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JOHN CARTER OF... Disney?!?

Published at:  Jan 16, 2007 3:36:59 PM CST

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some news on the movement of the JOHN CARTER OF MARS project. TMZ got the scoop on the film being moved from Paramount to Disney, with Jim Jacks, Sean Daniel, Jon Favreau and Harry Knowles no longer involved. TMZ said they "left the project." Knowles tells me nothing, so I asked him about it and he responded with this:



None of us left the project. Paramount's ex-president of production decided not to renew the rights. Jim, Sean and I - along with Jon Favreau were heartbroken when Paramount didn't renew the rights, but that happens. Ultimately I'm just proud to be a part of the long history of people that tried to bring this great story to the screen. We came the closest - I wish, whatever studio gets it the best of luck, it's a great story and deserves to be told the best way possible.


Of course I'm sad for Harry, but I'm also extremely sad for Jon Favreau, who really was aching to do this movie. Click here to read the interview I did with him when he first came to the project!!! He really seemed to understand Edgar Rice Burroughs' worlds and characters.

Stripping all that down and just looking at the source material, Paramount made a big mistake letting this one go. I hope Disney doesn't cartoon the films up and make them Narnia clones. It doesn't have to be hardcore, but look at the balance LOTR struck. It was pretty rough, but still family friendly. It might have crossed that line a few times, but I think people really liked their fantasy taken seriously and not treated like as a simple children's story.

As a fan of Burroughs' books, I'd love to see this series actually come to life. I'll definitely be keeping my ear to the tracks on this one as it moves around Disney.




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    Readers Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:38:07 PM CST

    Coincidence?

    by karmicrelief

    That there's an add for Disney crap on the bottom corner of my screen? I think not!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:39:19 PM CST

    Speaking of Johns....

    by kirbymanly

    today's Carpenter's birthday! Let's send him a big cyber hug and hope we can raise his spirits enough to get him to make another film.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:39:42 PM CST

    If you're Sean Archer I guess I'm Caster Troy.....

    by gibsonusa returns

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:42:44 PM CST

    Oh well. Favs' Iron man is looking...

    by childe roland

    ...much more promising, anyway. So for him it's probably better to have one less distraction. Tough break for you, there, though, big guy. I know how jazzed you were about this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:43:36 PM CST

    Quint nearly got through an entire post without ...

    by darthuser

    ... mentioning a Peter Jackson project. Wake me when the new skinny Jackson realizes what a creepy stalker Quint is and stops replying to his emails.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:43:40 PM CST

    Michael Eisner GOTTA EAT!!!!!!!!

    by batpsycho

    HAHAHAHAHHA

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:47:23 PM CST

    Favreau is COOKIN THE BOOKS!

    by nairb the movie

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:48:38 PM CST

    Diora Baird as Dejha Thoris!!!

    by kirbymanly

    Come on Harry! You can do it! Try bringing it to Lion's Gate! They'll buy anything

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:56:43 PM CST

    The LOTR and John Carter comparison isn't valid.

    by orbots commander

    Burrough's John Carter novels, though entertaining, are pretty much Saturday matinee cliffhanger pulp material. You can't take the material all that seriously; it needs a light touch. The LOTR flicks on the other hand were classic novels with many thematic undercurrents, written by an Oxford professor of literature and history.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:57:06 PM CST

    Is it me...

    by cinexploits

    or does this movie beg for the Harryhausen magic touch? Tharks and beautiful women and swordplay on Mars...oh my.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:58:53 PM CST

    Edit...

    by orbots commander

    "The LOTR flicks on the other hand were *based on* classic novels...."
    Love this site, but I wish it had an 'edit' function.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 3:59:21 PM CST

    Sorry Harry, wish you could have seen it through...

    by mc vamp

    What are the odds Disney hands this to Bruckheimer's company as a follow-up tent-pole franchise to fill in the gap that the last PIRATES movie leaves? AND they can tie it into Tomorrowland at the parks. It won't get the TLC that Harry wanted to give it, but then a broader approach is easier to sell to the low foreheads. Hopefully Disney will at least throw you a bone as far as set visits and behind the scenes updates, Big Red.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:01:31 PM CST

    Fucking shit

    by uwebollocks

    Sorry Harry - this sucks man! Another geek dream project in perfect hands gets fucked up by the system. Shitty end to a shitty day!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:03:10 PM CST

    You may be right Orbots

    by quint

    I was only comparing them because of the scope of the story, not the depth of the material. A more apt comparison might be the original 2 Star Wars films or Pirates of the Caribbean. The good films of those franchises do have fun, but they aren't cartoons. I found Narnia to be so damn bland and middle of the road... that's exactly what I don't want John Carter to be. That's all I was trying to say.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:06:26 PM CST

    Yep, Quint. Gotcha.

    by orbots commander

    Someone up top brought up Bruckheimer and the 'Pirates' movies. The John Carter books, Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski would be a perfect marriage of material and talent. Disney COULD in fact make JC movies and build it into one of their new franchises for the Magic Kingdom. It would, again, be a perfect fit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:10:26 PM CST

    What Has Harry Done?

    by captdanielroe

    IMDB suggests that nothing has really made him seem like a sure-fire producer. I mean, if you look at a comparison like Roger Ebert, being a critic and a fan does not a filmic genius make. That said, I wish Harry the best and hope he does get 150 mill to make something great happen from a cold start, and moreover that he succeeds. But why not start with something more manageable? Like just making a cheapie John Carter movie anyway B-style, considering that according to US laws, it is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN anyway? Or am I wrong on that last point for some inscrutable reason?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:10:55 PM CST

    I keep feeling...

    by mister inbetween

    ...like powers that be like to run down the clock on this project...and don't REALLY want to take the risk and actually MAKE the movie.
    Other comparisons aside it reminds me how I used to feel about LOTR...it'd be great if done right, but nobody will ever do it, and even if they do, it won't be done right. Then somebody did it, and as close to right as I think possible. I still hope the same happens for JCoM, but I am losing hope.
    If Disney ever does anything with it, live action or animated, I'll be surprised. I'd be even more surprised if it didn't end up like the other ERB property Tarzan) did under the roof of the house of mouse...I fear Randy Newman themes and Robin Williams voicing a spastic gay Cuban Tars Tarkas.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:11:49 PM CST

    Yeah

    by quint

    I'd get excited for that team, especially if they still have the freedom Pirates afforded them at the Mouse House.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:14:21 PM CST

    Quint

    by bloo

    brother I gotta disagree with you on Narnia. It seems everyone wanted Narnia to be LOTR all over agin, but really NARNIA is the opposite of LOTR and didn't need to heavy serious tone that Jackson brought to LOTR. Look at the books...that was Tolkien's main complaint with Narnia (and it seems to have followed here into AICN and others) that is is a mishmash it lacks Tolkien's if you will realism. But to me that is what makes Narnia so special it's a dream it's a fantasy it's mythology. I thought it had a nice touch of a true fairy tale

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:15:11 PM CST

    Ehhh... Disney would cast The Rock or somebody....

    by kirbymanly

    like that. I'm telling yas: Christian Bale as Carter and Diora Baird as Thoris. I'd watch that in a heartbeat.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:20:05 PM CST

    Will Smiff of Mars

    by jaguart

    OH HELL YES!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:20:05 PM CST

    Narnia

    by quint

    I like the Narnia books. I really think the movie was just put together in a pedestrian way. They picked the right kids, but everything else just felt so distant. I couldn't plug into the movie, I always felt like I wasn't involved or didn't care about what was going on and I put a lot of that on the shoulders of Andrew Adamson. I have nothing against him personally. He seems to really love the world, but I don't think he's a very good filmmaker.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:20:26 PM CST

    Bale and Baird

    by mister inbetween

    Sure! Had to google Baird, but when I did I was well reminded of that red skinned Deja on the cover of my dog eared "A Princess of Mars"
    It's remarkable I'd remember that face considering how memorizing the details of her painted pooper ushered me into puberty. I'm not the biggest Angelina Jolie fan in the world, but her Deja might get the movie made.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:21:14 PM CST

    ...Man, that sucks.

    by rando calrisian

    I had never read the John Carter books until a few years back, and really have been enjoying them to the extreme. Seeing the covers created by Frazetta, though not the original artwork for the books, relly captured the feel of the characters and look of the series. Yeah, they are pretty corny in places, but they are also a great stories, and could make such entertaining movies. I'm sad that Paramount wasn't willing to let this obviously enthusiastic team bring it to the screen. Between this, and The Hobbit, I'm bummed.

