PLUS! WHY DOES AQUALAD REFUSE TO SWIM? WHAT’S MARK STRONG AS SINESTRO REALLY LIKE? AND TELL US WHAT HERO YOU’D LIKE TO SEE LEAP INTO LIVE ACTION!

So as you know, while Jim Lee and Dan DiDio head up publishing and editorial, Diane Nelson and I work on everything outside of the comics in film, television and other media alongside Warner Bros. to try and bring DC’s rich and expansive universe of characters and stories to life. From 100 Bullets to Zatanna. Pretty awesome job. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it and to work with so many amazingly talented people.

When you’re moving behind the scenes on stuff like film and television there are always a lot of projects, scripts and cool things that are created. I always wanted to hear about and see the development of these projects, even if it was early or they weren’t a sure thing, and now that I have access to the top secret room we keep them in – I call it THE VAULT – I thought I’d share some glimpses at what Warner Bros. and DCE have in there with my fellow DC fanatics.

First up is one of my personal favorites: a live action screen test of Blue Beetle transforming and something we’re using in the hopes of bringing him to the small screen. There was so much excitement when I mentioned this on Twitter I thought I’d share a little more information…

I feel very fortunate to have been a part of Blue Beetle’s introduction way back in INFINITE CRISIS. I’ve said it before, but thanks to the BLUE BEETLE series launched by Keith Giffen and John Rogers with a great design by Cully Hamner, Jaime Reyes rocks. Great character, great story, great look. He’s already appeared in animation, had action figures and right now he’s on my computer in live-action glory. I have an early special effects test that has been floating around of what his armored scarab-suit could look like. This isn’t final. This isn’t greenlit. It’s only a test that was done. We still have a long way to go to see if we can get this off the ground and a lot of people to jump on board…but check out some stills:

Pretty cool, huh? We’ll be bringing this short clip to San Diego Comic-Con and playing it in as many DCU panels as possible so everyone gets a chance to see it.

At the same time, as previously announced, the YOUNG JUSTICE cartoon series is just around the corner featuring Robin, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, Artemis and the all-new Aqualad who will be appearing very briefly in BRIGHTEST DAY #4, but really comes into his own in BRIGHTEST DAY #10 before hitting the small screen this fall.

When we first meet Aqualad in BRIGHTEST DAY he’s Jackson Hyde. An average student, with an on-and-off girlfriend, that’s pretty bored in New Mexico.

Since he was young, he’s been taught by his parents to fear water…they don’t want him near it because his true parents would be able to locate him. Not to mention certain changes happen to Jackson when he gets in the water.

Jackson has kept this secret hidden for years, lying to his girlfriend about being afraid of drowning, being unable to swim and being in the dark about the mysterious tattoos he’s had since birth. He’s done his best to avoid it. But soon something’s going to force him out into the open and dive into the water.

Obviously, this all ties into the larger Aquaman and Mera story within BRIGHTEST DAY, but Jackson’s adventures will also be seen in the YOUNG JUSTICE animated series this fall along with more DC characters than you could imagine.

I really believe in the story behind Jackson and, like Blue Beetle, I hope you give him a chance to grab your heart and imagination as he arrives on the scene in comics and cartoons.

Finally, the big one.

Mark Strong.

Sinestro.

I just returned from New Orleans, where GREEN LANTERN is deep in production set for release in June 2011. GREEN LANTERN has an unreal crew and cast. Grant Major – the Production Designer on LORD OF THE RINGS. Martin Campbell – the director of CASINO ROYALE. And Mark Strong from SHERLOCK HOLMES and KICK-ASS as Sinestro. And while I was there, there was a test on Sinestro. How he looks. How he moves. An amazing test.

Unfortunately, that test is top secret.

I can say with confidence, however, if you like Sinestro you’re going to love Mark Strong as Sinestro. Powerful, regal, intimidating. Mark clearly has done his research and embraced every aspect of what makes Sinestro one of the greatest, most complex characters within the vast, epic universe of the Green Lantern Corps. I think you’ll be as psyched as I am when you finally see him.

So that’s (some of) what we’ve got going on right now. Before I log off…what hero do you want to see in live action more than any other? Let us know and remember

ALL WILL BE WELL!

Geoff