Frankenstein (Fox)
Dr. Frankenstein has created a monster.
‘Chronicle 2′ Writer Says Movie Is Definitely Happening, Is “60-75 Percent Sure” It Will Be Good
A few months ago we filed this report on the state of the upcoming sequel to Chronicle, in which John Landis (father of writer Max Landis) stated that Fox wasn’t entirely happy with the new script, “He wrote a sequel, and it’s amazing, and the studio read it and said, ‘We want ‘Chronicle’ again!’ And he said, ‘No, this is the sequel, it’s the evolution, and they said ‘No, we want that movie again!’ So it’s difficult, we’re dealing with a difficult business.”
Max Landis took some time over the weekend at Middle East Comic-Con to speak with IGN about the film. Among other things, he clarified that his father was perhaps talking out of turn. “[He's] not involved in Chronicle 2. He doesn’t know the process. It was not his place to say that.” Landis added that the new film would be dark, and perhaps that’s the stumbling block. “The report came out that they [the studio] didn’t like my script. They liked my script. It’s just a really dark script. The question is more of ‘How do we all compromise to get something we want?’ And that’s an incredibly slow process.”
This still sort of sounds like they didn’t like it if you define “liking it” as “wanting to make it.” However, Landis concluded the interview by saying the movie is definitely happening and, “60-75% sure that it will be a pretty damn good movie.” I actually really enjoyed the first film, placing it on several “Best Of 2012″ lists for the site. Let’s hope that the odds for the sequel increase steadily as the process chugs along.
Fox Not Happy With Max Landis’ Script For ‘Chronicle 2′
Chronicle was one of this year’s surprise hits, and deservedly so. It’s a really fun movie that announced several major new talents like director Josh Trank who will be helming the upcoming Fantastic Four (with the talented Jeremy Slater steering the script). Other talented people who got a career boost out of the film include Dane Dehaan, Michael B. Jordan and Australian actor Alex Russell (the latter of whom is rumored to be returning for Chronicle 2).
Then there’s the credited writer, Max Landis. I’m not sure exactly how much of the film’s success he’s responsible for – Trank seemed to be the powerhouse there – but he’s certainly been enjoying a high profile since its release. Fox kept him onboard to draft Chronicle 2 and they don’t seem too happy with the results. The Playlist was speaking to John Landis (An American Werewolf In London, Blues Brothers) about his own film troubles when he decided to discuss his son’s recent problems. ““He wrote a sequel, and it’s amazing, and the studio read it and said, ‘We want ‘Chronicle’ again!’ And he said, ‘No, this is the sequel, it’s the evolution, and they said ‘No, we want that movie again!’ So it’s difficult, we’re dealing with a difficult business.”
I read a post on Collider that expressed some disappointment in Fox for being “unwilling to take risks with the sequel.” I also hate when studios refuse to take risks but, in this case, I’m guessing that they just didn’t like it. If you’ve seen Landis speak at conventions he doesn’t seem big on listening, which can complicate things when working with a studio.
‘Lucky Number Slevin’ Director Brings ‘Frankenstein’ Back To Life!
Turns out that $80 million budget was a sticking point after all! Shawn Levy’s Frankenstein no longer has the whole “Shawn Levy” component to contend with. Fox decided (sensibly) that their tale penned by Chronicle‘s Max Landis, would be better served going a more economic route. Enter new director Paul McGuigan (Lucky Number Slevin).
Per Variety, “Levy wanted a big-budget version of the classic monster tale, according to sources close to the project, while Fox wants to keep costs on the project down.”
Earlier this year, the now departed Levy explained how they’re going to create the monster, while also teasing multiple Franks, “In the case of ‘Frankenstein,’ my whole approach is based on a mo-cap SimulCam playback so that it’s not a dude with scars on his face. It’s not just kind of latex and a costume; it would be a motion-capture performance of the monster—I can give away maybe not too much by saying there’s more than one in our version—and then I would go to Europe, shoot the movie, do scenes with the real actors and I would be able to see the motion-captured monster in real time due to SimulCam, so yes that is our technological VFX paradigm for Frankenstein.”
