Exclusives
TV: Will AMC Attempt A “The Walking Dead” Feature Film?!
While “Sex and the City” and “X-Files” found a way to make the leap from the small to big screen, “24,” “Lost” and “The Sopranos” failed to make the transition. The odds are always against a feature version of a television series, although many older programs have found a way (Yogi Bear, Smurfs, The Jetsons and most recently ALF).
The problem is that big network transitions are much more difficult because the series’ story arc needs to be addressed, not to mention casting the leads is exponentially more expensive than creating CGI bears that steal picnic baskets. It’s also insanely difficult to take the stretched out pacing of a 13 to 22-episode series and compact it into an interesting hour and half singular story. That’s why I beg FX to push for an “American Horror Story” feature, it’s primed for greatness.
With that said, I have some friends working closely with “The Walking Dead” crew and AMC who confirm with me rumblings of a feature film. But before you get your panties in a bunch, we’re only in the third season of the popular zombie show – adapted from Robert Kirkman’s astounding comic book – and when I say rumblings, I strongly suggest the idea has been passed off in non-business conversations. The show was originally shopped as a feature film before it went network, so the idea of ending the series with an hour and a half feature would be exciting. But as I stated before, “24,” “Lost” and “The Sopranos” had been rumored for years, and they all failed to make the jump.
It’s clear that I’ve let my excitement get the best of me by sharing this news – and when I say nothing is official, I obviously mean, nothing is even close to official and don’t expect there to be any real talks for another few years. This is purely for speculation and for you guys to tell us what you think. If AMC revisits this notion a few years from now, would you want to see a “Walking Dead” feature? And more importantly, what do you think they should do?
Out today in select theaters and on digital platforms is heartfelt and playful documentary Mockbuster, which sees a director cold call a studio and ask to helm a lost-world dinosaur epic.
Inexplicably, they say yes.
Our exclusive clip below highlights both the comedic nature of this bizarre scenario as well as the pressures of shooting dino feature The Land That Time Forgot in a mere six days, with no real feature experience.
A dino attack scene causes friction on set in this scene.
In the documentary, “A struggling filmmaker’s opportunity collides with chaos and compromise when Sharknado’s notorious studio, The Asylum, invites him to direct a ‘mockbuster.’ With six days, a micro budget, and mounting pressure, Mockbuster is a comedic, behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the balance between low-budget filmmaking and creative ambition.”
More than just an inside look at filmmaking via low-budget film studio The Asylum, it doubles as one man’s pursuit of his dreams to charming, humorous effect.
“Mockbuster is a documentary about my own journey, but it’s also a love letter to one of the last grindhouses still functioning in Hollywood. We get to meet the characters and creators of some of the most infamous (and most hated) B-movies of the last few decades. People who make movies purely for profit – no pretension, no artistry, just monsters, C-listers, and chaos. A film that both genre fans and cinephiles can enjoy. But Mockbuster isn’t just about filmmaking, it’s about losing sight of your dreams, and reclaiming them in your own twisted way,” Director Anthony Frith said in a statement.
From Executive Producer and famed documentarian David Farrier, Mockbuster opens in select theaters and on digital platforms beginning July 10.