Masi Oka Pens "The Defenders"

Hiro Nakamura Goes Geekier

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (16)

Hey! That dude from “Heroes” just wrote himself a movie. And, it turns out, Masi Oka may be just as geeky in real life as he is on “Heroes.” (Fun Fact: Masi Oka also did visual effects for the second Star Wars trilogy, as well as Terminator 3 and War of the Worlds). The movie, which is being produced by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek) is a family-adventure called The Defenders. It’s being directed by Spielberg protege D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia).

The movie is about a group of teenagers around the world who are involved in a MMORPGs (or, massively multiplayer online role-playing games). They don’t know each other behind their avatar identities, but they are forced together for an adventure of some sort, and become inadvertent heroes. So, it’s a lot like Pajibacon, only exchange the avatars for commenter names, the weaponry for beers. and the inadvertent heroes for intentionally drunk.

The expected tone of the movie will be similar to The Goonies. Oka, along with Kurtzman/Orci Prods., is trying to revive the spirit of those old Amblin movies, like Gremlins, E.T. and Back to the Future. It’s a nice thought, and D.J. Caruso’s Disturbia was as close to that tone as any film I can remember in recent memory.

Still: MMORPGs? Can’t they just find an alien in a cave or something?

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Comments

Felicia Day has a series called "The Guild" and it's kinda similar. Basically what I'm saying is, Why isn't Felicia Day in more movies?

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at June 9, 2009 10:46 AM

Why isn't Felicia Day in more movies?

Because God hates us, friend.

Hey I am behind anything geek-related that doesn't fall into the stereotypical Hollywood nerd bullshit. And Oka gives me some hope. Sounds like a lighter-hearted .hack (pronounced "dot hack" for the unfamiliar).

Posted by: Vermillion at June 9, 2009 10:55 AM

Basically what I'm saying is, Why isn't Felicia Day in more movies?

Because she's too busy being in commercials for Sears, Cheetos, and that credit card one with the dog in the costume.

She really does need to be in more movies.

So seeing as how this is being directed by D.J. Caruso, can we expect LeBeef to make an appearance in some form?

Posted by: Snath at June 9, 2009 10:57 AM

Basically what I'm saying is, "Who the hell is Felicia Day?"

Posted by: UncleJR at June 9, 2009 10:59 AM

Speaking of Felecia Day (sorry in my head now): anyone notice how a lot of her stuff revolves around laundromats or washing machines? The Cheetos ad: landromat. Dr.Horrible: laundromat. Sears ad: she is selling washing machines. It is weird.

Posted by: Vermillion at June 9, 2009 11:01 AM

I'd never thought about it that way, Vermillion, but now it is all I will think about whenever I see her in anything.

Thanks, man. Thanks a lot.

Posted by: Stella at June 9, 2009 11:38 AM

It’s being directed by Spielberg protege D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia).

Protege or illegitimate child? Think about it.

Posted by: jM at June 9, 2009 11:48 AM

I think I may have noticed that in passing, Vermillion, but I never really put it all together as a cohesive thought.

Now I want Felicia Day to come over and help me do laundry. After getting it a little dirtier, of course.

Posted by: Snath at June 9, 2009 11:53 AM

After getting it a little dirtier, of course.

And after she finishes "starching my sheets".*

*She will never finish.

Posted by: Vermillion at June 9, 2009 12:15 PM

I love Felicia Day more than words can say,
I love Felicia Day in a more-than-friends way.
If she were here right now, I cannot tell you how...
Hard I'd hit it.

Sorry, weren't we talking about Hiro a minute ago?

Posted by: malikvlc at June 9, 2009 12:25 PM

And why does my life become one big musical whenever I think of her?

Posted by: malikvlc at June 9, 2009 12:27 PM

She's got a nice voice. The duet with Neil Patrick Harris in part two of Dr. Horrible was great.

Posted by: Lucas at June 9, 2009 12:39 PM

I've loved Masi Oka since he was Franklin the lab technician on Scrubs. I loved him through most of Heroes, until that show became so painful to watch that I swore off it completely. I loved him in Get Smart. So I'm glad he's doing something else now. Go, Franklin!

Posted by: figgy at June 9, 2009 1:47 PM

this sounds a bit like little brother, which was a pretty decent young adult novel. seems like there was talk a bit ago about making a movie off of it, but maybe i am just making that up with the hopes saying it will make it so...

Posted by: aprileee at June 9, 2009 3:49 PM

Felicia Day was also a patient-of-the-week on House a while back. Nothing laundry related - but the girl can really sing.

And after Get Smart, that Oka guy's really gaining appreciation in my books..

Posted by: lordhelmet at June 9, 2009 4:42 PM

Dustin, normally you are right on. I have to call you out on Disturbia having a similar tone to Goonies, Gremlins, E.T. As late 80's, early 90's latch key kid who grew up watching these adventurous gems, this treads close to blasphemy. I am not saying that Disturbia wasn't good but I would never put it in the same league nor compare tones to some of the greatest movies of their time. I am glad Caruso has the opportunity to learn from a master of film like Spielberg but Disturbia is a remake of a classic Hitchcock film and as such should be compared to films of its genre, i.e. horror, suspense thriller.

I will not stop errupting word vomit, now that I have that out of my system, but you have been warned, so please take note.

Oh and while I am on the subject, Shia LeBouf's acting chops do not come close to Sean Astin, Michael Fox, or even Henry Thomas.

(Why Michael Bay would recreate the entire storyline for a kid with a drunk driving injury when he has the chance to star in movies like Transformers 2, is beyond me. At least hire a damn driver.)

Ok, I'm done now, for real.

Posted by: TVConnoisseur at June 9, 2009 11:30 PM

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Hiro Nakamura Goes Geekier

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