Public Enemies - What Did You Think?
There was a time in the ’90s when derelict kids were consuming entire packets of Big League Chew and ravaging through violent garbage comics like Trencher and the motherlode, DC Comics‘ Lobo.
Try as I might to better myself, the possibilities of a long-planned R-rated Lobo movie adaptation remain irresistible. A proper cinematic depiction of Lobo’s day-to-day would ideally blend the Star Wars cantina with Road House’s Double Deuce. Certain scenes might need to be lifted wholesale from Bob Guccione’s Caligula. Of course, is there a leading actor today who could embody this gutter-minded, intergalactic bounty-hunter (Juggalo forefather)? Calling Shia LaBeouf.
Joel Silver Says Lethal Weapon 5 Might Happen Eventually
Posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Last we heard, Shane Black’s treatment for a new Lethal Weapon film was shot dead in the water by series star Mel Gibson. IGN was able to talk to producer Joel Silver, who claims that the project might still happen, eventually.
“We talked about it, but it was something that Mel didn’t want to do now,” Silver explained. “It doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to do it ever, but as of right now, he doesn’t.” … “If we can do it, it would be fun. Shane [Black] had a great take on it, a great idea, a great feeling about it. He did a really complex kind of treatment or outline, very complicated, very good. The idea that they wanted to get it up right away, we couldn’t do that, but we’ll see what happens.”
So, according to Silver, Mel just isn’t interested in returning to the series right now. But series director Richard Donner previously inferred that another installment isn’t likely to happen without his involvement. And from what I understand, Black wanted to helm a film based on the extensive treatment that Silver mentioned above. Shane Black is a great director, and an even better writer. Let Donner produce, but I’d rather see a fifth Lethal Weapon film with Black at the helm.
J. Michael Straczynski to Write Forbidden Planet Remake
Posted on Friday, October 31st, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Warner Bros has hired J. Michael Straczynski to write a remake of Forbidden Planet. The original saw a group of Earth scientists who are sent some 17 light years away to investigate what happened to a colony of settlers on Altair-4. They find a man with a secret and his daughter who somehow survived a hideous monster attack on their planet. Gene Roddenberry has noted that Fred Wilcox’s original 1956 sci-fi film was one of the inspirations for Star Trek.
Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the movie was nominated for best special effects Oscar, and was noted for its groundbreaking use of an all-electronic score, and the first appearances of Robby the Robot and the C-57D starship (which was subsequently used in a number of productions, including the Twilight Zone’s “To Serve Man”). The movie’s poster was listed as the fifth best Movie Poster ever created by Premiere Magazine.
Straczynski is probably best known as the creator of Babylon 5, but in recent years he has transitioned into an A-list Hollywood writer. He wrote Clint Eastwood’s most recent film, Changeling, The Wachowski Brothers’ Ninja Assassin, and the big screen adaptation of World War Z. Many names have been attached to the project over the years including James Cameron. Joel Silver is producing the latest try.
Discuss: Do we really need a Forbidden Planet Remake?
source: THR
Last we heard, Joel Silver was waiting on Mel Gibson to approve Shane Black’s treatment for Lethal Weapon 5. Now word comes from original series director Richard Donner (via: the Los Angeles Times) that Gibson turned down the idea and the project is dead.
“Mel turned it down. I would like to think that Mel turned it down because I wasn’t involved. Knowing Mel, I would like to think that. Would that be the kind of thing he does? It sure would be,” Donner said. “It’s too bad, actually, because Channing Gibson, who wrote the fourth one, and Mike Riva, a designer on three of them, and myself and Derek [Hoffman, an associate at The Donner Company] had an incredibly strong story for the fifth movie. But we weren’t given the opportunity and I think maybe I could have convinced Mel to do it. But Warners chose to go with Joel Silver.”
And if that leaves any room for speculation, Donner concluded “Yes, the project is pretty much dead in the water unless someone had the sense to come to me.” I was a big Donner fan back in the 80’s, especially after Superman, but I would really like to see what Black has up his sleeve. Besides having written the original Lethal Weapon screenplay, Black made a huge splash with his 2005 directorial debut Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (which was one of my favorite films of that year). I have faith that Black’s film would be so much more than the last couple sequels in the series. It’s too bad that Warner Bros can’t get Donner on board as a producer, which to me sounds like the only possible resolution.
