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Cowboys & Aliens update: Why it won't be faithful to the comic. Much.
Given Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci's pedigree as adapters and re-inventors of such franchises as Star Trek, Transformers and Mission: Impossible, one might expect a little-known comic book to be a relatively minor challenge to bring to the silver screen. But the duo insist that Cowboys and Aliens, their follow-up to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, was no easier to adapt.
The movie, a mix of sci-fi and wild west, is based on the Platinum Comics graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley. Set in the mid-1800s in Arizona, it deals with the invasion by an extraterrestrial species with plans to enslave humanity, but cowboys and native Apache have other plans. Orci and Kurtzman are acting as producers and writers on the project for DreamWorks; Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg are also producing.
In adapting the comic, "we always have to remove ourselves a little bit from it ... in the same way that a screenwriter adapts a novel," Kurtzman said in an exclusive interview Friday in Beverly Hills, Calif. "It's very rare that you adapt a novel word for word and structurally as it was written as a novel. You have to find a way to say, 'All right, how am I going to take this blueprint and turn it into a screenplay?' In the case of Cowboys and Aliens, what I think is true to the spirit of the comic book is the idea that it's a genre mash-up—it's a western and a sci-fi movie and everything we love about both genres—and they just kind of collide. But I think there was an enormous amount of invention in Cowboys and Aliens for us."
Kurtzman said that he and his longtime writing partner, Orci, were unfamiliar with the comic book prior to working on it; in fact, it was the name alone that hooked the pair. "We were not actually very aware of it," he said. "We didn't know it at all. It was the title. That was literally it. It was just [hearing] the title, and we went, 'We're in. I don't know what it's about, but we're in.'"
Meanwhile, Orci and Kurtzman are equally excited about Masi Oka's The Defenders, which the Heroes actor created and will produce. "We developed it with Masi," Kurtzman said. "When we were writing Transformers, he came to see us and pitched us the movie, and we thought, 'This is such a wonderful way to reinvent kind of an Amblin movie.' So we've been developing it with him for the last year while we've been working on these other movies and then sold it a couple of weeks ago."
The Defenders, which was just given the go-ahead by DreamWorks, follows a group of gamer teens who have to come together to save the world, sort of a real-world MMORPG.
Kurtzman was mum about specific details, but he hinted that the film would recall kid-themed adventures of the 1980s. "What we can tell you is that we grew up on movies like The Goonies and movies like Back to the Future, where kids were thrown into these extraordinary circumstances and the movie itself allowed you to buy into the reality of it even though it was so escapist," he explains. "Those kinds of movies are deceptively tricky, and they're not easy to come by; a really good version of an idea like that is very, very hard to come by. So when Masi came in, even though he just had the kernel of something, there was an extremely personal angle to the story that made it an access point that I think will reach kind of everybody, and that's what made us say, 'We've got to do this.' But it's kind of a kid's sci-fi adventure."
The pair have a full slate of projects beyond The Defenders. Paul Attanasio, who wrote Quiz Show and Donnie Brasco, is writing Matt Helm, which is a reinvention of the Dean Martin movies and Donald Hamilton novels and which Orci/Kurtzman are producing. "That's sort of an action comedy tonally in the world of Out of Sight or Ocean's Eleven," Kurtzman said. In addition, David Ayer, who wrote Training Day, is writing a movie called Deep Sea Cowboys about two salvage crews.
"They land on billion-dollar supertankers and try to save them before the sink, in real time," Orci said. "It's based on a real Wired article, and there's real people who do it. It's unbelievable."
http://scifiwire.com/2009/06/cowboys-aliens-update-why.php
New Interview with Orci and Kurtzman. C&A talked about. Watch the video.
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman talk STAR TREK SEQUEL Villain Ideas and COWBOYS AND ALIENS
by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Posted:June 19th, 2009 at 11:18 pm ShareThis
Just a few hours ago I was doing every “Star Trek” fan a favor…I was asking screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman what they were planning on doing in the sequel to the biggest film of the year. Yes, you read that right. “Star Trek” is the biggest domestic release with over $235 million dollars at the box office!
Anyway, the reason I got to ask them some questions is not only did they write “Trek”, but they also wrote the first “Transformers” movie and co-wrote the sequel. So at todays press junket for the second “Giant F*cking Robot Movie”, I managed to land another exclusive interview with two of the busiest writers in town and we talked about everything. In fact, we covered so many subjects that I’m breaking the interview into two parts.
In today’s post I’ve got everything they said on the “Star Trek” sequel and “Cowboys and Aliens”, and in the next one, expect info on their other movies, “Fringe”, and “Transformers Revenge of the Fallen”.
But let’s get to why you’re here…”Star Trek”. And it’s all after the jump:
While I can often sum up everything that was talked about, if you’re a fan of director J.J. Abrams “Star Trek”, this is one of those must watch interviews. Especially seven minutes in till the end.
