If you've ever wondered what Samurai warriors would look like holding automatic weapons check out the concept art for Sucker Punch.

Zack Snyder's new film Sucker Punch opens in theaters in the U.S. on March 25th, 2011 and one of the concept artists has posted some of his designs for the surreal world in his blog.

The smoky, dirty feel of the film is perfectly captured in these illustrations by Jerad S. Merantz (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Rick Carter (Avatar, Jurassic Park), the Production Designer, has assembled an amazing team for this film.
Official Synopsis:

Close your eyes. Open your mind. You will be unprepared.

“Sucker Punch” is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what’s real and what is imaginary.

She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls—the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung) and the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish)—to band together and try to escape their terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac), Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino) and the High Roller (Jon Hamm).

Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal. Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey—if they succeed—will set them free. 

Check out his blog and more of his work at http://jeradsmarantz.blogspot.com/

Find out more about the movie by visiting http://suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com/

[Image Source: Jerad S Merantz]

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Concept art from the upcoming prequel Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome was posted last year and it looks pretty amazing. Hopefully, it will make up for the awful Caprica.


According to the press release: "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama, barely in his 20's and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to the newest battlestar in the Colonial fleet... the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade long war in favor of the desperate fleet."

These are done by Peter Rubin, who said: 

"WOW! That was fast - SyFy has ALREADY released the concept art I did for BSG: Blood and Chrome! So happy they liked it, and thrilled to have helped out... There will be some more, but it will have to wait for the show to air!"

Can't wait to see it Peter! Awesome stuff!

Check out more of his work at Iron Rooster Studio.


Via blastr.com

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Catwoman will be in The Dark Knight Rises after all!

The question of whether Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman or just Selena Kyle has been a closely guarded secret until Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) spilled the beans.

In an interview for flicksandbits about Red Riding Hood, he spoke about seeing the concept art for his costume versus the costume of Batman's feline-fatale Catwoman.

Gary Oldman: My drab greys and beiges (laughs). I went to the production offices the other day and there’s all these fantastic pictures across the wall, Catwoman, this, that, and I thought where’s my wall? I don’t have a wall, I just have a rack of very very dull clothes (laughs).

It's possible he's just misunderstanding the character, but it sure sounds specific. Technically, Aaron Eckhart didn't play "Two-Face" since they never called him by that name. It might be the same for "Catwoman."

I'll be on the look out for the concept art by supervising art directors James Hambidge and Naaman Marshall.

[Image source: ohthescandal.com]

UPDATE: Changed picture

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Inception: The Shooting script is a book by director Christopher Nolan about his mind-bending dream film Inception. It's not a copy of the script. Its not a book of concept art and storyboards. Its not a making of the fim book. Its all three. He's cleverly managed to work in all three parts seemlessly into one book.

 

It starts with his brother interviewing him about the making of how he conceived the film ten years before. The interview is fascinating as he explains how he wrestled with how to present his concept about dreaming. "My interest in dreams comes from this notion that when you dream you ceate the worls that you are perceiving, and I thought that feedback loop is pretty amazing."

 

The screenplay begins and is fairly standard. What makes it special are the 15 pages of storyboards by Gabriel Hardman that are inserted into strategic places in the script.

 

Full color concept art by Nathaniel West takes up a section after the script and is beautiful. West has a real skill at making his digital art look like paintings. The detail and choice of color schemes makes them stunning to look at.

 

A hand-written map of the layers of Inception begins the book and an assembly guide for the briefcase sleep device PASIV follows the screenplay.

 

The book, like the movie, ends with credits. They don't list the art department though. The storyboard artist is named, but, none of the concept artists or illustrators are. Not even Nathaniel West is in there and he has a major part in the book.

Here's the list according to imdb:

• Gabriel Hardman (storyboard artist) http://www.heathencomics.com/
• Nathaniel West (concept artist) http://www.nathanielwest.net/
• Paul Christopher (concept artist) http://paulchristopherart.blogspot.com/
• Robert McKinnon (concept artist) http://robertmckinnon.blogspot.com/

 I was hoping for more concept art and storyboards, but, that's all they could fit into a paperback-sized book. It would have been better as a hardcover coffee-table book.

 

Overall, its worth reading if you're a fan of the film. If you're a real fan, you bought the $147 Inception Briefcase Edition North American Blu-Ray anyway.

 

Three and a half out of five stars.

 

Here are some scans from the very cool blogs book-crazed.blogspot.com and io9.

 

The Paris Cafe explosion by Nathaniel West

 

The Japanese Castle, Japanese Dining Room and Paris Workshop by Nathaniel West

 

A train hits Cobb's car in a storyboard by Gabriel Hardman.

