Movies

We've never been able to hide our adoration of Jason's time travel tale I KILLED ADOLF HITLER, and we're far from alone in this regard. Fantagraphics has just announced that Studio Eight in association with Up Country Productions has optioned the film rights to the book. Jamie and Alex Brown of Studio Eight have previously produced LAND OF THE BLIND and CAPTURED. They've tapped screenwriter D.C. Walker of Up Country Productions for the script.

Last night, I had occasion to take in a preview of Daniel Radcliffe's first adult film vehicle (no, I'm not counting "My Boy Jack" towards that). "The Lady in Black" is adapted (somewhat creatively, I gather) from the 1983 Susan Hill novel by director James Watkins and screenwriter Jane Goodman (who Beat readers will likely remember from Kick Ass, X-Men: First Class and Stardust). No more wizards and spells for Radcliffe as he finds himself in over his head dealing with a vengeful spirit.

AMC, History Channel, Spike—every TV network that ever wanted to do a "Comic Book Idol" TV show—here is the comic book life captured in its most primal and dramatic: people arguing about cover design in front of over stuffed bookcases and furnishing mingled from antiques and plastic storage boxes from Target. Yes, this is the life.

Hollywood never sleeps; that's why they need their daily coffee run.

A sequel to the well-received X-MEN: FIRST CLASS has been greenlit with Matthew Vaughn once again to direct, Deadline reports. Simon Kinberg has written a script and Bryan Singer will produce. Everyone expects Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy to reprise their roles as Magneto and Professor X, but no one has officially been signed yet. And given Fassbender's recent roles, maybe we'll get to see little Magneto, too.

Once again, a creator loses a copyright battle against a major comics publisher with a major motion picture soon to screen. The artist is living in poverty, has health problems, and is forgotten by the general public. Sound familiar? Read on... it gets worse.

Okay so that Allie McAmazon version of Wonder Woman didn't work out as a TV pilot. Despite being re-elevated to Trinity Status as one of DC's big three, Wonder Woman is still languishing in the development purgatory that so many DC characters seem to swim around in. But how's this for an electrifying concept for Diana: a film directed by DRIVE's kinetic stylist Nicholas Winding Refn and starring-MMA fighter-turned-actor Gina Carrano. Wow, now didn't that make you jump up and shout "2012!" Refn's movie was a great character piece, a twisted noir view of LA, a hipster retro fest, AND an edge of your seat action film. All traits that could make an amazing comic book adaptation.

In a world where every comics-to-movie project gets endlessly covered, SAVE THE DATE has pretty much flown under the radar -- but then it's an indie movie created by an indie cartoonist and not based specifically on a comics property. The film, based on ideas from indie cartoonist stalwart Jeffrey Brown, follows two sisters -- one about to get married, the other just broken up with her boyfriend, and how they approach love and commitment. Directed by Mike Mohan ("One Too Many Mornings") from a script by Mohan, Jeffrey Brown and Egan Reich, the movie debuts this weekend at Sundance and has already gotten some buzz behind it. It stars Lizzy Caplan (True Blood, 127 Hours), as the single sister (who happens to be a cartoonist), Alison Brie (Mad Men, Scream 4) as the sister about to get married, Martin Starr (Mad Love, Adventureland) and Geoffrey Arend.

The long batted about Hack/Slash movie, based on the Tim Seeley/Stefano Caselli comic of the same name, now has a new helmer attached: Marcus Nispel, whose previous slashing and hacking efforts include the disappointing Conan movies, PATHFINDER, and outings in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th franchises.

EW's Spring/Summer movie preview issue is out, and DARK KNIGHT RISES is on the cover. And some new photos are inside! Hm, this Bane cat is going to be pretty scary, eh?

Looks like we might not get that "New Manhattan" live-action version of AKIRA after all. I know you're all crying. Maybe Warner Bros. knows that too, as they shut down the Vancouver production office:

Ever play "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon"? I present the geeky version! (And give a link to a nerdy version as well!) Happy New Year!