Good News, Everyone! Updates On Whedon's Ado, Jackson's Tintin, And Grazer's Tower
By Rob Payne | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (18)
It’s been a surprisingly busy week for three stories that we’ve already covered here on Pajiba, as recently as this Monday. Here’s a rundown on the most salient updates from Joss Whedon’s super secret Much Ado About Nothing, the The Adventures of Tintin sequel, and the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower.
Let’s start out with a bang, shall we?
Hollywood darling Brian Grazer has been making the rounds promoting his production of Brett Ratner’s Tower Heist, and he graciously told MTV News that while he and Ron Howard are still shopping the movie(s) to different studios they do have an ">agreement with HBO to bring the TV component of “The Dark Tower” adaptation to life. “The Sopranos.” “Six Feet Under.” “Deadwood.” “Rome.” “Game of Thrones.” That HBO. I imagine this news, combined with the previous announced budget trimming, will surely give some studio reason enough to take a chance on financing the complete Dark Tower epic, as it should be. Below is a pertinent video, which contains a reconfirmation of the Arrested Development movie news that we’ve already heard. (Note how uncomfortable Ratner gets while having to sit and listen as somebody talks about something other than him):
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Taking a more cost-conscious path to multi-film-franchise-hood, and stealing some of Spielberg’s thunder, Peter Jackson has confirmed that he will direct the sequel to the forthcoming The Adventures of Tintin. For some reason, I thought Jackson and Spielberg co-directed the first one, but it turns out Jackson’s chance to helm a Tintin chapter is totally dependent on the success of the first adventure. (When are we, 1995?) The Prisoners of the Sun script, based on that book and The Seven Crystal Skulls, is already completed, so it’s just a matter of decent box office and wrapping the two Hobbit films for production to begin. Of course, stealing that thunder right back is Spielberg both rejoicing in sharing a part of coining the “nuke the fridge” phrase and putting the rest of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull all on George Lucas’ shoulders. I suppose that means he’ll blame Tintin’s skulls on Herge.
Last but not least, it turns out that Joss Whedon’s covert adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing just wrapped this past weekend, and that Nathan Fillion’s Twitter account was intended as the film’s announcement in honor of his constantly being told not to tweet during the film’s 12-day shoot. It also seems that Whedon used that short production schedule in lieu of going on his planned vacation, at the urging of his wife, who thought now was the perfect time for Whedon to finally film the adaptation he’s been wanting to make for years. Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we know that Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof originated the parts that they’ll be playing, Beatrice and Benedick, in Whedon’s home readings of the play. It turns out that the director’s take will be a black-and-white noir comedy, which sounds pitch perfect. EW also provided a couple of — what’s the word, oh right — sumptuous set photos of the two leads, and Sean Maher as the duplicitous Don John:
I am an unabashed Whedonite, and an avowed Shakespeare nerd (so much so that I opted to take two courses on him in college), so I cannot wait for this movie, which will most likely debut on the festival circuit. I also think it’s interesting that this makes two Marvel Universe directors who have tackled the bard’s best romantic comedy. Indeed, Marvel Comics has very refined taste.
Oh, and, yes, Fillion is Dogberry.
Rob Payne also writes the indie comic The Unstoppable Force and tweets on the Twitter @RobOfWar. He’s almost uneasy about reporting this much non-negative news.
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Comments
Posted by: Mrs. Julien at October 27, 2011 10:47 AM
In Joss we trust.