    I think the comparison to LOTR is not all that off, because these are "classic" novels. Just because they don't delve into such deep subject matter, doesn't make them less importent. When you read these novels that pre-dated themes and elements of Superman, Flash Gordon, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings. They are just as enjoyable as they were in 1912, and have never been properly brought to the big screen. Many have tried... even Walt Disney!

    But thanks for trying Harry! Because of the coverage on AICN, I found those books, and have been enjoying them ever since. And to tell the truth, Disney might just be able to pull the books off very well. If they were smart, they would bring in some of the Paramount team and discuss what they were going for. I think most of us would agree that when we heard that Pirates of the Caribbean was being turned into a movie, we shuddered - if they put the same kind of energy behind John Carter, it might be very fun.

    ...I'll miss the ammount of blood that Harry would have had in there, though...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:25:55 PM CST

    Jon Favreau aching to do it?

    by riskebiz

    Probably why he put it on the far back burner to do Iron Man. This is good news.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:29:05 PM CST

    Karmic Relief-

    by renonevada2000

    You really have no idea how GoogleAds work, do you?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:31:32 PM CST

    I'm sorry too, Harry

    by nohubris

    Keep your head up.You're clearly a long haul guy. You still have your talent, love/knowledge of film, a horde of supporters, and a film project that is out there waiting for you to bring it into fruition.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:32:03 PM CST

    So long Ehren Kruger

    by triplefive

    how he ever gets work for anything is beyond me, let alone something as potentially sweet as Princess of Mars.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:35:33 PM CST

    Please God...

    by rakafraker

    Let this movie be good. I thought that JCoM was a rip-off of Flash Gordon when I was young. I learned in my early teens that JCoM was before FG, and it blew my mind, when my Grampa pulled out his old books and showed me the err in my ways. Let's face it, though. This was the series that Lucas always wanted to make. Complete with the scrolling text beginning and cliffhanger endings (Empire, anyways).

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:45:49 PM CST

    so what's Harry's affiliation with this thing now?

    by cotton mcknight

    I have no idea what John Carter of Mars is, other than the fact that Ebert called it impossible to make. If Harry's involved, it will be done right. Or at least pay homage to the source material.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:45:53 PM CST

    More Unsolicited Advice For Harry

    by captdanielroe

    Lot's of projects deserve to take years and years in development and many of those have in fact been in development for years or decades. (I was reading about JCoM back when Premiere Magazine was a geek's main hookup aside from Variety and the never-reliable Cinescape.) Those projects are not good projects for you to start off with.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:47:34 PM CST

    okay I just read that part.

    by cotton mcknight

    Oops. Sorry Harry, I know that sucks. You're getting married though (if you aren't already) so life is good.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:49:34 PM CST

    Dejha....

    by kirbymanly

    http://the-feeding-tube.com/media/1/20060804-diora_baird_Maxim_01.jpg

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:51:19 PM CST

    This shouldn't be any surprise....

    by dragon man

    Paramount is the worst studio operating today, and have been for years, when it comes to genre properties. It's run by people who don't see the worth in these properties, and as a result don't provide the proper backing. Look at the way they ran Star Trek into the ground.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:55:24 PM CST

    "Cartoon the films up" Let's just hope they don't...

    by wonkabar

    make it into an actual cartoon. I can totally see it too. Tars-Tarkas drawn as a kind of green version of the Genie from Aladdin. I can almost hear that Disney-commercials-voice saying "From Walt Disney Pictures...'A Princess of Mars'. Starring Owen Wilson (Carter) Jim Carrey (Tarkas) and Drew Barrymore (Dejah)....A movie the whole family can enjoy....this Christmas, prepare for a journey that is out of this world!!" Oh fuck, I can hear it!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 4:55:50 PM CST

    GOOGLE ADS

    by the knight

    I too, am getting sick of people not understanding how google ads work...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:01:46 PM CST

    Animated could work

    by sympatheticdevil

    As long as John Lassiter beats of Disney's 'Princess Collection' group with a stick if they try to touch it. It could be the first in a whole new division focused on teenaged boys, which is where the source material was focused in the first place.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:25:21 PM CST

    I have a very bad feeling about this

    by dogsoup

    Of course maybe Pirates is steering the company in a new direction. Hmmm. Bad feeling NOT subsided......

