Questions about the “Iron Man” sequels? The DVD release? Upcoming storylines? “The Avengers” and future Marvel tie-ins? An IMAX release? This long interview at SuperheroHype with director Jon Favreau (finally hired on by Marvel) ought to answer any of those. If that’s not enough, here’s more. And more.

Films number 4 and 5 in the “Spider-Man” series will be filmed back to back and are expected to be directed again by Sam Raimi. Tobey Maguire has a pretty sweet deal for starring in both, but it is unknown whether Kirsten Dunst will return.

Darren Aronofsky is riding high after his new indie “The Wrestler” was sold, but let’s look ahead to his “Robocop,” which he says will be a completely different movie, not a remake of Paul Verhoeven’s classic.

I reported on the Henry Selick-Neil Gaiman new stop-motion animated flick “Coraline” last month when I saw some exclusive clips at Siggraph 2008 in LA. This is an impressive behind-the-scenes report from the set of the movie, as well as an in-depth interview with director Selick.

Michael Douglas as Liberace in a biopic directed by Steven Soderbergh? Only if Matt Damon plays his boyfriend.

Producers Don Carmody and Sam Raimi are in talks to bring the stage play “Evil Dead: The Musical” to the big screen in full 3D glory. Check out YouTube for clips from the play. The movie will feature “some” of the original cast, though star Bruce Campbell may be too old to star as Ash.

Robert Greenwald’s Brave New Films is quickly becoming a major player in the political scene, in part because it embraces the immediacy of online video. They are offering Michael Moore’s new documentary as a free download starting Tuesday and are able to take new developments in the presidential election and turn them into short films that become viral sensations. There’s a great profile of Greenwald (who also directed Olivia Newton-John’s surreal 80s musical “Xanadu;” love the E.L.O. on that soundtrack!) here at PBS’ Media Shift. Here’s a video that exploded right out of the gate:

Tags: aronofsky, brave new films, coraline, evil dead musical, gaiman, greenwald, iron man 2, iron man marvel, liberace michael douglas, michael moore, Robocop, selick, slacker uprising

It had been reported that Michael Moore was going to make a sequel to the biggest-grossing documentary of all-time, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” before the presidential election in November. That doesn’t give him much time, I thought. Well, it turns out, it’s done and … he’s giving it away. Read on in this letter from Moore himself and check out the trailer at the bottom of this post:

Friends,

As you may have heard, I’ve decided to make my new film, “Slacker Uprising,” available for free to everyone in the United States and Canada. It is the first time ever that a major feature-length film is debuting as a free download on the internet — legally. I am doing this for two reasons:

1. Next year it will be 20 years since my first film, “Roger & Me,” so I’d like to give those of you who’ve supported my work over the years a thank you gift in the form of a brand new movie; and

2. I hope the release and wide distribution of this new movie will help to bring out millions of young and new voters on November 4th.

“Slacker Uprising” takes place in the wake of “Fahrenheit 9/11,” during the run-up to the 2004 election, as I traveled for 42 days across America, visiting 62 cities in a failed attempt to remove George W. Bush from office. My goal was to help turn out a record number of young voters and others who had never voted before. (That part was a success. Young adults voted in greater numbers than in any election since 18-year-olds were given the right to vote. And the youth vote was the only age group that John Kerry won.)

What I encountered during the tour and the filming was both inspiring and frightening, so I thought, hey, this might make for a funny and enlightening movie! Each night, thousands would show up to volunteer in the Slacker Army against Bush. This drove local Republicans nuts. In one state they tried to have me arrested. At two colleges, rich donors offered to donate more money to the college if they would ban me from campus. Nearly a half-dozen universities kept the Slacker Uprising tour off their campuses. But there was no stopping this movement. By the time we got to Florida, 16,000 people a night were showing up.

It was clear that young people were the ones who were going to save the day — just as they are in this year’s election.

On Tuesday, September 23rd, you will be able to stream, download, or burn a DVD of “Slacker Uprising,” free of charge. The distribution is being organized by Robert Greenwald’s Brave New Films (they’re the great people behind “OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism” and “WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price”).

To sign up for the download of “Slacker Uprising,” click here. You have my blanket permission to share the movie with your friends, to set up screenings in your communities or theaters, to show it on your campuses — all at no charge. I encourage you to rally voters with it, to raise funds for your favorite candidates, to air it on your local cable access channels or web broadcasts. You can also click here to request a free DVD of “Slacker Uprising” for your school or university library.

As I said, this is a movie for you, my fans — a little 97-minute digital treat that I think you’ll really enjoy. I hope you’ll check out SlackerUprising.com and download it a week from today, next Tuesday, September 23rd.

Thanks again for coming to my movies all these years. It’s meant a lot to me. I feel very privileged and blessed, and I am honored to be in this “virtual” community with you as we try to reclaim our beloved country.

Yours,

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. The world premiere of “Slacker Uprising” will take place in one of the great slacker capitals of this country, Ann Arbor, Michigan, this Thursday at 5pm at the historic Michigan Theater. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. If you’re in the neighborhood, hope to see you there!

P.P.S. If you live outside the U.S. and Canada, I’m sorry that I don’t own the rights to make this film available to you for free. But it will be coming to a theater, video store or television network near you soon.

P.P.P.S. If you are not part of the “downloadable” generation, I am making a low-cost DVD of “Slacker Uprising” available at Amazon, Netflix and your local stores in October.

Tags: 2008 michael moore movie, Fahrenheit 9/11 sequel, free movie download michael moore, Michael Moore giving his new movie away for free, slacker uprising