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Clint Eastwood Confirms that he almost played SUPERMAN and JAMES BOND!

Published on: 8th September, 2010

Legendary actor Clint Eastwood revealed in a recent interview that he almost ended up playing Superman and James Bond at one point in his career! Could you imagine how awesome it would have been to see Eastwood in either one of these roles! Sure he may not have really fit the parts, but just to see how he would portray these characters would be cool to see! He explains in the interview why he turned down the roles and also lets us know what his favorite comic book character was when he was a kid. When asked about the role of Superman he said, Thank God that I didn’t have to do that. I can remember – and this was many years ago – when Warner Bros. President Frank Wells came to me about doing Superman. So it could have happened. This was when they first started to think about making it. I was like, ‘Superman? Nah, nah, that’s not for me.’ Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s for somebody, but no t me. As you all know the role eventually went to Christopher Reeve who did an incredible job playing the man of steel. He went on to describe what happened with James Bond and why he turned it down. I was also offered pretty good money to do James Bond if I would take on the role. This was after Sean Connery left. My lawyer represented the Broccolis and he came and said, ‘They would love to have you.’ But to me, well, that was somebody else’s gig. That’s Sean’s deal. It didn’t feel right for me to be doing it. It would have been so weird and fascinating to see Eastwood in these roles, but honestly I think he made the right decision in turning down the offers. These movies ended up pretty pretty awesome without him. Plus, I can’t imagine him doing a English accent or wearing tights at all. As far as who his favorite comic book character as a kid was, here’s what he had to say, The Sub-Mariner, that’s the one I always liked. I had all of those comics when I was a kid. I would have never guessed that one! Who likes The Sub-Mariner?

Clint Eastwood Passed On 1978′s ‘Superman,’ Wanted To Play Namor

Published on: 7th September, 2010

We’ve presented a fair share of “What If?” casting stories over the years here on Splash Page, with many of them involving actors who, at one point or another, came close to playing Superman on the big screen. There was Christian Bale , Brendan Fraser , David Hasselhoff , and… Clint Eastwood? Yes, according to an interview with Hero Complex , the “Dirty Harry” star was considered for the title role in 1978′s “Superman” — a role that eventually went to Christopher Reeve. “I can remember – and this was many years ago – when [Warner Bros. President] Frank Wells came to me about doing Superman,” said Eastwood. “So it could have happened. This was when they first started to think about making it. I was like, ‘Superman? Nah, nah, that’s not for me.’ Not that there’s anything wrong with it. It’s for somebody, but not me.” Richard Donner’s big-screen take on the Man of Steel eventually took flight with another actor, but Eastwood said he wasn’t interested in the role then or later, drawn instead toward roles he felt were more “grounded.” “I always liked characters that were more grounded in reality,” he said. “Maybe they do super things or more-than-human things — like Dirty Harry, he has a knack for doing crazy things, or the western guys — but, still, they’re not caped crusaders.” Superhero typecasting was also a concern, according to the veteran actor and filmmaker. “That was part of the consideration, a big part,” he said. “Look at Reeve, he was excellent. That was a big factor. You get a role like that, and it locks you in a bit. True, I had the western genre and the ‘Dirty Harry’ role, but everybody made westerns and did cop movies; they didn’t seem as bad [for typecasting the actors].” And in a bit of a surprise turn, Eastwood name-dropped the one superhero he was a big fan of: Marvel’s sea-dwelling Sub Mariner, Namor . “The Sub-Mariner, that’s the one I always liked,” he said. “I had all of those comics when I was a kid.” Would Clint Eastwood have made a good Superman? What about Namor? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter ! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall , on Twitter!

New ‘Spider-Man’ Musical Set Design Pic – Oscorp Labs!

Published on: 7th September, 2010

With all the trouble the “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” mega-musical has had getting off the ground, it’s worth noting that the project’s latest premiere date is fast approaching. And while we still don’t know much about the musical’s storyline or what sort of look and feel to expect from the production, we did receive a peek at some early concept art for one of the sets today. Posted over at The L Magazine , the photo below is reported to be an early rendering of the Oscorp Labs set created by designer George Tsypin. According to the site, the photo appeared on website for the show’s press manager, O & M Co (though I can’t seem to find it there now). “Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” is currently scheduled to premiere December 21, with preview performances beginning November 14. The musical stars Reeve Carney as Peter Parker , with Jennifer Damiano and Patrick Page as Mary Jane Watson and Norman Osborn, respectively. The musical is directed by Julie Taymor, and features a score by rock veterans (and U2 band mates) Bono and The Edge. Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter ! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall , on Twitter!