No word on if those Levy plans have changed. A smaller budget would indicate that they might. If so, I imagine Landis (or whomever) is doing a rewrite as we speak.
[DVD Review] ‘Chronicle,’ The American ‘Akira’
Reviewed by Mike Ferraro
It’s hard to really recommend a superhero film like this that isn’t a complete bore (like Thor), despite the fact that in certain areas, it does indeed soar. All rhyming aside, Chronicle is a good film surrounded by a plethora of flaws. The film focuses on three friends who make a remarkable discovery that turns them into super-beings. What separates this film from every other film of its ilk, other than the fact that it isn’t based on a Marvel or DC property, is that it falls in to the found footage genre, a technique utilized most by horror genre. READ MORE
Max Landis Teases ‘Chronicle 2′ Apocalypse
In an interview with Tbreak, Chronicle writer Max Landis reveals a small spoiler for the film on how the footage from Chronicle affects the events in the sequel:
“…the movie you saw (Chronicle) in the sequel, is a thing. That edited footage… is a thing. So it’s not like ‘we found this footage after this kids died’. You can’t deny cars being thrown in the air in Seattle. You saw all those helicopters. The world changed. That’s the end of Chronicle. And things are going to be different now. They can’t possibly cover up what happened.”
While also revealing that director Josh Trank is unlikely to return for the sequel, he does tease the return of Alex Russell as “Matt Garrety”. “I loved Matt, and I felt really bad for him because I understood just how emotionally lazy he is and how he doesn’t really do what he’s doing. And that’s why I’m putting him through hell in (Chronicle) 2.”
The low(er) budgeted Chronicle, which has made nearly $125 million worldwide, was basically a modern/American Akira about three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery.
Fox Going Ahead With ‘Chronicle 2′, Max Landis Hired To Write
Josh Trank’s Chronicle was a breath of fresh air. I really, really liked the movie. There were elements that kept me at arms length, but I certainly didn’t regret my time with it and am looking forward to seeing it again.
What I’m not necessarily looking forward to is Chronicle 2. They’ve hired Max Landis, writer of the first film (from a story by him and Josh Trank) to pen it – which is fine in theory. Per Deadline, “Landis wrote ‘Chronicle’, the first installment of the sci-fi feature that has grossed more than $105 million at the box office worldwide since the Fox release opened in early February. Starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan, the first Chronicle centers on three high school friends who gain superpowers but find their lives going out of control and friendships tested as they explore the dark side.”
A few hesitations. Even though Landis is the credited screenwriter of the first film, it feels very much like it was Josh Trank’s vision. I’m not sure if he’s coming back, but as of yet it appears that there are no concrete plans for him to do so. Landis’ shorts, and by extension Landis himself, can come across as grating. I’m not sure what a feature of his without a collaborative system of checks and balances would look like. And finally, from a story standpoint, it seems totally unnecessary. Sure they could find a new group of kids, or continue on with the surviving characters, but I feel that the story was sufficiently wrapped up in the first film.
What are your thoughts? READ MORE
Shawn Levy Teases Multiple ‘Frankenstein’ Monsters!
Even though other publications reported the project as in turnaround, Bloody Disgusting updated the story that Twentieth Century Fox was still developing Shawn Levy’s Frankenstein tale penned by Chronicle‘s Max Landis.
In an interview with Collider, Levy explains how they’re going to create the monster, while also teasing multiple Franks!
“In the case of ‘Frankenstein,’ my whole approach is based on a mo-cap SimulCam playback so that it’s not a dude with scars on his face. It’s not just kind of latex and a costume; it would be a motion-capture performance of the monster—I can give away maybe not too much by saying there’s more than one in our version—and then I would go to Europe, shoot the movie, do scenes with the real actors and I would be able to see the motion-captured monster in real time due to SimulCam, so yes that is our technological VFX paradigm for Frankenstein.”
