JamesPatterson Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Catherine Hardwicke Takes 'Maximum Ride'
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Thrillers », Deals », Sony », DIY/Filmmaking »
So maybe vampires just weren't Catherine Hardwicke's thing, because she certainly has nothing against fantasy franchises. After a less than enthusiastic response to her adaptation of the bloodsucking romance Twilight, most of us were probably not expecting her to tackle another fantasy property any time soon. But I think we may have jumped the gun a bit, because The Hollywood Reporter announced that Hardwick has signed to direct a feature film adaptation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride series.The best-selling novels center on a headstrong 14-year-old named Maximum Ride, and her group of human-avian hybrids known as The Flock. There were five books in the series and they all pretty much focus on "The Flock working towards protecting the world from domination by mysterious figures". But, according to THR, the film will focus on the group as they learn to fly, escape some laboratory-house where they're being held and "are pursued by a pack of creatures called the Erasers that are part human and part wolf."
Don Payne (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) is already at work on a script, but so far no leads have been cast ... though, for Hardwicke, it will probably come as a bit of a relief that this particular casting process probably won't have the same level of scrutiny as that other young-adult series. James Patterson (who is also serving as executive producer) has already hinted that that there are plans to make two more films from the series -- so let's just hope that this time Hardwicke gets to stick around for the sequel.
Maximum Ride is scheduled for release in 2010.
It's a Bird! It's a Boy! It's a Franchise!
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Mystery & Suspense », Sony », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Okay, try and stay with me on this: it's a movie about six children who are genetically engineered to fly. Now, what if said kids escaped from those experimenting on them and were subsequently pursued by a pack of human-wolf hybrids?
I know what you're thinking -- that this could either be the best movie ever made or anything but. Variety has reason to think that Columbia is tipping towards the former, as they've picked up the rights to James Patterson's young adult book series, Maximum Ride. It seems like quite the change of pace for Patterson, he of Alex Cross mystery fame, but as far as the adaptation is concerned, perhaps Don Payne can rein things in, what with two straight-up superhero scripts already under his belt. Oh, and did I mention that frequent Marvel movie producer Avi Arad is also on board?
(Dare I make a suggestion, though: the title makes me think of a guide to Jean-Claude Van Damme's all-time favorite rollercoasters more than a mutants-on-the-lam saga. Just sayin'.)
Can any of our trusty readers vouch for the novels, or at least for their offspring who might have picked up at least one of the four published to date? Are those as new to the concept as I am game for this potential franchise in the making? Goodness knows that we'll need something to fill that supernatural-teen gap post-Twilight...
Regency Grabs the Rights to 'Daniel X'
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals »
We've gotten so very many young heroes fighting in the realms of fantasy; magic, vampires, secret worlds -- you name it, they're everywhere. Now it looks like we're getting a new sort of teen hero, one of the science fiction sort. Variety reports that New Regency has picked up the rights to an upcoming young-adult novel by James Patterson called The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. It sounds like a funky action adventure story. Daniel X follows "the adventures of a conflicted yet extraordinary teen who yearns to discover secrets about himself and his family as he battles alien outlaws who threaten life on Earth." Will he do all his battling on Earth? Will he jet off into space? We'll have to wait and see since the book doesn't hit shelves until July. But some time after that, we should expect not only more Daniel X books, but also a graphic novel and this upcoming flick.
Hopefully this will do better than Jumper, which Regency recently co-financed. As of now, there is no word on who will adapt the story. Between this and Star Trek, it looks like the big screen is about to get a lot more space-filled.
Peter Jackson Says Spielberg's 'Tintin' is Done Filming, but...
Interracial Harmony: 'Ninja Assassin' vs. 'Blind Side'
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Exclusive 'Nine' Poster Premiere!
Exclusive: Title Track for 'The Road' Soundtrack
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