Fukasaku and stars Takeshi Kitano.

The film tells the story of a class of teenagers that are forced by the government to compete in a deadly game, where the students must kill each other in order to win. The program is used to intimidate youths from participating in gangs and rebellions. It takes place in the not so distant future/alternate timeline of Japan where unemployment is rampant and most of the country is in disarray.

The Hunger Games, producer Nina Jacobson talked about the continuing debate over the similarities between the two stories during a press event.

You know I think that they are distinct pieces of material. I know for Suzanne what her inspiration was and her inspiration was the Iraq war along side American Idol, that she was watching both. And experiencing both with her children. And so I know thats where her inspiration came from. […] We are all sharing the same kind of cultural touch points, all going through history together. So it doesn’t surprise me that sometimes they will be points where different source material intersects with eachother.

She goes on to say,

“The fact that people are engaged in talking about the book and the movie is a good thing. And I think the movie certainly stands on its own separate from [Battle Royale] I think it is very much its own property. The book and the movie together, so I don’t think it hurts to be debated.

Director Gary Ross explained that he chose to distance himself from the discussion by focusing only on his film.

I haven’t seen Battle Royale. […] I had never heard of it until I got this job and then when I heard of it, I intentionally stayed away from it. I never wanted to be influenced by it, and I also wanted to be able to say, ‘Look, I’ve never seen this film’ So I made my own film independently. And I suppose I’ll see it now. But I intentionally never wanted to see it or be exposed to it for those exact reasons.

Having read HG and watched BR, I really think the two are only vaguely similar. They have one tiny premise that is similar while the rest is completely different. I liked HG in a completely different way than I liked BR because they are so inherently different.

But I liked that Ross and Jacobson took the time to address the debate that is still going on.

The Hunger Games hits theaters on March 23.

City of Bones Adaptation Reveals New Director

The news that fans have been waiting for has finally been revealed. Harald Zwart, of Karate Kid fame, is set to direct the big screen adaptation of City of Bones.

While the director had remained a mystery for several months, it has finally be released now that the film is moving forward. Screenwriter Marlene King recently met with Zwart and the producers of the feature, and author of the novel, Cassandra Clare, also met with them and later confirmed that adaptation was moving forward.

Here’s the official synopsis for Mortal Instruments:

CLARY FRAY (Lily Collins) is an ordinary Brooklyn teenager until the night she meets the mysteriously tattooed JACE, who turns out to be a half-angel warrior known as a Shadowhunter. When Clary finds out her mother JOCELYN has been abducted, she desperately hopes Jace will be able to help. After a whirling golden portal transports her across time and space in a heartbeat, Clary realizes she too has the powers of the Shadowhunters. But can she harness them in time to save her mother?

Clary, Jace and their fellow Shadowhunters endure one breathtaking battle after another against vampire, warlocks and demons—only to discover Jocelyn hid a terrible secret from the fiercest warrior of all: VALENTINE. Cast out from the world of Shadowhunters, Valentine abducted Jocelyn believing she had a powerful tool known as the Mortal Cup. Using her newfound gifts, Clary finds the Cup, only to be brutally betrayed and forced to relinquish it.

Still reeling from this setback and racing to save Jocelyn before it’s too late, Clary finds herself caught in a battle between forces she barely understands. Based on the best-selling series by Cassandra Clare, MORTAL INSTRUMENTS is a magnificent urban fantasy rich in detail and suspense, about a girl’s journey to the darkest corners of the underworld to save those she loves

The film tapped Lily Collins to star as Clary over a year ago, and it seems she is still locked in for the film. Starring opposite of her is Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland.

City of Bones is the first novel in the series written by Clare, and if all goes well, there is a possibility the whole series will be adapted.

It has also been confirmed that filming for the project is set to begin on August 15th in Toronto.

Round 2 of BSC Book Tournament Match Up: Dark Parties vs Helper 12

Round 2 of the 6th Annual BSC Book Tournament begins with match-ups between the Female Lead and Male Lead brackets. If you missed it, you can see our announcement of the brackets here as well as the unveiling of the full tournament schedule here. But now it is time for the voting to start!

We are keeping each round in its own post, but don’t worry! They will all be linked together to make it easier for you.

1: Dark Parties by Sara Grant vs Helper 12 by Jack Blaine

Be sure to check back next week for the results of round 2 of our book tournament. If you experience any technical issues with the polling, please email Sarah@boomtron.com with the problem. Polls will be open until March 20th, and results will be announced on Tuesday, March 21th.

You can continue to the next one here!