MARVEL EXERPTS FROM “Marvel Knights Shed Their Armor”, pages 8-9
Interview by Polly Watson

Getting Kevin Smith to write DAREDEVIL has got to be one of the greatest all-time coups in the comics biz, don’t you think?
JOE: Having Kevin Smith write a comic is extremely important. Having Kevin Smith write a comic outweighs the first Batman movie, I think, in terms of helping comics. Because the first Batman movie brought out a few people to the comic stores, but Kevin Smith writing a comic is gonna bring tons of people who never read comics before, like college students.

JIMMY: It’ll be hip to read a comic!

Is Kevin Smith a big DAREDEVIL fan?
JOE: He’s a huge DAREDEVIL fan. That was actually part of the problem, getting him to do this. Here’s a guy who’s written three films who’s working on his fourth right now; he’s got awards out the yin-yang, he’s discovered a number of great talents, and he’s never been so afraid as he’s been writing DAREDEVIL. He’s such a freakin’ fanboy geek that just getting DAREDEVIL and trying to walk in those shoes is a real big deal.

The themes for the books sound as disparate as the artists’ styles! Are they?

JOE:”…Daredevil is very simple; it’s a story about faith.”

What’s your ultimate goal with these books?
JIMMY: We wanna get people reading comics who aren’t reading comics, like women and college students. That’s very important to us. With Kevin Smith, we had a signing in Pittsburgh at a comic convention, and there were like a thousand people lined up out the door, just because it’s Kevin Smith.”

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EXCERPTS FROM “Knight Moves”, pages 10-11
by Michael Dorian and Matthew Brady

BLIND FAITH
Though DAREDEVIL will be first out of the Marvel Knights starting block, and the only title in the line featuring a character currently starring in an ongoing title, Quesada and Palmiotti are keeping most of their detailed plans for the series in the vault until its premiere. But they don’t have to, they have an ace in the hole … hot filmmaker Kevin Smith, who has written a few small press comics based on his own film properties, will be making his first foray into mainstream super hero comics with DD, an event sure to attract lots of attention to a character Marvel feels is well-deserving.

“One thing about Daredevil that has made him a fascinating hero throughout the years is his humanity.” says Joe Quesada. “He’s a normal guy, and he’s blind. He does have this enhanced sense which allows him to do certain things, but essentially everything he does as a super hero, he pretty much trained himself to do. He’s a born athlete. DD’s been broken down a million times, and built himself back up.”

Jumping ahead 6 months following the August issue #380 (the final issue of the current series), the first story arc, “Guardian Angel,” introduces Smith’s unique vision and subject matters not often dealt with in mainstream super hero comics. “Daredevil is one of the few characters that is openly religious, he’s Christian by birth, and we delve into that part of his life this time around,” explains Quesada. “He’s given a task where he’s supposed to protect someone, and he’s not sure if he’s on the right side of the fence with who he’s protecting. It’s a story of faith, it’s a story about seeing is believing, and that’s especially tough when your blind.”

Visually, Quesada and Palmiotti are taking special pains to make Daredevil exemplary of what they hope to achieve with the entire line. “If you look at the artists invloved with the titles, you’ll see there’s no real house style,” claims Quesada. “Each book has a totally different look and flavor to it. Except for one thing, we’re all trying to tell the stories as cleanly and clearly as possible, to make it accessible to new readers and older readers alike.” Palmiotti agrees, “We want people that may have never read comics to pick up this line, and not have a problem following it, understanding the panel arrangement on a page or understanding what a flashback is. Especially in the case of Daredevil, ’cause a lot of people will pick it up just for Kevin Smith at this point.”

And though they are hoping for new readers, and treading new ground in subject matter, the Smith DD also promises to be quite recognizable. “It’s classic, back-to-the-basics Daredevil,” says Palmiotti. “We’re not trying to copy anyone. But then we’re not ignoring what cam before,” says Quesada, “Sure they’re be comparisons, but we hope when it’s all over people will remember our stories as our own. Kevin is bringing in the next wave of greatness to the character. He’s written an epic story so big we’re not sure where it really concludes yet. It’s a helluva story … and by the time it’s over, DD’s life will not be the same.”