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A while back I showed some concept art from the movie Green Lantern (2011) that showed light coming from Oa's core. I speculated that it was from the underground power battery and it looks like its been confirmed in the latest concept art.

According to CosmicBookNews, the back of Green Lantern #63 has an exclusive illustration from the upcoming movie.

The text at the bottom says: "Concept art of Green Lantern energy rising from the central power battery through the 'Sacre Coeur' building on Oa."

Basilique du Sacré Cœur is a church in France, so this is just a nickname because of the similar styled dome.



So word on the artist, but if anyone knows use the "contact me" link above.

Via ComicBookNews

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Here's a video someone made from the storyboards for the 80's Batman film directed by Tim Burton. David Russell (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) has an uncredited role as storyboard artist.

The fact that you can string the panels together and have them look like a movie shows his amazing work.

Here's the description from Youtube.
"The sequence introducing the Boy Wonder - ultimately cut before filming began - was taken from an early draft of the 1989 'Batman' movie, put together using original pre-production storyboards and voiced by Batman: The Animated Series' Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (the Joker)."

You can check out David Russel's site is http://www.storyboardart.com/index1.php

A sample from the original script is after the jump
 Script by Sam Hamm

http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/batman_early.html

EXT. STREET - EVENING - OVERHEAD ANGLE

From high above the street we see the JOKER'S VAN pulling
out of VICKI's building. We're up on the roof, with BRUCE.
He hits a button on his utility belt, and a RED SIGNAL

LIGHT begins to flash.

BRUCE clamps the utility belt around his waist. Pulls the
BLACK NYLON STOCKING over his head. And suddenly, he's
BOUNDING ACROSS THE ROOFTOPS in pursuit of the JOKER.

EXT. CROSS STREET - A MOMENT LATER - EVENING

The VAN turns right at the intersection. Nothing unusual.
But for some reason, PEDESTRIANS are pointing at the sky,
staring goggle-eyed at the rooftops.

Far above them, a MAN -- dressed in a suit, a tie, a yellow
belt and a BLACK STOCKING MASK -- is gliding across the
intersection on a ROPE.
INT. VAN - A MOMENT LATER

The VAN DRIVER guns through a red light. BRAKES SQUEAL on
either side. In the back of the van, the JOKER GROWLS:

JOKER
Slow down, you maniac!

EXT. INTERSECTION - THAT MOMENT - EVENING

As the VAN ROARS PAST, a MOUNTED POLICEMAN shakes his fist.
His horse shies, rears back, turns in a circle. He's just
about gotten the beast calmed down when a MAN IN A STOCKING
MASK plummets down on a rope from nowhere and lands
directly behind him on the horse's back.
BRUCE elbows the startled COP. Now there's only one rider.

The VAN turns left. BRUCE gallops straight ahead through
the intersection, hoping to cut the JOKER off.
INT. ALICIA HUNT'S APARTMENT - THAT MOMENT

ALICIA peers out through the window. On the street below,
UNMARKED CARS are converging.

INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT

The JOKER and co. are two blocks away from ALICIA's. They
see a POLICE SWAT TEAM sealing off the building.

DRIVER
Boss! Jesus! They've --
JOKER
They'll be sorry. They'll be
sorry. -- GET OUT OF HERE!
EXT. SIDE STREET - THAT MOMENT - EVENING

BRUCE on horseback, charging past elegant old brownstones,
drawing stares from passersby. We get a quick look at the
FLASHING RED SIGNAL LIGHT on his belt.
EXT. RIVERVIEW DRIVE - THAT MOMENT - EVENING
A YELLOW VW BUG rips up the street at 70 mph.
INT. VOLKSWAGEN BUG - THAT MOMENT
We can't see the driver. But we do see, on the seat
beside him, a VIDEO DISPLAY with a shifting grid map of the
city -- and on it, a FLASHING SIGNAL blinking in perfect
sync with the one on BRUCE's belt.
EXT. SIDE STREET - THAT MOMENT



BRUCE sees the VW bug rounding the corner and STREAKING

TOWARD HIM. He reins in the horse; it rears back on its

hind legs in a classic western pose; the BUG zooms past --



-- and ALFRED THE BUTLER heaves out a BROWN LAUNDRY BUNDLE,

neatly tied in string.



BRUCE snatches it out of the air, gives ALFRED a quick

salute -- and the BUG is gone.



INT. JOKER'S VAN - EVENING



The JOKER and his boys are stalled in heavy traffic at the

southern border of Gotham Park. POLICE BARRICADES are

everywhere; the surrounding streets have been roped off for

the birthday gala. HORNS HONK in anger.



