Sunday, December 30, 2012

Doctored Adventures...

Where there's a whip, there a way, make mine Marvel...


So we broke the news about the Star Wars comic the other day, but we didn't address the elephant in the room...

That is, if Darth Vader is packing his bags, then the Man in the Hat will likely go with him.  While the confirmation I was given was only about Star Wars, it's simple math that determines Indiana Jones will also follow Han Solo over to Marvel.  So, then the question is what do they do with him?



Dark Horse has had a good run with Lucasfilm, being as they have had a better understanding of the properties than those that handled them in the past, and yes Marvel was one of those handlers.  The Indiana Jones adventures under their licence has consisted of some pretty good adventures for Doctor Jones.  From "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis," "Thunder in the Orient," "Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold" to "Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Invincible Ruby," there have been some grand adventures.  Dark Horse is a comic company that "gets" the pop-culture properties that it licenses.  So we have to wonder if Marvel will "get" them since their last tales were a bit uninspiring.





Perhaps it'll be different the second time around.  Perspective is everything.  With all those out there in the business knowing how well received the Dark Horse stories of Indy have been, it'll give the editors over at Marvel's bull pin a little more reason to stay frosty.  Hopefully, if the rights revert back to this in a couple of years they'll have a game plan ready.  This is just my advice, no secret info that has been given to me by a Bothan or Nazi double agent.  Take it for what it is: my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.





First thing they should do is something that they actually should NOT do.  Don't make it a monthly.

That was one of the smart things that Dark Horse did.  I mean, the books came out monthly, but it wasn't a monthly comic.  These adventures had a beginning, middle, and end.  There was no dragging out the story over a long period of months just to sell books.  Each story they create should be self contained.  With a certain number of issues, be it 6, 8, or maybe even a 12 issue maxi-series.  Next, there has to be talent brought together, like one puts together a director, producer and writer on a film.  Have different teams that can tackle adventures from every angle, every location, and have them have fun with the characters.




I personally would love to see John Byrne take another crack at Indiana Jones.  He may not of course, since his dealing with a Lucasfilm Suit resulted in it being one of the worst comic book experiences of his professional career.  But to imagine Denny O'Neil, Byrne and even Terry Austin together would be something I would gladly look forward to.  And if Austin couldn't do it, how about Karl Kessel, they're two of the best inkers to ever handle Byrne's pencils.




Then someone like Chris Claremont would seem to make a great writers to stick his hand at Doctor Jones' adventures.  How about you team him up with J. Scott Campbell, who's toyed around with the character for fun and is a fantastic artist.  His Danger Girl series is already heavily inspired by Raiders-type adventures; how about letting him draw the actual thing?






Speaking of Raiders-type things, there have been a few "Tomb Raider" comics over the years and some of the artist/writers that have worked on these books would fit the mold perfectly for an Indy comic.  I would love to see Andy Park illustrate a book by Marvel dealing with Jones globe traveling.  He's such a talented artist, not only in comics, but as a conceptual artist (he worked on "The Avengers" and created some fantastic pieces) too.  Maybe team him with Dan Jurgens, whom he worked with on Top Cow's Tomb Raider comic (the #1 comic of 1999, btw) and have them focus on some serial adventures?





Or take a iconic artist like Alex Ross and let him have his way with the fedora and whip?  Imagine a fully painted issue of fortune and glory done by this talented artist.  Team him up with a hot new talent like Sam Humphries or Rick Remender and you could have a very facinating adventure.





Or perhaps reach into the cinematic world?  Why should Joss Whedon be the only one that can write for both film and comics?  Someone who I think would be terrific for a Indiana Jones comic is Michael France (Cliffhanger, Fantastic Four - not the horrible Tim Story film, but the script which should have been made.), with the right artist, say someone like Ed Benes or Ivan Reis, they would make a fantastic comic book.  That would be a mini-series I'd want to see.




Then there's Mark Protosevich (Thor and I Am Legend, both of which have amazing screenplays better than the actual films that were released.), who would be great to see do an adaptation of Indy's mcguffin hunts, perhaps pairing him with Travis Charest, and having his amazing art translate Protosevich's prose?  I'm.  So.  There.

And these are just the ideas off the top of my head.  Imagine what the Marvel editors could come up with if they sat in a room with a bunch of writers and artists pitching tales of the famed explorer?  The mind truly boggles at that thought.  To keep Indiana Jones relevant and in the public's eye, these would be rather quick and easy steps to continue to mine this property until that day when Kathleen Kennedy approves Paul Dini's animated series.





Yes, I dream, but if you're going to dream, do it big I say...

Friday, December 28, 2012

Excelcior's Birth...

Ninety years, true believers...


There are five pillars of the comic book industry...

Three are at DC Comics and two belong to Marvel Comics.  DC, or as it was called way back in the beginning of comic book creation, National Periodical Publications, had Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Bob Kane Marvel had Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.

