Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars Imperiled

[Hand of Evil]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-04/08/11.45.film

Mars Imperiled

Robert Rodriguez's resignation from the Directors Guild of America has jeopardized Paramount's development of its adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic SF book A Princess of Mars, Variety reported. The director of Spy Kids quit the union so he could co-direct Sin City with Frank Miller, who created, wrote and illustrated the three-book graphic novel series on which that movie is based, the trade paper reported. (Guild rules do not permit such "co-directing" credits.)

But that imperils Mars, because as a DGA signatory, Paramount is required to employ only guild directors, the trade paper reported. Insiders close to Rodriguez tell the trade paper that, at least for now, the director is unwilling to rejoin the guild just to direct Princess of Mars.

Mars is based on the first book in Burroughs' 11-volume John Carter of Mars series.


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Interesting in both the SIN CITY news and Mars.

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

To me this is just a sign of whats wrong with Hollywood and the various guilds and their rules.

 

[WayneLigon]

To me this is just a sign of whats wrong with Hollywood and the various guilds and their rules.

Indeed. Hopefully this will someday go the way of the 'Studio System'.

 

[Iron_Chef]

Tear down the guilds, the unions, the teamsters and all the other corrupt, lazy no good "communists" and "mafiosi" that unnecessarily inflate the cost of doing business!!!

I don't think losing Rodriguez is a death-blow to Princess. Rodriguez is talented, but he cranks out nothing but crap these days: Spy Kids 1-3, Once Upon A Time In Mexico... His last good film was THE FACULTY, AFAIC.

 

[barsoomcore]

I mostly agree with you, IC, and I'm sure another deal can be cooked for Princess. Steve Sommers would be a fine choice -- he has the ability to wield truly awe-inspiring amounts of cheese and take it all seriously in just the right way. Which is what ERB requires, in my opinion.

Mrs Barsoom and I are also available...

 

[Desdichado]

Mrs Barsoom and I are also available...

But are you members of the director's guild is the real question...

 

[barsoomcore]

Doh! Apparently that's a deal-breaker, isn't it? Dagnabit...

 

[Shadowdancer]

Additional fallout from this is that Rodriguez and some others were hoping that "Princess of Mars" would do for Austin, TX, what "LotR" did for New Zealand in terms of making it a movie-making hot spot. Harry Knowles, of Ain't It Cool News fame, was one of the film's producers.