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FROM SPLASH PAGE: Last week, I talked to one of comics greatest living legends, Stan Lee, about his arrival on the Twitter scene and why it makes him feel like he's writing his "Stan's Soapbox" column again. While Lee had some fun stuff to say about the world of micro-blogging, I also had to ask him about a few other things on comics fans' minds these days — namely, whether he'll be making the expected cameos in future Marvel movies.
"I had lunch with Branagh, [who's] the nicest guy in the world as well as the most talented," Lee told MTV News when asked if he's been contacted about a "Thor" cameo yet. "Months ago, when he was first starting on the movie, he said he would get a cameo for me."
FROM SPLASH PAGE: During a panel at last weekend’s Baltimore Comic-Con, "New Avengers" writer Brian Michael Bendis fielded some questions about the upcoming slate of Marvel movies and offered a ringing endorsement of the script for Kenneth Branagh's upcoming "Thor" movie.
"I was reading the new script just last night," Bendis told fans, according to a ComicBookResources report on the event. "[It was] very, very good."
Bendis’ comments came shortly after a G4 interview in which he stated that the "Thor" movie would be the surprise hit out of all of the upcoming Marvel movies. Bendis reiterated his description of Branagh’s vision for “Thor” as “Shakespearean.”
FROM SPLASH PAGE: Last week, “Star Trek” actor Clifton Collins Jr. kicked off online speculation when he posted a series of updates on Twitter that seemed to indicate some involvement with Marvel’s live-action “Thor” movie. At the time, we offered some thoughts of our own about the characters Collins might be best suited to play in the much-anticipated film — but reminded readers that nothing was official, and that Collins might not have any connection the film whatsoever at this point.
Well, you can strike the last part of that statement, folks. Speaking to MTV News today about his “Star Trek” role and the videos he directed for the Zac Brown Band that were recently nominated for Country Music Television Awards, Collins confirmed that he had indeed met with “Thor” filmmakers about, well… something.
Back in January, a rumor made the rounds that the character of Thor’s human alter ego, Donald Blake, had been added to the “Thor” script, causing many sites (including this one) to surmise that the story would be grounded on Earth a bit rather than primarily taking place in Asgard. In an exclusive interview with “Thor” director Kenneth Branagh, we asked the celebrated filmmaker what Thor stories are inspiring his approach to the movie — and the comic book creators who are counseling him on all things Thunder God.
I love me some David Twohy. Dude definitely has some clunkers in his portfolio -- I'm looking at you, "Waterworld." I don't care though. He wrote and directed "Pitch Black," which also means that Vin Diesel's Richard B. Riddick character is Twohy's creation. He also wrote classics along the lines of "Warlock," "Critters 2: The Main Course" and a little-known movie called "The Fugitive."
Now Twohy has climbed back into the writer/director's chair after an extended post-"Chronicles of Riddick" break. "A Perfect Getway," starring Chris Hemsworth (aka Kenneth Branagh's Thor), Milla Jovovich, Timothy Olyphant and Steve Zahn, follows a newlywed couple (Zahn and Jovovich) who are off on a hiking honeymoon in Hawaii. Somewhere along the trails they run into some shady hikers and... well... things get weird. Check out the new trailer to see for yourself.
FROM SPLASH PAGE: Speculation about who would play the lead role in Marvel Studios' live-action "Thor" movie has flown around the Internet lately, with no shortage of actors mentioning various levels of involvement in the casting process. Now it looks like the man who will wield the mighty hammer Mjolnir could be someone whose name we haven't heard thus far: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.
According to Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily blog, "Thor" director Kenneth Branagh and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige chose Hemsworth after a back-and-forth process in which the 25-year-old actor was nixed early on, then given a second chance to read for the part.
"Once Marvel put him on tape, it was 'Oh my god,'" wrote Finke of Hemsworth, who can currently be seen as George Kirk in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" and will appear in Joss Whedon's "Cabin In The Woods" horror film. "Branagh came to town last week and saw the Chris test and made the final casting decision today."
While there has been no official word from Marvel Studios or Branagh's reps, WhatsOnStage reports that Branagh will be stepping down from directorial duties on a stage production of "Hamlet" (starring Jude Law) "because of commitments to the forthcoming feature film 'Thor,' a project he’s recently undertaken." The story notes that Branagh will continue as an "artistic associate" for the current theatre season.
FROM SPLASH PAGE: With the internet absolutely a’blaze over the recent announcement that Kenneth Branagh could possibly be the director on Marvel’s upcoming “Thor” film, Splash Page decided to get current “Thor” comics writer J. Michael Straczynski’s take on the news.
“Honestly, I can’t imagine anyone better suited to this,” said Straczynski, who is more widely known as the creator of “Babylon 5” and more recently, the screenwriter of the upcoming Clint Eastwood-directed Oscar contender “Changeling.” "'Thor,' at his best, has always had a classical bent to the character in terms of his history, the way he speaks, and the often Shakespearean intrigues and dramas that surround him." Read More...
Once you've got a logo you HAVE to make the film, right? If you're going to go with that horrible logic then it's been set in stone, get ready for a whole lotta Marvel films the next three years. Once again I stumbled onto this cool little image at New York's Licensing Expo (who knew something with such a boring name could yield such interesting things?). I wouldn't call the below a poster or anything that will resemble a final title treatment for any of the below. Hell, one or two of these films may never even happen. But it's still fun to look at and ponder the superhero goodness to come, no?
So which one of Marvel's busy upcoming film slate has you excited? Which one's got you worried? Sound off below.
With "Iron Man" holding on to #1 at the box office for a second week, the Marvel properties certainly do seem hotter than ever. They've already announced "Captain America," talked about possibilities for an "Avengers" flick, and given "Thor" a June 4, 2010 due date.
So we're sure you've heard the speculation about Brad Pitt being the top name being tossed around for the title role. We wonder, now that "Layer Cake" director Matthew Vaughn is no longer helming the picture (apparently because his holding deal expired) does that mean Jason Statham isn't a contender? We're not sure if we should be relieved or disappointed.
But who do you think would make the most kickass Norse God of Thunder? Well, we think the star should be someone who made an unlikely appearance as the perceived hero back in 1987.
Yeah, that's Vincent D'onofrio in the film "Adventures in Babysitting." Amazing, right? So what are the requirements for the mightiest Thor? Does he have to be blonde? Buff? Have an affinity for helmets? Chime in below with your own thoughts.
While the world still waits for 
