Justice League, assemble!

(from left: Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, The Flash and some weird Wolverine type lady but with a mace instead of claws and she's got wings)

There are a few things I love. Comic books and films/ TV shows/ cartoons based on comic books being some of them. I love my toasted ham and cheese sandwiches too but that's a matter for another day. News of a Justice League movie is incredibly exciting to me and now with so many comic book movies planned and in production, the news is coming thick and fast.

The film adaptation of Justice League Of America will be shooting in early 2008 with George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet) directing. It still hasn't been announced whether or not it will be a live action film or a CGI film (like Happy Feet) to avoid distubing the level of realism set in the different movies of the established characters. One film sees Batman use ninja training and high-tech gadgets to fight crime. The other sees Superman fly an entire continent off into space. Fairly different universes there.

The latest single superhero being pushed into production is Wonder Woman. After a few years attached to the project, Joss Whedon dropped out in February because he couldn't find an actress suitable for the part. There are new efforts now being made to get the film made and establish the character before the JLA movie. Producer Joel Silver purchased a script for it's great ideas but wants to get rid of the fact it's set in WWII. Rumour is that Katie Holmes is in the running to get the role of Princess Diana.

A Flash movie is also underway. According to Ryan Reynolds who was apparently approached for the role, "There’s talk of it being a JLA movie, having them all together. And then there’s other talk of doing a 'Flash' movie with [director] Shawn Levy,” Reynolds told MTV. “[it] might, yeah. I don’t really know how much I’m allowed to talk about that stuff. But I’m sure they’ll figure out something. It’s no secret that they have a JLA script and it’s a project that’s in development – the contents of which, who knows."

Brandon Routh said in an interview that "If they come at me about it, I would definitely be intrigued to work with Christian and whoever else wants to be apart of it". Regarding the next Superman film, Routh confirmed that shooting and prepping will begin early next year, and that he's excited to do it all over again. "I'm getting a little itchy to get back in the suit now," exclaimed Routh. That's all after Bryan Singer finishes shooting "Valkyrie" starring Tom Cruise. Warner Brothers want to have the JLA movie released before the second Superman movie due in 2009. Today, Christian Bale said "It'd be better if it doesn’t tread on the toes of what we’re doing, though I feel that it would be better if it comes out after Batman 3" which goes against all of Warner's plans. It might be the case that JLA will launch all the superheroes who aren't Superman and Batman. I'd love a JLA movie with everyone there but I'd definitely prefer their individual movies.

The Marvel universe has it's own version of "The Justice League of America" called "The Avengers" and, guess what? There's a film version featuring that superhero ensemble too. Zak Penn, the man who wrote the screenplay of the upcoming "The Incredible Hulk", has been confirmed as the writer with a film draft already given the thumbs up.

Iron Man is coming out next Summer and Nick Fury is rumoured to be making a cameo in that movie (in the form of Samuel L. Jackson). Captain America is in pre-production and Thor already has a confirmed director in Mattheuw Vaughn. Spiderman is already fairly established too, I supposed. The schedule is looking to be that "Iron Man" will be released next May, "The Incredible Hulk" the month after and "Captain America" soon after that. Happy times for comic book fans. Overkill for everyone else.

Update: It's been revealed that casting will start next week to find a whole new Batman and Superman rather than mess up Christian Bale and Brandon Routh's schedules. It makes sense to me that the film will stand alone from the two big individual franchises and have simultaneous Batman and Superman in their own movies and their own unique universe.