Movie news...

[lithera]

Wolfgang Petersen will direct Batman vs. Superman for Warner Bros., with the tentpole project targeted for a 2004 release, reports Variety.

In a script penned by Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven), the two superheroes are allies who come to mighty blows over what Petersen describes as differing philosophies.

"It is a clash of the titans," Petersen told the trade. "They play off of each other so perfectly. (Superman) is clear, bright, all that is noble and good, and Batman represents the dark, obsessive and vengeful side. They are two sides of the same coin and that is material for great drama."

Petersen, who is aiming for an early 2003 start date, pointed to Matt Damon as a possible candidate, describing him as "an interesting action man and a hell of an actor."

Development continues on a standalone Superman with helmer McG, writer J.J. Abrams and producer Jon Peters, as well as Darren Aronofsky and Frank Miller's Batman: Year One.


Matt Damon? For which one? I need to see the Bourne Identity, but he could feasibly do *either*.

Revolution Studios has set Vin Diesel to star as Hannibal, the third century B.C. Carthaginian general who rode an elephant across the Alps to attack Rome. Variety says that the studio has acquired screen rights to the Ross Leckie novel "Hannibal" for a film that Diesel and his One Race Prods. partner George Zakk will produce.


I'm happy they're making a Hannibal movie. (Like the Sparta movies.) Vin Diesel?

John Williams Signed For Indy 4, Star Wars 3, and Harry Potter 3

Columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith talked to Stargate SG-1 series star Richard Dean Anderson who says that this will likely be his last season on the show.

Anderson, who will be shooting the series in Vancouver until October, has promised the producers that he will make himself available for the proposed MGM feature-film version of the adventure series -- which is itself a spinoff of the 1994 Kurt Russell feature.


And a little bit of Buffy for the first episode for all of you....

"Story line: Buffy's worried when Dawn starts HS in the new school built on the site of the old one. When Dawn almost immediately starts seeing dead people, she finds that she's not alone - not only is Buffy fighting on her behalf, but two new friends, Kit Holbern and Carlos Trejos, wind up fighting the demons as well. Also, the new principal Robin Wood seems to be looking out for them as well - but only time will tell if this is a good thing or a bad thing... 'Principal Wood' - A hot, well dressed African American man, 30 years old, he is the new principal for the newly-rebuilt Sunnyvale High School. He seems committed, compassionate and on top of things; he is aware of Buffy's "checkered past" and also has apparently read up on some of his other students, like Kit and Carlos. When Principal Wood successfully gets Buffy's commitment to work at the school as part of their outreach program, he behaves just like any devoted public school educator who's just gotten a new parent recruit...