JOKER

MOVE! Can't you do something??



DRIVER

It's some kind of detour. They're

backed up for blocks!



The JOKER snorts. He happens to glance into the side-view

mirror. What he sees there... CURDLES HIS BLOOD.



JOKER

Oh my God. How does he do it... ?



EXT. STREET - A BLOCK AWAY - THAT MOMENT



THE BATMAN, IN FULL COSTUMED GLORY, GALLOPING UP THE STREET

ON HORSEBACK -- passing stunned COPS, weaving in and around

the stalled autos, GAINING FAST on the JOKER.



INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT



THE JOKER climbing all over the DRIVER. He HITS THE GAS,

RUNS THE VAN UP ON THE SIDEWALK, and -- at the first

opening he sees -- CRASHES THROUGH A POLICE BARRICADE INTO

GOTHAM PARK ITSELF.



BATMAN is half a block behind him now. As he follows hot on

the JOKER's heels, TWO HELICOPTERS swing into the park from

overhead.



EXT. GOTHAM PARK - EVENING



CROWDS EVERYWHERE. On the central platform where we saw the

FREE CONCERT earlier, an EMCEE mans the microphone:



EMCEE

-- the most spectacular, most death-

defying aerial stunt ever devised.

Tonight -- for the first time

anywhere -- THE FLYING GRAYSONS!



He points up at the two approaching HELICOPTERS, flying

side-by-side in tight formation some forty feet apart.



ANGLE ON HELICOPTERS



ONLOOKERS GASP as TWO TRAPEZES drop from the bellies of the

twin copters. Dangling from the trapezes are the FLYING

GRAYSONS -- a husband-and-wife aerialist team in spangled

red-and-green suits. They begin swinging toward each other

in a plane perpendicular to the path of the copters.



EXT. GOTHAM PARK - GROUND LEVEL



PANIC DOWN BELOW as the JOKER's van barrels through the

crowd, HORN BLARING. BATMAN is moving up swiftly.



On each wrist he's wearing a MINIATURE ROCKET LAUNCHER. He

lets fly with TWO SALVOS. The first explodes harmlessly

against a tree. The second HITS THE REAR DOOR OF THE VAN --

driving it off the access road down into the brush, where

it nearly topples over sideways.



ANGLE ON FLYING GRAYSONS



GRAYSON has just completed a double somersault in midair,

landing in the capable hands of his wife. Now they're

swinging again, building momentum as he prepares to make

the return leap back to his own trapeze.



INT. HELICOPTER - THAT MOMENT



In the bay of the helicopter stands a kid, fifteen,

compact, tough, and wiry: DICK GRAYSON. Like his parents,

he's wearing a red-and-green suit. From the copter, he's

got a perfect bird's-eye view of the BATMAN-JOKER chase.



PILOT

Ready to go, Dick?



DICK

What's all the ruckus down there?



EXT. PARK - GROUND LEVEL - THAT MOMENT



The VAN bounces over rocks and bushes, narrowly avoiding

trees, with BATMAN in hot pursuit.



INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT



At the foot of a hill, the JOKER spies a truck. On its

side, in bright red letters, a WARNING: "DANGER -

FIREWORKS. FLAMMABLE LOAD."



The JOKER reaches into the back for a HIGHWAY FLARE.

JOKER
Head for the truck!

INT. HELICOPTER - THAT MOMENT

Hovering over the chase scene, DICK catches sight of the
JOKER. He GASPS IN SHOCK as a LIT FLARE flies from the back
of the VAN... directly into the FIREWORKS TRUCK.

EXT. PARK - GROUND LEVEL - A MOMENT LATER

THE BATMAN is thrown off his horse by the shock of a
massive EXPLOSION. All at once, THE SKY IS FULL of
BURSTING, INCANDESCENT COLORS!!

THE JOKER hangs out of the rear of the van, looking up, an
expression of PURE DELIGHT on his face.

JOKER
I love fireworks!

ANGLE ON HELICOPTERS

LURCHING AND SPINNING IN THE SKY as FIREWORKS rocket past.

One of them takes a dead hit on the rotor. JOHN GRAYSON
falls to his death instantly; a moment later, the COPTER
plummets into the trees with a resounding, fiery CRASH.

MARY GRAYSON hangs from the second copter as it bobs and
weaves out of control. ONLOOKERS SCREAM IN TERROR.

EXT. STREET - THAT MOMENT

THE JOKER'S VAN bursts out of the park and speeds up a
wide, cordoned-off avenue. Overhead, THE SECOND COPTER
veers wildly, out of the park now, swinging dangerously
close to the tall buildings along the avenue.

