Work on Marc Webb’s Spider-Man sequel is coming along nicely. It seems the majority of the cast is in place and filming will start soon. Two of the new additions to the movie were out and about promoting their movies at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Shailene Woodley, who will be playing Mary Jane Watson, and Dane DeHaan, Harry Osborn, talked a little about the upcoming Spidey movie.

Woodley spoke with MTV about joining the cast and how excited she was about the film. The actress couldn’t reveal too much, but she said she’s a fan of the character and really enjoyed the reboot:

Spider-Man has always been my favorite super hero dude, since I was a little girl. I think there’s something really special about flying. When I watched the previous Spider-Man with Andrew Garfield, he made me feel invincible. I think Marc Webb is amazing. I’m so stoked to work with Andrew and Emma [Stone], they’re the best of the best.

She went on to say that she didn’t know any real details about the film, but she assumes she’ll be part of a love triangle if the comics are anything to go by. Woodley also hinted that she’d be making the transition and become a redhead soon. You can watch the full video interview by clicking here.

Chronicle break-out star Dane DeHaan also chatted about The Amazing Spider-Man sequel while on the red carpet for his film with Daniel “Harry Potter” Radcliffe called Kill Your Darlings. The actor remained tight lipped on what he knows, but he did confirm that he will be involved in a love triangle. Is it with Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, Aunt May? We’ll have to wait and find out. The director of Darlings may have spoiled a big plot point for the film though. HitFix reports an incident that occured during the cast introductions:

[Director] Krokidas introduced the cast of “Darlings” which includes Daniel Radcliffe, Ben Foster and Michael C. Hall. When he got to DeHaan he said “He’s the Green Goblin.” DeHaan just smiled, but it didn’t seem like Krokidas was kidding.

Is this a case of a director who doesn’t know a lot about comics or is Webb planning on skipping Norman and having Harry don the Green Goblin gear? I would say it’s the first, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the second happened. The Green Goblin was used in Sam Raimi’s first film, so it would be a little too soon to simply rehash the character. What do you think? Would you be pleased if Harry is the first Green Goblin?

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, Amazing Spider-Man 2: Shailene Woodley, Dane DeHaan, And A Possible Villain Spoiler

IDW is releasing a comic book prequel for Star Trek Into Darkness, called Countdown to Darkness, written by Mike Johnson with a story by Roberto Orci. It is an official prequel comic to the movie and works to bridge the gap between the first film and the second. The cover to #4, the final in the miniseries, shows a Klingon warrior with the much debated helmet. The comic comes out in April and the film in May. Could it be setting the Klingons up for a big role for Into Darkness? Time will tell. What do you think?

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, IDW Seems To Hint At Klingon Involvement In Star Trek Into Darkness

UPDATED: A high quality version of the clip has been posted on Dailymotion. You can check that out by clicking here.

The promised clip from the MTV Movie Awards featuring new Dark Knight Rises footage has found its way online in case you missed the show. The footage offers more Bane and Catwoman. The clip was introduced by Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Gary Oldman, with a special appearance by Christopher Nolan. There was a look back at the past two films before the new clip was shown. Christian Bale’s reaction to the Joker clips was very touching.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, UPDATE: MTV Movie Awards Clip For The Dark Knight Hits

Webb started off by saying that the disappearance of Parker’s parents will have a very large role in the new origin story. The mystery of their disappearance may take up more than one movie.

I wanted to give the audience something new, so that started off with getting underneath the parents’ story, which will unfold over probably a few movies. We don’t totally wrap up that story in this first movie. It’s sort of an ongoing mystery. That was something that was interesting to me.

If that threw you for a loop, Webb knows fans are very hostile to changes. He said that there were “obligations to the canon, in terms of Uncle Ben and the spider-bite, but the conditions under which those things happen are very different.”

Webb also told MTV that there would be no wrestling match in this movie. He states that Spider-Man is evolving in a different way, it will focus more on the emotion and Uncle Ben’s death transforming Peter Parker.

We saw from the earliest trailers that this go around will see Peter getting bit on the hand by the spider. Webb commented on said spider-bite by saying “He’s bitten by a spider, but maybe it’s not a radioactive spider. Or maybe it is! You’ll have to see.”