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:27:52 PM CST

    Racism of Barsoom

    by mister inbetween

    These stories are from another time, of course, and set in an even earlier one, but I always felt like there was a kind of old OLD school racism there (that I could just barely get past)...I mean that in the sense that you really could judge a Martian by the color of their skin...the red skins act just like the rest of the red skins, and the yellow dudes had their whole thing, and so on with the greens etc etc I was just sitting here thinking, hmm, what's Disney going to make of that?
    Then it occurred to me that this particular brand of racism is right up Disney's alley.
    Ducks marry ducks and mice marry mice. Who knows what would happen if Daisy and Mickey or Donald and Minnie were to do it. I'd actually like to know. ( tangent: I love the air freshener ads on these days with the octopus married to the walrus and the elephant married to the centipede. It makes me think we've come a long way.)I think waaay back in Disney history there might have been a horse in love with a cow, but that got squashed lickety split. Segregation is the norm in Disneyland, too. Duckburg is mostly ducks, and just about every other city in the "Magic Kingdom" is populated by the largely earless Goofy types. And don't get me started on the caste system that keeps Pluto naked and subservient, and let's Goofy wear clothes and drive a car.
    Heck, Disney might embrace this project after all.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:33:41 PM CST

    Well you can bet your sweet ass...

    by wonkabar

    that it will be Matthew McConaughey or somebody like him...they might even suck Depp into another franchise for Disney. I would also imagine that JC becomes Union.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:33:56 PM CST

    No Nudity? CRAP!

    by drath

    I was eager to see those nake people of Barsoom. I doubt Disney will do anything that risque. Actually I'm doubting this will ever get made at all, it seems to be a cursed project. And I thought it made no sense when Superman was in limbo. (and where the hell was the update, Knowles?) This one should be easier now than ever before. Just look at those visuals for 300! If that kind of crap can happen, where the hell is my Barsoom?! BTW, Christian Bale or Hugh Jackman would be excellent in the role. They'll both be too old by the time this starts to happen though, if in fact it ever does start.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:36:33 PM CST

    Disney?...

    by jimmyjoe redsky

    great - i guess any hopes of these being "good" movies are gone - unless disney has the foresight to (re)hire the original creative team (favreau & co.) - but they wont - disney's more concerned with commercial tie-ins - john carter toys with every happy meal at macballsacks

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:51:48 PM CST

    riskebiz

    by ribbons

    Favreau didn't put John Carter on the "far backburner" to do 'Iron Man,' he did 'Iron Man' to prove to Paramount that he could handle a blockbuster movie like John Carter.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:51:59 PM CST

    John Carter is Trademarked

    by jccalhoun

    While the books are largely in public domain (I think the last couple are still in copyright in the USA) the character is still trademarked by the Burroughs estate. So you could adapt the story but you couldn't use the names of the main characters which would make it pretty pointless. Disney having this could be a really good or really bad thing. If they make a campy live action movie, it would suck. If they make a more serious movie in the Pirate's vein it could be good. I've often thought that a radical take on the animation style with a different visual style for Earth and Mars could work. But a traditional G-rated disney movie with wacky side-kicks would suck so horribly it would blow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:52:16 PM CST

    Harry, what about GHOST TOWN?

    by ribbons

    Is there still any forward progress on this?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 5:57:25 PM CST

    It Has Many Thematic Undercurrents!!!

    by prankster

    Thanks, Orbots, for possibly creating the next AICN Talkback catchphrase. It's good because it has many thematic undercurrents!

