This week On the Radar George Lucas seeks to capture the minds of even younger viewers, Image Comics takes a shot at Marvel, and one of the most famous music videos of all time may go 3D.  All that and whole bunch of other fun stuff!

Crispin Glover talks Back to the Future controversy

Personally, I didn’t realize Back to the Future was mired in any kind of controversy, but it is.  Speaking at a promotion for Hot Tub Time Machine, Crispin Glover, who played Marty McFly’s (Michael J. Fox) Dad spoke about the raw deal he was dealt after the first film came out:

“On the DVD to the Back to the Future trilogy, Bob Gale has said something that’s totally fabricated,” Glover told a group of reporters at this weekend’s press junket forHot Tub Time Machine. “He said I asked for twice the amount of money that Michael J. Fox asked for in the first film. In the negotiation for the second film, they offered me less than half of what any of the actors that were being asked to come back in the film—Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson. They had all done studio films, and they’d made a lot more money. I was being penalized.”

Interesting stuff.  Mind you, considering the somewhat lackluster opinions of the second and third film maybe Glover got off easy by not being in them.

Jamie Foxx to star in Kane & Lynch video game adaption?

There hasn’t been a lot of talk about the film adaption of video game Kane & Lynch other than it could star Bruce Willis as Kane.  Now, another big name is being tossed around to play opposite Willis, Jamie Foxx.  Developed by IO Interactive Nu Image/Millennium is set to finance with Lionsgate distributing.  While I’m confident in the actors involved, video games are not well known for the best of translations to the big screen.

George Lucas bringing Galactic Heroes to TV

Ask any “real” Star Wars fan and they will probably tell you that The Clone Wars cartoon is pretty childish.  Well, prepared to consider that more mature entertainment.  Looking to draw in even younger viewers to the Star Wars universe, George Lucas is working on a cartoon adaption of the Star Wars: Galactic Heroes toy line.  You know, those chunky figures with a whopping two points of articulation (usually the arms).  Worse yet, this problem means more screen time with the one Star Wars character that can relate best to 3 year olds-Jar Jar Binks.

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For those not in the know when it comes to British pop musicians (we won’t blame you), Mika is a pretty big name in the world of UK Pop. He’s basically what Justin Timberlake is the US, but “across the pond.” He’s been on such shows as So You Think You Can Dance and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and now he’s even branching out into the world of comic book films, as his recent single is dedicated to the upcoming film Kick-Ass.

The song, appropriately titled “Kick Ass”, is a sort of anthem for the film, in which a teen wallflower decides to do something with his life and become a superhero. Other critics have referred to the song as “an updated version of the Highlander theme by Queen”, which makes complete sense. We can definitely see Mika becoming the modern day Queen, if only we could get an updated pop version of the Flash Gordon theme. Then we’d be in business.

Until then, check out Mika’s newest music video for the single, starring some of the cast of the film including Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Be sure to catch Kick-Ass in theaters on April 16th of this year (or April 2nd if you’re in the UK.)

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I’m still anxiously awaiting the day I get to see Kick-Ass, and be as cool as our SXSW team that caught its Austin premiere. (Be sure to check out Shannon Hood’s review.)   But at least I could content myself with Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic, Making the Movie which the gang at Titan Books was kind enough to let me review.

Anyone who viewed the trailer knows that Kick-Ass is going to be a unique movie. One look at Chloe Moretz’s Hit Girl can tell you that much. But I hadn’t realized just how unusual its page-to-screen transition was. Millar was still in the process of sketching the book out when he approached Matthew Vaughn (licking his wounds after leaving Thor) about directing.

The movie took shape as the comic did, with Millar running back and forth between the production offices and his own keyboard, incorporating ideas from Vaughn and screenwriter Jane Goldman as he went. Characters who were meant to be minor players such as Red Mist took on a life of their own after they were cast, and ended up becoming major players in Kick-Ass’ story arc. If there’s a sequel to Kick-Ass, it may be entirely due to Christopher Mintz-Plasse single-handedly rewriting his character.

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Between Avatar raking in more money than any other film in the history of Hollywood, and other studios jumping around to upgrade their films for that extra 3D bump, such as Warner pushing back Clash of the Titans so they can go back and convert the film to a more 3D-happy stock, it looks like even more films will be getting this treatment.

IESB recently reported that Lionsgate’s upcoming reboot of Conan the Barbarian (now just titled Conan) will be going 3D, hoping that the film will bring in some of those fans that made Pandora a cash cow. Many other studios have fallen in line with this method, such as MGM changing the release date more than a year so that Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods can get the 3D changeover.

Conan, based on the pulp series by writer Robert E. Howard, will begin filming next month, with Stargate Atlantis actor Jason Momoa stepping in as the sword-swinging barbarian. Mickey Rourke is also rumored to be joining the cast.

