Comics
JJ Abrams & Bad Robot to make BOILERPLATE, a Victorian Robot Tale!
Hey folks, Harry here and this is exactly the sort of awesome I like to see being developed. A true life (wink wink) tale of a Victorian Robot. Yes, please. For all of you that love retro-tech and timeless tales - it is a project like this that gets my blood pumping. It is about time that BAD ROBOT got into the Robot business. Not with gargantuan transforming robots, but old school robot with a shotgun type of action. I love that. I love the idea of a robot fighting alongside the Mexican Revolution. I love the illustration in the Arctic. This is one of those magic box projects that JJ loves. BOILERPLATE was the world's first robot soldier, created in 1893. It's in the history books folks. Sheesh. Do some reading. Giggle. The film will be based upon Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett's book. I'd just about die if JJ hired Paul Dini on this - as it is a period he'd flourish in as a writer. Pinky swear. Oh well, we'll have to wait for those kinds of announcements.
Readers Talkback
comments powered by Disqus-
+ Expand All
-
first
-
goddamnit
-
suck
-
http://tinyurl.com/34s85ld
-
The "Zelig"-like use of historical photos, poster and such is truly brilliant. At Comic-Con, spoke with folks behind Boilerplate. Nice people, too. Mentioned they were in talks, but couldn't say anything yet. Guess I'll be calling/emailing 'em now, like everyone else. 'Cause they will be busy. Happy for 'em as they deserve it.
-
-
-
He's got the looks, and he's Mexican.
-
And the website was treated and portrayed as if this was a real historical figure. I was intrigued because I couldn't figure out the angle. Maybe there was an ad for a book somewhere, but I missed it and instead read about the sad history of Boilerplate.
-
It's so cliched by now people. It's sad how many people confuse steampunk and clockwork shit for something actually creative and not run into the ground.
-
Yikes!
-
Enough already.
-
Back in my day, we didn't have robots. We had 2 sticks and polio; good fuckin' times.
-
I mean, this site went apeshit crazy over Super 8 or whatever its called, and now this. Its a mildly diverting notion, but does it get my geek up? Not a chance. This is what Abrams does time and again - take a well worn concept, tweak the context and suddenly its genius. Boilerplate is Short Circuit in the Victorian era. No thanks.
-
I mean, I love the guy, but Jesus. Seriously?
-
July 29, 2010, 5:02 p.m. CST
JJ Abrams is the guy we all went to high school with...
by Fa_Tass_DinoMolester
You know they guy, the geeky, sad hopeless loser who wanted all of the jocks (or gangstas, for this generation) to think that he was really "bad-ass" and cool. He would always follow the "cool kids" around like a rejected puppy, trying desperately to get their approval by picking on the one kid in school lamer than him, the guy with down syndrome. <p> Of course, since this kind-of thing never worked in high school, Abrams is still trying with the type of projects he's involved with. Basically, he produces shit like Cloverfield and Star Trek to try to make the neanderthals think he's "bad-ass". Unfortunately, not only are the assholes not impressed, but he's ended up alienating a lot of fellow geeks as well. <p> For Christ's sake, Abrams, you're like 45-years-old! Get over fucking high school already and try producing something with some actual intellectual content, as opposed to working with Porki Orci and Clueless Kurtzman and attempting to Out-Bay Michael Bay.
-
-
rusted, weathered ass. Nah. This will be amazing. Or never happen.
-
But "Super 8" had better knock my socks off.
-
Not sure what you mean by JJ hubris zactly Mr. by BP_drills_america_a_new_asshole, is it like hummus?... Ummm good stuff, this looks fun and all kinds of awesome. Guess I'm on the JJ hummus bandwagaon since everything he's done in the past decade is pretty frick'n cool.
-
C'mon dude. Anyways I hope JJ doesnt spread himself too thin, otherwise we get cinematic equivalent of Alias Season Four. <shudder>
-
Well said.
-
And hating on JJ Abrams is pretty old now. I see the posts bashing him and I just roll my eyes. The one ranting and describing what he thinks Abrams was like in high school. I think he was describing himself. More of this type of hate towards people who have made money making movies and the jealousy just spews out here.
-
comics as a youngster.
-
Tell yourself whatever you need to tell yourself to keep from wishing you were JJ for even 30 seconds of your life.
-
July 29, 2010, 6:25 p.m. CST
"Boilerplate is Short Circuit in the Victorian era"
by MARCEL_THE_NEGRO_PROJECTIONIST
Hey, BP Drills -- this is what you call a good high concept idea, you nitwit. Abrams works all the time because he comes up with great ideas. <p> Sure, they've all been done to one extent or another, but, as you so astutely put it, Abrams resurrects tired, old ideas into new, exciting ones. Kinda how Chris Nolan has taken The Matrix and Dreamscape and fashioned a clever, meaty action flick out of them. <p> I'm not a huge JJ fan, to be honest. I thought LOST was a ponzi scheme and wasn't crazy about the new TREK. But the man's talented. Have you ever read the original draft of one of his earliest films, REGARDING HENRY? Great stuff.
