Rogen’s Green Hornet gets the green light for 2010
EW.com’s Hollywood Insider reports that Sony is pushing forward with the Seth Rogen Green Hornet movie, aiming for a release on June 25, 2010.
The blog confirms that Rogen will star in the film, which he’s co-writing with Superbad collaborator Evan Goldberg. No director has been named. Rogen’s involvement was announced in July, four months after Sony/Columbia Pictures optioned the property. Previously, it had been at Universal and Miramax, the latter with Kevin Smith writing and directing.
The Green Hornet began as a radio show in the 1930s, the conception of Lone Ranger creators George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. The costumed crimefighter and his sidekick Kato went on to appear in two Universal movies in the 1940s, comic books and, most famously, the 1966 television series starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee.
Guy Ritchie to direct comic-based Sherlock Holmes movie
Guy Ritchie has signed on to write and direct a reimagining of Sherlock Holmes for Warner Bros., based on a forthcoming comic by producer Lionel Wigram.
The comic, which Wigram wrote as a selling tool, is expected to be released around the same time as the film. Wigram and Dan Lin are producing the movie.
Warner Bros. has been developing the project for some time, announcing last year that Neil Marshall would direct from a script by Michael Johnson. Ritchie will rewrite Johnson’s screenplay.
The Ticker
• Osamu Tezuka’s revenge thriller MW is being developed as a live-action movie, starring Japanese heartthrob Hiroshi Tamaki. Death Note screenwriter Tetsuya Oishi penned the script. [Variety]
• The season premiere of NBC’s Heroes reportedly will debut at Comic-Con International, some two months before it airs on the network. [IESB]
• Another trailer has been released for Wanted, which opens on June 27. [MySpaceTV]
• Hulk smash puny M. Night Shyamalan! According to early tracking, The Incredible Hulk should have at least a $50 million opening weekend. [New York Post]
• Animated versions of Scott Adams’ Dilbert are being produced and distributed via a new deal between RingTales and United Media. [Daily Cartoonist]
• This is the second article I’ve seen that contends the success of the Iron Man movie has given a sales boost to the Iron Man comics. So it must be true. [PW Comics Week]
• Everything you know about Batman: The Dark Knight. Spoilers, naturally. [io9.com]
• That Masters of the Universe movie may not be so bad, after all. Again, spoilers! [Latino Review]
• While we’re on a roll: AICN runs with a rumor — or spoiler, depending on whom you believe — about the ending to Terminator 4, and CHUD rushes to confirm it. But director McG seems to put the kibosh on it: “By the way, there are only three people who know the ending.” [AICN] [CHUD] [Terminator Blog]
• Remember yesterday’s piece at EW.com about how superheroes ruined summer movies? Well, now there’s a response. [Television Without Pity]
June 12th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Lets look at some facts that have been overlooked or pushed under the rug by SOOO many here and in Hollywood.
1. The character predated Batman and the ONLY tie in was in 1966 when the same producer for the TV show did the TV Green Hornet.
2. The Character is not a superhero, he has no super powers, no super villains, he is at best a masked crime fighter. Really he is no different than any TV/Film crime fighter except he happens to have a secret identity.
3. The Character did not come from the comic world; comics only explored their version of the story after the radio show was already established. The later 90’s Comic series further explored an alternate universe of the Green Hornet world. Not too uncommon for the comic world but not congruent with the characters true origins and world.
4. The character is a hard driving young (33) successful businessman who is dedicated to fight crime in his community and wherever it occurs. NOT a lazy billionaire playboy that is pure recent media hype.
5. He is seen as a criminal in the criminal world so law enforcement is always after him. The criminals hate him because they fear him, Kato, and the Black Beauty.
6. The Green Hornet is a brilliant strategist and foils his foes in a well played out mental chess game (SEE Jason Borne or James Bond) Kato assists in strategy, weapons development and construction and muscle when needed.
5. The Green Hornet is fully capable in hand-to-hand combat in most every situation. He has a totally different style than Kato. He is in top physical condition.
6. Kato is fully competent in any situation of combat. He is so confident that his attitude comes across as smug. But make no mistake he takes crime fighting and combat very seriously. It would be a very rare occurrence if he were bested in hand-to-hand combat.
7. The TV series was canceled because the producer was not allotted enough TV time to further develop the character. ABC only allowed 30m and Dozier insisted on 60m for the second season. ABC refused so dozier canceled the series.
8. Production costs were out of control on Batman (A Huge hit) and budgets were getting tight so this was also a factor in sidelining the Green Hornet.
9. Keaton worked as Batman because he has shown he an actor that has depth and intensity. It makes no difference that he was in a comedic role prior. He is/was capable of VERY serious roles and can be very dark, which is needed for the Dark Knight. Same goes for Robin Williams as Joker, Riddler. He has proven himself in serious roles and can also be a believable villain and can also be very dark. Seth??
10. The Green Hornet does not exist in the DC or Marvel universe.
11. Seth has in the past said this will be a comedy then said it will be an action film just like Pineapple Express (due out this fall), so who knows what he/they will decide on.
The were able to hold the elements together for Spider-man, Fantastic Four, Elektra, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, Batman, Superman, Punisher, Blade so why not do the same for the Green Hornet? The Hornet is more like a Jason Borne, or a James Bond without the MI5-CIA connection. Hard fighting, mental strategy game, interesting gadget technology.
Anything less that what the character is or was created to be is just a slap in the face to all of fandom and aficionados of the genre. People do not want something different they want something familiar but updated to take advantage of the wonderful film technology we have today.
Filmgoers want to leave the film after paying their $10 saying “…damn that was awesome!” Not “Damn I could have blown that $10 bucks elsewhere and been happier.”
Fans are not looking for another Rush Hour film, they did that and it was fine for what it was.
Impress us Seth! Don’t rip us off!