Screen Rant » cowboys and aliens

Orci and Kurtzman Talk ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ and ‘View-Master’

Paul Young — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:35:46 +0000

Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman have got to be two of the most popular writers in Hollywood right now. Like, love or hate their work, as script writers they have turned into a very hot commodity and are quickly becoming the “go-to” guys for sci-fi scripts. With projects like Star Trek 2, Cowboys & Aliens, View-Master and multiple Fringe episodes on their plate, they have no shortage of work (which in this economy is a good thing).

Recently the great guys and gals at Collider were able to talk to Orci and Kurtzman and they managed wrangle some really good information from them in what turned out to be a lengthy interview. We’ve already discussed the parts about Star Trek 2 and their decision NOT to be involved with Transformers 3, which they confirmed during this same interview. You check out the entire interview here, but I’ll go through some of the highlights as they talk about Cowboys & Aliens, and a once popular toy, View-Master.

For those that may not know, Cowboys & Aliens first started as a graphic novel (does anyone call them comic books anymore?) by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg that was published by Platinum Studios and Harper Collins in 2006. Written by the talented team of Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, the story revolves around beings from another world landing in Arizona during the mid-1800s with the goal of enslaving the human race. That crap may have worked in France but over here in the U.S. of A. we had Cowboys and Indians to fight back against alien scum! Sorry I got carried away; it happens because I’m southern.

Cowboys & Aliens is being helmed by Iron Man’s Jon Favreau and will most likely star Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. That’s great news because both have proved themselves to be fans of comics and have already helped to elevate lesser known comic book lore to pop culture heights. So how do Orci and Kurtzman feel about working with Favreau and where are they drawing their inspiration from for Cowboys & Aliens?

Alex: It’s the greatest.

Bob: We just started and we’re getting along really well. We’ve sent ourselves back to school and we’re watching Westerns together and analyzing them. We’re just getting into it. We just watched The Searchers last.

Alex: We had a lot of these Westerns in our head, but Jon is an incredible fountain of Western knowledge.

Bob: And, Star Trek was originally pitched as a space Western, anyway, so it was a nice lead up to this, for us.

Alex: I think Jon also comes from a very similar emotional place and, because he’s an actor, he knows what plays and what doesn’t play very quickly. We’re having an unbelievably good time working with him.

I think that’s great that they are pulling from some older westerns for inspiration and I had no idea that Favreau was a big western buff. I wonder if he dresses up and goes to Old West Conventions walking with his best John Wayne swagger, dressed in chaps, a dusty vest, a bandana wrapped around his neck, and a six shooter strapped to his leg, tipping his hat to the ladies and saying “Howdy”. HEH, I just made myself chuckle.

Continue reading for Orci/Kurtzman updates on View-Master

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Favreau & Downey Jr vs. Cowboys & Aliens

Niall Browne — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:16:19 +0000

We’ve been talking about Robert Downey Jr’s possible attachment to Cowboys and Aliens for quite a while. However, it now looks like Downey Jr’s Iron Man director, Jon Favreau, is trying to lasso the directors chair for the film, and if he signs up then it looks like Iron Man himself is all but locked for the picture.

The concept of the film in question is simple – Cowboys versus Aliens. If that doesn’t rock your boat, then it’s time to stop reading!

The film is based on a graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, which was written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley. The script for the movie was penned by the high-powered writing combination of Star Trek’s Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, along with Lost’s Damon Lindeloff.

With Iron Man 2 already shot and currently in post-production, it looks like Cowboys and Aliens will shoot next summer for a 2011 release date. If the talent involved (and the concept) doesn’t excite you, then please note that the DreamWorks and Universal film will be produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, along with some chap called Steven Spielberg!

I’ve had the Cowboys & Aliens graphic novel sitting on my shelf for about a year now and I think that this news has finally given me the inspiration to dust it off and give it a read. While I honestly didn’t expect much from Iron Man (I’m a DC man unlike our head honcho Vic Holtreman), I was highly surprised by what it had to offer.

I’ve been a fan of Downey Jr’s for a long time and if you guys haven’t seen Wonder Boys, Zodiac or Kiss Kiss Bang Bang then you’ve been missing out!

In the words of Frankie Laine:

“Move ‘em out, head ‘em up,
Head ‘em up, move ‘em on.
Move ‘em out, head ‘em up:
Rawhide.”

More on Cowboys and Aliens when we get it!

Robert Downey Jr. will next be seen alongside Jude Law in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes which opens on Christmas Day and Iron Man 2 which opens in May.

Source: Variety

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Mid-Week Movie News Wrap Up – August 13, 2009

Niall Browne — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:12:34 +0000

This week:

Another actor takes a bite out of Twilight’s Eclipse; we have an update on Cowboys and Aliens; Colin Farrell + Mermaids= Ondine, Zac Efron finds a mother and David Mamet gets Frank.

1. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse keeps adding cast members: Jack Huston and Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace) have both joined the cast of the teenage vampire flick.

According to The Hollywood Reporter regarding Huston:

“Huston will play Royce King II, a human that lived during the Great Depression.”

It sounds like a role that the young actor can sink his teeth into.

Bloody-Disgusting is reporting that Moreno will play the vampire Maria, who tries to create an army of “newborn vampires.”

Big job for a small woman.

Huston and Moreno join Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Bryce Dallas Howard in the big screen adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s novel.

Huston will next be seen on TV in Eastwick, the small screen series based on the hit 1980’s Jack Nicholson starrer.

Eclipse is being helmed by David Slade (30 Days of Night) and starts shooting next week in Vancouver for a June 30, 2010 release (they better work fast).

Source: The Hollywood Reporter & Bloody-Disgusting

2. The ever-busy Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have given an update on the adaptation of the graphic novel Cowboys and Aliens, which they wrote with Lost creator Damon Lindelof.

Orci said:

“We’re just literally waiting to hear if they hate it or what. We’re waiting to hear from the principals. We try not to turn it in until we think it’s ready. Obviously, there are always things you can improve.”

When asked if Robert Downey Jr was still attached Orci said:

“He’s one of the busiest men on the face of the Earth. If the schedule can line up, we’d absolutely love it.”

It sounds like there’s still a chance of having Downey Jr appearing – but if Sherlock Holmes is a hit then he’ll be juggling two franchises (the other obviously being Iron Man) so he might not want to do another big-budget film in between.

Time will tell.

Source: MTV

3. Colin Farrell has been keeping a low profile recently but late 2009 and 2010 seem to be lined up with quite a few films starring the Irishman.

There’s obviously Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Triage and Neil Jordan’s Ondine.

Ondine is “lyrical modern fairy tale” about an Irish fisherman who catches what he believes to be a mermaid in his net. Polish actress Alicja Bachleda plays the mermaid.

First Showing nabbed a few images from the film – check out a few below.

Ondine is directed by Neil Jordan, the Irish director behind The Crying Game, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and The Brave One. I feel that Jordan’s vision often out-weighs his talent – so here’s hoping that the final plot is as interesting as the premise.

You can head over to First Showing to see a few more pictures.

Source:: First Showing

4. Kim Basinger is in negotiations to join tween heart-throb Zac Efron in The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.

According to Variety:

“Basinger would play the grieving mother of Efron’s character, a caretaker at a cemetery who has weekly meetings with a younger brother whose accidental death he feels was his fault.”

I think that I’ll give this one a pass.

Source: Variety

5. Famed screenwriter David Mamet (The Untouchables) is planning to write and direct a new film version of The Diary of Anne Frank for Disney.

The film will be based on Frank’s diary; Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich’s stage play and new material written by Mamet.

It might not make a whole lot of money – but I can imagine that this will be an Oscar contender.

Source: Variety

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.

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Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: May 31, 2009

Niall Browne — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:34:07 +0000

In the Wrap Up this Week:

The box office is UP; Robert Downey Jr might still saddle up for Cowboys and Aliens; Lucy beats Nicole Kidman to the Punch; Natalie Portman, Danny McBride and James Franco salute Your Highness; Seann William Scott and Adam Brody are A Couple of Dicks and Chevy Chase dips his toes in the Hot Tub Time Machine and he may return as Fletch.

BOX OFFICE:
The summer season is now well and truly here. Pixar’s Up shows that family films and the Pixar brand are hugely profitable. The animated film banked a huge $68 million over the weekend. For a film that sells most of it’s tickets in half price matinees that’s a lot of attendance.

Last week’s champion Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian had to settle for the runner up spot with a weekend take of $25 million. With a total now over $100 million it looks like we might be in for a third installment.

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man stop-gap, Drag Me To Hell, opened to a disappointing $16 million. It probably cost about $20 million to produce, so it’ll be profitable, but I’m sure Raimi wanted more.

Speaking of more – will we ever get to see any more Terminator films? With a weekend take of just $16 million for Terminator Salvation it looks like McG might not get to finish his proposed trilogy. Maybe international grosses will help. It looks like the franchise needed Schwarzenegger’s charisma and not just a grumpy looking Christian Bale.

Star Trek flew past the $200 million mark with a weekend gross of $12 million. Angels & Demons has crossed the $100 million milestone, but will the film be profitable to warrant a sequel? Doubtful.

Dance Flick made another $4 million giving the spoof a total gross of almost $20 million. Who pays money to see that?

