Caffeinated Clint
Hands “He-Man” back to Mattel
More crushing news for those who have been fretfully waiting the golden-haired swordsman’s exultant return to cinemas – he might not be. Yup, seems Fox2000’s proposed film version of “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” may have gone the way of “Batman Vs. Superman”, “Broadway Brawler” and “The Crusades” – swallowed by a black hole with an appetite for languishing film projects. It seems the film version of the popular 80s toon is essentially dead.
Executive Producer Rodney Ferrell (“Flicka”), of Fox2000 pics, tells Moviehole that they’ve just literally just wiped their hands clean of the property.
“This was a project set up at Fox”, begins Ferrell, “but in the recent months we gave the project back to Mattel and are no longer involved”.
The film had John Woo attached as a producer and Adam Rifkin (“Underdog”) attached as the writer. Fox2000 were set to produce and distribute the movie.
Its been a long and tumultuous journey for the “He-Man” pic – its been delayed multiple times, has seen several writers come and go (They were unsure about Rifkin’s script too – suggesting another writer may have even been approached before the project left Fox’s hands), and seemingly had to wait until a space cleared in the ever-so-busy calendar of producer, Woo. (The studio even tried to coax Woo into directing at one stage).
Though the studio can’t confirm, there were believed to be several actors being looked at for the role of the Battle-Cat rider: Paul Walker, Triple H, Chris Showerman and Matthew Davis.
Mattel may still be interested in making a “He-Man” film – and it may still involve Woo’s company, LionsRock – but the book’s now closed on this incarnation.