But if you just want to know some highlights…
They don’t know if J.J. is directing the sequel - he’s still undecided
They want to finish the sequel script by Christmas
Paramount wants to make the film as soon as possible
They’ve been reading what the fans have been saying online
And here’s the big info:
If you watched my “Star Trek” video blog with Peter from Slashfilm, we discussed what we wanted to see in a sequel. I brought up what we talked about and asked Bob and Alex what kind of villain we’d get in the sequel. I also asked if they’d set anything up in part two that might pay off in another film. They say they’re debating between “the exploration sci-fi plot where the unknown and nature itself is somehow an adversary or the villain model. That’s an active discussion we’re having right now. In terms of thinking about more than one movie, we want the movie to be self-contained in a way, but we’re discussing the idea of having a couple of threads where if the second movie works, you could pick up into a cohesive whole. No thread more exciting and shocking for me when in “Star Trek III” you realize that Spock grabbed Bones and downloaded his Katra into him. When I saw “Star Trek II” I was like, “What’s going on here?” and two years later, you’re watching it and you’re like “They’re geniuses! They’re geniuses!” So we’re trying to think is there a version of that but again, “Star Trek II” does not rely on that thread, even though it turns out to be a thread. So we’re thinking in those terms.”
What that means is, we might get the “Star Trek” film I so desperately want. I’m tired of the typical “Star Trek” movie villain. The person bent on destruction and not willing to listen to reason. I want the crew of the Enterprise to have to use their ingenuity and skill to solve a big problem and the way Bob and Alex were talking, that might be the direction they’re going. Obviously they haven’t written anything yet, so who knows. But the fact that they’re even putting the idea forward is awesome.
The other movie we talked about is “Cowboys and Aliens” and they gave me a brief update on the status.
Finally, right before “Star Trek” came out I spoke to Bob and Alex and we had a great conversation. If you missed it, you can watch it here. We reference that interview at the beginning of this one.
Here’s Bob and Alex. Below the interview are the bullet points of every subject we discussed. Look for the next part Sunday or Monday.
two quick things. Give it time to load and you might have to raise the volume in the player to 100%. It’s set to 50% right now.
http://www.collider.com/2009/06/19/roberto-orci-and-alex-kurtzman-talk-star-trek-sequel-villain-ideas-and-cowboys-and-aliens/
Sorry, I dont.
OT: Wonder if it is a Platinum/Dreamworks secret movie (Ghosting?, something else). Well we should follow the trend of the moment anyway. JMO Only
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i04825332556ab23d83be509415fee749
OT: Metal band: Kurtzman & Orci mastermind Transformers' 'Revenge of the Fallen'
http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/movies/e3iecfa450e38f03b77320a92c99890ed5a?pn=1
from Dans Dead of Night Blog: looks like we will be seeing DD stuff at Comic Con. Maybe a trailer? IMO
One more small update
Those of you in the San Diego area who happen to be attending Comicon International this July might want to save some time for some Dead of Night goodness. More details to follow, but there will be LOTS to see there. Woo hoo!!!
-Dan Forcey
Development Exec/Former Stunt Guy/STGME (Starting To Get More Excited)
If he did that, he could have asked for a bigger cut of the profits and merchandise. He'll never see a dime back from that loss. IMO
OT: Looks like Dreamworks is about to get a major cash infusion. Im guessing this will fund C&A and Atlantis Rising. Things should start moving quickly now. IMO
DreamWorks will get its $325 mil
Verbal commitments secured; bankers to close on funding
By Carl DiOrio
June 11, 2009, 03:32 PM ET
Team Spielberg is at the goal line and getting ready to spike the ball.
DreamWorks' plan to raise $325 million in lender financing -- part of a funding scheme covering at least three years of film production -- is now oversubscribed with verbal commitments, and its bankers soon will begin closing on the loan syndication.
Reliance Big Entertainment will provide a letter of credit for a matching amount in equity funding, and RBE topper Anil Ambani is heading to Los Angeles on Monday for a CAA-hosted reception to introduce him to local VIPs. Ambani is visiting the U.S. for other business, and the talent agency is taking the opportunity to introduce the Mumbai magnate to top talent and others involved in a number of film production deals inked through CAA last year.
A term sheet detailing minor structural changes on DreamWorks' planned loan syndication must be circulated. But the changes are mostly beneficial to participating lenders and shouldn't keep the loan-closing process from commencing in two or three weeks.
A third component of DreamWorks' funding plans will see its distribution partner Disney lend DreamWorks up to $175 million.
JPMorgan Chase, which is leading the syndication, will contribute $75 million and Bank of America is on board for $50 million, with others firmly committed including Wells Fargo, California Bank & Trust and Sun Trust, among others.
"It certainly is our expectation that we will be fully committed and able to announce that soon," DreamWorks spokesman Chip Sullivan said. "We're very close to the finish line."
Once buttoned up, the financing will fund the production of at least three first-year projects and five or six movies a year thereafter.
DreamWorks originally had planned a $750 million loan syndication before credit markets collapsed, and the continued goal is to keep raising money as capital markets bounce back. Meanwhile, the latest developments will keep things well on track as principals Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider continue to reinvent DreamWorks as a private company following their departure from Paramount last fall.
