Filmonic » Ridley Scott

This is what got Ridley Scott interested in the Monopoly movie

Liam — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:22:28 +0000

A while back it was announced that Ridley Scott was interested in directing a movie version of Monopoly. This raised a few questions. Firstly, why would the director of Alien and Blade Runner be interested in a board game movie? And secondly, what the hell would it be about? Well producer Frank Beddor recently revealed details of the story he pitched that got Ridley Scott interested.

From the L.A Times:

I created a comedic, lovable loser who lives in Manhattan and works at a real estate company and he’s not very good at his job but he’s great at playing Monopoly. And the world record for playing is 70 straight days – over 1,600 hours – and he wanted to try to convince his friends to help him break that world record. They think he is crazy. They kid him about this girl and they’re playing the game and there’s this big fight. And he’s holding a Chance card and after they’ve left he says, ‘Damn, I wanted to use that Chance card,’ and he throws it down. He falls asleep and then he wakes up in the morning and he’s holding the Chance card, and he thinks, ‘That’s odd.’”
“He’s all groggy and he goes down to buy some coffee and he reaches into his pocket and all he has is Monopoly money. All this Monopoly money pours out. He’s confused and embarrassed and the girl reaches across the counter and says, ‘That’s OK.’ And she gives him change in Monopoly money. He walks outside and he’s in this very vibrant place, Monopoly City, and he’s just come out of a Chance Shop. As it goes on, he takes on the evil Parker Brothers in the game of Monolopy.”

He continues to say that he came up with this story a years ago and it may be different now as Pamela Pettner is currently working on her version of script, which i’m happy about. ‘Waking up in Monopoly land’ isn’t very creative at all. I hope he didn’t get paid for it as the dog board piece could probably have come up with something better.

Robin Hood writers talk script changes

Liam — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:23:57 +0000

One interesting thing about the Robin Hood movie when it was first announced was that we would apparently see the story from the Sheriff of Nottingham’s point of view, and therefore for the first time it would be Robin Hood who is seen to be the villain. Another interesting point was that Russell Crowe would play both characters, with Ridley Scott saying it would be “a good old clever adjustment of characters. One becomes the other. It changes.”

However, script re-writes occurred and now we are getting the usual Robin Hood story, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if the end result is great historical epic, but it would have been cool to see something unique from a story that has been retold over and over again.

The writers of the original script, Ethan Reiff and Cy Voris, spoke to CineFools about the movie, and while things have changed, they aren’t complaining.

Nottingham was about us both wanting to see a new and different version of a classic old story retold. The truth is the movie Ridley Scott made doesn’t have all that much to do with the script we sold to Universal, in the midst of a bidding war with various other Hollywood studios, about 3 years ago. Our script was told from the Sheriff of Nottingham’s POV (thereby the title), and Russell Crowe signed on to play the part of the Sheriff, who was the hero of our screenplay. There are a few things remaining in the movie which had their origin in our script, like including Eleanor of Aquitaine (mother of Richard the Lionhearted and Prince, later King, John) as a key character in a Robin Hood movie for the first time (at least that I know of), plus the movie would never have been made to being with if Russell Crowe hadn’t signed on to play the Sheriff in our original script. I guess for us, without having seen the movie, it’s a mix of triumph and frustration. Triumph because we got the ball rolling that led to a massive Medieval period piece being made with an excellent cast by arguably one of the greatest directors in movie history, but also frustration in that the world will never see the original movie we wrote. But we did get paid, so I’m not complaining. Once they bought it, Universal had the right to do whatever they wanted with our script.

I think the dual role for Russell Crowe may have been too risky for Universal. I’m sure critics and movie lovers would have liked it, however I don’t think the general audience would have appreciated the mind games.

Ridley Scott talks Alien prequel

Liam — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:54:40 +0000

Back in July it was was announced that Sir Ridley Scott would be returning to the Alien franchise to direct an Alien prequel. His 1979 Alien movie spawned three sequels, however he wasn’t interested in directing any of them, which makes his return 30 years on quite intriguing.

Scott recently spoke to Empire and hinted at when it would take place and said he was looking forward to the prequel as it “is kind of interesting”:

“It’s a brand new box of tricks,” said Sir Ridley. “We know what the road map is, and the screenplay is now being put on paper. The prequel will be a while ago. It’s very difficult to put a year on Alien, but [for example] if Alien was towards the end of this century, then the prequel story will take place thirty years prior.”
“I never thought I’d look forward to a sequel,” said Sir Ridley. “But a prequel is kind of interesting. I’m looking forward to doing that.”

Robin Hood set preview and synopsis revealed

Liam — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:42:18 +0000

A few weeks ago Entertainment Tonight took us behind the scenes of Iron Man 2, and now we have the pleasure of seeing footage from their set visit to Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood movie. As ET are all about ’showbiz’ we see the presenter asking Cate Blanchett how many kissing scenes she has with Russell Crowe, but in-between all the rubbish we get to see a few shots of action, and a look at an epic battle on a beach.

While Universal haven’t given the film an official title yet, they have released the synopsis which can be read below:

From Collider:

Oscar winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as “Robin Hood,” whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.
The untitled Robin Hood adventure chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.
With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.

Futuristic Robin Hood movie on it’s way

Liam — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:18:27 +0000

Ridley Scott may be shooting his epic take on Robin Hood with Russell Crowe as we speak, but apparently that doesn’t stop anyone else from making a movie on the English folklore legend. According to RiskyBusiness the producers of 300 and The Dark Knight are working with Warner Bros. to give the character a “futuristic makeover”.

“Robin Hood” will be getting a futuristic makeover courtesy of the producers of “The Dark Knight” and “300” as well as Warner Bros., where a new take on the classic tale has been set up.
Atlas Entertainment and Hollywood Gang will produce the untitled saga, while commercials director Nicolai Fuglsig, who pitched the project, has signed on to direct. Jason Hall, the CAA-repped scribe who penned the upcoming Ashton Kutcher dramedy ‘Spread,” will write the screenplay.
Few plot details have been revealed about the new Robin Hood, but it will be set in a dystopian London and center on a band of thieves whose activities restore hope to the city’s embattled population. Producers describe it as “a futuristic action adventure” that will be “both inspired by and pay homage to the legend of Robin Hood.”

If this was just another regular Robin Hood movie I’d be against it as we are already getting one and we’ve had many in the past, but as it will be set in the future i’m interested in seeing it. The bows and arrows will probably be replaced with guns and tasers, however London today has hundreds of CCTV cameras and the police now have DNA, so the thieves will have to be a bit smarter than simply stealing something and fleeing on their horses.

Ridley Scott to direct Alien prequel

Liam — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:28:31 +0000

Variety have confirmed that Ridley Scott will return to the Alien franchise to direct an Alien prequel.

Twentieth Century Fox is resuscitating its “Alien” franchise. The studio has hired Jon Spaihts to write a prequel that has Ridley Scott attached to return as director.
Spaihts got the job after pitching the studio and Scott Free, which will produce the film.
The film is set up to be a prequel to the groundbreaking 1979 film that Scott directed. It will precede that film, in which the crew of a commercial towing ship returning to Earth is awakened and sent to respond to a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. The crew discovers too late that the signal generated by an empty ship was meant to warn them.
The deal gives Fox another chance to keep the “Alien” franchise alive. There were three sequels to Scott’s original, but it is the first time the director has set his mind on directing one.

There had been speculation Ridley Scott would direct the prequel, and now it has finally been confirmed. Scott directed Alien in 1979 and it spawned three sequels – James Cameron’s Aliens in 1986, David Fincher’s Alien 3 in 1992 and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Alien Resurrection in 1997. We then got Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (but we can forget about them).

Nottingham is now Robin Hood

Liam — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:06:27 +0000

Director Ridley Scott spoke to MTV and revealed that Nottingham will no longer be called Nottingham, and he also spoke about Russell Crowe’s preparation for the role.

