Commenting Rules: Keep the conversation civil and on topic. If your comment does not add to the conversation, it will be removed. Debate intelligently. Insulting the author, /Film, or other commenters will result in comment removal and possible ban. If you want to point out a typo, correction, suggestion or criticism for /Film, please email us instead. Please use your name or nickname and not your business name (ie Discount Car Parts) as we might confuse and mark it as spam. If you would like to have your own Avatar show up with your comment, sign-up for a free Disqus account. Any Links will go into moderation before being approved. Anything we deem as spam will not be approved.

German Rumor: Keanu Reeves Teaming with Wachowski Brothers For Plastic Man?

Posted on Monday, July 14th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson

So, for the record, we pay no mind to Script Girl’s buxom scoops, but if a rumor allegedly originates via radio in Berlin, we’ll throw out a “might be true” lasso. Nurse Ratched, are you there? However, the following equation: Keanu Reeves + Wachowski Brothers + Plastic Man has a probable ring to it. Back in the ’90s, the Wachowskis wrote a script based on Plastic Man, the “golden age” comic book character (and later fringe Justice League member) and shopped it around town. You can read their old draft here. Post-Matrix, the brothers have harbored the project as a viable option. Now, a tipster tells CHUD that their producer pal, Joel Silver, gave an update on German radio…

“[The tipster] claims that Silver says that Keanu Reeves will be playing Eels O’Brien (the real name of Plastic Man). Apparently this is the start of a new love period between Reeves and the Wachowskis, as Silver (via tipster) said that the brothers want to work with him on all their future projects.”

With their protege, James McTeigue, helming Ninja Assassin (which Silver was discussing apparently), Larry and Andy Wachowski haven’t chosen a project to follow-up Speed Racer, one of this summer’s rare belly flops. Obviously, a superhero film with Reeves would be a safe bet in today’s marketplace…albeit one centered on an eccentric character with lower pop culture visibility than Ant-Man?

Plastic Man originated in the ’40s. He was but a mortal goon until chemicals leaked into a bullet wound and enabled his body to stretch like rubber. Via Wikipedia…

“Plastic Man can stretch his limbs and body to superhuman shapes, lengths and sizes, with flexibility and coordination extraordinarily beyond the natural limits of the human body. He can become entirely flat so that he can slip under a door, use his fingers to pick conventional locks, pose as inanimate objects such as vehicles or pieces of furniture, and disguise himself by changing the shape of his face. There is no known limit to how far he can stretch his body.

Also…

“He once disguised himself as Batman’s utility belt.”

Well then, I think it’s safe to say that Plastic Man’s fate hangs on the success of The Dark Knight. So, remember, Plastic Man is counting on you this weekend. Until then, if this rumor develops or gets vaporized, we’ll update accordingly.

Discuss: Keanu Reeves and The Wachowskis and Plastic Man. Would you see it? Also, please explain how Plastic Man’s powers differ from Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards (shoddy franchise films don’t count yet)? He’s more sardonic?

Comments 

Related Posts

Tags

Comic Book/Superhero, Gossip/Controversy, Quotes, Rumors, The Buzz, , , , , ,

  • REAL6
    I could see him doing this role.
  • Brody
    This has BOMB written all over it.
  • Al
    From what I have read, the Wachowski's Plastic Man script is great. This could be pretty awesome, and I am glad the Box office failure of Speed Racer has not slowed them down.
  • John
    this would be the worst hero film ever.

    the bros. would "Speed Racer" it and we know that film tanked BAD!
  • JFK
    Think YOUNGER. and less Keanu'er.

    AND FUNNIER. and less Wachowski'er.

    and more quality'er
  • Guest
    Does Joel Silver only know three directors?
  • Exoduster
    I don't know anything about this character, but what Ive read on wikipedia sounds like it has great potential. Unlike Mr. Fantastic he has the ability to become simple machines and moving parts is different don't know how that will translate on film. Also, "Batman declares that Plastic Man is the single most powerful superhero — presumably even more so than Superman and Captain Marvel" That sounds awesome.

    I welcome this DC needs to get in the game already. Even though this is a lesser known character I think Keanu Reeves + Wachowski Brothers can make it happen. Hopefully we also see a revival of Joss Whedons Wonder Woman.
  • Jeff
    "From what I have read, the Wachowski’s Plastic Man script is great. This could be pretty awesome, and I am glad the Box office failure of Speed Racer has not slowed them down."

    Really? Cause from what I've read, every plastic man comic sucked... They must have gotten some really great writers...

