Some time ago it seemed that the Edgar Burroughs' classic Barsoom stories were not going to be made into films. This was due to the director having been fired by the studio. Well that seems to have changed;
http://www.empireonl...p?news_id=16055
The Princess Groom
Sky Captain director replaces Rodriguez on sci-fi film
30 July 2004
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow director Kerry Conran must have enjoyed his time fiddling around with greenscreen because he looks set to sign on for the potentially huge franchise A Princess of Mars.
Princess is based on the first book of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs? 11-volume John Carter of Mars series and Paramount, along with co-producer Harry 'AICN' Knowles - has been searching for a director capable of jump-starting a franchise since Robert Rodriguez left the project due to his non-afiliation with the Directors Guild of America.
Rumour had it that Alphaville, the production company involved, whose previous forays into the f/x world include The Mummy and The Scorpion King, wanted Stephen Sommers to replace Rodriguez but thankfully the Van Helsing director passed.
Meanwhile, self-confessed sci-fi geek Conran's revolutionary effects work on the relatively low budget Sky Captain has obviously impressed the suits over at Paramount.
Sky Captain isn?t released until September 17 and still has to prove itself a hit with the great unwashed. If it fails to live up to expectations, Conran could find himself out on his ear before he has even begun.
Paramount is anxious for a bang-up job on this one because it believes it has a potentially massive money-spinner on its hands and there?s plenty of scope for a Police Academy style endless sequels if the space project takes off. A Princess of Mars: Assignment Miami Beach, anyone? No? Anyone?
It would seem that Paramount really wants to turn this series in a film franchise if they are willing to risk an untried director.
Edited by Axerules, 06 July 2011 - 05:29 AM.
Title fixed
