Bits for the Day

Sunday provided very little news at Comicon, so let's press on with the other notable news and links from the week thus far.

But first though, a tip of the hat to the legendary Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni, who both passed away on Monday within hours of each other. What a day for film... Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Ain't It Cool and CHUD score the only one-on-one interviews with Zack Snyder following his appearance at Comicon. Not too much revealed, but Snyder's clearly a very self-aware, switched-on guy. Watchmen needs that, so it's encouraging. And the American R-rating appears to have been a godsend in more ways than one, as the studio have largely left Snyder alone since committing to it. Granted, he has less money to work with, but non-interference is key, especially when they openly confess to not understanding the project.

The film of Hunter S. Thompson's early novel The Rum Diary is finally moving ahead, with Johnny Depp starring as long planned, reprising his role as, essentially, Thompson, although his character's name this time is Paul Kemp rather than Raoul Duke. Bruce Robinson (Withnail and I) is scripting and directing.

The pleasantly 70s-esque poster for We Own the Night is here. The early trailer looked horribly formulaic, but trailers often do.

Twin Peaks Archive speaks to Matt Haley, artist of the aborted season three graphic novel project, and includes some astonishing pencil artwork. The Laura picture is an uncanny combination of modern Marvel heroine art (think Terry Dodson) and Sheryl Lee's exact likeness. And I want that picture of BOB on my wall. Haley also reveals some choice morsels about where the third season would have gone, both on television and in comic form since staff writer Robert Engels was tapped to script. Some of the ideas sound decidedly ropey though. Perhaps the show was right to go out when it did. As frustrating as that cliffhanger is, it also leaves us with a profound and indelible image that any continuation would have an uphill battle to deal with in a satisfying manner.

Warren Ellis gives a typically cantankerous and hilarious interview to Publishers Weekly about his comics work and his first novel. A sample: "You people believe you gained your independence from us. That’s actually a joke. We invented America because we didn’t have television."

Some purty character posters for The Golden Compass can be found at IGN, although they don't do a very good job at conveying the darker tone of this story. I shouldn't be surprised about that though.

An article about the legendary French comic artist Moebius and the documentary he has inspired. I'm gagging to read an actual Moebius comic (surprisingly hard to find) and see this doco to learn more.

Jeff Smith discusses his follow-up to Bone, the SF comic RASL.

Francis Lawrence (Constantine, the upcoming I am Legend) will direct an Eastern-flavoured take on Snow White called Snow and the Seven, about a British girl being raised in 19th century Hong Kong who comes to be trained by Shaolin monks to destroy an evil force. I guess the monks are the dwarves because otherwise there's no link to Snow White, and that could be pretty offensive, now I think of it. Shall reserve judgement for now though, naturally. And at least it's not some lame update/remake as everything in Hollywood is these days. The fact that it's set when and where it is suggests that there are more creative juices in this one than other projects of its ilk.

Ridley Scott is interested in a Blade Runner sequel...... PleasegodnoRidleyshutupnownotgoodidealet'smoveonnow.