J. Michael Straczynski Talks 'The Forbidden Planet'
Filed under: Action, Classics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Fandom, Scripts, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels
The remake of The Forbidden Planet has danced around Hollywood for years, with various big names like James Cameron dropping in and out of the project. Now it's finally moving forward at Warner Bros, with determined producer Joel Silver at the production helm, and the ever-popular J. Michael Straczynski penning the script. Still, it was news that wasn't welcome to several of our readers, which is understandable. It's a sci-fi classic, and beloved by many.Well, this might ease your fears a little bit. The gang over at Ain't It Cool News snagged some exclusive details. Apparently, Straczynski's script will be more of a continuation, or a companion piece, than an actual remake. It's possible the new movie retcons the story a bit, and leaves Altair 4 intact and alive. The beloved Robby the Robot will be in it, and the movie will be "an enormous, giant, retro sci-fi movie ... nothing sleek or 'chromy'" in its visuals.
If you were a Babylon 5 fan, you know Straczynski's love for the original film runs as deep as anyone else's. It sounds like he's trying to do right by the story, and yet give fans a little something new. If it's a movie that continues the nightmares of the original, I think that could be pretty darn cool, and a nice break from the reboots and outright remakes that are taking over Hollywood. But, let's turn it over to you Planet fans in the comments, and see if this softens the blow, or just rubs salt in the wound.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-06-2008 @ 11:58PM
Roy Behymer said...
Definitely have a soft spot for the original. As cheesy as the graphics are by today's standards, they were definitely very good for their day. The story is still as enjoyable today. A remake or a reboot MAY be enjoyable on its own, but would suffer compared to the memory of the original. I think doing a retro-styled sequel of Forbidden Planet is something I can, and do, look forward to.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is in the same category, however the Keanu re-imagining looks so far off from the original, its almost easy to just think of it as an unrelated movie. Too preachy/green for its own good, so far the trailers have done nothing of substance to make me compare it favorably to the original. Obviously, the original had it's own bone to pick with the human foibles of the day, namely nuclear proliferation. The remake seems more heavy handed and therefore more off-putting. I'll still go see the new DtEST, but I think Straczynski's idea for Forbidden Planet will do a better job of attracting fans of its original.
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11-07-2008 @ 5:51PM
Kim said...
Holy crap! A remake?
First reaction.. how could they possible make a remake that is as awesome as the original.
Despite the fact that I'm only 16, Forbidden Planet is up there in my top 20 movies of all time. It's such a sci-fi classic, and I hate it when no one in my classes at school know what I'm talking about when I talk about Robbie, Monsters of the Id, and the Krell wanting to rid themselves of 'physical instrumentalities'.
It's hard to believe that it's possible to do justice to the original since it is loved by so many (of the older audiences haha).
But it would be interesting as to how the task is undertaken. With the new available special effects, it might be possible to make a film that will appeal to younger sci-fi fans and maybe introduce them to the original story that so many people have come to love.
I'm looking forward to it. Let's see what they come up with.
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11-07-2008 @ 1:21PM
Petro1734 said...
Cautiously optimistic.
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11-07-2008 @ 3:44PM
Rich Drees said...
Actually, Straczynski has already refuted what AICN's source had to say- http://tinyurl.com/5f3q5d
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11-11-2008 @ 2:08AM
Roger Bibeau said...
When will Hollywood learn, some classics... just the the F#*K alone. While film-town CAN'T, leave well enough alone. Haven't they seen enough classic film & TV gutted by remakes of horrific quality, inane dialog, stupefying premises, and incompetent execution. God, just look at the remake of "Psycho", with Ann Heche. WHY!!???
What Hollywood won't face, is its impotent imagination, it's greed based operating philosophy, and its inability to be original. All stories, have NOT been told. That's why, when something original does come along like, "Fargo" or "Silence of the Lambs", or "Pulp Fiction" to "Edward Scissorhands", and many others, there is a visceral reaction by audiences. Recognizing originality, is innate, intuitive.
Hollywood needs to grow some bullocks, dismantle it's head out of its own butt, and concentrate on using 'real imagination' to come up with original stories. To get back to the 'art' of film. Learning how 50's, 60's & 70's American cinema stole direct plots and stories from Japanese films, all the way to Hwd's efforts to colorize B&W films, exposes both the arrogance and insecurity this industry operates on, and has operated on for decades.
I guess with colorization dying the ugly death it did, at least it taught someone a lesson. It hasn't been attempted now for some years, even though the technology of today makes it even easier than it was to do in the mid-eighties.
Having no regard for film history, here they go again. Screwing with "Day the Earth Stood Still" wasn't enough? I can't wait to see how Keanu Reeves improves upon the performance of Michael Rennie (a real actor who NEVER dialed-in a bad performance in his whole career)?
Who will improve upon Walter Pidgeon's portrayal of Morbius? Who will capture Anne Francis' Altaira 'Alta' Morbius innocence and naiveté? Well, now, she can be naked (Pleeze cassted Lindsay Lohan - NOT)! God, today, you can even make more money by merchandising an 'Alta' doll, with emphasized breasts. There's a grand old substitute for original thinking or story-line.
I'm not slamming the actors of today. I have too many favorites. But, use their talents for new, original scripts, stories and graphical adventures, not hack-remakes. Just look at the disastrous remake of "The Wild, Wild West"... with a black actor (NOT a race related comment)! As an 1860's Secret Service Agent!?? We all know how well respected black men were in those days.
Are you kidding me. In the early to mid-seventies, television wouldn't even cast a real Chinese, in the role of an oriental martial arts master (see Bruce Lee's idea for a story about a 'Kung-fu' priest who roams the West). Who's more famous today, David Carradine or Bruce Lee? How about in a few years, a "Titanic" remake... with a gay couple? Or, another "Hulk" remake, only now, as a woman.
Maybe they can find the original robot voice (Marvin Miller), as they did in the '98 remake of "Lost In Space?" How many artistic travesties have to be trampled under foot to satisfy the greedy Hollywood film machine. How many of you high priced industry execs actually earn a living based on original thought? Thanks... I already know the answer.
As a matter of fact, audiences, get ready for what Hollywood has been looking forward to, for years... the computer resurrection, recreation and perfect duplication... of past stars. Yes, you're reading correctly. Computer resurrection of stars that they don't have to pay anymore, or pay very little to.
Like licensing an image, then releasing new films by Marilyn Monroe, James Cagney or Humphrey Bogart, or perhaps John Wayne or The Three Stooges. The sky's the limit. How many hundreds of actors got shafted in early TV, with the development of syndication, which the actors were unaware of that lucrative future?
Lastly, I'd leave off vehemently asking you to NOT bastardize this, my favorite 50+ year, unequaled Sci-fi classic. But I already know there is some mental defective, egomaniacal 20-something industry exec, who is declaring to God his EPIPHANY to boost profits this quarter... "THAT'S IT!! Well remake, "FORBIDDEN PLANET!!!"
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