Top Maniacal Rumors of the Week

Achilles(Brad Pitt) leading the charge to battle in TROY(2004).
© Warner Bros.

Top Maniacal Rumors: Pitt Wielding a Mighty Hammer?

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Friday, May 16, 2008

It’s time for another edition of Mania’s Most Maniacal Rumors, where we blow the lid off the week’s juiciest gossip and hush-hush industry whispers. If you have a rumor you want to contribute, we’re all ears. Just send it to jarrod@mania.com.

Brad Pitt Will Lead Vaughn’s Thor?

Rumor: While Thor has been sitting comfortably in development hell these past few weeks, it seems there is a hot new rumor that Brad Pitt may be playing the Odinson in Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming adaptation of the comic hero.

Source: Latino Review

Mania Verdict: MAYBE---Brad Pitt has been stretching his producing wings late with his Plan B shingle, opting to be behind the camera more than in front of it. Still, Marvel is likely looking for a reputable and established actor to topline this franchise after the mega success of Downey leading Iron Man.

Captain America’s Shield is in Iron Man?

Rumor: While the first adaptation of the Tony Stark character is dominating at the box office, the first of likely many as the summer season gets underway, fresh rumors have appeared that Captain America’s Shield makes an appearance in the film at the 1 hr and 30 minute mark.

Source: Various

Mania Verdict: TRUE—You can check out a screenshot here. Marvel has made it clear the goal is to bring an Avengers movie to theaters in the near future and S.H.I.E.L.D was mentioned in the first film by director Favreau.

Guy Ritchie Bringing Sgt. Rock Comic to the big screen?

Rumor: Producer Joel Silver is once again in the spotlight in this week’s rumor column by saying he “thinks” Guy Ritchie will be alongside him in the adaptation of the comic Sgt. Rock.

Source: AICN

Mania Verdict: TRUE—Silver has no reason to lie and Guy Ritchie has been stretching into the comic world. He’s currently developing a big screen treatment of his own comic Gamekeeper as well.

Allison Mack Not Returning to Smallville Season 8?

Rumor: Just a few weeks after leads Kristen Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum announced their planned departures from “Smallville”, the latest rumor is that Mack may not be returning as well over a financial dispute.

Source: Michael Ausiello

Mania Verdict: FALSE—Negotiations have concluded successfully, according to a later report by TV Guide.

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Comments/Responses

exfan • May 16, 2008, 02:20am •

i wouldn t mind to see brad pitt as thor, but in my mind, Thor is like Hulk, can not be the same actor who does small doctor blake and the huge thor. But i can see it coming, they will use Pitt with little glasses with the white tunique to make him look like a small doctor and after hit the hummer it will be the huge vikings with blond hair and strong muscle....this idea disturb me...i prefer rick jones/captain marvel idea, two different peoples !

hanso • May 16, 2008, 04:13am •

Thanks Wiseguy for letting us know about this news before hand. Much props my brotha.

How about Pitt as Blake & Kimbo as Thor?

ponyboy76 • May 16, 2008, 05:00am •

Like I said in another post. I can definitely see Pitt as Dr. Donald Blake, but I don`t know who could play Thor. I don`t think that they could use CGI ala Hulk because Thor needs to speak. He needs to speak in that regal, old english dialect, saying things "Nay! Nay I say!" I`m not sure if they have the technology yet that would make a large talking CGI character look real enough where people aren`t going to be like. "That sucks!" Unless they come up with the tech soon, it would definitely have to be 2 different people.
I love that they added Cap`s shield in Iron Man. Its a small thing but its just a cool comic book fan thing to do.
Don`t really care about the other rumors except to say that before they go and give Mr Madonna a movie like Sgt Rock, they should maybe let him do something good first. He`s 2 for 4 in my book. Swept Away and Revolver were horrible!

monkeyfoot • May 16, 2008, 07:18am •

Pitt would be great as Thor. It would also attract a top director to the project. Plus Brad has alot of mouths to feed now and a big franchise wouldn't hurt paying the bills. Angelina as Sif?
Cap's Shield in Iron Man? I don't like it. That shield was supposed to be a unique one-of-a-kind accident that is impossible to re-create. If Stark makes it, it's just another one of his inventions.
My idea for a Captain America movie would be for his original shield being undiscovered after Cap's modern day revival. Maybe they give him the Stark version as a replacement but the balance isn't quite right and he can't throw it properly and it is not as indestrucible. Later, in some battle it gets destroyed by some energy weapon and Cap is captured by an also revivied Red Skull or whoever the villian is and discovers the he has the original shield. A final battle ensues and Cap recovers the shield and once again displays his incredible shield throwing ability with fantastic ricochet shots as he and his shining symbol once again move together like a symbiotic perfect fighting machine, similar to the way Brad Pitt fought as Achilles in Troy. Also the energy weapon that destroyed the Stark shield is totally useless against the truly indestructible original shield.
That's the way I want it and I'm stickin' to it!

MrJawbreakingEquilibrium • May 16, 2008, 07:47am •

I don't know a lot about Captain America but I know in the original universe that he was found years before he was thawed out; so maybe in the movie that's also the case. Also, that he didn't have the round shield at first, which was a combination of vibranium and admantium that allowed it to withstand physical and energy forces. So, to me it makes sense that something like this was made by someone with weapons knowledge and why not Tony Stark? Maybe in the movie universe he was making a homage to him, who's to say that the shield on the table is the one he actually ends up with? Another thing is that the round shield could never be duplicated so if he lost it he was screwed. But I don't know. Maybe it's WWII memoribilia that Tony happens to have and later when they find Cap he gives it back to him if he had it before and lost it in his fall.

