Here is a round up of stories that just didn’t make the /Film front page, or what we like to call…. Page 2!
Rob Zombie has updated his MySpace profile with a new image which reads “Tyrannosaurus Rex - 51% Motherf—er, 49% Son of a Bitch” which gives us a couple new clues to his next film.
Shock has new set photos from the upcoming adaptation of Twilight.
Transformers 2 is set to begin shooting on June 2nd 2008 (presumably in Philadelphia?). [tfw2005]
Nick Stoller has been hired to write and direct Get Him to the Greek for Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures. The film will star Jonah Hill as a fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster who is hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Russell Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.’s Greek Theater. [variety]
Kevin Smith will release a series of online short behind the scene videos in the lead up to Zack and Miri Make a Porno. [MMM]
Crocs plan to release footwear inspired by WALL-E. I’m guessing they will still look like clown shoes. [pixarplanet]
Wesley Snipes’s tax-evasion hobby will cost him three years in jail. [defamer]
The Incredible Hulk has been spotted selling EAS’ Myoplex in Magazines. [SHH]
The founder of the first ever British Jedi Church and his brother were attacked by a Darth Vader impersonator while being filmed talking about Star Wars by a local TV documentary crew. District Judge Andrew Shaw demanded that police track down the impersonator and said: “I hope the force will soon be with him.” I kid you not. [telegraph]
Filmmaker Spike Lee has hooked up with Nokia to direct a movie made with cell phone footage from everyday people in what he calls the democratization of film. Sounds like Spike Lee got a Nokia payday. [UGO]
io9 has a look at Toxic Avenger: The Musical.
When we reported last week that Forgetting Sarah Marshall director Nick Stoller and writer/star Jason Segel had signed on to develop the next Muppet movie, I speculated that these would be the guys to get it right (”The early Muppet films were absolutely genius, but the last few failed due to an attempt to dumb down the plot/jokes to appeal to young viewers”). Segel spoke with MTV, and his views seemed to mirror my early thoughts.
“I’ve just grown a little disappointed with ‘Muppets in the Old West,’ ‘Muppets Under Water,’ and all these weird concept movies. I just want to go take it back to the early 80’s, when it was about the Muppets trying to put on a show. That’s what I’m trying to bring back,” said Segel, who also wants to bring back the big name cameos of the earlier films. “All of our friends that I’ve brought it up to are pretty excited by the prospect of it. Everyone loves the Muppets; they’ve got a warm place in most people’s hearts. We want a lot of cameos. You look back at Charles Grodin, Charles Durning, there were just such great performances in those movies.” “We’ve got a great plot. I think if we can execute it right, it will be terrific. But I can’t tell you more - it’s top secret.”
When asked if he plans to star as the lead human role in the new film, Segel admitted “We haven’t figured that out yet. Right now, we’re just focused on trying to turn in an amazing script.” Segel would only say that the plot would focus on Kermit the Frog (duh). And if Segel has not yet convinced you that he might have the vision to make the next big muppet film, I think this next quote will:
“I remember thinking that Kermit was the original Tom Hanks - he was the everyman for a kid. I remember watching Kermit and thinking ‘That’s what I want to do when I grow up.’ I don’t think I realized he was a puppet.”
One of the fey factors of the original muppet movies was that the muppets were treated like normal people in the real world, and I think Jason gets that. The later films focused on Muppets being part of these magical fantasy worlds (be it Pirates, Oz, or Treasure Island).
After seeing Forgetting Sarah Marshall the other night at SXSW, it was no surprise to me that Disney had hired the star/writer Jason Segel and director Nick Stoller behind Judd Apatow’s latest to develop the next Muppet movie. Segel and Stoller will write the screenplay and Stoller will direct.
A major sequence in Sarah Marshall features a huge vampire love story stageplay acted out with puppets, which were created by the Henson puppeteers. Also at one point Segel’s character also sang/played The Muppet Show theme song on the piano. Segal pitched an idea for a new Muppet movie during a general meeting with executive Kristin Burr.
The early Muppet films were absolutely genius, but the last few failed due to an attempt to dumb down the plot/jokes to appeal to young viewers. I’m sure Segel and Stoller understand what direction to take the franchise, it’s just a question of if Henson/Disney will allow them the chance to actually make it happen.
Discuss: Could Segel and Stoller create another great Muppet movie, or is the Muppet franchise dead?
source: Variety
