Too busy last week to go through all the movie news?  Here’s a look at what you missed!

Well, it looks like most people punted the Royal Wedding and headed out to the movies this weekend.  Could be that summer blockbuster season is revving up.  That’d be next weekend, since the summer movie season has been bumped up from Memorial Day Weekend to the first weekend of May (though to be fair a few places are saying this past weekend started the season.)  In a few years it’ll start on Valentine’s Day.  But ‘til then, the box office top five has Fast Five sitting at the top, Rio lagging far behind but still a firm second, Madea’s Big Happy Family at third, and Water For Elephants and Prom rounding out the top spots. (Numbers from Deadline Hollywood)

* Wondering when the Joss Whedon penned The Cabin in the Woods will open (or if it ever will)?  There may be a light on the horizon.  The much buzzed about fan favorite has a tentative release date of October 28, 2011.  Let’s just hope the movie lives up to the hype….

* The former Governor of California may be stepping back into the movie-biz bigtime.  Arnold Schwarzenegger is slated to star in Cry Macho. Ah-nld and macho in the same sentence?  Sounds promising.

* Were you as ticked-off as I was when Wonder Woman got a remake for the new series?  (Hey, I’m still wrapping my head around the new looks she’s sporting in DC Comics.  Though that’s nowhere near as horrible as the Hot Topic getup the series came up with.)  Well, then you’ll be glad to hear that Captain America will get a wardrobe tweak for The Avengers, and “it’s pretty rad”.

* What’s a Monday Rewind without some Hobbit news?  Rob Kazinsky, cast as Fili, leaves the production, but Orlando Bloom is “confident” about reprising his LOTR role in The Hobbit .  If you can’t remember exactly how he looked unless you see Legolas on the big screen, the extended cuts of The Lord of the Rings will be making a re-appearance at AMC theaters next month.  Sweet!

* And if you’re still in the partying mood from the Royal Wedding festivities, you can get cracking on your Golden Globes and Oscars parties; the Golden Globes have been announced for January 15, 2012, and the Oscars red carpet will unroll on February 26, 2012.

* To the folks who have said that Stephen King’s The Dark Tower would never be filmed?  I laugh in your general direction!  Javier Bardem has been cast as the the mighty gunslinger himself, Roland Deschain.  With Mr. Bardem starring and Ron Howard directing, I’m getting all warm and fuzzy about this film.

* To end things this Monday, a link to the Bridesmaids red-band trailer on Funny or Die.  (NOTE: red-band trailers have mature, R-rated content, so if you’re under age?  Don’t bother clicking.)  I’ve been excited about Bridesmaids ever since I heard about it’s “chicks do The Hangover” premise.  And any time I can see Mad Men’s Jon Hamm bust out his comedic chops is golden in my book.  (Bonus: seeing Gilmore Girls/Mike & Molly’s Melissa McCarthy pull out all the stops as a Fight Club grrrl.  Awesome.)  ‘Til my review hits this Friday the 13th, consider this an aperitif.

Today at Comic-Con saw less news, but much more high-profile announcements. Most of the action took place in Hall H, which was bogged down with some serious line management problems, but we’ve got it all summed up right here for you.

The first big presentation of the day was from Warner Bros. First, the first footage from Green Lantern was screened. Although nothing spectacular, the fans enjoyed it overall, but were disappointed with the lack of Reynolds in the suit. This only confirms the fact that the suit is a work-in-progress. Still, I am looking forward to this film and hope that it can be a simple, fun superhero origin story, which we haven’t seen a lot of recently. Also, I’m looking forward to the more fantastical elements of the hero. Producer Donald DeLine said that many other Green Lanterns are featured and that the movie is part space opera, which is a good sign that they’re not ignoring that area of the Green Lantern mythos. And although the Green Lantern announcements are cool, DC has really not stepped up their game to challenge Marvel’s cinematic dominance. Geoff Johns is now in charge of their creative decisions moving forward, which is a great move, but the company has not centralized their film properties as Marvel has to such enormous success. Also, there was no word on Batman, which was a huge missed opportunity. Still, I’m hoping that after Green Lantern DC gets their act together and makes something great, maybe a Justice League movie? (Although I’m torn on whether or not Chris Nolan’s Batman should be a part of anything like that.) After a short Harry Potter trailer and panel, Zack Snyder came onstage for Sucker Punch. This new movie is based on his idea and stars an ensemble cast of women who are breaking out of a mental institution and includes Carla Gugino, Jamie Chung, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone and Emily Browning. I’m not sure what to think about this movie, but the footage got a fantastic reception and it sounds truly unique. Hopefully the trailer gets released online soon so we all can see it.

Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In, has had an enormous 360 when it comes to the public’s view. After a period of resenting the fact that such a movie was being remade, it seems like every detractor has been shut up by footage from the upcoming movie. I know I wasn’t too excited for this, but now its definitely on my radar. Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), from what I can tell, is doing a fantastic job helming the movie. He talked about how Steven Spielberg gave him tips for interacting with young actors, and that is what has me most excited for this film. Both Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) and Chloe Grace Moretz ((500) Days of Summer, Kick-Ass) have a lot of potential to give amazing performances and I hope they both pull it off. Check out this trailer for the film:

At this point, Hall H screeched to a halt after a fight broke out. It’s still unclear what actually happened, but the prevailing rumor is that someone asked another guy to move and when he didn’t, he stabbed him in the face with a pen. That’s speculation, but the scene was pretty grisly with blood everywhere and the victim being taken out on a stretcher, all with 8 or 9 cops in the vicinity.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost then introduced their new film, Paul. In the movie, the duo travel to Comic-Con and then embark on a road trip to Roswell, New Mexico. On the way they meet an alien named Paul, who is voiced by Seth Rogen. Paul is directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad) and the supporting cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Bateman, and Jeffrey Tambor. I am really looking forward to this movie as Pegg and Frost are consistently hilarious and the story is pretty original. Paul is not your typical alien – he basically thinks of himself as an everyday Joe. Road trips are always pretty fun so having one with this trio of comedians and an alien should be awesome.

Once again Jon Favreau showed his skill at captivating the geek demographic by creating huge anticipation for Cowboys & Aliens, his new movie starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, and Sam Rockwell. Although the idea is great, it takes skill to blend such two very different genres, but Favreau is going for a very Western feel. After explaining that he is trying to emulate the Sergio Leone/John Ford films of the 40s and 50s, while using practical effects from the 80s as well as CGI for the aliens, he decided to just screen some early footage. Although the crew has only been shooting for three weeks, attendees were very impressed by the scene. In a surprise appearance, Harrison Ford was brought on stage in handcuffs by two security guards. It was his first appearance at the convention and the crowd went nuts. This a natural reaction, of course, to the man who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones, as well as many other awesome characters. I hope Favreau can really nail the Western feel and deliver a really fun, interesting film due out next summer, July 29th.

Now the presentation you’ve all been waiting for: Marvel. What Marvel is doing with their properties on film is incredible. By going independent and forming Marvel Studios where writers can collaborate and come up with great, interlocking stories for all of their superheroes, the company shows that it knows what its doing. Hopefully the result will be incredible, but there are a lot of moving parts, and all of them must come together perfectly. Captain America was first, as a short teaser showed Chris Evans in full costume throwing the iconic shield at the camera. After some discussion, the filmmakers actually had some footage to show which involved Hugo Weaving as Red Skull searching for an artifact that has something to do with Odin. I really like the Indiana Jones/World War II period piece vibe I’m getting for this movie. I hope Joe Johnston can create a very good atmosphere and seeing Cap killing Nazis is going to be sweet. Next up was Thor, which is much farther into production. A lot of footage was shown, and I can’t wait to see the trailer. Apparently the costumes are not nearly as cheesy as they looked in the first images we were shown. Reactions were very positive, which is a relief. Finally, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige brought on The Avengers. After years of rumors, this movie is finally actually happening. The final lineup was announced: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman/Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Donald Blake/Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk (see the full cast in the photo from the event). It’s going to be insane seeing so many heroes on screen at the same time. I hope Joss Whedon can bring together all of this madness and deliver an amazing film.

