Akiva Goldsman, the screenwriter/producer who has brought us such gems as Batman & Robin, Lost in Space, The Da Vinci Code, Hancock and I am Legend, recently spoke to the L.A. Times and dropped a few tidbits of info on the many comic book films he currently has in the pipeline as a producer.

So, if you want some updates on DC Comic films Lobo, Swamp Thing, Jonah Hex and more, keep on reading as I cut down the lengthy interview into some easy-to-absorb snippets for you to feast on.

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After the Disney/Marvel merger DC Comics and longtime-partner Warner Bros. had to be shaking in their boots. “The House of the Mouse” is already looking like a force that few will likely be able to reckon with.

Well, in an effort to become one of those few forces able to take on Disney/Marvel, Nikke Finke reports that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. has launched a new division, DC Entertainment Inc., in order to better expand the DC Brand.

Marvel fanboys have already been having heart palpitations wondering what the fate of their favorite characters will be in the hands of Disney. Now DC fans can officially share in that anxiety.

In the Wrap Up this week:

Warner Bros get jiggy with their release dates; Paul W.S. Anderson is The Warded Man; Schwentke sees Red with Willis and Freeman; [UPDATED] Will Spielberg helm Helm? Russell Crowe and Paul Haggis are busy for The Next Three Days and Matthew McConaughey and Eva Mendes are Southbound.

Just one of the many movies being marketed at Comic-Con this year is the upcoming comic book Western adaptation, Jonah Hex. The movie stars Josh Brolin in the lead role, with support from John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Michael Fassbender and Michael Shannon. The film is based on the DC comic series about a horribly scarred antihero who is, “a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood.”

Sounds prime for a movie to me…

There was an opening video where writer of the original book Maurice Sendack and director Spike Jonze talked about the approach to the film. Sendack is very, very happy with Jonze’ vision of his original story and couldn’t say enough positive things. He said it is true to the spirit of the book and it’s an expansion of the story.

At this morning’s Masters Of The Web Panel at Comic-Con, Robert Sanchez (IESB), George Roush (Latino Reviwe), Wilson Morales (BlackFilm), Paul Christensen (MovieWeb), Vic Holtreman (Screen Rant), Ryan Rotten (Shock Till YOu Drop), Drew McWeeny (HitFix), Devin Faraci (CHUD), Mike Sampson (Jo Blo), Jeremy Smith (AICN) & Brad Miska (Bloody Disgusting) gathered to discuss the ins and outs of writing for movie sites.

Kevin Munroe (Director Dead of Night) moderated the panel and in the second half of the panel, Brandon Routh and Anita Briem joined in on the fun.

Wow, Comic-Con 2009 is already less than three weeks away. Seems like only a couple of months ago since we were there. Last year was a ton of work but also a blast (click here for our wrap up of the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con), and this year we’ll be providing even more extensive coverage for you with additional staff to cover the event.

Warner Bros. recently released the lineup of panels they’ll be presenting at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International. So if you are headed to Comic-Con this year and are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, Where The Wild Things Are, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Book Of Eli, Jonah Hex or even The Final Destination, then you’ll need to know where and when to show up for the panels.

Lucky for you Screent Rant loves our readers and has a nice list of the Warner Bros. panels at Comic-Con all ready for you, including the one that is my most anticipated: a preview screening of DC Universe’s animated feature Green Lantern: First Flight!

This is already all over the Net, but we thought you guys might like to have a look at how actor Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men, W.) is looking as Jonah Hex in the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the DC Comics series.

The pic shows Brolin looking tough and rugged as Jonah Hex, as well as showcasing the makeup work being used to create the character’s trademark scars. Have a look:

Megan Fox, star of this summer’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is currently shooting one of her upcoming movies, the comic book adaptation Jonah Hex, and we finally have a first look at her in costume.

In the film, Fox plays the character Leila, an ex-prostitute rescued from a brothel by Hex (played by Josh Brolin).  The gun-wielding love interest of the title character sure looks the part in this stylish dress.

Enough talking, take a look:

In this Weeks spell check busting installment: Matthew McConaughey is an Exchange Student; Heffalump writer Spiliotopoulos will write Bekmambetov’s Wanted 2 – will Angelina Jolie be involved? Megan Fox is Crossing over; John Carter of Mars is Chabon and which one of the Watchmen has Morning Glory for Star Trek’s Abram?

With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen getting ready for release, the Diablo Cody penned Jennifer’s Body already in the can and Jonah Hex and Fathom on the way, it looks like Megan Fox is getting ready to take over cinema screens across the globe.

