September 5th, 2003
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NEXT BATMAN MOVIE SCHEDULED ?
The buzz has really started to build this week over the possibility of the much anticipated new BATMAN movie moving closer to becoming a reality. A story in this week's Hollywood Reporter on possible actors to play the lead role in Director Christopher Nolan's BATMAN project (see Movie News below), sparked the rumors by mentioning a February 2004 shooting date.
Does this mean that the project, which appears to be going under the working title of BATMAN: INTIMIDATION, is moving out of "Development" towards full Production status? Other on-line reports say specilaist staff are being recruited and construction crews are being scheduled at England's Shepperton studio for the project. All the signs are there. If these dates are correct we could be looking at a Summer 2005 release date.
Enjoy the rest of this week's BATMAN news below.
All the best.. - Alan J. Porter
IN THIS ISSUE
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DC AND AOL TO LAUNCH DAILY BATMAN COMIC STRIP.
For the first time in many years a new Batman daily comic strip is to be produced. But don't go looking for it in your newspaper. This one will be on-line at AOL's new KOL service that launches this fall.
"Batman: Shadow of Sin Tzu" is written by Mark Schultz and with art by Rick Burchett, and will feature the new villian created by Jim Lee. It is planned to be a year long story arc with new episodes appearing each week day.
This will be the first strip developed by DC specifically for on-line presentation.
DC Releases Final HUSH Covers.
Last Saturday, DC Comics released images of all 3 variant covers for BATMAN #619, the final issue of the best-selling "Hush" storyline by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. Two of the three covers are gatefolds featuring Batman's allies (see above) and his foes. The third cover is standard size and shows Batman, Robin and Oracle from the "allies" cover but with dramatically different coloring.
The Next BATMAN Creative Team?
The Comic Book Resources site reports that "according to a post over on the Comic Book Conventions Web site, veteran artist Bill Sienkiewicz revealed during a panel at the Atlanta Dragon*Con that he and writer David Lapham ("Stray Bullets") would be the new creative team on "Batman" following Azzarello and Risso's. Sienkiewicz said that he's already begun on art for the series."
More DC Direct BATMAN Figures on the Way.
As well as the recently announced Jim Lee designed "HUSH" series of BATMAN figures look out for the following BATMAN figures from DC Direct over the remainder of this year and on into next:
More DC Sell Outs.
The demand for cretain BATMAN related comics reamins strong, with DC Comics reporting that TEEN TITANS #1 Third Printing, and SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 Second Printing have both sold out at the publisher this week.
We overprinted each of these titles, but thanks to the readers' enthusiasm, we blew through those extra copies in short order," says Bob Wayne, DC's VP - Sales & Marketing. "Having TEEN TITANS #1 Third Printing and SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 Second Printing both sell out shows that demand for them isn't letting up, so we recommend that retailers increase their orders on upcoming issues now."
TEEN TITANS #1 Third Printing (JUN035270) sold out at DC two days after arriving in stores on August 20, one week after issue #2 sold out at the publisher.
"This is amazing. And again, we can't thank everyone enough for all the support," says writer Geoff Johns. "Issue #3 is going to blow people away."
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 Second Printing (JUN035269) sold out at the publisher on September 2, after arriving in stores on August 27.
"After a year on BATMAN, seeing the same kind of magic translate over to SUPERMAN/BATMAN is just amazing," says writer Jeph Loeb. "I couldn't be more proud of our team: Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines, Dave Stewart, my good luck charm Richard Starkings, the Dynamic Duo of Tom Palmer, Jr., and Eddie Berganza, along with Matt Idelson on drums. I can only promise retailers and fans this much: Issue #2 has what is undoubtedly the most surprising guest star of the year - and given what DC has been doing this year, it had better be something to talk about - and IT IS! Thanks again, everyone!"
Teen Titans in October
Cartoon Network has released its schedule of Teen Titans episodes for Oct. 6-Nov. 2. Following is a rundown (all times ET):
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (Cartoon Network)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (Cartoon Network)
SUPER FRIENDS (Boomerang)
SUPERMAN/BATMAN ADVENTURES (Boomerang)
TEEN TITANS (Cartoon Network)
BATMAN CASTING TESTS
According to the Hollywood Reporter and Yahoo Movie News, several of Hollywood's "hottest young actors" underwent a series of screening tests the later part of this week, all vying for the title role in the next Batman movie, which, according to the article, is due to start production in February of 2004.
The actors mentioned as being under consideration were Jake Gyllenhaal, Christian Bale, Joshua Jackson, Cillian Murphy, and Eion Bailey. High Dancy was also named, providing the shooting schedule on King Arthur is flexible enough for him to attend.
"BATMAN: INTIMIDATION" GEARS UP FOR PRODUCTION ?
According to the Ain't-It-Cool News web-site a series of shooting tests are underway at Shepperton Studios in the UK for a " new Batman movie gearing up for production." The tests are being done under the title "Batman: Intimidation." Is this the title of Christopher Nolan's much anticipated movie? We wait and see. The excellent Batman On Film website confirms that Warner Bros have registered the www.batman-intimidation.com and .net domain names.
It also appears that additional activity at Shepperton is also planned in anticipation of a BATMAN movie being in production next year. Special Effects people, set designers and model makers are all being recruited. The riggers and carpenters have also been lined up to start set construction in October.
