The comic Lore is basically MIB for mythical creatures, so getting MIB, MIIB, and MIIIB director Barry Sonnenfeld sounds like a good deal. Add that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is attached and it sounds even better. The Lore comic is made by Ashley Wood and T.P. Louise and features Shepherds that hold back mythical creatures from causing problems. Except the line of Shepherds is broken and a replacement is chosen, thus leading to drama fit for visual storytelling.
The screenplay by Cory Goodman and Jeremy Lott led to a bidding war between Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Sony. Warners won on a seven figure deal.
With The Rock attached and the studios excited because the film at least has enough good stuff to get people interested, maybe we’ll end up with a fun fantasy romp. And it’s cool how I didn’t make a joke about Lore also being the name of Data’s brother….WHOOPS!!
Li Bingbing comes fresh off of her Resident Evil: Retroboogie fame to star in another Western flick, 400 Boys, a British action fantasy set in the future, where the rich and powerful live trapped in paraplegic bodies and battle teenage freedom fighters that can defy the limits of their physical bodies.
I know what you are thinking, but Cory Doctorow had nothing to do with this script, otherwise it would be open-source underage WoW wiki-farmers vs. corrupt communazi multi-galactic fabbing corporations. This was in fact written by the director, Alastair Paton, who doesn’t seem to have done much of anything. But he somehow got funding for a $26 million film that starts shooting next month in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangzhou. Paton and Bill Chamberlain are producing through China Hollywood Film and Television Entertainment. It looks like they are financing through theater presales across China and other countries around the world.
This brings up an interesting business model, finance a relatively inexpensive film through China theater presales and film most of it there with international stars, guaranteeing more theater presales. It’s like how a lot of the old DVD presales making films profitable before they were even filmed from a decade ago. What that means is, if these start making money, expect thousands of them.
Besides Li Bingbing, 400 Boys will also star Karena Ng (Magic to Win), Jodelle Ferland (BloodRayne II: Deliverance), Maria Valverde (The Anarchist’s Wife), Frank Leboeuf, Elliot Knight (Sinbad), and Chiara Von Galli.
Gong Li is set to star in The Last Empress, based on the life of Empress Dowager Cixi, the controversial figure who took over control of the Qing Dynasty and ruled from 1861 until 1908. Her life has been portrayed by numerous movies, and history is torn on if she ruled as a despot or was victimized by circumstances beyond her control. The story of her life is very interesting and could last through several films. It is obvious from the title The Last Empress they are attempting to invoke the memory of Academy Award winner The Last Emperor, which is probably a good thing from a marketing standpoint, but does make me a little wary they don’t think this tale can stand on its own.
The Last Empress will be China-US co-production, with Seven Stars leading the way. Seven Stars producer Jake Eberts was originally attached before he passed on, and the film will be dedicated to his memory. Filming will begin in late 2013.
The story chronicles Cixi’s life and her complex relationships with Emperor Guang Xu and Imperial Advisor American Costa, both of whom shared a vision to modernize China. But due to misunderstandings, bloodshed ended Guang’s 100-day reform, sparking a violent revolution.
Mr. Ed is dead set on being made into a film (of course, of course), and Fox 2000 was developing the property, but before you can say “Ghost of Hot to Trot murdered them in their sleep”, Waterman Entertainment has stepped up and taken over, announcing it as a live action/CGI hybrid. You might know Waterman Entertainment from when they bought the rights to The Brave Little Toaster and announced it was going to be a live action/CGI flick. Or their live action/CGI films Caspar, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel, Alvin and the Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked, Stuart Little, and Stuart Little 2.
What does all this mean? It means pack your bags, it’s over. Everything you ever loved as a child will soon be live action/CGI hybrids. California Raisins, Rude Dog, Fraggle Rock, Galaxy High, Turbo Teen, those Reese’s Pieces commercials with the blue alien guy, Madballs, and Micro Machines. All on the list. Waterman Entertainment is like the Borg, chasing down your childhood dreams and packaging them for a brave new world. Though I still demand my Francis the Talking Mule reboot!!!
I will forgive them if Mr. Ed surfs, though. But only if it is a real horse.