Today, Stan "The Man" Lee celebrates his 90th year on this planet.  Now, I don't how old he is on another planet.  You might have to ask Reed Richards since he knows the Marvel galaxies better than me.  But Stan would go on to co-create most of the Marvel heroes we know and love today.  From "Fantastic Four," "Spider-Man," "The Avengers," to countless others, the world of young boys and girls would change forever after the early 60's.  He has handled the celebrity and success over the years with grace, flair and dignity.  Stan Lee has become an icon of pop-culture, a living monument to American myth.

And with great power, comes great responsibility...



Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Write Stuff...

And the Threepio goes to... 







 If you need anymore proof that the Mouse picked the right person, look no further...

For Star Wars, I mean.  Michael Arndt is a very talented writer.  He knows story.  He knows structure.  He knows how to take an arc and follow through with a payoff.  I don't know who will be the director that is chosen to film this chapter of the Star Wars saga, but I am confindant in the writer.

I have faith that the script he turns in will be well thought out, well written, and compelling.  The man knows how to tell a story, even if it's a toy story.  I trust Kathleen Kennedy guiding the project through, and it speaks volumes that she chose Arndt to work on the treatment and then the first script of this new trilogy.

If you want to see how smart a fellow he is, take a look at this video from 2007 where Michael Arndt gave a speech about his script for "Little Miss Sunshine" at a local San Francisco book store.  I believe that after watching his conversation about the screenwriting process, you'll feel safer about him being in front of a keyboard typing out the future of that galaxy far, far away.

No Midi-chlorians here, please...

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Wishing You A Blue Christmas...

The gift of love and joy to you... 





A Blue Sky one, that is...

From all of us here at Blue Sky Disney, to all of you, a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.  Thank you for your support and devotion to the site.  I have always cared about Disney as a source of inspiration and solace in a world that needs every bit of positive influence that it can get.

Not everything can make the world a better place, but a smile and a warm heart are good places to start.  Walt Disney knew that.  I know that.  Maybe you do to?  I wish you a great time with friends and family as we close out the old year, and prepare for the new.  Thanks for coming, and thanks for caring.

Do good, stay safe...

Friday, December 21, 2012

Adoption Complete...

The story of a boy, a girl, and a whole galaxy waiting for a mouse... 



Well, the Mouse officially has a new addition to the family...

The Walt Disney Company completed the purchase of Lucasfilm today.  With the closing of the bell on Wall Street, George Lucas' famous company now becomes another sibling in the colossus that is Disney.  Here is the official press release:


BURBANK, Calif., December 21, 2012 – Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced today that Disney has completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Lucasfilm to the Disney family,” said Iger. “Star Wars is one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time and this transaction combines that world class content with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets, which we believe will generate growth as well as significant long-term value.”
Under the terms of the merger agreement, at closing Disney issued 37,076,679 shares and made a cash payment of $2,208,199,950. Based upon the closing price of Disney shares on December 21, 2012 at $50.00, the transaction has a total value of approximately $4.06 billion.
Lucasfilm’s assets include its massively popular Star Wars franchise, operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production, as well as a substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies. It operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound.


Strange that they don't mention "Indiana Jones" in that.  I know that "Star Wars" is the primary motivation for the purchase, but the famed archaeological professor ain't no wall flower.  He can hold his own.  Not to mention all the other properties Disney has access to (American Graffiti, etc.).

But what fans have wanted for years has come to pass.  George no longer has control over his creation.  Now, the future of Star Wars is in the hands of someone else, for another generation.

And the ones after that...

Math Problem: Getting 52 Into 13...

One plus one is two, except when it isn't... 






The times are hard for everyone...

But when someone like Brad Bird hasn't gotten the green light yet for his new project, you know that people are saving their nickles.  Suits I'm talking about.  And I can't say I blame them with all the problems in the economy, and politicians that don't know a thing about how it (business) works trying to tell them how to run their business.  But it goes to show you how difficult it is to make a film these days unless it involves a safe property; a known brand, superhero, or best selling novel.  Suits want sure things with all the money they put up.  Only, we know there is no such thing as a sure thing.

Damon Lindelof is one of the biggest writers in the film/television business.  Brad Bird is one of the most successful film directors currently working.  We found out months ago that they were working on a secret project at Disney known as "1952," which the Suits were very excited about.  It was based on an idea from Lindelof, and, we thought, his script.  Now, we find out that he and Bird are co-writing the script.  Together they're trying to tie down a budget and get a worthy star (George Clooney) that will ensure the heads of the studio that this project will get the green light.

I have no doubt that when this all comes together we'll see the script move into a position where pre-production starts.  But the long process that film makers like this go through to get the Mouse to say "yes" is statement of the times we live in.  Should everything go swimmingly, this film should get going around the middle of next year.  That means we could see this new Brad Bird film during the holidays of 2014, or if production takes longer, spring 2015.  If that happens, that year is going to be a monster; there are already so many films being released that year.  Boggles the mind a bit.  If you'd like to know more, the guys over at Collider have a great interview with Lindelof that I'm sure will be of interest to you even in this grim economy.

