James Marsters Compares Working on Buffy to War

 

James Marsters: Back in Black

 

Let’s be clear from the get-go.  When asked what his favorite project has been, James Marsters answers “Buffy” with hardly a hesitation.  He credits the writers for that experience.  I had heard him speak highly of the writers in Philadelphia, but here at New York Comic-Con, Marsters elaborates on that belief.  The writers were honest – brutally honest – and put all their flaws, failures, and embarrassments on the page.  It’s the same thing that makes him such a distinctive actor:  he readily admits how his own personal weirdness fuels his acting.

Does that mean working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a walk in the park?  Far from it.  One fan asks for a “diva” story from the Buffy set.  Marsters hesitates, a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.  He was anticipating this; his answer is politic. “I’ve never been to war…,” he starts, “But the enemy is time and time always wins.”  Translation:  The days are long, tensions run high, and perhaps the cast, which was largely made of youngsters, didn’t always handle the pressure particularly well.  He clarifies by saying that he was, “thirty-four and mostly stable,” working with actors ten or more years younger than him.  It may not come as a surprise then that the cast member he got along with best was Anthony Stewart Head (Giles).  He and Head bonded from the beginning, with Head helping Marsters get his accent right, even going through the script line by line with him.

Tags: "buffy the vampire slayer", "joss whedon", FEATURED, James Marsters

Spidey Reboot Super-Quick Update: Rhys Ifans Is…

Is this the new face of evil for Spider-Man?

As recently reported, Rhys Ifans was cast as an unnamed villain in the Spider-Man reboot.  It’s now being reported that Ifans will be playing the Lizard…which is one of the possibilities previously discussed right here at the Diner.  Can the Lizard carry an entire movie?  Or will another villain be added into the mix.  I still say Kraven the Hunter would be a perfect addition to to this mix.  Are you listening, Sony?  K-R-A-V-E-N.  Make it so.

Kraven Now!

Tags: "The Lizard, Rhys Ifans, Spider-Man

‘Twilight’ director Catherine Hardwicke may direct ‘Romeo and Juliet’AKA NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Oh no...not again...

‘Twilight’ director Catherine Hardwicke may direct ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for ABC | EW.com.

Read the above, then do one of the following:

A) Titter and giggle like a middle school girl at the thought of Leo/Claire 2.

B) React like an adult and vomit profusely for hours.

Why am I so angry?  Let me count the ways. (Not Shakespeare…I know.)

1.  Shakespeare wrote in the neighborhood of 37 plays.  Can we maybe take a look at one of the other 36 plays he wrote before doing yet another misinterpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most middling plays?

2.  Yes, I know Hardwicke directed the critically acclaimed Thirteen, but she also directed Twilight.  I’m allowed to hold a grudge.

3. Romeo and Juliet – any Shakespearean text – in the hands of Disney-trained actors is like putting a loaded weapon in the hands of an angry chimp.  Someone will get hurt and most likely covered in feces when it’s all done.

4. Romeo and Juliet as a TV series?  I could see the story being reworked into a longer narrative, where Romeo and Juliet don’t die only three days after meeting each other and we’re allowed to see the in greater detail the inner workings of the two families … but why would I want to when I can just turn on the CW?

I would love to see more mainstrem Shakespeare – truly and really, I would.  And maybe, if this comes to fruition, it will be a pleasant surprise – a film or series that examines the thin line between love and hate and the power of choice in a world that seems driven by chance or fate.  Or maybe we’ll get more of Leo and Claire staring wistfully at each other through a fish tank.  Better yet – maybe Romeo will be a sparkly vampire and Juliet a werewolf.

Tags: "catherine hardwicke", "romeo and juliet", Shakespeare

Spider-Man Reboot Update: Rhys Ifans Is the Bad Guy

A Vulture? A Goblin? An Octopus? A Lizard? Whatever will he be?

Rhys Ifans, the shaggy haired, lanky Welshman best known for roles in Notting Hill, Danny Deckchair, and The Replacements, has just been announced as the villain in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot, according to this article from Geek Tyrant.

What hasn’t been made clear is just who wiry one will be playing.  Spider-Man has one of the most diverse rogues galleries in comics, so the possibilities are vast.  He’s tall and a little gangly, forty two years old, has wispy blonde hair, and plays manic personalities with great affection.