Just check out this rambling press release! Aren’t press releases fun? I can copy/paste them in and fill up lots of space, making it look like I spent hours writing this post.
WATERMAN ENTERTAINMENT CONTINUES TO BUILD FAMILY LIBRARY WITH POPULAR CHILDREN’S TITLE MR. ED
Family Entertainment-Based Company to Develop
Franchise Films
Los Angeles, CA (September 21, 2012)–Family-based production outfit Waterman Entertainment is developing a feature film concept based on the iconic family television property, MR. ED. The property fits seamlessly into the company’s business model, which is to identify existing and successful family brands that can be developed into live action/CGI feature film properties.
Over the past twelve months the company has been aggressively seeking out family-friendly brands that have franchise potential and ancillary viability on platforms including television, digital, literary, and merchandising. In doing so, Waterman Entertainment works in conjunction with the creators and rights holder’s to tap their wealth of knowledge around their characters and storylines allowing for stronger content that remains true to the property.
Steve Waterman, who founded and manages the company along with his sons Tucker and Cooper, has served as an Executive Producer on theatrical features including CASPER with Universal; ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED with 20th Century Fox; and STUART LITTLE and STUART LITTLE 2 with Columbia Pictures, among other credits.
Cooper Waterman said, “We are identifying properties that have had success with multiple generations of parents who feel comfortable and have excitement about reintroducing the characters and storylines to their own kids and grandkids. While each property remains independent of each other, they will share the commonality of addressing social values, morality lessons, and characteristics that are clearly identifiable for kids with comedic elements for all age groups.”
The company recently announced the acquisition of rights for THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER, a project that Disney released as a fully animated feature in 1987. Waterman will present the reimagination as a CGI/live action property and give it a contemporary storyline, while preserving the original essence of the characters and moral lessons behind the story.
Waterman Entertainment is focused on acquiring properties and growing them across multiple platforms to support the theatrical release. Tucker Waterman continued, “When we develop properties we don’t limit them solely to the big screen. They are iconic characters and brands that have appeal far beyond movies. We will be utilizing both traditional and new methods to bring these characters to audiences in a myriad of platforms.”
Waterman Entertainment (www.watermanent.com) is a family-owned and operated media and entertainment company that focuses on creating, financing and distributing film, television, and digital media properties across multiple platforms for family audiences. The company works closely with creators and rights holders and manages all licensing rights to their brands and characters to exploit ancillary revenue streams tied to worldwide theatrical releases.
Lindsay Lohan took a break from getting arrested and being difficult to work with to film Liz & Dick, though she was reportedly difficult to work with and has just now been arrested once again, the perfect publicity under which to debut the trailer for the Lifetime original movie that is totally no a completely tasteless cash grab to capitalize on the death of Elizabeth Taylor. The poster that attempts to tie Liz Taylor’s life to Lindsay Lohan’s is evidence to that. Just kidding, even a dream team of Matlock and Perry Mason couldn’t get you off with this evidence against you! Grant Bowler plays the Dick in the title, Richard Burton. November is when this hits the airwaves, place your bets now if Lohan will be in jail, rehab, or the grave by then.
And A Haunted House just got picked up to come to a theater near you on January 11, 2013! We reported on it a while ago before it even had an official name. And now look at it. They grow up so fast ::sniff:: Remember, A Haunted House was going to be called Smart Ass at one time. That was a thing that almost happened. You be the judge on if we missed out on something cool…
As we said:
From the creators of Scary Movie comes another hilarious horror spoof, a parody of the Paranormal Activity franchise. When newlyweds Malcolm (Marlon Wayans) and Kisha (Essence Atkins) move into their dream house, they quickly find they’re not alone. But it’s not the house that’s haunted, but his wife that is possessed with spirits – or as Malcolm calls it – “relationship baggage.” Malcolm hires everyone from a priest to modern day ghostbusters to rid her of the demon, determined not to let the evil spirit ruin his marriage… or his sex life for that matter.” The pic will also spoof Paramount’s The Devil Inside.
Marlon Wayans cowrote it as well, and Michael Tiddes directs. At one point Cedric the Entertainer was listed on info about the flick, but I don’t see him anywhere any more. Hmmmm… David Koechner and Nick Swardson are listed as costars.