    Anyway, this is pretty depressing. I'm not one of those obnoxious geeks who wants everything to be "grim 'n' gritty", but the original pulp stories were, well, sexy. Red-blooded. Muscular. Man, that sounded gay. But still, it's a little annoying that ever since Spielberg and Lucas revived the "pulp" idiom it's been sterile and sexless, "Sky Captain"-style stuff. I'm perfectly OK with pulp adventure SF and Fantasy being family-friendly, but really, John Carter needs a really hot girl (and guy) wearing almost no clothing. There's a thematic undercurrent for you.

    Disney has been changing lately--"Pirates" obviously shows them willing to push things a little in an edgier direction--but I'm pretty dubious. Even if Edgar Rice Burroughs was in favour of an animated John Carter back in the 30s.

    I really hope Favreau can be reattached to the project. His take sounded absolutely perfect, particularly his attitude towards special effects. Plus, dude wrote Swingers. You know he was going to give us an awesome Deja Thoris.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:03:45 PM CST

    Well Now I Can Ask The Question, JCCalhoun

    by captdanielroe

    That I wouldn't have wanted to ask before, not wanting to mess with Harry's mojo. But what is the name "John Carter" really worth? How many potential moviegoers know it? I know that this calls into question the wisdom of paying for things no one has ever heard of... Which certainly makes sense if you are getting something great along with it... Why should that be different than buying a contemporary screenplay? But the value of the work itself is in question when there is little name recognition. And having read the book (not all of them but enough), this doesn't have "hit" written all over it. What it has written all over it is "crazy yet strangely unimaginative crap that some hack made up as he went," which is a sentiment I expect Burroughs himself would privately have agreed with. Harry, if you want to make a space adventure just make one, and screw using existing "literature." Why not just pitch/comission a script along the lines of "Grease II but in space, versus the guys from Starlight Express on hoverboards."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:10:02 PM CST

    How long before...

    by mr. nice gaius

    PharteGoddPrime shows up and tries to tell us that Don Murphy has something to do with all this?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:10:25 PM CST

    CONRAN

    by branmakmorn

    Perhaps Disney will give the director reins back to the Conrans!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:11:24 PM CST

    Diora Baird

    by drfarben

    Not worksafehttp://tinyurl.com/3aet9f

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:20:58 PM CST

    Not worksafe...

    by telf

    My new fave words.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:29:36 PM CST

    Woah, Diora Baird is Hot!

    by nemesisdarkside

    Heard of her, but never seen her properly. Those Playboy and Maxim pics were quite nice. Her boobs are pretty nice also, especially considering their natural.I agree with those above: Cast her!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:30:04 PM CST

    GHOST TOWN

    by headgeek

    Has a major star and studio talking right now.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:30:34 PM CST

    Agree with others...

    by telf

    that if It's the Disney that make the Pirates movies then it couldn't be in safer hands really. But that other Disney (Narnia, Princess Diaries, Non-Pixar cartoons), well...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:31:17 PM CST

    yes!!

    by jrbarker

    great news!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:31:52 PM CST

    THEY'RE***

    by nemesisdarkside

    It's late here!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:32:12 PM CST

    Ghost Town was scrapped too

    by jrbarker

    That was my understanding.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:32:39 PM CST

    I stand corrected

    by jrbarker

    that's cool

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:33:29 PM CST

    Kirbymanly would not steer his fellow geeks wrong

    by kirbymanly

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:33:44 PM CST

    Baird is an f-ing goddess

    by kirbymanly

    Cast her in ANYTHING. I'll see it in a heartbeat. Even sat through the terrible Texas Chainsaw just to see her on the big screen/ She's great looking and not bad as an actress either. She's gonna be the new Welch or Bardot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:33:54 PM CST

    Diora Baird = Proof of a Higher Power

    by mr. nice gaius

    She's got the kind of body that would make a preacher kick out a stained glass window.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:37:26 PM CST

    Nice

    by ribbons

    Thanks for responding, Harry

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:38:36 PM CST

    Does anybody else

    by darth busey

    find it weird that Harry is so reluctant to discuss his in-progress projects given that AICN is a MOVIE SPY/SPOILER SITE???