Behold the cast of "The Avengers"

Well that was a very big day at Comic-Con, and while we knew most of this going in, it was still awesome to see all of these projects materializing before our eyes. Its going to hard, but we can’t fuel the hype too much. I’m looking forward to all of these films as much as anyone, but I’m not going to let the anticipation ruin my enjoyment of the movies as movies.

Although the show floor was opened up last night, the San Diego Comic-Con officially opened today. I wasn’t expecting this much on the first day, but that just goes to show you how new I am to the con. Here we go!

First up, we have some photo galleries from the show floor. Check these out to get a glimpse of the many awesome booths from every comic, movie, and TV show you can think of:

• Firstshowing’s Photo Gallery
• Cinematical’s Preview Night Gallery

Joss Whedon is officially directing The Avengers. Yes, you probably already knew this, but now it’s official. During EW’s Visionaries panel, Whedon stated the Marvel lacked the finances for an official press release so he had to announce it himself. I think Whedon writing is definitely a good idea, but I’m sure about his directing skills. Still, he obviously loves the characters and knows what a geek audience is expecting from the film, so hopefully Whedon will escalate The Avengers from a simple coming-together of heroes into the most epic superhero film ever put on film, but without sacrificing its heart. Good luck, Mr. Whedon. By the way, Marvel’s big presentation is on Saturday, so be ready for some big announcements.

During the same panel, J.J. Abrams talked a little bit about Super 8, but refused to give anything away. The only surprising news is that the film isn’t actually shot yet. This kind-of makes sense, but I assumed the movie was already completed. He’s aiming for a September start date so hopefully the wait won’t be too long before we see what should be a great collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Abrams.

Will Ferrell came to the Megamind panel completely dressed as his character from the animated film. Brad Pitt also made an appearance… in cardboard cutout form. See the picture from Alex Billington’s Twitter feed on the right. Oh yeah, Jonah Hill also declared himself the new Hulk for The Avengers. Wouldn’t it be great if this was legitimate and no one realized it?

Disney had their presentation for Tron Legacy today, with all of the main cast as well as the director in attendance. If you’re interested you should read Firstshowing’s detailed write-up of the event. Apparently the footage they screened was amazing, but those of us at home can check out this awesome second trailer for the film:

The first images from Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch also debuted today. See them over at Film School Rejects.

During Disney’s presentation, a new adaptation of The Haunted Mansion was announced, with Guillermo Del Toro writing and producing. This came as a complete surprise, but makes sense given his recent departure from The Hobbit and his penchant for monster visuals. In an interview with THR, Del Toro talked about the mix between scares and family appeal, “It’s going to be a thrill ride for the whole family but it’s definitely going to be scary,” he said. “(Walt) Disney is one of the creators of some of the scariest images in my childhood. People forget that he not only made sweet images but also images of nightmare. We need to honor that side of the legacy.” This is defnitely what Disney is going for with this remake as Disney production head Sean Bailey echoed the same sentiments. The director is huge fan of the ride and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with for the Disney classic.

The big news kept coming as MTV Movies Blog got the scoop that Brad Pitt has signed on for the film adaptation of Max Brooks’ World War Z. The book is a series of interviews with various people who were impacted by the worldwide zombie infestation, and I am looking to read it soon. The author said, “I can’t believe how cool Paramount has been to me and these projects, and how cool Plan B has been.” I hope the film doesn’t lose the great storytelling technique that the book used by focusing solely on Pitt’s character.

