Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some interesting news. I was awoken by a phone call today telling me that The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Kerry Conran, director of the upcoming ode to geeks sci-fi/fantasy/adventure SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, is in talks to direct A PRINCESS OF MARS, the first book of the John Carter series written by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
It's kind of funny because I recently sat down with Kerry Conran at the San Diego Comic-Con when I was doing a round of one-on-one interviews for SKY CAPTAIN. The interview ran long, so I didn't get to follow it up with asking what's next, but I did ask it off the record as he was signing my limited Comic-Con SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW poster and all I got was a knowing smile in response. I'm supposed to be doing a follow up phoner with Conran. If that happens you better believe I'll dig for info on Barsoom and Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas.
So, I called Harry to confirm this being as he's the only person with the film that I have any contact with. I asked him point blank, "Is Kerry Conran directing PRINCESS OF MARS?" He answered, "Where'd you read that?" "The Hollywood Reporter," I told him. "Really? Cool! How is Sky Captain? I haven't seen it yet." I can't tell if the humor in his voice was being playful producer or just Harry being the jolly man he is.
After having seen SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW I could not be happier with this decision. Conran has an eye for period fantastical adventure and can capture the nostalgic feel of what Barsoom really needs to be. I'm curious as to whether or not Conran's going to shoot all green-screen like he did SKY CAPTAIN or if he'll change his style to fit this movie. I'd really hope that he shoots this outside the stage at some point. Look at what Jackson was able to do with LOTR, which was about a half and half of studio and location... But then again, I guess Mars really doesn't offer the chance to film breathtaking Earth-natural beauty. Maybe if he shoots location for Civil War era Virginia at the beginning? That'd be an interesting switch... So, count me curious.
If you want, you can read my SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW review here. I think that when September 17th roles around there are going to be many happy Barsoom fans. Conran understands pulp books and comics from Burroughs' era and I have no doubt he'll understand what Burroughs was striving for in his Barsoom series. When you see SKY CAPTAIN, you'll know this one is right up his alley.
Interesting times, squirts! Interesting times.
-Quint
