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My movie week... with Mike Shaw

Henry Cavill as Superman, in Man Of Steel. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros
Henry Cavill as Superman, in Man Of Steel. Picture: PA Photo/Warner Bros

Man Of Steel got mixed reviews from critics but there’s no doubt about its reception at the box office. The new Superman film has made so much money that another is inevitable, and sequel ideas are being thrown around. But what about a prequel?

With Man of Steel director Zack Snyder giving us a detailed look at Superman’s home planet, and a whole lot of his father, could the next film be a prequel story based around Jor-El?

It seems that Russell Crowe has been asked the question a lot on Twitter. “A lot of you are asking about a KRYPTON prequel,” said Crowe on the social networking site. “If that’s something you feel strongly about let @Legendary pictures know your thoughts.”

Sure, Russell obviously hasn’t realised that Legendary Pictures is no longer involved with any DC Comics characters, but it’s good to see he’s not shooting the idea down. When pushed further on the matter, he said, “If it came up, I’d give the tights another go.”

It could make an interesting spin-off movie, but it certainly wouldn’t be the sole focus of the franchise.

Would you be interested in seeing a prequel starring Russell Crowe? Let me know @mikeshaw101

All the recent news regarding James Cameron has involved the ever-expanding Avatar universe, but the director hasn’t forgotten about another project he has been talking about for 10-plus years.

It hasn’t been mentioned much of late, but his adaptation of Manga title Battle Angel is still very much in his mind, and will get some proper attention and go into development in 2017 after the Avatar sequels.

Battle Angel is based on Yukito Kishiro’s nine-volume Manga Battle Angel Alita and tells the story of a female cyborg (with amnesia) who becomes a bounty hunter after being rescued from a rubbish dump and rebuilt by a professor of cybernetics. Your watchwords are ‘gritty’ and ‘realistic’.

This latest news from Cameron contradicts what he said three years ago, when he revealed that there had already been a year of pre-production, including test reels, and that the film was at the “just add water” stage. However, with the technological developments since then, perhaps Cameron feels the work he did previously is now out of date.

The sci-fi mad couple are having a Star Wars themed wedding
The sci-fi mad couple are having a Star Wars themed wedding

There are loads of old faces being connected with the new Star Wars film, including Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, so it’s not terribly surprising that other former cast members are interested.

Ray Park, who played horned Sith ninja Darth Maul, is very keen to come back. Asked whether he’d like to return, Park said: “Just give me food and water, and I’m there.” I think that means yes.

It would be great to see more of Darth Maul and it’s good to know that Park is up for it. There’s wasn’t even nearly enough of him in Episode I: The Phantom Menace and then he was killed so that was the end of that.

Now that Welsh actor Luke Evans is properly, officially, 100% signed up to star in The Crow, it didn’t seem like there would be much else to say about the remake until it neared release. But there is.

The new film has received the blessing of the graphic novel’s writer/artist, James O’Barr who is also going to consult on the project, working alongside director F. Javier Gutiérrez.

“It is important for Crow fans to understand that Relativity Media, Javier, Luke and the entire team are working on a new adaptation of the book itself,” said O’Barr. “I believe that this movie will stand alongside Brandon and his film as a valid work of art, and I look forward to collaborating.”

O’Barr originally wrote the book as a way of dealing with the death of his girlfriend who was killed by a drunk driver, and his involvement almost certainly means the film will not go down the campy path many feared when names like Bradley Cooper were being connected to the lead role.

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