October
31 News updates: Downey at Marvel, 'Flash' fakery, Mendes on 'Preacher'

Marvel Studios has signed Robert Downey Jr. to reprise his role of Tony Stark in two sequels to "Iron Man" and in the "Avengers" pic set for 2011. "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau also signed to helm "Iron Man 2" and to exec produce "Avengers." Studio also confirmed Don Cheadle is taking over for Terrence Howard in the role of Jim Rhodes in both "Iron Man 2" and "Avengers."

There's a fake "Flash" trailer that some folks are trying to pass off as having been shown before recent test screenings of "Watchmen." But it's definitely a fake. Catch it at YouTube while you can.

Sam Mendes is the most-recent director hoping to adapt "Preacher" to the big screen. Project is set up at Columbia and comes after HBO put the brakes on Mark Steven Johnson's plans for a  TV series based on the comic by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon.

Several sites are reporting interest at WB in keeping Brandon Routh in the role of Superman for the next film — whatever and whenever that may be.

Boston.com has an interesting profile on Rick Keene, who helps restore comic art from the Golden Age for the likes of DC Comics' Archives series of hardcover reprints.

MovieTickets.com polled its users on the most-anticipated films for the next year, with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" coming in at the No. 2 spot right behind "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

J. Scott Campbell's original art for the covers to IDW's Presidential Material comics is being auctioned off on eBay. The Barack Obama cover is here, the John McCain version here. Interestingly, as I write this, the price for each is identical at $635, with 10 bids each. Proceeds help the Wounded Warrior Project.

J. Michael Straczynski has been named guest of honor at the New York Comic-Con. Straczynski is best known as the creator of "Babylon 5" and writer of such comics as "Rising Stars" and "Amazing Spider-Man." He's getting a lot more attention these days though as the writer of the current Clint Eastwood pic and Oscar contender "Changeling." Could JMS become the first man to win an Eisner and an Oscar? The con is set for Feb. 6-8.