Top Maniacal Rumors of the Week

Jazz, one of the stars in TRANSFORMERS(2007).
© DreamWorks & Paramount

Top Manical Rumors: Tranformers Reborn, Super Girlfriends & Justice Delays

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Friday, June 06, 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.

Jazz returning to Transformers 2?

Rumor: Even if the character seemingly died at Megatron’s arms in the original installment, there are reports that the Pontiac Solstice car and Darius McCrary---the voice actor of Jazz---have been seen on the set of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Source: TFW2005

Mania Verdict: TRUE---In the old comics and toon, fallen robots hardly ever stayed dead thanks to the powers behind the machines. It’s likely we’ll be seeing Megatron as well, judging from previous reports and the new mysterious plot line “A key figure comes back dramatically and seeks to settle the score.”

Indian Actress Priyanaka Chopra To Play Superman’s New Love Interest?

Brandon Routh looking down upon Earth in SUPERMAN RETURNS(2006).

Rumor: An Indian media outlet has said that local actress Priyanaka Chopra is set to play an Indian scientist and possibly Brandon Routh’s love interest in the upcoming sequel Superman: Man of Steel.

Source: Zee News

Mania Verdict: FALSE---We know that Singer is still working on his Cruise-led WWII thriller Valkyrie and there not far enough into the production stages of the Superman Returns sequel to be casting anyone beyond the already signed players from the last installment.

Hellboy’s Selma Blair Out of Del Toro’s Death Adaptation?

First look at the new Liz Sherman (Selma Blair)in HELLBOY II:THE GOLDEN ARMY(2008).

Rumor: The actress who co-stars in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy franchise has put up a rumor that she is out of the running of his upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Death comic.

Source: Wizard

Mania Verdict: TRUE---Blair would know better than anyone that she’s out of the role, having a close working relationship with Del Toro as she says below.

"I didn't know [del Toro] was doing 'Death' at the time. He knew for sure that he'd be teaming up with Neil on that and he said, 'Yeah, you'd be good for Death.' Then it's been crickets. I think he definitely has his eye on someone, and I would know if it were me and it's not me. [Neil and I are] good friends, and that still didn't get me the job."

Joel Silver Talks About Doing a Speed Racer Sequel?

Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer in SPEED RACER (2008).

Rumor: Despite the first installment falling very short at the box office this past month, producer Joel Silver is still open to doing a sequel to Speed Racer.

Source: Moviehole

Mania Verdict: MAYBE---Perhaps, producer Joel Silver is but it’s very unlikely that Warner Bros. will be in a rush to greenlight a sequel after the first film bombing at the box office. The directing Wachowskis are moving onward to executive produce the martial arts extravaganza Ninja Assassins and Silver has a lot of separate projects as well.

Hulk Director Leterrier Reveals Villain for Possible Sequel?

HULK Gets Angry in THE INCREDIBLE HULK(2008).

Rumor: Our fellow Maniacs at Comics2Film have published a video Q&A session between fans and the director on what to expect in the film. One of the questions was what villains to expect in future installments and director Leterrier points to Tim Blake Nelson's character changing into his alter ego soon.

Source: Comics2Film

Mania Verdict: TRUE---The director and producers have said what his character is and judging from the video clip below, they’re planning to introduce the alter ego in the next installment.

Justice League Mortal Set for 2011 or 2012?

A snapshot of the Justice League.

Rumor: After a year on the fast track, the latest rumor has the long awaited team-up of DC superheroes coming together in 2011 or 2012 instead of anytime soon.

Source: IESB

Mania Verdict: TRUE---Production has stalled numerous times this past year, blamed on the WGA strike, the Australian tax issues and now, script issues. We’re keen to believe the latter as the most likely with a script treatment rumored to be in the first stages. Also, WB may be getting clues from Marvel in wanting to flesh out their Batman and Superman film franchises first before putting them together.

Green Lantern Adaptation To Avoid Comedic Elements?

