The 'Veronica Mars' Movie Campaign Kicks Off WIth A Bang

The official bid to get the cult UPN/CW show Veronica Mars on the big screen kicked off today with a bang. The Kickstarter campaign started by series creator Rob Thomas and star Kristen Bell, which also has franchise owner Warner Bros.' blessing, is highlighted by a video shot last year which reunited the show's cast. If the target of raising $2 million in 30 days is met, the big screen version of the show, which aired 64 episodes from 2004-2007, will begin production this summer for an early 2014 release.

As of this writing over 27,000 loyal backers have thrown in more than $1,750,000 in donations to get their beloved mystery solving gang from Neptune back together. And this is just the first day. It will undoubtedly hit its goal shortly, proving for this show that the Kickstarter idea was not only a big winner, but the loyal fan base exists to support it. It makes you wonder which cult shows could also earn resurrection through fan based funding. I'm sure the floodgates have been officially blown wide open with aspirations to repeat this with other properties. My fellow Browncoats are now all in a tizzy to get Firefly in on this...

Per Rob Thomas, the perks for donating, depending on the amount you give, range from t-shirts, copies of the final film on DVD, signed movie one-sheets, personalized video greetings, recorded outgoing voicemail messages from Kristen Bell, to tickets to the red carpet premiere and after party. There are even options for super fans with a lot of expendable cash for background and featured extra roles in the movie, as well as getting a theatrical screening scheduled in your hometown.

You can check out the Kickstarter page here for all the details. With the promised interactive portions to this project, it will be fun to follow it from start to finish.

SOURCE: The Veronica Mars Movie Project

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If The CW Made A High School Prequel To 'The Dark Knight,' You'd Have 'GOTHAM HIGH'

File this under 'The Internet Is Awesome." Check out this brilliant mash-up of teen comedies that could not have done a better job of placing the all-star team of Gotham City's heroes and villains together in high school during their awkward teen years.

The gang's all here: Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), Bane (Tom Hardy), Harvy Dent (Aaron Eckhart), The Joker (Heath Ledger), John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and other subtle surprise appearances from the Batman universe.

This is by far one of the better made faux film trailers, and one that makes you wish it were actually real.

SOURCE: Movie Clips Trailers

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'Arrow' Episode 5 Preview Pics Target Deathstroke

Last night's tense episode of Arrow not only gave fans a not-so-subtle foreshadow to Laurel Lance's future as Black Canary, but brought Deathstroke fully into the show's storyline.

The DC Comics' villain was hinted at in the pilot episode, with a reveal of his mask on the shore of the desolate island where Oliver Queen spends five brutal years of survival, training, and torture.

Spoiler images to come. In the pics below from Damaged, the fifth episode set to air on November 7th, we can see that Deathstroke (Jeffrey Robinson) has a deadly violent past with Stephen Amell's Arrow ever before they crossed paths again in Starling City in last night's episode. So far Arrow has been gaining steady ground as a solid action packed show, with plenty of nods for comic book fans including Kelly Hu's recent turn as China White, plus upcoming appearances from The Royal Flush Gang and The Huntress.

Keep in mind we still have next week's episode, An Innocent Man, to go before Deathstroke is revealed in full costume on the island. Spoilers follow the preview...

From The CW on Episode 5, Damaged:

"DC COMICS’ VILLAIN DEATHSTROKE APPEARS ON THE ISLAND WITH OLIVER — After Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne) arrests Oliver (Stephen Amell) for murder, Oliver tells Moira (Susanna Thompson) the only lawyer he’ll allow to represent him is Laurel (Katie Cassidy). Laurel takes the case which puts her at odds with her father. Oliver offers to take a polygraph in front Detective Lance but things get tense when Lance asks him if anyone else was on the island with him. Oliver flashes back to when he got his first scar, courtesy of Deathstroke (guest star Jeffrey Robinson). Colin Donnell, David Ramsey and Willa Holland also star. Michael Shultz directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Ben Sokolowski"

Arrow airs on The CW on Wedensdays at 9pm. An Innocent Man airs on October 31, and Damaged will air on November 7th.

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NEW YORK COMIC CON 2012: New 'Arrow' Preview Reel

Warner Bros. Television hosted their Arrow panel and fan Q&A at New York Comic Con today with stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy and Willa Holland. A impressive new preview trailer for the show was debuted, which teased what is yet to come on the following weeks.

Arrow had its season premiere on Wednesday night and hit a bulls eye in the ratings for The CW. The show's first episode hit a 1.3 rating (in the 18-49 demographic) and 4.02 million viewers, which was the network's best performing premiere since The Vampire Diaries. Arrow was the most watched show in three years for The CW.

The sizzle reel also gives us a great sneak peek montage of DC Universe characters and guest-stars making their way into the series including Torchwood‘s John Barrowman as the “Well-Dressed Man,” China White (played by X2‘s Kelly Hu), Deadshot (Michael Rowe), and the Huntress/Helena Bertinelli (Jessica De Gouw).

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PREVIEW: New Clips & Stills From The CW's 'Arrow'

Hot on the heels of Arrow's Comic-Con panel and screening of the pilot episode (which was met with applause from the audience of fans in Ballroom 20), The CW has released new stills of star Stephen Arnell as Arrow/Oliver Queen and two new clips. The show is based on DC Comics superhero Green Arrow, and promises to follow a darker and more action oriented path than the network's previous comic book based show, Smallville.

Per The CW:

"After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he's become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance." 

"As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow - a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be - flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle - while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel's father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver's own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine."

The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Colin Donnell as Tommy, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, with Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance.

