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Source: Marvel Entertainment

The future of X-men and Spiderman depends on how well talks between Marvel,Sony, and Fox are handled over the next several months…

Sony is so confident that Spider-Man 3 will be a hit that both the studio and Marvel are in active talks about doing more movies with the current cast and film crew. Talks between Marvel and Fox have not gone so smoothly.

At the time of X3’s release, it was widely reported “well this is the last movie” despite the last scenes that were shown. Then the Box Office results kind of made Fox change their minds, at least all of a sudden they became more open to the idea of doing an X-Men 4.

But Marvel has an alternate plan for the future of these movies. One that Fox is reluctant to take seriously. However, they may have little choice in the matter because ultimately the X-Men are Marvel’s characters and with Marvel making even bigger steps to control and have more say in the production of their movies, the news on the future of the X-Men movies (which will be revealed in good time).

Source: Think Secret

The rumorhounds over at ThinkSecret have some more juicy details about which next-gen DVD format Apple will be adapting to. ThinkSecret’s anonymous sources say that Apple will be receiving Blu-ray drives in February that will end up being included in their range of computers and laptops. No word on pricing or availability, but expect the drive to add at least $500 to the cost of the desktop or laptop.

Rumors are surfacing that Spiderman Producer/director Sam Rami has been approached to continue the Lord of Rings franchise.

With Peter Jackson not returning,due to a law suit filed against New line Cinema for “Lord of the Rings II” earnings,Rami’s name has been popping up to be the predecessor to the successful trilogy.

But based on the new clips of Spiderman 3 that Sony has released, it’s hard to imagine him prodcuing the “Hobbit”,when it looks like they will want him back to start working on Spiderman 4. Which would be in the works soon, if Sony goes ahead with another film.

Will have to wait and see what lies ahead for Rami, but someone will have to fill Jackson’s spot, and Rami would be a great fit.

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures has provided ComingSoon.net with the new teaser poster for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, coming to theaters and IMAX on July 13, 2007. You can catch the new teaser trailer in theaters this weekend with Happy Feet.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community is in denial about the teenager’s recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort, preferring to turn a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned. Fearing that Hogwarts’ venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is lying about Voldemort’s return in order to undermine his power and take his job, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores Umbridge’s Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community, so at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry takes matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves “Dumbledore’s Army,” Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.

Source: ComingSoon.net

ComingSoon.net talked to Shawn Ashmore (aka Iceman) about possible future X-Men movies. Here’s a clip:

“I know they are doing a Wolverine prequel and I’ve heard a rumor about a Magneto film… those are all in the past like prequels and origin stories, so I don’t know. There are rumors about an ‘X-Men 4,’ but as far as I’ve been told ‘X3′ was going to be the last big ensemble ‘X-Men’ movie. I would love if they made another one, but I’m not sure that they will,” he told us.

In the interview, available in full at the link above, he also reveals he has a contract in place for a fourth film.

A new international trailer for Ghost Rider is now online here in various formats. The trailer features a few never-before-seen clips. The international site for the movie is also now online here.

Source: TV Guide

TV Guide’s Michael Ausiello has a casting scoop for Heroes:

Question: Your superpower is super scoop. Save the world and give us some Heroes poop.— Sarah
Ausiello: Fanboys, prepare to piddle yourself. Christopher Eccleston — the original Dr. Who from the current Sci Fi/BBC series — is joining the cast in January in a really super (tee-hee) role. Speaking of cool casting, wait until you see who’s ******* ****’s ****. You’re going to flip.

Heroes airs Mondays on NBC.

Bungie and Microsoft announce multiplayer testing plans

To coincide with the fifth anniversary of Xbox and Halo, Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie have announced that beta testing for the third instalment in the series will begin next year.

The Halo 3 beta test, which is scheduled to start in the spring, will allow gamers to try out the game’s multiplayer mode via Xbox Live – a first for the franchise. Bungie will use the feedback from players to refine the full game, which is due out later in the year.

Microsoft also announced that new maps for Halo 2 will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace around the same time, and that a new 60 second teaser trailer for Halo 3 is on the way.

It will be broadcast on North America’s ESPN channel on December 4, and will simultaneously be shown on Xbox.com – allowing European gamers to watch too.

“Since its original release, Halo 2 has redefined online play, delivering superior multiplayer capabilities in addition to an incredible social experience, and nurturing a constantly growing community through Xbox Live,” said Shane Kim, corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios.

“After five years of rabid fan interest in the Halo franchise and with more than 4 million users and counting on Xbox Live worldwide, this is the perfect time to invite fans to join the global Halo phenomenon.”

The Marvel Animation VP discusses plotlines, origins, and possible sequel(s) of the upcoming DVD release.

Crave Online talked to Marvel Animation VP, Craig Kyle about the Invincible Iron Man animated film. The film is an extension of the Ultimate Avengers animated series. Marvel Animation is also planning a Dr. Strange animated film and has recently launched an all new Fantastic Four series on Cartoon Network.

Kyle discussed the setting and updating of Iron Man’s origin: “There are some things that you can’t directly translate so you look for the key elements. It’s a man who is in a foreign land that gets wounded intentionally by other parties and is forced to save his own life and in that process [he] creates a suite of armor and becomes Iron Man. Updating the land and peoples involved in that attack, are really what we changed. It really celebrates the latter half of Iron Man’s life, the villains he faced, the world that is in his future, without hurting the classic origin”.

He also spoke about a plotline: On the “Demon in a bottle” storyline Kyle said “sometimes people bring up the alcoholism aspect and we all know it’s a huge part of Tony’s life but it has not place in our origin film because that’s not where he started.”

Regarding a sequel to the animated feature, he said “if they get behind it I’m all about continuing the saga and we will get there when we need to get there.”

The Invincible Iron Man hits stores on January 23rd, 2007.

The Beatles are coming to an online music store near you “soon.” So says EMI’s head suit David Munns. Why should you care? Well, besides the fact that, you know, the Beatles pretty much invented the modern concept of a rock band, we could see an interesting battle between Apple and Microsoft. Will iTunes or the Zune Marketplace claim such hits as “Yesterday” and “Twist and Shout”? Will you be jamming out to “Day Tripper” on your iPod or Zune?

As we all know, the Beatles are pretty much the only band not available on any of the legitimate online music stores. (I’m sorry, but allofmp3 doesn’t count.) I can’t wait to (possibly) 3 plays/3 days share such obscure hits as “Penny Lane” with random young ladies on the street. “Hey there, hot mama, have you heard of the Beatles? They’re this totally cool band…” (Cue mace to the face.)

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