NYCC: Morrison and Del Toro Craft Legendary Comics

Legendary Comics is still new to the publishing scene, but they've already amassed an impressive lineup of talent. The company recently debuted The Tower Chronicles from creators Thomas Tull and Matt Wagner. Back at SDCC, they announced new books from creators like Max Brooks, Mark Waid, and J. Michael Straczynski.

That talent pool grew even bigger at NYCC this week. Legendary announced that both Grant Morrison and Guillermo del Toro are writing comics under their banner. Morrison is prepping an original graphic novel, while del Toro is working on a tie-in to his upcoming film The Pacific Rim.

Legendary's press release describes the premise of Annihilator, sugegsting it'll be a typically mind-bending Morrison tale. "Morrison brings to the pages a thrilling story starring wild-living screenwriter Ray Spass, who has one last chance to save his career as he struggles to write a new studio tent-pole movie, Annihilator.

The film centers around the incredible adventures of Max Nomax; a sci-fi rebel anti-hero who’s condemned to a haunted prison orbiting a supermassive black hole, following an epic struggle against the all-knowing, all–powerful artificial life form VADA and his squad of deadly Annihilators. Found guilty of the Greatest Crime in History, Nomax has vowed to clear his name by discovering a Cure for Death itself and resurrecting his lost love.

But with deadlines looming and a recently-diagnosed brain tumor, Spass is running out of time and inspiration – until the real Max Nomax mysteriously appears in the world of 21st century Los Angeles with no memory of how he got there, only a terrifying warning of imminent destruction and a mission for Ray Spass."

As for del Toro's Pacific Rim, the comic will serve as a prequel to the film. The script itself will be handled by Travis Beacham, who also wrote the film's script. The story will be divided into three sections and explore the time between the first alien attack on Earth and the events of the film. While various characters will be featured in the story, the character of Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Elba in the film) will be a major focus throughout.

Legendary didn't reveal the artists for these books or specific release dates, though it's a safe bet that Pacific Rim will ship some time around movie's July 2013 release.

Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Samuel L. Jackson Joins Oldboy

Director Spike Lee's planned remake of the Korean revenge thriller Oldboy has added two big names to its roster of talent.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Avengers star Samuel L. Jackson -- who appeared in Lee's School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues,  and Jungle Fever -- is reuniting with the helmer for Oldboy.

"Jackson has come on board for a small but critical part in the new film, according to a person close to the production who was not authorized to talk about it publicly. The actor will play the man who is being tortured by the hero (Brolin) in a key revenge scene," said the paper, which added that the remake won't use the tooth extraction method of torture employed in the original film.

Meanwhile, musician Bruce Hornsby -- who has scored Lee's documentary Kobe Doin' Work and the upcoming drama Red Hook Summer -- will score Oldboy, with the composer saying Lee has advised him to come up with some darker tones for the music in this film.

Source : ign[dot]com

Johnny Depp Returns as Edward Scissorhands...on Family Guy!

This morning, FOX announced its upcoming all-star roster of guest voice talent for their Animation Domination shows Family Guy, The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, American Dad and Bob's Burgers. Johnny Depp, Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Steve Carell, Ryan Reynolds, Zach Galifianakis and Bryan Cranston are just some of the names headed our way.

Johnny Depp will reprise his iconic film role and voice the character of Edward Scissorhands on an episode of Family Guy. Other Family Guy guest voices include TV producers J.J. Abrams, Mark Burnett and Dick Wolf, actors Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”), Ryan Reynolds (“Safe House”), Kellan Lutz (“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”) and actress Elizabeth Banks (“The Hunger Games”).

The Simpsons will travel to New York City in search of Bart's long-lost love (Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"). Other upcoming adventures include Homer finding out his bowling buddy (Steve Carell, “The Office”) is an accountant for the mob and Bart discovering the new neighbors’ son (Patton Oswalt, “Young Adult”) isn’t as cool as he appears to be.

Kanye West will reprise his role as Kenny West on The Cleveland Show as Cleveland discovers a secret hip-hop society starring West, singer/songwriter Bruno Mars, rapper Nicki Minaj, Grammy Award winner ?uestlove of The Roots, and musician and recurring guest voice will.i.am. Other notable names headed to The Cleveland are Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”), Nick Offerman (“Parks and Recreation”), Krysten Ritter (“Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23”), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee George Clinton and a recurring guest role for Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”) as a doctor who joins the gang at the bar.

Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) will drop by Bob's Burgers as Chet, a former department store window dresser pining for his estranged wife, who happens to be a mannequin. Also on Bob's Bugers: Nick Offerman (again!) and real-life wife Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) as a pair of married hippie farmers who hire the Belcher kids as “weed pickers.” Also, Kevin Kline (“A Fish Called Wanda”) returns as Bob’s (H. Jon Benjamin) eccentric landlord “Mr. Fischoeder,” who purchases an unpredictable mechanical shark as an attraction for the pier; and Jeffrey Tambor (“Arrested Development”) voices “Captain Flarty,” a crazed cruise ship captain who shanghais Bob and his family.

Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") and Alison Brie ("Community, Mad Men") will lend their voices to American Dad this season, along with Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek: the Next Generation”) as himself in a recurring role. Also, Danny Glover ("Touch") guest-voices as a Christmas demon in the annual holiday episode. Other guest voice appearances include Nathan Fillion (“Castle”), Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and Rupert Grint (“Harry Potter” franchise).

The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, Family Guy and American Dad premiere Sunday, September 30; The Cleveland Show returns Sunday, October 7, on FOX.

Source : ign[dot]com