A happy conclusion to the long-in-gestation loan syndication will also mark a major coup for JPMorgan Securities, which has been dealing with a marketplace that's contracted from 40 entertainment-finance lenders to less than a dozen in recent months.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i34a6abc278332611c464021891f2c519
I may have to go check it out. Its only a few hrs away from my location. Sometimes go to the Indian casinos down that way, when I have some extra cash, which hasnt been lately BTW "). Hmmm, just a thought.
What do you think of the location of Randsburg, California. Its really a western style town, but still doesnt look westernery enough for me. Maybe 77 people in a small town? Where you gonna put a big film crew and spectators that show up. The town will be mobbed. IMO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randsburg,_California
I dont know, I havent checked, but Ill take your word for it.
hummm. I see IMDBhas started updating the C&A site. Is this an official confirmation? Filming in Randsburg, California, USA? IMO
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409847/
Money Tv for this week. Sounds like some good progress made on C&A.
http://www.emergingcompany.com/volume13week22qt.mov
MoneyTv this week.
http://www.emergingcompany.com/volume13week21qt.mov
Guess they never heard of IHUB where we have most of the latest info. IMO
http://comicbooks.about.com/b/2009/05/11/anybody-hear-from-platinum.htm
Roberto Orci And Alex Kurtzman Really Want Robert Downey Jr. For ‘Cowboys & Aliens’
Published by Adam Rosenberg on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm.
Robert Downey JrFROM SPLASH PAGE: Just last month, Robert Downey Jr. told MTV News that he might not be starring in a feature film version of “Cowboys and Aliens” after all, despite earlier reports. But “Cowboys and Aliens” producers and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman haven’t given up on getting the actor to star in the adaptation of a Platinum Studios graphic novel.
The pair told SCI FI Wire that they have been speaking with Downey about starring in the movie.
Continue reading ‘Cowboys And Aliens’ Writers Working With ‘Lost’ Co-Creator, Still Targeting Robert Downey Jr.
and
What will it take to get Robert Downey Jr. in Cowboys and Aliens?
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 2
Writer/producers Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci confirmed to SCI FI Wire that they have spoken with Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. about starring in their upcoming sci-fi western movie Cowboys and Aliens, but that getting him on board depends on his schedule.
"We've been talking to him about that," Orci said. "He's one of the busiest men on the face of the Earth. If the schedule can line up, we'd absolutely love it."
The writers—who have their fingerprints all over this year's Star Trek, Fringe and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen—add that Cowboys and Aliens is closest to being the movie they complete next.
Cowboys and Aliens is based on the Platinum Comics graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley. Set in the mid-1800s in Arizona, it deals with an invasion by an extraterrestrial species with plans to enslave humanity, but cowboys and native Apache have other plans. Orci and Kurtzman are acting as producers and writers on the project for DreamWorks; Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg are also producing.
In an exclusive interview with SCI FI Wire, the creative pair spoke about the movie, which is eyeing a 2010 release. Following is an edited excerpt of our interview.
Cowboys and Aliens is based on Platinum Dune's fantastical graphic novel. How far are you along in developing the script?
Kurtzman: We are just about to finish our draft of Cowboys and Aliens, which we are writing with Lost's Damon Lindelof. 2012 we aren't doing anymore, because we were developing it, but then Roland Emmerich beat us to the punch.
Orci: For Cowboys and Aliens, we got an amazing first draft from Mark Fergus, who wrote Iron Man, and now we are continuing on with Damon. We are in the middle of the second draft.
What has been one of the challenges in bringing a comic-book property to the big screen?
Kurtzman: It's always that line of how much to keep from the graphic novel and what has to be altered to fulfill the tonal and production requirements of live action. There are certain things you can get away with in the graphic novel that doesn't translate to live action.
What will it take to get Robert Downey Jr. in Cowboys and Aliens.
http://scifiwire.com/2009/05/what-will-it-take-to-get.php
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/05/27/roberto-orci-and-alex-kurtzman-really-want-robert-downey-jr-for-cowboys-aliens/
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/05/27/cowboys-and-aliens-writers-working-with-lost-co-creator-still-targeting-robert-downey-jr/
OT: Digital comics come calling on mobile phones
http://www.straight.com/article-220328/digital-comics-come-calling-mobile-phones
Hmmm, interesting. This might be new, or at least "WE" havent seen it.
IMO
http://www.drunkduck.com/Atlantis_Rising/html/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Atlantis_Rising/html/merch.html
OT: see, it doesnt cost big bucks to make a movie. Bet we could make a film Cowboys vs Zombies relatively cheap. LOL
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/21/Colin/index.html
It should have been, but I think it will cost more than 20M to make. Hopefully they dont use too much Computer generated Special Effects. Dont want it too Star Warsee. Caution is right on this one. You will probally have to use someone else money on this one to get started. But this probally will be a super big money maker, so I see small risk and high rewards here for that company that finances this one.
IMO
Better to get Mel Brooks to do a C&A spoof. Aliens taking over an indian casino? I think Bob Hope is in no condition to do any work. LOL
Yea, but look at the details. Any investor can get all the info they need here. Just hit the hide ibox like the rest of us when you log in.
The C&A Panel I just did was fun. Interesting reading. I did not know there was a girl involved in the film. Wonder who will co-star with RDJ, who will do the make-up (maybe DRAC studios again ?)for the aliens, where the indians come from? So many questions.
