Saturday
20Dec2008
James Cameron Orbiting 'Forbidden Planet'?
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 11:38AM
I think most people who saw it would say that the Day
the Earth Stood Still remake was an unsuccessful experiment. Others might
say I'm being kind. But the reason it's an issue at all is because there's
another remake of a classic piece of science fiction growing out of the ground
at Warner Bros., and one wonders even with the people involved if audiences
won't feel a little burned by this experience.
What is newsworthy is that Cameron might be clamoring to do it once again, and no doubt he will see it as another opportunity to explore 3-D technology. About the only red flag I see here is that Cameron hasn't directed a script by another writer in over 20 years. He kind of does things the way he wants to do them, so you have to wonder how a screenplay coming from a writer he's probably not consulting with at the moment will be altered once Cameron gets a hold of it.
That said, Cameron's also a brilliant guy, and I'm sure he recognizes Straczynski's efforts in science fiction with Babylon 5 and, of course, Murder: She Wrote.
Beyond all of that, though, is Cameron's schedule, which is chock full of projects at the moment. After Avatar, he is slated to direct Battle Angel and The Dive, and he has a few other irons in the fire as a producer. So, if it were to fall in sequence, you'd think Forbidden Planet would be verboten for at least three or four more years. Something tells me Warner Bros. would like to pounce sooner than that.
Reader Comments (2)
I'm glad that Cameron is finally getting back to work, now that the kids is all growed up! It'd be a shame if J. Michael S... get's fired on this project though. From what I understand he's a pretty good writer.
And don't forget, in the right hands, Sci-Fi remakes can be successful. War of the Worlds and Steven Spielberg was a good marriage.
I can't wait until Lucasfilm gives Tarrantino the right to make an R rated Star Wars!