Favreau on a Mission to Mars
[size=-2]Posted by Clint Morris on October 7, 2005[/size]
Faster than you can say 'Kerry, pack your bags', the film version of Paramount's "John Carter of Mars" has played switcheroo with the helmer's chair.
It's out with Kerry Conran, and in with Jon Favreau ["Swingers", "Zathura"], says Variety, and as a consequence, the fan boys scream in glee.
The epic adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi series begins with a Civil War veteran whose retreat into a cave to avoid capture by Apache Indians takes an otherworldly turn as he's transported via time portal to the planet of Barsoom and taken prisoner by 12-foot-tall green men.
Burroughs wrote 11 volumes of Carter's adventures and the studio is hoping the film will launch a franchise. Ehren Kruger rewrote a script by Mark Protosevich.
"Mars" has long been viewed by the studio and Par-based Alphaville as a plum project. The trouble has been getting the right director. Robert Rodriguez was set, until he had to remove himself after resigning his DGADGA membership over the guild's unwillingness to allow him to co-direct "Sin City" with Frank Miller. Kerry Conran was most recently attached.
Favreau has a taste for special-effects fare, exhibited with large-scale fantasy pic "Zathura," that Sony releases Nov. 11 and New Line's hit "Elf."
Favreau, who just wrapped the fourth season as producer and host of the IFC series "Dinner for Five," has also hatched an Image EntertainmentImage Entertainment-produced sitcomsitcom for Fox. Favreau is writing and will possibly direct the pilot. As an actor, Favreau just wrapped "The Break Up."
Aint it Cool head-honcho Harry Knowles is the film's executive producer. He chatted a bit last night about the film's chops and changes.
"I love Kerry, we all did. Ultimately though, Kerry found a couple of pulp properties that he was even more passionate about. Whenever he's ready to announce, I think everyone everywhere will be happy. You see... We're still going to deliver a Great JOHN CARTER movie, but Kerry will deliver another great science fiction pulp character film too. We film lovers will have twice as much to be excited about!", says Knowles.
And on Favs, he says "Jon Favreau is just an incredibly exciting choice. For one, I've known and had a great relationship with Favs, hell he even took part in the doomed AICN TV Pilot for Comedy Central. Plus - Jon has an absolute passion for not just the material - but all the great toys that must be employed in making this epic a reality."
Ehren Kruger's script apparently stunk worse than an uncleaned litter tray - what now? "Jon's first order of business is to bring on a screenwriter to bring the script back closer to Burroughs. He loves that novel. At this stage Jon is securing the effects and design team that we've had through Kerry's tenure on the project and just continue to chip away at the awesome mountain of pre-production that will make this film amongst the finest science fiction-fantasy films of all time."