Another possible hint comes from the fact that in a recent news conference a senior executive from the Mattell toy company ( who have the BATMAN license) mentioned they were expecting a new BATMAN movie in 2005.
Ain't-It-Cool News also reports on a converstaion in a pub close to teh studios where the construction crew talked about sets including a giant spider's web and a cave with a "strong Egyptian theme." Lazuras Pits and Ra's Al Ghul ?
BATWOMAN COVER ART
Warner Bros animation has released the artwork for the VHS
case and In-Store promotional stands for the upcoming BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN
animated movie. Look out for them in a video store near you starting October 21st.
BATMAN: RISE OF SIN TZU SHIPS WITH EXCLSUIVE FIGURES, JIM LEE LITHO
(PRESS RELEASE)
Batman fans and toy collectors alike have a reason to
celebrate! Ubi Soft Entertainment joins with Mattel Inc., DC Comics, and Warner Bros.
Consumer Products to commemorate the launch of a new villain in the Batman universe by
creating special collector's items exclusively for the Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu videogame.
Developed and published by Ubi Soft Entertainment, 15,000 copies of Batman: Rise of Sin
Tzu Commemorative Edition will include an exclusive Mattel(TM) Batman action figure and
another 15,000 Commemorative Edition units will include an exclusive Mattel Batgirl action
figure. Both will be dressed in classic costumes - Batman in his classic blue and grey
costume and Batgirl in classic black and yellow. These rare, Commemorative Edition
products can be purchased at GameStop and Electronics Boutique and are available now
through pre-order.
Additionally, comic book fans and gamers alike will be thrilled to learn that an exclusive
Commemorative Lithograph Edition for the Nintendo GameCube(TM) only will include a four
color, two-sided Sin Tzu lithograph designed by comics legend and Sin Tzu co-creator Jim
Lee. The Commemorative Edition lithograph features both Sin Tzu and Batman on the front
and Sin Tzu's biography on the back, written by Sin Tzu co-creator Flint Dille. This
exclusive Commemorative Lithograph Edition for Nintendo GameCube is available now through
pre-order at GameStop and Electronics Boutique. All retailers will offer this exclusive
product at launch while supplies last.
Developed by Ubi Soft's Montreal Studios, Batman: Rise of Sin
Tzu stays true to the Batman franchise with intense, action-packed gameplay and
challenging villains. Featuring Batman's loyal allies Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl, the
game also includes a brand new enemy unlike any Batman has ever battled, Sin Tzu, plus
three other villains never before seen in a Batman video game: Clayface, Scarecrow, and
Bane.
A master in the deadly art of war, Sin Tzu is driven by a lone desire - to conquer.
Scouring the world in search of only the worthiest adversaries, Sin Tzu has descended upon
Gotham City to defeat the Caped Crusader. Game features include:
-- Two-Player Cooperative Gameplay: Go at it alone as Batman or recruit backup. Invite a
friend into the battle as Nightwing, Robin, or Batgirl in two-player cooperative fighting
mode.
-- 35 Batman Attacks: Topple Sin Tzu's solldiers of crime with more than 35 martial arts
moves and dazzling combos.
-- 12 Levels: Battle your way through the Gotham City Docks, Crime Alley, Arkham Asylum
and more.
-- Play as Batman, Robin, Nightwing, or Baatgirl in single-player mode: Each character
features unique fighting moves.
-- Bonus Content: 27 minute "Making oof a Villain" documentary with commentary by
Sin Tzu's co-creators, comics legend Jim Lee and award-winning scriptwriter Flint Dille.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu has an ESRB rating of "T" for Teen and will have a
suggested retail price of $39.99. It is scheduled to ship mid-October 2003.
About Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu:
A revolutionary new era in Batman history begins with the introduction of the new
character, Sin Tzu. Beyond madness, beyond evil, Sin Tzu is an enemy unlike Batman has
ever battled. He is a master in the deadly art of war, driven by a single desire: to
conquer. Scouring the world in search of only the worthiest adversaries, Sin Tzu has
descended upon Gotham City and marshaled the infamous villains Bane, Clayface, and
Scarecrow into a superior fighting force against the Caped Crusader. In turn, Batman has
called upon his allies Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl to stem the tide of this new rising
evil.
SPX - Small Press Expo - Bethesda MD - Sept 5th to 7th
Although primarily a meeting ploace for Small Press publishers the annual SPX Expo also attacts some mainstream creators. Among this year's registered attendees are FRANK MILLER and TERRY MOORE. And the GWN team (i.e. me) will be there on the Sunday at least.
BALTIMORE COMIC-CON - Baltimore Convention Center - Sept 20th to 21st
The Baltimore show continues to grow each year with more visitors and more guests. Confirmed attendees this year include: JIM LEE (Saturday only), GREG RUCKA, BRIAN STELFREEZE.
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GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS is a FOREST COMICS Publication.
FOREST COMICS and GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS are (c) and TM - Alan J. Porter (1994 - 2003)
"GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS", "GOTHAM GAZETTE - The BATMAN Magazine On the Web" and "THE UNAUTHORIZED BATMAN COLLECTORS GUIDE" are not affiliated to, or endorsed by, either Warner Bros. or DC Comics.
BATMAN and all related characters and indicia are acknowledged as Trademark and copyright DC Comics Inc..
BATMAN created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger