Post by Derrick on Jan 30, 2009 1:50:24 GMT -5
LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - John Stevenson , the co-director of the animated feature " Kung Fu Panda ," has signed on to direct " Masters of the Universe ," a live-action version of the popular 1980s cartoon and toy line.
The TV show " He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ," made in partnership with toy company Mattel , was known for the image of blond Prince Adam on top of a mountain uttering the magic words, "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power," and turning into the heroic He-Man. He-Man and his allies -- Battle Cat, Man-at-Arms and Orko -- defended their planet, Eternia, from the evil forces of Skeletor , who tried week after week to conquer a fortress known as Castle Grayskull , which imbued He-Man with his powers.
Compared with the series, the film story skews more toward gritty fantasy and reimagines Adam as a soldier who sets off to find his destiny, happening upon magical world called Eternia . There, a being called Skeletor has raised a technological army and is bent on eradicating all traces of magic.
Justin Marks wrote the script for the Warner Bros./Silver Pictures film.
"'Masters of the Universe' was a billion-dollar franchise for us in the '80s," said Barry Waldo, Mattel's vice president worldwide entertainment marketing and strategy, who will executive produce the movie. "There are so few of those in the vault; it's one of the crown jewels. So we were looking for a master storyteller."
Mattel worked with Stevenson on the creation of toys for "Kung Fu Panda."
Since setting up "Masters" as a film project at Warners, Mattel has signed with Creative Artists Agency for entertainment adaptations of its other brands. A Hot Wheels cartoon will debut in the fall on Cartoon Network even as a feature is being developed at Silver and Warners. "Max Steel," a property that's big in Latin America, is being shopped to studios and production companies .
Stevenson and Mark Osborne are Oscar-nominated for co-directing "Kung Fu Panda." "Masters" would be the live-action debut for Stevenson, who worked as a storyboard artist and character designer before directing episodes of DreamWorks Television 's " Father of the Pride ."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
The TV show " He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ," made in partnership with toy company Mattel , was known for the image of blond Prince Adam on top of a mountain uttering the magic words, "By the power of Grayskull, I have the power," and turning into the heroic He-Man. He-Man and his allies -- Battle Cat, Man-at-Arms and Orko -- defended their planet, Eternia, from the evil forces of Skeletor , who tried week after week to conquer a fortress known as Castle Grayskull , which imbued He-Man with his powers.
Compared with the series, the film story skews more toward gritty fantasy and reimagines Adam as a soldier who sets off to find his destiny, happening upon magical world called Eternia . There, a being called Skeletor has raised a technological army and is bent on eradicating all traces of magic.
Justin Marks wrote the script for the Warner Bros./Silver Pictures film.
"'Masters of the Universe' was a billion-dollar franchise for us in the '80s," said Barry Waldo, Mattel's vice president worldwide entertainment marketing and strategy, who will executive produce the movie. "There are so few of those in the vault; it's one of the crown jewels. So we were looking for a master storyteller."
Mattel worked with Stevenson on the creation of toys for "Kung Fu Panda."
Since setting up "Masters" as a film project at Warners, Mattel has signed with Creative Artists Agency for entertainment adaptations of its other brands. A Hot Wheels cartoon will debut in the fall on Cartoon Network even as a feature is being developed at Silver and Warners. "Max Steel," a property that's big in Latin America, is being shopped to studios and production companies .
Stevenson and Mark Osborne are Oscar-nominated for co-directing "Kung Fu Panda." "Masters" would be the live-action debut for Stevenson, who worked as a storyboard artist and character designer before directing episodes of DreamWorks Television 's " Father of the Pride ."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter