New “Dark Knight” trailer to debut tomorrow?
Last year “Cloverfield” set a new bar for viral marketing to build anticipation and curiosity for a Hollywood project. This year, it appears that the upcoming “The Dark Knight” is not only looking to clear that bar, but raise it even higher.
As previously reported, the film has had a number of viral web-sites and campaigns associated with it including a site that revealed the first look at Heath Ledger in the Joker make-up. The past several weeks have seen fans getting calls from Harvey Dent about his campaign to run for district attorney and the Dent-mobile touring the country.
Now another web-site has opened up that will go live tomorrow, April 1. The Clown Travel Agency site states that it will open up tomorrow. Fans who opted-in for notices and news about the upcoming Batman movie were sent an e-mail letting them know about the web site. This e-mail led to speculation by Ain’t It Cool News that a third “Dark Knight” trailer could debut on the site tomorrow.
Or considering that tomorrow is April Fool’s Day, it could be an elaborate hoax by the Joker speculates Merick of AICN.
Either way, it appears the producers of “Dark Knight” know exactly how to capture the minds and interest of fans (as if we weren’t already in a frenzy to see the film).
“Iron Man” tie-in novel hits shelves
With just under a month before “Iron Man” hits the big-screen, the media tie-ins are slowly starting to creep into stores.
One of the first is scheduled to hit bookstore shelves later this week with the official tie-in novelization of “Iron Man” by accomplished writer Peter David. David is a prolific writer who has written novels, comics and screenplays. David produced the tie-in adaptions for “Hulk,” all three “Spider-Man” films and “The Rocketeer” as well as working in the “Star Trek” universe on such popular novels as “Imzadi,” “Q-Squared” and his spin-off series “Star Trek: New Frontier.” He is best-known to comic fans for his long run on “The Incredible Hulk,” that revolutionized the character. David is also an accomplished writer on his own, having written several popular original novels including three in the “Sir Appropos of Nothing” series, his on-going updates of the King Arthur legend and his latest fantasy offering “The Darkness of the Light.”
To sum it up, David is the perfect choice of experience and accomplishment to bring the “Iron Man” screenplay to the printed page. David’s previous adaptions have been a near-perfect blend of adapting the screenplay while expanding the story to novel length throug and adding Easter eggs for long-times fans of the characters.
The novel is set to hit store shelves on April 4, though some have reported finding it already on bookstore shelves. It can also be purchased on-line at Amazon.com.
Of course, the novel hitting shelves does raise one serious questions among those chomping at the bit for “Iron Man.” To read before or after the movie comes out? And if the novel is purchased, do you have the self-control to resist until late April when “Iron Man” opens in theaters?
A crossover is coming to the “Buffy” comic
Warning: This article contains minor SPOILERS for upcoming issues of the season eight “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” comic series.
A popular character from Joss Whedon’s universe will make a crossover into the current run of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” comic books in issue number 16. No, it’s not Mal, Jayne or River from “Firefly.”
The character is Melaka Fray, the title character of the spinoff comic series “Fray.” Published as an eight-issue mini-series in 2003, “Fray” follow the storyline of Melaka Fray, a future Slayer who saw her powers awoken and had to battle the forces of evil. The series was popular among fans, who often had to wait months between issues, offering insight in the eventual fate of Buffy. The Fray universe was co-created by comic book artist Karl Moline.
Now, five years later, Melaka will jump back into the Buffyverse with Moline serving as the artist for Melika’s appareance in the Buffy comics.
In a recent interview with Comic Books Resource, Moline said, “I think we always had in the back of our minds, that there were a lot more stories to tell with Fray and we sort of expected a sequel. And we may still get to do a sequel.”
“We had such a good time the first go-around, I think everybody involved was certainly open for some more Fray stories,” he added. “I guess there was always sort of a silent understanding that we would do more. And here we are. And it’s probably the most fun I’ve had since the last time we were all working together.”
In “Fray: Future Slayer,” it is revealed that some time in the 21st century, an apocalyptic battle between good and battle occurs, which wipes out all demons and magicks, although it is hinted that a lone slayer may have survived.
“I guess it just worked out with what Joss wanted to do with ‘Buffy,'” Moline said. “And it does. The story is really about Buffy and her relationships and friends. Fray is a main character in it, but she is definitely second to Buffy. I think it’s a Buffy story, more so than Fray story.”
The original run of “Fray” has been collected into a graphic novel. Fans may want to take this chance to read the series before Melaka shows up in the pages of “Buffy.” If you’re not read it, it’s a great story in the Whedonverse.
Trailers offer glimpses into series four of “Doctor Who”
As anticipation builds for Saturday’s return of “Doctor Who” on BB1, the British viewing public has been treated to two new trailers for series four–one in theaters and the other on television.
Both trailers offer a brief overview of the season and concentrate more on returning companion Donna than on the Doctor himself. Some of the scenes that bookend the movie trailer are presumbly from this weekend’s season premiere as they focus on Donna’s quest to find the Doctor again and take him up on his earlier offer to travel in time and space.
Both trailers offer a glimpse of the re-designed Sontarans, who will return this season. The TV trailer offers a glimpse of two other returning foes the Doctor will face this year–the Ood from series two and the Doctor’s greatest enemy, the Daleks.
The television trailer seems to play-up a theme from this year’s Christmas special of the Doctor being a kind of intergalactic hero and legend.
Both trailers are available at the official BBC “Doctor Who” web site at www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho.
“Doctor Who” debuts Saturday night on BBC1.
