In what may be a first, AMC announced today that they have picked up the Walking Dead TV series…without a single frame filmed.
It was just last week that word came that AMC had greenlit the TV pilot, and I guess the script was so good that they wanted to make the series count, and count quick, as the first 6 episodes of the series will be the crown jewel of this October’s Fearfest event.
As a long time Robert Kirkman and Walking Dead fan, all I can say is this – I am so there.
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As the Superhero boom starts to meet its eventual end (after all, how many A-list heroes remain to have films made?), Hollywood needs to stay ahead of the trends, and figure out where the next source for quality event films is.
Of course, one would go “young, hungry screenwriters?!”, but you’d be wrong. The next source to be tapped dry? Japan!
Much how the comics world saw their fandom shift to anime and then manga (and then back to comics?), film is now looking toward Japan with some stunning looking projects, two of whom were announced over the weekend.
The one which is farthest ahead is an adaptation of the 70′s giant robot series Gaiking. The filmmakers who are behind it intend to use a mixture of CGI and practical effects to make the film happen, and they unleashed a teaser to the web, which appears below – it’s VERY cool, VERY exciting stuff.
If that wasn’t enough, we’re now going to see yet ANOTHER American attempt at adapting Godzilla, this time coming from Warner Brothers. The full press release is as follows:
Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.
Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan.
“Godzilla is one of the world’s most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise,” said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. “Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has.”
“Godzilla is a signature Japanese character which we have nurtured over the years. It is a great honor to reach an agreement with Legendary Pictures, the parent to many a blockbuster film, and we are delighted in rebooting the character together to realize its much anticipated return by fans from all over the world,” comments Hideyuki Takai, President of Toho Co., Ltd. “We are anxious to find out where Godzilla’s new stomping will take us.”
“Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known. We have enjoyed a great deal of success together to date and this newest opportunity represents yet another chance for us to collaborate on a property that is very clearly in their wheelhouse,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will Executive Produce.
Personally, I don’t care the source, so long as the films are good, but again I ask aloud – where are the ORIGINAL ideas?
Let us hope these movies aren’t just a cash-in, and the money from these films go toward some original projects.
Good lord, they really are making everything I wanted as a child, now that I’m an adult.
I previously featured Toynami’s Cinemaquette work for the Tim Burton Batman films in the past, but as awesome as the Cowl and Grappling Gun replicas were, they don’t even touch the latest installments – scale replicas of the models used for both the Batmobile AND Batwing!
Each stunning model is limited to just 500 pieces, and are retailing for $1999 for the Batmobile and $1499 for the Batwing.
These are amazing pieces, but are too rich for my blood, but seriously, that’s what My Poor Wallet is all about.
I’ve included a full gallery below.
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Do you like 60′s style title credits, a’la the amazing Saul Bass?
Are you like me, a nerd for both Lost and Tron?
Then these amazing videos from Vimeo user ‘Hexagonall’ are right up your alley!
Just click play and enjoy! They’re amazingly well done, and again, left me in awe of my lack of talent.
Tron:
Lost:
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Hah. See what I did there?
With just about 40 days to go until Iron Man 2 hits screens all across the country, the excitement is hitting a fever pitch, and the marketers are making sure to remind us of the film on the regular, with new media and products hitting daily.
First things first is the above . While I can see that they were aiming to recreate an image similar to the poster, it unfortunately seems more like a photoshopped mess. Bummertown.
Then, ! But on the Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards of all places. What’s really interesting, though, is that this is the first trailer with ANY dialogue from the Black Widow, and yet Whiplash isn’t seen at all. Is it because of the 30 second limitation – or are kids scared of Whiplash?
Whatever it is, I know what the kids will like, no matter the age. Much as seen with the last film, Hot Toys is releasing a set of , and I’m not sure what’s cuter – Lil’ Nick Fury or Lil’ Whiplash. Either way, I might have to pick some of these up from my local toy importer.
While most people I know aren’t fans of the Mission: Impossible franchise, I’ve loved all 3 films, Crazy McScientologist in the lead role or not.
And as JJ Abrams and Tom Cruise are working on putting together the 4th film in the spy franchise, they’re looking to, once again, put a unique director behind the camera.
Having set the bar pretty high with Brian DiPalma, John Woo and Abrams as the directors for the first 3 films respectively, Cruise and Co are aiming to find someone to bring a fresh feel to to the films. The short list? Zombieland‘s Ruben Fleischer, my boy Edgar Wright and…What the FUCK?! BRAD BIRD?!
That’s right. The man behind the Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille is currently in the running to helm M:I 4.
Bird has yet to direct a live action film, although he’s been working on 1906 for years now, but as anyone who has seen his animated work can tell you, Bird has a knack for directing amazing action set pieces.
Mission: Impossible IV is currently set for a May 27, 2011 release, so whoever they pick, they better pick soon…time is TICKING!
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