THE HIT LIST – February 2, 2015
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Cinematic Fight Studio Announces New Fan Project, BLADE: CHRONICLES OF ERIC BROOKS
While the big studios sort out the possibilities for the future of the Blade franchise with lead Wesley Snipes finally back at work, the character is obviously not limited to just what Hollywood can do. The independent scene has its own fair share of creativity in store, and the folks over at New York City’s Cinematic Fight Studio are honing into theirs with the early release of a concept poster for a new possible fan film titled Blade: Chronicles Of Eric Brooks.
Up-and-coming actor Ricky Barksdale can be seen branded on the indie film fight studio’s newest poster as it was unveiled this week. The poster marks the first step toward a hopeful fan-driven shortfilm spin-off based on Marvel’s highly popular eponymous semi-human vampire hunter, centering on his earlier years as his pre-Blade alias, Eric Brooks, with a crowdsourcing effort to follow and help finish the post production process. Check it out below:
A teaser photo was first offered a few months ago (as seen at the very top) as Barksdale had already begun training with the studio and its co-founder, Lang Yip for sometime now. It will be one of several attempts by online content creators and filmmakers to keep the character alive after New Line’s stellar trilogy ended with a lesser-received Blade: Trinity in 2004, followed by an ill-fated TV series and short-lived animated feature thereafter.
With any luck, we’ll hear more much sooner about who will make up this inspired entry into the Blade universe through independent film as Barksdale and his team over at Cinematic Fight Studio embark on their newest venture. In the meantime, subscribe to the Facebook page and get ready! Soon…it’ll be open season on all suckheads!
Lionsgate And Saban Team Up For A New POWER RANGERS Movie
SANTA MONICA, CA, May 7, 2014 – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, and Saban Brands, a strategic brand management company that acquires and builds global consumer brands, are partnering to develop and produce an original live action feature film based on the iconic Power Rangers property, it was announced today by creator of Power Rangers Haim Saban and Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer. The announcement marks another step in Lionsgate’s continued commitment to build a broad portfolio of branded properties and franchises with global appeal.
A Brand New Clip From MMPR Features Two Soldiers At A Crossroads
Hopefully you haven’t fallen too out of the loop since the official trailer for the forthcoming first installment of the MMPR series of fan films aired late last year. With another episode well on its way to filming with another cast member, director Dominick Sivili and his team haven’t forgotten about the fans who’ve supported their cause in the past two years since the conception of this ambitious new project, and to show for their efforts, actress Dina Cataldi and producer Mack Khur have released a new special announcement video thanking their fans, accompanied by a brand new preview clip from the upcoming first fan film, featuring Cataldi as the Blue Ranger.
Later MMPR fan films will star actors Don Money and Ricky Barksdale, and actresses Kimberly and Ashley Carvalho as the Red, Black, and Yellow Ranger, respectively. They are joined by actors John Damroth and Matt Meinsen, along with actors Robert Axelrod and Jerry Murdock as the voice and body of a Lord Zedd, and original American series actor David Fielding returning to the role of Zordon.
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As the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Power Rangers, a controlling paramilitary group known as The Silver Guardians has taken over the duty of protecting the citizens of Angel Grove. Claire Ashmore (Dina Cataldi) is a former top soldier of the Silver Guardians, until she unearths the plans made by the head of the organization, General E.A. Collins (John Damroth). For the first time on the other side of a conflict, Claire must stop the Silver Guardians before it is too late. She will stumble upon the help of the ancient mythological being known as Zordon, the former mentor of the Power Rangers, as she unravels the mystery and attempts to steal the Power Morphers from the Silver Guardians.
A new war has begun between the Power Rangers, The Silver Guardians and the returning Lord Zedd!
Pre-Viz Action Teases Upcoming Production Of Fan Film, MMPR
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'Power Rangers' Actor Jason David Frank Endorses His Own Standalone Green Ranger Film
Actor, mixed martial artist and veteran Power Rangers cast member Jason David Frank made headlines this week regarding his interest in a donning the Green Ranger outfit for darker, standalone PG13 feature-length film.
In a statement made to Complex quoted at IGN, Frank enthused his own aspirations for a self-titled spin-off of the highly successful 20 year television franchise. “I’m talking to Saban about making a PG-13 Green Ranger movie,” he tells Complex. “It’s just a matter of Saban stepping behind it. I was an X-Men fan growing up; I loved Wolverine. I feel like the Green Ranger can step outside the box and be like the Wolverine of Power Rangers. That’s why I think he can handle his own movie.”
Frank’s sentiments are nothing new as this week’s news comes a year after he expressed his thoughts on a hopeful development of a Power Rangers feature film in the essence of Christopher Nolan’s latest vision realized for his Batman trilogy, telling a Power Rangers Zeo panel attendee at the 2012 Lexington Toy & Comic Convention, “I think Haim Saban is very silly not to take those Rangers that we were and make a Dark Knight series out of it for you guys.”
The vision Frank discusses here is currently the one in play, somewhat similiar to the non-profit fanfilm being crafted by NYC independent filmmaker Dominick Sivili and producer/co-writer Louis Maldarelli for the upcoming release of MMPR. Ironically though, as interpreted by writer Matt Leslie over at Morphin Legacy, Frank has since rescinded from partaking on the project, citing his own creative differences on the character’s approach for the fanfilm, although it is reported that Sivili still intends to hopefully cast him.
Popularized through the Japanese tokusatsu action genre, the highly acclaimed television series is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week. And Frank has been with the franchise ever since, being one of the most vocally active and fan-devoted veteran cast members since he first debuted as the character, Tommy Oliver, a.k.a. The Green Ranger, in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1993. In subsequent seasons thereafter, Frank became a solid foundation throughout the show, reappearing in 1994 as the White Ranger, and in future seasons in Power Rangers Zeo (1996), Power Rangers Turbo (1997) and Power Rangers DinoThunder (2004). He also starred in both Hollywood theatrical adaptations in Power Rangers: The Movie (1995) and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997).
Frank is set to appear among an ensemble cast in next year’s debut of Power Rangers: Super Megaforce, returning as the Green Ranger. Frank will also make an appearance at this year’s Rhode Island ComicCon between November 2nd and 3rd with other former cast members, along with MMPR director Sivili who will be debuting a teaser for his upcoming fan film.
Subscribe to the official Facebook and Twitter pages for MMPR, and follow Jason David Frank on Facebook and Twitter to keep in tune with the latest.
Super Megaforce Brings Classic Rangers Back To Television
I rarely cover tokusatsu since I can’t keep up as much as I would like to. So it has been a while for me since I have seen a Power Rangers episode. Nonetheless, the suited superheroes of Japanese-American crossover fandom remain popular among ranger-buffs almost no matter where you are in the world.