In what world would someone choose the creators of Smallville over the writer of The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark to craft a big screen sci-fi epic? This one, apparently.THR is reporting that former Smallville scribes Al Gough and Miles Millar, who left the show last season, are taking over scripting duties on producer Toby Maguire's upcoming live action Robotech movie. An original draft of the script was penned by Oscar-nominated writer/producer Lawrence Kasdan who, apparently, has been shown the door.
Why exactly did this happen? Probably because Gough and Millar already have a professional relationship with Maguire, since they helped pen Spider-Man 2. Or Maybe Maguire and crew wanted to get the highest amount of geek cred possible attached to their movie. Gough and Millar can certainly help deliver that. Most fanboys already know them by name. But Robotech is one of most geek-friendly franchises out there -- It's a Japanese anime import from the 1980s about giant robots battling giant aliens in outer space. I'm not sure if more geek cred is what this project needs.
I'm a Smallville fan. I think Gough and Millar helped craft a wonderful take on the Superman mythos, but I'd be a lot more excited about this project if Kasdan were still on board. I'll take an OG (Original Geek) over a pair of proven rebooters any day.
It's unclear whether Gough and Millar will be working on Kasdan's original draft or dreaming up a new concept for the film. Let's just hope their take on the source material is more Spider-Man 2 and less The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which the pair also scripted.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-18-2008 @ 1:52PM
0megapart!cle said...
Also, more Spiderman 2 than Smallville.
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11-18-2008 @ 1:54PM
Mike Moody said...
Indeedy.
11-18-2008 @ 2:29PM
Tim said...
It's probably wise to go with someone who has a fresher take on things, than to try to get George Lucas, who's sold out and these days, is busy churning out crap that wrecks his franchises.
Reply
11-18-2008 @ 3:00PM
Jaime E. Galvan said...
I have to admit given that Robotech was an epic series, the screenwriters will have to figure out how to condense the material. Are they planning on making more than one film. It would make for a good trilogy.
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11-18-2008 @ 3:33PM
Rocketboy said...
Please no. Don't make South Park have to do another director induced rape scene.
Because that's what's playing in my mind right now.
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11-19-2008 @ 6:13PM
destroyer of particles said...
Wow...Toby Maguire's one of those guys?...who knew
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 10:51AM
StillBash said...
Robotech is a show cut together from two Anime. One of those which were cut up was called "Macross".
So I really hope this will be a Macross movie not the Robotech BS.
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1-15-2009 @ 11:17PM
unixphreak said...
Not two anime but three, Macross, Super Dimensional Cavalry of the Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada. So before you say that robotech is BS try getting your facts straight.
11-21-2008 @ 7:33PM
theinvid said...
I am a 'true fan of Robotech' which introduced the world of anime' to me back in '85. Main characters died! There was actual tri-angle love stories. The story didn't end immediately following the dramatic Force of Arms show down. It showed that life continued on after the war and how difficult it was for peace to strive in the post appocalyptic war. This was no ordinary 'cartoon'. Robotech didn't 'dumb it down' for me just because I was a kid. It treated me like a young adult becoming wise to the ways of human-nature and respected my cognitive sensibilities and so I have shown my respect by remaining a loyal fan to ROBOTECH and thusly to the original Japenese serials which helped give it life.
--theinvid
theinvid@yahoo.com
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