    Man they are reaching.
  • Shan
    Well, it is a matter of taste, but Speed Racer was, actually, a very fun and sweet movie. It was poorly marketed, that's for sure. So maybe The Wachowski learned with it's flop and will make a lighter movie with more appeal to all audiences and market it properly. Their Plastic Man script is good and very funny too, but it would have to be updated. I so see Keanu Reeves doing that character, I hope to see the man doing comedy again, he has great comic timing and was a shame that stopped doing it after I Love You to Death. It would finnally be a comeback to his roots. We can't forget the man was Ted Logan!
  • I always wanted Keanu Reeves for Hal Jordan. :(
  • M&Co
    Needs more Sasha Baron Cohen.
    And to be a period piece.
  • concord
    Sasha Baron Cohen uuuhhhh NO
  • The dude
    Sounds more like an Eddie Murphy vehicle/franchise.
  • eeeeek
    I would so love this!!! But I am worried that the material is too obscure. It could be another Speed Racer - too hip for its own good. Or it could be another Iron Man - introducing the public to a great, but unknown comic book character. It could go either way. Huge hit or huge bomb. But I personally would love to see it!!!
  • john
    Im in the same league as Exoduster. Sounds interesting. Just wished more DC projects come out. Ill stick with The Dark Knight for now (which I think ishould be the new standard for comic book movies)
  • Lonestar
    Speed Racer wasn't bad it just fell in a gray area. Too energetic for kids, but too vibrant for adults. If it was made rated R and darker I think it would have been awesome but that just me. Nevertheless, it was good.
  • JFK
    M&Co":

    You are so on the right track.
    Id rather have this than his Sherlock Holmes

    His super power is essentially his own imagination. So, the film will be limited by its makers. Cohen to the rescue! They won't be able to just point a camera at a guy in a suit, or a guy in a car. Humor is his principle power. Satire is his Excalibur. Imagine trying to beat god in an endlessly red and yellow, dynamic corporeal form and you have Plastic Man. Though they might seem dated to most readers the books had great great art. And wit.

    Plastic Man is a classic. Frank Miller proved how great he could be in a modern setting with DK2. This would be a great film to play with peoples expectations and exceed them. He can't be crammed to tightly into the basic superhero plot so its a great opportunity to make headway in the hero flick genre. Lets hope they don't just want to turn him into movie tickets.

    Don't Daredevil this flick. Roger Rabbit it.
  • krackajap
    Was I the only one who thought Speed Racer was a decent movie? I enjoyed myself in the theaters and I really loved the way it transitioned from flashbacks to present time. For instance, when it shows his brother racing and he makes the jump, his brother's car froze in mid-air and then Speed's car jumps through it and it starts Speed's race.
  • jimbo stewart
    This could be amazing if they balanced his humor with some darker material. Plastic Man is criminally underrated and without a doubt the most powerful hero in the DC universe. He has no weakness, cannot age and once survived being shot in the face.

    Eel O'Brien kicks serious ass.
  • This will not be a success ever.
  • Hunter Stephenson
    @ Speed Racer defenders

    I called Speed Racer a huge flop, which it was, but that doesn't mean the film was a creative failure. It wasn't.

    In my opinion, their Speed Racer was not Americanized enough, and I don't use the "America" argument often. It looked like anime on a Euro vacation, in a good way, but ultimately this aesthetic was a hard sell. I wouldn't blame the marketing too much either (note: these guys don't do press, so...).

    Their sensibilities have an odd disconnect with this country's notions of family entertainment, and I think the Wachowskis now risk becoming "outsiders" with mainstream entertainment in general, which is ironic given that films like Wanted are still ripping off their Matrix ideas.

    I'm not so sure that Ninja Assassin will connect here either (Rain's casting is worrisome), and Plastic Man dips into oddball obscurity as well, as some of you have mentioned and compared to Speed Racer.

    Imo, they should next take on a film like Metal Gear Solid - an established title - where they will have that pre-sold stability but also have the ability to add their creative flourishes. Or another DC character, like Green Lantern, all for it.
  • Al
    "In my opinion, their Speed Racer was not Americanized enough, and I don’t use the “America” argument often. It looked like anime on a Euro vacation, in a good way, but ultimately this aesthetic was a hard sell. I wouldn’t blame the marketing too much either (note: these guys don’t do press, so…)."

    I think the only way this movie would have remotely done well in the US was if it was a parody like all the other soulless old-school remakes we've seen (Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch etc). Guess they should have cast Ben Stiller instead of Emile Hirsch...
  • SUe
    Jim Carrey. Born to play this role. Do i need to say more?
  • Nanea
    ... and no one bothered to check when Silver was actually in Berlin, and supposedly said this?

