Geek Buzz: Spidey's Broadway Bucks & Spielberg's 'Halo' Hopes

GEEK BUZZING:
Random names and news crossing the transom of comics culture...

A cartoon version of Stan Lee poses with his creation.Enlarge Comic

Some high-profile superhero projects need a big name; others just need the big bucks.

In New York, Spider-Man's attempts to spin out a Broadway-bound musical -- in a work to be titled "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" -- have become ensnared in more fiscal difficulty than any account this side of Annie Leibovitz. Co-producer Hello Entertainment says the musical's development has been suspended pending "unexpected cash flow problems," reports the Associated Press.

"Spider-Man" is expected to begin previews Feb. 25. Hello Entertainment is reportedly optimistic that the roughly $40-million-dollar show will go on -- as directed by Julie Taymor, with music by the two members of U2 everyone's heard of. Given Bono's self-acknowledged messianic complex, 'Riffs is convinced he'll find some way to save the show. And perhaps help relieve some arts-group debts, to boot...

Elsewhere, "Halo" as Big-Screen Project may have finally landed the true master chief that it needed: Steven Spielberg.

About four years ago, Peter Jackson (with partner Fran Walsh) signed on with Microsoft to develop the Bungie-created videogame trilogy into a film -- a deal that later grew to involve other potential projects before it was reportedly stalled by "studio infighting." But according to IESB.com, Spielberg -- ever the avid gamer -- is negotiating to take the helm of "Halo," which features Master Chief, the cybernetic-boosted human super-soldier, and his A.I. sidekick Cortana as they battle allied alien races.

Our money's on Spielberg's making this happen; but more important, Microsoft's money should be on Spielberg's making this happen.

JOE DEUCE: RISE OF THE SEQUEL?: Paramount honcho Rob Moore is confidently stating that fresh off the first film's mega-weekend, a "G.I. Joe" sequel is already in the works, the Los Angeles Times reports.

REVOLUTION NUMBER "9"?: The early reviews of "District 9" (which comes out Friday) are heaping high praise on the Neill Blomkamp film, produced by Peter Jackson. (And did we mention that Blomkamp is still in his 20s?) The sci-fi film's documentary-style approach -- which tracks extraterrestrials turned South African refugees -- is being hailed as compelling. ("D9" has even been called an "alien apartheid movie.") Here's one of the summer's more alluring trailers:

By Michael Cavna |  August 11, 2009; 7:00 AM ET  | Category:  Geek Buzz , Superheroes
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Posted by: 2old2readcomics | August 12, 2009 2:36 AM