All is well, just burned out with work. Need a break. Good thing there a holiday next week. Hope all is well with you too my friend.
MD
updated ibox
So Platinum owns what now, 21M or so? You think if the movie makes 50 to 100M minimum, plus profit from merchandise etc, its enough to starve off the wolves and produce their own movies? They spent 20M on this one so I guess to break even you have to make 41M plus say maybe 50. If it makes 100M where would our stock be do you think? JMO
Nice catch. Looks like a little but not the whole balance. heck I dont know. Im just guessing here. Brian has the real answer. I still think we will see a nice profit from this movie by years end. IMO
loan? creative financing?. With our volume, I dont see 20 million coming up out of stock. So thats a Brian question. IMO
I think you are reading it right. I think thats why they bought the film company Long Distance Films and its two wholly-owned subsidiaries Dead Of Night Investment Company, LLC and Dead Of Night Production Company, LLC.. Sounds to me like these companys will be producing the next film in the series IMO. (Wonder if we will see a C&A investment company/production company too).Platinum became a production company when the film started, not only a licensing company. I think it was a good move and I dont think they used stock to pay for this. If the film does half as good as Ironman or even rates with equil budget movies as well as some of the lesser movies, they will make money. Im seeing alot of interest in this movie. The blog was a super idea and really spread the word. Now if we can see a clip and the poster or at least a website, that will help spread the word even more. JMO only
http://www.secinfo.com/d12Q56.s2c.htm
OT: Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci at
http://events.la.com/beverly-hills-ca/events/show/86843085-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci
and check out this C&A TV Trailer, no not Platinum version, but it could draw more attention if it gets good ratings but these clips look pretty tacky. IMO
http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/14476.htm/
Looks like my shot worked. Wait, or was it a kick in the nads. I cant recall. LOL
OT: Former ‘Witchblade’ Actress Yancy Butler Reveals Details Of Her ‘Kick-Ass’ Role
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/05/20/former-witchblade-actress-yancy-butler-reveals-details-of-her-kick-ass-role/
"Though it doesn’t look as though she’ll star in Top Cow’s developing “Witchblade” film, Butler fans can comfort themselves with the knowledge that she’s still taking her comic book roles seriously enough to check out the source material."
We just need to give it a shot of profit, acquisitions and next movie facts. Okey, wheres my needle. Im sure it will recover. Then give it 2 aspirin and call it in the morning. LOL
IMO
Looks like Dylan Dog is a wrap this week. I guess now comes the music and cleanup and in the can it goes. Time now to concentrate on the next movies, C&A, Atlantis Rising, Witchblade, ect and the next deals. IMO
Michael Bay Wants to Direct a Western? Maybe He Should Do Cowboys and Aliens?
By Kevin Coll • May 15, 2009
With films like Armageddon, The Rock, Transformers, Bad Boys 1 and 2, Michael Bay is definitely in the running for the king of the blockbusters but now he wants to do a western?
The king of the modern explosion told MTV news that he “loves cowboys and westerns.”
“I love cowboys…I love Westerns…I love, love, love Westerns; love them…I’ve just always been a huge fan of Western movies. I actually wrote a senior thesis on Western movies.”
One would think that best movie to fit his talents would be the Cowboys and Aliens script that is floating around Hollywood and has had Robert Downey Jr. attached to star.
Written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, the story takes place in the Old West, where “settlers and Native Americans wage a bloody battle for control of the land. But when the Earth is threatened by conquerors from the stars, these sworn enemies must work together to save all humanity.” Downey Jr. is pegged to play a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson.
It would make sense that Bay would re-team with Transformers writers Kurtzman and Orci because they are being pegged to write the Alien/Cowboy action film along with Damon Lindelof.
Maybe I am reading too much into Bays love for westerns but this project surely would fit all the things he loves to do.
http://fusedfilm.com/2009/05/michael-bay-wants-to-direct-a-western-maybe-he-should-do-cowboys-and-aliens/
Witchblade news.
Top Cow Talks Witchblade Film, American Original, and More
By Michael Doran
posted: 07 May 2009 05:08 pm ETBuzz up! del.icio.us
Its been 12 months since the Hollywood trades broke news of the development of a Witchblade movie, based on the flagship Top Cow Productions' property – a production that was aiming for a September 2008 shoot. No, you haven’t missed any casting announcements or publicity stills. The film did not begin principle production last year or as of yet.
How come? We talked with Top Cow's Matt Hawkins about the film and where it currently stands, Top Cow's involvement in Jeff Katz's new 'American Original' venture, and the difference between a "comic book" movie and a "graphic novel" film in the eyes of Hollywood...
Newsarama: Matt, we spoke almost exactly one year ago following the announcement of a Witchblade movie with your partners Platinum Studios and Arclight Films and at that time you were targeting a September 2008 production start in Australia. Now at lot has happened since May of last year, including a weakening economy getting downright anemic and now rebounding slightly, so we thought it might be a good time to check in with you regarding the productions status...
Can you update on us where things stand with Witchblade, and how much, if any of it, has to do with the economy and raising production capital at this time?