Principal photography on the project began Tuesday, June 23, on location in Savannah, Ga., under the direction of Bronwen Hughes. “Forces of Nature” is being produced by Susan Arnold, Donna Roth and Ian Bryce from a screenplay by Marc Lawrence. In addition to Savannah, “Forces of Nature” will film on location in coastal areas of Georgia, South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

The story follows Ben Holmes (Affleck), who has two days to get from New York to Savannah for his wedding to Bridget (Tierney). How hard can that be in this age of planes, trains and automobiles? When his plane goes skidding into Flushing Bay, Ben saves the life of his seatmate, an eccentric young woman named Sarah (Bullock). In return, she becomes his faithful traveling companion — whether he likes it or not — and things continue to “go south” as the two head south.

…

Affleck won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay (shared with Matt Damon) for the hit drama “Good Will Hunting”, in which he also co-starred with Damon and Robin Williams. Affleck is currently starring with Bruce Willis and Liv Tyler in “Armageddon”, and will next be seen in “Shakespeare in Love” and Kevin Smith‘s “Dogma”. His other film credits include “Chasing Amy” and “Going All the Way”.

This week HSX will list the long anticipated director StarBonds.

The schedule will go something like this:

Monday, Independent Directors: Quentin Tarantino (QTARA), Spike Lee (SLEE), John Singleton (JSING) and Kevin Smith, (KSMIT).

Of this group, obviously Kevin Smith is the one you want to own. Kevin Smith is a God. “Clerks” hinted at this fact and “Chasing Amy” confirmed it. QT is tough to call. “Jackie Brown” was a serious snooze-fest. Spike Lee is an incredibly talented director and John Singleton is a solid talent.

The Disney Co. could soon be the target of another holy crusade.

Catholic activists are seeing red over “Dogma”, a new Miramax satire that stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as a pair of foulmouthed homicidal angels.

The flick offers a fractured Gospel in which Chris Rock plays a black 13th apostle, rocker Alanis Morissette is God and a distant female relative of Jesus works at an abortion clinic.

The script has William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, demanding an audience with Disney chief Michael Eisner.

“They love doing this,” says Donohue, of Hollywood film makers. “[Theysay], ‘Let’s see how we can stick it to Christians. What would reallyoffend them?’ ”

Donohue may just get that Eisner powwow. According to a source quoted on the Internet’s Mr. Showbiz, the exec “is not comfortable with this film.”

Meanwhile, “Dogma” star Affleck tells Mr. Showbiz’ Jeffrey Wells: “I know [Miramax chairman] Harvey Weinstein has his trepidations about this, and he’s gotta answer to Disney. Is Michael Eisner nervous about it? Probably. . . . But I certainly hope [Disney] supports the movie.”

A Miramax spokeswoman says Affleck was “just speculating” about Eisner’s reaction.

Range: ‘StarkRavingD’ drops in this scoop about the defacto-Speed second sequel “Range”, and from the sounds of it pre-production is well underway. Here’s the details:

It seems that the “Range” film project is running along smoothly once again. Dante Spinotti has been signed as director and Mark Gordon and Jack Frost Sanders will be producing. Robert Duvall is rumored to commit soon to the role of ‘Kilmer Switch’, the villain but the lead hero role of ‘Dutton Cox’ has yet to be filled. FOX desperately wants Ben Affleck onboard this project but won’t throw a 20 million dollar paycheck his way. Dylan McDermott is the studios second choice. Affleck seems likely based on his pumped up performance in Armageddon. The film will employ James Cameron‘s Digital Domain for the helicopter-related special effects.

Tip 2 of 7; Sat/Sun Juy 4-5

Kevin Smith recently denied rumors that Alanis Morissette is playing the Lord, our father, (i.e. the big guy upstairs). Smith is a big fan of Morrissette’s and cast her in the movie, but not as the big heavenly cheese. In other news on the film, in one scene Silent Bob and Jay take the turntables away from Beck’s DJ in order to do some scratching and mixing on the Fat Albert theme song.

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