-
not that their shit is AWFUL, well the writing is, but nothing is full on Grade A, Future classic stuff. Lost was kinda lucas-y..written on the fly no clear vision, Cloverfield was just derivative, and Trek while entertaining was so poorly scripted it could have been "Enterprise".</p><p> JJ and Orci are hot right now..because everyone else is even lamer than they are. And Lets be honest..the Whole "Black Turtle Neck" Faux Intellectual look went out with Sprockets..and Roberto..take off that ridicules stripper curled up cowboy hat...you're married, and the guys in W.H might get the wrong ideas.
-
Is there a Desmond in it?
-
I got sucked into the whole "Sky Captain and the Giant Clanky Robots" hype - and man, did that movie stink.
-
I got sucked into the whole "Sky Captain and the Giant Clanky Robots" hype - and man, did that movie stink.
-
Boborci...HAHAHAHAH! Thanks, I needed a good laugh!!! <p> No, I don't really want to be a sub-mental moron who looks like a penis. <p> BTW, I think that post was the most coherent thing you've written! Good work!
-
-
Oh right, whenever I want. I don't actually have to buy a ticket to this sure-to-suck Jar-Jar Abrams' crapfest. Now, there's a man who can do no "right."
-
What cowboy hat? And what is WH. Not following your insult and I really want to, to see if it hurts.
-
"It takes a lot of talent to do what Steven Spielberg and George Lucas do. It's not their fault that the people who followed them weren't talented". <p> Of course, Kasdan went on to direct "Dreamcatcher", a film featuring an invasion of things called "shit-weasels", based on a book that Steven King wrote after his car accident when he was high on morphine. So consider the source, I guess...
-
LOST SKELETON auteur and bon vivant Larry Blamire came up with a far more intriguing metal man scenario some time ago; he still plans on filming it. Check it out: http://www.steamwars.com/
-
As boborci when he come snooping around; You'd have to live out here to get the reference...it's a Cali insider thing.
-
your denial is real instead of a boring tactic, but I know it's not so. Oh well. I'll just have to live with your dodges. See u around, my cali neighbor!
-
18 months from now, you won't be able to escape it.
-
Did I miss something? When did the flood of Steampunk projects happen that rendered the subgenre dead? And I met the Boilerplate guys at a convention a couple years back. It could be really good. I never got the Abrams hate, anyway.
-
in both languages. I love that little Scarlett girl. Was it Scarlett? She's all spoiled. Gonna crank the fuck out of steamboy right now- oh yeah! Give me SB2: Rise of the Steam-Mechs. Cranking Steam Boy mutherfuckers!!! You got a problem with that you can take it to the head office.(Flash Gordon double fist jump-"yeeahh!!!")
-
...I've seen a couple of the comics and it does have a certain charm. Now, AsimovLives cranks up the JJ hate in 5...4....3...2...
-
...when he's afraid or shocked, does he shit bricks like his distant decendent Bender?
-
His 'Shroud of the Jolly Thwacker' book was hilarious. Boilerplate was a featured character in the book, but Elliott thought the robot was real when he wrote the book. He got sued, I think. That Elliott book would make for a great movie itself.
-
Oh wait wrong talkback. I want my Box movie JJ. You promised a mystery box movie with a big ? mark on it. Where is it!
-
Jerkoff Jizzeater Abrapes thinks he can take the tired steam "-ing pile" punk robot bullshit and make something remotely interesting. WRONG!! BOBORCI WILL RAPE A GOAT AND CALL IT A SCREENPLAY!! CAN'T WAIT FOR LENS FLARE TREK 2: THE DICKBLENDER SUCKFEST!!!
-
It must really suck to be a hater. Dedicating so much time and energy into something you don't like - what's the point of that? Especially when it's just the speculation of hate - because of course, at this stage, you know nothing but the concept. And yet... you can still find the hate in the black pits of your souls. Good for you. Go have a bile bath.</p> And to the guy who made up that whole story about JJ Abrams in high school - what's up with that? It's not exactly coming across as the product of a well-adjusted and emotionally balanced individual. But, hey... whatever butters your muffin, mate. Who am I to judge, right?</p> Anyhoo, I think the concept looks interesting. Could turn out good. Could turn out arse. Who knows, but Almighty Xenu? Don't really get the steampunk hate. But then again, the world keeps turnin' and the haters keep on hatin'...</p>
-
go fuck yourself, you self-important stooldouche.
