THOR

Screenwriter Mark Protosevich talked to the Chicago Tribune (registration required) about his passion for Asgard. "That project is as much a passion project for me as 'I Am Legend,'" he said. "I was a comic book kid. Thor was my absolute favorite. There used to be a segment in the Thor comics called 'Tales of Asgard' -- and it's much more akin to that. It really is set in that world. It does deal with Earth. The primary focus we're taking on it is really all about the Norse myths."

THE DARK KNIGHT

In case you hadn't heard, the new trailer is out in QuickTime and Flash, which you can check out here or you can see screen captures of it right here at CBR News. Allocine also has a first look at the new international Joker-related poster for the Bat sequel.

TINTIN

Both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are reporting that Peter Jackson is set to reteam with his performance-capture star Andy Serkis in the proposed trilogy. The studio was mum on which character or characters the actor will play but said it will not be the titular Tintin. It is believed Serkis will play the role of Capt. Haddock, the temperamental sea captain. Principal photography on the first film is scheduled to begin in September.

SMALLVILLE

Devoted to Smallville has a scan of a recent Sci Fi Magazine article spotlighting the return of Green Arrow and more of what the rest of the season has in store. They also have a gallery of screen captures from last week's episode "Gemini."

DRAGONBALL Z

HoyCinema has set photos of actor Justin Chatwin in character in the manga/anime adaptation. The film opens August 15, 2008.

Meanwhile, according to the Hollywood Reporter notes that actress Emily Rossum has joined the cast, alongside actress Eriko Tamura and tyro thesp Joon Park.

WATCHMEN

Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan talked to About.com discussing how much work this film was. "I've been there since August," said Morgan. "Usually you do a movie, for me, you do a movie in 2 months. I've done movies in 15 days. One scene takes 15 days in the Watchmen. I always say 'the' Watchmen. They're going to kill me for that. The scale and scope of it is to an extent that I've certainly never experienced, and I don't know that I ever will again. You walk on these sets and it boggles your mind. I had heard of [the graphic novel], I'd never read it. I read it when I went in and met with Zack. They're like, 'We're going to send you a script.' Well, they didn't send me a script, they sent me the book. And so that was my first introduction to it. I've since read it, since we started this thing, I don't know, 20 times. David Gibbons came up to the set -- [the man] who illustrated it. Talk about a kid in a candy store. Seeing his face I think may have been kind of the highlight of the whole thing for me. Him seeing us in action, in costume, seeing the sets ... It's kind of like getting approval from your father. Since Alan's kind of distanced himself from this at this point, David hasn't and he's been a big part of what's going on. I mean, you know, his eyes welled up on seeing the sets."

SPEED RACER

Superhero Hype has an interview with actress Christina Ricci about her fast paced role. "That's another example of a great role model character for girls because she's smart, she's funny and she does all the things the boys do," Ricci said. "She kung fu fights, she drives a car, she races and she flies a helicopter, but she has a specific outfit that she wears when she flies the helicopter, and her lipstick always matches something she's wearing. She gets to be everything. She's celebrated as a girl and a woman, but she's also not treated any differently than the male characters are. So it was so much fun in that respect. I like being dressed up and I like doing stunts."

ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM

Co-director Colin Strause is quoted at Sci Fi Wire discussing the new movie's surprise, the hybrid Predalien. "For us, it was keeping the alien teeth, because that's such a distinct feature," Strause said. "And having the dome. We have a couple shots in the movie where you can actually see the whole skull feature and everything underneath ... When she has the mandible closed, she looks more Predator, but when they open up, you see the distinct alien teeth and everything."

PAULA PERIL

If you speak Italian, this interview with Valerie Perez may interest you. Thanks to Coratelli for the heads up on that.

WGA STRIKE WATCH: DAY FORTY-THREEMedia sources are reporting that the WGA has decided to approach individual studios instead of trying to deal with their gestalt the AMPTP. The consortium of studios and networks responded calling it "the latest indication that the WGA organizers are grasping for straws and have never had a coherent strategy for engaging in serious negotiations." The AMPTP also have a new ad campaign to showcase their solidarity, which led popular columnist Nikki Finke to write, "legal sources tell me the ad also exposes potential issues relating to collusion, price-fixing, and anti-trust among the Big Media companies who are supposed to be business competitors." Oops ...

The strategy may work, if this story is any indication, as late night titan Dave Letterman cut a separate deal with the WGA allowing his show to return with his WGA writers because it's outside of CBS' direct control. Which CBS doesn't like at all leading the network to release a statement saying, "This development should not confuse the fact that CBS remains unified with the AMPTP, and committed to working with the member companies to reach a fair and reasonable agreement with the WGA that positions everyone in our industry for success in a rapidly changing marketplace."

Reuters reports that it really is quiet on the set as all but two prime-time TV shows have shut down completely.

On a comics-related front, CBR News has a special report on when "Heroes" cast members, creators and fans united to picket at Universal Studios.

There seems to be no issue of the actors striking out on their own, according to a statement from SAG president Alan Rosenburg, who wrote simply, "Your fight is our fight."

Finally, long time WGA member Christopher Trumbo has written a piece showing the historical perspective of this strike from his forty years as a guild member, seeing many labor disputes come and go.

I CAN'T WORK UNDER THESE CONDITIONS

We can't do this without you. The rumors, the scoops, the set photos -- they're all fueled by passionate fans emailing in the goods. The ones who ask, "What do you mean your sister's dating somebody who works for Miles Millar?" The ones who know the code names of movie projects and scour city permit filings for them. The devoted, the involved. Fans, just like you. Whatever you know, we wanna know, and whether you want your name shouted to the web's rafters or kept closer than a classified report, we've got you covered like a comforter. Broadcasting live from Los Angeles, this is your humble scribe Hannibal Tabu saying thank you for your time and indulgence, and [tagline redacted until the WGA strike is resolved].