Louis Koziarz has been sharing a lot of pinball industry history on Mastodon.
Roger Sharpe - the man, the myth, the legend. His job at WMS was to scour the entertainment business and sniff out potential licenses and report back to engineering when he found something interesting. He would put out reports every so often like this one to describe upcoming titles, sometimes with a critic's eye to what might be usable. It's fascinating to read in hindsight.
Louis' original github link (archive)
Full text archived under the cut:
DATE: April 15, 1996 (revised)
TO: Game Designers/Artists/Programmers/Engineers/ Marketing & Sales,
Williams Entertainment, etc.
FROM: Roger Sharpe
SUBJECT: LICENSED PROPERTIES UPDATE REPORT FOR 1996 AND THE
FIRST SCHEDULING OF PROPERTIES/PROJECTS FOR 1997 AND
BEYOND
What follows is the ongoing identification of major (and many not so ‘major’) film
projects/books/etc. that either are coming to theatres, TV or book shelves soon or appear
to be fertile subject matter for potential game application whether it be video, pinball,
novelty amusement equipment or the vast range of home software platforms.
By no means is this listing complete. There are always sleepers and less ambitious
undertakings that can surprise everyone. However, the hope is that some of my personal
pre-editing and judgement calling is as accurate as any forecasting can be. Properties that
appear to have some potential for reason of recognizeability or scope (from the standpoint
of marketing support and/or “franchise potential) are bolded because I deem them to be
viable candidates for consideration. Also, possible trends can emerge as indicators of
where entertainment may be going in the near future.
COMPETITIVE LICENSING ACTIVITIES/PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS
JACKIE CHAN (Kaneko Coin-Op)
PRIVATE PARTS: The Howard Stern Story (Sega Pinball)
X-FILES (Sega Pinball)
CUTTHROAT ISLAND (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home video)
TWISTER (Sega Pinball)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (Sega Pinball & Fox Interactive for Home video)
SPACE JAM (Sega Pinball and Acclaim for Video)
THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home Video)
MUTANT CHRONICLES (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home Video)
BARB WIRE (Premier Pinball)
JURASSIC PARK II (DreamWorks Interactive)
JOHNNY QUEST (Virgin Interactive CD-ROM)
TERRATOPIA (Virgin Interactive CD-ROM)
STARSHIP TROOPERS (Microprose for home software)
DRAGONHEART (Acclaim Home Video)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING (T*HQ for Home video)
GOLDENEYE (Bally Gaming for slot machines)
TENTATIVE LISTING FOR 1996 FILM PROJECTS:
Spring
MULHOLLAND FALLS (late April)
BARB WIRE (May 3rd)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (May 22nd)
DRAGONHEART (May 31st)
FIERCE CREATURES
WILD SPACE
STRIPTEASE (late May)
TWISTER
BAD BOYS II
Summer
THE RELIC DAYLIGHT A VERY BRADY SEQUEL
SHOCKWAVE SPAWN CHAIN REACTION
THE ROCK FLED INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 4th)
THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
PINOCCHIO ANACONDA CABLE GUY (June 14th)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Disney animation)--June 21st
McHALE’S NAVY (July 4th) THE PHANTOM (June 7th)
ERASER (June 21st) KAZAAM (Shaq as a genie)--release July 17th
A TIME TO KILL ESCAPE FROM L.A.
Fall
THE CROW II SPACE JAM THE EIGHTEENTH ANGEL
SANDBLAST SEA HUNT BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD
GOOSEBUMPS FORBIDDEN PLANET
ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU SUPERNOVA (MGM/UA)
Winter
FAHRENHEIT 451 AMPHIBIAN X-MEN
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS II THE MUTANT CHRONICLES
THE SAINT TARZAN EVITA
LAUREL & HARDY’S JUNGLE BUNGLE
PRELIMINARY SUMMER 1997 MOVIE LINE-UP
BATMAN IV (BATMAN & ROBIN) FREDDY VS. JASON
STARSHIP TROOPERS MARS ATTACKS THE FIFTH ELEMENT
MEN IN BLACK JURASSIC PARK II (THE LOST WORLD)
VOLCANO SPEED RACER SCOOBY DOO
THE JETSONS PRINCE VALIANT COMBAT
TITANIC ZORRO
TITANIC--the new James Cameron film from 20th Century Fox with possible release for
spring or summer of 1997; storyline to begin back in 1912 and lead up to the
salvage operation of a couple of years ago; a historical/action period piece with
production to start summer ‘96 and one star to be Kate Winslet (Sense and
Sensibility)
SHOCKWAVE--for summer ‘96 from Live Entertainment; director is David Twohy
(screenwriter for “The Fugitive” and “Waterworld”), star is Charlie Sheen as a
renegade scientist who, while probing the origin of radio waves from outer space,
stumbles on the seeds of a worldwide alien invasion
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND--in development at Paramount with possiblity of
Tom Hanks playing the main character Valentine Michael Smith from this Robert
Heinlein 1961 sci-fi classic (should become a ‘hot’ property if “Starship Troopers”
hits big)
THE STOPWATCH GANG--from TriStar and Jonathan Demme with a 9/96 start of a
story about 3 cons (a woman and two men) who pull off a heist and evade the
police for only a time before being captured and then planning their escape
GOOSEBUMPS--the hugely successful book property (over 90 million books in print)
from R.L. Stine; a new animated series on Fox and soon to be a major motion
picture from Fox as well as an impressive line-up of toys and games from Hasbro
GUNDOWN--from New Line with Bruce Willis and Bruce Dern/Walter Hill directing in
what is something of a remake of Kruosawa’s “Yojimbo” that was the inspiration
for a “Fistful of Dollars”; in this version we have a gangster picture during
prohibition times battling over the liquor business in Texas
THE BLACK BOX--from Disney, a new action thriller with Jim Wedaa attached as
producer and a storyline of what happens when a UFO crashes and a young
architect stumbles on the equivalent of the UFO’s black box which is sending out
its SOS signal to everybody on Earth and throughout the universe; initially one
take on the plot is ‘The Fugitive’ meets ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’
PSI-FACTOR--with Dan Aykroyd as host for a new syndicated series about real
paranormal phenomena set to launch in 1996 from MaXaM Entertainment and
Canada’s Atlantis Films Ltd
BLUE VISION--possible next project as director for Spielberg which is a scary
psychological thriller written by a Brit named Bruce Robinson
JAY LENO/THE TONIGHT SHOW--Jay has created some distinct characters as part of
his show and the opportunity exists to attempt to create game play around it for
either video or, what might be the easier adaptation, a pinball machine
ABOMINABLE--from Universal with Jean-Calude Van Damme and Moshe Diamant
(Time Cop) as producer in a story about a United Nations task force investigating
the mysterious disappearnace of Red Cross workers in the Himalayas where,
ultimately, our star faces off against the Abominable Snowman
MADMAN--this Dark Horse cult comic book comes to the big screen via Universal with
Ben Myron and David Helpern as producers and Mike Allred (creator of this
superhero who has a costume that covers a body disfigured from a car accident
with no memory of his past life) exec-producing
LAUREL & HARDY--possibility of a new franchise with feature films and casting
potentially to include Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman or Chris Farley along with
Rowan Atkinson (from Larry Harmon of Bozo fame)
MARS ATTACKS--based on the Topps card set from the Fifties coming to the big screen
via Warner Bros and Tim Burton for summer ‘97 with Pierce Brosnan cast as a
wacky scientist who warns the world of its impending doom; also starring are
Sarah Jessica Parker, Jack Nicholson, Rod Steiger and Glenn Close in what might
come off as “Beetlejuice” meets the Martians complete with Slim Whitman music
and Tom Jones script in-house
MAD MAX: THE ROAD WARRIOR--a new TV series and line of toys from Warner
Bros with a plan to launch spring ‘97; also in the planning stages with George
Miller as director would be another feature film for possible release in summer ‘98
DINOTOPIA (A Land Apart From Time)--based on the best seller from James Gurney,
now to be a feature film with Ken Ralston attached as director for Sony/Columbia
and Lynda Guber (wife of Peter Guber former head of Sony Pictures) producing
what will be a high profile effects and animation project with a budget of $80 -
$100 million and a two year pre-production cycle for a summer ‘98 release
THE COLONY--from Sony Pictures to star Jean-Claude Van Damme in a story about a
place where the greatest spies of all time are sent after their covers are blown; with
the lead character needing to escape in order to go after his arch enemy
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE--this rather unique magazine is building a greater presence with
a new life action hour-long TV series in asssociation with Rysher Entertainment;
production for the pilot two hour special begins this spring with the intent to
premiere episodes in the fall that center on an elite crime-fighting group
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER--to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first TV episode (fall
1997), Universal will release a new feature length film with Andy Cadiff (“Home
Improvement”) to direct and producers to be Brian Levant and Robert Simonds;
script from Levant and Lon Diamond with a projected start date of May ‘96
WARRIORS OF VIRTUE--from MGM/UA a live action feature film with production in
China and L.A. starting 1/96 focusing on five super hero kung fu kangaroos (not
to be confused with ninja turtles); also a digital animation TV series for 1997
LOST IN SPACE--from New Line with a planned release in 1998
SECRET SMILE--from Warner Bros, the next Steven Seagal film to be shot in the L.A.
