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?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I could see him doing this role.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
This has BOMB written all over it.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
this would be the worst hero film ever.
the bros. would “Speed Racer” it and we know that film tanked BAD!
July 14th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Think YOUNGER. and less Keanu’er.
AND FUNNIER. and less Wachowski’er.
and more quality’er
July 14th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Does Joel Silver only know three directors?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
“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.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
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!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I always wanted Keanu Reeves for Hal Jordan. :(
July 14th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Needs more Sasha Baron Cohen.
And to be a period piece.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Sasha Baron Cohen uuuhhhh NO
July 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Sounds more like an Eddie Murphy vehicle/franchise.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
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!!!
July 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
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)
July 14th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
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.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
This will not be a success ever.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
@ 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.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
“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…
July 14th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Jim Carrey. Born to play this role. Do i need to say more?
July 15th, 2008 at 12:28 am
… 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.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:30 am
…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.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:10 am
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 5:56 am
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:51 am
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:18 am
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:26 am
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
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.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
And another question when in is Slashfilm going to get the Avatar fixed. It’s been like this for the longest!!
July 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
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.