With the current eighth season of Smallville possibly being its last, the CW network is looking to the future with a show about a young Dick Grayson before he becomes Robin. Titled The Graysons, it's being developed by Smallville co-showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, along with Supernatural and Chuck executive producer Joseph "McG" McGinty Nichol. The network has greenlit a pilot episode, with a full series dependent on how well the pilot is received.

Speaking of Smallville, tonight's episode features the secret origin of Green Arrow, and an episode later this season will introduce the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Fringe is a hit for FOX on Tuesday evenings, so the network ordered an additional nine episodes for the first season to bring the total to twenty-two.

The second season of Pushing Daisies began last night with disappointing ratings. It was a surprise hit for ABC in its first season, but the network declined to order additional episodes after the WGA strike ended, preferring to simply wait for the second season. That strategy may have backfired to the detriment of a quality show.

Marvel Studios continues to develop the Thor film, which has a screenplay by Mark Protosevich (The Cell, I Am Legend). The company is currently in talks with actor/director Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Dead Again, Hamlet) to direct the film, scheduled for release on 16 July 2010. Interesting choice, but the best superhero films of the 21st century so far have been from directors like Bryan Singer (X-Men), Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins), and Jon Favreau (Iron Man), all of whom were considered "interesting choices" at first. I'd include Ang Lee, but I know I'm in a tiny minority of people who liked Hulk.

The first season of Sanctuary begins tomorrow night on the Sci Fi Channel. It stars Amanda Tapping of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, and was created by former Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis staff writer Damian Kindler. Like big screen films Sin City, 300, and the upcoming Watchmen, it's filmed in a green screen environment and the sets, backgrounds, etc. are digitally rendered. Sanctuary began as an eight episode web series. The web episodes were edited together to form the two-hour first episode, with the remaining twelve episodes of the first season being new.

Tim Burton directing a new version of Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts? Oh, I so want to see that when it's released on 19 March 2010. The screenplay is by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King).

This Week's Comics

Batman #680, Justice League of America #25, Witchblade #121, New Exiles #12, Trinity #18, Vixen: Return of the Lion #1, Supergirl #34, Nightwing #149, Manhunter #35, House of Mystery #6, Chas: The Knowledge #4, DC Universe: Decisions #2, Top 10: Season Two #1, The Authority #3.