But on the bright side, a new Brad Bird film starting is a great thing...

A3Dventure Is Coming...



Yes, I know Blue Sky mentioned this a while ago...

And we got a lot of serious flack from people saying it was just fanboi rumors and masturbatory dreams, but it wasn't and isn't still.  See, the only way what I said wasn't true, would be if the Lucasfilm Suit that told it to my Bothan was lying to his face.  And this particular Bothan I know very well, and would trust with my life.  He's in the know.  And the Suit I'm talking about is high up, not an underling.  So when Lucasfilm started issuing parsely worded statements, and then outright denial, they're not exactly telling you the truth.  You see, it's not a lie, if they haven't actually done it yet.  Read between the actual words when you hear their press releases.

The powers-that-be wouldn't want to announce it right now anyway, but that doesn't mean it's not in the planning.  The only thing that will stop this from happening is if the box office from the next few Star Wars 3D conversions turn out to be disappointing.  Now, Episode I wasn't a box office bonanza, but remember the film isn't exactly beloved by my most fans.  As each release comes out we'll be able to get a better reaction to the audiences' warming up to the conversions.  I'd think that Sith, Hope, and Empire will get a bigger slice of the box office pie when they come out.  Should they not, the guys in Burbank/Marin County might start having doubts, but second thoughts aren't in the cards right now.

If Kathleen Kennedy and her Lucasfilm Suits get cold feet then the Raiders conversion may be shelved, but as of a couple weeks ago it was still in the planning.  So adventure in the third dimension is up ahead.

It's just not around the corner yet...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Year Zero...

Crazy like a fox, or just trying to pull the wool over our heads...


Fox's hired geek guru has been giving updates about the adaptations the studio are doing...

Mark Millar, 20th Century Fox's adviser on how not to screw up superheros has been letting the fan base know what is going on with the upcoming slate of films.  He had some interesting things to say about the recent and soon to be released films:

"Looking forward to: In 2013? Kick-Ass 2. There can be only one. Also buzzed about Superman and - the big surprise, I think - The Wolverine. The script is amazing and Mangold is such a brilliant director. Seen the first 10 mins and it looks like David Lean doing a superhero movie."

I certainly hope so.  A lot of the time it appears that suits don't really know how to handle these characters properly, and with the exception of Marvel Studios, they still don't.  Warner Bros. has had success dealing with only the Last Son of Krypton and the Guardian of Gotham.  All the other characters in their stable have eluded them.  Mainly, I believe, because they simply don't have an understanding of the characters, or how to translate them.

I certainly hope that Warner doesn't screw up Batman and try to reboot the project through a Bruce Wayne-less character.  It would show they've learned nothing in their quest to move these nuggets of gold forward into the hole filled by Harry Potter.

While I have some sympathy for the Fox Suits, I kind of wish that the rights to all the characters would just expire and revert back to Marvel and the Mouse.  They've shown that they know how to handle them properly; plus it allows for crossovers that don't get caught up in legalistic quicksand that prevents them from being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Seeing as how that isn't going to happen anytime soon, Millar offers a glimmer of hope that the next decade at Fox could be an exciting one:

"This the one that's going to surprise people. This and First Class were Year Zero for the Fox Marvel movies as far as I'm concerned."

Year Zero?  That's a bold statement to make.  Hopefully he's right, and not just towing the company line.  Being as it's Millar, I think he'll stay true to himself and not say things for the check, especially since he doesn't need the Benjamins.

I get what he's trying to say, with "X-Men: First Class" being a great reboot of the original trilogy of films (especially with the weak third film).  It was a film that showed great care with the property, while still moving it forward in the cinematic realm.  If "The Wolverine" turns out to be that good it could be a great thing for Marvel/Disney and even Fox.

Now, if they can get the "Fantastic Four" reboot working on the same level.  Here's a hint, Mark.  Have them go back to the original script by Michael France and Chris Columbus.  It was very well written, faithful adaptation to the comic that didn't come off like a bad family drama.  Use that as your inspiration, but don't redo the origin, unless you want to have it told in flashback using the opening credits.  There is no need to keep telling us the beginning again.

The future is far more exciting...

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Wicked...

Next year, we're off to see the Wizard... 











So we now have our first glance of the Wicked Witch of the East/West...

Walt Disney Pictures released another teaser pic of next year's "Oz the Great and Powerful" today.  It looks like Rachel Weisz after she's gone dark, or green, I should say.  If you've seen the trailer, then you know she's a bit different at the beginning of the film.  Something turns her.  And she then turns into this.  Not bad.  Definitely wicked.

But not the old witch that Margaret Hamilton was...

Monday, December 17, 2012

A Marvelous, Dark Horse...

It was great while it lasted...


Star Wars has a large, expansive universe beyond the films...

 From television, games, toys, clothing, books to comics, the galaxy George Lucas created is vast and filled with boundless opportunities. If you love Star Wars and you collect comics, then you know that Dark Horse Comics has had the licensing rights to the Galaxy Far, Far Away for a long, long time. And they've done some very interesting, and quite high quality tales over the years.

