News Week in Review 23rd July – 29th July 2007

Most of the news this week is comic adaptation related, Must be something to do with the San-Diego comic convention this week……….

* There are a lot of people who didn't like Jonathan Hensleigh's take on The Punisher in 2004 with Thomas Jane as Frank Castle. Whilst its not a perfect film its definitely better than the Dolph Lundgren version from 1989 and Jane was spot on in the title role. Its a sad thing that he has dropped out of the sequel but as a fan of the original comic he didn't like the direction it was headed. He has been replaced by little known actor Ray Stevenson who plays Titus Pollo in HBO/BBC series Rome. The new director is Lexi Alexander who made the brutal Green Street in 2005.

* Top notch Vertigo comic Y: The last man is to be brought to the screen courtesy of Salton Sea and Disturbia director DJ Caruso for New Line Cinema. The story tells of what happens when a virus wipes out all the males of the planet leaving only one awkward fella by the name of Yorick.

* Another DC comics character Jonah Hex is headed to the screen. Hex is a badass from the old west whose comics have been livened up of late by adding supernatural elements. The film will be made by Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine the directors of the gonzo action movie Crank from last year. These guys have shown a lot of promise with Crank and this could be something to keep an eye on.

* Finally a release date has been announced for Richard Kelly's Southland Tales. It seems the film will make its stateside bow on November 9th. The near three hour version was slated at Cannes when it debuted in 2006 the film has since had 25 minutes chopped and a lot more effects shots added. No word yet on a UK release date but a trailer should appear soon.

* Indie fave Tim Blake Nelson will appear as The Leader in next summers The Incredible Hulk. He joins a cast that include Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt and Tim Roth. Apparently Norton himself has done extensive re-writes and with the top notch cast this one is attracting its got me all excited for next summer where we also have Iron-Man, The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2 to look forward to.

* The cast for Zak Snyder's adaptation of Alan Moore's classic Watchmen has finally been officially announced and he has gone with mostly unknowns, which I quite like as it cuts out the baggage. So we have, Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach (excellent casting) Billy Crudup as Dr Manhattan (great actor) Patrick Wilson as The Nite Owl (also brilliant casting) Malin Akerman as Miss Juspeczyk aka Silk Spectre 2 (dunno who she is) Matthew Goode as Ozymandias (Dunno who he is but he is reportedly brilliant in The Lookout) and Jeffery Dean Morgan as The Comedian (dunno who he is either).

* Zachary Quinto from the brilliant TV Show Heroes has been officially cast as Mr Spock in JJ Abrams forthcoming Star Trek revamp. No word yet on who is playing Kirk but production begins in November.

* Weird gothic soap Dark Shadows which ran from 1966- 1971 is to become a movie from Warner Bros and they have attached Johnny Depp to star as vampire Barnabas Collins. Interesting…..