Fun THE DEVELOPMENT HELL THREAD: Where Abandoned Movie Projects Go to Die!

[Doctor Omega]

Drew Goddard To Pen “Nevermoor” Feature






20th Century Fox has set “The Martian” screenwriter Drew Goddard to adapt and produce Jessica Townsend’s upcoming novel “Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow” into a fantasy feature.

The story follows Morrigan Crow, a girl born on Eventide – the unluckiest day of the year and leads her to be blamed for all local misfortunes. She’s also doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

Then, she is whisked away by a remarkable man named Jupiter North to a secret, magical city called Nevermoor – where she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, if she is to stay.

Goddard was recently hired to direct and write X-Men spinoff movie “X-Force”. Simon Kinberg, Ryan Reynolds, and Lauren Shuler Donner will produce.


A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut Australian author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.

Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Alice in Wonderland!

For readers 8 years and up

 

[Doctor Omega]

Blimey! They don't waste time optioning these things as films now, do they?

The next potential HARRY POTTER type franchise?

Or will it be a damp squib in an over-crowded marketplace?

 

[Doctor Omega]

A Fifth “Lethal Weapon” Might Actually Happen





Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Richard Donner are all reportedly considering a reunion for a fifth movie in the “Lethal Weapon” franchise.

The project would be Donner’s first film in over a decade, and would also see the return of scribe Channing Gibson who penned the fourth film.

All key players are said to be seriously exploring the idea for another entry in this most iconic of buddy cop franchises which has pulled in nearly $1 billion in box-office worldwide in the past three decades – not to mention spawn a TV series reboot currently in its second season.

And a trailer for the tv show......

 

[Doctor Omega]

I had no idea that there even was a tv show until now.

 

[Doctor Omega]

The Blob Remake Will Be More Sci-Fi Than Horror





As we continue to live in an era populated by remakes, there’s no denying that the horror genre is probably the one most often perpetuating the practice – and probably also the one we have to thank for spearheading the movement. Beyond that, there’s an exclusive club of films that have been remade more than once, with Carrie being a recent example that comes to mind and, before long, The Blob will join that ilk.

Originally spooking moviegoers back in 1958, the corrosive, growing Blob would absorb unsuspecting townsfolk before ballooning to gigantic proportions. It later received a 1972 sequel and a 1988 remake, the latter of which was probably my first exposure to the franchise because, let’s be honest, any child of the ’80s can tell you we watched many movies that we probably shouldn’t have as kids. Hell, we even had action figures for RoboCop and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but I digress.

With Simon West’s re-remake now gaining steam, we’re beginning to learn more about it and according to the director himself, it’s set to be more of a sci-fi pic than a horror one. Speaking to The Popcorn Muncher, here’s what he had to say:

“The Blob is one of the things I would like to make, and part of my reinvention is to make it more sci-fi than horror. Actually, sci-fi is my favorite genre even though I’ve never made a sci-fi film.”

In a separate interview, West admitted that he doesn’t actually know when he’ll get around to putting the project together, as he’s still unsure of what he’s doing next.

“I am not sure what I am doing next, but I would eventually like to make The Blob. I am usually working on 3 or 4 things at once in the development stage, but I never know which one will bubble to the top first.”

 

[Doctor Omega]

Universal says The Bride of Frankenstein is still in the works, even though it no longer has a release date. But without a chief architect to oversee the direction of the series, like Kathleen Kennedy for Star Wars, or Kevin Feige with Marvel, it’s unlikely that we’re going to see this iteration of the universe shamble into theaters anytime soon.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Not much of a Universe, was it....?

 

[Doctor Omega]

Blomkamp’s OATS Doing “Navigator” Remake?





In a series of tweets by filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (“District 9,” “Chappie”), it has been revealed that his OATS Studios is developing the remake of the 1986 sci-fi feature “Flight of the Navigator” currently in the works.


https://twitter.com/NeillBlomkamp/s...ns.com/blomkamps-oats-doing-navigator-remake/


Randal Kleiser (“Grease”) helmed the original. which follows a twelve-year-old boy who is abducted by a UFO and reappears eight years later, at the exact same age and with no memories of what happened. When NASA officials spot a connection between the boy and a recovered UFO and try to ensnare him, the kid tries to unravel the intergalactic mystery while trying to reunite with his family.

At last report two months ago, The Henson Company and Lionsgate were developing the new take with “Lucifer” showrunner Joe Henderson penning the script.

It looks like (but hasn’t been confirmed) that Blomkamp will helm the project himself, the tweet indicating that this will be the first official feature length project of his OATS Studios label following the release of a series of impressive short films over the past few months. Blomkamp is also making a sequel to his highly regarded short “ADAM”.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Lights Out on a Dark Universe: Universal’s Monster Movie Debacle


https://movies.mxdwn.com/feature/lights-out-on-a-dark-universe-universals-monster-movie-debacle/

 

[Doctor Omega]

They tried to run before they could walk, announcing all of these DARK UNIVERSE monster titles.

Titles that are now flung to this thread of cancellation and development hell....

And this would seem to be the end - sort of.

Universal seem to be gluttons for punishment and will, I am sure, be back for more probable failure.