Red Skull Will Be ‘Rather Frightening’ In ‘Captain America’ Movie, Says Kevin Feige

Published on: 7th September, 2010

Earlier this year, Hugo Weaving signed on to portray the villainous Red Skull opposite Chris Evans in ” The First Avenger: Captain America .” And while the casting of Weaving has generally been met with fan approval — thanks in part to his memorable turn as Agent Smith in “The Matrix” trilogy — there haven’t been any full sightings yet of Weaving in costume aside from a tease at the San Diego Comic-Con. However, according to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the reveal will be worth the wait. “Hugo Weaving has been in the Red Skull effect, in costume for a couple of weeks now and it’s a hell of a lot of fun,” Feige told Total Film . “We gave people a little taste in San Diego about what his character will look like but now that we’ve started to work with the actual skull it’s going to be a lot of fun and a rather frightening villain.” Regarding Marvel’s previously announced decision to film “Captain America” at Pinewood Studios in England, Feige defended the choice and spoke about the history of that location. “Two thirds of the film actually takes place in Europe and there are many scenes in and around London,” explained Feige. “So it just made sense that we film it where the majority of the film takes place. Having been here now for almost two and a half months prepping and twenty-some days into shooting. The history here is pretty impressive. I was at Pinewood yesterday and you walk past pictures of the set of Tim Burton’s original ‘Batman’ and all the amazing work that Donner did on ‘Superman.’ “Everytime we’re on a new stage in Shepperton somebody tells me this is where the war room was for ‘Dr. Strangelove,’” continued Feige. “Or this is where they shot some of ’2001.’ There’s such an amazing genre film history here and the technicians and the crews and the sets are just some of the best we’ve ever had. It’s been a pleasure.” Feige also offered a brief update on ” The Avengers .” “There’s not much I can tell you but Joss [Whedon] is hard at work with the script and we’ve hired most of our crew,” related Feige. “They’re looking to design and build and prepare for when we start filming next year.” “The First Avenger: Captain America” storms into theaters on July 22, 2011 with “The Avengers” to follow on May 04, 2012. What are your impressions of Feige’s take on the Red Skull? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section or on Twitter !

‘Judge Dredd’ Movie Gets Renamed, More Story Details Posted Online

Published on: 7th September, 2010

The new “Judge Dredd” movie could be getting renamed “Dredd,” according to a website for one of the studios producing the film. According to film and television studio IM Global (one of the producing partners for the project), the official title of the movie will be “Dredd” (not “Judge Dredd”) — a change that could indicate studios’ desire to distance the upcoming movie even further from the 1995 Sylvester Stallone film based on the character. The website also offered a few more details about the movie’s plot that should give fans hope that the next incarnation will adhere a bit more closely to the character’s “2000 AD” comic book roots. “Dredd” star Karl Urban previously insisted that the new film is “in no way related” to the critically panned 1995 “Judge Dredd” movie, and promised it will get back to the character’s violent, gritty roots. Here’s what the studio had to say about the film’s plot: DREDD takes us to the wild streets of Mega City One, the lone oasis of quasi-civilization on Cursed Earth. Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is the most feared of elite Street Judges, with the power to enforce the law, sentence offenders and execute them on the spot – if necessary. The endlessly inventive mind of writer Alex Garland and the frenetic vision of director Peter Travis bring DREDD to life as a futuristic neo-noir action film that returns the celebrated character to the dark, visceral incarnation from John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s revered comic strip. “Judge Dredd” is expected to begin filming soon and hit theaters in 2012. Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter ! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall , on Twitter!

