• Warner Bros.’ adaptation of Arvid Nelson’s noirish alternate-history series Rex Mundi is chugging ahead. Co-producer Barry Levine says a second draft is due in from Fight Club screenwriter Jim Uhls. Now co-producer and star Johnny Depp must settle on a director. [Splash Page]
• Iron Man 2 screenwriter Justin Theroux says the movie won’t take on a darker tone: “You know, I tremulously went and watched The Dark Knight myself, but it’s a totally different movie, like, you know that Tom Cruise movie where he played the race-car driver? What was that movie called … anyway. It’s like comparing that movie to Talladega Nights — it’s two totally different animals. We have a leading man who can sort of relish being a cad, and that’s a fun character to write for. We feel like we’re in the clear.” [Vulture]
• Last week a sentence in an Australian newspaper sparked rumores that the troubled Justice League movie is back on track. Not so, according to sources at Warner Bros. — of both the official and unofficial variety. [Spoiler warning: IESB]
• That IESB link includes supposed story details from the planned Green Lantern movie. [Spoiler warning: IESB]
• Lionsgate as acquired the film rights to Duane Swierczynski’s novel Severance Package; Brett Simon will direct. What’s the comics connection, you ask? Swierczynski is a crime novelist who now writes Cable and The Immortal Iron Fist for Marvel. Also, comics artist Tom Coker illustrated the cover of Severance Package. [Variety]
• Brian Austin Green, of Beverly Hills 90210 fame, would love to play The Riddler. [Splash Page]
August 14th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Theroux is taking the right approach to IM2 methinks. Batman and TDK are what they are and Iron Man is what he is. There’s darkness to explore (“Demon In a Bottle”) but I wouldn’t want them to do a TDK-style knockoff that doesn’t serve the film or its characters. Theroux is also being a lot more diplomatic than Robert Downey, Jr. is I might add. I’m still surprised by his comments about TDK. Sorry, dude… Your movie was good. TDK was better. ‘Nuff Said.
Also, THANK GOODNESS the JLA 90210 project is dead. Here’s hoping the recent WB/DC movie summit will lead to more smart, thoughful adpatations (like TDK), with some of the better comic writers out there involved. I’m not at all optimistic about this SuperMax/Green Arrow not being Green Arrow project, but I’m confident that a good Green Lantern film and a better, rebooted Superman can and will happen.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I just read the article… I hope this GL script is indeed good. I’m surprised to hear that a certain other famous DC character is in it. I’m guessing this means plans have to be underway to make a film with this character. Right? I mean, without giving it away this is a guy you simply can’t put in a movie and leave it at that.
Sounds like WB wants to be more like Marvel Studios and tie their universe together onscreen. I’m wondering who will play this character, but I can’t say much more without giving it away. Interesting though!
August 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
It’s very cool when a “regular” guy like Duane Swierczynski gets a novel optioned by Hollywood. Duane writes an excellent thriller — and Severance Package is a gore-fest that was made for the big screen. Here’s an interview with Duane your readers might enjoy: http://tinyurl.com/67af35