MaxMakowski Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Rumor Patrol: 'Voltron' Is Back in Business and Signs a Director
Filed under: Action », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », RumorMonger », 20th Century Fox », Comic/Superhero/Geek »
Just one week after news surfaced that the big-screen Voltron was going into turnaround with Fox's Relativity Media, Latino Review is now reporting that Max Makowski has been signed to direct the live-action update. Now I know what you are thinking: 'Who the heck is Max Makowski?' Well, he might not be a household name, but according to Latino's sources "he's actually a great choice." Well, I guess we will have to take their word for it, because Makowski has a pretty scant list of credits to his name. The Brazilian born writer-director has been hired to direct an update of the 70's TV series Kung-Fu, along with penning the update to Hawaii Five-O.Voltron has been languishing over at Fox since 2005, and other than a few rumblings about Justin Marks' script, the project seemed to have stalled. Marks' take is described as "a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City and Mexico. Five ragtag survivors of an alien attack band together and end up piloting the five lion-shaped robots that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron that helps battle Earth's invaders." But now that Relativity has finally secured the rights to the big-guy, I guess all the loose ends have been tied up. Besides, what's one more giant robot movie to add to the pile?
So if you are a hard-core Voltron fan with nothing but contempt for a live action version, at least you can take solace in the fact that nothing has been confirmed -- but you might want to get used to the idea of an 'MTV generation' Pidge now.
Universal Remakes Japanese Action Hit, 'Shinobi'
Filed under: Action », Deals », Scripts », Remakes and Sequels »
There is still some "owski" in this new remake, but not the kind you're probably thinking. Way back in September of 2005, Erik Davis posted that the Wachowskis were interested in remaking Shinobi, and turning it into a spy caper, of all things. Now the Japanese action hit is getting a remake, but with Max Makowski instead. Variety has reported that Universal nabbed the remake rights to the film, and set up Makowski to write and direct it. The director's last film was the 2005 Asian gangster feature called One Last Dance, which premiered at Sundance, and got him a nomination for the festival's Grand Jury Prize.Our Kim Voynar reviewed the original Shinobi last year at SIFF, and described it as a "visually stunning" and "satisfying little flick." Now the question is -- just how much is going to be different for this remake? While it is still keeping the ties to Romeo and Juliet, Makowski plans to modernize it and reset it in his home-base of Hong Kong. Instead of rival ninjas dueling, "the victor of a 160-year-old feud between two multinational security forces is being decided, with a love affair complicating matters." Sticking to his last theme, the director will incorporate Asian gangster elements, along with some from ninja films. Well, at least it isn't spies! But really, with all of these changes, why not start from scratch? This is sounding a lot more like an "inspired by" instance, and not a remake. Plans are to finish the screenplay by the end of this year, and start production in early 2008.
Quickhits: Makowski Dances with Paramount, Armstrong Really Likes Gyllenhaal and Stevenson Joins Potter Cast
Filed under: Casting », Deals », Sundance », Cannes », Paramount », Warner Brothers », RumorMonger », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand »
Odds and ends from Tuesday:
- Paramount digs murder and the mob after acquiring an untitled action drama, in which they've brought on Max Makowski (who took the Sundance and Cannes scene by storm with his crime thriller, One Last Dance) to serve as director. Written by Dave Callaham, the noir-style pic is said to revolve around the murder of a mob boss and the current and former bodyguards who look to avenge his death.
- According to a story in the New York Daily News, cyclist Lance Armstrong has privately confirmed to sources at ESPN that Jake Gyllenhaal will indeed portray him in an upcoming biopic. Armstrong had been spending a lot of time with Gyllenhaal and Matthew McConaughey in hopes that one of them would take the role. Unfortunately for McConaughey, Gyllenhaal looks better in spandex.
- The Harry Potter Fan Zone has confirmed that Jessica Stevenson (Shaun of the Dead) has been brought on by Warner Bros. to play the part of Mafalda Hopkirk in next summer's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Those of you Potter fans will remember Hopkirk as a witch from the Improper Use of Magic Office. [via Coming Soon]
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