Boise State Football And Jobs Comic Creators Have Had In Today’s Twitter Report

Published on: 7th September, 2010

If you’re currently working a job outside of comics and want to break into doing creative work, take heart while looking over the #jobsivehad entries that showed up on Twitter over the weekend. Jim Lee used to work in a hospital warehouse, Steve Niles sold donuts, and Fred Van Lente taught summer campers how to play RPG’s, according to their accounts. Elsewhere, college football kicked into gear again, and both Rob Liefeld and B. Clay Moore kept tabs on the Boise State/Virginia Tech game last night. Not everyone has been watching sports, though. Ben Templesmith dissected “The Human Centipede” and Gail Simone took a shot at director M. Night Shyamalan . Find out if you agree after the jump. I’m @brianwarmoth , and this is the Twitter Report for September 7, 2010. @GailSimone If M. Night Shyamalan did Piranha 3D, all the killer fish would be albinos and he’d say it was the ‘most diverse killer fish movie ever.’ -Gail Simone, Writer (“Wonder Woman,” “Birds of Prey”) Jobs pt. 1: @jimlee00 Construction day laborer, lab researcher, 6Flags BBQ cook, hospital warehouse grunt, pizza deliv boy, psychology lab guinea pig #jobsivehad -Jim Lee, Artist (“Batman,” “X-Men”) Jobs pt. 2: @SteveNiles Retail clerk, cook, Game tester, videogame producer, caterer, paperboy, donut sales, bass player (not really a job) writer. #jobsivehad -Steve Niles, Writer (“30 Days of Night,” “Criminal Macabre”) Jobs pt. 3: @reneefrench bean picker, movie cashier, photo retoucher, color printer, medical photographer’s assistant, suit, cartoonist #jobsivehad -Renée French, Writer/Artist (“The Ticking,” “Micrographica”) Jobs pt. 4: @fredvanlente D&D Counsellor: At a theater camp called French Woods on the PA/NY border. My job, literally, was to run RPGs with the campers. -Fred Van Lente, Writer (“Action Philosophers,” “Marvel Zombies”) Jobs pt. 5: @CBCebulski If it hasn’t already been said, “Jobs I’ve Had” sounds like an idea for an anthology or web series for creator’s pre “breaking in” stories. -C.B. Cebulski, Sr. VP, Creator and Content Development (Marvel) @robertliefeld Wow. Boise State. Whatta game. Welcome back football. -Rob Liefeld, Writer/Artist (“X-Force,” “Youngblood”) @bclaymoore Boise State just believes they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the nation, and they prove it every year. Great program. -B. Clay Moore, Writer (“Hawaiian Dick,” “Billy Smoke”) Parting Wisdom for the Day: @Templesmith So far, the Human Centipede is showing me that clearly, Doctors are paid far too much money. -Ben Templesmith, Writer/Artist (“30 Days of Night,” “Welcome to Hoxford”) Be sure to follow @MTVSplashPage on Twitter for up-to-the-minute breaking news in the world of comics and movies.

Playing Spider-Man Is A Dream Come True, Says Andrew Garfield

Published on: 7th September, 2010

Back in July, Andrew Garfield emerged victorious over a number of up-and-coming actors to win the coveted title role in director Marc Webb’s “Spider-Man” reboot . And while David Fincher — who directed Garfield in “The Social Network” — told MTV News back at Comic-Con that he couldn’t imagine Garfield being comfortable as Peter Parker , Garfield himself strongly disagrees. When asked by The Hollywood Reporter if he has been preparing for the role, Garfield replied “I have been waiting for this phone call for 24 years, for someone to call me up and say, ‘Hey, we want you to pretend to be a character that you’ve always wanted to be all your life, and we’re going to do it with cool cameras and cool effects and you’re going to feel like you’re swinging through New York City. Do you want to do that?’” “‘Let me just consult with my seven-year old self and see what he thinks,’” laughed Garfield. “So my seven-year-old self started screaming in my soul and saying, ‘This is what we’ve been waiting for.’ Like every young boy who feels stronger on the inside than they look on the outside, any skinny boy basically who wishes their muscles matched their sense of injustice.” “God, it’s just the stuff that dreams are made of, for sure,” added Garfield. “It’s a true f—ing honor to be part of this symbol that I actually think is a very important symbol and it’s meant a great deal to me, and it continues to mean something to people. So yeah, I feel like I’ve been preparing for it for a while. Ever since Halloween when I was four years old and I wore my first Spider-Man costume.” Garfield also stated that he deals with the role’s increased visibility. “Not to give it credence, not to give it any of my energy,” said Garfield. “Just approach it like any other job that I care about deeply. That may be naive of me to think that I can just get away with that. But if you give focus to something, it will grow. I just want to be an actor, really. And of course all those things came into consideration when I was making the decision. But at the end of the day, I had faith that I would be able to not be defined by it. And I still have faith that I will be able to get lost in roles and just keep doing what I love to do.” The story also mentions that “Spider-Man” will begin filming in December, despite the fact that Spider-Man’s leading lady has still not yet been found . “Spider-Man” will swing into theaters in 3-D on July 03, 2012. What are your impressions of Garfield’s enthusiasm for the role? Will he be able to surpass Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker? Who should be cast as his love interest? Sling a web and share your thoughts in the comment section or on Twitter !