Matt Hawkins: The best laid plans of mice and men! I could sit back and blame everything on the economy and it would of course be believable...but not true. We simply do not yet have a script yet that we all like. We had a window to go into production that has clearly passed but the project is very much alive and kicking. I don’t think I’ll lay out any dates at this point given the delays but we’re in the process of working with a new writer.
Ultimately Witchblade is a very important project for Top Cow and to date we’ve had successful and critically lauded turns in both live action TV and anime. We’d rather there not be a live-action film than have one we’re not proud of and 100% behind.
Having said that, we’re working on it. I should follow my own advice and not give dates on stuff, but if we had a script that we all liked we had the financing to make the film in that window. We still have all the elements for production with the money being the most crucial, but we need a script!
NRAMA: Without giving away a trade secret, how does this process work? Is there a writer out there penning a 120-page script right now? Is he or she working on plot outlines or treatments?
MH: First time around we had some meetings with the writer to discuss the project and then she went off and wrote the script. This time we’ve developed a treatment/outline with a little more specificity of what we’re looking for that a writer is now writing a script for.
NRAMA: How often would you say there is some sort of development (good or bad) in terms of generating an acceptable script? This something you meet on every few weeks? Months?
MH: Depends on the project and how much control we have and how involved we feel we need to be with the writer to get what we want. Which is just something good! Something character-driven with a solid arc and entertaining ... harder than it sounds. Marc [Silvestri] and I discuss development of stories daily. It’s an ongoing process that you have to be on top of or things will go not necessarily awry but maybe in a direction you don’t want.
NRAMA: Since you're openly avoiding it, I won't try to pin you down to a date, but what’s the best-case scenario for when a fan might see a Witchblade film?
MH: Best case we could go into production by the end of the year but that’s overly optimistic with no script at this point.
NRAMA: You say all the elements are still in place for a production, awaiting the right script. I think even a casual Hollywood observer knows financing deals can be very tenuous, even during the economic salad years. How long will this window be open?
MH: I believe the financing deal with Arclight is up for renewal/extension sometime next year but would have to go back and check. They’ve renewed it once already they believe in the project and see it as a viable franchisable film character. We just need all of the elements to click in place.
NRAMA: How about the status of superhero properties in general? While last summer was the summer of the comic book movie, the winter and spring hasn’t been overly kind to the genre. How do you gauge the appetite for films right now among studios, distributors and financiers?
MH: It seems right for the right project but with the volume of content flooding the system they are certainly getting more choosey.
There is an amusing distinction between a “comic book” movie and a “graphic novel” movie with the former being your popcorn film and the latter having more critical and intellectual credibility. It’s all BS in my opinion, but whatever.
I think comic books still get categorized unfairly but for now that’s working to our advantage. The difference in Q2 2009 and Q2 2008 is that the studios have cut their development budgets and a lot of the cheap option deals that were getting tossed around aren’t there anymore. There used to be projects bought all the time that whatever producer/studio had no interest in making but to get them either off the market or to prevent someone else from making them. This could be a defensive move to prevent a potentially similar film from going into development or just hubris, who knows.
NRAMA: Really? So the stigma attached to “comic books” and “superheroes” in the general population has mutated in Hollywood circles, even with the great track record of both “categories” at the box office?
MH: Yeah in many of my meetings when you talk about a comic book movie they automatically think about blowing s**t up and big, expensive effect films. Graphic novels on the other hand have this mysterious allure and can be more broadly interpreted. White Out and 30 Days of Night are graphic novel movies, but Iron Man is a comic book movie. It’s less a stigma I would say and more a stereotype/classification. Comic book movies are doing well and it’s a very viable category.
Keep in mind, I’m a bit of an outsider looking in so my point of view is distorted by that.
NRAMA: Moving into to other properties, a month or so back the long-standing rumor that Megan Fox was attached to a Fathom movie production was finally confirmed, and lest we forget, Michael Turner was also the co-creator of Witchblade. Any thoughts on that production and any relation at all to Witchblade? Do you see it as competition? A welcome sister-type production to increase the appetite?
MH: Fathom was created and initially published during Mike’s tenure at Top Cow and we could not be more proud of its potential.
NRAMA: How about Berserker? From the looks of it that property began life as a screenplay and it looks like the ambition is to bring that to the big screen as well. May we assume that’s accurate and can you provide any insight into the current possibility of that happening?
MH: I’d have to defer that one to Russ Cundiff and Milo Ventimiglia over at DiVide. Berserker would certainly make a cool film, but we’re 100% focused now on making it a cool comic book. Unlike other actors I’ve worked with over the years, both Milo and Seth Green are big comic fans and genuinely dig this medium. They both want cool comics made. That was the primary goal. If something else happens cool. We’re developing a couple other properties with Milo and Russ that are not comic books and are intended for film/TV.
NRAMA: Is Berserker’s gestation from a screenplay to a comic book idea brought to you by a production company becoming a more common occurrence these days? What affect – if any – do you see this as having on comic book publishing? Is this a good thing, the Hollywood community actively developing publishing projects, rather than the traditional reverse model?
MH: Yeah it’s happening a lot now. We’re getting pitched a lot of stuff. Initially I thought this was really cool but after dealing with it for about six months I’m starting to no longer think so.