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:43:32 PM CST

    Ha-ha! Darth...

    by kirbymanly

    that IS kind of funny. Oh well. We can still have fun and influence everything else.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:47:04 PM CST

    Didn't Disney do DRAGONSLAYER...?

    by cenobite

    ...and that sucker had plenty of gore, decapitated baby dragons, dismembered princesess, etc.

    I remember it shocked quite a few people (for its time) and I memorised it line for line when it came on cable. I would hope that Disney would have the same mature stance when producing John Carter/Mars.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 6:47:50 PM CST

    Nice Gayus

    by donmurphystool

    you need to read CHUD .com for the full details
    The Mighty Murphy might be involved or he might not be

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:04:30 PM CST

    Uh oh, PharteGoddPrime!!!

    by mr. nice gaius

    If your fearless leader doesn't land the project, whatever will you do???

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:05:49 PM CST

    Family friendly?

    by gozu

    Um...John Carter is a Confederate soldier who slices and dices his way through Barsoom with Dejah Thoris at his side, the almost always scantily clad or naked Princess of Mars. This isn't for kids, not everything has to be for kids, there's enough idiotic CGI animated fairy tales about talking penguins and male cows (with udders!) to keep them entertained so that males 17 and older can enjoy a series of films that are essentially "Conan The Barbarian" in space.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:07:57 PM CST

    Harry

    by don lockwood

    Uh, this doesn't seem like it just happened overnight, so why the hell didn't Harry break this news on his own goddamned site?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:09:05 PM CST

    PG13? Walden Media? Don Murphy?

    by cameron1

    That's fucking woeful.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:27:54 PM CST

    Darth Busey

    by adambalm

    "Does anyone else find it weird that Harry is so reluctant to discuss his in-progress projects given that AICN is a MOVIE SPY/SPOILER SITE???"

    Especially since if he did, you'd neeeeevvvver call him a total shill for using the site to pimp his own pet projects, would you? Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:41:52 PM CST

    WHERE IS THE CAMERON INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!FUCK!!!!!

    by judge dredds dirty undies

    Don't know much about John Carter besides the cool Frazetta artwork but I'm sure Disney will rape the fans childhoods.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:45:40 PM CST

    John Carter minus the pulp, the grit and the nudity...

    by sledge hammer

    ...aint John Carter, it's Flash Gordon. And much as I like Flash Gordon, I want a John Carter film damn it, and a proper John Carter film at that. What we'll likely get though is a pg-13 Van-Helsing-with-aliens piece of crap. Sad.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:51:21 PM CST

    "1984" Doublespeak spin doctors.

    by uncapie

    "None of us left the project. We decided not to renew the rights." Ergo; you are not with the project and you are not attached to it in any shape or form, you have left the project. Remember Winston: two and two are five.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 7:55:30 PM CST

    I can't wait for the Ghost Town trailer...

    by epitone

    Because when it's up, you know Harry's going to intro it with something along these lines: "Folks, this trailer will grab you and force you to suck at its cold, spiny nipples before swinging you around by your sweaty taint and turning you into its fearful everloving man-bitch. CLICK HERE FOR THE CINEMATIC EQUIVALENT OF A METH-VIAGRA COCKTAIL CHASED WITH A BUCKET OF CUM-SOAKED RAZOR BLADES!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 8:02:51 PM CST

    Adam Balm

    by darth busey

    A fine point, but Harry has never really cared what people think, and has had no qualms about featuring interviews with directors/actors of upcoming films that just happen to be advertising in the top banner. That is how the game is played, and I understand and accept it.