He certainly looks the part of the Vulture, which would be something of a tragic irony since that’s exactly the villain Sam Raimi wanted to use before being thrown out with Sony’s trash.  Of course, if they’re starting from scratch and pairing Peter Parker with Gwen Stacy, the Green Goblin seems a likely choice.  Maybe Ifans will clean up nicely and the steal the show as the manic Norman Osbourne.  Early rumors indicated that the Lizard might be up to bat.  Ifan’s is the right age for the part of an eccentric professor and the parallelism of two men, both transformed by a combination of science and nature, makes for a great story.

So, what do you think, noble readers?  Who will Rhys Ifans play?  Do you like Sony’s choice for a Big Bad?

 

Tags: "Spider-Man Reboot", Movies, Rhys Ifans

NYCC Wrap-Up!

It’s Sunday night and I am drained, body and soul.  This has been, by far, my most exhausting and the most rewarding convention experience to date.  I extend major kudos to crew over at ReedPop.  I was at the first New York Comic-Con five years ago – yes, the one that infamously turned away thousands of fans due to overcrowding.  In just five short years, Greg Topalian and his merry crew have turned New York Comic-Con into one of the premiere convention experiences.

What it makes it so special?  First, the sheer amount of space they use.  One hall is dedicated to the artist’s alley, with some small press exhibitors, some arts displays, a podcast alley for (duh) podcasters, and a couple of massive video game set-ups.  On the other side of the Javits center is the main exhibition hall, where both major and minor entertainment entities offer up colorful and interactive booths.  This is also where you’ll find vendors…oh, so many vendors…peddling everything from comics to toys to all variety of pop culture kitsch.  All the panels are spread throughout the lower level.  NYCC also added the IGN Theater, a very large staged auditorium for big events that are sure to draw a large audience.  Even at its most crowded (and Saturday was really crowded), by using as much of the Javits Center as they did, I never felt completely overwhelmed by the crowd.

Second, the glorious programming.  There is such a diversity and breadth to the programming that there was quite literally something for everyone.  The Comics Studies Conference offers panels that attempt to create a larger context for comics (much like this site!).  Movie studios come to promote films and television shows.  Comic companies host gatherings to discuss news and upcoming events with fans.  Movie and television stars offer fans insights into their lives and their works.  Many of these sessions run concurrently, given fans a lot of choices.  If there’s a downside, it’s that sometimes there are too many choices.  But sacrifice is part of any life, and when put in that context, giving up an X-Men panel in favor of seeing the women of Battlestar Galactica isn’t such a big deal.

Third, NYCC takes its pop culture seriously.  There’s plenty of fun to be had, but there’s also a lot to be learned and experienced.  As I mentioned, some of the panels are hosted by the Comics Studies Conference, offering up sessions on topics such as the psychology of heroes and the exploration of humanity through dystopian and Utopian narratives.  Pop artists such as Nathan Sawaya display their work.  There’s music, comedy, and so much more.  All of it creating a context for pop culture larger than that of simple fan worship.  It becomes the kind of place where pop culture flourishes and becomes part of the discussion of the human experience.

I met amazing people this weekend.  I learned.  I sweated (it gets hot in those halls!).  I acquired enough raw material for Virgil’s All-Night Diner to keep me busy until the next New York Comic-Con. And here it is – Sunday night…I’m exhausted and drained and all I can think about is how much I can’t wait for October 14, when it starts all over again.

So, what can you expect to see on the All-Night Diner in the coming weeks:

• Reflections on upcoming films and panels like the one featuring the women of Battlestar Galactica.
• Interviews with Peter David and Gail Simone
• Features on upcoming web shows and independently produced comics
• A look at the interactive fan experiences offered
• And more!

Most exciting is that all this new video content means that Virgil TV will make its long awaited (well, long awaited by me…) debut!

Check back often…I’m going to take a day to decompress and organize my footage, then new content should going up just about every day, most of it dedicated to New York Comic-Con.

Enough rambling.  In closing, let me say this:  at the height of the “gangsta rap” era there was something like a war between East Coast and West Coast.  Well, a new East-West war is erupting on the Geek front.  If you listen closely, San Diego, you’ll hear footsteps – the footsteps of New York Comic-Con.  If ReedPop keeps delivering shows like this one, it won’t be second place for long.

Tags: New York Comic-Con, NYCC, ReedPop

HUGE Reveals at NYCC’s “V” Panel

Joining Executive Producer Steve Pearlman on stage for the NYCC V panel are the three women who make up the most dysfunctional family in sci-fi history:  Morena Baccarin, Laura Vandervoort, and Jane Badler.

The panel kicked off with an extensive preview of Season Two.  If you do not want to know any of the details of what’s to come in V, stop reading now.  If, however, you want a little taste of the future and a description of a few jaw dropping moments, read on after the break.

Tags: Jane Badler, Laura Vandervoort, Morena Baccarin, New York Comic-Con, NYCC, V

Danny Mcbride and James Franco Introduce New Film at NYCC

A raucous crowd greets the cast and crew of the upcoming comedy-action film Your Highness, a seemingly bland title until you consider these are the same minds that brought you Pineapple Express.  Get it?  HIGH-ness.  Yes, a medieval action epic complete with Porky’s like sex jokes, foul mouthed wizards, and medieval bongs.

McBride, who has a great love for ’80′s sword and sorcery epics, wants to recreate the genre for a new audience with his own twist.  It seems to be working.  The footage that was screened for the audience drew wild laughs and a strong positive reaction.  We first see the noble hero of the story – played by James Franco.  Then we are introduced to his brother, played by Danny McBride, done up in a powdered wig and make-up, playing the part of an anachronistic fop in a medieval adventure.  The villain, played by Justin Theroux, sets the crowd off with his first line.  In the clip, the evil wizard is attempting to kidnap James Franco’s fiance, the lovely Zooey Deschanel.  When asked by sword wielding Franco how he intends to do so, Theroux’ s wizard replies:  “Magic…motherf*&@!”.

And that’s pretty much the tone of film. The look and feel of a sword and sorcery world filled with very contemporary sounding characters.  The crowd seemed to love it and everyone involved is very excited about it.   So keep an eye out for Your Highness, coming soon to a theater near you.

And did I mention the medieval bong?

 

Tags: "Danny McBride", "James Frano", "Your Highness", New York Comic-Con, NYCC

James Marsters Wows the “Beautiful Freaks” Again

[This is Part One of the James Marsters Panel Discussion - yes, there is that much to talk about...]

“Hey, you beautiful freaks!”

And that opening statement from actor James Marsters set the theme for the next hour.  I had previously covered Marsters panel at Philly Comic-Con this past June and for a half second I considered skipping this event.  After all, would there really be anything new here?  Wouldn’t I just hear the same stories again?  Not giving in to that impulse was the best decision I made yesterday.

There’s no pre-packaging to Marster’s panels.  Everything is driven by questions from the fans.  He pointed to the microphone and the line formed quickly.  During the entire hour, he told only two stories that I had already heard in Philly.  Virtually everything else was fresh and new, and some of it more than a little surprising.

“Beautiful Freaks” – that phrase was a recurrent theme throughout the session.  Marsters went out of his way to compliment everyone who walked up to the mic in costume.  This was something that I didn’t pick up on in Philly – but he seems to genuinely love this environment.  In Philly, I could tell he appreciated his fans and wanted to give them a great show, but here in New York, he focused much more on how much he loves the convention culture and atmosphere, going out of his way to compliment the attendees of conventions as beautiful, kind, intelligent people.  He tells of his own convention experience:  1978. The first Star Trek convention.  A young James Marsters in pointy ears, with a homemade communicator carved out of wood, shaved eyebrows, and a huge blonde afro.  In his words:  “I was never more beautiful in my life.”  He calls cons beautiful places, like Dead concerts, with its own culture where strangers can become great friends in moments.

This is the respect he shows his fans throughout the session.  See, “beautiful freak” is not an insult – it’s the highest compliment Marsters can pay someone.  He talks often about his own weirdness and how true acting and writing is a moment of vulnerability, where you expose your deepest flaws and embarrassments to the world.  I think he’s trying to tell us that we are all freaks – each and every one of us – and the beautiful ones are those that are willing that let that freak flag fly.

