HOME TRAILERS RELEASE DATES PODCASTS REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS BOB $TENCIL NEWS FEEDS ABOUT APPS

LATEST NEWS

Comic Tidbits: Umbrella Academy Movie / Nick Fury in Iron Man 2

by Alex Billington
October 19, 2008
Source: Latino Review

A few small updates from the comic book world today. We already covered the update from Terrence Howard yesterday regarding being recast in Iron Man 2, which is definitely the big story of the weekend. What really did happen at Marvel? Moving on to more exciting news, Latino Review checked in with Samuel Jackson earlier today to see if he would still be in Iron Man 2 as Nick Fury. The short answer - Jackson will definitely be back as Fury and will have a much more prominent role this time around. In a separate update, IESB talked with My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way and learned that his comic, The Umbrella Academy, has been optioned by Universal and is on its way to become a feature film.

Fans who stuck around past the credits of Iron Man were treated to a special ending scene where Samuel Jackson donning an eye patch spoke to Tony Stark about an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. This was exciting because S.H.I.E.L.D. is the foundation of the Avengers and so much more in the Marvel universe. Additionally, Jackson has always been talked about as the perfect on-screen iteration of Nick Fury, who is the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. This final scene was like a dream come true for comic fans, so it's exciting to know he'll be back in Iron Man 2. Jackson told Latino Review that he had talked with Jon Favreau the night before and was told that Nick Fury would be involved in the sequel in a bigger way.

The Umbrella Academy is a six-issue comic book series written by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. The first issue was published last year by Dark Horse Comics and the series eventually went on to win the 2008 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series. In the comic, the members of the Umbrella Academy, a disbanded group of superheroes, reunite after the death of their adoptive father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves. Hargreeves, an alien disguised as a famous inventor, collected the seven members of the Umbrella Academy shortly after their birth and trained them to save the world from an unspecified threat. Now they'll carry on his plan to save the world.

I don't know much about the comic, but Grant Morrison called it "an ultraviolet psychedelic sherbet bomb of wit and ideas." Not even sure if that's a compliment, but it sounds very interesting, to say the least. Way told IESB that Universal optioned the rights and that they've only just had their first meeting about it. They're currently looking for screenwriters, with Universal suggesting Diablo Cody above all others. As for a director, Way is a fan of Alfonso Cuarón, but is open to other directors, although they haven't gotten to the stage of development yet. The comic seems a bit too emo for me, but I'll be open to seeing how the film adaptation turns out. For those who have read the comic, would it make a good movie?

Explore tags: Hype, Movie News

http://immoralmatriarch.com Maria

I'm not emo AT ALL but I read the comic and it's actually pretty good. Not as emo as you would think. Hellz yeah to Nick Fury in Iron Man 2, and part of me is wishing that the something will fall apart with Don Cheadle and Terrance Howard will be brought back. No disrespect to Don, but I loved the chemistry between TH & RDJ. I'm still hoping The Mandarin is the main villain. I know J.F. said he was too dated, but I still think it'd be awesome.
Stefanzo

Umbrella Academy is down right strange and a breath of fresh air in the comic book world. It'd be so surreal as a movie I'd really be curious who could tackle it properly. Also, the comic doesn't answer TONS of questions, this typically doesn't go across well in popular films. They're apparently working on another mini series for Umbrella Academy.
vu

my brother is a comic fan more than me and he says Nick Fury is supposed to be white, I'm assuming he is correct. Personally I don't care but I'm just tired of Sam Jackson, he should retire, "Motherfucker!"
Allynd Dudnikov

@2: I disagree Umbrella Academy was teen angst with Mignola inspired artwork, not very original and boring if you ask me. It felt like he spent most of his trying to be weird and kooky than actually creating an interesting story. @ 3: Sam Jackson was great. Nick Fury of Marvel 616 is white where as Ultimate Nick Fury is back and looks exactly like Sam Jackon except for his minor first appearance.
Necrothug

The reason so many think Sam jackson is perfect for the Role of Nick Fury is because he's already played him...sort of. In the comic series Ultimate Avengers, they actually used the likeness of Sam Jackson (with his permission of course) to potray the iconic character. Before Ultimate Avengers, Nick Fury was a white guy, so he may not have been the perfect actor for the job in that instance. And I only say that because I don't remember the previous Nick Fury as a bad ass motherfucker.
Allynd Dudnikov

@5: Not to be a dick but Ultimate Nick Fury first showed up in "The Ultimates" thats the proper name for the time in the Ultimate Marvel U. "Ultimate Avengers" is the name of the team from the cartoon movies.
Darunia

I don't understand the connection between the Umbrella movie and Nick Fury in Iron Man 2.
sicgamer

Shield isn't the foundation of the Avengers. Shield actually had nothing to do with the creation of the Avengers.
Taz

I read Umbrella Academy, and found it rather boring. Yes, a lot of questions were left unanswered, and if you ask me, the only reason it sold well was because of Gerard Way. I was disappointed! And Sam Jackson would make an awesome Fury, even if he is based off Ultimate Nick Fury. Its Sam Jackson, he's a badass. The comic book movie I am looking forward to though, is Scott Pilgrim! Edgar Wright directing and Micheal Cera as Scott? Sold! lol
Taz