I think it’s cool if it’s a project that you develop with a writer from scratch or from an initial idea that the writer has. What is happening a lot though is that 'writer X 'specs out some script or screenplay. He then sends it out through his agent to the film/TV buyers. No one jumps at it, so agent then tries to dump it off as a comic in hopes that 'comic company X' can breathe new life into it and they can try again.
It’s weird now to have agents taking percentages of writers' page rates for comic books.
In some cases I think a project can benefit from a comic treatment if it’s got a super high-concept or needs a lot of visual to really tell the story and get someone on the buying end to understand what it is. Honestly, this is one of the chief reasons I’ve bought into Jeff Katz vision.
NRAMA: Perfect segue. That news broke today. Since you brought it up, can you give us more insight into Top Cow’s role in Katz's American Original?
MH: We’ll be developing projects with Jeff under his American Original brand and publishing his books.
NRAMA: What is Katz adding to the landscape and can you expand on what Top Cow’s role will be?
MH: Jeff is a fun guy and loves this business. He has strong ideas on the direction of entertainment for the future and when he outlined his vision for it I knew we wanted in. He’s physically been in Top Cow’s offices for the past several months and his office is right next to mine so we see a lot of each other.
NRAMA: How is this different than what you were already doing for projects like Wanted?
MH: Wanted was a one-off project and part of a Millarworld “line” that involved multiple publishers and the common bond was that Mark created and wrote them all. Jeff is creating a line of books where we are his publishing partner for all the projects. He’ll be writing some of them but he’ll be working with other writers as well. The development process creatively won’t be all that different.
NRAMA: Not to put words in your mouth Matt, but given some of your earlier comments, you seem somewhat ... perhaps jaded isn’t the right word, but bear-ish on the current comic book/Hollywood climate?
MH: Oh no, I’m very bullish. I believe that a ton of comic book/graphic novel movies and TV shows will get made over the coming years. It’s become a category and no longer a fad. I’m just not the hugest fan of the way it’s done. It’s one of the reasons I dig that Katz is trying to shake things up.
NRAMA: Given some of the insight you’ve given us, is this right time for someone to be launching a venture like this?
MH: Turmoil is the perfect time for innovation and change. Obama ran on a change platform everyone is taking a new look at the old way of doing things and seeing if there is a better way. Americans might actually have a positive savings rate in a few years, who would have believed that 5 years ago? I can’t actually think of a better time.
We were in a recession when Image launched, definitely not as bad as this one. Ultimately people want to be entertained. The comparable value of that entertainment is more important than ever.
NRAMA: Circling back to Wanted... Of course that’s a creator-owned property and Millar has made it clear any Wanted sequel will be on film and not in a comic book. What role – if any – will Top Cow play on the potential continuation of that movie franchise?
MH: We’re still active producers on the film and involved in development of the franchise. We’ve met with the writers and the execs. We worked hard on the marketing end for the video game and DVD launch. We have a great working relationship with Universal licensing on the merchandising end. We involve ourselves where we can help the process and stay out of the way where we don’t.
NRAMA: Okay, so wrapping up, what other properties do you have out there you can give us updates on? Aphrodite IX and Magdalena are both in development, right? Any new info?
MH: On my tracking sheet I have 13 things in active development (meaning either a studio, production company, writer or actor attachment), but that doesn’t mean f**k all. I’m always leery to get into iffy stuff. I’ve said it before but I get a chuckle every time I see someone’s huge announcement about 'Option X' by 'Joe Producer/Studio Y'. Magdalena we’re close to having a screenplay on. They'll be several Darkness related announcements in the next few months.
NRAMA: Finally Matt, given all your experience, can you briefly give us some insight on where you see this market going in the next 5 years. Should comic book fans worry an often fickle Hollywood will find a new belle of the ball soon? Or do you see the market being a more permanent fixture?
MH: Anything is possible but it’s my personal opinion that comic book films are here to stay. It was called a fad in the early 90’s when so much stuff was put into development. Now almost 20 years later it’s still going stronger than ever.
Part of the attraction of comic books is that it is very cheap development compared to other methods. To buy a screenplay from a decent writer costs at minimum $100k+ (some guys make millions) and with a screenplay you still don’t have the look and feel you get from a comic book.
To do a demo for a video game costs upwards of $500K. Even in today’s reduced number scenario, worst case you lose a few thousand dollars an issue. So you do 6 issues and it costs you say $10K out of pocket. You can sell the trade forever if it’s good. I’ve seen companies pay design artists ten times that for a few key art designs for a movie. There is no faster, more cost efficient way to build a new intellectual property than via a comic book.
http://www.newsarama.com/film/090507-top-cow-movies.html
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/05/12/witchblade-film-is-developing-all-it-needs-is-a-script/
EXCLUSIVE: Rob Liefeld Reveals ‘Youngblood’ Movie Writers, Plot Details — No Badrock!
Published by Rick Marshall on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 1:55 pm.
