Spike Jonzes’ big screen adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are was originally set to hit theaters later this year, but was mysteriously pushed back to a TBA 2009 release. Leaked test footage surfaced showing a Sesame Street-style costumed monster with a computer generated talking face. It was later learned that the studio was extremely unhappy with the film Jonze had shot, and a test screening had kids leaving the theater scared. Apparently Spike’s film was… well, a Spike Jonze movie, and not the cute cuddly family fantasy movie Warners was expecting. There were even rumors that the movie studio was forcing Spike to reshoot the entire film.
So what’s the latest?
The good news is that Warner Bros has announced a new release date for the film.
The bad news is that is that the new release date is almost 20 months away.
That’s right, Where The Wild Things Are will now hit theaters on October 16th 2009! 20 months should give Warner Bros and Spike Jonze enough time to figure something out, right? It would probably allow for extensive (if not a complete) reshoots, entirely new special effects, and a new set of test screenings. Again, this is just my speculation, but what else will they do with 20 months to kill? This doesn’t sound good.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:46 am
Not good at all! The movie lands on my birthday.
And somebody is going to be pissed if the rumors
were true and Spike’s cut was deluted into a
kid friendly version.
All garbage films and no good studio flicks makes Scott
a dull boy.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Oh.. this is bad news! Please let it come out earlier.. I’ve been waitinf for this movie for what seems forever. I’m quite a fan of the original story and I loved everything I’ve heard so far about this movie.
They don’t need to totally kidify this movie for a pre-school audience. Such great fantasy type movies such as The Dark Crystal and The Labyrinth were made in the past and they had their scary scenes (well at least The Dark Crystal did), the creatures were also created by the Jim Henson company. Another movie to remember is ‘The NeverEnding Story’. These are classics!
Spike Jonze and his work is amazing. The story is about monsters who live in the wild so it isn’t all fluff and flowers.
Please, please, please Warner Brothers see the amazing piece of work already in front of you and don’t change it. This is sure to be a classic movie as long as you keep it as it is!
I hope Warner is listening and if not, someone who knows how to get in touch let them know that they shouldn’t wreck a good thing.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Aw holy fuck. That’s really bad news!
February 27th, 2008 at 8:33 am
If this is true, I want to see the original Spike version. I wonder if there is any chance in the world for that to leak.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I think we may have to wait until 2010 for the Director’s Cut Blu-Ray to actually see this film. After 20 months of fiddling…There’s no way this thing will be the way it was meant to be. Nothing sits in post that long and comes out the other side the better for it. Ugh.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Wow!! is really bad news!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:37 am
No, no no no no no NO NO NO!!!
Come on! Really?
What good is the “power of the Internet” if I can’t use it to bend a multi-billion dollar media conglomerate to my will? I call shenanigans!
We’ve got to fight for this movie. Keep posting! Write angry letters!
Legendary Pictures
4000 Warner Bros. Blvd.
Building 76
Burbank, CA 91522
SAVE THE WILD THINGS!
February 27th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Uh-oh…now that we all know the scoop, WB would be wise to save a copy of Spike’s vision to market a Blu-ray to the masses. It would certainly be in their best financial interest! I will still look forward to taking my kids to the “family friendly” version.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
damn, it dont look good for us. maybe we’ll get the whole blade runner thing ten or twenty years down the road, with an aged spike jonze (ala the jackass skits) giving us the breakdown on what happened in a special features doc on the release of wtwta: the final/directors/spike jonze cut.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
very weak…..i want a spike movie not a Disney movie
February 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
FVCK!!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Disappointing news.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
20 months is certainly enough time to reshoot the entire movie from scratch… :(
February 28th, 2008 at 12:56 am
20 months means I hate Warner Brothers