So much for the film that was supposed to be Marvel Studios‘ first post-‘Avengers‘ project.
While the company is accelerating ahead, prepping “Captain America” and “Thor” for 2011 tentpole releases, preparing to start production on the Joss Whedon-led “The Avengers” film in early 2011 for a summer 2012 release — and even aiming “Iron Man 3” for a May 3, 2013 release date now that Disney has acquired the rights from Paramount — one smaller Marvel film, Peter Sollet‘s adaptation of Brian K. Vaughn‘s “The Runaways,” looks like it’s going to take its time.
Deadline reports that Marvel is slowing production down on the youth-oriented superhero movie, called the “Breakfast Club” of super hero pics. Production was moving towards a start, but word evidently is that Marvel simply has too much on their plate because of “The Avengers” and will take its time. This of course all could be Deadline’s spin. They play ball so they keep getting fueled scoops. We’ll see.
Created by “Lost” writer Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, “The Runaways” follows five L.A. teenagers who discover their parents are actually a group of supervillains, The Pride, who control the Californian criminal underworld. Discovering their own special abilities, they go on the run and work to bring down their parents.
Peter Sollett, who helmed “Raising Victor Vargas” and “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” was scheduled to direct and is apparently still attached, but has been “invited to take another film first.” That’s not a very good sign for either him or the film itself. It might just be there’s a stop work order on this one until Marvel’s 2011/2012 bottom line adds up. Part of the issue was the film was eyeing a March 2011 production shoot, which is around the same time of the company’s A-list property “The Avengers” that puts all their A-list heroes (and stars) in one film.
Two actors had been reported/rumored for roles in the film, Keke Palmer (“True Jackson, VP“) who said herself that she had been offered a part, and Lucas Cruickshank, a 17-year-old who created the popular YouTube comedy character “Fred,” was said to be in the mix.