INT. HELICOPTER - THAT MOMENT

DICK GRAYSON at the mouth of the bay, hanging on by a
canvas strap. He watches helplessly as his MOTHER swings
into a POWER LINE and drops three stories to the pavement.

DICK
NO! NOOOOOOOO!!!!

His face is contorted with rage and pain. The PILOT
struggles desperately to right the copter, barely avoiding
a collision with the nearest building. And then -- before
THE PILOT can make a move to stop him -- DICK HAS JUMPED
OUT OF THE COPTER.

ANGLE ON DICK

With astonishing physical grace, he DIVES. GRABS A
FLAGPOLE. Executes a perfect somersault. FLIPS onto a
nearby fire escape. VAULTS to the next fire escape down.
And LEAPS OUT OVER THE STREET --

-- MAKING A PERFECT TWO-POINT LANDING on his intended
target... THE ROOF OF THE JOKER'S VAN!!

INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT

THE JOKER hears a THUNK overhead. He casually lifts his gun
and BLOWS A HOLE THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE VAN.

EXT. ROOF OF VAN - MOVING - THAT MOMENT

The blast just misses DICK. He sprawls flat, YANKS at the
chrome luggage rack on the roof of the van, and BREAKS OFF

A FOUR-FOOT SHAFT OF METAL.

ANOTHER SHOT through the roof. DICK rolls forward, hoists
his chrome spear over the windshield.

INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT

SPLINTERED GLASS flies everywhere as DICK RAMS THE SHAFT
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER dodges left and LOSES
CONTROL OF THE WHEEL.

EXT. ROOF OF VAN - MOVING - THAT MOMENT

The VAN careens wildly toward an OVERPASS. DICK rises up
into a crouch just in time to see a sign which reads
"DANGER -- LOW CLEARANCE." He's about to get his head taken
off!

ONE SECOND BEFORE IMPACT a BLACK-CAPED SHADOW swings across
the street and SCOOPS DICK OFF THE ROOF OF THE VAN.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

BATMAN AND DICK tumble to the pavement. THE VAN knocks over
a fire hydrant and STOPS. DICK is already on his feet,
ready to CHARGE THE VAN, when BATMAN throws a powerful arm
around his waist.

DICK
LET ME GO! LET ME --

THE JOKER steps casually out of the van. TWO GOONS with
MACHINE GUNS emerge behind him. PEDESTRIANS SCREAM as the
GOONS level their guns at the CROWD.

DICK (cont.)
YOU PIECE OF -- YOU MOTHERF--

DICK is kicking, screaming, clawing, biting. BATMAN has his
hands full restraining the kid.

JOKER
Like your boyfriend. He's kinda
hot.

(glowering at BATMAN)
Hands off the belt.

BATMAN
Take me. Let the boy go.

JOKER
Gosh, I could kill you, but then
you'd miss my party. And I'd be
real, real sad if you couldn't make
it.

BATMAN
What are you talking about?

JOKER
Batman! Don't you even recognize
your old pal Jack? After all...

(cackling insanely)

You made me what I am today.

BATMAN cocks his head in puzzlement as DISTANT SIRENS

BLARE. The JOKER and his HOODS -- guns still aimed at the
crowd -- back away and race off on foot, vanishing into the
night.

DICK BREAKS FREE and BOLTS AFTER THEM. BATMAN throws him to
the street with a flying tackle. The boy is hysterical.

DICK
HE KILLED MY PARENTS! HE KILLED
MY --

BATMAN flinches at the sound of the words. He reaches into
his belt and -- mercifully -- breaks a KNOCKOUT CAPSULE
under DICK's nose.

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John Thiago on the Brazlian website Mundo Hype posted some concept art for production designer Rick Heinrichs' Captain America: The First Avenger.

The blog says the following about the concept art:

"For starters I must emphasize that not confirm the veracity of this news. But you may have some leaked concept art look of the Red Skull in the film of Captain America , which debuts next year. The style of conceptual art match those that leaked months ago of Captain America and Thor. Furthermore, the skull showed up holding the Cosmic Cube, which was confirmed in the film. However, there is no trace of actor Hugo Weaving in art." [Translated by Google Translate]

Most concept art is done before casting, so its no surprise it doesn't look like the actor. What confirms these as legit is that they look exactly like the official movie costumes.

We don't know who did these, but, the concept artists for Captain America are James Carson, Rodolfo Damaggio, Dan Walker, Andy Park and Henrik Tamm.

Captain America: The First Avenger is directed by Joe Johnston and stars Chris Evans. After being deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.

Via Mania and Splashpage more »