and D.C. area with Seagal starring as a CIA agent (a real character stretch) who
must use mind enhancement drugs in order to track down a villain who has used
the same drug
DRAGONHEART--an epic adventure/event film and an animated TV series to premier in
fall ‘96 to help support major toy launch
THE THREE STOOGES--a whole new merchandising push from Columbia/Sony with
plans as well for a new casting and feature film in 1997 along with more visibility
for the classic shorts on cable and in syndication
TERRY AND THE PIRATES--classic comic strip was relaunched in March 1995 via the
Tribune Media Syndicate with plans for a live action TV series to premiere in 1996
I SPY--coming from Cinergi Films, based on the old Robert Culp/Bill Cosby TV series
that aired from 1965-68; comes an all new feature film about top government
agents undercover as a tennis pro and manager/trainer
JAMES BOND--yet another film from MGM/UA to star Pierce Brosnan and scripted by
Bruce Feirstein is due to hit screens in the summer or fall of 1997
THE SAINT--(Paramount) based on the series of books and characters created by Leslie
Charteris and made famous in the 1960s TV series that starred Roger Moore. This
time around Simon Templar (The Saint) is hired to steal a secret cold fusion
formula from an attractive female American scientist; and the adventure takes him
to Russia where he discovers the formula is part of a plot to overthrow the Russian
government; producer is David Brown and Marc Neufeld/director is Philip Noyce
(Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger) and script from Wesley Strick; with
Val Kilmer set to star along with Elisabeth Shue and filming to start spring ‘96 for
a release as yet to be determined in 1996 (winter?) script in-house
DEEP BLUE SEA--from Warner Bros written by Duncan Kennedy and John Zinman
focusing on an undersea adventure about a group of scientists who, through,
biomedical engineering are able to breed faster, smarter and more vicious sharks
with the idea to create a sportmen’s paradise (ala Jurassic Park) but things, of
course, get out of hand and control
MTV’S AEON FLUX--highly rated animated series that has been spun off from their
‘Liquid Television’ programming with a push now to more fully merchandise this
entity videotape of four episodes and supportive material in-house
A FIVE YEAR PLAN--a new book series from Philip Kerr under the pseudonym Thomas
Brodie that is soon to hit book shelves centering around a con man who
masterminds a high seas heist of 20 luxury yachts; interest from Tom Cruise and
Paramount
THE FOUNTAINHEAD--the Ayn Rand novel comes to the big screen via Illusion
Entertainment and Turner Pictures
DRAGONLANCE--from TSR, the fantasy series is going into animation from Nelvana
PRINCE VALIANT--through Hearst and Paramount Pictures with director Anthony
Hickox beginning production spring ‘96 for a summer ‘97 release; starring Stephen
Moyer in the title role along with Katherine Heigl, Ron Perlman and Udo Keir in a
story that follows the travails of a prince from Thule who wants to become a
Knight of the Round Table
LUNATIC FRINGE--from LIVE Entertainment, a sci-fi action thriller about a group of
prisoners who are recruited to rob another planet’s gold reserves only to discover
when they reach the planet that their real mission is to save thousands of prisoners
who are being held hostage by a group of intergalactic planet raiders--’Dirty
Dozen’ in space?
SPECIES--a potential sequel or two from MGM is in the planning stages with Peter
Lenkov doing one (he wrote the original) and Chris Brancato doing the other; also
potential plans for a live action TV series for 1998
SPACE TRUCKERS--a sci-fi action film directed by Stuart Gordon with script from Tedd
Mann, starring Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, Debi Mazer and George Wendt
AFTERLIFE--from Columbia, a sci-fi adventure with possibility of Chris O’Donnell
starring in a story about a scientist’s mind is implanted in the body of a younger
man who turns out to be a serial killer
BATTLEFIELD EARTH--from MGM with John Travolta set to star in this L.Ron
Hubbard (“Dianetics”) sci-fi epoch about a rebellion in a futuristic Earth being
taken over by an alien force and the human survivors who stand up and revolt; J.D.
Shapiro is writing the script
SEA HUNT--the old TV series (that made Lloyd Bridges a star as Mike Nelson) brought
back to life from MGM with a script from Peter Benchley and Tony Peckham
WILD WILD WEST--still in development from Warner Bros for a big screen treatment
by Jon Peters and the hope to get Tom Cruise to star in Robert Conrad’s role
SCOOBY DOO--from Turner Pictures, a live action feature film version (for possible
1997 release) with the same characters as the late ‘60s cartoon including a talking
dog, his human buddy Shaggy and the rest of the band of friends including Freddy,
Velma and Daphne; with a possible plot line being a mystery set in the present day
being penned by Craig Titley and in development with Dawn Steel’s Atlas
Entertainment
OUTRIDER--through Neufeld/Rehme Productions and Paramount , a feature in
development that’s a Western adventure about a young deputy’s pursuit of a
notorious outlaw who has escaped from prison; although a fictional story the plan
is to feature historical characters
NEANDERTHAL--could be first feature from Dreamworks based on upcoming novel
from Random House (by John Darnton) about the discovery of a long lost tribe of
Neanderthals found in an obscure part of the former republic of the Soviet Union
AN EYE FOR AN EYE--working title from Castle Rock as possible vehicle for Tom
Cruise about the real life head of an elite team of commandos avenging terrorists
CATAPULT--from Mario Kassar through Paramount that mixes “In The Line Of Fire”
with “Crimson Tide” about an aircraft carrier in a war zone that has been out to
sea for too long and the quest to find a serial killer that is eliminating many of the
8,000 crewmen on board
HENSON PRODUCTIONS--looking to enter into a strategic alliance with us for many
of their properties across the board--including an upcoming merchandising
program focused on Animal; also a new MUPPET TONIGHT! Show to premier
on ABC in spring ‘96; in addition development is ongoing for a fall 1996 entity
called Silver Dolphins
THE OSIRIS CHRONICLES--an upcoming new CBS sci-fi series from Paramount with
Caleb Carr (The Alienist) and Joe Dante (The Howling) attached with March ‘96
launch on TV
STORM WARNING--Mario Kassar (Carolco) resurfaces at Paramount Pictures with a
project to be written by Robert Ozin and Colin Greene and co-prodcuers to be
Greg Davis and Paul DeSouza; storyline is about a scientist who creates a machine
that can control the weather, which is then stolen by the bad guys who unleash a
hurricane that’s headed to New York giving this some familiar elements of “No
Way Out” and “Twister”
AMBROSE CHAPEL--a suspense thriller in development from MGM with Brian
DePalma as director/producer; story about a female reporter in Miami who
unwittingly becomes a pawn in a potential presidential assassination
BEETLE BAILEY--from 2,000 Hearst newspapers as a daily comic strip since 1950, a
new feature film from Fox with Bob and Peter Farelly (“Dumb and Dumber”)
producing (Hearst keeping merchandising rights); writers to be Dan Ljoka and
Patrick Kopka (“Curse of the Bambino”) and Harlan Williams (“Simon”) being
considered to star as the laziest private in the Army
BATMAN IV--(a.k.a. Batman and Robin) with yet another new star as the Caped
Crusader (George Clooney) and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl with summer 1997 as
the tentative schedule for the next installment; August ‘96 production start and the
casting of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman)
being the next villains
ANACONDA--from Columbia and written by Hans Bauer, with producers Andy Licht
and Jeff Mueller (these two are working on Jim Carrey’s “Cable Guy” film) about
a scary snake; shooting to begin in Brazil in April with Jon Voight, Ice Cube and
Jennifer Lopez to star for a possible late summer ‘96 release/same producers have
a film in development about THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION to star Bill
Paxton and Christian Slater also from Columbia
F/X: THE SERIES--based on the successful films comes a new live action hour series
from Rysher Entertainment to star Kevin Dobson and Carmen Daddo that will be
airing in syndication by fall ‘96
THE ALIENIST--Paramount Pictures w/Scott Rudin producing and Philip Kaufman along
with son Peter directing (Rising Sun); based on Caleb Carr’s best seller from
Random House; begin filming in spring for late ‘95 release--set in turn-of-the-
century NY is a story of a psychiatrist and a newspaper reporter who team to solve
a series of crimes using the then-emerging discipline of psychology to track down
the killer
CRASHDOWN--Universal Pictures with producer Charles Gordon attached to what is
described as a ‘Clear and Present Danger’ type of thriller with dramatic action
centering around the recovery of a UFO
BULLETPROOF--from Universal starring Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler in an action
comedy about a cop who has to transport a mobster form Arizona to L.A.
