Universal Pictures has just signed Brad Silberling to direct the big screen version of the '70s cult hit Land of the Lost. Silberling joins Will Ferrell on the project which is set to start shooting in March.
The original Saturday morning series told the story of explorer Rick Marshall who, while on a "routine expedition" with his children (for some reason) Will and Holly, fell through a fault in the Earth and ended up in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs, cavemen and evil lizard creatures known as sleestaks. Here's a little known fact, the "good" sleestak, Enik was played by NBA pro Bill Laimbeer.
The big screen version of the film will cast Ferrell as a disgraced paleontologist who ends up in the prehistoric land with his assistant and a tour guide.
The original creators of the series, '70s TV legends Sid and Marty Krofft are on board with the film and have expressed excitement over the script. "What they did is keep the integrity of the show," said Marty Krofft "but they made it very funny for Will. The adventure is all there. There are going to be 50 Sleestaks!"
The script, which was written by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas was originally in development at Disney, Sony and Warner Bros. before being revived by Universal.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2007 @ 2:26PM
Rick said...
This doesn't contradict what you said, but just for clarification's sake, the Land of the Lost is not located in the interior of the earth. It's accessible through a portal and exists as another dimension altogether.
Also, as I recall, the one good sleestak's name was Slatch, who appeared once. Recurring character Enik was also good but was technically an Altrusian. He was played by Walker Edmiston. Bill Laimbeer suited up to play in the sleestak chorus, but was no one in particular.
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10-10-2007 @ 3:15PM
Lenny said...
"but they made it very funny for Will."
Well, that would be a first for a Will Ferrell movie. I suppose young teenage males find some of his supposed humor "funny", but I can't see his appeal outside of that market.
Too bad it wasn't a serious movie without Ferrell.
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10-10-2007 @ 4:43PM
jOHN! said...
Remember the movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back? Will Ferrell played Captain Willandholly, a tribute by Kevin Smith to Land of the Lost by smooshing the character names of Will and Holly together.
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10-10-2007 @ 5:45PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Actually jOHN!, Will Ferrell's character in JASBSB was "Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly" which is even more of a name mashup/homage.
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10-10-2007 @ 10:07PM
Scott said...
I agree with Lenny (#2). The series took itself very seriously, and was only silly due to its ridiculously low budget and the fact that it was written as a kid's show. It had scripts from many very acclaimed science fiction writers. To see Will Ferrell come in and stink it up with his "humor" is really unfortunate.
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10-11-2007 @ 10:56AM
Lenny said...
Good point about the writers, Scott. Some of the writing talent to pen scripts for the original included:
David Gerrold
D.C. Fontana
Larry Niven
Norman Spinrad
Walter Koenig
Ben Bova
Theodore Sturgeon
Great stories only tarnished by what had to be a budget of about ten bucks an episode.
If this remake were a drama with comedy elements, kind of like the Indiana Jones series of films, then it could be really good.
With Will Ferrell, I fear the more apt title would be Land Of The Lost Groin Jokes. What a shame this well-written series finds new life only through a person who's claim to fame are jokes of the lowest form.
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