Keanu Barada Nikto! 'Day The Earth Stood Still' remake...

[Bahax]

Here we go, another "re-imagining".....

From Variety (http://www.variety.com/VR1117970896.html):

Keanu Reeves lands on 'Earth'
Actor to star in classic sci-fi remake

By MICHAEL FLEMING

Twentieth Century Fox has set Keanu Reeves to star in "The Day the Earth Stood Still," its re-imagining of the 1951 Robert Wise-directed sci-fi classic.

Reeves committed over the weekend to play Klaatu, a humanoid alien who arrives on Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot and a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.

Erwin Stoff is producing, with Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") directing from a script by David Scarpa. Reeves' commitment puts the picture on track for a late fall or early 2008 production start. Studio sees it as a tentpole.

The Klaatu role was originated by Michael Rennie. The 1951 film's premise, a response to the rise of the Cold War after WWII, is being updated, and the film will use advances in visual effects.

It also returns "The Matrix" star to his strong suit in the sci-fi realm and puts him in back-to-back films for Fox. He just completed the David Ayer-directed "The Night Watchman," for Fox Searchlight/Regency about police corruption based on a story by James Ellroy. Forest Whitaker, Chris Evans and Hugh Laurie also star.

Reeves is repped by 3 Arts and CAA.

The film will use advances in visual effects? No fooling!? You mean they won't rely on 1950s technology? My word.

[DOUBTINGTHOMAS29]

And I thought the remake to Halloween was a stupid idea.

[Hawkman]

Dear God does it never end??? As soon as I hear that Hollywood is 're-imagining' a film, I hear it as "We have no better ideas left than to screw up a classic film.' Or 'Film star whose career is dead or at a standstill thinks he can do better'.

Planet Of The Apes anyone???

[Shawn1968]

They cast Keanu in the wrong roll, I think his acting skills lend better to him being the Gort.

[spudco]

Surely this marks the coming end of time...

[Pug]

They cast Keanu in the wrong roll, I think his acting skills lend better to him being the Gort.

:mad:











:laugh:

[wayneklein]

Here's hoping they don't remake the film but use the story as the basis of the film. It will make it slightly different. Reeves actually has the detached quality that would work well with the role although he doesn't have the acting chops of Rennie.

I heard that the project was put on hold temporarily so obviously this was designed to move it forward. It might have been put on hold because of cast changes.

I'd rather see Hugh Laurie play Klattu.

[wayneklein]

With the right director (and script) this could play quite well. Although I'm generally against remakes "The Andromeda Strain" mini-series sounds promising with a Pultizer Prize winning writer working on the script, a top notch director and right casting (it also helps that Ridley Scott is producing).

Let's remember that they did do a good job with "Battlestar: Galatica" although there are a number of remakes that tanked.

Remakes are really nothing new--they've been remaking films since the 30's and restaging plays, retelling of myths are essentially "remaking" the material to fit the times.

[Yankee8156]

I have nothing against remakes, but some movies should just not be remade. Not just because the original is very good, but because the original works so well with time it was released, which is the case with this movie, for me at least.

I won't pass judgment until I see it, but I don't have very high expectations. I also don't care for Reeves. I have yet to see him in a movie that I liked, and he doesn't seem to have such great skill from what I've seen.

[canoehead]

Think I'll wait for the musical.

[pdenny]

Reeves committed over the weekend to play Klaatu, a humanoid alien

Typecasting. :p

[Bahax]

I think there's plenty of potential for a decent remake with this one.

[John B Good]

This is scary. If there were real GORTS, surely they would leap into action and save us from Keanu :)

[tomcat]

Arnold for Gort!

[Lord Hawthorne]

The Gorts Union will be seeking royalties.

[Tim S]

Before I knew about Keanu, I would've though this COULD have been a decent remake. Now, I'm absolutely sure it will be garbage.

[DjBryan]

Whoa, I like this planet dude.

[Rachael Bee]

Dear God does it never end??? As soon as I hear that Hollywood is 're-imagining' a film, I hear it as "We have no better ideas left than to screw up a classic film.' Or 'Film star whose career is dead or at a standstill thinks he can do better'.

Planet Of The Apes anyone???

I'm working on a script presently called Planet Of The Grapes....I'll have no trouble selling it! It combines the best parts of Grapes Of Wrath and Planet Of The Simiens.....:p

[pigmode]

Ron Perlman should be cast as Gort, and he'd reprise the role using only makeup without a suit.

[Rachael Bee]

Ron Perlman should be cast as Gort, and he'd reprise the role using only makeup without a suit.

Is Richard Kiel gettin' too old for this kind of thing? He's the right height to play a giant robot....

Meanwhile, this thread has inspired my new Planet Of....sequel, The Apes Of Wrath. The story of poor apes that moved to California to pick grapes but ended up in the middle of ape gang warz....:p

[Lord Hawthorne]

Is Richard Kiel gettin' too old for this kind of thing? He's the right height to play a giant robot....

Meanwhile, this thread has inspired my new Planet Of....sequel, The Apes Of Wrath. The story of poor apes that moved to California to pick grapes but ended up in the middle of ape gang warz....:p

Soundtrack by the Monkees?

[Bahax]

Richard Kiel, great idea! He's about 68, all he has to do mostly is stand there and look intimidating, right? I can't remember.....

[Rachael Bee]

Soundtrack by the Monkees?

I was leanin' towards Alvin & the Chipmonks but the Monkees sounds appropriate. If the Monkees turn me down I'll call Mandrill....:p

[Bahax]

55206
Merrie Melodies—4/18/59—Dir: Friz Freleng

Apparently, they didn't move to California, they were flown there by storks.

Now, where's that Looney Tunes version of "Planet of the Grapes".....

[zobalob]

I'd rather see Hugh Laurie play Klattu.

:) A really, really grumpy, misanthropic Klaatu....he'd be great!