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Get ready for round two of your favorite flyboy movie loaded with homoerotic undertones.Vulture reports that things are definitely moving forward on a proposed "Top Gun 2" following a hint earlier this summer by producer Jerry Bruckheimer that a film was in the works. Paramount has made offers to both Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott to return to producer and direct the film and even more, Tom Cruise is said to be interested in reprising his role as Lt. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell.So, what has got Paramount all hot and bothered? Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie has come aboard to update the script, with Cruise agreeing to return in a smaller role but only if Maverick's place in the plot isn't too obvious. So remember those rumors a couple of years ago that he would be a flight instructor? Don't count on it.
Also helping things along with the project is the enthusiasm of Larry Ellison. Wait, who? Oh, he's only the sixth richest person in the world, an avid aviation nerd and film buff (he financed and starred in "Flyboys") and more importantly, the guy recently helped put together $350 million in production bucks for Paramount. He's apparently swinging whatever weight he's got on the studio lot to get this made and oh yeah, the first film being made with his influx of cash? The next "Mission: Impossible."
Obviously, this might never happen. Bruckheimer and Scott could pass and Cruise could easily lose interest. The project has been kicking around for years now and really, it will be up to McQuarrie to make a compelling case for Cruise to return otherwise we don't really see this one getting off the ground.
It's just over six months since it was announced that Christopher Nolan would be shepherding a new "Superman" movie, and considering that Warner Bros have to be in production by 2012, or the rights will revert to the families of creator Jerry Siegel, it's surprising there hasn't been more forward momentum. Sure, there's been the recurring rumor that Nolan's brother Jonathan would direct the film, and various unconvincing casting rumors, but little else.
Well, that's all changed tonight, as Deadline has reported that Nolan and partner/producer Emma Thomas have started to met with prospective helmers for the project, and it's a somewhat surprising list, one without Jonathan Nolan anywhere near it. Veteran Tony Scott, "Let Me In" director Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, of the upcoming "Battle: Los Angeles," "Moon" helmer Duncan Jones and Zack Snyder are all set to meet with Nolan about directing the high-profile film, and a decision is expected in the next few weeks.
We've got to say, we're a little disappointed with the selection on hand. We named Jones as one of the five we thought could do it back in the day, and the word on Reeves' "Let Me In" is strong, but the others all strike us as brainless action guys -- Scott's had his moments, but has long since descended into self-parody, Liebesman is something of an unknown quantity, but his alien invasion picture isn't that enticing, and our already-monumental dislike for Snyder has only increased after his nonsensical owl picture "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls Of Ga'hoole."
We reckon, perhaps over-optimistically, that these are, for the most part, favored names from the studio that Nolan is humoring by meeting -- but having said that, the director is said to be a fan of Michael Bay movies, so you never know. As Deadline acknowledges, several of the names have other commitments -- Liebesman, in particular, is set to helm "Clash of the Titans 2" for the studio, while Scott has a number of projects in the works. Of the five, we'd still put our money on Jones landing the gig -- he seems closer to Nolan's sensibilities than any of the others. We could live with Reeves, and the rest would be fairly upsetting, to say the least. That said, we're sure there will be more names to come.
Get ready for round two of your favorite flyboy movie loaded with homoerotic undertones.