X-Men Origins: Wolverine made just under $4 million this weekend bringing the Hugh Jackman starrer’s total to $170.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past hit $50 million and Beyonce Knowle’s Obsessed is closing in on $70 million.

MOVIE NEWS

1. Everyone wants Robert Downey Jr in their movie these days. It’s funny how times have changed. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have spoken about how they still hope to snag the Iron Man for their upcoming adaptation of Cowboys and Aliens.

Speaking to Sci-Fi Wire the duo said that they‘ve been speaking to Downey Jr about the film but that scheduling is the issue:

“We’ve been talking to him about that. He’s one of the busiest men on the face of the Earth. If the schedule can line up, we’d absolutely love it.”

The pair also said that they’re finishing up scripting duties on the film:

“We are just about to finish our draft of Cowboys and Aliens, which we are writing with Lost’s Damon Lindelof. For Cowboys and Aliens, we got an amazing first draft from Mark Fergus, who wrote Iron Man, and now we are continuing on with Damon. We are in the middle of the second draft.”

*Please note that Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman do speak separately.
They’re also incredibly in demand with Transformers 2 and Star Trek out this summer alone!

Source: Sci Fi Wire

2. Nicole Kidman has dropped out of Woody Allen’s forthcoming film. The Aussie star will be replaced by British actress Lucy Punch.

The plot and title for the film are unknown but sources believe:
“Punch will play a high-priced call girl similar to Ashley Dupre, who was at the center of the scandal that brought down New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.”

The cast for the film is pretty darn good – even for a Woody Allen film. Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts and Slumdog Millionaire’s Freida Pinto have roles in it.

Source: Variety

3. Natalie Portman will join Danny McBride and James Franco in Your Highness for Pineapple Express director David Gordon Green.

According to Variety:

“McBride, who wrote the script with Ben Best, plays an arrogant lazy prince who with his brother (Franco) must complete a quest to save the kingdom and his brother’s fiance. Portman will play a warrior princess that the lazy prince falls in love with.”

The Princess Bride with pot anyone?

Source: Variety

4. Seann William Scott and Adam Brody know A Couple of Dicks. The pair will join Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in Kevin Smith’s forthcoming detective comedy.

“Scott plays a thief known as the Sh**t Bandit for the souvenirs he leaves at his robberies. Brody is an abrasive detective not happy to be working with Willis and Morgan.”

A Couple of Dicks starts shooting this Monday in New York.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

5. Chevy Chase seems to be on the comeback trail. Not only has the 80’s icon scored a role in John Cusack’s Hot Tub Time Machine but the Weinstein Company have apparently approached him with a script for a third Fletch movie.

With regards to Hot Tub Time Machine:

“Chase plays a mysterious repairman who dispenses pearls of wisdom and may or may not be behind the metaphysical road trip.”

Now, a Fletch film has been in the works for almost a decade. Kevin Smith originally wanted to make a Fletch film with Jason Lee, and then Scrub’s Zach Braff was attached to the project for a while, but nothing ever came of it. This new script is passing of the baton-type film where Chase’s Fletch advises his journalist nephew on his career.

With a bit of luck this will mean that we get to see more of the criminally underused Chase on the big screen.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

That’s it for now. See you at the movies.

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Robert Downey Jr. To Star In Cowboys & Aliens

Niall Browne — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:23:12 +0000

It looks like everybody’s favorite Iron Man is keeping his hand in the big budget Action-Adventure arena. Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to star in Cowboys and Aliens, a Sci-Fi / Western in which a battle between the Apache and Western settlers is interrupted by an alien spaceship crashing in the Old West.

Talk about high concept!

The film is based on a graphic novel idea by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley. DreamWorks and Universal hope that the Brian Grazer and Ron Howard produced film will be a summer tent-pole film for 2010.

But wait. Isn’t Iron Man 2 set for release that year? Isn’t Downey Jr. signed to play Tony Stark in the second film in the franchise?

What’s going on?

I wouldn’t hold my breath for an Iron Man sequel in 2010. We all know that Marvel took their time in starting negotiations with Jon Favreau, and the actor-director has made it clear that he doesn’t feel that there is enough time to produce a sequel that matches the original.

With Robert Downey Jr. in negotiations for this new film (and possible franchise) it looks like he may be helping Marvel make up their minds to release the film in 2011. We all know what happens when a comic book film is rushed into production. If you don’t, go watch Batman and Robin and X-Men 3.

That said, it is possible for the star to film both movies back-to-back, or Cowboys and Aliens may not meet its target release date – which is possible considering that the film does not have a director.

Whatever happens, it’s good to see Downey Jr. “pulling a Johnny Depp”: A once ignored actor getting major exposure and gaining the love and affection of audiences worldwide. I just hope that more people go and rent Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for more news on Cowboys and Aliens and of course Iron Man 2.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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