Some primitive screwheads unaffiliated with the people who created the Evil Dead franchise have been trying to use the horror classic’s title to produce a third sequel to the original movies. But one of those creators, Sam Raimi, never actually signed away the rights to the Evil Dead name, so now he’s suing to stop the aforementioned screwheads from screwing with the series while Raimi is producing an actual Evil Dead movie. However, the screwheads — Award Pictures — say that Raimi all but gave them permission to make an Evil Dead sequel — when he said something to that effect in The Evil Dead Companion, published in 2000. Yup. A random quote in a book from 2000, a quote preceded by the word “Ha,” was read as a go-ahead for Award Pictures to make their own unauthorized sequel to The Evil Dead. Yeah. Good luck with that.

Everyone familiar with the movie (and the Stephen King novel) Carrie knows that the crux of the story lies in the relentless bullying of a teenage girl by her peers. And while bullying has existed since organic creatures developed the ability to judge each other, things are slightly different nowadays. People are (finally) a lot less tolerant of it, and those who try to write it all off as “kids being kids” are seen as negligent, trying to ignore a very big and enduring problem. And now, writer and director Kimberly Peirce, who is remaking Carrie, will try to keep the anti-bullying message alive.

Sounds like a reality dating show review but no, this is about a movie. Walt Disney Studio changed the name of their next epic to John Carter because they were worried men wouldn’t see a movie with the word “Princess” in the title and that women wouldn’t see a movie with “Mars” in the title. Well guess what? They don’t have to worry at all anymore. No one is going to see their movie. At least according to new tracking numbers leaked today. 

For all those dudes who write all that sexy, sexy sci-fi fan fiction, there is now a brothel opening in Nevada just for them. The Alien Cathouse — run by the owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, Dennis Hof — will feature prostitutes dressed and made up to look like aliens, science fiction characters, and basically everything nerds have ever fantasized about since they discovered their manhood hiding underneath all those fanzines. Grab some Purell, because we’re going to tell you all about it!

It’s a very strange turn of events to hear a question like that, cable news is 24 hours long so you have to fill it up with something. No, the Muppets are not communist. The character of Tex Richman is not an allegory for capitalism in any way. The character is called Tex Richman. It’s a joke. Clearly he is a classic, old school bad guy. He’s bad not because he works for an oil company but because he’s evil. No, it’s not a communist movie in any way. – James Bobin, director of The Muppets.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Fox News (who else?) segment that Bobin is responding to, I’ve posted it below.

The Independent published an interview with Alan Moore yesterday, and asked him about what everybody in the comics industry is getting asked these days: women. Specifically, about how to get more women to read comics. Moore could only speak from his twenty or thirty-odd years of experience:

I thought, well if you do more stories that are aimed at women, you’ll get more women reading the comics. It would seem fairly simple and straightforward, but there was a lot of resistance [to the idea].

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, Moore is talking about the process behind getting The Ballad of Halo Jones made, a story that was published in 1984.

Emmy Award winner Peter Dinklage has garnered a lot of fame thanks to his role in the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones so it’s curious to find out the actor has an aversion to the genre because of how it’s depicted dwarves in its long history. Though technically, he doesn’t consider Game of Thrones fantasy. Hmm, we’ll give you the first, sir but I will argue your second opinion to the death. 

For me, Joss Whedon will always be the man responsible for creating my favorite female character of all time – Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Young ladies of a younger generation may come to revere him for his work on The Avengers but what Whedon really can’t get off his mind is that no one will remember him for creating a kick-ass Wonder Woman movie. In a new interview he laments the loss of that project while also discussing his ongoing love affair with strong characters of the female persuasion. 

In one of the most shockingly appropriate casting announcements ever, Alice Cooper, shock rocker extraordinaire, will be joining Tim Burton‘s film adaptation of campy horror TV series Dark Shadows. If you’re wondering which member of the Collins clan he’ll be playing, your speculation can end here. Cooper will be playing himself, in “full spandex regalia.”

The New 52 has been a success at getting outliers interested in comics again. But looking around the Javits, at the ocean of non-white faces, and of female faces, it became VERY clear to me that all the angry blog posts begging for more diversity in the comics isn’t just a few loudmouths—even though they are treated as such by the big companies. It’s the reality of the world. Reaching this audience through inclusion might just be the most important goal for the mainstream comics industry’s continued survival. – Heidi MacDonald writing her New York Comic Con wrap-up for The Beat.

It’s just a little maddening having been one of those “loudmouths” myself to see this particular aspect of conventions, and in turn comics, so obviously noticed by what seems like everyone but those like DC Comics who really need to experience it. Not having attended any of the DC panels at NYCC (a first for me), I can’t say whether or not the demographics were represented the same way there but the point is – if they are at a convention they are potential readers/new readers. Wouldn’t it make sense to provide something they can see themselves in?

(via The Beat)