 One of the things that many people wondered after Disney bought Lucasfilm was how long will this relationship continue? Especially since the Mouse owns Marvel, the largest comics publisher in the world. Well, it appears we now have the answer. The Suits in the know have determined that no new contracts will be given to Dark Horse after the current ones expire. So all new projects after 2013 will be handled internally by Marvel.

 It's not known yet if titles will be worked into the regular line up, or will Marvel create a special branch of the company that deals with Star Wars. It'll take a couple of years for the old deals to work there course, but the stories that Dark Horse have coming down the pipeline will be the last. And you can expect anything new from Marvel dealing with Star Wars to arrive around 2015.

 Interesting year for that to happen...

Friday, December 14, 2012

Three Directions...

Believe in the Users...


It seems that "Tron 3" news is dramatically increasing...

Just last week we learned the Mouse had hired a new screenwriter to move the project forward.  Then Garrett Hedlund admitted he was coming back for another round (which he's contractually obligated to anyway).  Now comes a little more data from the Grid by the director himself, Joseph Kosinski thanks to Collider.

It seems he's keen on the idea they have for the sequel, but he's waiting to see how it translates in the script.

“There is certainly a chance, like I said; we’re writing the script now.  Sometimes with these things all the pieces fall into place.  I mean, we’ve been talking about this for years and we don’t have the script now, but sometimes things fall into place very quickly, and if everything lines up it could happen.  That’s all I can say, it’s too early.”

Of course, we'll have to wait till mid next year before we find out if that draft of the script will get the film greenlit.  Even if it does, it looks like a late 2014/early 2015 release is optimistic.  But it's not out of the question.  And Kosinski claiming that this film would have to have "Empire Strikes Back" tones only raises the stakes for what this film has to strive for.  But it's good to see things moving forward, and the wheels turning for the sequel to the 80's cult classic.

I just hope that the Cillian Murphy/Sark's son idea is really expanded...

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

After Godzilla, Before Godzilla...

Giant robot, run for your lives... 










It's been one great week for trailers...


I can't wait to see these on the big screen.  Guillermo del Toro's new film, "Pacific Rim" has finally had its first trailer released.  Giant robots versus giant monsters.  Is there really any need to say more?  It looks fantastic, and you can see del Toro's signature vision stamped across each and every frame of this trailer.  If the film lives up to the trailer then this will be one fun event next year.

Now, if Alan Horn can just get him to sign on to direct the "Haunted Mansion" remake...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Gods Among Us...

My only son... 







 








So we finally have our first real look at the Last Son of Krypton...

And it's a very lovely look.  A dreamy, hyper-realistic look and feel of an American icon that many have thought was too old fashioned, too  corner and too dated.

If the film lives up to this trailer then those critics will be eating a lot of crow.  I hope they end up eating copious amounts of the bird.  My only real complaint is when Jonathan Kent talks about the act that Clark did.  He wouldn't say that.  He would be instilling values on his adopted son to do the right thing regardless of the consequences.  He would be the focal point of the young Superman's values.  He wouldn't say that statement, unless there are words on the other side of it that better elaborate what he was talking about.  But other than that, this looks like a film I can't wait to see.

The only thing that could spoil it would be if they tacked on a clip of Batman after the credits portrayed by a Bruce Wayne-less Joseph Gordon Levitt...

Don Mask...

Who was that masked man... 








The new (second) trailer for Walt Disney Pictures' "The Lone Ranger" is out...

It's a visually impressive piece of work.  You can clearly see that this is a wild west version of the tale of "Don Quixote" that Verbinski is trying to tell (Which is strange since the Mouse is now working on a version of that tale for Depp.).  Will it work for audiences?  That will be the question that will be answered next summer.  The director knows how to do a western, as he told with the animated film, "Rango".

Come, next summer we'll see if the West rides again...

Friday, December 7, 2012

Oblivious...

You can't handle the truth... 















The latest poster is out for Disney's "Oblivion" film...

Well, it's not really a film by the Mouse, but it could have been, and was.  Joseph Kosinski's follow up to "Tron: Legacy" was based on a graphic novel that he and Arvid Nelson created for Radical Publishing.

Walt Disney Studios won the rights to the story over other studios, but after months of working on it decided that it wasn't the right fit for a Disney film.  They could have keep it and released it under the Touchstone Pictures banner, but it appears that that label is being used exclusively for Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Pictures releases.  Of course, Disney still has the Hollywood Pictures label that could have been brought back to use as the release label of the picture.  But it was not to be.

The studio let the film go, and Kosinski shopped it around to other studios with Universal Pictures finalling deciding to take it up.  And now we have our first look at the teaser poster for the film.  Quite beautiful and apocalyptic, don't you think?

It makes you wonder if Disney did the right thing...

UPDATE: Right on the heals of the first poster being released, comes the first trailer for the film.  It has Kosinski's distinctive look, and you can see the influence of world building from his take on Tron here.  Very interesting.  April will be here before you know it.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Horn's Disney...

