Top Maniacal Rumors of the Week

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Creatures making up THE MONSTER SQUAD(1987).
© TriStar Pictures

Top Maniacal Rumors: Monster Madness, Iron Confusion and Matrix Plastic

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Friday, July 18, 2008

It’s time for another edition of Mania’s Most Maniacal Rumors, where we blow the lid off the week’s juiciest gossip and hush-hush industry whispers.

If you have a rumor you want to contribute, we’re all ears. Just send it to jarrod@mania.com.

Monster Squad Getting a Remake?

Rumor: While talking about his upcoming installment of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Rob Cohen talked about this 80’s cult classic of monsters teaming up getting a remake inside Hollywood.

Source: Bloody-Disgusting

Verdict: TRUE---But Cohen would not mention how far along into development the remake currently is over at Paramount Pictures nor has there been any studio announcement of the project. Quite a few 80’s cult hits such as Troll and Red Dawn are on the way so it makes sense that Hollywood would see this as another prime example.

Louis Leterrier Directing the Sequel to Superman Returns?

Rumor: And the rumors surrounding the next Superman film continues to go into wild territory. While DC and Warner Bros. are having meetings on changing tactics for their properties, based on Marvel’s latest successful ventures, a new rumor popped up that The Incredible Hulk’s director Louis Leterrier might have been approached on doing Superman instead of the currently slated Bryan Singer.

Source: Allocine

Verdict: FALSE---Director Louis Leterrier quickly came online when this rumor popped up due to a chat on upcoming projects, where he states that it was mistranslated. Here’s the clarification to AICN.

What I meant was that I had been told about a possible reinvention of Superman. Not that I was offered the job.—Leterrier

And as confirmation, a new casting call has been sent out for the upcoming sequel, which states Singer still in the top job.

"A sequel to the summer 2006 action-adventure. Bryan Singer returns to direct with Brandon Routh again playing Clark Kent/Superman. Stand-Ins, Extras needed."

Marvel is Happy with Incredible Hulk but No Sequel?

Rumor: It’s been five years since Ang Lee launched his original adaptation of the Incredible Hulk character and while that film was said to be a dud from studio insiders, the same isn’t being said about Louis Leterrier’s latest version even if the film is performing about the same at the box office. Still, a studio insider insists that they are happy even if no sequel is on the horizon.

Source: Reuters

Verdict: MAYBE---If foreign box office booms for the film in oversea markets and DVD sales hit a high for Marvel and Universal Pictures, a sequel to the latest film is still a possibility. It seems unlikely that the studios would be happy with just one film, though the overall plan of having an Avengers team up is still moving forward.

Transformers 2 To be Like a Sequel or Not to Be?

Rumor: Two people involved with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen have come up with new quotes this week and both are conflicting with each other. Director Michael Bay has said he doesn’t like how sequels are approached and he hates cliffhangers while screenwriter Roberto Orci has said that the next installment is more like a sequel while also confirming the addition of the Soundwave character.

Source: Sci-Fi Wire and Entertainment Weekly

Verdict: Michael Bay warned media outlets that there would be a lot of disinformation coming from his camp due to the over abundance of leaks for the first film so it’s not surprising that there is two conflicting quotes this week.

Roberto Orci:

"The humor will be similar, but the structure of the movie is a little bit more like many sequels, which is, the stakes are a little higher and the tone is a bit more sci-fi," Orci said. "It's got a little more of a sci-fi element ... the bad guys are little more coherent in terms of what their plan is and what they're attempting to do. So it feels more like more of a sci-fi battle."

Michael Bay:

When we were writing the script, I said to the writers, "I hate sequels that try to make it to the third movie. Pretend like we’re never having a third movie, so let's go for broke on the second one. I hate those cliffhangers! Let's just make this movie stand on its own." I really feel this movie is not a forced sequel. I think the script is really good, and I think it's got a lot of new stuff in it. There are a lot of rumors out there, but we've released a lot of fake stuff. We’ve done a really good job of keeping things secret.

The Wachowskis Leading Plastic Man?

Rumor: While the Wachowskis’ latest effort Speed Racer bombed out of theaters and they’re currently moving forward as executive producers for , a new rumor has popped up that the team will be reuniting with their Matrix comrade Keanu Reeves in leading an adaptation of Plastic Man.

Source: C.H.U.D

Verdict: TRUE---Shouldn’t be surprising that the Wachowskis would want to work with Keanu again after their original trilogy put them into the spotlight, especially given what happened with Speed Racer. The question is whether a comic character such as Plastic Man will ever go into production or just sleep into development hell.

Trouble Still Brewing Between Marvel and Iron Man 2?

Rumor: Despite the first film grossing $565.4 million worldwide, there have been behind-the-scene issues popping up this past month regarding resigning director Jon Favreau to lead the sequel. Now, as they’re finally set to get Favreau back, a new announcement has been made stating that Marvel has hired Justin Theroux is taking over the screenplay duties for the sequel.

Source: Variety

Verdict: TRUE---No doubt that things could be running more smoothly for the sequel, which is planned to hit theaters April 30, 2010. There was no reasoning given behind the sudden screenwriter change. Theroux has worked on screenplays for a while but his only accredited screenplay thus far is the upcoming Robert Downey Jr. film Tropic Thunder. The screenwriter change could be attributed to the same issues plaguing the resigning of Jon Favreau. Financial reasons.