THE BRAIN--from TriStar with Dan O’Bannon (Alien, Total Recall and Blue Thunder)
writing the script for this futuristic action project that was originally titled “The
Circle’s End” from Garth Brooks’ Red Strokes Productions for Disney
LOBO--from Warner Bros based on the DC Comics character/script in-house
THE QUEST--story by Jean Claude Van Damme from Unviersal; script in-house
THE MASK II (REVENGE OF THE MASK)--with Jim Carrey coming back and smokin’
one more time for possible Xmas ‘97
FACE OFF--with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage to star, John Woo to direct, and
producers being David Permut and Douglas/Reuther; from Paramount Pictures/
this futuristic action thriller is about a detective who has to switch faces with a
terrorist in order to go undercover; principal photography to begin late
summer/early fall script in-house
TARZAN--from 20th Century Fox another epic redo feature film with George Cosmatos
(Tombstone) set to direct what will basically be a sequel to “Greystoke” which
starred Christopher Lambert
SANDBLAST--from Joel Silver/Warner Bros and David Carson (Star Trek: Generations)
set to direct with the storyline focused on a disgraced minefield clearance specialist
working a job for a group of Green Berets who turn out to be criminals trying to
steal a cruise missile; Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes have already turned down
starring roles script in-house
FAHRENHEIT 451--remake of the Truffaut movie from Warner Bros with Mel Gibson
as possible star; could be a fall/winter 1996 release
MEN IN BLACK--film treatment of Dark Horse comics with Barry Sonnenfeld directing
and Steven Speilberg exec producing; Tommy Lee Jones to star along with Will
Smith (TV’s French Prince), Vincent D’Onofrio and Linda Fiorentino; filming to
start in April ‘96 from Columbia (Rick Baker is creating special makeup FX) with
planned release of summer 1997; storyline premise is that an elite force of
government agents, principally Jay and Kay, two black-clad men who have the task
of keeping control and monitoring alien beings here on Earth; but, of course,
there’s an alien force that is out to destroy humankind--if the effects can deliver
what could be the best visuals since the Star Wars Cantina scene, then this could
be a strong feature filmalthough there will be a glut of sci-fi for this time frame
script in-house
BLOODSTONE--from Columbia Pictures with Van Damme set to star as a forest ranger
who stumbles across a twin he never knew existed (shades of Double Impact?)
with Ringo Lam set to direct
DANTE’S PEAK--from Universal based on a script by Les Bohem (Daylight) with Roger
Donaldson set to direct and Pierce Brosnan to star as a scientist called on to save a
community when a volcano explodes; shooting to start in May ‘96 in Idaho
CONTACT--from Warner Bros with Robert Zemeckis directing this Carl Sagan book
turned to film about an astronomer (Jodie Foster) who comes in contact with an
extraterrestrial (possibly Ralph Fiennes) based on a script from Jim Hart and
Michael Goldenberg with shooting to tentatively start spring ‘96
VOLCANO--more disaster to the silver screen with Fox 2000 looking to have this vehicle
be their ‘attraction’ for summer ‘97; storyline is about an earthquake in L.A. that
triggers a volcanic eruption in the La Brea tar pits with the principle characters
being the head of the L.A. Office of Emergency Operations and a young
volcanologist; Mick Jackson to direct aand possibility of Bill Pullman to star
KULL THE CONQUEROR--from Universal based on a comic book from Marvel created
by Robert Howard who also created Conan the Barbarian; this $27 million budget
film set to begin production summer ‘96 will star TV’s Hercules Kevin Sorbo as a
slave who becomes a warrior king and rises to power in the mythical land of
Lemuria; producer to be Raffaella De Laurentiis
THE A-TEAM--from old TV series memories to Universal as a feature film project
THE FALLEN--from Turner w/Schwarzenegger and a script from Nick Kazan (“Reversal
of Fortune”) about a serial killer hunted down by a single cop; the twist is that the
killer turns out to be the devil
FINAL VICTIM--from Stephen Cannell of TV fame, this upcoming book from William
Morrow to be released in July ‘96 has been purchased by Morgan Creek for a
feature film that tells the tale of a serial killer murdering women for body parts to
reconstruct a figure from his past, but a female detective intercedes to put an end
to the terror
CRUSADE--film project for Schwarzenegger with a new home potentially being Warner
Bros and Paul Verhoeven (Total Recall) possibly attached as directort/script in-
house
DEXTER’S LABORATORY--a new hit cartoon series on the Cartoon Network, TBS
and TNT from Hanna-Barbera that’s breaking out about a grade school genius and
his high-tech home lab
ESAU--from Philip Kerr (writer of Five Year Plan) a new novel as yet unpublished with
Disney securing the film rights for either its Touchstone or Hollywood labels with
Jerry Bruckheimer and Bill Unger to produce; storyline is about an anthropologist
couple who lead an expedition to the Himalayas in search of the mysterious yeti,
then discover a colony long thought to be extinct (similar ‘missing link’ theme to
20th Century Fox’s “Almost Adam” and Dreamworks’ “Neanderthal”--both based
on novels-in progress from Petru Popescu and John Darnton respectively)
FIRST STRIKE--from 20th Century Fox, this action thriller by Eric Tipton and Sasha
Gilbert tells the story of a former member of a real-life based Nuclear Emergency
Search Team who has to stop a lunatic controlling three nuclear weapons
THE OUTER LIMITS-- TV series which premiered on Showtime and is now in
syndication from MGM television; also has begun airing throughout the rest of the
world; latest news includes an announcement of a new roller coasters based on The
Outer Limits for Paramount Park’s Virginia and Ohio based theme parks (Kings
Dominion and Kings Island) that will premiere in 1996; also in the works is an
online product with 3-D game play from Worlds Inc. as developer with Jeff
Sullivan and Bruce Onder leading game design that will be in process for about 1
1/2 years before coming online sometime in 1997
POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY--another TV series treatment from MGM in much the
some anthology format as The Outer Limits; on Showtime with start in spring ‘96
and syndication to follow; focus will be on the paranormal
THE QUEST FOR THE GRAIL--slated for Xmas ‘97 from Warner Bros; this will be the
first animated feature from a new division with a musical fantasy/adventure theme
KILLSHOT--possible film from Quentin Tarantino based on the Elmore Leonard book
SPAWN--based on the comic book and now successful toy line, a live action feature film
from New Line (with budget in the $40 mil range) to include special effects from
Mark Dippe (Jurassic Park and T2) also for release summer ‘96
PRIME--another comic book property, this time from Malibu with Universal Pictures and
producer Charles Gordon bringing the comic’s central character--13-year old
Kevin Green--to life as the super hero
(And for those interested in comic book properties that may or many not be interspersed
throughout this document; be aware that there are many in the planning stages including:
from Fox THE X-MEN, THE FANTASTIC FOUR (with Chris Columbus to direct);
from Universal THE INCREDIBLE HULK (with Gale Anne Hurd to produce), MAD
MAN and THE GREEN HORNET (with George Clooney from TV’s ER to star along
with Jason Scott Lee as Kato and a delayed start because of another project for Clooney)
and the director to be Ron Underwood (City Slickers and Speechless) while producers are
Tom Craig and Larry Gordon from Universal as a possible franchise property with release
scheduled for a probable spring ‘97) as well as Malibu’s RUNE and NIGHTMAN); also
have THE GREEN LANTERN coming to Warner Bros with possibility of Gary Scott
Thompson (The Invisible Man for Columbia) writing the script; also new TV animated
series include SILVER SURFER and CAPTAIN AMERICA (Marvel) on Fox in 1997; in
terms of the SILVER SURFER there’s going to be a major push from Marvel as well as
a live action feature film from Fox with Bernd Eichinger attached to produce
ARCHIE--(from Archie Comics fame) along with Universal Studios is planning a film in
‘97 as well as an animated TV series and even a musical (for Broadway?)