Lethal Weapon 5 Waits on Mel Gibson’s Approval
Posted on Friday, September 26th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
In August it was revealed that Shane Black was working on a screenplay for Lethal Weapon 5. When news hit earlier this week that Black had signed on to direct Cold Warrior for Universal, we assumed that the momentum for a new Lethal Weapon film had died. Entertainment Weekly reveals that producer Joel Silver is waiting on series star Mel Gibson’s approval of Black’s treatment for the fifth film. Apparently, the story introduces a new pair of young NYPD police officers, and Silver needs Gibson’s approval before moving forward. And Black still intends to direct the fifth film in the series.
Shane Black Has Written Lethal Weapon 5. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Talks?
Posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
UPDATE: The same industry website has clarified the original story, saying…
**We are now hearing that Shane Black may have only handed in a detailed treatment to Joel Silver and that they are taking two old scripts and mashing them together to make LETHAL WEAPON 5… Also hearing that Silver is after Columbus Short for a role**
Right now, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are rolling around in separate beds half-asleep mumbling, “We’re too old for this shit.” Let’s hope their co-stars Chris Rock, Joe Pesci and Jet Li are mumbling the exact same sentence tomorrow when they’re fully awake. It’s being reported by TrackingB that legendary screenwriter, Shane Black, has written a script for Lethal Weapon 5 and handed it over to his friend, the franchise’s producer Joel Silver. Moreover, the guys pictured above are said to be interested in reprising their roles as LAPD badges Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. Coming Soon posted the following logline…
This time, homicidal Riggs (Mel Gibson) is about to retire, but pulls Murtaugh (Danny Glover) out of retirement to solve one final case, before they both officially head off into the sunset.
No further info was made available. Some readers will take issue with the adjective “legendary” used above but seeing that Black’s influence on the action genre, which dates back to 1987’s Lethal Weapon, remains obvious with this weekend’s Pineapple Express, why? From my standpoint, Seth Rogen’s pot vehicle would have been the action-comedy masterpiece some feel it is (CHUD says Oscar-bait no less!?) with Black’s involvement. For example: imagine memorable, superior one-liners rather than Axl Rose lyrics yelled mid-brawl in 2008. A bloodied Danny McBride meets The Last Boy Scout? Now, that’s a neverending breakfast conversation I’d pay to see three times.
The fourth Lethal Weapon film was released 10 years ago and managed to gross $128 million domestically. One could forsee Richard Donner returning as the director, since he helmed the prior four pictures and has a film on the burner entitled Sam and George with Gibson.
Discuss: Would you see a fifth Lethal Weapon with the original team? Either way, do you expect Shane Black’s involvement to make for a better sequel than Live Free or Die Hard, or Beverly Hills Cop: Ratner Vision?
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?
Guy Ritchie Attached to Direct Sgt. Rock for Joel Silver
Posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Fresh off working with Guy Ritchie on Rocknrolla (due this October), mega-producer Joel Silver says he’s tapped the British director/major Madonna fan to see through his long gestating comic book adaptation of Sgt. Rock. AICN got the succinct scoop…
Moriarty: But you do that with properties. You stick by them, like SGT. ROCK. You have developed that for a long time now…
Joel: I’m going to make that. I’m going to make that very soon. With Guy Ritchie, I think.
Moreover, Sgt. Rock screenwriter John Cox, who also adapted Virgin Comics’ wartime-set Virulents due in 2009, has posted Silver’s statement on his MySpace. Years ago, Sgt. Rock was planned as a big budget Schwarzenegger vehicle, and last year Cox briefly threw around Kiefer Sutherland’s name for the title role, but no actor has been set. What’s cool about the film is that it will apparently keep the comics’ gruff World War II setting instead of going the Iraq-update route, and rather than an origins story, Cox has said it will focus on Rock after he’s seen considerable combat/bloodshed.
Not sure what I think of Ritchie’s involvement. He’s never tackled a project this large and multi-faceted, but his early films have cockney flare for days. What do you think?
Here is a round up of stories that just didn’t make the /Film front page, or what we like to call…. Page 2!
The Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull billboards in Los Angeles are out of control. [Rejects]
Louis Leterrier is downplaying The Incredible Hulk dispute with actor/screenwriter Edward Norton and Marvel: “It’s so unsettling, because it’s not true.” [Sci-Fi]
Joe Carnahan will be shooting a big portion of Killing Pablo in Colombia, “which is really the only place you should make that film.”
Empire Magazine has new photos from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Joel Silver says the Wachowski Brothers have ideas for Speed Racer and Ninja Assassin sequels. Let’s wait for the first films to be released and or filmed before we start talking about sequels, please. [Collider]
Enter to win the One Missed Call sweepstakes.
Cinematical has the poster for The Duplass Brother’s Sundance hit Baghead.
LatinoReview has a script review of Chris Bertolini’s Battle: Los Angeles which was recently picked up by Columbia and is set to shoot sometime this year: “Uninspired, predictable, logic-defying ending.”
