Here are some interesting things of note I’ve collected over the past few days.  Here’s the scoop:

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill which is being turned into a major motion picture this summer (aka LXG) will be hitting the presses soon as a novelized form by Kevin J. Anderson.  Hopefully he won’t screw it up like he has with some of the Star Wars books.  Somehow I think he’ll manage to screw it up it though…

On the Spiderman front the new film titled The Amazing Spiderman, sequel to last years, Spiderman will feature Dr. Octopus as a (the?) major villain.  This time they are going for more animatronics rather than CGI for the new costume.  Sam Raimi, thank you.  I wonder if they’ll find a spot for Bruce Campbell, who by the way will be on SciFi channel in The Man With the Screaming Brain which he’s writing, producing, directing and playing the lead in.

Nicolas Cage is rumored to be preparing for the shoot for a new Sub-Mariner film playing the lead (Namor).  Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio is working on playing Tony Stark in Iron Man which is being adapted by the guys behind the excellent Superman show on WB, Smallville.

Speaking of Superman, they have reportedly cast Victor Webster (Mutant X) in the lead.  We’ll see how Brett Ratner, who was scheduled to direct, leaving will affect things.  Word is that Michael Bay might pick up the shoot.  The troubled production which has been planned for several years now is slated to shoot in ‘04.

On a similar note, a new Batman script, Batman: The Frightening, has been making the rounds and purports to star The Scarecrow as one of its baddies.  Also of note in that article is that Frank Miller is working on the script of either The Frightening or Batman: Year One which Darren Aronofsky (Pi) was working on.

Speaking of Crows, Edward Furlong (Terminator, Pecker) is reportedly going to be starring in a new Crow film, The Crow: Wicked Prayer which he hopes will hit theatres instead of going direct to video like its predecessor sequel.

While some real sailors will be at the helm of the Enterprise in an upcoming episode, others are looking to alternative Trek to fill their needs.  Like Star Trek: Exeter, a homemade fanfilm for example.  Others have jumped ship (or never got on board) of the Trek Express and are busy buying up the recently issued Star Wars stamps released by the Australian post office.

Meanwhile, I’m patiently waiting for the new Indiana Jones movie which will hopefully hit screens some time in ‘05.  This time around it will be in the 50’s, sans Nazi’s of course.  Harrison can’t hide his age much longer.  No word yet on the new villains, but my money is on the Commies.

Last but not least, I wanted to relate to you about the project the Watchowski’s are making, post-Matrix sequels, which could very well have been scrapped if Reeves didn’t agree to a hefty paycut.  Expect a new Conan movie, yes Conan, after the Matrix movies are done called King Conan.  This is expected to be a sequel to Conan the Destroyer and apparently Arnold has signed on to the project.