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Iron Man 2′ DVD/Blu-Ray Bonus Feature – Jon Favreau On DJ AM

Published on: 7th September, 2010

” Iron Man 2 ” hits shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray September 28 , but we have an exclusive sneak peek at one of the featurettes from the release . In the video below, “Iron Man 2″ director Jon Favreau discusses the scene he filmed with DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) , their relationship on the set, and the effect the musician’s sudden death last year had on him. “I didn’t know him personally, but I knew his stuff,” said Favreau of his first encounter with the popular DJ. According to Favreau, his time on the set with Goldstein wasn’t very conducive to getting the film shot, as he was constantly pestering the DJ for tips and turntable lessons. “AM was a very genuine, genuine guy,” said the filmmaker. “I wasn’t the best director that week, because I would always go up to him and be like, ‘Show me something! Tell me something!’” “He’s directing a multimillion-dollar movie and the second everyone goes ‘Cut!’ he runs back over and grabs the headphones,” laughed Goldstein in the featurette. “He ended up being there a week for the whole party [scene],” said Favreau. “It was great.” Of Goldstein’s reported difficulties with drug abuse — ultimately leading to his death — the “Iron Man 2″ filmmaker said he was never aware of the musician’s personal problems, making his death all the more shocking. “He was going through a rough time and I didn’t even know it,” said Favreau. “Not that I was his closest friend, but I definitely felt connected to him. When he passed, it was… It hit me very, very hard.” “We thanked him at the end of the film: ‘In memory of Adam Goldstein’ with the little AC/DC lightning bolt in the middle of it,” he added. In the end, Favreau hopes Goldstein’s appearance in the film offers a look at happier times for the musician’s friends and family. “He had fun on it, and it was a real gift to be able to share a few months with the guy and get to know him,” he said. “Hopefully his family and friends find comfort in it and are able to see that and see him, and hopefully it brings back nice memories for them.” “Iron Man 2″ hits DVD and Blu-Ray September 28. Let us know what you think of the featurette in the comment section or on Twitter ! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall , on Twitter!

‘The Walking Dead’ TV Series: Three New Ads Debut Online

Published on: 7th September, 2010

With the Halloween premiere of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” television series swiftly approaching, it’s no surprise that we’re starting to see more teasers and promotional material hitting the ‘net. And since we’re such big fans of this project around Splash Page HQ, every new trailer or TV spot is cause for celebration. This time around, AMC’s official blog for “The Walking Dead” has posted a trio of ads for the series that premiered this weekend on the network — including this one: Two of the three clips offer a sneak peek at some of the early scenes from the pilot episode (we assume), featuring main character Rick Grimes ( Andrew Lincoln ) waking up from a coma in a deserted hospital and encountering the aftermath of an apocalyptic zombie outbreak. The third clip is a short, tense spot that features Rick pointing his gun at a mysterious off-screen target. You can check out the other two ads below, and find out more about the series at AMC’s official blog: “The Walking Dead” premieres Halloween night, October 31, at 10 PM EST on AMC. The series stars Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey DeMunn, Laurie Holden, Chandler Riggs, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Steven Yeun, among other actors. Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter ! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall , on Twitter!

‘Judge Dredd’ Movie Adds Olivia Thirlby

Published on: 7th September, 2010

Actress Olivia Thirlby has been cast in the upcoming 3D-inclusive “ Judge Dredd ” movie. Thirlby’s most recognizable role may be that of pregnant teen Juno’s best friend in the 2007 flick of the same name. According to Variety , she’ll be starring alongside Karl Urban (“Star Trek”) as Cassandra Anderson, a telepathic new recruit who partners with the Judge and a character in the original comic published as part of UK compilation “2000 AD”. The character’s inclusion is just one of many indications that the reboot—based on a screenplay from Alex Garland (“28 Days Later”) and visuals by “The Losers” artist Jock—will embrace its original comic book source material. “Judge Dredd” comic creator John Wagner for one, has been pleased with the film’s comic faithful pre-production content, a sentiment echoed by star and longtime “Dredd” reader Karl Urban . Both men are also quite united in their opinions on the first, Sylvester Stallone 1995 “Judge Dredd” film . With casting near complete, it’s likely “Judge Dredd” will meet its slated theater debut date of 2012. Are you excited about a new, comic-faithful ‘Judge Dredd’? Is it possible for the film to be a big hit among American audiences? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter !

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