Yesterday, we brought you a cool behind-the-scenes feature going backstage on the set of Liongsgate’s newest upcoming comic film, Kick-Ass. With that, we got to see a bit more of Mark Strong as the main baddie in the film, some more of Chloe Moret’z “Hit Girl”, and lots of Matthew Vaughn going hands-on on the set.

Today, we’re getting even more, as a brand new red band trailer has hit the web. The trailer has got pretty much everything you would want in a red band: swearing, nudity, and outrageous violence. Obviously, it should be filed under NSFW.

Unfortunately, Cage’s “Ass-Kick” line still makes the trailer. Let’s hope it doesn’t make the final cut of the film.

Check out the new trailer after the jump, from our pals at Trailer Addict, and be sure to catch Kick-Ass, starring Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Moretz, Mark Strong, and Nic Cage, on April 16th.

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With Matthew Vaughn’s Kick-Ass coming to theaters this April, Lionsgate has been stepping up their marketing in spades over the past month. They put out a few cool new trailers, some great character posters, and now they’re rolling out a neat new mini documentary of life on the set.

Empire was lucky enough to film the antics backstage with just about everyone from the cast, including Aaron Johnson, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and even Matthew Vaughn himself.

Now that Mark Millar’s first run has ended in the comics, we all know what we’re in store for with the film, and it should be a fun ride, including the possible on-screen death of a very unlikeable A-list actor.

Check out Empire’s mini documentary after the jump, and be sure to catch Lionsgate’s Kick-Ass in theaters on April 16th.

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We at The Flickcast are pretty diligent about serving up all the news that comes out each week. However, try as we may to cover it all, some things occassionally slip by. Well, no longer.

Welcome to On The Radar! This weekly post will be your premiere destination for a comprehensive roundup of items that may be developing stories we’re watching, Twitter commentary, or other relevant news that wasn’t quite ready for prime time just yet.  In short, a grab bag of geek items which are sure to please.

Let’s see what blips are on the radar this week.

‘Zombieland’ devours video rentals

Zombieland dominated the video lists this week, “…on the Nielsen VideoScan Blu-ray Disc chart, “Zombieland” went three for three, bowing at No. 1 and …racked up 31% of its total first-week sales from the Blu-ray Disc.” Way to go Zombieland, we can’t wait for the sequeal.

‘Avatar’ 3D boosts Cineplex ticket sales in Canada

3D showings of Avatar did wonders for Cineplex’s bottom line in Canada, “Despite running for only 13 days during its latest financial frame, “Avatar 3D” was Cineplex’s biggest boxoffice performer during the fourth quarter to Dec. 31, and has done around $74 million in Canadian ticket receipts to date.” No surprise really given the popularity of this film and the fact 3D showings are still being sold, out or causing line-ups.

Geek flicks drive Viacom profits

DVD and Blu-Ray disc sales from Star Trek, Transformers 2 and G.I. Joe stimulated Viacom’s fourth quarter earnings to the tune of $694 million.  Not bad considering the $173 million it made in the same quarter in 2008.  Also helping was the indie hit Paranormal Activity which increased operating expenses by 24%.

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Big week for international trailers, with the first one for Clash of the Titans hitting yesterday. Now the first red band international trailer for Lionsgate’s Kick-Ass is here, and it looks, well, kick ass.

We first got a glimpse at the film by Matthew Vaughn when the San Diego Comic-Con footage leaked in July of last year, then Lionsgate picked up distribution for the film and started rolling out tons and tons of promotion for the project.

With that comes the newest red band trailer for the film, giving us all of the f-bombs and headshots that we loved to see in the book. The adaptation of the Mark Millar comic stars Aaron Johnson as the titular Kick-Ass, along with Chloe Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Nic Cage, and  Sinestro frontrunner Mark Strong.

Check out the new NSFW trailer after the jump, and catch Kick-Ass in theaters on April 16.

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This week more than one thing involving Conan seems to be getting settled. Yesterday, we told you about Conan O’Brien making a deal with NBC to step away from The Tonight Show. Now, word comes from Deadline Hollywood that Millennium Films, Lionsgate and Paradox Entertainment have chosen an actor to take on the role of Conan the Barbarian in their brand new Conan movie — and that actor is Jason Momoa.

Momoa, who has appeared in Stargate Atlantis and also stars in HBO’s Game of Thrones, reportedly beat Kellan Lutz of Twilight fame for chance to play the titular hero. Apparently, Conan director Marcus Nispel was sold on Momoa, and won over the filmmakers by shooting some test scenes that allowed Momoa to wield a sword and behave very “Schwarzenegger-like.”

The film, which re-boots the Conan franchise and tells the origin of Robert E. Howard’s famous character, is now on course for a March 15 production start in Bulgaria. No word yet on additional casting or a release date but we have heard that producers have reached out to Mickey Rourke to play Conan’s father in the film. More on that as it develops.