Tarzan's Swinging Back In Mo-Cap 3D

It's not only Spider-Man who's having his origins fiddled with. The next Tarzan film, set to come from Resident Evil producers Constantin Film, is to take similar liberties.

This time, our Tarzan is the child of billionaire entrepreneurs who die in a plan crash. Their company, Greystoke Industries is then taken over by a villainous type, later to become Tarzan's antagonist.

And Jane is getting a revision too, now being the daughter of an African guide. She is, of course, a conservationist. Ultimately she'll team up with Tarzan to fight an army of mercenaries paid by Greystoke Industries.

That gives us a big battle for the third act, at least.

According to Heat Vision, the film is to be produced using motion capture and released in 3D. This will allow animators to step in and give Kellan Lutz, who has won the role of Tarzan, some special 'jungle skills' that he could never have himself. Lion wrestling is a whole lot cheaper when the lion can be played by somebody in a leotard.

Spencer Locke has been cast as Jane. She's alright by me because she was very funny in Detention, though I can't imagine she'll be tapping into quite the same skill-set here.

Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe are set to direct the film. They were previously responsible for the somewhat similarly themed Animals United. Here's the trailer for that one:

Yeah. I'm now a little worried about their take on Cheetah.

The Return Of Pandora To The DCU

It's just like September again. Bleeding Cool was the first to identify the reappearance of the 'Strange Woman' from Flashpoint in the New DCU, first in Justice League #1 in the background, then in the background of every first issue. Twice in one case.

And now, with the Second Wave shipping, she's back, appearing in the background of World's Finest, Dial H and GI Combat. Not in Earth 2 however, well, that is completely set in a different dimension. I expect to see her in Ravagers #1 and Batman Inc #1 as well.

And she will also have a starring role in the DC Free Comic Book Day comic out this Saturday. Which should answer a lot of Questions'

World's Finest:

GI Combat:

Dial H:

 

DC New 52 Free Comic Book Day:

 

New Snow White And The Huntsman Promo Goes To The Dark Forest For Flat-Out Creepiness

Snow White is alone in the dark forest, foreboding shapes moving in the shadows, strange and threatening figures watching. And then nature starts to become very scary indeed'

That actually describes a scene in Walt Disney's take on the story very well. I'm sure you remember the grasping hands of the evil tree, a bit of classic animation and one of the key inspirations for The Evil Dead's most infamous moment.

And now the same description fits the latest promo for Rupert Sanders' Snow White and the Huntsman.

This is not your Grandma's Snow White. Well' except when it is. Shudder.

I'll hopefully get to see the full film pretty soon. I'm looking forward to it a great deal.

Footnote: just for fun, here's Disney's version of the same idea.

Epic Trailer For Arjun, Disney's First Animated Movie To Be Produced In India

Blending animation techniques, but leaning a little too heavily on some cel-shaded CG characters that don't quite work, the first film to be produced by UTV since Disney took a controlling share is, nonetheless, looking distinctive and epic.

Some of that really works, some of it just doesn't have enough life in it. Still, I want to see the whole thing, and hope it will go international, somehow.

Cartoon Brew offer this rough translation of the dialogue:

'Have the mothers of earth stopped giving birth to brave men?'

'Is there an archer (who can accomplish this)? Is there?!'

Drona: 'Yudhishtira, what do you see?'

Yudhishtira: 'Ten mango trees, three Bo-trees and one Audumbar tree.'

Drona: 'Move aside! Arjun'?'

Arjun: 'My eye sees only the eye of the bird, teacher.'

Drona: 'Then release the arrow!'

'If you have to break the Pandavas, then first attack' Arjun!'

Draupadi: 'Give me your word ' that you will take vengeance for my humiliation from all the Kauravas!'

'Create the chakravyuha (circular formation)!'

Drona: 'Get ready for battle!'

'Forget about victory and defeat ' focus on action and you will fear nothing.'

Lauren Socha Not Back For More Misfits, Producers Deny That Her Recent Conviction Is To Blame

We already knew that some of the Misfits were leaving the show, not least by watching the last series and seeing with our own two eyes that they were being written out. Today, though, we can add another casualty to the list.

On Wednesday of this week, Lauren Socha, who played Kelly, pleaded guilty to the racially aggravated assault of a taxi driver.  She had previously denied the charge but changed her plea at the beginning of the trial. She has been sentenced to four months of prison time suspended for twelve months, and, somewhat ironically, 80 hours of community service.

Now, a spokesperson for Clerkenwell Films have issued a statement to Digital Spy, confirming that Socha will not be part of Misfits series four:

A mutual decision was reached between Clerkenwell and Lauren earlier this year that she would not be returning for the fourth series. Misfits has been in production for a number of weeks now and Lauren is not part of the lineup'

Asked if Lauren's conviction was the cause of her departure, the spokesperson webt on:

No. Clerkenwell Films and Lauren Socha agreed some time ago that along with other cast members' she would not be returning for the fourth series of Misfits, which is currently in production. Channel 4 supports both parties' decisions.

So, the decision was made before the conviction, though not, necessarily, before the assault came to light.

A rather configured Misfits will return to E4 before the end of the year.

Kerry Talbott And The Marvel Blank Sketch Covers

Bleeding Cool heard that the New DCU Zero issues in September, now confirmed by DC artists, may lead to some creative changes in their wake. Well here's a big one that may cause controversy in certain quarters. I understand that Scott Lobdell, the writer of Red Hood And The Outlaws, Teen Titans and Superboy is'

Second Avengers Postscript Scene Has Started Playing ' And Is Pay Off, Not Set Up

We've already discussed the surprises and sneaky wordplay of the first Avengers postscript scene, but being in the UK, we've been denied ' so far ' screenings of the second. It has been added onto prints in the US already, and it seems a reasonable guess that it will be playing around the world from this Friday when the film opens Stateside.

It's hard to discuss the scene without taking all of the air out of it. I'd suggest you wait and see it in context. Suffice to say, it's a neat idea and contrary to expectation that it might be used to set up an upcoming Marvel movie ' Ant Man, say, or Iron Man 3 ' it actually serves to pay off something from earlier in The Avengers.

I'm not going to tell you what it is here. But I'll link you offsite. Only click if you dare.

That's confirmed, by the way. 100%.

And, every bit as spoilery, I suppose, is the moment from earlier in the film that this new button scene pays off. But you probably don't want to click on that either.

I know you'll want to discuss this in the forum, and the reason why the scene might not quite add up, but please try not to spoil anything.