Posted by dominie in Comics, Films, News on October 29th, 2008
Universal has acquired the movie adaptation rights for Viper Comics’ graphic novel titled Villains reports THR. For a mid-six-figures, Universal will give the bad guys an opportunity to take control—at center stage. And it’s about time. This could also be Universal’s potential shot to break ahead from the pack and offer something new in mainstream comics that have transitioned to the big screen.
The graphic novel is told from the villains’ perspective and “follows a young man who is failing at life and finds purpose when he meets a Svengali-style villain, [Hardliner], who takes him under his wing.”
Matthew Jennison and Brent Strickland, the duo behind the upcoming Wonder Woman feature for Warner Bros., will pen the script with Sean Bailey producing the project under his Idealogy banner (Tron, The Blade Itself, Solace).
Posted by dominie in Films, News on October 10th, 2008
Variety reports that Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) will direct Universal Pictures’ Hater, a feature adaptation based on British author David Moody’s thriller. Glen Mazzara (The Shield) is penning the script about an epidemic of violence perpetrated by ordinary people.
Guillermo del Toro, originally approached to direct Hater, will now be the producer alongside Mark Johnson, due to his commitment to the upcoming, two-installment The Hobbit movie. This will be Bayona’s English-language directorial debut. The Orphanage, which del Toro also produced, was shot in Spain grossed over $76 million worldwide
Hater is set in the US. The exteriors will be shot in Michigan, and as for the interior shots, Johnson hopes to shoot them in Spain next year.
Posted by dominie in Films, News on October 3rd, 2008
While Russell Crowe has been attached to play the Sheriff of Nottingham in Ridley Scott’s (Blade Runner, Gladiator, Alien) revisionist project, Nottingham, since early 2007, the role of Robin Hood was still looking for its perfect match. Actors such as Christian Bale or Sam Riley were rumored to be taking on the role of Robin Hood, but last week director Ridley Scott squashed any remaining speculations when he himself revealed to MTV News “He’s playing both!” Russell Crowe will play both the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin Hood against Sienna Miller as their love interest Maid Marian.
The action drama centers on a love triangle that forms between the legendary do-gooder Robin Hood, his Maid Marian, and his arch nemesis the Sheriff of Nottingham. I would agree there’s probably no better man to play Crowe’s arch nemesis than himself. The casting alone in this movie should be reason enough the movie will not follow in 3:10 to Yuma’s (a great under-appreciated Western) path at the Box Office.
Universal has acquired the movie adaptation rights for Viper Comics’ graphic novel titled Villains reports THR. For a mid-six-figures, Universal will give the bad guys an opportunity to take control—at center stage. And it’s about time. This could also be Universal’s potential shot to break ahead from the pack and offer something new in mainstream comics that have transitioned to the big screen.
