Hey Guys, here we are a very big week not just in comics but in pop culture. This week we finally learned who will be directing Star Wars Episode VII. More on that in a moment. We also had Christian Bale proving once again that a batsuit is far from what makes a man heroic. Last but most certainly not least who will make up the team roster of the Justice League, all of this and a lot more in this week’s all new installment of The Impact.
J.J. Abrams Confirmed to Direct Star Wars Episode VII!!!
Courtesy of the Star Wars official site. This past Thursday The Wrap broke the new that J.J. Abrams was set to direct Star Wars Episode VII after twenty-four hours of a million fandom voices crying out in speculating we were silenced when Disney officially announced the news in a press release.
J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.
“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”
George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”
“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”
J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.
Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.
Well there you have it. What do you guys think? I for one, am very excited. Abrams did a fantastic job revitalizing Star Trek (think about that for a minute, Abrams will have had control of the two biggest sci-fi franchises in history) He is a very character driven storyteller, what it’s going to come down to is Michael Arndt’s script. Either way I think the franchise is in very good hands.
Christian Bale Calls Cancer Stricken 8 Year Old Batman Fan
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH5y66QMHqI&w=560&h=315]
Dark Knight Rises star Christian Bale made Zach Guillot’s day when he gave him a call to chat about Batman. Guillot is an 8 year old boy and Batman superfan who is undergoing treatment for an aggressive and rare form of leukemia called acute myeloid leukemia. This is the third round of treatment for Guillot who has already under gone two bone marrow transplants and chemotherapy. Bale iterated to Guillot that “anyone could be Batman” and listened as Zach talked about his Batman costume and homemade Batmobile.
Continuing to prove he is a class act through and through this is just one of the many charitable acts Christian Bale has done recently. Bale never publicizes or takes credit for these acts we really only learn of them after they happen through the fans.
If you want to learn more about Zach and his battle with leukemia check out his Facebook page HERE.
Justice League Movie Roster Revealed??? Injustice: Gods Among Us Debuts New Trailer.
Courtesy of Latino Review. The more reliable than not El Mayimbe says he knows what heroes will make up the Justice League in the 2015 live action adaptation. According to his sources the team fighting Darkseid will be comprised of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash. He goes on to mention there is a good chance of at least a cameo from Aquaman and Martian Manhunter. What do you think of the line-up??? I was personally hoping Aquaman would be more than a cameo since it is the best chance to get him the exposure he needs. Justice League will hit theaters in 2015.
Speaking of the Justice League check out the latest trailer for Injustice: Gods Among Us.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcFKjd53pPU&w=560&h=315]
Featuring the voices George Newbern, Kevin Conroy, and Susan Eisenberg who you may recognize as Superman , Batman, and Wonder Woman from the Justice League animated series. Injustice: Gods Among Us hits stores this April.
Marvel MAX Coming to Comixology.
Marvel’s Max line of mature comics is finally available digitally exclusively through Comixology. “The MAX line is well known for having great content by some of the most regarded creators in the business,” remarked Comixology’s CEO and co-founder, David Steinberger. As of this moment you can download the first eleven issues of Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon’s PunisherMax, Aaron’s PunisherMax X-Mas Special, Jason Starr and Connor Willumsen’s Wolverine Max #1-2, and Fury Max #1-8 from Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov. I highly recommend you pick up Aaron’s PunisherMax run, it is an uncompromising crime fiction masterpiece and by far my favorite take on the character.
Valiant Comics Announces Zero Issues.
This May Valiant Comics will publish Zero issues for three of their titles Archer & Armstrong by Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry, Harbinger by Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier) and Mico Suayan (upcoming Red Hood and the Outlaws), and Shadowman with art by Trevor Hairsine (Cla$$war, Judge Dredd) and Justin Jordan writing the script . The issues come right after the company’s first crossover “Harbinger Wars,”
NBC Orders Sixth Gun Pilot.
Courtesy of Comics Alliance. As I previously reported Carlton Cuse has been developing the Sixth Gun for television well fans are now one step closer to it becoming a reality. This week NBC ordered a pilot based on the Cullen Bunn series. Ryan Condal is handling the script for the pilot. Condal had previously penned a screenplay based on Queen and Country. While this doesn’t guarantee we will see it brought to series it is definitely cause to be optimistic.
First Look at Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson on Arrow.
Check out the first promo pics of Spartacus actor Manu Bennett as Slade “Deathstroke” Wilson. The show’s creators have promised us a different version of the character and I am okay with that. Bennett is a great actor and I can’t wait to see what he does with our favorite assassin. Bennett makes his first appearance on the February 6th episode of Arrow which airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Iceman, Rogue and Shadowcat Set to Return for X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Breaking News!!! Today Bryan Singer tweeted that Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) will all be back for X-Men: Days of Future Past. I am still waiting for him to announce that James Marsden is returning as Cyclops. X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters July 18, 2014.
Well there you have it guys. It has been one heck of an exciting week. I will see you all here next week for an all new installment of The Impact. If you have a moment check out my coverage from earlier in the week of the Uncanny X-Force signing with Sam Humphries right HERE and if that gets you in the mood for a signing and you live in Los Angeles Matt Fraction will be signing this Wednesday at House of Secrets in Burbank to promote Hawkeye #7. Pertinent information is HERE.
Matt Todd
matthew@comicimpact.com