Back in early February, the news broke that “Youngblood,” one of the flagship Image Comics series that defined the ’90s comics boom, was headed to the big screen with “X-Men: The Last Stand” director Brett Ratner attached. Created by veteran writer/artist Rob Liefeld, “Youngblood” chronicled the adventures of a government-sanctioned team of superheroes who operated in the public eye while fighting super-powered threats and dealing with superhero-sized drama.
I had the chance to catch up with the superteam’s creator recently to get an update on “Youngblood,” and to receive some news about the film’s writing team, plot and character lineup.
According to Liefeld, the “Youngblood” movie is currently being scripted by the writing duo of J.P. Lavin and Chad Damiani, who are also working on another adaptation of a Liefeld comic (the Bryan Singer-produced “Capeshooters” in development at Warner Bros). He said the pair is half-way through their first draft of the screenplay.
While the veteran creator said he’s been working closely with the writers (”I’m in every single meeting,” he told MTV), he confessed that he hadn’t heard of the pair until they came up in conversation twice in one day last year — and ended up attached to both “Capeshooters” and “Youngblood” in a matter of hours.
“They were the guys everyone wanted for ‘Capeshooters’ at 11 AM at Warner Bros a year ago, and then at 3 PM, I met with Brett [Ratner] and his producing partner, and Brett says, ‘I know exactly who we have to get to write this: Lavin and Damiani,’” said Liefeld.
Given the comic book series’ occasionally adult-oriented subject matter, which combined massive action sequences with discussion of modern politics and celebrity culture, Liefeld explained that the film was “looking to be in the ‘Iron Man‘ neighborhood” as far as tone and rating. He told MTV that he hoped to make the film “a little more violent” than Marvel’s 2008 blockbuster, “but as much as you can push it with PG-13.”
Story-wise, the veteran creator said the big-screen adaptation of “Youngblood” would focus on team members Shaft and Chapel, the bow-wielding marksman and gun-toting former soldier who lead the team.
“They don’t like each other,” said Liefeld. “Shaft is the new kid on the block in the movie, and he and Chapel have to put aside their differences to save the Youngblood program.”
However, one character that won’t be appearing in the film is Badrock, the teenage boy with a body made of stone. Liefeld told MTV the decision to leave out Badrock was his choice, adding that the character “doesn’t fit in first film.”
“There are characters that have micro-cameras installed on their bows, their arrows, their semiautomatic rifles, their bo staffs,” Liefeld explained of the ambitious, unique visuals he hopes the adaptation will bring to the screen. “You’re getting footage from a thousand angles, from the casing on their weapons to their armor.”
“When Youngblood goes live, the whole word watches,” he added.
What do you think about the “Youngblood” movie? Looking forward to seeing how it’s translated on the big screen? Let us know in the comment section!
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http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/05/12/exclusive-rob-liefeld-reveals-youngblood-movie-writers-plot-details-no-badrock/
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DEAD OF NIGHT Movie Based on The Comics series "Dylan Dog"
I've been reading alot about "Dead of Night" and they have pictures of Taye Diggs and Brandon Routh in costume.
The movie, from Hyde Park Group and Platinum Studios, stars Superman Returns' Brandon Routh as Dylan, a reluctant "nightmare detective," or paranormal investigator, and his Superman co-star Sam Huntington as Marcus, Dylan's best friend, partner and the unfortunate victim of a supernatural crime. The movie also stars Journey to the Center of the Earth's Anita Briem as a mysterious woman who becomes Dylan's client, for whom Dylan investigates the murder of her father by what appears to be a werewolf.
The premise of the film is that vampires, werewolves and zombies really exist, though they escape notice by average citizens. Munroe is directing from a screenplay by Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean Donnelly (Sahara).
"The whole movie's sort of a really cool [mashup] of just sort of my favorite things," Munroe tells us at lunch. He adds: "It's a really fun buddy action movie that just happens to take place in the world of horror icons. And so there's a really strong sort of Men in Black angle, in the sense that there's a world that exists that we don't know about, and this film sort of exposes that a little bit."
Munroe—who makes his live-action feature-film directing debut with Dead of Night after helming the animated TMNT—adds that his goal was to put the fantastical into a real-world setting. "It was always the goal to kind of keep it as real as possible, I think," he says, adding: "If the movie's done right, you kind of walk out of the theater and you go, like, 'Oh, at that hot dog stand, that's where zombies work. And at this fast food place, this is where this happens.' Or 'The dock is where the werewolves ... live and work.' ... The goal was always to sort of ground it in reality as much as possible."
Hence today's setting, the rusting hulk of the empty power plant, still filled with floodwater from Hurricane Katrina, with its broken windows, decaying catwalks, rust-covered iron girders and inches-thick dust on the ground. Perfect for a couple of scenes we observe.
Dylan (Routh), dressed in his trademark black sport jacket and red shirt, and Marcus (Sam) are searching for a clue in the plant, which Dylan knows is the haunt of bad zombies. Here and there are piles of bones and skulls, the remnants of zombie meals. As Dylan stands with his back to a door, it cracks open and a massive creature (we won't describe him so as not to give away the spoiler secret) grabs him by the scruff of the neck and pulls him out of the room.
Later, the scene picks up with Routh engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the giant creature: Routh swings a pipe, appears to connect with the creature's jaw. Routh swings again; the creature blocks it, then head-butts Routh's Dylan, who staggers back onto a staircase leading up to a catwalk. Dylan/Routh kicks at the creature, who falls back. Dylan scrambles up the staircase; the creature has the pipe and swings it, but it clangs against an overhead pipe.
The fight (and scene) continues later as Dylan trades haymakers with the creature. Huntington's Marcus, meanwhile, engages the creature, only to be thrown over a railing. Does he live? Does he die? You'll have to see the movie.
As for us, we've been conscripted for a scene in which a creature falls to the ground only to be attacked by zombies. We've been caked in makeup and dressed in ripped and ratty clothing, smeared with (movie) mud and spritzed with water and K-Y Jelly for that appropriately filthy, gelatinous zombie look.
On cue, we crouch, stagger, snarl, drool, then lay into the creature from all sides, as if we're a pack of starving rats attacking a pork chop. It's more fun than it should be. Two takes and we're done, applause all around, then time for a few pictures with the creature and our fellow zombies.
Munroe is aware that he's got a lot to live up to with this movie. "It's such familiar territory in a lot of ways," he says. "[We're] not the first people at all to ... put vampires and werewolves in a movie. Or zombies. I like how we manage to fit in a lot of these creatures all within the same world, in the same universe, and I think ... the reality treatment is really something that I latched onto and I really like. ... If you were a zombie [and] could not eat human flesh or else you would turn into [an evil creature], how would you survive? And we have a scene that explains how you survive as a zombie. And we have ... how the vampires are existing, and how long werewolves have been [around]. And I like the idea of generations and how things change. Because that feels real, like real families would do that, and they would sort of evolve as they ... keep on living."
Stay tuned for more reports from the set of Dead of Night, which is still in production in New Orleans with an eye to a 2010 release.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/?a=7437
OT: This looks very simular to Gale Anns Final Orbit. If this gets made before, kind of puts a damper on the other one. Plot is almost the same, crazy astronauts vs crazy tourists on Space Station. Heres hoping it father along than we think. IMO only
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/05/08/boom-studios-station-acquired-for-adaptation-i-robot-screenwriter-tagged-for-script/
Set Visit Preview: Dead of Night
Source:Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor
May 7, 2009
The Thalia Power Plant in New Orleans is a cavern of rust, brick and steel situated ten minutes from the French Quarter. In the world of Dylan Dog, which is not unlike the real New Orleans except it's populated by a myriad of supernatural creatures, this abandoned location is brimming with zombies.
"The place is more overcrowded than Riker's Island," explains Dylan, the fictional character based on the popular Italian comic book which is getting the live-action treatment in Kevin Munroe's Dead of Night. Embodied by Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Dylan cuts a striking figure in his blue jeans and signature red shirt and black blazer. He's accompanied by Marcus (Sam Huntington), a close friend who's very much "undead." They're descending into the bowels of the Power Plant, Marcus hesitant. Dylan, ready for anything.
It's day 24 on the set of Dead of Night and ShockTillYouDrop.com is in attendance watching this scene play out. Munroe, making his live-action debut after the all-CG TMNT, is cool and collected. As well he should be. Shooting is going smooth today, furthermore, he has a confident producing team, Scott Rosenberg and Gil Adler, in attendance.
The former, representing production outfit Platinum Studios, couldn't be more thrilled to see Dylan coming to life. "This has been gestating for about ten years," Rosenberg says. "I fell in love with the character when finding it through a European library and put together a pitch that [screenwriters] Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Donnelly came up with a great story for." The pair, responsible for Sahara, opted to tell a Dylan adventure that finds the paranormal detective in a form of retirement. When he's called upon by a female client (Journey to the Center of the Earth's Anita Briem), Dylan is forced to revisit an underworld where zombies, werewolves (played by Peter Stormare and Kurt Angle) and vampires (Taye Diggs) exist.
"We pitched the town like one normally does," Rosenberg continues. "We took it to a bunch of studios and set it up at Dimension. That didn't go well for a couple of different development reasons. During that time period after, we talked to one animation house, that's now defunct, who was going to do an animated version - at the same time we were planning live action."
Platinum ultimately partnered with Hyde Park Films, Omnilab and Adler, best known for his time on the HBO series Tales from the Crypt, its feature films and the Dark Castle entries House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts, not to mention Superman Returns and Valkyrie (yeah, the guy is a pretty big deal). Adler's involvement came courtesy of Routh, the first actor to commit to the picture over a year ago.
"Brandon's a really good friend because of Superman Returns," Adler explains. "He asked me to read the script last summer. I was smiling at the end of the script because I had such fond feelings of Tales from the Crypt, it really felt like it could have been a Tales from the Crypt movie. It's scary, horrific and yet there's something deliciously humorous about it." After multiple meetings with Munroe, the producer agreed to participate in the picture.
Today is just day one of ShockTillYouDrop.com's two-day visit. In a full set report to come, we'll bring you interviews with Routh, Huntington, Briem, Adler, Rosenberg, Angle and many more as well as dish you some of the details on how this writer was called upon to do some zombie performing in the film. Hang tight and enjoy this exclusive first look at Routh as Dylan Dog in the film!
http://shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=10416