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Comments/Responses

kempmike79 • Jul 18, 2008, 04:36am •

For Iron Man 2 I think the reason the original writes weren't asked back is because RDJ thought they sucked. I saw an interview with him prior to the release where he said he pretty much insisted that every sceen be re-written as he didn't like it. I don't think it changed the plot but just the dialogue and made the scenes a bit more fun and believable. I understand he and Favreau (as we all know an awesome writer in his own right) did a lot of those re-writes. That would explain why they did not ask the guys who did the first film back. It might also explain why the guy who wrote Tropic Thunder got the gig as he worked with RDJ on that. (Someone here the other day said that RDJ had said that the Tropic Thunder script was 'killer' and so that supports that theory).

hanso • Jul 18, 2008, 05:09am •

No Shane Black, No Stan Winston but The Monster Squad could use a remake, it's been 22 years? Cohen shouldn't direct, Alfonso Cuaron should direct this. Where is Shane Black?

If Singer is still on board for Supes 2, does that mean he was director that asked Millar to the project or is Millar now officially out of pitching anything for this sequel?

Hulk can get a sequel but it would've been a couple of years down the line anyway, next time we'll see him will be for Avengers in 2011 and I'm sure that will take in tons of cash and an Avengers sequel would get a greenlight before another Hulk so we won't see a Hulk sequel till at least 2014.

Plastic Man?

They switched writers not a big deal. Writers were switched for T2, Toy Story & Dark Knight.

filmnotmovie • Jul 18, 2008, 05:50am •

So, it's definite that Favreau is not coming back? You've got to be kidding! Marvel needs
to get its head out of its ass on this one, and bring Favreau back. Sounds like they keep
alienating the talented players who are delivering the goods. (i.e. Edward Norton on the
"Incredible Hulk")

WISEGUY562 • Jul 18, 2008, 05:53am •

hanso, what's up my brotha. I thought you were staying out for the next three days. Couldn't resist a peek right?

I'm down for a remake of Monster Squad. I just hope it it's better than VanHelsing. And by that I'm referring to the cgi. Because I think it could easily go that way.

Unfortunately it just looks like Singer is coming back. Too bad

The Hulk will end up beating the first film but not by much. I doubt that they'll green light a sequel. Keep in mind that Marvel had to borrow money to start their studio. They don't have the pockets of a WB or Sony so their gambles have to be measured.

The Wachowskis are still getting work? Plastic Man would be cool I think but this being a WB/DC property I expect it'll slip into development hell.

filmnotmovie, Favreau is coming back by all accounts although there hasn't been any official word. The change above is referring to the writers.

hanso • Jul 18, 2008, 05:55am •

Hey man, wat up! LOL, I'm staying away, but just from Batman articles till I see the flm.

WISEGUY562 • Jul 18, 2008, 06:01am •

They're predicting 160-170 mil. now. The thing is huge.
When you getting back to check it out or are you staying down there til it opens?

evilbeagle • Jul 18, 2008, 08:25am •

Going to Dark Knight today. I'm excited, but I'm keeping my boner in check just in case it's not a "masterpiece".

Monster Squad-I'm good with it.

Singer + Superman= Bad news.

I was wondering about Hulk and how Marvel felt about its performance. It's a no brainer they wanted blockbuster status, but it surely can't be considered a flop. If he ends up being relegated to a side character, I can't see Ed Norton going along with that. Here comes the recast.

Transformers-don't care. It's a redbox rental for me unless I get fair-weather when the hype machine gets rolling.

the Wachowskis have sucked since Matrix (part 1). they wouldn't even admit Speedracer was trash. Instead they claimed it was "ahead of its time". Please. Make another lesbian crime caper and get back on the wagan boys!

Iron Man 2 will be solid. Marvel can't afford to screw it up.

hanso • Jul 18, 2008, 08:48am •

Really? That's a pretty big prediction.
I get back stateside tommorow, so I'll check the film out on Sunday first thing.

joeybaloney • Jul 18, 2008, 09:18am •

1) Monster Squad? Okay. I’m there. Provided Guillermo Del Toro is making it. If not I guess it’s wait and see time. Barely remember the original. May have been too old to really appreciate it.

2)Singer’s got a good Superman movie in him and I’m hoping this is it. Although I bet Letettier’s would be a bit more action oriented.

3)I agree if Avengers kicks BO ass then we’ll get another Hulk and I will be happy. Hopefully Norton will be there for both that and the Avengers.

4)Will Transfomers 2 be more like an actual movie or just a bunch of explosions? Yawn. Intrigued by that there Friday the 13th re-Imagineering adaptating remakish thing though.

5)I liked all 3 Matrix. I like Keanu. I like Plastic Man. I think there is huge potential for this to go either way. I will remain cautiously optimistic for the time being but, yeah, probably never gonna git anywhere with this. Thanks for the reminder about Bound evilb! Ah Tilly/Gershon sex. That was a great little flick.

6)If RDJ thinks this is the man then I gots no problem with that!

mckracken • Jul 18, 2008, 09:25am •

Keanu as Plastic Man? I used to watch this as a cartoon series back in the 80's (or was that 70s?)

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