    The Ninja Assassin press conference took place in Berlin on April 28, and nobody who covered that event made any mention of Plastic Man.
  • ...Why in the world........

    Can't they just focus on making something unique? Sure we've only seen a plastic-ish man in "Fantastic Four", but this is the best "Speed Racer" follow up they can come up with?

    No wonder they're in hiding.
  • Baron Von Cheddar
    While I don't see this movie being made, I could not see it being made as anything other than an animated comedy. Done wrong and it'll come across as a bad clone of The Mask.

    I fall into that narrow slice of the movie-going public who liked Speed Racer. If the Wachowskis want to make some more PG-friendly action films, I say great. I'm sick of crud featuring heroic cutesy trained animals, Eddie Murphy's ill-conceived toilet humor and films with the "importance of family" message driven into my face with all the force of Mjolnir.
  • orange cinema
    i agree with most here, this will follow in speed racers flopping footsteps. it always kills me how they can't see that. love reeves and the w's, but come on - it fing plastic man.
  • Shan
    Jim Carrey would be wrong! Too obvious and would transform the character in another Mask, without the mask. If they can balance the humor with some dark aspects, change that costume and add lots of mindblowing action (and the Wachowski CAN do that), you have something really interesting.
  • A Better Class of Criminal
    I love the Wachowski's (The Matrix, V for Vendetta) but Speed Racer was not nearly as good as I hoped it would be.
    As much as I despise Keanu Reeve, I trust the Wachowski's to make a quality movie.
    Let's give it a chance.
  • jordan2099
    Hey look its the bottom of the barrel.

    Seriously I love Plastic Man as a supporting member in the Leauge. This is like giving a movie to Colossus or Kitty Pryde. All cool characters, not a stand alone film though.

    I'd way rather see something like a Martian Manhunter film, or even The Demon or something.

    I see this being campy junk, despite the talented directors and Reeves involvement.

    Is there a reason that Fables hasn't been optioned for a film series yet? DC has a lot of great stuff to go with, this just seems like a horrible place to start.
  • I like Keanu!! He is one of my favorite actors, but come on you can't be serious???? "Plastic man"????

    Come on Wachowski brothers!! People want to see you guys make epic movies. I really hope this turns out good, because there is always paper or plastic.
  • And another question when in is Slashfilm going to get the Avatar fixed. It's been like this for the longest!!
  • James
    It seems LatinoReview gots a little update on Plastic Man. I found it interesting that Plastic Man if made back then would have been the most expensive movie made. Thats crazy if that holds true. With that much money one can only imagine what Wachowski Bros can do. And, I do agree that there movies tend to fall ahead of its time including Speed Racer. I loved Speed Racer just wished it was rated R and not a kids movie. A darker tone would be awesome. Bring on Plastic Man Wachowski's haven't let me down yet.
  • maximize
    Plasic man's look and suit really sucked. Wachowski Brothers need to stay away from this one including Keanu reeves. It could seriously hurt his career if it flops; and it will. I don't even what to think about any of Hanna Barbara cartoons remade with live actors; The Herculoids, Space Ghost, Hum, don't think so.

    I did'nt see Speed Racer in the movies because of the ratings which was one star. The color and speed of the action in the trailers turned me off. I saw it it on DVD and I didn't think it was bad at all. Today I saw it again with my son and I was able to follow the story, the speed and details in the visual effects in the movie. I didn't follow the cartoon version to be able to make a comparison but I give the story, visual effects and the movie overall, three and a half stars.

    I think that the Wachowski Brothers should consider continuing a part two of Speed Racer. I think it will catch on.

    One movie I think that should be continued where it left off or remade is "TRON". If the visual effects in Speed Racer was used in Tron, it could be a big hit. Maybe with Matrix like action. What do you think Wachowski Brothers?
  • Lefty
    Maximize had my same experience with speed racer i herd it sucked so i didnt see it till it was on dvd and its flippin awsome don't know what people were smokin or not smokin!
  • Joey
    yes this is going to BOMB, BOMB is the key word here people.

    Is Silver trying to bankcrupt Warner Bros. Ninja Ass now this.....

    They should just go away so WE dont have to suffer anymore.
  • matrix
    SpeedRacer really hurt them, really hurt their credability.

    If they make this it will kill them off.

    If Keanu takes the role he'll kiss his career goodbye forever.

    I hate to say this but they seem like a one hit wonder (matix) and that's long since gone.
blog comments powered by Disqus

gorilla nation

/Film

Copyright © 2010 /Film. Web design by Pro Blog Design. Logo Concept by: Illumination Ink

All names, trademarks and images are copyright their respective owners.