HONEY WEST--the old TV series from ‘65-’66 that starred Anne Francis as a blond
bombshell private eye is coming to the screen via TriStar and Danny DeVito’s
production company (Jersey Films)
JASON VS FREDDY--from New Line for summer ‘97 as the characters battle for
leadership over the powers of darkness
THE JETSONS--from Turner for a live action movie that will start by end of summer ‘96
for release in ‘97 with Joe Dante (“Gremlins” and “Innerspace”) to direct and
Denise Di Novi (Batman Returns) to produce
CHUCK NORRIS?WALKER: TEXAS RANGER--the TV series continues with airing
internationally and the ongoing recognition of Norris himself
JOHNNY QUEST--new animated series (65 episodes already committed to) to begin in
fall 1996 on TNT five days a week, (with voice over work by George Segal,
Robert Patrick and for Johnny Quest--JD Roth of ‘Double Dare’) TBS and the
Cartoon Network; also coming is a live action feature film for summer ‘97 with
Peter Segal to direct and Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions along with Tribeca
Productions to produce from Turner with a $100 million + marketing and
merchandising push and Galoob as the master toy licensee
AMPHIBIAN--from Cinevisions with shooting to begin in the spring of 1996; Stan
Winston will be doing the special effects for the lead creature script in-house
HIGH ROLLER--from Savoy Pictures based on a J.F. Lawton spec script that is being
described as an ‘Under Seige’ in a casino with possibility of Stallone to star; the
action takes place in a high-tech Vegas casino hotel targeted for takeover by an
over-the-top mobster; the premise includes the ‘hero’ is the mobster’s fomer
hitman and gambler who reluctantly agrees to be the bodyguard for the daughter of
the casino owner
BLADE RUNNER--new interactive title from Virgin for fall ‘96 release; rights held by
Chartwell Partners (Century City base) and Warner Bros
THE FIFTH ELEMENT--a $65 mil sci-fi action film from Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita
& The Professional) with Columbia Pictures and starring Bruce Willis; production
to start in early 1996 and possible release for summer ‘97
DEEP IMPACT--possible next project from Speilberg and Paramount about a meterorite
that is crashing down to earth; possible producers in the running are David Brown
and Richard Zanuck (Jaws)
METROPOLIS--from Touchstone Pictures/Disney with Ridley Scott attached to this sci-fi
thriller
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS--sequel to the 1981 hit from Hollywood
Pictures (Disney) to begin production spring ‘96 in Paris and Luxembourg and
Anthony Waller (Mute Witness) set to direct with the premise being that David
Naughton’s character has impregnated Jenny Agutter with the result being a
female lead; possible stars are Tobey Maguire and Julie Delpy
CLASTER TV--new 3-D computer animated series (ala Toy Story) to premiere fall ‘96
with a high-tech sci-fi adventure called “Beast Wars”; an action-fantasy
“R.U.S.H.” and a totally new “G.I. Joe: Extreme” entry for syndication on a
weekly strip basis; as well as “Dragonheart” based off the movie for fall ‘96
SACRED TRUST--a new project in development for Sylvester Stallone along with Joel
Silver as producer in what is being described as “Three Days of the Condor” meets
“The Fugitive” (what is derivative is new again) in which a former CIA agent is
called back into active duty only to find he’s been set up as a decoy and is the
target of both his own intelligence network and the targeted terrorist
SPACE--a new TV series on Fox from Chris Carter, the person behind X-Files; launch is
this year
MULTIPLICITY--from Columbia with Harold Ramis directing and producing and
Michael Keaton starring along with Andie MacDowell about an ad executive
who has to deal with not having enough time in his life and meets a scientist who
clones him
PUFF, THE MAGIC DRAGON--live action film from Kennedy/Marshall
INDIANA JONES IV--from Lucas and Speilberg once they get a script treatment they
like; still in the planning stages (Harrison Ford has already commited to a romantic
comedy called “6 Days, 7 Nights” for Hollywood Pictures and “Devil’s Own”, an
action film from Columbia which will undoubtedly impact any scheduling)
JURASSIC PARK II--summer 1997 ‘event’ film from Universal based on the best selling
new novel (The Lost World ) which hit book stores Sept 1995; Speilberg will be
directing with the project currently in preproduction and shooting to start Sept
‘96; a new ‘ride’ to open at Universal Studios Hollywood summer ‘96 and
DreamWorks Interactive has video rights and will sublicense for coin-op (Sega)
other than pinball which is open to bid as of 2/6/96
MAD MAX: THE ROAD WARRIOR--new TV series from Warner Bros looselyu based
on the feature films with co-executive producer being George Miller, the director
for the films
MANSION WARS--from Warner Bros this comedy is based on a story idea from Fred
Wolf, Robert Kuhn and Steve Oedekerk (Black Sheep, Ace Ventura) that’s about
two wealthy families who live on neighboring estates and devote their extensive
fiscal resources to feuding ala the Hatfields and McCoys
SOLDIER--fresh from his success on Mortal Kombat, Paul Anderson is set to direct this
Warner Bros/Jerry Weintraub Production of a ‘Shane’ type of story set in the far
reaches of the galaxy, far in the future where a soldier (possibility is Keanu
Reeves) is forced to become a hero and defend a band of settlers on a remote
planet; tentative start date is late spring ‘96 with a script from David Webb
Peoples (Unforgiven)
FLASH GORDON--feature film in the works through Columbia/Sony with Peter Guber
(Batman) producing and David Goyer writing the script (rights potentially through
King Features); also King Features is launching an animated series scheduled for
fall 1996 with the film slated for 1997
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS--a book from Joseph Finder about a female FBI agent
tracking a secret assassin (the agent’s lover) 20th Century Fox
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS II--next movie installment for fall/winter holidays 1996
with the Borg returning in a script by Brannon Braga and Ronald Moore and
Jonathan Frakes directing; also have a new “Experience” attraction to be opened in
1997 at the Vegas Hilton
EVENT HORIZON--working title for futuristic sci-fi film from Paramount about a rescue
team sent to retrieve a long-long ghost ship at the edge of the galaxy and the
terrifying alien creatures they encounter
ALIEN NATION--two new TV movies planned through 20th Century Fox
HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL--new motion picture (thru Rand)
WILD SPACE--two hour special TV film to air on USA Network beginning in spring ‘96
and then a weekly series based on the TSR fantasy game series
ABSOLUTE POWER--from Castle Rock with Clint Eastwood to star and direct; story is
about a career criminal who witnesses the murder of the President’s mistress; for
1997 with production to start this summer--based on book “Executive Power”
THE CROW II--a new film treatment with film production from Miramax (budget about
$25 mil) to begin October ‘95 and planned release in August/September of 1996;
also in the works is an animated series, reference materials in-house/new lead actor
to replace Brandon Lee is French matinee idol Vincent Perez
PROPHET--Tri-Star Pictures film based on Rob Liefeld comic book about a character
who is faced with the challenge of thwarting a doomsday military plot and learns of
his special strengths in the process; will follow the storyline of the first year of
comic books where the lead character becomes a supersoldier, is put into a
cryogenic chamber and forced to sleep for decades before he heads on a futuristic
mission; but there’s a mistake and he awakens in 1995 (have comic book
reference in-house)
YOUNGBLOOD--also a Rob Liefeld comic book series that has been extremely succesful
from Image Comics selling 1 million copies per month
DOOM IV--Amblin Entertainment project in development with Rob Liefeld
THE MARK--another project in development from Liefeld with Tom Cruise and his
production company
THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE--a remake of the 1962 film with Jan DeBont