Bill Sienkiewicz's cover for GREEN LANTERN: LEGACY - THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HAL JORDAN

Rumor: Producer Donald De Line is saying the project will not be a comedic approach as some have reported and that it will be a Hal Jordan-focused origin story.

Source: CHUD

Mania Verdict: TRUE---Rumors have been focused on Hal Jordon being the central figure and the producers will want to distant themselves from the more comedic Green Hornet hero for mainstream audiences (non comic readers) who may confuse the two heroes. Writer Marc Guggenheim also confirmed the origin tale of the Lantern this week at Newsarama.

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Comments/Responses

sportwarrior • Jun 06, 2008, 12:41am •

1) No problem with Jazz returning. I thought it sucked to see him go so quickly, so it'll be cool to see him back.

2) Whatever on the Superman thing... More concerned with the amount of action.

3) Can't wait for Hellboy II. Don't know much about Death.

4) Speed Racer sequel? After the the first one completely and totally bombed? Don't see it happening.

5) Unless I'm mistaken, Ty Burrell is playing Doc Sampson. Doc Sampson is certainly not a villain. Am I missing something?

6) Just scrap this JLA movie already. Restart the whole damn thing with a new script and better casting. We don't need the WB's version of JLA on screen.

7) Green Lantern better NOT be a comedy. I think I remember reading Jack Black's name attached to this project at one point. Green Lantern has always been one of my favorite DC heroes, and just like Iron Man this year, I think it's important to do his character justice and bring him to the big screen in a fine dramatic fashion.

ponyboy76 • Jun 06, 2008, 02:05am •

1) Ditto, I liked Jazz. He actually, to me besides Prime was the best representation of Jazz from the cartoon.
2)Could care less about Supes right now, but that rumor sounds pretty stupid to me. I`m more about the story and action myself.
3) I think Selma would have been a great "Death" so its too bad that she didn`t get the role. She doesn`t seem too broken up about it. I like her attitude and she`s hot.
4)I definitely can't see any studio in their right mind doing a Speed Racer sequel when this one did so poorly. I didn`t think it was so bad, but I`m in the minority.
5)Ditto again. Doc Samson isn't a villain. He did however try to help the military capture the Hulk, then went slightly nuts trying to go after the Hulk himself, but that sounds too much like Blonksy in this movie.
6)I hope that they just start from jump, because the cast and title suck. I haven't heard much about the script but if its not coming out until 2012, then they have plenty of time to really make a kickass movie and something that may actually stand up against(although I doubt it) , the Avengers movie which is coming out around the same time.
7) Who the hell would even consider Green Lantern a comedy? It has never really had any comedic influences. They need to make this as serious as Iron Man, which had light moments mixed in, perfectly.

Dazzler • Jun 06, 2008, 04:36am •

If it's Doc Sampson it's more of an adversary for the Hulk. I would not call him a villain. Doc Sampson is a shrink, I am not sure that's a direction I want to see in the movies, but he did separate the Hulk from Banner and really messed him up with personalities disorder. Maybe this is the way to get a talking Hulk finally bringing the Hulk up to a more human level and less a monster.

Glad Jazz is coming back but it's a cop out really, and not needed.

Speed Racer just needed some better editing and it would have worked better.

Can't wait for Hellboy II.

ponyboy76 • Jun 06, 2008, 05:00am •

2 words when it comes to the Hulk sequel," Mr. Fixit"

nuff said

hanso • Jun 06, 2008, 05:13am •

Is it Ty Burrell playing Doc Samson or is the new villain really Tim Blake Nelson playing The Leader for the next film? I thought I read somewhere the Leader would be used for the villain in the next sequel.

danjoseph • Jun 06, 2008, 06:50am •

Um...SHH, there was no mention of Ty Burrell's character in the video. Ty Burrell plays Doc Samson, who is not really a villain, although he has had altercations with the Hulk in the comics.