    I've been reading this site since 1997, and the only time Harry really "shilled" was for the video store his sister opened. Obviously, this site has given him access to a world many of us will never know...I'd just like for him to acknowledge his roots by talking about projects that HE is working on now. Shoe on the other foot and all.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 8:29:07 PM CST

    Damn...

    by dr gregory house

    Miss Chokesondick has saggy knockers. I bet you could twist them and make balloon animals.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 9:13:31 PM CST

    BSB-I love, nay we all love Jewel, both those teeth!

    by deus vult

    My God those teeth! I just can't get over them. Even with abomination's explanation, and dreaming of jewel's amazing taint (as I assume it must be), that screwy grill of her's is just too much to deal with.Now, I will say, if Jewel and Carrie Underwood spent a few minutes hugging, kissing, maybe rubbing a bit, I could overlook that recessed toof of her's. for a bit anyway.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 9:24:30 PM CST

    John Carter of... West Palm Beach

    by thebearovingian

    John Carter of... Hazzard County John Carter of... the law firm Lipman, Troyer, and Mankiewicz.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 9:53:23 PM CST

    Harry gotta eat?

    by jackpumpkinhead

    Not really, no.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 9:54:31 PM CST

    2gether 4ever

    by ernie souchak

    how about this project Harry? still excited to find out what this is about.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 9:55:06 PM CST

    Okay, that was lame. Plus, weekly AICN fads are dumb.

    by jackpumpkinhead

    Most of them. Damn the fads, BROTHER!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:05:45 PM CST

    Bummer, Big Guy.

    by bubba gillman

    I would have liked for Harry to have been involved with this. Oh well. Now who do I implore to cast Guy Pierce as John Carter?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:06:46 PM CST

    Paramount...

    by jimmyjoe redsky

    took risks with genre movies like "sky captain", "aeon flux"(big risk), "the phantom"(1996), to name a few - why would they pull the plug on something like JCoM - it couldve been their LotR or SW - a few people here said hopefully disney will due the property justice by making it another "pirates..." - i hope not - JC the movie should have the same visceral feel that the frazetta paintings based on the character have - favreau was the perfect guy for this - hes a huge fan of the material and a damn good director - im curious to see how this unfolds - but im not as excited about this movie happening as i was when i first heard about it (and favreau's involvement)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:08:38 PM CST

    thebearovingian, Beastmaster in LA

    by evilwizardglick

    Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time
    Check out cast descriptions
    Punker #1
    And snappy dialog
    Jackie Trent: Way rad!
    Jackie Trent: Tell Daddy I'm going to stop World War 3!
    Lyranna: I know, you'll cleave my black heart from my bosom. Why does everyone want to cleave my bosom? It cleaves just fine on its own.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:25:36 PM CST

    Sorry, Harry - we still love you

    by dannychico

    This sucks. Glad to hear you have more projects in the works, Harry.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:30:21 PM CST

    Harry Knowles? In what capacity?

    by kabong

    Consulting Producer for Gushing?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 10:55:01 PM CST

    Dirty Undies is right - CAMERON PART 2, DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!

    by womb2doom

    WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?! WHERE IS IT?!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 11:23:12 PM CST

    john carter of pixar

    by jedimindflayer

    hey- could happen

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 11:30:24 PM CST

    Bob Clampett did an animated piece on Carter.

    by uncapie

    It was just some test footage, but boy, he would have done it justice had it gone to fruition.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2007 11:33:18 PM CST

    This movie will never get made.

    by dollar bird

    I remember back in 1989 or so when Disney owned the rights to this film and rumor said they wanted Tom Hanks for Carter. (In the old Disney script, Carter says the line, "I don't trust him any further than a spider can piss.") So, now Disney's got it again. I sure hope they'll pull a "Pirates" and make it good. (Not that those pirate movies are perfect. They're waaaaay too long.) And many fans will mourn the fact that no one's naked, and that the Tharks will have fingernails, and that Woola just doesn't look like the Woola in their mind's eye. I really love Barsoom, but whenever this property falls into new hands, I feel more and more dread about it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 1:27:30 AM CST

    This could very well end up in Bruckheimer's hands

    by wonkabar

    The successor to Pirates...i.e. "Pirates on another planet" Expect to see lots of those skeleton-men and plant-men. They might even bring in the entire Pirates-team for this. If this is the case then Mars might go into production in the near future I'm guessing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 4:00:45 AM CST

    Gotta Eat, Cookin' the book...

    by darthbakpao

    Pardon us asians, but what with these all catchphrases are about?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 8:33:49 AM CST

