Spider-Man 3, Superman, X-Men 3, Underdog: The Comic Reel Wrap for June 20th

CBR

By Hannibal Tabu

Published Jun 20, 2005

Thomas Haden Church is virtually inscrutable tossing out hints about his villainous role, while Brandon Routh gets the star treatment, you can keep your "bamfs" to yourself, even dogs are getting super powers in lab accidents (somebody should lock those places up) and much more in the week's first look at links, legends and lies.

SPIDER-MAN 3

Actor Thomas Haden Church dropped some very vague hints about which villain he will play in Entertainment Weekly, according to Superhero Hype. When asked about the character, he said, "He's a horse of many colors ... Let's just say he's an amorphous collection of protons, electrons, and neutrons, of different colors." No, we have no guesses as to what any of that means.

SUPERMAN

Speaking of Entertainment Weekly, the publication did an article on Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth, discussing their sliding into the roles of icons.

X-MEN 3

Did you like Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler? Tough -- Nightcrawler is taking the semester off. According to the actor's website that he's not coming back to the beleaguered sequel. "Fox has not picked up his option to play Nightcrawler for a second movie." Reportedly, Kelsey Grammar will be simply blue after the announcement.

UNDERDOGVariety (subscription required) notes that Disney and Spyglass Entertainment are this close to bringing the cartoon favorite to the silver screen in a live action feature. The trade says Disney has high hopes for the property as a possible franchise for its Walt Disney Pictures label. Producers are aiming to start preparing in November for shoot starting in January in Canada, possibly in Vancouver. In the feature script, by Joe Piscatella and Craig A. Williams, a diminutive hound named Shoeshine gets superpowers after a lab accident. When he's adopted by a 12-year-old boy, the two form a bond around the shared knowledge that Shoeshine is really Underdog. eal dog will be used for the title character, and CGI enhancements will be added.

FANTASTIC FOUR

Apple Computer has a behind the scenes clip from the Tim Story-helmed Marvel adaptation in glorious QuickTime. There's also a message from Jessica Alba to fans at this Japanese website.

BATMAN BEGINSComingsoon.net is reporting that the film has raked in $112.8 million globally over the last five days. After that report was completed, Box Office Mojo upped its estimated domestic total to a hair over $71 million.

Meanwhile, Warner exec Dan Fellman told the Hollywood Reporter that the studio was looking forward to a sequel. Hollywood North Report has excerpts from a PBS interview with actors Michael Caine and Christian Bale, who both talked around the sequel subject.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS

If you have the scoop on anything related to comic book movies, TV adaptations or just want to give us a briefcase full of cash, no questions asked, drop us a line and let's coordinate. You can choose an alias if you'd like, or be mentioned by name -- we honor requests for anonymity. Broadcasting live from Los Angeles, this is your humble scribe Hannibal Tabu saying thanks for your time and indulgence, and "don't blame me, I'm drunk too!"