The Remakes and Adapted from Book/Comic book thread

movie news of the day

Stephen Sommers acquires Flash Gordon for Universal
Thursday, August 5th, 2004

Source: Variety

Flash Gordon: According to Variety, Van Helsing writer-director Stephen Sommers and his producing partner Bob Ducsay have landed the rights to Flash Gordon, and will adapt a feature film based on the iconic comic book superhero for Universal.

Sommers, creator of such hits as The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, is producing the Flash project with an eye toward scripting; Sommers has yet to helm a project he hasn't scripted.

"Flash Gordon" dates back to 1934, when it was created by famed comic strip artist Alex Raymond, and for decades after appeared in movie serials, animated fare, TV shows and a 1980 feature helmed by Mike Hodges ("Croupier").

The deal also packs good news for classic comics fans, as the legendary intergalactic adventurer, his female companion Dale Arden and scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov will again appear in comic books. This time, the series will be distribbed by the nation's third largest comic book company, Top Cow, whose film topper Spike Selden will exec produce with former Davis Entertainment exec Adam Coplan. Sommers is expected to serve as a creative consultant on the new series of comic books, according to insiders.

The 1980 "Flash Gordon" pic, produced by Dino De Laurentiis and starring Max von Sydow as Flash Gordon nemesis Ming the Merciless, was also released by Universal.

It's not surprising that there's a renewed interest for this with all the buzz around Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. But I really don't know about this. Certainly Sommers has done a some era/adventure pics but I'm wondering if the tone can be captured for this.....hmmmmmmmm.

And it's a shame they don't mention the canadian softcore spoof "Flesh Gordon" Laughing

and on another note, WHAAAA?

William Hung to star in Where Is Mama's Boy?
Thursday, August 5th, 2004

Source: Variety

(....)

Third pic on My Way's production schedule is "Shaolin vs. Evil Dead Part II." Sci-fi actioner, starring Gordon Liu (Kill Bill), will begin shooting in December with a budget of nearly $900,000. The pic will mark action choreographer Yip Wing-kin's first outing as helmer

http://www.movieweb.com/news/news.php?id=4762

actually my WAAAAH was for what was riiiight under that (that was just the article title I'd trimmed out the rest to make evident):

Shaolin vs. Evil Dead Part II

oh and Lone LOL I'm hearing Freddy Mercury now

According to www.superman-v.com , Bryan Singer has offered the role of Superman to this person:

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But they report it is doubtful he's interested.

You know I heard someone suggest that Jim Caviezal (who would be pretty awsome, I think) had been offered the role of Superman, but he turned it down cos the character was too similar to Jesus Christ! Laughing

This is probably bullshit, but it is highly amusing none the less.

And I'm sorry to Smallville fans, but Welling is too young for Superman, and although he plays Kent as teenager fine, I don't think he has the chops to pull of the MAN of steel.

Dannyboy; as I undertsand it _Flesh Gordon_ is only technically soft-core; I heard it was originally filmed hard-core and then cut down. (Then again my sources aren't exactly documantary journalism either; maybe what they meant was it was shot Russ Myer soft X and cut down to try unsuccessfully for an R- yah vell.)

Just read that Jack Black has signed for the role of the Green Lantern..... Shocked

Daddycat: all I know is that's it's Canadian Very Happy

I just heard that they are going to do a remake of Dirty Harry, and they are thinking to offer the lead role to The Rock. What the hell is he going to do say make your day and then raise his eyebrow Shocked

OH DEAR GOD WHY!!!!!!!! Shocked

*screams in abject terror* Shocked Surprised Shocked Shocked Shocked Shocked

No! No! No! No!

*covers ears*

Mr P, at this point Id like to be there or on KONG but that aint happening...

so hoist a few XXXX for me! Twisted Evil

Also, dark horizon's has reported that Singer wants Welling to be Supes and that Fox has apparently ended their relationshp with Singer for the time being in light of his Superman signing, so that pretty much means no X3 for singer

Superman update

The latest from the Superman rumormill
Monday, August 9th, 2004

Source: Dark Horizons

Superman: With director Bryan Singer now attached to direct the film setup at Warner Bros. the excitement is heavily building. Here's the latest gossip from a reader over at Dark Horizons
"Thought I'd drop by some info on everyone's favorite superhero and what's going on at Warner Bros. As you know I've had some dealings with the studio and can put straight some recent rumors. Tom Welling has not been offered Superman by Bryan Singer. Singer wants an unknown in the lead role. Trust me when I say Tom Welling will not be the next Superman. I'm not sure how that rumor came about but it's bogus.

My agency got a casting call last week for Superman. Actors are going to get put on tape starting next week. Singer and his team will then meet actors, sort through the tapes and decide which actors they want to come to Burbank for a final screen test. Word is Superman might be cast as early as September. The search is apparently all over North America. I guess they'll have casting directors in LA, NY and Canada.
Another interesting bit. Warners are apparently going to rent the Fox studios for the next 2 years. I don't know what that means. Maybe they're shooting two Superman movies back to back, maybe they're just keeping it for the inevitable Superman sequel, maybe Green Lantern is gearing up, hell, it could be Scooby Doo 3! I honestly don't know, but look for a big Warner production to be in Sydney after Superman".

in other news:

Bragi Schut to adapt comic book Criminal Macabre
Monday, August 9th, 2004

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Criminal Macabre: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bragi Schut has been hired to write the comic book property Criminal Macabre for MGM. Based on the graphic novel by Steve Niles, the story revolves around Cal McDonald, a hard-drinking, impetuous detective who takes on the supernatural in a decidedly low-tech, film noir style.

Niles did a first draft of the project.

Schut will do an entirely new take, with Dark Horse Entertainment producing and Toby Jaffe and Stephanie Palmer overseeing for the studio.

If they don't get Bruce Campbell for the Cal MacDonald movie I'm gonna kick someone's ass.

By the way, i've just read the Goyer script for Batman Begins.

Well, to be honest i only read the first half cos I don't want to be spoiled but I wanted to see if it was on th right track.

I can only say that what I read was very good indeed and very well written and structured. Gordon in particular is a very noble and melanchonic figure in this version.

This is all I will say regarding content and it will not contain any story spoilers, but if you dont want to read then skip it:

The first half hour of the movie reads brilliantly well, intercutiing between Bruce Wayne as a young boy leading up to his parents murder, As young man of 20 leading up to him leaving Gotham and his journies about Asia leading up to his training and return to Gotham. The training parts look like they will be awsome if the way they are written is anything to go on. This whole part is not done in chronological order but cuts back and forth between the three time periods

If any one wants more info on the script then they can PM me. But I wiil not read any more than I have.

From the Deja Vu Department, it turns out the rumors about Superman casting (the Tom Welling one, this time) were false. Bryan Singer has apparently not offered Welling to role in the movie. The current rumor, soon to be disproved, I'm sure, is that Singer wants an unknown.

OOoooooh DoooonCeeeeee

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more here Wink

http://www.movieweb.com/movies/galleries.php?film=7&id=1834

oh, man those wookies look cool. It almost reminds me of why I loved SW so much as a kid. Pity this film is going to be the abortions the other two were Crying or Very sad

"Kauwa Wookie."

I did a seperate post when I should've put it here.

go to kryptonsite.com the link is on the main page posted august 9th. They have a promotional image of Jensen Ackles as Jason Teague and Erica Durance as SPOILER:

Poster: interesting choice.

more BloodRayne news: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Kingsley will play the vampire Kagan, the evil ruler of an army of bloodsuckers, in the upcoming film adaptation of the videogame.

(...)

The $47 million movie is set to begin filming in Romania later this month, according to videogame publisher Majesco, which released the game. The independently produced film is being directed by Uwe Boll, who also made the videogame-to-movie adaptations House of the Dead and the upcoming Alone in the Dark.

and speaking of Ben Kinglsey (or where he was supposed to be playing in):

1972 Munich Olympics: According to Variety, Steven Spielberg has set Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner to redraft helmer's untitled drama about the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where members of the Israeli team were held hostage and slain by Palestinian extremists.

Spielberg has also pushed back his projected start date from late this summer to June 2005.

Eric Bana remains the star of the film, a co-production between Universal and DreamWorks.