“Nottingham” has now officially been renamed to reflect its lead character. “Oh yes, I think we are just going to call it ‘Robin Hood’,” Scott revealed.
In an attempt to clarify all the confusion from a few months ago about Russell Crowe playing multiple roles, Scott was eager to say that he had changed his mind, and that Crowe will simply portray the famed archer who rises from an unlikely background. “Robin Hood is in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion,” he said of how we’ll find the character early in the film “He is a bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion.”
“[Crowe as both Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham] was an idea so far back, way back when at the time I had this proposed to me, and I read it and thought, ‘I don’t really know what it does for it, but it’s alright’,” Scott recalled of the now-abandoned idea. “It is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end.”
While some have questioned whether Russell Crowe can ditch his “Body of Lies” gut and lose enough weight to play Robin Hood, Ridley says it’s not a problem. “Oh that is silly; all that stuff is bullsh-t,” Scott insisted. “He is going to be totally fit. That is not a problem at all.”
“And he’s been working on his bow and arrow for about 4 months,” Scott revealed. “He sends me tapes of him hitting targets at about 45 meters. He’s pretty good!”

Filming for Robin Hood will take place in around 2 months. The cast so far includes Crowe, Mark Strong and Cate Blanchett.

Cate Blanchett to play Maid Marian in Nottingham?

Liam — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:16:04 +0000

Since Sienna Miller bowed out of playing Maid Marian in Ridley Scott’s Nottingham I have been curious to see which actress would replace her. From the casting of Miller I got the impression they were looking for someone similar, such as Keira Knightly or Gemma Arterton, however it appears they have gone for an older, more established actress. Mark Strong who will play Sir Guy of Gisbourne spoke to The Telegraph and revealed who may be playing Russell Crowe’s love interest in the film.

“I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part. She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it.”

This casting will only add to the film. While I though there was nothing wrong will Miller in the role, Cate Blanchett seems better suited and to see her act alongside Russell Crowe will be interesting.

Pre-production on the film is currently taking place and filming should begin within the next few months.

Gossips and liars give us Nottingham update

Liam — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:31:09 +0000

The last time my bulls*hit alarm rang was when Eddie Murphy had apparently landed a role in the next Batman film, and now it has just rung again. According to the New York Post:

Russell Crowe is ‘telling producers to get a new director, demanding script rewrites and, now, forcing Sienna Miller out of the flick’.

According to these ‘journalists’ Russell Crowe is trying to get Ridley Scott fired from his own film. They also say that because Crowe has put on a bit of weight lately he had Sienna Miller fired because she is ’so young and gorgeous’ where as he is ’so old and fat’.

1) Russell Crowe is not trying to get Ridley Scott replaced. They have worked on four movies together and will have no doubt struck up a loving bond.

2) Sienna Miller will not appear in the film because filming got pushed back to March this year, and the schedules didn’t work out. It is not because Russell is having self-esteem issues.

3) I’m not linking to these liars because they only make this crap up to get hits.

Mark Strong Joins Nottingham, Ridley Scott Talks Leaves

Liam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:44:25 +0000

Mark Strong will portray Guy of Gisborne in Ridley Scott’s Nottingham, according to Digital Spy.

“I heard a rumour that I was going to get shot in the face by a cross bolt in the first ten pages and end up hideously disfigured through the rest of the movie,” said Strong. “There’s so much speculation around it at the moment, but I do know that he’s a bad guy.”
“The script is still fluid, but it’s essentially the Guy of Gisborne character. In the synopsis I got, he’s called Conrad, I don’t know why!

Strong’s career has taken a big step up recently. He had a big role in Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies and is currently filming Sherlock Holmes with Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. He will also play mob boss Frank D’Amico in Matthew Vaughns Kick-Ass.

Meanwhile, director Ridley Scott spoke about the rumours that the film had been delayed due to the leaves in Sherwood Forest not being green enough.

“I really don’t care! I don’t give a s**t whether they’re red leaves or pink leaves.”

…well…at last that’s cleared up!