MARLON BRANDO - MARLON BRANDO, THE ACTION FIGURE

MARLON BRANDO, THE ACTION FIGURE

Not only is Marlon Brando making his final appearance in Superman Returns -- director Bryan Singer created it from outtakes from the original 1978 Superman in which Brando played Jor-El, Superman's father -- but he will also become an action figure for the first time. Mattel said Wednesday that the Jor-El character will be part of its Superman Returns toy line. A spokesman said that it's believed to be "the first time Mr. Brando's ever been immortalized in plastic." Oddly, the Brando figure will not be available until the fall, the spokesman said. Among other Superman Returns items that Mattel is introducing is a 16-inch figure that can fly, thanks to twin propellers and a controller with a 300-foot range; an "Inflato-Suit," complete with a "dedicated battery-operated fan that fills the suit with air [and] emulates the muscular physique" of Superman; and molded forearm gloves equipped with "a sound chip so that kids can simulate the crunching of a steel bar."

29/06/2006