Overall, this seems to be a big departure from what we’re used to in Spider-Man films, and it may end up working for the best. Like Webb said, we’ll have to wait and see. Wrapping up, Webb talked about what the basic element of the story he was trying to explore was:

There are elements that we were very conscious of, but it all emanated from [the idea of] this kid who got left behind by his parents many, many years before. I thought that was interesting enough for me to explore.”

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, Marc Webb Talks Amazing Spider-Man

In the six issue run, Skeletor has figured out a way to alter the reality of Eternia, making himself the ruler of Castle Greyskull, and He-Man and the other heroes are peasants with no memory of their previous heroics. Adam is a simple woodman who dreams of wielding a massive sword, actually glimpses of his former life. The story really kicks off when a “mysterious sorceress” sends him on a quest to save Eternia.

MTV Geek has a full interview you can read by clicking here, but writer James Robinson speaks on the challenges of working on something with a built-in fanbase.

The challenge is to write something that raises the standard for the series, with a cool, modern story that nevertheless honors the fans of the animated series and toy line. Let’s just say I’ve come up with a series concept that introduces the line of characters to new readers in what I hope is a fresh, dynamic and compelling way while honoring what the series has been prior.

Robinson also said that he wasn’t aware if this mini-series was part of a “larger plan” for He-Man, but Mattel had been very supportive to his ideas. He did say, however, that they’ve got their eyes on all their franchises “for the best way to make the most of them.”

Now, I’m a He-Man fan but not a fanatic so this story sounds intriguing to me. I would love to see a serious He-Man movie done, maybe this series will be the launch pad for it. Thor proved these types of film can be done, but on the other hand the new Conan proves that it doesn’t mean it’s good. It will be intersting to see how this story plays out and what may come from it. What do you think?

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, DC Comics To Start New He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Comic

If you’re a fan of The Turtles and you’ve kept up with the news coming out about the new film over the last week, you’ve probably been pretty angry. First off, you have Michael Bay saying the Turtles would be loveable aliens, then you had the original turtle movie voice actors coming out of the woodwork coming down on the love or hate side of Bay’s comment. Then the creators of the comics talked about it, and if that wasn’t enough Bay recently said that the movie would be dropping the Teenage Mutant part of the title and simply be called Ninja Turtles. Bay wrote on his website today about the name change:

Paramount marketing changed the name. They made the title simple. The characters you all remember are exactly the same, and yes they still act like teenagers. Everything you remember, why you liked the characters, is in the movie. This script is being developed by two very smart writers, with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles. They care VERY MUCH about making this film for the fans. Everyone on this team cares about the fans. Just give them a chance. Jonathan the director, is a major fan of the whole franchise. HE’S NOT GOING TO LET YOU DOWN.

Today, MTV talked with the director Jonathan Liebesman about The Turtles while he was doing promotion for his new movie Wrath of the Titans.

Some of his comments may make some fans breath slightly easier, since he admitted to being a fan himself as well as the part where he promises to keep it in line with the previous mythos. We’ll just have to wait and see how things turn out, but I doubt this will halt Turtlegate and appease the hardcore fans.

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, Ninja Turtles Director Comments On Turtlegate

Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead comic series, and executive producer on the show has dropped some subtle hints about Rick and Shane’s “epic” standoff while talking to MTV:

“In the very next episode, we’re going to see some explosive interactions between those two men, we’ve been building to quite a bit of stuff this entire season, and it’s all coming to a head. The fact that Lori’s pregnant and nobody knows who the father is, these two are constantly butting heads over leadership and what’s best for the group… it’s really putting Rick and Shane at an impasse.”

“In our episode on Sunday, I’m not trying to say they’re going to come to blows… but they’re going to come to blows, It’s going to be a pretty epic episode. I’m really excited for people to see it.”

Johnathan Smith, Robert Kirkman Teases Rick And Shane Face-Off In Upcoming Episodes Of THE WALKING DEAD

In today’s View 2 View Mike and Wilt go head to head with the following topic: “Is the fairly recent creation of “Geek” sections within mainstream media websites a good thing or bad thing?”

Michael’s stance: It’s a great situation.