The actress has now signed on to star opposite Mickey Rourke in Passion Plays, a 1940’s set dramatic thriller. The Transformers star’s character is described as “a slender beauty with wings who is part of a carnival.”

The upcoming big-screen adaptation of Jonah Hex, has boasted quite an established cast so far, including Josh Brolin, John Malkovich and Megan Fox. Now you can add to that cast list comedian Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and recent Oscar nominee, Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road).

Arnett will make a departure from his usually comedic fare to play the role of a Union soldier who enlists Jonah Hex (Brolin) for a mission, and Shannon will play the character of Doc Cross Williams, “a ringer leader of a gladiatorial event Jonah finds himself in.”

We told you way back in September that Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen star Megan Fox had signed-on to play the lead role of Aspen, in Fox Atomic’s adaptation of Michael Turner’s Fathom.

Well now comes word that the project is indeed moving ahead, with the newly single Fox still attached to star and co-produce the film…along with her ex-fiancé???

Some new release dates have been announced by Warner Bros. for some pretty big movies, including Green Lantern, the final Harry Potter film, Sherlock Holmes, Jonah Hex and Clash of the Titans. The dates range from late 2009 all the way to summer 2011, and one of these movies picked a date that will make things interesting as far as a box office battle (if the date sticks).

After what for months was a rocky road for comic-book adaptation Jonah Hex, things now seem to be smoothing out after all. As we already know, although Crank writers/directors Mark Nevaldine and Brian Taylor are off directing because of “creative differences” (star Josh Brolin pushed for Horton Hears A Who! director Jimmy Hayward), they are still involved via their script.

So with Brolin in place as the star, Hayward locked down as the director and Nevaldine and Taylor’s script still in full play, who shall play the much needed villain of this adaptation? Well, none other than Oscar nominated actor John Malkovich.

Things just got a little more interesting, didn’t they?

There was much confusion (and worry) last week when it was announced that Horton Hears A Who! director Jimmy Hayward was onboard to direct the film adaptation of the comic book Jonah Hex. Many thought that it was a crazy (and poor) choice, but it now appears that the choice was that of the film’s star: Josh Brolin!

Brolin spoke with Collider and he explained how and why the former animator was the right man for the job.

When asked about Hayward’s involvement Brolin said:

It seemed that the comic book adaptation Jonah Hex was in trouble when Crank director’s Mark Nevaldine and Brian Taylor dropped from directing the project because of “creative differences” (although their script will still be used). However it now seems that the project is back on track as another director has been brought on board – he is Horton Hears a Who! director Jimmy Hayward, making his live-action directorial debut.

I know, I know… what the hell, eh?

For those of you fretting don’t worry – No Country for Old Men star Josh Brolin is still on-board to star, so at least we still have that to cling to. But why did Warner Bros. decide to give the directing gig to the guy who did Horton Hears a Who!?

Yep, it really is that time of the week again.

This week:

Harrison Ford talks Indy 5; we check out Johnny Depp in Alice In Wonderland; Jonah Hex is in trouble; John Carpenter is a Prince; and The X-Files’ Frank Spotnitz plans 2012.

It’s that time of the week again.

This week we see who is riding high at the box office; Hex marks the spot for Josh Brolin; Eric Bana is Armored; Frank Darabont isn’t a Law Abiding Citizen and we discover what Robert Downey Jr looks like as Sherlock Holmes.

As it stands, Hollywood studios are deadlocked in their contract negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild. That news stirs up foul memories of a year ago, when the Writers Guild of America was at a similar juncture with the studios… Soon after that there were no TV shows for about half a year.

And we all know what that did last year’s TV season.

UPDATE: This is not a photoshop job – Thomas Jane took it upon himself to get made up as the character because he’s a fan of the character, but there is nothing official about this picture. From Jane himself according to an update from Film School Rejects:

“Yeah, the pic is real all right – my pal Akiva Goldsman told me about the project and I fell in love with the idea right away. Being a huge fan of all things Hex – I just couldn’t help myself. I called up my buddy Chris Nelson and we spent a Saturday afternoon working up some make-up for this impromptu shoot and I fired a few pics off to Warners. How do people get a hold of this shit? It’s a little embarrassing seeing my fanboy enthusiasm spilled all over the web, but great scripts don’t come around too often, especially for characters I love.”

FilmSchoolRejects broke this image upon the internets saying that someone sent it to them stating it was Thomas Jane (from the last Punisher movie) as Jonah Hex. Word went out to the “Movie site guy network” looking for confirmation that this was accurate but details were scarce.