Comic Movie News: Torso and The Green Hornet both in trouble?

First up- Torso, the 1998 crime comic by Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko. Paramount had aquired the rights to this and David Fincher was attached to direct, but it looks like the film studio has let let their option expire.

The Celebrity Cafe, via The Hollywood Reporter:

"Paramount has had the rights for "Torso" since January 2006. The project drew interest with Casey Affleck and Matt Damon with reports on Damon being Fincher's choice to portray Eliot Ness. Hollywood Reporter says the option for Paramount to extend their rights on the film adaptation expired. The studio still owns a screenplay written for the movie by Ehren Kruger. There are still discussions with Paramount and the comics' creators whom now hold the rights. Fincher still remains attached to the project at this time."


As for Seth Rogen's The Green Hornet, rumors abound that ever since Stephen Chow is seemingly no longer the director on this it looks like it might not end up happening for a while (if at all).

Once again The Celebrity Cafe reporting, this time via HitFix.com:

"According to Drew McWeeny of HitFix.com, "Ever since Stephen Chow started to waffle about his participation in the film, I've been hearing rumors that there were major hesitations at Sony. Then at Sundance, I heard several people say that the film was off completely. I spoke this afternoon with a source close to the film, and while they didn't call it completely dead, they did say it is 'highly unlikely' that the film will shoot in 2009 at all." Sony is still listing The Green Hornet for a June 25, 2010 release despite the rumors."

Lest anyone think that anything comic book related automatically gets a greenlight in ol' H-Wood these days, it appears there's still plenty of reservations and hesitation as there ever was at times.

In other news, Paul Blart II: Mall Coppier! is already in pre-production.

- TFM