Caffeinated Clint
Shawn Levy takes over from David Goyer
Wow that was quick…. Almost as ‘Quick as a…. Flash’!
Only a day after David Goyer announced that he’s split from Warner’s big-screen adaptation of DC’s “The Flash”, Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”, “The Pink Panther”) takes up his megaphone.
Yep, according to The Hollywood Reporter, one of Hollywood’s most vanilla filmmakers (what a piece of crap that “Night at the Museum” was!) is set to replace one of Hollywood’s finest (what a masterpiece that “Batman Begins” was!). It makes less sense than Kevin Smith doing a “Clerks” sequel.
Goyer left the project – a project he’d been championing for years, even coaxing good friend Ryan Reynolds into starring in the eventual pic – because of creative differences with the WB. They just didn’t go for his script, apparently. Which begs the question… What the hell kind of script are they working from now? I mean, the director of “Cheaper by the Dozen” definitely won’t be wanting to challenge himself much, will he?? Heh?
The trade says that Goyer’s script was dark-themed, whereas the new one they’re using, from, is lighter – almost comical. Sheesh. “Blank Man” redux.
Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing “Flash.” It is believed that Levy, who is overseeing the new script (eeek!), will act in a producing capacity as well.
Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in “Flash Comics” #1 in 1940. In comics lore, there have been four incarnations of the scarlet speedster, who has remained one of DC’s most popular characters. He has ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and violate certain laws of physics, like time travel.
Goyer, who co-wrote “Batman Begins” for Warners, had been attached to write, direct and produce a screen adaptation. But Goyer quietly left the project several months ago, though it was not until Friday that he announced his departure on his MySpace page.
“I am sad to say that my version of ‘The Flash’ is dead at WB,” Goyer wrote. “The God’s honest truth is that WB and myself simply couldn’t agree on what would make for a cool Flash film. I’m quite proud of the screenplay I turned in. I threw my heart into it, and I genuinely think it would’ve been the basis of a groundbreaking film. But as of now, the studio is heading off in a completely different direction.”
I assume that also means no Ryan Reynolds? (but we’re talking to him Thursday, so we’ll find out then).
What a sucky week for film fans this has been (and it’s only Monday) : Whedon leaves “Wonder Woman”, Goyer exits “The Flash”, and then someone starts spreading false rumours about J.J leaving “Star Trek”? Don’t push me cos I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to…
Oh God. It just came to me. They’re going to get Steve Martin to play Wally West aren’t they?!!!