-
Well played, sir
-
is JJ Abrams still your jockey cock bag?<p> If you are "writing" this movie you will need Abrams to save it like he did with Dork Trek.<p> If they shot the original abortion of a an alleged screen play you and your gimp Cuntzman shat out originally, with out Abrams massive save, Nerd Trek would have sucked massive balls instead of being mildly entertaining and utterly forgettable.<p>Orci you have a talent for being less then average way to shoot for the low middle.<p> Since this is a robot movie what racist stereotype will you be mining?
-
Assholelife riff. The only thing you erred on slightly is that AssHoleLife is the one that is the Goatfucker. INTERPOL is combing Portugal as we speak looking for him becasue of his penchant his barn yard animal rape.
-
Finally Robots and Revolution!!!
-
I always thought the story of Boilerplate would make a cool movie.
-
Looks like everybody is jumping on the bandwagon for steam punk. kinda boring to me, but JJ might make it work.
-
I hope this one comes to pass. I bought the book last year from Paul Guinan and Anina Bennetts web site. It's a great book and the above mentioned creators are very nice people.
-
It's been a while since I saw him here. (Although I gotta admit that I don't really read talkbacks anymore)
-
I'm gonna make my own robot movie with hookers and booze ,as a matter of fact, forget the robot movie!!
-
then JJ will announce 3 new projects.
-
Wow, is it pathological in here or is it just me? We all get it: you were all cool enough to be in on the steampunk thing before it went all commercial and lost it's soul. /p I, for one, am happy someone is tossing out a new movie idea instead of a sequel or reboot.
-
welcome to: http://www.b2bjordans.com The website wholesale for many kinds of fashion shoes, like the nike,jordan,prada, also including the jeans,shirts,bags,hat and the decorations. All the products are free shipping, and the the price is competitive, and also can accept the paypal payment.,after the payment, can ship within short time. free shipping competitive price any size available accept the paypal 90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$ jordan shoes $32 90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$ nike shox $32 Christan Audigier bikini $23 Ed Hardy Bikini $23 Smful short_t-shirt_woman $15 ed hardy short_tank_woman $16 Sandal $32 christian louboutin $80 Sunglass $15 COACH_Necklace $27 handbag $33 AF tank woman $17 puma slipper woman $30 90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$ http://www.b2bjordans.com
-
But now it's the new goth. Vampires used to be cool, too.
-
Great book. I thought George Lucas might have picked this up for some reason. Can't wait.
-
So far he's given us Alias, Lost, and Fringe, 3 series that show up on any credible 'best shows of the decade' list, an interesting 'monster attack' movie that would have been another Godzilla 2000 abortion in anyone else's hands, made the only watchable Mission Impossible movie of the series, and was able to do the unthinkable, to reboot the original Star Trek, and make it not suck. Super 8 sounds interesting, as does this project. I understand the 'I hate him because everyone else seems to love him' hater mentality, but honestly, the guys got a pretty good record.
-
Not to forgive him for writing that atrocity of a movie, but the stepinfetchit robots were forced on him by Bay, he was openly, and vocally, against their inclusion.
-
-
so Forrest Gump runs into Bicentennial Man .....yawn.
-
I've seen about 3 totally different things referred to as steam punk. Come on dorks, give me a definition.
-
Don't have anything to do with this project. And Trek script couldn't be changed during shooting because of strike.
-
Agree that alias, fringe, MI3' and Trek were exceptional.
-
-
Complaining on the internet about movies that haven't even been made yet.
-
great concept, book and web site. huge potential for something special.
-
-
July 30, 2010, 9:16 p.m. CST
There is no motherfucker on here or on this planet...
by The Bicycle Sharer
That I disagree with more than RPLocke. WTF is that about anyway?!?!?<p>Anybody else notice that - where you'll have a certain issue (new Star Trek, Star Wars, Joss Whedon, wearing white after Labor Day, Mary Ann vs. Ginger, or fucking something) and you'll get into a fucking argument with somebody on a talkback, but think to yourself, "Well, maybe we'll agree on some other topic." But then, topic after topic, talkback after talkback, movie after movie, or what the fuck ever, you show up in a talkback, see the guy you argued with over something else, and find that motherfucker's on the wrong side of ANOTHER FUCKING ISSUE! And it ain't just once. It's like fucking constantly! Over and over and over again! This guy is like the Bizarro Bicycle Sharer. I say up; he says down. He says black; I say white.<p>Does that happen to anybody else? It's fucking creepy and annoying.<p>I mean, sure there are guys here I've argued with about something, but then we show up elsewhere on a different topic and we're in agreement. No big deal and to each his own. But RPLocke...<p>I feel like I could show up in a talkback devoted to breathing and I'd find that motherfucker bitching about how breathing was highly overrated and nobody was doing it anymore.<p>So in conclusion, fuck you, RPLocke. You're wrong. As usual. YOU are overdone. Enough already. Besides aren't you supposed to be somewhere else predicting that "dropping like a rock" of Iron Man 2 or something?