(Speed) to direct from 20th Century Fox about the Earth being propelled toward
the sun due to nuclear explosions with Schindler and Swerdlow to produce
HIGHWAY PATROL--possible big screen remake of the old TV series with Tom Arnold
in the Broderick Crawford role for MGM
THE STUPIDS--feature film of the world’s most stupid family based on the children’s
books and starring Tom Arnold (a new take on DUMB and DUMBER) with John
Landis in charge for Savoy Pictures and Imagine Entertainment
SPHERE--Michael Crichton novel with Barry Levinson directing for Warner Bros about
a group of scientists recruited by the Navy to go on a secret underwater mission to
explore an alien spaceship that turns out to be an American ship returned through
time from the future and entombed by an alien sphere
WOODY WOODPECKER--classic animation from Universal Studios
COMBAT--big screen version of the old TV series from Savoy Pictures/Paramount with
Bruce Willis to star in the Vic Morrow role; director to be Walter Hill and first
draft treatment from Bill Wisher (Terminator 2) has action beginning behind
German lines/could be a summer ‘97 release
SANCTUARY--Joel Silver and Warner Bros female action thriller about a woman who
treks to Borneo to rescue her husband
PLANET ICE--bold type because it’s James Cameron with a plot line involving a Russian
vessel in a seafaring plot reminiscent of “The Abyss”; from 20th Century Fox
NICKELODEON--has two series premiering in 1996 including SPACE CASES a comedy
adventure series about five kids from different parts of the galaxy and THE
MYSTERY OF SHELBY WOO, a play-along mystery series
BUGS--another Pixar animated extravaganza feature through Disney for 1998 release
VIPER--the ill-fated series centering on a ‘Knight Rider’ super vehicle from Paramount is
returning in the fall ‘96 with a new star; Jeff Kaake (formerly in Space Rangers)
THE PEACEMAKER--starring George Clooney in the first feature from Dreamworks
SKG with Mimi Leder, one of ER’s key directors, possibly filling the same role for
a story based on a feature article by Leslie and Andrew Cockburn about nuclear
weapons smuggling in the former Soviet Union, second unit photography is
scheduled for April with principle photography to begin in May in Eastern Europe
with a script from Michael Schiffer (Crimson Tide) and a release of spring ‘97;
possible female lead is Annette Bening
B.R.U.N.O. THE KID--a new animated children’s series featuring Bruce Willis as voice
for main character which revolves around a 10-year old computer whiz who
creates a ‘super cyber spy’ alter ego who saves the world from a variety of campy
villains; through Active Entertainment/produced by Film Roman
MAJOR MATT MASON--a bendable rubber astronaut doll that was a popular Mattel toy
from 1966 to 1971 may make it back as a feature film for 1997 (to be called THE
MEN FROM EARTH), animated series and, of course, all new toy line from
Adventuress Prods with Frank Yablans (former head of MGM) and Sybil Danning
(B-actress) heading this venture
BOXING ILLUSTRATED Magazine--possibility to feature some of the greatest fighters
of all time including Ali, Foreman, Joe Louis, Frazier, Hagler and many more
THE FLOOD--from Paramount with producers Mark Gordon and Gary Levinsohn,
director is Mikael Salomon and script from Gordon Yost (Speed and Broken
Arrow) that’s an action flick about an armored car heist planned when the
Mississippi River is cresting at the flood stage; possible starring vehicle for
Christian Slater
(Game Shows appear to be lurking in the background poised for a mini-comeback of
sorts with such entities as “Debt” from Buena Vista Television and Wink Martindale; King
World bringing an all new “Planet Hollywood Squares” to be launched in fall ‘97;
Columbia/Tri-Star reprising “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game” and All
American along with New World/Genesis Distribution coming with “Match Game”,
“Beat The Clock”, “What’s My Line?”, “To Tell The Truth”, “Winner Take All” and some
other former classics); Tribune Entertainment and Mark Goodson Productions would be in
this mix)
BLADE--Marvel comic book to New Line with Wesley Snipes or Larry Fishburne as
possible stars for what could become a franchise
LUKE CAGE--another Marvel Comic book hero to film possibility with Ed Pressman
attached to produce
AMERICAN GLADIATORS--still going strong after 8 seasons on TV with a younger
version as well for children, a European version that’s on TV overseas and plans in
place for a feature film treatment, not to mention toys and other merchandising
THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSAL STUDIOS MONSTERS--classic monsters including THE
MUMMY (a feature film is possible), CREATURE FROM THE BLACK
LAGOON (an upcoming feature film from Ivan Reitman based on script from
Herschel Weingrod and Timothy Harris), Frankenstein and Dracula
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS THEME PARK ATTRACTIONS
FIRESTORM--’Cliffhanger’ in a forest fire from Savoy Pictures and 20th Century Fox;
script from Christopher Britton Smith and possibility of either Howie Long
(former L.A. Raider) or Steven Seagal to star
HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS--syndicated TV series, with Sam
Raimi involved, of swords, sorcery and special effects that is drawing good
reviews and good viewership domestically and with international coverage as well;
also launched as a companion show is XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS from
MCA/Universal and another new entry to begin fall ‘96 is SINBAD as a series
(and from Warner Bros Int’l TV in partnership with China’s Morning Sun
animation studio comes an animated series as well entitled “The Fantastic Voyages
of Sinbad The Sailor) and, if that weren’t enough TARZAN, THE EPIC
ADVENTURES breaks out from Keller Siegal Entertainment as a one-hour live
action fantasy series with a special two hour movie to kick everything off fall ‘96;
from MCA may come a TV series based on THE BEASTMASTER movies
starring Marc Singer
THE SEVENTH GUEST and THE 11TH HOUR --from CD-ROM success to the big
screen via Larry Kasanoff; also ZORK from Activision for the big screen
GODZILLA--after much ado about nothing, it appears that this epic project may get off
the ground through Columbia/Tri-Star with producer Cary Woods, Roland
Emmerich and Dean Devlin (Stargate) attached to the project along with Ted
Elliott and Terry Rossio (Aladdin) doing the script; production could start in fall
‘96 summer after the release of Independence Day with a targeted summer ‘98
release
UNDERWORLD--a new project in development at Touchstone Pictures to be produced
by Gale Ann Hurd about a search for buried treasure through caves and an
underground river system
THE LONE RANGER--a new feature film from Fox through Broadway Video that will
start the story of the main characters in a big action adventure aimed at being
Indiana Jones meets Lethal Weapon with Ben Myron and Dave Helpern producing
THE HONEYMOONERS--classic TV comes to the screen with possibility of Tom
Arnold doing his best Jackie Gleason impersonation in a setting that will be
contemporary 1990s rather than Fifties; project on hold looking for a new star and
studio with producer to be Frank Price
LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS--Elvis biopic from 20th Century Fox based on book from
Peter Guralnick (Little, Brown publisher); story will take The King from age 19 to
when he becomes a G.I. and producers will be Steve Tisch and Gary Goodman
THE WHAT IF GUYS--from Paramount based on a script from Adam Gibgot with
Christian Slater to star about a clandestine branch of the government devoted to
finding holes in the US military defense system
ICE MEN--from Turner and also scripted by Gibgot about a branch of the patent office
responsible for Invention Confinement and Elimination for dangerous new gizmos;
action starts with an inventor who has his life’s work confiscated and breaks into
the ICE office to steal blueprints for 90 different doomsday machines
PREDATOR 3--possibility from Fox of another sequel for 1997
I DREAM OF JEANNIE (from Columbia)/GREEN ACRES (from 20th Century
Fox)/THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY (Warner Bros)/MR ED (Disney)