I think, if they simply MUST remake these things, they need to be done with a genuine love of the originals and not with an arrogant attitude of trying to "improve" them in some way. Handing over control to a bankable "star" hasn't helped matters with the Mummy either.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Avatar sequels to be cancelled? James Cameron admits new movies may be called off
JAMES CAMERON has admitted that two of his upcoming Avatar movies may never see the light of day if the audience’s appetite isn’t there.


https://www.express.co.uk/entertain...-5-sequels-cancelled-James-Cameron-box-office



https://www.imdforums.com/threads/avatar-2-2020-3-2022-4-2024-5-2025.1011/

 

[Gavin]

Lights Out on a Dark Universe: Universal’s Monster Movie Debacle

The really frustrating thing is that the original movies really lend themselves to a quality retelling/reimagining and would be a natural fit for a shared universe. The fact that Universal have managed to stuff up something that should be fairly simple is very disappointing.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

Avatar sequels to be cancelled? James Cameron admits new movies may be called off
JAMES CAMERON has admitted that two of his upcoming Avatar movies may never see the light of day if the audience’s appetite isn’t there.


https://www.express.co.uk/entertain...-5-sequels-cancelled-James-Cameron-box-office



https://www.imdforums.com/threads/avatar-2-2020-3-2022-4-2024-5-2025.1011/



View attachment 5276

As someone who is in the minority, I'm rather glad. Maybe I would have felt different about this film if I had seen it in IMAX 3D, but while visually stunning, the story was derivative and, quite frankly, terrible. Four more movies would have felt excessive.

 

[Doctor Omega]

“Baby Driver” Sequel Moving Forward Fast





Edgar Wright’s syncopated heist action thriller “Baby Driver” scored both critical acclaim and made over $226 million worldwide from a $34 million budget – a success by any measure and certainly the beloved Wright’s biggest film to date.

Talk of a sequel followed after the release, fuelled by comments from Wright himself who said he was seriously considering the idea. Now, speaking with EW this week, he revealed that not only is it going to happen but it’s moving forward faster than anticipated:

“Those talks are already in the works. The deal is being hammered out as we speak. So, hopefully, I’m going to at least write a second one. I’ve definitely got lots of ideas. Whether it’s the next movie, I don’t know. I’m just working that out at the moment, actually. I have a couple of things that I’ve been developing, and also a couple of new ideas that I had, and all the nice things things that I’ve been offered since [the release of Baby Driver. I would like to get back on the saddle very shortly, because – slightly beyond my control – but there was four years between The World’s End and Baby Driver. I don’t want it to be that long again. I would love to have a film out in the next two years.”

While Wright will pen the film, there’s no guarantee yet that he’ll direct even if it is likely. Whether one of the other projects he’s linked to will go forward first is also a possibility. “Baby Driver” is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Donner Teases “Lethal Weapon 5” Again





Following a very brief tease the other month, “Lethal Weapon” franchise director Richard Donner has once again hinted that a fifth film in the series is raring to go.

Appearing on the Spocklight podcast, Donner seems fairly confident that the film will happen and is essentially just waiting on the green light as the script is ready and stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are also ready to go:

“It’s a story I came up with with Channing Gibson, the writer who wrote “Lethal Weapon 4,” and I’m just having to work it out with the studio. If everybody steps up and we all get together, we’ll make it. Mel and Danny are on board. If it doesn’t work out, at least we tried. But there’s a better chance that you will see the movie.”

So long as they can avoid the budget blowout that happened on the fourth film, the idea is a guaranteed profitable one for Warners with the three previous sequels earning a consistent $220-320 million each back in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Whether fans of the previous films will still turn out is anybody’s guess, but the success of the recent small screen reboot suggests there’s still a thirst out there.

 

[High Plains Drifter]

Aren't they getting too old for that sh*t?

 

[Doctor Omega]

Aren't they getting too old for that sh*t?

That's what I think too. Yes.

 

[ant-mac]

In the first LETHAL WEAPON, in 1987, Roger Murtaugh celebrated his fiftieth birthday.

That means he is now eighty.

Where are they planning to set this fifth film? In a fucking retirement village?

 

[Doctor Omega]

The Phantom Tollbooth
Matt Shakman has been set to direct the live action & CG animated adaptation of Norton Juster classic children’s book “The Phantom Tollbooth” for TriStar Pictures. Phil Johnston wrote the latest draft of the script, originally by Michael Vukadinovich, while Donald De Line and Ed McDonnell are producing.

The story follows Milo, an apathetic child who is bored by everything. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through it and discovers the magical Lands Beyond – which is full of intriguing places and dynamic characters.

 

[Doctor Omega]

“Good Time” Filmmakers To Remake “48 Hrs”





Brother filmmaking duo Benny and Josh Safdie (“Good Time”) have been set to direct a remake of the 1980s buddy cop action classic “48 Hrs.” at Paramount Players and Chernin Entertainment.

Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte starred in the Joel Silver-produced and Walter Hill-directed original as a convict and cop, respectively, who must team up to catch a pair of cop killers within 48 hours.

Josh Safdie will co-write the script with Ronald Bronstein and Jerrod Carmichael. Oscar Boyson and Sebastian Bear-McClard will produce.