The CW network (which carried the very awesome “Smallville” TV series for many years) is prepping and filming a new series that will start this fall called “Arrow.”  This series is of course based on the DC comic character Green Arrow – or Oliver Queen.  Read more below and check out the awesome preview footage that’s been released too.  I’m really looking forward to this show!

Oliver Queen/Green Arrow was a prominent part of the last few seasons of “Smallville,” which may have helped pave the way for a series with the character in the lead. But “Arrow” is a full reboot, not a “Smallville” spinoff.

The CW’s new show, which will air on Wednesday nights in the fall, stars Stephen Amell (“Private Practice,” “Hung”) as Oliver Queen, the scion of a billionaire family who was presumed dead in a shipwreck. He’s found five years later but returns to his Starling City home a changed man and adopts an alter ego, Arrow, to help the downtrodden and try to right the wrongs his family has done in the past.

And, since he’s a billionaire and doesn’t have any superpowers of his own, we’re guessing that Oliver will have the means to make or acquire some pretty good gadgetry.

“Arrow” also stars Katie Cassidy (“Gossip Girl,” “Melrose Place”) as Oliver’s former girlfriend, Laurel Lance (who has some secrets of her own), Colin Donnell (“Pan Am”) as Oliver’s brother Tommy, Willa Holland (“The O.C.”) as his sister Thea and David Ramsey (“Blue Bloods”) as Oliver’s bodyguard John Diggle. Susanna Thompson (“Kings,” “Once and Again”) plays Oliver’s mother, Moira, who may know more about her son’s shipwreck than she lets on, and Paul Blackthorne (“24,” “The River”) is Laurel’s father, a detective who wants to bring Arrow and his vigilante ways down.

Greg Berlanti (“Green Lantern,” “Brothers & Sisters”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Warehouse 13,” “Eli Stone”) and Marc Guggenheim (“FlashForward,” “Eli Stone”) are executive producing “Arrow” along with pilot director David Nutter (“Smallville,” “Game of Thrones”).

source: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/05/arrow-first-look-stephen-amell-takes-aim-as-the-dc-comics-character.html

Longer trailer below:

The new Marvel Comics film, “The Avengers” opened just a couple days ago in the States and is a huge, smash hit.  I got a chance to see this on Friday evening on opening day and loved it.  The movie is a great blend of comic book drama, humor, action and just overall great fun!  Each of the cast gets their time to shine in the movie and they all do a great job.  Director Joss Whedon again shows how good he is with working with a large, ensemble cast (as he did on “Buffy” and “Firefly”).  I know every comic book fan and person who sees this film will be having a great time and enjoying the first big hit of the summer movie season.  So if you haven’t seen this movie yet, stop reading this and go NOW to your local theater.  You will love it!

Two great genre TV shows, “Fringe” (FOX) and “Grimm” (NBC) have been renewed for another season.  The series “Fringe” has struggled in the ratings this season after the move to Friday nights, but FOX decided to renew it for a fifth season of just 13 episodes.  This will allow the writers to wrap up the complex story they have created and give us a satisfying conclusion to this great Sci-Fi drama series.  I’ve really enjoyed all the new directions and chances this show has taken over the years and I’m very happy it will be returning in the fall of 2012 to wrap things up.

The new series “Grimm” has been doing pretty well in the ratings for NBC even though it’s also on Friday nights (and actually competes directly with “Fringe” in the same time slot – thank goodness we have DVR’s).  I’ve enjoyed this series and it’s been getting more interesting with each new episode.  So, I’m happy it will be returning next fall for a new season.  Make sure to get caught up on both of these cool series if you haven’t been watching.  I know you will like what you see.

The second season of the excellent HBO series “Games of Thrones” has started airing now.  This fantasy series has amazing production values, awesome locations, great plot twists and an excellent cast.  I’m especially fond of Tyrion, played by Peter Dinklage – he just makes every scene he is in that much better.  So make sure to tune in (or catch up) on this epic series before you miss it.  It airs in the US on Sunday nights on HBO.  Make sure to watch – you won’t be disappointed.  Season two trailer is below:

An awesome new music video is now out from “The Guild” folks.  It’s called “I’m the One That’s Cool” and it’s shows perfectly for all of us geeks who maybe got a little picked on back in school, that now we are the ones that are cool. It’s a great tune and I love the video too.  Learn all about it HERE, buy it HERE and you can also watch it below.  Great job by Felicia and her cool gang of guildies!

Well, it’s official, “The Hunger Games” film is a huge hit.  It made about $150 million domestically in it’s opening weekend and had one of the biggest weekend movie openings ever – especially considering it came out in March.  I saw the film and really enjoyed it and think they did a very good job adapting the book to film.  I do think you might get more out of the experience if you have read the book, but the film can stand on it’s own too.  So, make sure to not miss this terrific movie while it’s in the theaters and rest assured that we will be seeing the second two books in the trilogy get made into movies very soon.  I personally can’t wait to see them!

Since this series began, I have thought it was one of the best shows on TV.  Season two has made “The Walking Dead” on AMC my favorite series currently airing, and it is just something everyone should be watching.  Even if you look past the premise and setting, this show is about these characters and their struggles.  This show is so well written and acted they all deserve Emmy Awards for every show they put out.  I guarantee if you jump in and start watching this series you will not be disappointed in any way.  There isn’t another show on TV that can get me so worked up and surprise me week after week.  The season two finale airs tonight and I already can’t wait for season three to start!

Season two trailer below:

My friend Kenny told me about this web series called “Geek Therapy” featuring his friend America Young as the geek therapist.  It’s very funny stuff and will appeal to just about everyone I think – especially geeks.  There are several short episodes out and they are all great.  Watch some of them below and see what you think (you can see the rest HERE).  Make sure to drop a comment over on Youtube too for the cast and crew.  Enjoy!