GILLIGAN’S ISLAND (Turner)/F TROOP (Universal with executive producer
David Permut and producers being Adam Fields and Bob Logan with a script by
Logan) and BEWITCHED coming from Columbia with a script from Douglas
Carter Beane (To Wong Foo) with possible star being Lisa Kudrow (“Friends”) or
Alicia Silverstone to star--old TV brought to life via the silver screen; some may
actually happen and even fewer may be successful---for I DREAM OF JEANNIE
talk is for Alicia Silverstone or Lisa Kudrow to star with Sidney Sheldon/Michael
Viner being executive producers and Todd Langen to pen the script
McHALE’S NAVY--from Universal yet another old TV series being brought back to life
with Tom Arnold playing the Ernest Borgnine role
U.S. MARSHALS--from Warner Bros as a possible ‘Fugitive’ spin-off with Tommy Lee
Jones as possible star
MILLENNIUM--from Chris Carter (creator of The X-Files) a new futuristic TV series
starring Lance Henriksen as a retired FBI agent who must band with psychotic
killers and criminals in order to stave off the end of the world; set to air fall ‘96;
also have a feature film version of THE X-FILES coming possibly by 1997
SPEED RACER--on indefinite hold although Richard Donner, Joel Silver, Lauren Shuler-
Donner attached to produce and possible of Gus Van Sant directing from Warner
Bros for Memorial Day or summer ‘97 with a big push behind it and the possibility
of Johnny Depp in the lead/the initial plot line is a kitschy retro cartoon brought to
live action life; taking place in contemporary times with a true cutting edge look,
especially in regard to the vehicles (same people who created the Batmobile have
put their talents to work) script in-house
BIG-- the Tom Hanks film from 1988 returns to the Broadway stage spring ‘96 as a big
budget musical (about $10 mil) with co-producers being Ringling Bros and Ken
Feld; this could be the centerpiece of a entire merchandising program and if it hits,
will undoubtedly go on tour for the next few years ahead
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN--old TV sitcom lives with Warner Bros bringing Martin
Short to the big screen in the Ray Walston role; producers are Robert Shapiro and
Jerry Leider from a script by Barry Strugatz and Mark Burns (Married to the Mob)
and Joe Dante (Matinee) to direct
THE CHAMBER--film treatment of the Grisham best seller from Universal, with Chris
O’Donnell in the lead
DISNEY animated features on the ‘drawing board’ include HERCULES for 1997
(Mattel has master toy rights); THE LEGEND OF MULAN and TARZAN OF
THE APES (the latter for possibly 1997/98); and a live action volcano feature
called RING OF FIRE with Tony Scott as possible director
SUPERMAN--from Warner Bros as their 1998 ‘event’ feature; also have animation series
scheduled for fall ‘96 launch and an all-new thrill ride attraction to open at Six
Flags Magic Mountain called “Superman The Escape”
LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN--from Warner Bros this
TV series continues to garner top ratings and is getting ready for a fourth season
on the small screen beginning fall ‘96
ALIENS 4--from Fox for spring 1997; this latest installment ALIEN: RESURRECTION
continues the saga with a new storyline and cast of characters including Sigourney
Weaver as Ripley and Winona Ryder as an android for a production that should
begin late summer of ‘96 in the United Kingdom with a story line coming from
Joss Whedon that has Ripley being brought back to life from the massacre at the
close of Alien 3 in a cloning process that should add something to the $70 mil
budget brief synopsis available in-house
INVASION EARTH--project from Ed Pressman with Anthony Hickox directing and co-
writing the script along with Pete Atkins; based upon a storyline of a government
experiment with insects that has gone awry
PLANET OF THE APES--1997 from Fox with possibility of Oliver Stone being
attached to the project and talk of Schwarzenegger to star
CAPTAIN BLOOD--from Warner Bros
THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS--from Columbia starring Chow Yun-Fat (from John
Woo fame in “The Killer”) as an assassin who teams with a forger to prevent a
killing; production to start in spring of ‘96 for possible release late ‘96 or early ‘97
101 DALMATIANS--live action version from Disney of this classic animated film with
Stephen Herek directing and Glenn Close as the evil Cruella de Vil, plus Joely
Richardson, Joan Plowright and Jeff Daniels for Thanksgiving ‘97 release; also
being scheduled as a partnership with Disney and Kellogg’s is an animated series
to be launched in fall ‘97
STARSHIP TROOPERS--for spring/summer 1997 from Sony/Columbia Pictures
and Disney in a collaborative agreement to back this $95 mil budget epic
with Paul Verhoeven directing, Alan Marshall and Jon Davison producing,
Ken Ralston visual effect supervisor (The Mask, Forrest Gump, Star Wars
and Star Trek), Phil Tippett (Jurassic Park, Robocop, Star Wars) as creature
and visual effect supervisor, script from Ed Neumeier (Robocop); based on
the Robert Heinlein sci-fi book from the ‘50s which pits troops against races
of giant insects on other planets and the protection of Earth from possible
invasion; first casting is Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) as a scientist,
Michael Ironside, Jake Busey (son of Gary) and Caspar Van Dien, along with
female leads Denise Richards and Dina Meyer; Galoob is the master toy
licensee; production to start May ‘96 in Caspar, Wyoming/have visuals and
script in-house
ULTRASONIC--high tech thriller from Laurence Dworet who scripted “Outbreak”, from
Warner Bros
DOCTOR WHO--coming back to TV via Universal with Paul McGann to star as well as
Eric Roberts for broadcast potentially on Fox at the end of 1996
STAR WARS--plans for the next trilogy include a shooting schedule for all three films at
once and release of the first installment for 1998 or 1999; George Lucas will have
a direct hand in directing this first part and is now writing all three parts with the
following planned schedule of fall ‘96 for pre-production casting, set building; for
the bulk of shooting on all three pictures to be completed during 1997--budgets for
each to be in the $50 to $70 mil range and 20th Century Fox looking to have the
inside track to be the studio doing distribution; also coming to fill in the gaps is
SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE, a new book from Bantam, a six issue comic book
series from Dark Horse to be introduced in May ‘96; a new video game for the
Nintendo 64 system to be released in Oct ‘96 and the reissue of STAR WARS:
THE SPECIAL EDITION theatrically beginning in Feb ‘97
DEAD GIVEAWAY--murder mystery set in the South and inspired by John Feegel’s
book “Death Sails the Bay”, also from Warner Bros and the new Free Range
banner of Andy Meyer and Gil Friesen
SPEED II--yes, it looks like there will be a sequel with Sandra Bullock already signed up
along with Jan DeBont set to direct and Mark Gordon to produce and production
to begin Sept ‘96 with the initial storyline buzz being on board a boat (Fox)
MAGIC: THE GATHERING--a cult sensation; can the theme work for coin-op?
THE GLIMMER MAN--from Warner Bros with Steven Seagal and Keenan Ivory Wayans
as two partners on the trail of a serial killer in suburban L.A.
THE NIGHT MANAGER--from Paramount based on the John Le Carre spy thriller
originally published in l993 with Sydney Pollack to direct and produce from a
Robert Towne adaptation (their last collaboration was “The Firm”) that deals with
the post-Cold War with spies in an international cartel attempting to rise to power
TOMORROW MAN--new TV sci-fi series on CBS with Julian Sands (Warlock and
Boxing Helena) starring as an android who travels back in time to the present to
determine why mankind has become extinct (from 20th Century Fox Television)
THE AVENGERS--feature film of the old TV series from Warner Bros with Jerry
Weintraub producing and Jeremiah Chechik directing as Emma Peel and
John Steed back at their sleuthing best in England in the near future, circa
1999; Nicole Kidman to star with filming to begin in summer ‘96 and
tentative release for spring ‘97; has all the flair and elan of the series as Mrs.