[So ends Part I.  Check back soon to see what James Marsters had to say about his time on Buffy, updates on his current projects, including a very definitive answer to whether his Hawaii 5-0 character is really dead (the answer is no!), and some great insights on the nature of acting.]

Tags: James Marsters, New York Comic-Con, NYCC

Welcome to New York Comic-Con!

Day 1 of NYCC is in the books.  Due to some internet connectivity issues and some uploading difficulties, we were not able to bring you the action quite the way we had planned for Day One.  Over the next couple of days, you we will be able to see features on Utopian and Dystopian narratives, an update on upcoming events over at Marvel and DC, and a complete run down of the James Marsters panel, which was so eventful we may have to craft a series of stories out of it.

Day 2 is gearing up, and, if all goes well, the updates should be faster and more furious today!

Tags: DC, James Marsters, Marvel, New York Comic-Con, NYCC

Spider-Man Reboot Update: Emma Stone Is…

A blonde playing a redhead playing a blonde - Insanity!

Fiery redhead? …Check

Snarky, witty retorts? … CHECK

Emma Stone a lock to play Mary Jane Watson? … not so fast…

Over the past couple of weeks or so, rumors have been swirling around Emma Stone landing a key role in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot.  And why not?  She’s on fire.  After stealing the shows in Superbad, The Rocker, and Zombieland, Stone received strong notices as the lead in Easy A.  She has a unique look and remarkable comic timing and she’s only 22.  Rumors quickly pointed her in the direction of Mary Jane Watson – Peter Parker’s quick-witted, redheaded soul mate.  Sounds like a match…

Two problems… 1) in my last update I declared there would be no Mary Jane Watson  and 2) word broke last night that Emma Stone will be playing the very blonde Gwen Stacy.  Well, gasp and swoon…how did this come about?

This is a potential PR nightmare for the film.  Many fans are still seething over the hair color controversy of the first trilogy.  Kirsten Dunst (a blonde) playing Mary Jane (a redhead)…Bryce Dallas Howard (a redhead) playing Gwen Stacy ( a blonde).  Sheer madness!  And now the film’s current handlers seem set on continuing these hair color-boundary crossing ways.  Will they never learn?  Now, I don’t want to be accused of hair-ism here, but is it wrong to want blondes to play blondes and redheads to play redheads?  And don’t even get me started on darker-haired women … the world will never ever need to see a blonde Catherine Zeta Jones.  Actors need to stick with the hair color God gave them and only take on parts that are appropriate for that particular hair color.  For this casting choice alone, people need to organize and boycott this film until Sony agrees to cast a natural blonde as Gw…

Wait…what’s that…Oh…

Here’s an interesting factoid that’s just been handed to me – Emma Stone is actually a blonde.  She died her hair red for Superbad, apparently at Judd Apatow’s suggestion, and kept it that way. OK…but still, we KNOW her as a redhead and so our sense of her as an actress derives from her redheaded-ness.  I mean, for a natural blonde to convince the world she’s a redhead is one thing, but for a natural blonde to become famous as a redhead, then go back to playing blondes…well, that’s just unheard of.

How much does hair color make the woman?  Will the change from red to blonde take the zing out of her delivery?  Think I’m ridiculous?  Consider this:  Laura Prepon, late of That 70′s Show, had red hot timing as a redhead.  Laura Prepon as a blonde?  Total dulls-ville.  Kirsten Dunst – a blonde – playing the redheaded Mary Jane in Raimi’s Spider-Man? Not so caliente.

Of course, I’m cherry-picking here, but this amounts to the kind of reaction you can read on-line. In all sincerity, Emma Stone’s a great actress and she will add much life to whatever role she gets.  Heck, they could cast her as J. Jonah Jameson and it would probably work, though I definitely do not need to see her in a salt and pepper crew cut.

****SPOILER ALERT***

The bigger question concerns how long she’ll be sticking around the franchise.  If you don’t know what happens to Gwen Stacy in the comic books and you don’t want to know, please stop reading.  I won’t be offended.  Click the  “More” if you know/don’t care about Gwen’s fate.

Tags: "Spider-Man Reboot", Emma Stone, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson