Here's another in the realm of Don Murphy production projects, this one... That ASTROBOY movie, and I'll tell ya. I just don't know about the possibility of changing his look. To me, and I know a lot of other ASTROBOY nuts, his look is everybit as indelible as say... POPEYE or MICKEY MOUSE. And remember how upset people got when GODZILLA's look was screwed with. It's a serious issue when developing this film. ASTROBOY looks cool, a real looking boy wouldn't. Well... whatever, it's in the studio's hands...
ASTROBOY
The Story- In the near future the SON of a scientist who is the chairman of the Ministry of Science dies horribly in a car accident. The bereaved scientist utilizes all the resources he has in order to create a robot version of his son to replace him. For a while, this works. It is even more fun, since, in order to justify the creation of a realistic robot, he built in jets in his feet and super-strength. But after a while the scientist loses it, realizing that the robot is NOT his son. He banishes him, but poor little Astroboy just wants to be loved and has no idea why he has been cast out. From there, he meets all sorts of other robots and villains who are all out to exploit, control, or kill him.
The above more or less is the set up for the old animated television series based on the character created by the GOD OF MANGA Y Tezuka. The character, call MIGHTY ATOM in the rest of the world, is very famous and adorns all sorts of items even in this country. The problem was that the trademark to Astroboy as he is known in America was, eh, appropriated by the original television translators. After years of litigation in 1997 the name and character became one again and we have been negotiating ever since.
STATUS- A writer and story line have been determined. On the very fast track at Columbia Pictures.
For all those who asked previously, the character will not look EXACTLY like the cartoon, and will be CGI (mostly) with some other FX, probably done by Henson since they are also producing.
This should be a smart, cool franchise.
Thanks to you, Senor Knowles.