@6 I think he actually first showed up in Ultimate X Men, but I could be wrong! Either way, he was in the Ultimate comic line before he turned up in that incarantion in the animated movies.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#7 - There is no connection... I just thought I'd cover two comic book movie updates in one article... Didn't have enough time to write two (nor did I think it was necessary) since I'm about to head out to see Quantum of Solace right now.
bat

you cheeky bastard!!!
PimpSlapStick

vu fuck you, Sam Jackson is the man you better recognize Anyways your brother is correct somewhat, the original Marvel universe version of Fury is indeed white, but Marvel several years ago launched the Ultimate Marvel Universe line of comics that took a more modern/realistic approach to the characters with more solid science and circumstances behind the origins and this version of Nick Fury is not only black but based on Sam Jackson. In fact Kevin Feige head of Marvel Studios said the movie Marvelverse is based more closely on the Ultimate Universe since none comic fans and the general movie going public expect more realism and are savy to inconsistant ideas.
PimpSlapStick

Sicgamer actually SHIELD is the foundation of this incarnation of the Avengers the Ultimates which is what Marvel studios is basing their movie on.
Hi kenny!

good news!
http://www.aytemir.com Tschai

It's a pitty, but from Marvel=Hollywood point of view understandable: they are basing their stuff on the new shit and not on the originals. Nicky Fury black? Shield the founder of Avengers? Ultimate Avengers? Missed all these ones, although I used to be a comic fan. Also I agree that Sam Jackson has sucked more often than he rocked the last couple of movies...he's on autopilot.
big r

Alex you lucky effin bastard! How do you guys get to see movies so damn early???
http://www.youtube.com/AllmightyKeim AllmightyKeim

#16 Need to go to the Comic shop and pick up some Comics. Cuase The Ultimates fucking rock.
Staatz

I hope Frank Miller stays the heck away from Umbrella Academy
Conrad

I'm sick of Samuel Jackson now, he's tired! He's so useless these days its not even funny. He just seems like filler - anyone know what I mean?
Bishopsring

The Umbrella Academy is very good. Different and unique, but still has the same superhero theme. Not sure how one could pull off a movie, but it will be interesting if they do. The key would be how would regular people view the movie or view a trailer if seen. Will they be superheroed out by that time. Everyone thinks that just because you make a superhero movie it is going to be great. Remember X-Men. It did well, but still had a hard time getting the audience it needed. Though it got the trilogy, it still did not catch on with a wide range group and that had a large X-Men Comic group backing. It would have to be very well written, explained in a the movie of its history and have a good cast to draw in the masses. I doubt it could be shown as a trilogy, which is doing to be difficult.
blaccx251

Nick fury is black and based on samuel jackson in the ultimate marvel universe. In the marvel cartoon movies SHIELD brought together the avengers to make "Ultimate Avengers"..As a old comic book reader, i agree not every heroe should get a movie, example "antman"..I rather see angel in one before him, atleast we can see archangel..what depth does antman have really
adilator

I wonder how they'll handle the talking chimp in the umbrella movie... yes, a talking monkey, and one of the heroes had a spaceflight accident and had his head transfered on a gorilla body to survive...
vu

#13 Pimpgaystick, fuck you he used to be one of my favorite actors but it seems he'll take any role offered literally. I bet you couldn't name all the good roles he's played to the point where they outweigh all the crappy ones he's accepted. Don't say you can because you can't, everyone knows he's been in some shitty movies. "Deep Blue Sea, they ate me! A fuckin shark ate me!"
Melissa

I would LOVE to see the Umbrella Academy made into a movie. Especially since the second series is coming out in November, more of the loose ends will be tied up. Honestly, I think it would make a great movie. For the talking chimp, they would probably do a computer animated character or an animatronic. With the gorilla body, they could do a greenscreen suit the size of a gorilla's body and digitize it. But there are many ways they could MAKE the movie so it would also depend on that. Hell...I'd love to be IN it...
LW

To #23 Never heard of 'Detective Chimp'?... for shame.
Carlisle

Ya MCR is my favorite band but I'll admit, the Umbrella Academy was okay. It wasn't as good as other comics but it was still good. I'm excited to see that it is being made into a movie because only one series has been out and people who have read it know you can only add more. go to a book store u wont have to buy it if u don't want just find the graphic novel it will take u a half hour to read in the store. And another thing, Gerard did this because he has the money and he has the passion to do a comic. I bet he figures 'hell, im already here and have the connections to put out a book, why not?'
jason

Samuel Jackson sucks ass! Almost all his movies have sucked in the last 10 years! All the star wars sucked, soul men, lakeview terrace, jumper, 1408, black snake moan, snakes on a plane, freedomland, xxx, coach carter, swat.....He's not a BADASS, he's a BAD ACTOR. Yes Nick Fury is white, so leave him that way for his solo movie! Ultimates nick fury has never even had a solo comic book!!!! WTF is marvel thinking if they make a movie around a character that's never had a solo comic book!!!