SOURCE: THE CW, Entertainment Weekly

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Preview: 'Arrow' First Look Footage

Check out the first clip from The CW's Arrow, now set to hit the air this October on Wednesday nights at 8pm.

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'Arrow' Officially Set To Hit The CW Wednesdays In The Fall

Hot on the heels of their Upfront presentation in NYC, The CW has announced that Arrow, based on DC Comics' iconic superhero Green Arrow, is all set to hit the air this fall on Wednesday nights at 8pm, as a lead-in to Supernatural. The show stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow and Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance.

The show has had steady buzz since the pilot was announced for production. Fans have been receptive towards the idea of another reboot of the popular character since the first image appeared online, and was also a lead on Smallville (played by Justin Hartley) for several seasons. This version of the bow & arrow armed hero will have no connection to Smallville in continuity. The CW plans to roll out their new fall shows in October 2012.

From The CW regarding Arrow:

After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.

The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Colin Donnell as Tommy, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, with Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance. Based on characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Green Lantern,” “Brothers & Sisters”), Marc Guggenheim (“FlashForward,” “Eli Stone”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Warehouse 13,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and David Nutter (“Smallville,” “Supernatural,” “Game of Thrones”). Melissa Kellner Berman (“Eli Stone,” “Dirty Sexy Money”) is co-executive producer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter from a teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Marc Guggenheim, story by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim.

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INTERVIEW: Phil Morris Wanted To Go Full Martian For 'Smallville'

Phil Morris is no stranger to sci-fi and genre fans. Throughout his career, the versatile actor has appeared in Knight Rider, Babylon 5, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and numerous versions of Star Trek (TOS, The Search for Spock, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine).

One of his more recent popular recurring roles was on The CW's Smallville, playing Metropolis Homicide Detective John Jones. DC Comics fans knew him better as the human alter ego of the alien superhero J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter.

Keeping to the Smallville tradition, Morris' earthly John Jones wardrobe was often reminiscent of the Martian Manhunter costume. Throughout the show's run, the writers were always keen on including clever nods to the comic book source material, some being more overt than others.

Morris appeared as a human on the show and never had the opportunity to go on camera in the character's full true alien form, which would have required extensive prosthetics and hours in the make-up chair.

While taking questions from the online press at the Justice League: Doom NYC premiere, I asked the actor if at any point he was approached by the show's producers to play a version that was visually closer to the character's comic book origins.

"I had one flash, in the two-parter ['Absolute Justice']. I get knocked into this canister and they flash to it," he revealed about a quick CGI glimpse of J'onzz in his alien form.

"I told them I would pull a Michael Dorn." he admitted in reference to the Star Trek: The Next Generation actor who endured hours of make-up each day to play the Klingon Worf.  "I’d do it," he affirmed. "If I could buy F-18’s like Michael does with his money," he added with a laugh.

"Just to legitimize the character into bringing him to the place that most of the fans know him as, I would have done it, and happy to do it. I've done a lot of Star Treks, I've been Jem'Hardar and Klingons, I don't mind that. I meditate through that stuff," Morris said.

"It would have been a wonderful place to go, but not my show."

He was then asked about possibly revisiting the character on the small screen, or having an interest in any of the upcoming television shows based on comics books. Morris revealed an anthology concept he would have been eager to pursue if given the opportunity.

"I would have loved to have seen J'onn J'onzz anthologized. I really thought we could have done J'onn J'onzz as a Rod Serling of the DC Universe, so we have him bookend the show. Every so often the episode would focus on J'onn, but then we bring out these characters in the DC Universe that aren’t in the movies and aren’t in the films right now," he said.

"You can do the same kind of due diligence they did with Smallville, but you feature them for a three episode arc. J'onn opens it like Rod Serling, then you see the thing, and then J'onn bookends it. That would have been awesome."


Morris can be heard as the voice of the villainous immortal Vandal Savage in Justice League: Doom, which hits Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD on February 28th. He joins an all star voice cast that includes Tim Daly (Superman), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Nathan Fillion (Green Lantern), Michael Rosenbaum (Flash), and Olivia d'Abo (Star Sapphire).

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The CW Gives 'Green Arrow' A Shot

Good news for comics fans, according to the The Hollywood Reporter, The CW has given a pilot order for Arrow, based on DC's legendary archer Green Arrow.

The superhero was a featured mainstay on Smallville, which ended its ten year run last season and chronicled the younger pre-flights and tights years of Superman. Played by Justin Hartley for several years, reportedly the actor will not be a part of this version which probably dashes any hopes of this being a sequel series set in the same continuity. More likely Arrow will start from the ground up, going back to the original comics source material.

Although from seeing how Green Arrow was portrayed in the long running CW show, as a rich playboy using his vast resources to fight crime without any superpowers, he was an easy DC television substitute for Batman. I'm sure behind the curtain Warner Bros. wanted to keep any live action version of Batman solely on the big screen, and safely in the hands of director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale.    

Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim are set to executive produce. Their last superhero outing was 2011's big screen debut of Green Lantern starring Ryan Reynolds, which was viewed as a disappointment by fans and critics alike.

Justin Hartley as Smallville's Green Arrow

Following the poor receipts and receptions for both The Green Hornet and Green Lantern in multiplexes last year, The CW has wisely omitted the emerald association with their potential new show.

The costumed superhero translated to television is a tough game these days with intense fan and internet leak inspired scrutiny. NBC unsuccessfully tried to reboot Wonder Woman with an hour long pilot last season under the watch of producer David E. Kelley. Early looks of star Adrianne Palicki in full costume met with harsh immediate criticism across the web. NBC eventually passed on the reboot. Whether Arrow gets a series pick up is another thing altogether.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter