It looks like Heroes is trying to collect some interesting writer/directors for the new spin-off series Heroes: Origins. Kevin Smith has already signed on to write/direct an episode. News circulated through the tabloid papers this past week that Quentin Tarantino was asked to pen and direct an episode (but he turned it down because he had never watched the series).
Now news comes out that Superman Returns co-writer Michael Dougherty and Hostel writer/director Eli Roth have both been tapped to write an episode of Heroes: Origins. Roth will also direct. It will be interesting to see what other writers/directors with geek-cred they can nail down for an episode.
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Eli Roth? What are they, insane? The man is a complete and total hack. I can guarantee that’s one episode of Heroes: Origins I’ll be skipping, regardless.
Not sure about Michael Dougherty. Superman Returns was pretty dull, but he also worked on X-Men 2 and has worked a lot with Bryan Singer in the past. I’ll at least give that one a look.
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Just to clarify. The definition of hack is “to work for hire”. Bret Ratner would qualify, but Eli Roth would not. I’m assuming you don’t like his films, but the fact that he’s trying to “do his own thing” reguardless of “the pay” makes him not a hack.
September 22nd, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Thank you, Peter.
September 23rd, 2007 at 8:01 am
Peter, what exactly is Eli Roth doing that’s his own thing?
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:38 am
Cabin Fever and Hostel are not films that are created to appeal to the 4 quad demographic. Or even to the targeted horror demo. AKA he is “doing his own thing” and not “trying to create marketable films for mass consumption”
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Peter, don’t give Eli Roth more credit than he actually deserves. Cabin Fever and the Hostel flicks are just horribly insubstantial with weak style. His “thing” is lame and the films he makes are not for mass consumption, but only himself and that makes him worse than Tarantino except Tarantino is actually talented.
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Geek-cred. Huh. So thats what it is. Baffling. I wonder what Cabin Fever got on Rotten Tomatoes?
September 23rd, 2007 at 10:58 pm
RT might not be a great indication of geek cred, although Cabin Fever got a 63% which gives it a Fresh rating.
Honestly, I’m not here to argue the merits of an Eli Roth. Personally, I dugg Cabin Fever a bunch, and liked the two Hostel films. But Roth to me has always been one of those geek directors who is usually far more interesting than his movies. Robert Rodriguez would probably also clasify. And I’m sure most people would say the same for Kevin Smith (although, I don’t agree - sure, the man;s stories are great but some of his movies are classics: Chasing Amy, Dogma).
Listen to any of Roth’s interviews, this guy knows how to tell a story. Listen to the Cabin Fever commentary, its very funny and has some great tales of how to make an indie film when your finacing gets pulled and the union shuts you down.
April 9th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Unfortunately Heroes: Origins has been scrapped by the head of NBC. :(