Peel and Steed must track down a villain who has the power to control the
weather in London circa 1999 script in-house
WEIRD TALES--a new anthology series to debut on HBO with Oliver Stone, Francis
Ford Coppola and Tim Burton joining forces to bring back a collection of horror
short stories that were originally published back in the 1920s through ‘50s by such
writers as H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury and Robert Bloch
PREY--from Warner Bros with Nicholas Meyer as exec producer (screenplay by Ron
Roose and Meyer) of this thriller about a computer professor whose wife and little
girl are killed in a terrorist attack on an airplane; the film hero is out for vengence
TENTACLE--from Hollywood Pictures is an action thriller described as Aliens meets The
Poseidon Adventure and takes place in the South China seas and follows a group
of gunrunners who come across an almost entirely deserted luxury cruise ship only
to discover that it is occupied by a killer creature
REDWALL--book series from Brian Jacques with rats being the lead characters in this
animal allegory similar to “Watership Down”; publisher is Philomel Books and
plans call for possible movie projects down the road
SUSPENSION--coming from Paramount based on a spec script from Joss Whedon that is
being described as “Die Hard” on a bridge with the storyline involving terriorists
who seize control of New York’s George Washington Bridge during a traffic jam
ARCHANGEL--from script by Greg Martin through TriStar and described as a “Celestine
Prophecy” meets “The X-Files” for a sophisticated sci-fi conspiracy thriller with a
female protagonist
MR MAGOO--a live action feature from Disney with UPA (Hank Saperstein) attached
ZORRO--feature is from Amblin Entertainment and TriStar with the possibility of Robert
Rodriguez (El Mariachi) attached to the project as director and Antonio Banderas
(“Desperado”) in the lead--tentative start of production is July ‘96 for summer ‘97
release
STARGATE--MGM-TV might be taking this movie and adapting it into a series for TV
syndication with possibility of launch in 1997
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD--the classic 1963 Stanley Kramer comedy
which starred Spencer Tracy, Sid Ceasar and so many other greats looks like it
might be coming back as TV film pilot and/or feature film from MGM with a script
from Alan Spencer (Sledge Hammer)
TRIPLE CROSS--from Universal with Adi Hasak to produce this heist film that’s
described as “The Sting” meets “The Guns of Navarone” with the main role being
an ex-CIA operative turned freelancer who finds himself in a web of betrayal
HOUDINI--back from the dead, literally and figuratively, it appears to now be on a fast
track for producer Ray Stark at Columbia with a script by Anna Hamilton Phelan
(Gorillas in the Mist); shooting is scheduled to start spring ‘96 with an expected
$75 million budget
JOSIAH’S CANON--from Fox based on a script from Jeff King that’s a dramatic heist
story about a Holocaust survivor who leads the world’s foremost team of bank
robbers to break into an impenetrable bank in Switzerland to reclaim money from
Weimar Jews who were subsequently killed in the concentration camps; being
compared to “Marathon Man” and “The Parallax View” with Adam Fields to
produce
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE--the old TV series that starred Steve McQueen looks to
be coming to the big screen via Universal with producer Adam Field attached and
John Milius (The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, Jeremiah Johnson) writing
the screen play; possibility of Stallone starring as Josh Randall, the Old West
bounty hunter with the Mare’s Leg sawed off .30-.40 carbine strapped to his leg
THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE--from Warner Bros with Taylor Hackford (Dolores
Claiborne and An Officer and a Gentleman) directing and Arnold Kopelson
(Seven, Outbreak, The Fugitive) directing; script is from Jonathan Lemkin
(Demolition Man) and is a thriller about a young lawyer who discovers his boss
has an increasingly sinister personality
CUSTER MARCHING TO VALHALLA--from New Line with Brad Pitt to star; based
on an unpublished 400-page manuscript (book to come from Random House this
year) from Michael Blake, author of “Dances With Wolves” about the life, times
and battles of George Armstrong Custer
THE QUEST FOR CAMELOT--first full length animated feature film from Warner Bros
for release late 1997 with David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager doing the musical
score and Christopher Reeve providing speech for King Arthur in what promises
to be a “romantic adventure” in King Arthur’s kingdom
BONJOUR, HOMICIDE--from Columbia Pictures with Luc Besson (“The Professional”,
“La Femme Nikita” and “The Fifth Element”) involved in a script from Frawley
Becker that tells the tale of a French vice cop (Jean Reno is set to star) who comes
to Miami to investigate a homicide and finds himself partnered with a black female
officer (possibility of Angela Bassett)
GOING WEST--from Paramount with a script from Jeb Stuart (Die Hard and Outbreak)
who will also be directing for the first time and Gale Anne Hurd producing; the
storyline is a cat and mouse game between a serial killer and an FBI agent who
devoted his life to pursuing him; possible leads include Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid
and Paul Newman with production to start sometime in spring of ‘96
THE MATRIX--from Warner Bros and Silver Pictures with Larry and Andy Wachowski
(“Assassins”) doing the script on this big budget sci-fi project
FIVE STAR CLEARANCE--a futuristic espionage thriller that’s being billed as The
Fugitive meets 1984; this original screenplay from Christopher Daniel Barnes
(played Greg Brady in the Paramount movie) is being budgeted at between $50 mil
to $70mil from independent production company Trident Entertainment
THE PRISONER--the classic TV series starring Patrick McGoohan looks to be making a
comeback as a potential feature film with Michael Kuhn and PolyGram involved
along with McGoohan
THE RIFLEMAN--Chuck Connors may be long gone but no so the memory and image
of Lucas McCain with The Family Channel still airing this old TV series and now
talk that Warner Bros may be doing a big screen rebirth
THE FOUNDATION--from New Line based on the Isaac Asimov sci-fi trilogy with
Dennis Feldman (Species) doing the script and Atlas Entertainment’s Chuck Roven
(12 Monkeys) and Robert Cavallo producing along with Dawn Steel exec
producing; originally published between 1950 and 1953 the trilogy (which includes
“Foundation”, “Foundation and Empire”, and “Second Foundation”) is an award
winning classic that spans 1,000 years and the galactic survival/struggle of
mankind
THE CELESTINE PROPHECY--novel from James Redfield that has been on the best
seller list for over two years selling more than 3.3 million copies domestically and
another 2 million abroad; there’s a website and a CD-ROM spin-off as well as talk
about two more books and an impending movie deal that will make this an Indiana
Jones style adventure of a man who discovers an ancient manuscript in Peru and is
led on a journey of spiritual insights
PLASTICMAN--at one time a hot property for translation into a live action feature film;
it’s back at Warner Bros with the DC Comics character getting life through
Amblin Entertainment and Geoffrey Wright at the helm as director
DREAMWORKS--has two animated feature films in development including “PRINCE OF
EGYPT” (to be released in 1998) which centers around Moses and “SHREK”
based on the William Steig (long running cartoonist for The New Yorker
magazine) novel about a young ogre and princess who team up to share various
adventures; script by Tommy Swerdlow and Michael Goldberg and producer is
John Williams
CAIN--from Paramount with Bruce Willis in mind as star of what is being touted to be a
‘franchise’; based on a high-tech supernatural novel (only 20 pages have been done
with no publisher yet announced) not yet written by Byron Huggins involves a
military experiment to create the perfect soldier which, of course, goes awry;
Willis would play a special forces veteran brought out of retirement to destroy the
soldier
WITH WINGS AS EAGLES--from screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart) and
Paramount, with Schwarzenegger seen in the lead of a based-on-true-story WWII
action adventure of a bombardier shot down over Germany; shooting to start 8/96
SHOOTER--from Paramount with Robert Redford in the lead as an ace marksman who is
framed for a political assassination and must track down the people who set him
up; with the help of a renegade FBI agent (based on Stephen Hunter’s novel “Point
of Impact”)
THE RIG--from Paramount Pictures and another project for Mario Kassar, this disaster
movie by Scott Sommer centers around an oil rig that is threatened by icebergs
FIRE DOWN BELOW--from Warner Bros with Steven Seagal to star as an
Environmental Protection Agency agent who goes undrecover in a mining town to
break a ring of toxic-waste dumpers; filming to start July ‘96 with Uli Edel to
direct and Jon Peters to produce
THE MONEY PLANE--based on a Jan 22nd cover story in New York Magazine written
by Robert I. Friedman; this project is with Mario Kassar and Paramount and
centers around the premise that every working day about $100 million in freshly
minted U.S. currency is transported from JFK airport to banks in the Soviet Union
A MAN WITH A FOOTBALL--possible vehicle for Stallone and a summer ‘96 shooting
schedule for Warner Bros with Sly playing a U.S. special weapons unit officer
tracking down a nuclear scientist who has gone off the deep end wanting to set off
a warhead in Washington D.C.; script is by John Pogue and Morgan Creek would
handle production
THE GAME--from Propoganda Films with possibility of Michael Douglas and Jodie
Foster to star and David Fincher to direct this psychological thriller about a rich
San Francisco resident who becomes involved in a strange game that invades his
life, gets out of hand and puts his life in danger; production to start July ‘96
Animation continues to move forward with new series starts for “THE INCREDIBLE
HULK” from Marvel to air on UPN Sunday mornings beginning fall ‘96 along with
JUMANJI, based on the movie from Columbia Tri-Star; also Saban Entertainment is going
to be hitting with a number of shows including B.A.D. (Bureau of Alien Destroyers);
feature films such as “ANASTASIA” due for release in 1997 from Fox Animation Studios
there’s a new genre of Japanese animation called “Manga” which has more serious themes
and a first time animated film feature called “GHOST IN THE SHELL” is scheduled to hit
spring ‘96; also covering this same subject of Japanese comics is a new first of what will
be a five-volume graphic novel called “Adolf: A Tale of the 20th Century” by the late
Osamu Tezuka, considered one of the greatest Manga artists to be published by Viz
Commuincations under their Cadence book imprint; the storyline line for this involves
murder and political intrigue in fascist Germany and Japan in 1936 and originally sold over
four million copies in Japanese editions when it was first released; on a less serious side of
things “DOUG” from Nickelodeon fame crosses over to the networks for a strip; “THE
TICK” continues to score ratings and “SKY DANCERS” a girl’s action/adventure
cartoon and toy line is joined by “DRAGON FLYZ” a boy’s version that should break out
in ‘96 (from Abrams/Gentile); also from DIC and Ivan Reitman comes a new syndicated
series called “MUMMIES” featuring five Egyptian mummies brought back to life in
modern times who form a crime-fighting unit opposing the evil crime organization known
as ‘The Scarab’
STAR BLAZER--from TAE Prod. who have film rights to this Japanese animated series
about warriors of the future aboard a WWII batleship retrofitted for space duty,
originally for U.S. TV back in the ‘80s
SHINING TIME STATION--children’s show featuring “Thomas the Tank Engine” and
George Carlin as the conductor (original star was Ringo Starr) is coming to the big
screen via Paramount; series has been on air for seven years internationally
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY--from New Line with
Michael Myers (wrote the script) to star (Suzanne and Jennifer Todd are possible
producers) in a comedy that centers around a world-class playboy and part-time
special agent who is thawed after 30 years in a cryogenic state to match wits with
his nemesis Dr Evil only the problem is that his spy skills are all from the ‘60s;
budget for what could become a franchise character (ala In Like Flint and Matt
Helm) is $16 million
BLADES--from Universal, a spec action screenplay by David Engelbach and John Wolff
with producer Chuck Gordon that’s supposed to be ‘Speed meets helicopters’
about a news helicopter pilot who is deputized by the police after the president’s
helicopter, Marine One, is taken over by terriorists above the skies of L.A.