To film or not to film, that is the question... 





So bit by bit, day by day, we slowly get to see the slate of films that Alan Horn is creating for the Mouse...

A whole lot of sci-fi, a good portion of fantasy, a slight touch of nostalgia and even a bit of mystery.  That sums of what we've seen so far, but the future will not start to unfold till 2014/15 before we see the full Horn line up of films.

What exactly does he have in mind for Walt Disney Pictures?

Well, here's the list of scripts/films/pitches that he's lined up so far.  It will be a while before we find out how many of these make it all the way through production, as Hollywood is littered with dreams and scripts that died or got lost along the way.

The Rocketeer (remake) - The studio is reportedly pursuing writers to reboot the cult property based on the comic by Dave Stevens.  While no news has come out since Vulture broke the story in August, it's believed that Disney is still looking for the right take on the character.

Flight of the Navagator (remake) - The 80's story of a boy that gets a spaceship of his own will get a reboot for the 21st century.  Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly are writing the script, with Trevorrow being eyed for the director's chair.

Star Wars (sequel, spin-off) - Michael Arbdt has been put in charge of creating the playbook for another Star Wars trilogy, as well as writing the first chapter of the three.  It addition to Episode VII, Lucasfilm has hired Larence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg to explore other parts of the Skywalker's galaxy.  This will provide Horn with a Star Wars film every couple of years for Disney's schedule.

Tron 3 (sequel) -  The sequel to Legacy has languished over the past year, but Horn has hired Jesse Wigutow to take over from the previous writer because he believes in the value of this brand.  The possibilities of The Grid could come into theaters around the same time you may be able to experience the world of Tron (providing you're in China).

1952 (sci-fi original) - Brad Bird returns to Disney (sadly, not as Star Wars director) to film an original science fiction tale written by Damon Lindelof, that will possibly star George Clooney.  The word is that Studio suits, Horn particularly, think the project could be a tentpole film launching a new franchise.  If I were Horn, I'd put Bird under long term, exclusive contract. 

The Stuff of Legend (adaptation) - Based on the comic Written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith and illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, is a battle between the Boogeyman and childhood toys (a dark twist on  Toy Story).  Pete Candeland will adapt the graphic novel.

Untitled Scott Rosenberg film (?) - Almost nothing is known about this project, other than the fact that suits liked the pitch so much that they payed over a million for it up front.  In these times that says a lot.  More layers of this onion should be peeled in the new year, and I'm sure by the holidays next year, we'll have a much fuller understanding of what was so special.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (adaptation) - A classic children's book by award winning, author Judith Viorst, adapted and directed by Lisa Cholodenko with Steve Carell starring?  It sounds like the kind of family entertainment that the Mouse has been looking for.

Matched (adaptation) - Everyone has been doing YA films and television shows the last few year to take advantage of the "Twilight" phenomenon, except Disney.  Now they get into the game with an adaptation of the first novel in the "Matched" trilogy.  Set in a dystopian future, where the mysterious society dictates every part of your life (fiction, or just around the corner?), if follows a seventeen year old girl and her love interest.  I would openly pan these things normally, but I'll wait till we see a trailer for this before I become too judgemental.

Peter and the Starcatchers (adaptation) - The adaptation of the first novel in the series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is getting the grand treatment under Gary Ross's helm.  Essentially a prequel to the Peter Pan tale that follows the Neverland crew on adventures before Wendy and the world intrude the second star to the right.  This one has franchise written all over it.  The question is will it have box office hit written all over it?

Terra Incognita (sci-fi original, ?) -  Nicole Perlman, who co-wrote DreamWorks Animation's "Rise of the Guardians" sold this pitch days ago to the Mouse.  Other than Justin Springer being attached as producer, nothing is known about the story, except it interested Horn enough to buy the pitch upfront.

Don Quixote (period adventure) - Horn's latest acquisition/deal with Johnny Depp's Infinitum Nihil production company producing.  The famous tale of Alonso Quijano, a man who goes on a quest with his squire, Sancho Panza, in search of renewal and adventure.  So Terry Gilliam will see at least something arise from his attempt to use this novel as a parable.

This is the short lists of what has been approved to go into development, production or purchase.  And as 2013 comes around we'll likely see a whole lot more pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

Hopefully one of those will be Guillermo del Toro's Haunted Mansion reboot...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Deeper Into The Grid...

3rd Time's the charm... 






Walt Disney Pictures is moving forward with the franchise...

Tron Lives!  Not that it wasn't already in development.  But Alan Horn has decided to move forward with the sequel to the sequel.  It's been in development for a while.  David DiGilio (Eight Below) did the previous draft of the script, but The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog is reporting the Mouse has hired Jesse Wigutow to write the latest revision.  We don't know if it's a complete rewrite or a polish of DiGilio's version.  But the project is moving forward with a new writer and Joseph Kosinski still attached to direct the sequel.

