Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been cast to play Mandrake the Magician in the Chuck Russell directed Mandrake.

Whats that? Who’s Mandrake the Magician?

I’m glad you asked. Mandrake was a comic strip from the 30’s featuring a magician that fought the good fight. It generated plenty of spin-offs in other media formats including serials and books. In the 80’s the heroic magician starred in a cartoon alongside other classic comic strip heroes including The Phantom and Flash Gordon. You may remember this cartoon as Defenders of the Earth.

The new film, featuring Meyers, is set to shoot next year, both in the USA, and in China.

Source: Blogs@Newsarama

Joshua Middleton gives us a look at his cover for JLA Classified 52 at several different stages of its development. From concept sketch to final coloring, Josh has explained the process behind the art in brief detail (is that an oxymoron?). You can see the article on his blog here.

I have posted things from Josh’s blog in the past. He is among my favorite artists and its nice to see him give background on stuff like this. You can check out his site here.

TFW2005 points us to this auction. Up for auction is a pre-production mock up of Transformers Animated Prowl in packaging. A disclaimer on the package reads:

This is a pre-production sample package. This sample package is for illustration only. Size and design may vary slightly.

While keeping that in mind, the packaging looks remarkably similar to the same size and, for the most part, coloring of the packaging from Transformers Cybertron. The shape of the packaging more closely resembles the Transformers Classics packaging with the more box-like bubble containing the figure itself.

 

Here are samples from Cybertron (white) and Classics (red):

 

TNI gave us a look at the upcoming third wave of minimates for the Star Trek The Original Series.

This assortment will be available in two packs with the following pairings:

• Gladiator Kirk and Kor the Klingon
• “Space Seed” Khan and Dress Uniform Kirk
• Ambassador Sarek and Dress Uniform Spock
• VARIANT: “Spock’s Brain” Spock (with Ambassador Sarek)

BigBadToyStore.com has confirmed that TakaraTomy will be releasing Sky Lynx as the next TF Collection reissue. It has been rumored for several months that this G1 figure would be next on the reissue list and more solidly confirmed at a Chara Hobby event where it was seen on display with no release date set. A release date of February 2008 has been set for the figure and should be a hot release.

This was definitely one figure I always wanted when I was younger. Hopefully Sky Lynx will make his way state-side eventually.

Source: TFW2005

Mike Young Productions’ relaunched He-Man and the Masters of the Universe property is coming to DVD. As previously reported, BCI Eclipse will be handling it. Mattel has loads of material to contribute for special features. He-man.org reports:

TvShowsOnDVD.com reports that the first DVD set of the 2002 Mike Young Productions’ “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” could see a February 2008 release. The series would be split over 3 sets, each containing 13 episodes in anamorphic widescreen presentation.

Early advertisements for the set have already made their way to the public. You can see one on the inside cover of Agent DVD Magazine, which I have conveniently take a screen capture of seen below.

He-man.org also mentions that there is more than likely going to be a Blu-Ray release of the set because there was a marked improvement in quality. A HD-DVD release is also in discussion at the moment.

Because we can’t get enough Iron Man teasers:

Consider me teased! Bring on the movie already!

Via Blogs@Newsarama

Action Figure Xpress will be offering an exclusive 2-pack of Masters of the Universe stactions (static action figures). The exclusive includes a hoodless Kobra Khan, one of the infamous snakemen and a new version of Faker, Skeletor’s evil robotic ‘impostor’ of He-Man. Faker looks like he may be a repaint of the recent SDCC exclusive classic colors He-man including the classic sword with a repainted or resculpted chest piece from Skeletor.

Packaging:

 

Figures:

  

 

News came by way of He-man.org via the announcement made by NECA. These items are not yet up for pre-order, but I imagine they’ll be up soon.