Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Neither of these bits are earthshattering, but they help clarify ongoing stories, and they highlight the good work done by our friends at IGN FilmForce.
First up, check this:
IGN FilmForce Exclusive: The Wachowskis Leave Conan
What's next for the barbarian's big-screen return?
January 20, 2004 - IGN FilmForce has learned from trusted sources that Larry and Andy Wachowski have ankled King Conan: Crown of Iron, the third movie featuring Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero. The Wachowski brothers were to have produced King Conan with John Milius onboard to write and direct it. Obviously, star Arnold Schwarzenegger is unavailable for the next few years now that he is governor of California.
Sources advised IGN FilmForce that the Wachowskis - who had reportedly clashed with Milius over the tone and direction of the film - left King Conan of their own volition. The project had remained stalled in Development hell while the Wachowskis completed their Matrix trilogy.
The future of King Conan is now up in the air. Whether Warner Brothers will continue to develop it or if they will allow their option to lapse instead remains to be seen. No word yet on who might replace the Wachowskis as producer should Warners choose to stick with Conan.
What is certain is that Milius remains committed to the pic. He is said to be happy with the two different drafts of the screenplay that he penned during the Wachowskis' tenure.
The filmmaker is also said to be unconcerned about Schwarzenegger's availability. For Milius, the key to the project is said to have always been the character of Conan and not the actor portraying him.
Look to IGN FilmForce for more news on King Conan as it happens!
Stax also sent us this, in response to the piece we ran on Stephen Frears and a possible Elvis movie:
Hey, Harry. Stax from IGN FilmForce here. That Elvis project that Frears has been developing since Dec. 2002 isn't a biopic but a comedy called The Importance of Being Elvis. Variety said back then that it's about a man who assumes Elvis Presley's identity while the singer-actor is serving in the U.S. Army during the late 1950s. Elvis loses his golden singing voice after being shot in the throat. An impersonator named Brian is then tapped by Elvis' shady manager, Col. Tom Parker, and the U.S. government to take over for The King.
Here's a story we did on it over a year ago
Thanks, Stax, and I’ll certainly be checking into KING CONAN myself.
"Moriarty" out.