I have a theory that like in the Ultimate Universe though that Captain America is going to be the first superhero and that is what Nick Fury is talking about other heroes though he probably knows about the Hulk-I'm garnering that Ant-man, Thor, and the rest might not be around or know about yet. Too bad they don't own the rights to licensning rights to Spider-man and etc. because I'm sure they won't be involved in this universe. Also, that Captain America's super soldier formula will be a catalyst for most of the other heroes, ala what we know of or think we know of in the new Hulk.

My idea for Thor would be that Brad Pitt is Thor, himself and that they can make him look bigger ala making the giant guy in Harry Potter look bigger and have a scrawny guy play Donald Blake. I'm thinking Donal Blake could be someone like Mark Paul Gosselar or that kid from High School Musical Zach Efron; he's so cute! I'm kidding on both accounts. Maybe someone like Noah Wylie; like him not necessarily him. I'm not familiar with his acting but he looks on ER previews like a pretty convincing doctor. I dunno.

joeybaloney • May 16, 2008, 07:56am •

Pitt’s no Kimbo but he could probably pull Thor off quite well. I agree with exfan that two actors should be used if Don Blake turns up in this. Although last I read this was supposed to take place mostly in Asgaard. I can see him as either Blake or Thor though. Hopefully not both. And I agree that a CGI Thor would be utterly ridiculous, pony. The character doesn’t need to be as big as Hulk to carry his own weight. Whoever should be a big/cut person, but definitely an actual person.

The Shield was a nice touch to Iron Man. Must confess to totally missing it when I saw that kick ass film. Hope it’s more than just an Easter Egg and is expanded on in future films. Man, having all of Marvel’s films in one house to interact and create a shared continuity is a wet dream come true!! Hope they can somehow bring Spider-man, X-Men & FF into the fold eventually, even if it means rebooting those franchises.

I’ve been waiting for a MFing Sgt. Rock film for what seems like decades now. I remember way back when Bruce Willis was rumored as Rock. I like Richie’s work but question what his take on the material will be. His style’s a little more irreverent & ironic then I think a decent Sgt Rock film should be. I’m very interested to see how this takes shape.

As far as Allison Mack being in Smallville or not this season: everything about Smallville is FALSE. Sorry fanboys – show’s crap.

kaybar • May 16, 2008, 08:33am •

Haha Kimbo. Pitt's the type of actor that has the charisma to pull off Thor without any CGI interference. I'll be the first to admit I'm not well-read on the comicbook lore concerning the Norse god but I agree with Ponyboy that a graphically beefed up, talking Pitt would be pretty ridiculous unless that tech was already in its second generation.

I could totally see using a bit of camera tricks to increase the size of Pitt, and really I can't think of another actor who could use his emotive range to portray a god other than Pitt (he pretty much is one already).

Nice to see you back Jarrod!

scytheofluna • May 16, 2008, 08:49am •

Pitt was in pretty spectacular shape in Troy, Fight Club, and pretty much every movie he's been in. Achilles is as legendary a historical figure as Thor, and with a little perspective work, Ala Lord of the Rings they can make his physical size appear bigger than it is as Kaybar pointed out. Honestly he looked pretty Asgardian as Achilles, and he looked massive in that armor. That's not the Avenger I had him in mind for but it works. I had been hoping they'd tap him for Captain America. If not, they should see if they can pry Michael C. Hall away from Dexter for a bit. As much as it pains me to say that, I think he'd make a great Cap, if they can squeeze shooting in between Dexter seasons.

It's refreshing to hear people admit that Pitt's a great actor, he suffered from talented pretty boy syndrome on these boards for years, and the fact that he's astonishingly good looking shouldn't detract from the fact that he's one of the very best actors of his generation. He used to be really shy and quiet in interviews, and people just assumed he was dumb. Not so, he's just humble. Quite contrary to Tom Cruise who's an arrogant obnoxious bastard who never recovered from being upstaged by Pitt in Interview With The Vampire.

scytheofluna • May 16, 2008, 09:00am •

In order to bring FF Spidey and X-Men into the collective cinematic Marvel universe a Re-boot is a must. Raimi, Dunst, and McGuire aren't likely to come back to Spidey anyway, so let ol' Webhead rest for 3 or 4 years and try again, because quite frankly Tobey McGuire isn't even in the same league as Pitt, Ed Norton, or Robert Downey Jr.. Maybe this time they can get a redhead to play Mary Jane, and a blonde to play Gwen Stacy. Oh, and maybe they can introduce Gwen in the FIRST FILM so she can be killed off by the Goblin, since next to Uncle Ben's death, that was probably the most important event in making Peter Parker who he was. X Men's already on the table for a reboot with a younger Classic X-Men slant. Probably focusing on pre-blue Beast, Scott, Jean, and maybe Iceman or Angel. I liked the first couple of Singer flicks, but I didn't love them. They were really "The Wolverine Show: Guest Starring some of the X-Men, in small doses".

Fantastic 4 just is not up to the level of integrity that Iron Man had. It sounds like The Incredible Hulk and Thor are being taken pretty seriously as well, and aside from Chris Evans being a great Human Torch, there really just wasn't much else they got right with those films. Doctor Doom is supposed to be one of the most menacing villains in comics, and he really just fell flat for me. Punisher, Daredevil, Elektra all speak for themselves, and they don't say anything good. Reboot, revise, revisit, and get it right this time.

20105 • May 16, 2008, 09:30am •

MrJawbreaking Equilibrium, I agree with the idea of possibly making Pitt bigger ala CGI or forced perspective. IMHO, I think Pitt may be better served playing Cap. Perhaps it's either him or Paul Walker. I know, I know, he is kinda "wooden" as an actor. In some ways isn't Cap the same way as a person ("fish out of water")? His ACTIONS are what speak louder than words.

Regarding the shield, don't do anything. Cap makes that thing special...not Tony.

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