MOUSEHUNT--from Dreamworks with producers to be Alan Riche and Tony Ludwig
from a spec script by Adam Rifkin that’s a comedy described as “Dumb and
Dumber” meets “Jumanji” about two brothers who inherit a house and find
themselves outsmarted by a mouse
HOMINID--from Interscope Communications and Polygram for a potential 1997 release
comes a script from Warren and Kenneth Selko that’s an evolutionary thriller
about a prehistoric tribe that gets trapped beneath the Earth’s surface during an
earthquake and, over the centuries, the tribe evolves into a subterranean society
that extends from Mexico to Northern California and what happens when they try
to make contact with the modern world above
THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR--from Disney, written and to be produced by
John Hughes comes this remake of the classic Fred MacMurray film with Robin
Williams in the title role and director to be Les Mayfield (“Miracle on 34th Street”
and “Encino Man”)
SMOKEJUMPERS--from Warner Bros with Oliver Stone to direct (location scouting in
Montana to begin April ‘96) based on the book “Young Men and Fire” written by
Norman Maclean (“A River Runs Through It”) in 1993; a semiautobiographical
story set in the 1930s about six men who are part of a firefighting unit who, during
a forest fire, get cut off from the rest of the crew and must somehow survive
ALREADY DEAD--from Spelling Entertainment and Paramount comes a project written
by first timer Chris Bertolini with John Frankenheimer as possible director along
with Mace Neufeld and Robert Rehme (“Clear and Present Danger”) as producers;
plot line is about an undercover cop who poses as part of the Mafia inorder to
expose a business operation that deals in farming out body organs
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VEGAS VACATION--for those who might still care, from
Warner Bros comes the fourth installment in this progressively less awe-inspiring
series starring Chevy Chase with Stephen Kessler set to direct and Jerry Weintraub
producing
CON AIR--from Touchstone Pictures with Jerry Bruckheimer to produce and Simon West
to direct; based on a script from Scott Rosenberg about convicts who take over a
plane; to star Nicholas Cage and John Cusack
THE LAST SIX MILLION SECONDS--from 20th Century Fox based on a book by John
Burdett (to be published by Morrow in early ‘97) about the changeover of control
of Hong Kong from the British to the Chinese in 1997; the mystery thriller takes
place on the eve of the switch and involves a murder, a Hong Kong cop who is
part European and Asian and a missing girl; Jan De Bont (“Twister” and “Speed”)
is attached to produce and direct
THE DAY OF THE JACKAL--from Universal, a remake of the 1973 film with Michael
Caton-Jones to direct what will be a contemporary thriller about an assassination
attempt on the head of the FBI which follows the opening of an FBI office in
Moscow that is investigating the Russian criminal organizations; possibility of
Matthew McConaughey (“Dazed and Confused”) to star
AIR FORCE--from Columbia Pictures with Wolfgang Petersen to possibly direct this
Harrison Ford starrer written by Andrew Marlowe and producers to be Armyan
Bernstein and Marc Abraham; movie storyline (with a start date of Sept ‘96)
centers on a president on Air Force One who takes matters into his own hands
when he finds himself in jeopardy from terrorists
DEEP RISING--from Hollywood Pictures with Treat Williams to star in this action thriller
as a smuggler in a group of gun runners who come across an almost entirely
deserted luxury cruise ship only to discover that there’s a killer creature to content
with; written and directed by Stephen Sommers and producers are Larry Mark and
John Baldecchi
FEVER--from Columbia with a spec screenplay from Dave Ryan about a medical student
working as a morgue attendant who uncovers a deadly plot to infect the Third
World with a fatal disease
MULLKON EMPIRE--from the pen of John Jakes author of “North and South” and
numerous other books comes a live action TV series via BIG Entertainment of
Boca Raton, Fla and Alliance Communications Corp that deals with a waste
disposal business dynasty in the 26th Century
TIME SQUARE--from Columbia Pictures with first time script writer Paul Finelli doing
an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s (Blade Runner and Total Recall) short story
called “A Little Something for Us Temponauts” that features a plot line of three
time travelers who have 24 hours to investigate and possibly prevent their own
deaths
WONDER WOMAN--not the old Lynda Carter series, but rather a new film treatment of
this DC Comics superhero with Ivan Reitman on board to develop what could be
another Warner Bros big screen franchise; Kimberlee Reed has been signed on to
write a script
DARK FUTURE--from New Line and Alex Proyas (The Crow) set to direct this futuristic
thriller which is scheduled to begin filming July 15th in Australia about a man who
learns that his memories as well as his reality are artificial creations
QUARTERMASS AND THE PIT--also from New Line and Alex Proyas; this big screen
version of a BBC sci-fi series is about a professor who unearths the remains of
extraterrestrial life and will begin as soon as “Dark Future” is completed
I AM LEGEND--from Warner Bros with Carlo Carlei to direct and Mark Protosevich to
write the screenplay for Richard Matheson’s cult novel on which “The Omega
Man” (1971 with Charlton Heston) was based
WORLD CUP SOCCER--for 1998 the games will take place in France and still stands as
the largest sporting event in the world with 32.1 billion cumulative TV viewers
worldwide having watched World Cup ‘94; an opportunity for pinball again? or for
video? or novelty/redemption? (thru Sony Signatures)
TERMITE--based on a sci-fi novel by Patricia Anthony from 20th Century Fox with John
Sayles (“Matewan”, “Passion Fish”, “Eight Men Out”) and James Cameron
teaming up to bring to life a story focusing on a world in the near future where a
newly introduced alien race struggles to fight prejudice on Earth along with a
battle for control of the planet
RENT--the next big Broadway musical rock opera success (scheduoled to open on
Broadway end of April ‘96) is also the target of a huge bidding war by all studios
for movie rights
GARGOYLES--also from Paramount with Gale Anne Hurd about gargoyles in NY who
come to life (sounds alot like the Disney animated series)
Turner --Castle Rock (distribution thru Columbia)
New Line
Rysher--through MGM
Gramercy Pictures--through Polygram Filmed Entertainment and not Universal
Mandalay Entertainment (310-280-6444) --through Sony
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