The studio that is known for taking chances (Inception, Where The Wild Things Are, Observe and Report) are developing two new projects that seem to be quite the opposite. The first is a Gilligan’s Island film, based on the three season CBS TV show that ran from 1964 to 1967. Brad Copeland who worked on the excellent Arrested Development and the not-so-excellent Wild Hogs is writing a screenplay for WB. The Dark Knight producer Charles Roven wants to start production as “early as next year, but won’t move forward on seeking a director or cast until Copeland’s script is completed.” Their plan is a modern take “on the well-known premise and characters.” It is rumored they are looking Michael Cera to play Gilligan and Beyonce Knowles to play Ginger. Roven told Variety:
“The characters are so good. We think it’s going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day.”
The next project being developed at the studio is a film based on the classic videogame Space Invaders. With Asteroids at Universal and Missile Command at Fox, this idea isn’t too crazy. LA Times reports that WB is “negotiating to acquire feature rights to the landmark shooter from Taito, the Japanese company that originally manufactured the game.” Producers Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan, The Day After Tomorrow), Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity) and Guymon Casady are attached.
Gilligan’s Island could just be a stupid, generic, harmless adventure, but I think Space Invaders does have a bit of promise. They could go the Starship Troopers route and make a ridiculously entertaining sci-fi action film, but with development in such an early stage we really don’t know much about either project.
What do you think of Gilligan’s Island and Space Invaders films? Has Hollywood run dry of ideas?