The reason: I’ve been doing the nerd thing for a long time now and never before has it been accepted as much as it is now. Being a nerd has never ever been a bad thing, but finding nerd material, clothing, or information was a bit more difficult in the days before comic book movies, and with the mainstream media suddenly getting in on the act it’s not only a simple way for the studios to make money,  it also expands the core audience of comics. The expansion of the audience allows for movies and risks comic book companies would not have otherwise taken. With sites like MTV and CNN getting in on the act this not only expands knowledge of comics and comic book movies, but fills the fan bases of both the movie and the comics with more material, more interviews, and more sneak peeks into whatever it is they are doing at the time.

All of this allows for a site like the one I co-own, i.e. the one this article is being posted on, to not only flourish but make contacts that would have otherwise not existed if these expansions did not occur. I like the fact that the mainstream media is taking a look at who we are, and what we do as a community rather than just labeling us as the stereotypical nerds of yore. I have heard numerous times over that so many people aren’t “true nerds” and I don’t quite get the reference. Are they talking about getting mocked, ridiculed and judged by their peers because they like comics, or theater, or they are different in some way shape or form? Because if that’s the case I don’t want the younger generations to be “true nerds” I want them to have the freedom to enjoy what they want, read what they want, and be themselves with no stigma attached. I went through the nerd issues when I was younger and I would rather not see my 9 year old nephew go through that stuff. Kids can be cruel, and if the mainstream makes something more acceptable and lessens the bullying that some of us had to face then I’m all for it.

Yes the mainstream media may not “get it” all the time, but from what I’ve seen they are hiring people who do, and doing a decent enough job of seeing what’s what. I hope that one day a site like mine can be noted as mainstream media, because when given a platform of that magnitude I can’t wait to see what good we can do on all fronts.

Wilt’s opinion: Feels that they are riding the fad wave and are only around to pull in the “geek” community.

Over the past couple years I’ve noticed the presence of mainstream news and media outlets commenting and reporting on the so-called “geek” culture. Two outlets in particular, MTV networks and CNN, have a full section of their sites dedicated to “geek” culture, MTV Geek and Geek Out! respectively. Most mainstream sites cover many of the same subjects in the aforementioned blogs in their arts and entertainment sections if they are covered at all. I feel a little insulted that these blogs are blatantly labeled “geek” it is as if MTV and CNN are telling their readers; “Hey you want to be a cool ‘geek’ too? Read our ‘geek’ blogs.” Many of you reading this are saying ‘Hey Wilt, you should be happy that they are exposing the geek world to a broader audience,’ but I argue that they are catering to those who want to look cool because “geek” is the new cool thing. Geek is not a trend, it’s a way of life, the way one obsesses (sometimes too much) over something they love and are knowledgeable about. There are sports geeks, theater geeks, movie geeks, video game geeks, the list can go on and on. When I see sites that normally wouldn’t cover this stuff 10 years ago, build sections dedicated to them I feel like it’s a cash grab.

MTV maybe 10-15 years ago I would’ve been okay with creating a “geek” blog because they had such great content that many would’ve labeled “geeky.” However the days of Daria, Undergrads, The Head, Aeon Flux, Liquid Television, Clone High, 120 minutes, Headbangers Ball, Yo MTV Raps, and many shows that would be considered cult classics are gone from the channel that now has a bunch of reality show rehashes that can not be called “geeky” at all.

Over at CNN they have articles that have some authors having to reach out about the “geek” subject that they are covering or referring to their audience as “nerds” or “geeks” which to me screams ingenious coverage of the subject matter. At least MTV Geek has people that know what they are talking about or are fans of what they are covering and don’t refer to themselves or audience as geeks and nerds.

There are many other outlets to get coverage on these subjects out there, this site (comicbooktherapy.com), ain’t it cool news, newsarama, and a myriad of others on the net that you can find linked from anyone of these sites. Usually these sites that have been around and doing their thing are going to be more knowledgeable or have the scoop either first or are a part of the spearhead of information.

I feel the creation of “Geek” sections in mainstream media are not made for the love of all things “geek” but are a disingenuous grab at a market that is considered hot and profitable.

View2View, View2View: Mainstream Media Geeks