Production on the sequel won't begin for months, presuming this draft of the Tron franchise is green lit, the earliest it will be shooting is late 2013/early 2014.  That means the release date for TR3N will likely be in 2015.  That's five years since "Tron: Legacy" came out.

Still, at least it's not twenty-eight years like between Legacy and the original...

Birth Of A Dreamer...

And now, your host... 











On this day, 111 years ago was born a dream...

Wrapped up in a man of incredible vision, talent, and unbound optimism.

Happy Birthday, Walt...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Net Fix...

Before they go back in the vault... 





So now we know what happened to the Mouse's steaming movie service...

It's either been seriously delayed or outright cancelled.  The planned streaming service known as Disney Movies Online is scheduled to close at the end of the year, but it's not known when the replacing service known as Disney Movies Anywhere will be launched.  With the announcement of the Walt Disney Company's agreement with streaming uber-giant, Netflix, that appears to be the end of this service.  If not, you're talking about it being implemented late in the decade, or possibly even not till the next decade.

The new agreement that was announced will cover all direct to DVD films starting in 2013, and all new releases starting in 2016.  It's highly unlikely that Disney will start a service that competes with Netflix right when the service starts in a few years.  It appears that the Suits inside Burbank have punted for the time being and chosen to let someone like Netflix handle the hassle instead of dealing with it themselves.

Perhaps the option will be for Disney to acquire Netflix in the future and use it as the streaming service for its content instead of trying to create a service from scratch?  Iger has been willing to buy content creators to have a steady line of properties, what's wrong with buying a service to distribute that content?

Maybe this is the first step in the long process to do that...

Friday, November 30, 2012

Campus Tour...

Boo... 










Two new posters for the Lamp's next film are out...



Pixar released two teaser posters for "Monster University" today. One is the image above, and the other is a French poster (read: International) that offers the tone of the film - Revenge of the Monster Nerds? This looks to be an entertaining staple for Emeryville, but I'm most excited about the next few original films they have in development for 2014, 2015 and 2016.










 


But until then, we'll have a fun tour of the campus...

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

An Ever-Expanding Galaxy...

So the films that Kasdan and Kinberg are working on for Lucasfilm might not be part of the trilogy after all...

 But they will be Star Wars.  It appears Kathleen Kennedy and crew are taking a page out of the Marvel playbook.  While we're supposed to have an Avengers film every three years or so, we have individual adventures set in between, like Thor and Iron Man, etc.  Word comes from The Hollywood Reporter that the films that these writers are working on could be stand alone/spin offs that inhabit the universe far, far away.

So these adventures could turn up in one of the in between years of Episode VII and Episode VIII?  This explains Iger's statement of having films come out every 2-3 years.  That would allow for at least one solo (pun intented) adventure in the gap between one trilogy film, and another.  This means we could get all kinds of space operas.  From a Boba Fett film, to a Republic Commandos film, to a tale about the Rebel Alliance.  What be your take?

I think this universe is big enough to have multiple adventures...

Injustice...

Not again, you suits... 














While I love Christopher Nolan's interpretation of Batman, I am not slavishly devoted to it...

I love "Batman Begins," I adore "The Dark Knight," and sadly disappointed in "The Dark Knight Rises."  I feel the last one is Nolan's least developed.  It felt like something he had to do, not want to do.  I think Joseph Gordon Levitt is one of those rising young stars.  He's an incredibly gifted actor who has a promising future.

Just not as Batman.

And certainly not one that happens to not be Bruce Wayne.  That is the character that will always be tied to the meaning for there being a Batman in the first place.  There is a purpose to who he is and what he wants.  His wealth is a gift for his vengeance on a cruel world that he is trying to right.  He is no street vigilante.  He is no cop.  He is a man searching for answers to a childhood that died a long time ago and his tools are his brains, accompanied by the body he has trained.

I know that Warner executives want to continue the money train that is the caped crusader.  But the world of Nolan's Batman wasn't meant to exist in a universe where other heroes in underwear walked around.  It wasn't.  It's not that there is anything wrong with creating a DC Cinematic Universe to rival the one Marvel had, but to try and put Nolan's universe in the larger one is wrong.

They need to reboot a new Batman.  One that happens to be Bruce Wayne.  I want to see a cohesive universe where Clark Kent spars with Bruce Wayne, not some young, upstart cop that just took over the suit.  It's not the suit that made Batman, it's the events.  And the events happened to a young boy named Bruce Wayne.

It's as if Sony wanted to continue the success of Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" and just had someone else step into the role that wasn't named Peter Parker.  I would recoil at such a thought the same way I feel about this rumor, if true.  I have wanted to see a Justice League film since I was a child.  For Warner Suits to put such a monkey wrench into the machine that they plan on going forward with is a prescription for a project that will be mired in doubt.  It will deflate the feelings I had looking forward to seeing a great number of DC characters together in 2015.  It's not starting off the wrong foot, it's walking off a cliff, and shows that Suits still don't "get" super-heroes.