    Disney should purchase the rights of

    by sinestro

    Shazam (Captain Marvel) from DC/WB since they keep fucking it up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 8:49:45 AM CST

    Oh, PLEASE

    by mister man

    "Once the folks in Hollywood can see Harry's full fan base show up to support his projects, and they will, the bigger pictures will follow." This AIN'T how it works, and you know it. Delusions of grandeur with some of you posters. This site/market is one of HUNDREDS that studios feed on for support. Hell, toss you a bone, and watch a bunch of free teenaged kids squeal about it for hours. It's worth an interview. But, no, you're not determining studio direction and choices. This site is about people who love film, not people who control its destiny. If anything, I'd say AICN is a very obscure focus group. Unfortunately, with the current trend of unreadable, stupid, smartass teen posts, this site is even losing that notch in the food chain.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 8:52:14 AM CST

    MetalWater

    by mr. nice gaius

    RE: "No more Mr. Nice Gaius" - that's why I rule.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 9:51:42 AM CST

    "Mr. Nice Gaius"

    by captain mal

    The character actually said that during an episode in season one, MetalWater.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 10:25:08 AM CST

    Disney/Narnia

    by treadwell

    I don't think Disney's approach to Narnia is by itself reason to fear. The tone of the film may have been simple and childlike, but that's exactly what the books are like.

    Granted, Disney does tend to bland down many things they do, so I'm not saying concern is completely unwarranted...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 10:48:04 AM CST

    The only thing worse is...

    by rothbart

    John Carter being done at Pixar!!! Have any of their films been made for anyone intelectually older than 10?!? At least if Disney were just buying the rights it might stand the chance of being funneled into one of their older divisions like Touchstone...

    ...this is a sad day

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 11:06:34 AM CST

    I've said it before and I'll say it again...

    by docpazuzu

    ...Billy Crudup for John Carter. Look at the book covers -- especially the Michael Whelan ones -- and tell me he isn't the spitting image of him. He's also got the athletic shape and acting chops required, not to mention the fact that he's actually over 30 years old. You know this to be true. And yes, fucking YES, to Diora as Dejah -- all decked out in minimal, diaphonous silks, skimpy wrist and ankle jewelry, her body lovingly hand-painted in red and her.... gggrrrraargglllh.... brrf...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 12:47:15 PM CST

    Doc! Are you alright???!!!

    by mr. nice gaius

    Or did you just kick out a stained glass window? ;^)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 2:17:23 PM CST

    Another vote for Crudup

    by wonkabar

    Some say he's too short but he doesn't look short unless he's standing next to a bigger actor. But you probably don't want a big tall guy as Carter when you're trying to make the tharks look huge, so Crudup would actually be perfect methinks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 2:26:17 PM CST

    Copy that on Cudrup

    by nohubris

    Plus, the guy is truly a talented actor. Take ALMOST FAMOUS for example. Crudup helped to make it an instant classic.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 2:27:04 PM CST

    correction "Crudup.."

    by nohubris

  • Jan 17, 2007 4:19:21 PM CST

    Hooray! PharteGoddPrime is here to ruin the talkback!

    by talkbacker with no name

    Where is Stallone when you need him?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 4:33:27 PM CST

    If Murphy was involed with John Carter ...

    by talkbacker with no name

    He would be rubbing Harry's nose in it all over the net by now. Thank god PharteGoddPrime...er i mean Murphy isn't involved.
    Harry, still waiting with baited breath for your first movie. After reading your book I can't wait to see your first offering (and the John Carter stuff in 'The Best Si FI Movies Never Made' makes for interesting reading). I think whatever is next you will put your heart into it. My only doubt is that you are not the Harry you were then (if this is good or bad only time will tell). Good luck though, mate!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 5:07:56 PM CST

    Wait!!! TMZ broke the news before Harry's own AICN?!!!

    by negative man

    How bad is that? Seriously! There is no more a diret connection you can have and AICN still gets scooped! WTF, people!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2007 7:30:58 PM CST

    Aishwarya Rai is Dejah Thoris

    by jackiejokeman

    And Josh Holloway would be perfect for John Carter if he wouldnt be seen as Sawyer.

    Reply to Talkback

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