Fandom 5: 'Sherlock' Rules; 'Kick-Ass 2' Is On; Disney's Fanniversary
The Avengers is still dominating a lot of conversation but there are cool fanboy happenings outside of Hulk and Co. Let's check some of them out...
1. This Game is Definitely Afoot
Sherlock is BBC’s latest effort to dramatize the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. Everything the show does, however, is against the grain, starting with the setting: modern-day London. But credit the nerdy brain of Steven Moffat, the writer-exec producer who is largely responsible for Doctor Who returning to new pop culture relevance.
Starring Benedict Cumberpatch as Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson, the show had its second season premiere last Sunday on PBS, drawing 3.2 million viewers. This Sunday is a modern take of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic story The Hounds of Baskerville. And the first season hits Blu-ray May 15.
How cool is this show? Each season is only three episodes, 90-minutes each and packed with enough clever lines and coolness that it immerses you into a world you never want to leave. It’s the best show on TV right now, as far as Heat Vision is concerned. (Here's THR's official review.)
PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012
2. More Kick-Assery
Kick-Ass was a little subversive comic book movie released by Lionsgate in 2010. The adaptation of the Mark Millar-John Romita Jr. comic mini-series took a “what if a regular guy tried to become a super-hero” approach and, in the Millar way, pushed the envelope in terms of language and violence.
The movie didn't do big box office ($48 million domestic) but it gave a big career boost to Matthew Vaughn, who directed and self-financed the production and then went on to direct X-Men: First Class.
Even though the comic spawned a sequel and an upcoming Hit-Girl spin-off, many thought that was it in terms of movies.
But in a surprise move, Universal is now in talks with Vaughn to make and distribute a sequel, Kick-Ass 2, which would be directed by Jeff Wadlow (Never Back Down). And it will adapt the recently completed second mini-series and the spin-off.
More comic book movies? Yes please.
3. Bow to Arrow
Among the slew of TV series pickups announced this week is none other than Arrow, which got a greenlight at The CW.
Arrow, of course, is based on the Green Arrow character. (The “Green” has been dropped to broaden its appeal (and distance it from last year's disappointing Green Lantern?) but then again, the Superboy show was called Smallville and it lasted 10 seasons, so sometimes pandering to a larger group works.
Seasoned TV creators Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim (Brothers & Sisters and the Green Lantern movie) will oversee the show, as will Andrew Kreisberg, who worked on Fringe and Warehouse 13. It could be a good mix.
Bringing super-heroes to the small-screen isn’t easy — last year’s Wonder Woman pilot was said to be a fiasco, and shows like The Cape were just not good — but the exploits of a rich but left-leaning social activist hero could be interesting.
4. Jonah Hex's Creator Says Good-Bye
Another comic book figure has passed away. Tony DeZuniga, who co-created DC characters Jonah Hex and The Black Orchid, passed away at the age of 71. He was sufferering from several ailments.
DeZuniga was the first Filipino comic book artist to break though into American comics and led the way to the “Filipino Invasion” of the 1970s, helping such artists as Nestor Redondo, Alex Nino and Alfredo Alcala enter the industry.
He was never a superstar but he was much admired and his work was noted for a certain sense of realism.
5. Is there a Fanniversary coming to your town?
Put on by the Walt Disney Archives and Disney fan club D23, Fanniversary is a celebration of movies, TV shows, attractions, characters and all things Disney that are celebrating milestones in 2012. It’s a roughly 90-minute presentation filled with rare and never-seen-in-public clips, audio, photographs, art and more, touring the country for the first time ever.
The road show kicked off on the Disney studio lot April 27 and then hit San Francisco. The next one lands in Boston on May 20, then New York a few days later, Orlando and Chicago. The last seats sold out this week.
It is a must for Disney fanatics and a fascinating look at Disney history, although it’s not really for the young tykes, who will likely be a bit bored.
Email: Borys.Kit@thr.com
Twitter: @Borys_Kit