I’d love to see a new Frankenstein in theaters, I just can’t see how you tell that story again in a compelling way. I guess that’s why I’m not a screenwriter… I’ll leave that to the professionals and their $80 million budget. READ MORE
UPDATED: Fox Maybe Hasn’t Rejected $80 Million ‘Frankenstein’ Project
.jpg "UPDATED: Fox Maybe Hasnt Rejected $80 Million Frankenstein Project")
EDIT (5:13 PST)* We have received word from a source close to the production that Vulture’s story is incorrect. According to the source the production is not in turnaround and is indeed still in development.
Since last August 20th Century Fox has been developing a new Frankenstein story with Shawn Levy attached to direct.
Based on a script by Chronicle writer Max Landis, the writer’s revisionist Frankenstein has been described as a sci-fi take on the traditional Mary Shelley story, focusing on themes of friendship and redemption.
Personally, I find any version of the “Frankenstein” story impossibly difficult to tell. I am quite excited to see a studio crack the code and blow our minds with a new version of the story about an assembled monster that is betrayed by man.
Unfortunately, Fox won’t be moving forward on their version, according to Vulture. “Fox recently balked at making Levy’s planned remake of “Frankenstein” at an $80 million budget,” says the NY Magazine. Yeah, I’d balk too at any horror project being budgeted above $12 million. Your thoughts? READ MORE
Chronicle
Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.
‘Chronicle’ Puts New Spin On Dark Hero Genre With Fresh Clip, Trailer, One-Sheet and Still!
Earlier this evening Bloody Disgusting’s Evan Dickson hit the 20th Century Fox lot to get an early look at Joshua Trank’s Chronicle, the teen-powered superhero/villain movie that looks like a modern day American Akira. While the article is a few days away, we’ve landed the first official still (as seen above), along with a new clip that puts a new spin on baseball (pun intended). Inside you’ll also find an explosive Brazilian one-sheet and a new 60-second teaser.
Fans of “Fright Night Lights” will be excited to see Michael B. Jordan in the lead role, alongside Alex Russell, Dane DeHaan, Michael Kelly, and Ashley Hinshaw. In theaters February 3, the pic begins when “Three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery. Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.” READ MORE
Hate Spiders As Much As I Do? Watch This ‘Chronicle’ Clip!
In theaters February 3 from 20th Century Fox comes Josh Trank’s Chronicle, the dark superhero flick that is quite reminiscent of Akira. Above we’re excited to share a new 60-second trailer, while after the break you’ll find a creepy clip that depicts one of the teens torturing a spider.
“Three high school students and friends make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny superpowers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities, and initially use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides soon begin to take over.” READ MORE
F*ck You Sky, ‘Chronicle’ Owns Your Ass!
A second new one-sheet has premiered for Josh Trank’s Chronicle, the dark superhero (more like super villain) movie that flies into theaters February 3. The new poster gives the middle finger and screams “f*ck you sky!”
“Three high school students and friends make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny superpowers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities, and initially use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides soon begin to take over.”
The flick looks like a modern/domestic Akira, which equals amazing. Trailer and all released posters inside. READ MORE
Watch the Kids of ‘Chronicle’ Perform a Magic Trick With a Car and a Skyscraper!
Similar to the teaser poster, a new one-sheet has premiered for Josh Trank’s Chronicle, the dark superhero (more like super villain) movie that flies into theaters February 3. It displays the three kids having a little fun with a car and a skyscraper. Go figure that one out.
“Three high school students and friends make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny superpowers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities, and initially use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides soon begin to take over.”
The flick looks like a modern/domestic Akira, which equals amazing. Trailer and all released posters inside. READ MORE
Will Fox Be the First to Get ‘Frankenstein’ Fired Up?
As the 20th Century Fox 3D Fantastic Voyage continues to take forever to get underway, Deadline is hearing persuasively that director Shawn Levy (Real Steel) will likely take another Fox film, Frankenstein, as his next effort.
Fox wants to move quickly on the Max Landis-scripted thriller based on the classic monster from Mary Shelley’s public domain novel, and the studio wants Levy.
They are beginning creative conversations with an eye toward this filling his winter/spring slot. The studio is eager to get out in front of the seven other “Frankenstein” films that are percolating all over town.
READ MORE
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