-
You can take it to the motherfucking bank that thing is on the upswing and you should get on the bandwagon immediately. 'Cause I've never known RPLocke to be right about anything. Ever.
-
Any genre has potential to entertain. Of course there is alot crap out there but dammit there is sometimes an awesome movie that comes around. I just really hope for the best when it comes to future projects. This year has been slow with a few exceptions. Next year should be better we will have Battle L.A.,Skyline,Sucker Punch,Thor,Capt.America,Green Lantern,The Thing,Pirates4,Rise of the Apes,Contagion,Immortals,and so on. We all want cool movies, doesn't that mean we're on the same side?
-
Yes, indeed... hating on films before they're made is certainly played out. That's why it's now cool to hate on films that haven't even been written yet.</p> I don't know where else there is to go once THAT is played out. Although, looking back, you can see the evolutionary path of hate in action... Hating on films you've seen --> Hating on films you haven't seen based on their trailer --> Hating on films that are in production --> Hating on films in pre-production --> Hating on films that haven't been written yet-->???</p> Is it possible to hate something before its been conceived? I don't know, but if it is possible, an AICN talkbacker will find a way.
-
has it right
-
win? Discuss!
-
Not sure if it needs a character narrative though, and a movie generally needs one to not feel like a documentary, because audiences seem to not go to those en masse. As for JJ Abrams, I don't give a fuck, he ruined Star Trek and generally he knows how to make entertaining TV that feels hollow once you get into it, but I'll give this a shot based on the source material.
-
No, it doesn't have screen entertainment support (small or big) aside from the un-watched "Sanctuary" on Syfy, although you can look back to LXG (the abortion that was Legion of Extraordinary Gentlemen to cinema) and see it, and you can see some touches in the Hellboy movies. But it's becoming played out because that shit is all over the internet, every fucking costume-drawing convention gets a million of these people, there is a society dedicated to converting the Nerf Maverick gun into different steampunk weapons, there are companies making bank on hundred-dollar miniature steampunk weapons and thousand-dollar full-sized ones. It's a cute idea, but it is a fad that won't take much to push it into "WHY THE FUCK ARE WE STILL SEEING THIS SHIT?!?" territory.
-
-
...in the 60d....the original Steampunk, thank you... And the Will Smith blight of a film is a stain to be erased from the mind.
-
Since I assume Wikipedia is broken for the question to be asked, here's my nutshell definition, for which I welcome flames: advanced or alternative technology in roughly the 1860s to WWII time span. Examples are Sky Captain, Rocketeer, Flash Gordon, First Men On The Moon, Jules Verne, H G Wells, Briscoe County Jr, Wild Wild West. I don't know Boilerplate, but it sounds like it might fit in the subgenre clockpunk.
-
the rest of you?
-
the rest of you?
-
what was the short-lived comic series in the late 80's about a steam-driven robot? I cant remember either and I've actually got a couple of issues somewhere..
-
Remake of Forrest Gump.
-
This should star Pneuman from Alan Moore's Tom Strong.
Top Talkbacks
- HERCULES ON THE RADIO!! Ain’t It Cool’s TV Critic Chats Up BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER / ED WOOD Icon (And Hollywood Royalty) Juliet Landau!! Listen And Call In LIVE Saturday 10pm PT / Sunday 1am ET!! -- 356 total posts 329 posts
- ‘He’s Worse Than Anybody!!’ Sunday Brings HBO’s Season Finale Of TRUE DETECTIVE!! -- 126 total posts 126 posts
- Harry shares Day 1 of SXSW which stars Jon Favreau's utterly delicious CHEF!!! -- 210 total posts 81 posts
- ‘We Got Six Bullets!!’ Sunday Brings WALKING DEAD 4.13!! -- 59 total posts 59 posts
- Darker ZORRO Reboot Finds its Writer! -- 297 total posts 44 posts
- Hercules Says RESURRECTION Is Easily The Best Broadcast Pilot Of The 2013-14 Season And ABC’s Best Pilot In Years!! -- 37 total posts 37 posts
- TERMINATOR: GENESIS to be a sequel, reboot, and prequel all at the same time!?! -- 490 total posts 36 posts
- Nordling's Day One Of SXSW 2014 - THE DESERT And PREMATURE! -- 26 total posts 19 posts
- Quint eats up Jon Favreau's CHEF, opening night flick of SXSW 2014! -- 44 total posts 16 posts
- Fox Renews For Next Season THE MINDY PROJECT, THE FOLLOWING, BROOKLYN NINE-NINE And NEW GIRL!! -- 68 total posts 14 posts
