Sci-Fi Storm

Now that both Star Wars and Marvel are one under the Mouse, it is no surprise that today Marvel announced that the license for Star Wars comics will return to Marvel, where it began in 1977 and lasted for 9 years. After a break, Dark Horse picked up the license in 1991, and has been publishing Star Wars comics ever since, including some highly acclaimed stories, and most recently, “The Star Wars #1”, based on George Lucas’ original rough draft. Marvel will publish new comics starting in 2015.

From the announcement:

The Walt Disney Company’s Lucasfilm Ltd. and Marvel Entertainment are joining forces to bring new Star Wars adventures to readers across the galaxy, with Marvel granted exclusive rights to create and publish Star Wars comics and graphic novels beginning in 2015.

The agreement marks a homecoming for the Star Wars comic books. Marvel Comics published the first Star Wars comic book, STAR WARS #1, in March 1977, which went on to sell more than 1 million copies. Marvel Comics published its STAR WARS series for nine years. In 1991, Dark Horse Comics took over the license, publishing fan-favorite titles like Dark Empire and Star Wars: Legacy. Last year, Dark Horse released The Star Wars #1, an adaptation of George Lucas’ original rough-draft screenplay for the film, garnering rave reviews and national media attention and ranking among the top-selling Star Wars comics of all time.

“Dark Horse Comics published exceptional Star Wars comics for over 20 years, and we will always be grateful for their enormous contributions to the mythos, and the terrific partnership that we had,” said Carol Roeder, director of Lucasfilm franchise publishing, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “In 2015, the cosmic adventures of Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca will make the lightspeed jump back to Marvel, to begin a new age of adventures within the Star Wars universe.

“We here at Marvel could not be more excited to continue the publication of Star Wars comic books and graphic novels,” said Marvel Worldwide Publisher and President, Dan Buckley. “The perennial brand of Star Wars is one of the most iconic in entertainment history and we are honored to have the opportunity to bring our creative talent pool to continue, and expand Star Wars into galaxies far, far away.”

“We’re incredibly excited by this next chapter in the Star Wars saga,” said Andrew B. Sugerman, executive vice president of Disney Publishing Worldwide. “Bringing together the iconic Lucasfilm and Marvel brands to tell new stories will allow us to continue to thrill lovers of the original Star Wars comic books and entertain generations to come.”

The Generalissimo Stan Lee himself introduced the teaser for the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which was played on the big screen at Times Square for all the revelers on New Years Eve…the movie premieres May 2nd…
(continue reading…)

Marvel has it’s Ant-Man. Interestingly, after Wil Wheaton posted the following on Tumblr:

I actually got to thinking, “Hmm…maybe Joss could give Wil one of those superhero cameos in the next movie…wait, don’t they still need an Ant-Man?”, immediately afterwards the rumors started that Paul Rudd had been selected – and now it is confirmed. The Anchorman 2 actor was director Edgar Wright’s first choice for the role.

Maybe there’s still something for Wil to play… 🙂

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 swings into theaters May 2nd, 2014…
(continue reading…)

Disney and Netflix issued a joint statement today about a plan to bring several series and a miniseries to Netflix based on Marvel characters, including Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron First and Luke Cage, over the course of several years, culminating in The Defenders, a “mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.”

“This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty,” said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. “This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.”

“Marvel’s movies, such as ‘Iron Man’ and Marvel’s ‘The Avengers’, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “With ‘House of Cards’ and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we’re thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude.”

This new original TV deal follows last year’s landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature and Lucasfilm. Netflix members can currently enjoy a wide range of Disney, ABC TV and Disney Channel films and shows across the 41 countries where Netflix operates.

ABC has decided to preempt the next Shark Tank Thursday in order to repeat the premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which not only won its slot but was the highest rated new drama in four years, scoring 11.9 million viewers and a 4.6 in the important 18-49 demo.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is spun off the Marvel superhero movie franchise, and features the return of Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), who was believed to be dead after the events of The Avengers. It follows the agents of the secret organization that tracks people with superhero abilities.

Stan Lee Media has lost yet again.

Back in October 2012 the company (no longer associated with the real Stan Lee) filed a $5.5 billion lawsuit against Disney, stating that Stan Lee had signed over the rights to his characters to the predecessor company of Stan Lee Media, and therefore Disney does not own any of the rights when they purchased Marvel in 2009. They have sued in other courts before, notably in New York and California, and been dismissed. This time it was in Colorado, but U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez agreed with the previous rulings, even noting them in his own, and adding that those decisions preclude it from litigating the matter further, and dismissed the case with prejudice (in other words, cannot be refiled.)

Vin Diesel appears to be dropping hints that he will play the tree-like alien Groot in the upcoming Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy. Diesel apparently put up an upcoming picture of the character on his Facebook page before later taking it down, but the Riddick star previously had said he had been in talks about the movie as well.

Groot first appeared as a villain in Tales To Astonish in 1960 seeking to capture humans to study. He made appearances in The Incredible Hulk in 1976 and The Amazing Spider-Man in 1997, before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. and appearing in the Annihilation: Conquest crossover event. Groot can control trees, and absorb wood to strengthen himself. However, he has limited vocal abilities, apparently only able to say “I am Groot,” but it is said he can communicate a lot if you can understand him.

For your enjoyment! Thor: The Dark World premieres November 8th.