Vilandra
11-04-2005, 02:49 PM
Marvel Takes Iron Man Back
After more than two years of unsuccessful development at New Line, Marvel has taken back film rights to its Iron Man comic series, about an inventor who dons a high-tech suit and becomes a superhero, Variety reported.
The company may raise additional money to produce Iron Man itself as part of its new internal production slate. In such a case, the movie would likely be distributed by Paramount, where Marvel has a distribution deal.
Marvel has raised $525 million from Merrill Lynch to produce up to 10 films. Because Iron Man isn't part of that deal, Marvel would have to get separate funds to produce the movie itself.
Iron Man hit numerous snags at New Line. Late last year, the studio announced that Nick Cassavetes was attached to direct, but it turned out the Notebook helmer never had a deal.
Screenplay drafts by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (creators of The WB's Smallville) and David Hayter (X-Men) didn't get traction, the trade paper reported.
Tom Cruise also reportedly flirted with the starring role last year before signing onto War of the Worlds.
Marvel will now start development from scratch, commissioning a new script and possibly attaching a director before deciding whether to finance the film itself or license it again. Cassavetes remains a candidate to direct.
Source: SciFiWire (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=0&id=33132&type=0)
After more than two years of unsuccessful development at New Line, Marvel has taken back film rights to its Iron Man comic series, about an inventor who dons a high-tech suit and becomes a superhero, Variety reported.
The company may raise additional money to produce Iron Man itself as part of its new internal production slate. In such a case, the movie would likely be distributed by Paramount, where Marvel has a distribution deal.
Marvel has raised $525 million from Merrill Lynch to produce up to 10 films. Because Iron Man isn't part of that deal, Marvel would have to get separate funds to produce the movie itself.
Iron Man hit numerous snags at New Line. Late last year, the studio announced that Nick Cassavetes was attached to direct, but it turned out the Notebook helmer never had a deal.
Screenplay drafts by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (creators of The WB's Smallville) and David Hayter (X-Men) didn't get traction, the trade paper reported.
Tom Cruise also reportedly flirted with the starring role last year before signing onto War of the Worlds.
Marvel will now start development from scratch, commissioning a new script and possibly attaching a director before deciding whether to finance the film itself or license it again. Cassavetes remains a candidate to direct.
Source: SciFiWire (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=0&id=33132&type=0)