Superhero-rama!: Is This the end of Sam Raimi?

First: Looking back, you've worked on Spider-Man in some way for nearly eight years. Has the excitement stayed with you? 

RAIMI: I'm just as excited about the character, and so in that sense, yes. Although the physical energy level between how I felt before I started shooting versus what was left of me on the last day of photography, I was so exhausted at the end of "Spider-Man 3" I can't tell you. My love for the characters and my passion for the stories are the same, but I was just a shell of the person that I was after all of those movies. 

Oh that's real reassuring. But it gets better! 

Second: If you had to take a break and pick a director to replace you on the franchise, is there anyone at the top of your list? 

RAIMI: Because I love Spider-Man I would just say—I don't want to pick someone. I don't know if I’ll be directing the picture or not, but I'd like to say that it would be somebody that was the best gift I could give to Spider-Man—someone who understands him and loves him and could bring his passion and love to the character. A character director probably; no one else. 

Wow. Can't you tell that he really loves this series? Honestly, I think he was about 90% of the reason that SP3 was (barely) bearable to watch (cause yes, it was BEARABLE, not horrible like all you people made it out to be). I really don't know if I could possibly think of anyone worthy of taking his spot, and then with a lot of the main actors not even sure if they're coming back yet, I'm not sure if SP4 is getting off to a great start :(. Spidey fans, we are in dark times... 

Well anyway FINALLY! 'The Dark Knight' is finally in Post-Production! Maybe I wont be able to rant about it for a couple of months. They've finished up they're filming in Chicago, and disrupting the poor Hong Kong peoples peace and finally it's being edited by Lee Smith of the Gersh Agency. And Christopher Nolan came out (no not like that sickos) a few days ago to settle the rumors that he didnt dump Bale in the waters of Hong Kong because of pollution (mhm...sure) and instead Batty will be jumping off a 90 foot building (and that's SO much better?)... 

"That was my decision, nothing to do with pollution. It was simply a scrip t decision," said Nolan, "Once you see the finished film, you will understand why. As far as the pollution question goes, I honestly have no problem dumping movie stars in it." 

Heh, I liked that reply actually. And of course, its now time for the most famous thing on this blog 

TRANSFORMERS WATCH Bringing you all the over publicized Transformers news since...a while ago 

I am really starting to question some peoples intelligence (coughMICAELBAYcough). Apparently because everyone got so many spoilers of 'Transformers' he told Rotten Tomatoes that he's going to be leaking a lot of false info...Are you serious? Did that really make sense to tell them? So then they're not going to believe it right? Then save yourself the trouble and just do your job of not letting crap leak out. I really think Bay drinks before most (if not all) of his interviews...Just for that, I'm going to bug you all with the probably false info of 'Transformers 2'. And you can blame Michael Bay's special effects loving dumb self... 

And Variety reported on T2's possible problems if the famous WGA writers strike continues for much longer. 

DreamWorks/Par's "Transformers 2" is far enough along to proceed with pre-production, location scouting and advance VFX work, but will face serious issues if the strike continues for several months. Michael Bay's megabudget sequel isn't set to start filming until June. Di Bonaventura's "Edwin A. Salt" will likely be pushed back, too. 

And other major superhero projects like "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", "Justice League of America" and "G.I. Joe" may have some troubles too. 

Major tentpoles are the most vulnerable should the strike drag on. Warner Bros. execs are nervous about how to proceed with "Justice League of America," which is still uncast and is a crucial potential franchise boasting popular DC Comics characters. While WB expects to move ahead on most of its projects, if the strike extends past February, the studio will have some reevaluating to do. 

Paramount, on the other hand, threw four pricey A-list scribes at would-be $100-million franchise "G.I. Joe," which is scheduled to start shooting in February, and swears that the move paid off. Stuart Beattie ("3:10 to Yuma"), John Lee Hancock ("A Perfect World") and Brian Koppleman and David Levien ("Ocean's Thirteen") teamed up in an intense collaboration that yielded, according to di Bonaventura, a shootable scrip t. But will the studio be willing to take a chance on shooting such an important, costly tentpole? The studio insists it will, partly because it isn't chasing big-name stars. 

"We have to make sure the actors are not only good but perfectly suited to their roles," says di Bonaventura. 

Fox is moving full speed ahead with its "X-Men" spinoff "Wolverine," even though many roles are still uncast. Unlike "X-Men," "Wolverine" rests solidly on Hugh Jackman's shoulders. 

On "X-Men" pics, Parker admits, writers Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn were making adjustments throughout production. "Wolverine" will have no such luxury. Most action sequences will be handled in f/x animation. 

Jeez. Go WGA for shaking up the world. Drock OUT.