FROM THE WATCHTOWER

The new issue of Entertainment Weekly has the most substantial story on the Justice League film to date. Part of their coverage includes the following: "Sources say that Warner Bros. was prompted to move quickly on Justice League by three factors: a screenplay that 'they flipped out over;' an open spot in their summer 2009 calendar; and the increasing probability of an industry-wide strike that would shut down all productions by next July. EW has obtained an early version of the script which was written by Kieran and Michele Mulroney and what we've seen remains faithful to the comic book that first appeared in 1960. (Stop reading if you're spoiler-phobic.) All seven original members of the Justice League, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter, are featured in an origins story about the superhero conglomerate. The plot revolves around villainous businessman Maxwell Lord and involves cyborgs called OMACs (One-Man Army Corps), who can take over humans and turn them into killing machines. There are epic battle scenes between Superman and Batman, as well as Superman and Wonder Woman, and League could spawn a slew of additional franchises if it's successful."
   The article mentions the fact it isn't likely that either Christian Bale or Brandon Routh would reprise their roles of, respectively, Batman and Superman; notes director Christopher Nolan's unhappiness over this film happening while he's involved with the Batman franchise; points out that Man of Steel is still in development and emphasizes the studio's belief that Justice League can represent something of a "parallel universe" to the individual superhero franchises they're in the midst of or developing. Former Justice League writer Brad Meltzer tells the mag, ""Except for The Watchmen and Dark Knight, nothing is causing more nerd excitement than Justice League."
   Adds the Sydney Morning Herald, "The phones have been ringing hot around the the palatial Camp Cove home of the producer/director George Miller this week as more details leak of his mega-budget Justice League of America film to be shot in Sydney. Filming on the Warner Bros all-star superhero blockbuster is scheduled to begin in February, with much of the action happening at Fox Studios... Insiders say the shoot will run for about three to four months in Sydney. Comic book fan websites have been buzzing with rumours about JLA, some claiming to have leaked details of the film's script with rumours that Wonder Woman - an Amazonian princess and a founding member of the Justice League in comic lore - could turn to the dark side in the film. No doubt her golden Lasso of Truth will come in handy if she hits the Sydney cocktail circuit."