The Sundance hit Buried, starring Ryan Reynolds by himself in a coffin, also got a theatrical trailer. I can’t wait to see this film. How can a movie set underground in an enclosed space have fresh visuals. I really want to see how Rodrigo Cortes pulled this one off. That being said, this trailer was pretty lackluster:

The teaser poster for Let Me In, Matt Reeves’ American remake of the Swedish vampire movie, hit the net today thanks to MTV Movies Blog and here it is:

Speaking of American remakes, David Fincher’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is moving along. A release date of December 21st, 2011 was just set by Sony, and filming should begin in October. Still, none of the leads have been solidified yet. Daniel Craig, who has been rumored for the role of journalist Mikael Blomkvist, will likely not be able to join the cast due to conflicts with Bond 23 and Jon Favreau’s Cowboys vs. Aliens. The main female role, computer hacker Lisabeth Salander, is still up in the air.

The Expendables panel was pretty uneventful. I guess it was a “you had to be there” kind-of thing. The amazing action cast assembled, but no big news, which wasn’t a surprise.

Although I hadn’t heard too much about this film before, I’m really starting to get excited for RED. The film, which stands for Retired, Extremely Dangerous, stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Morgan Freeman as four ex-CIA special agents who become targets and must outwit their pursuers in a cross-country race to uncover the conspiracy at the CIA’s headquarters at Langley. This movie looks like a ton of fun with a great cast. Check out the new trailer:

After it was rumored yesterday that Karl Urban was going to be the new Judge Dredd, FSR’s Jack Giroux confirmed the rumor today. The actor stated that he is in talks and wants to play the character in the upcoming adaptation.

Battle: Los Angeles is making a big splash at the convention this year. A viral site launched this morning that looks pretty interesting. The pitch is that Battle: LA is a more realistic telling of human military fighting off an alien invasion. Think Black Hawk Down meets Independence Day. I’m really intrigued as District 9 already showed a more thoughtful view of aliens, hopefully this film, lead by Aaron Eckhart can be an emotional war drama like Saving Private Ryan and also showcase some awesome alien destruction.

A new film called Skyline in the same vein is also being advertised around Comic-Con and no one had ever really heard of it before. All we know right now is what Drew at Hitfix could uncover: “Skyline is directed and produced by the Brothers Strause (Alien vs. Predator: Requiem), whose company Hydraulx has provided visual effects for Avatar, Iron Man 2, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and 300.” Sounds promising, and from what I’ve heard, the Strause brothers, who previously helmed AVP: Requiem, are true geeks and set out to make an awesome alien invasion film. We get our first real look at this tomorrow so stay tuned.

And the most frustrating news of the night is that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World premiered tonight in a special preview screening. I’m really mad I missed this, but, hey, I get to see it next Thursday. Reaction was very positive, with many tweets like this one from Erik Davis: “I just poured a bucket of awesome over my head and it was called Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Personally I can’t wait to see this movie. The over-the-top action and self-referencing humor look awesome. A few early reviews are up now including ones from Cole Abaius,  Todd Gilchrist, and Jordan Hoffman but I am going to hold off until I see it for myself.

So that was day one of Comic-Con 2010. Some nice surprises and several good new images and trailers. Be wary, though. Don’t let all the hype get to you. It’s good seeing all these promos for franchises you love, but always remember to enjoy the films as they are, without all the hoopla.

On Friday, Hitflix reported that Marvel would not be calling Ed Norton to play Bruce Banner/The Hulk in The Avengers. After giving it a few days, this news is definitely confirmed. Unfortunately, Norton is definitely out.

Let’s start at the beginning. Friday, Hitflix broke the story that Marvel would not be asking Edward Norton to return as The Hulk. On the surface it sounded as if the much-publicized disagreements between Norton and Marvel over The Incredible Hulk had continued, and that creative differences had led to the split. However, this was definitely not the case. Norton was very interested in returning for The Avengers, had been approached by Marvel, and was in the process of civil negotiations. He had even met with Joss Whedon, and everything was going smoothly until seemingly out-of-the-blue Marvel decided to “go in another direction.”

The next day, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige confirmed the news with this statement:

“We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks.”

Norton’s agent Brian Swardstrom, responded with:

“This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light. Here are the facts: two months ago, Kevin called me and said he wanted Edward to reprise the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. He told me it would be his fantasy to bring Edward on stage with the rest of the cast at ComiCon and make it the event of the convention. When I said that Edward was definitely open to this idea, Kevin was very excited and we agreed that Edward should meet with Joss Whedon to discuss the project. Edward and Joss had a very good meeting (confirmed by Feige to me) at which Edward said he was enthusiastic at the prospect of being a part of the ensemble cast. Marvel subsequently made him a financial offer to be in the film and both sides started negotiating in good faith. This past Wednesday, after several weeks of civil, uncontentious discussions, but before we had come to terms on a deal, a representative from Marvel called to say they had decided to go in another direction with the part. This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings.”

This led to a very vocal backlash at Marvel. Passing over Norton, a great actor who obviously loves the character, was bad enough. But the way they did it was even worse. I mean, Marvel has the opportunity to make the biggest geek movie ever and they’re dropping the ball. They already know that this movie is guaranteed to make a killing at the box office, but that doesn’t give them an excuse to forget their fanbase.

This whole ordeal just goes to show that Marvel isn’t as concerned with making a seamless bridge from their individual superheroes to The Avengers as we were led to believe. I’m sure that the movie will still be amazing to watch, but that break in continuity will hurt a little.

Yesterday, Norton released a statement of his own on his official Facebook page:

“As most of you know, I don’t like to talk much about the business of making movies because it means a lot to me to protect the audience’s fullest enjoyment of the ‘magic’ that films can have. But I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support from the fans of the Hulk and the Avengers that I feel it would be rude not to respond. So here goes: It seems it won’t work out for me to continue playing Bruce Banner for Marvel in The Avengers. I sincerely hoped it could happen and be great for everyone, but it hasn’t turned out as we all hoped. I know this is disappointing to many people and that makes me sad. But I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk’s long and excellent history. And I really can’t thank the fans enough for how much enthusiasm you’ve sent my way about what Louis and I tried to do in our turn with the legend. It means a lot to me. I grew up with Banner and Hulk and have been a fan of every incarnation. I’m really proud, and very blessed, to have been one of them and will be thrilled to see him live on through other actors. Hulk is bigger than all of us, that’s why we love him, right?

So, Norton bows out with class. Still, this whole story is very disappointing. I’m curious to see who will be chosen to replace him. CHUD posted a rumor that Joaquin Phoenix was approached for the role but that has not been confirmed. Presumably, we will have an announcement at Comic-Con next weekend.

The web phenomenon Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is coming to Blu-ray on May 25th.

Dr. Horrible, starting Neil Patrick Harris as the titular character, Nathan Fillion as his arch-nemisis Captain Hammer, and Felicia Day as his crush Penny, was created by Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Serenity fame) during the 2008 Writers’ Strike.

The Blu-ray disk will retail for $19.95 and will feature the entire 42-minute series as well as 92 minutes of special features.  The special features include:

• Commentary with cast & creator Joss Whedon
• Audience favorite “Commentary! The Musical” where they don’t talk about the movie at all and instead talk about the Writers’ strike and how they’re better than one another in some way
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes on the creation of the story line and musical numbers
• Video applications to the Evil League of Evil, submitted by fans
• Blooper reel
• Rehearsal footage
• Interviews with members of the Evil League of Evil

Neil Patrick Harris will also appear on the hit FOX show Glee sometime this season, an episode that Joss Whedon directed. Whedon, usually famous for his twisted plots (that aren’t always happy endings), is a fan of the show. Glee executive producer and co-creator Brad Falchuck called Whedon a genius, explaining “There’s a reason why that guy is as well known and as well respected as he is.”

Earlier this month, IESB reported that the geek legend was the front-runner for the job (and that was later confirmed), but now, according to Deadline, Marvel Studios is in final negotiations for Joss Whedon to direct The Avengers.

This is very surprising, considering Whedon’s previous work. While he’s proven to be a very talented writer and become extremely popular in the geek realm, let’s just say Mr. Whedon has never been a commercially viable filmmaker. However, his credits are extensive and consistently solid. His work has included Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Toy Story (for which he won an Oscar), Alien Resurrection, Titan A.E., and Speed, as well as a very successful run penning The Astonishing X-Men comic book. Clearly, he is a great writer, but his directorial talents have yet to be thoroughly tested. The only feature film he has directed was Serenity, based on his own show.

Marvel is proving to be very ahead of the game when it comes to movies. First they go independent, so they can make their films the way they, and the fans, want. Then they hire a team of writers to brainstorm full-time on their properties. Now, the company has enough faith to give Whedon their most important upcoming movie. The studio is putting everything they have into this franchise, and a success could have huge consequences for the comic-book movie genre.

Personally, I can’t wait to see what he does with the film. The Avengers is shaping up to be the ultimate geek event of the decade. I mean, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Hulk in the same movie! Amazing. Cinematical’s Erik Davis sums it up quite nicely:

“If you’re 16 and read a lot of comics, then this film could be the equivalent of losing your virginity to a Playboy model on top of a champagne waterfall.”

Discuss: Does Whedon directing make you more nervous for the movie, or more excited?

You hear that sound? The one echoing all across the internet this morning? That’s the less than joyful noise of a dead horse being thoroughly flogged.

Looks like horror filmmaker Wes Craven will be returning to direct the fourth installment of his popular (in the 90s) horror franchise, Scream. With Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette all returning to no doubt combat one more whacked out psycho, Scream 4 has a slated release date of April 12, 2011. That’s almost exactly 11 years since the last entry hit theaters.

Kevin Williamson, the brain trust behind the first three films, has apparently turned out a script Craven is happy with. Wes’ acceptance doesn’t exactly lift my spirits though.  After those Hills Have Eyes remakes I question Craven’s taste. The news that Williamson already has ideas in place for Scream5 and 6 isn’t exactly cheering either.

Although I’m not surprised by this decision, especially at a time when studios are looking for ‘sure things’ with a built in audience, Scream feels like a concept that has long since run its course. It singlehandedly resurrected the slasher film, and gave birth to the terrifyingly annoying post-modern teen horror flick. Still, in this current climate of Saws and Hostels, one can’t help but be a bit nostalgic for those less malicious, tongue-in-cheek thrillers.

Unless of course, Williamson is planning to make the new movies grittier to match the changing times. Here’s hoping they end up being big goofy throwbacks. It’s about the only way I can seem them working at all. At least, though, this isn’t another remake. That’s something right?

Am I the only one what would rather be getting news of a Joss Whedon helmed, SMG starring, Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie instead of this?

I, mean, if we are in the business of resurrecting by-gone late 90′s horror franchises, why not?

"You get the script, I'll try to get Whedon...maybe."

Well the people over at Vertigo Entertainment better know what they’re doing, because at this point I am pretty sure they’re receiving a ton of hate mail from Whedon-ites on this remake/reboot. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the feature film starring Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry, is the latest on the slab to be revived but with a couple of differences. The first of which is that geek god Joss Whedon, writer/creator of the feature version, is not attached to this film in any way shape or form. Second being that Kaz Kuzui & Fran Rubel Kuzui will both be taking full hold of the remake. Fran Kuzui and Kuzui Enterprises were those who helped start up the first Buffy movie reach its way from the script onto the big screen.

Claiming that this particular Buffy adventure will not have connection to the popular television series, Kuzui is already shopping around for ideas from all sorts of writers on an alternate-like timeline ala J.J. Abrams Star Trek. Whedon currently has not been approached to take part in this, but producers have not completely shut him out (meaning they wouldn’t mind his involvement but haven’t bothered trying to contact him). Currently the Buffy universe that Joss Whedon molded into his own in the late nineties as a television series with Sarah Michelle Gellar spawned into a spinoff series (Angel) and is now still active as a comic book series. Boy, I hope these guys know what they’re doing, because the Whedon/Buffy fan base from what this reporter has seen is already having a big backlash on the idea. More news to arrive in upcoming weeks as this idea becomes a reality here on Atomic Popcorn.