More Movie News

After weeks of rumors and careful denials by Ray Park (a.k.a. Darth Maul of Star Wars: Episode One The Phantom Menace), Fox has officially announced Ray Park as having been hired to play the role of Magneto's evil henchman, Toad, for the X-Men movie. The character of the Toad appeared early on in issues of the original X-Men comic book of the '60s as Magneto's hopping, annoying servant, literally a "toady." Of late, though, the Toad's appearances in the comics are few and far between and more often than not feature the character trying to deal with being an outcast. Regardless of the characterization the film takes, the part will certainly demand that Park be at his best physically since the Toad almost literally bounces off the walls, and the floors, and whatever.

With the casting of Toad, almost every major role would seem to be filled with the exceptions of the all-important parts of Cyclops and Jean Grey. Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Dougray Scott, Anna Paquin and Halle Berry, Bruce Davison, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Tyler Mane have all been previously announced as having been cast in the film which starts production this fall in Toronto.

=========================

Reuters/Variety

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Miramax's genre arm, Dimension Films, has signed comic book scribe Scott Lobdell (``The X-Men,' ``Spider-Man') to a two-year, five-picture deal.

The deal includes a first-look option for Lobdell to develop television and comic books for the Disney subsidiary.

The first two films in the deal will be ``Hellhole,' an adaptation of a comic book created by Lobdell and Adam Pollina that Dimension optioned as part of the deal, and ``The Last Man on Earth,' a romantic comedy scripted by Lobdell.

Published by Image Comics, ``Hellhole' is cut from the cloth of ``Men in Black,' telling the story of secret police who keep the world safe from dark, supernatural forces.

====================

Sabrina, The Animated Series

reported by Rob Worley at Comic Book Resources

According to Rob Allstetter of the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum, Sabrina, The Animated Series will make its debut on Monday, September 6. The show is based on the Archie comic and spins off from the live-action ABC program. It will appear as part of Disney's One Two programming block.

The show will feature the hijinks of a 12 year old Sabrina, voiced by Emily Hart. Hart is the younger sister of Melissa Joan Hart, who plays the character on the live-action, Friday night show. Melissa will provide voices for Sabrina's two aunts, who are teenagers in this program.

Go To Page: 1 2