Go forward with Justice League.  Go forward with a reboot of Batman right on it's heels.  But don't think that carrying forward with a character from the last Batman film will guarantee success for a future one.  Let each director reinterpret the character with his own stamp, not the legacy of the last director.  The legacy belongs to the character.

The Warner Suits want a future for all the characters in DC entertainment, but going forward with this will be an end, not a beginning.  Marvel will still be moving forward with it's expanding universe, and Warner Bros. will still be wishing they could take advantage of the large collection of characters that they still don't have an understanding of.

I guess in another decade they can try rebooting again...

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Miss Directions...

Make the jump to Hyperspace... 










And so we have more rumors of Matthew Vaughn directing Episode VII...

Several sites are reporting an interview with Jason Flemyng, where he supposedly lets slip that Vaughn is working on the much hyped sequel to the successful franchise.  Now, it's not direct confirmation, but it's one more step in the line of confirmation that the director is in line to direct the film.

There are supposedly three directors that Kennedy and Lucasfilm have been talking to.  The Bothans I've talked to have said that Jon Favreau was the favorite to actually take the reigns of this productions.  I would much prefer Vaughn to him, but above all, I want Brad Bird.  He would create an amazing Star Wars film.  And if I can't have him for the first one, then maybe he can direct the TESB of this trilogy, or at least the Jedi closer.  And as much as I love Guillermo del Toro, and I know his name has been whispered about this by the fanboy community.  But I don't see him getting the job.  He's got too heavy a fingerprint on his films and I believe that Lucasfilm isn't going to want someone whose style will overwhelm or clash with the vision they want to bring across. 

Seeing as Bird is not the one to helm Star Wars: Episode VII at this time, I thought we'd offer Blue Sky Disney's pics for the top five directors we would choose to start this party.  Starting from five and counting down to one:


#5 Joe Johnston - The director behind "The Rocketeer" and Marvel's best solo effort, "Captain America" would be a solid director for the film.  He's a former Lucasfilm employee, he knows big budget effects films, and he knows Star Wars.

#4 Joseph Kosinski - His attention to detail, and clean vision would make for a very interesting Star Wars film.  Like Johnston, he's a veteran with FX films and could make for a unique choice.

#3 Drew Goddard - The director of "Cabin in the Woods" and co-writter with Joss Whedon, knows story structure, and is a rising film maker.  He would make a riskier choice, but would be a statement regarding the importance of story.  Not to mention, he could get Whedon to give his opinion of the script.

#2 Alfonso Cuaron - A great director who would be a fantastic statement that this project is an incredibly valuable property.  He would be able to translate the worlds we've come to know in Star Wars into a grand vista of epic proportions.

#1 Rupert Wyatt - If they were to choose this director, it would mean that the script/story is going to be smart.  It would be a proclamation that this is going to be a very layered film that won't talk down to the audience/fans like the Prequels did.  Hiring Wyatt would show that the Mouse is setting up this series as an extremely important series, and they want to get it right.


Of course, these are my picks and Kathleen and George don't know me from Adam, or Luke or Leia...

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Next Holy Grail...

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da... 











Now that the Mouse has finally done what I've been crusading for, it's time to get off that soapbox...


And get on another one.  The fact that we're going to have more Star Wars films is great news.  For fans, and for the series itself.  But since Lucasfilm owns Indiana Jones I wish to now get Disney to make more adventures of the Man in the Hat.

No, I'm not talking about a new film.  I'm talking about that animated series that Paul Dini wants to make. And yes, I know, I've mentioned it before.  But now that Disney owns Luke and Leia, it's time to move on to a new obsession.

It's not just me, artist Patrick Schoenmaker, he's the one that did the incredible art that I used for this post has been animating a short to show Lucasfilm that it should go ahead with an animated series.  He's doing it on his own dime and his own time.  Now if he can just get together with Dini, go in and pitch it to Kathleen Kennedy as a great thing for Disney XD or ABC Saturday morning then I'll be a very happy man.

Hey, how many people six months ago were getting tired of me talking about the virtues of Disney owning Lucasfilm because it was never going to happen?  Exactly.  I'd even settle for a CG series if they did it using these type of models, but I'd prefer good ole' fashioned hand drawn.  Imagine each week turning in to see Henry Jones Jr. on another adventure, trying to escape the clutches of death and watching each week as he cheats death, and searches for fortune and glory.  Maybe that's the way we get Iger, Horn and Kennedy to sign off on it?

Fortune and glory...

Saturday, November 24, 2012

More Unexpected Journeys...


It's hard to believe that it's only a few weeks before the next adventure to Middle-Earth...

Peter Jackson, as always, knows how to keep the fans excited/interested in the upcoming prequel.  With each video blog, more and more layers of his interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic children's book: "The Hobbit" come to life.

Check out the latest installment in the series of videos to get a better picture of what to expect from the first third of this film.  Waiting three years to see a completed film would be a difficult proposition for most film makers, but Peter Jackson is no simple director.  Like Lucas, Spielberg and Disney himself, Jackson is a builder of worlds.  And worlds we tend be more forgiving while watching them being built, or unfolded in front of us.

