DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION

Some new photos of actor James Marsters have been uploaded to a Czech fansite showcasing him looking a little green around the gills ...

Directed by James Wong, release date April 10, 2009.

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

CBR News has the scoop on actor Hugh Jackman hosting the Oscars.

In other news, many are discussing a a bootleg trailer floating around the web ...

CORRECTION At press time, the trailer had already gotten whacked by Fox's legal ninjas ... but the legitimate version is due online today.

Directed by Gavin Hood, release date May 1, 2009.

THE MAN OF STEEL

IGN caught up with director Bryan Singer to ask what's up with a Kryptonian-minded sequel. All Singer would say is he's "not officially not involved."

No release date announced.

THE CROW

According to Variety, Stephen Norrington has signed on to write and direct a reinvention of the James O'Barr creation. Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media is negotiating with producer Ed Pressman to acquire the film franchise and finance the film. "Whereas Proyas' original was gloriously gothic and stylized, the new movie will be realistic, hard-edged and mysterious, almost documentary-style," Norrington said.

No release date announced.

THOR

Director Kenneth Branagh spoke with MTV about why he's headed to Asgard. "To work on a story about one of the immortals, Gods, extraordinary beings, inter-dimensional creatures," Branagh said. "There's science fiction and science fact and fantasy all woven into one. It's based on Norse legends which Marvel sort of raided in a brilliant way."

Release date: July 16, 2010.

Y: THE LAST MAN

Sci Fi Wire has quotes from director DJ Caruso, discussing the possibility his favorite actor could play Yorick Brown. "Shia and I talk all the time, and when I feel it's right, I'll show him the script," Caruso said. "He's definitely interested. We came up with some really cool things that would enhance act three and be close to what is happening in the series of books. It was a ground-breaking idea. I know [the rewriting] is taking longer than I thought, but it's a really great project, and it's important that you focus on the story and get it right.

No release date announced.

THE SPIRIT

Sci Wi Wire has posted an interview with actor Samuel L. Jackson, finding out more about who the Octopus is. "The Octopus was always just a pair of gloves [in the comic]," Jackson said. "So it's an enormous honor and joy to be able to put flesh and blood to something that was just a voice balloon and a pair of gloves. Thankfully, [Director] Frank [Miller] was open enough and ego-less enough to listen and kind of let us experiment and try things that work in the spirit of who Eisner was. I'd listen to him to find out who Eisner was and what his idea of this character is, and 'How would he feel about seeing me do this?' or 'How would he feel about seeing me dressed this way or taking the character to this place?'"

Release date December 25, 2008, starring Gabriel Macht.

SIN CITY 2/300 SPIN OFF

While we're discussing Frank Miller, he spoke with Superhero Hype about the two properties. "I've written a story that's not a prequel," Miller said. "It's definitely a further story in the Greco-Persian Wars, and it involves some of the same characters but I'm not sure exactly how far along it'll get and again, until it's on a marquee, I don't believe in it."

No release date announced.

SPAWN

Creator Todd McFarlane told GamePro that he's talking to people about bringing his property to the world off the pages. McFarlane said, "A movie studio CEO called me today, actually: 'I just wanna say we're interested.' But I think he was the last of the big studios to call me! [laughs] But I'm still of the mind that [a 'Spawn' movie sequel] is a lower budget, cooler, creepier movie. When we get there, it'll get made. [This goes back to something I said a few years ago], which is that the movie studios will start burning through the A and A- characters. They did a fantastic job with 'Iron Man,' who I don't think many fans would describe as an 'A+' character, by getting him up to that level with the movie. The dealbreaker is, I direct it. I tell everybody that in advance. The answer is, the only way anyone will say 'yes' to that is if I keep the budget low. If I make it an $80 million budget [Spawn movie sequel], they won't let me direct it ... nor would I want to direct it. There are too many guys who are smarter that can do it. But a $10 million dollar creepy movie? I can do that one ... In the movie idea I have for 'Spawn,' there is no super villain. It's a completely real drama that happens to have a spook in it."

No release date announced.

WATCHMEN/WHITEOUT

CBR News has new production stills from the two Warner Brother projects.

"Watchmen" hits theatres March 6, 2009. "Whiteout" is released September 11, 2009.

PUSH

Speaking of photos, Comic Book Movie has some new shots from the source of the Wildstorm mini-series.

SMALLVILLE

Kryptonsite has high resolution screen captures from the promo for the next episode.

Next episode, January 15, 2009, "Legion."

THE CASTING COUCH

If you have the scoop on anything related to comic book movies, TV adaptations or just want to give us a truck 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 The Hundred and Four can rock the column even when the apartment complex catches on fire.