Virginia Madsen has signed on to co-star in the Amelia Earhart biopic Amelia for Fox Searchlight. Snor. [Variety]
Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) has replaced Thomas Kretschmann as the voice of Johann Kraus in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. [CS]
The Pixar Story will be released on DVD in June. [pixarblog]
STYD has the poster for The Strangers, Rogue Pictures’ home invasion film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman.
Marvel Comics announced that it will publish a comic-book series based on Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game book series. [scifi]
Michael Moore has announced his support for Barack Obama, which is expected considering he slammed Clinton in SiCKO?
Production has started in Connecticut this week on an untitled contemporary comedy directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty) from an original screenplay by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. [CS]
Joel Silver Confirms that Justice League is No More
Posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta
Joel Silver has confirmed to CHUD at the Speed Racer Junket that Warner Bros big screen adaptation of Justice League has been “tabled”. Before you get too excited, this doesn’t mean the film is officially canceled, but I’m pretty sure that:
A. It won’t be happening anytime soon.
B. If and when it does happen it will have a new cast, and maybe possibly a new script and director.
I don’t think fans were opposed to seeing the Justice League of America up on the big screen. I think everyone was turned off by the direction it was heading as evidenced by the leaked storyline and signed but never announced cast members.
Discuss: So now that George Miller’s Justice League as been tabled, who would you like to direct and star in a future revival of the comic book adaptation?
New Speed Racer Images and Visual Effects Explanations
Posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
Our amigos at First Showing directed us to these new lysergic images from the Wachowski Brothers‘ Speed Racer. The still above makes me want to sink into an altered state and get a $50 car wash with a $5 Sweet Pear air freshener. That’s a first. These images will appear in an upcoming cover story of EW, complete with fresh explanations of the film’s divisive green screen special effects included below. Every time we scoff at this movie, it pulls Slashfilm back in (and vice versa)!
“If these photos are looking a bit more two-dimensional than usual, that’s by design. The Wachowskis “wanted to incorporate some of the limitations of ’60s cell animation in the movie,” says Leo. Explains fellow effects supervisor Kim Libreri: “The backgrounds are mostly from photographic elements that have been shot from locations around the world [and then] intensely processed to be super-colorful and super-contrasty.”
“Do you remember the 1980s video game Outrun,” asks Libreri, “with the palm trees flying past? A lot of the movie looks like that. But instead of using painted elements that they used the early days [of anime]. there are actually photographic elements flying past the road.”
More images and “car-fu” effects descriptions after the hop…
Discuss: Not sure about you, but I think Kim Libreri’s Out Run reference is quite ace. Is there another film that did the “candy store aesthetic” better than what you’ve gleamed from Speed Racer?
Early Review of the Wachowskis’ Speed Racer
Posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 by Hunter Stephenson
An early review of Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski’s Speed Racer has popped up over at AICN and the anonymous reviewer reports that the film might not be rated G after all. He’s saying PG-13.
“No, as it stands there is cursing in it, which shocked my roommate and I because we heard that they were gunning for the G rating as well. They say “ass” about 3 or 4 times, “shit” at least once, and Spritle flips off another character. Not sure if that’s all going to be edited out, but one or two scenes, it seemed impossible to do so, as it would change a lot. But I’m sure that they will figure out something, maybe alternate takes of the same scenes. I just don’t understand why they would include them if they planned on going for a G eventually anyways.”
The guy goes on to say he’s not a big fan of the directors (latter two Matrixes sucked et al.) and wasn’t expecting much from the lysergic life-as-cartoon style seen in the trailer. He expresses mild shock at how unfinished the film’s special effects are (it’s due in May), but overall, says it should play gangbusters and expects the finished result to be “jawdropping.” And no, he doesn’t sound like a plant to me.
“It’s hoaky, corny, and completely defies reality, sure. But it is done so well that it truly was entertaining. Exactly what a family summer movie should be. The race sequences are some of the most kinetic and intense that I have ever seen (even when it is just shitty cartoon pre-vis renderings flying around on the tracks). The action was so intense and crazy in parts that seriously it made the Matrix movies seem like you’re watching a Gus Van Sant art film.”
One scene that sounds particularly inspired…
“Then immediately we flash back to Speed as a kid trying to take a test in grade school, but he just cant seem to concentrate, all he can think about is racing, so he pretends to race through the test. We literally see his imagination come to life as he races a childishly drawn race car past other crudely drawn race cars.”
Discuss: How well do you think Speed Racer will perform this summer at the box office compared to The Dark Knight and Wall-E? Â