A world is a great place to start a new beginning...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful...

No turkey...

 To all of you and your family from all of us here at Blue Sky Disney, have a Happy Thanksgiving...

With all the problems in this world it's important every now and then to reflect on what we have to be appreciative for. So have a turkey leg, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, sit back and not argue with that relative you only see this once a year. Oh, and after dinner you might want to gather everyone in the car and go see "Wreck-It Ralph" as a great way to cap off the night. Really. It's that good.

See you after the stuffing...

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Jedi Mind Tricks...

These are the writers you are looking for...






Whoa, more and more awesomeness keeps leaking from this Bantha track...

Ok, if you don't know Star Wars then that really won't help or make sense.  Let's just say that with each passing moment, everything we hear that the Mouse/Lucasfilm are doing for the third trilogy is very smart.  They appear to be treating this like the property they know fans value so greatly.

If you haven't heard the news, Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: End of Days) have been hired to write the screenplays for Episode VIII and Episode IX.  It's not known if they will collaborate on each as partners or will one will tackle eight and the other nine.  Both will produce the film along with Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy.

So from notes by Lucas, Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) created a forty/fifty page treatment, and will write the first film: Episode VII, Kasdan and Kinberg will write the rest and they will produce all three?  Thank the Maker!  Now all we need is a director.  Sadly, Brad Bird won't be the director (maybe he'll be the Irvin Kershner of this batch and direct the second if we're lucky), so who will it be?  I have my own ideas, but that'll be for a later post.

The opening crawl can't come soon enough...

Monday, November 19, 2012

A Study In Plaid...

Oh, tell us great plaid one... 




 




We have another short interview George Lucas and Kathleen Kennedy...

It's the third in a series.  Each is about five or so minutes, and there are two more to go over the coming weeks.  Each one adds a little layer of thought, peeling the onion back to see the workings of a private man giving up his baby.

It's going to be interesting seeing what happens in a few years.  I know Kennedy has said that they want to get to a point where Lucasfilm is putting out 2-3 films a year, and I don't if this is a typo.  Did she mean a film every three years?  As in Star War films?  Or did she mean others as well?  Perhaps this is in regard to that magical creatures/fairies animated film that they were working on.

It's interesting times we live in.  Maybe the galaxy up north will be a bit larger than Star Wars and Indiana Jones?


Episode I: Disney and the Future.

Episode II: Getting Started On New Star Wars.

Episode III: An Interesting Proposal.


May the Forth episode of this be with us next week...

Sunday, November 18, 2012

A Mouse Is Born...

Happy birthday to you... 













A famous celebrity was born today...


Even though there would be no Mickey with Oswald, there would be no Walt without the Mouse.

Happy Birthday, Mickey...

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Disney North...

That's no planet, that's a space station... 








 

Walt Disney is synonymous with America, but also with California...

But specifically southern California.  Since arriving in the Golden State in 1923 and setting up shop, the man and the company that lived on has had a permanent presence in this area.  From his early days on Hyperion, to the formal home of the Burbank Studios, or the Golden Oak Ranch, this area is treaded territory of the Mouse.  And it's been that way for decades.

While northern California has been in films, it has has never been a crucial, or pivotal part of the company's story; until the middle of this decade.  That's when the importance of the land up north began to play a much crucial part of it's history, and now its future.

When Bob Iger bought that little plot of land in Emeryville it was the beginning of a gradual expansion that most people haven't noticed.  The $7.4 billion purchase of Pixar gave the company a permanent, albeit small presence up north that would play a vital part in the creative direction that it charted.

Who would of thought that within the next five years it would grow so rapidly?

Besides the Lamp, across the bay you will find the Walt Disney Family Museum.  Now, I know that it isn't owned by the company, but it does a valuable service and provides great influence/advertising the Disney brand in the NoCal area.  So it's a step-son in the Walt Disney Company that provides a valuable service.

With the purchase of George Lucas' Lucasfilm, a great deal more real estate, and valuable entertainment icons became part of the company.  The Letterman Digital Arts Center, just down the way from the Walt Disney Family Museum houses Industrial Light & Magic, LucasArts, and Lucasfilm's marketing/licensing arm.  This is truly a dream factory in the green setting of the Presidio.

Lastly, a little further up in Marin County lies Skywalker Ranch, the original home of Lucasfilm, which is a haven for creative types that seek it out for writing and other services, but the jewel there is Skywalker Sound UPDATE: It appears that Lucas will retain the right to the land and surrounding ranch, but it's unclear if their services will be used, or if Skywalker Sound and other parts of the company will move out to other parts of the Bay Area.

Think about all the property that now exists up north.  There is probably more land in use by Disney in the bay area than in the area surrounding Hollywood.  And just seven years ago there was really no presence by the Walt Disney Company up there.  The state of California has Walt fully anchored in it from north to south.  Now maybe they can purchase something in Fresno so that there's a bridge between north and south.

The little company that was started in southern California has taken over the whole state...