There was however, a mention of Samuel Sterns, which is The Leader's alter ego, played by Tim Blake Nelson.

almostunbiased • Jun 06, 2008, 06:55am •

Why not bring Jazz back. He's just a machine, but I thought the cube thing would destroy Megatron, otherwise it's not so dramatic.

hanso • Jun 06, 2008, 06:59am •

1. Jazz shouldn't be in this, it lessens the first film and all the stuff in the end, plus then there isn't any sense of danger or doom when the robots are fighting cause they just get rebuilt for the next flick.
2. Don't care about Supes at this point.
3. Is Guillermo del Toro directing Death? When is he going to do that flick, cause he has The Hobbit films coming up and that's going to take a lot of time. By the way, does it say "Doctor Strange" in Guillermo's upcoming directing gigs in IMDB? I had no idea about that, is that even remotely true? I'd like to nominate Johnny Depp for the role of the doctor if it's actually getting made.
4. We know no Speed Racer sequel is getting made.
5. Justice League needs to come out in 2012 to let Batman finish off and 2011 is going to belong to the Avengers.
6. What's the point of having Hal Jordan as Green Lantern in his own flick but not in the JL movie? Why doesn't DC do like Marvel, have the character have it's own movie and then part of the group flick? If they are going to go with Stewart for JL then they might as well give him his own movie later on, if not use Hal for both.

almostunbiased • Jun 06, 2008, 07:17am •

I can see what your saying with your #1, hanso, it's kind of what I was saying with Megatron, but that doesn't mean they're unstoppable. I'm just saying if you tear one in half it shouldn't stop you from putting him back together. But the cube should have fried Megatron, right?

joeybaloney • Jun 06, 2008, 08:27am •

Not much to add but, as usual, that won’t stop me.

1) Yawn. Bring back Dark Phoenix and maybe I’d go to this.
2) Yawn. Which is what I’ll be doing at this film unless they add some action to it. Can‘t believe the first one has ME desiring more action and less talking.
3) Had no idea Del Toro was adapting this. Wonder who he does have in mind. Blair would be perfect in my mind. She’s so cute when she says “crickets”. *sigh* Wish I was Hellboy.
4) All right, dammit - Yawn. I admit to being disappointed with the first. Curse whatever mojo you used metalwater.
5) Doc Samson is one of my favorite supporting characters in the Marvel U. Would love to see him used in most of the upcoming Marvel Studio films. NOT as a villain. Assuming this is really about The Leader and that places me firmly on board.
pony – LOVE the Fixit idea. Man, remember when Peter David was a great writer? Actually loved what he did with Bruce & Samson and the whole split personality thing. That’d be sweet too. Might be a bit too early to bring Fixit in what with all these films tying into The Avengers BUT in actuality, I think they did fight the Grey and not the Green version first time out so… it could very well work. Depends on Marvel’s intentions. Love the idea.
6) Actually like what I’ve heard about the script story-wise. Just hate the way too young, Dawson Creek approach we’ve all been complaining about since Day friggin’ 1. Cast age appropriate, get rid of any teen angst happy crappy and get this shite made or, for the love of God, give it up.
7) I read that somewhere yesterday and YES! Thank you! Focus on Hal for the origin movie (Gimme Stewart for Justice League: High School) & take it seriously (Cast Black as Gardner in a future film). This is a perfect property to develop. I liked what Favreau had to say about Iron Man in his interview and I think the same opportunity is available with this character. Lots of people know about him but not many general public folk actually know him intimately and so there will be far less preconceived notions coming into this. Great opportunity. Don’t blow it

And that’s the joeybaloney 2 cents

hanso – Ain’t heard nuttin’ ‘bout no Doc Strange in Del Toro’s hands but that is obviously a perfect fit and Depp would be an AMAZING Strange. Crossing my fingers!!! Jarrod - can we get some rumor control on anything re: the good Doctor?

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