He’s back! One of everyone’s favorite “directors” to bag on thinks he’s got his eye on a hot comic book adaptation property… except he doesn’t. Brett Ratner, through a development deal with his beautifully named Rat Entertainment and Reliance Big Entertainment (another terrific name), is set to direct the Rob Liefeld property, “Youngblood,” that was infamous for setting a precedence for ridiculously out-of-proportion, X-Men-aping style of comic-book art back in the ’90s. Liefeld was also infamous for producing issues later than late, starting companies and properties that tanked before anything came out, and cribbing ideas from long-established Marvel and D.C. properties. Consider this one a match made in movie heaven as the race to the nadir of comic book adaptations is on (though we can probably call Ratner & Liefeld the winners). [Variety]
WIRED.com‘s Underwire blog reported today that a website, The Ultimate Joker.com, has gone online to petition that no other actor play the Joker on the silver screen since Heath Ledger “nailed it”. We’re inclined to agree only to the extent that Nolan consider putting the Joker to rest during the rest of his tenure, but no more Joker forever and ever amen is pushing it a bit.
Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess (“21”, “Across The Universe”), Rachel Taylor(“Transformers, “Bottle Shock”) and David Wenhem (“300”, “Australia”)have been added to the voice cast of Zack Snyder‘s owl-themed animated kid’s book adaptation of “Guardians of Ga’Hoole”. Still not interested yet. (Sorry, Geoffrey.)
[THR]
Remember “X-Men Babies“? Sorry, we mean Rated T For Teens, the “X-Men” project Josh Schwartz from “Gossip Girls” was supposed to write called, “X-Men: First Class”? Well he’s confirmed that he didn’t turn down directing the film because he was never asked to direct it! Congratulations, all. [Splashpage]
Britain’s Times Online is reporting that Hollywood studios are bidding over the pre-publishing date rights to a version of “Pride & Prejudice” that includes zombies. The simply titled “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies” is Jane Austen’s P&P (or a purported 85% of it) with the undead cracks being filled in by Seth Grahame-Smith. If it were just a film, we’d be inclined to role our eyes, but the idea of jacking the text has us interested in picking up the book for a good larf first.