Band of brothers... Part II
07-21-03, 10:56 AM
#1
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Band of brothers... Part II
http://www.msnbc.com/news/941838.asp?0dm=T14RL
All I can say is.. I can't wait.
LOS ANGELES, July 21 — Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman — the Emmy-winning creative team behind “Band of Brothers” — are mounting a new 10-part World War II mini-series centered on battles in the Pacific theater.
DREAMWORKS CONFIRMED that the project, being referred to as the “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project,” is in the early stages of development, with a deal being finalized for HBO to serve as a partner in the mini-series.
The production is expected to require a “Brothers”-type budget of more than $100 million.
Screenwriter Bruce McKenna, who penned several installments of the first miniseries and picked up a Writers Guild of America Award for his work, already has held numerous creative meetings with Spielberg and Goetzman and is expected to become the head writer.
There is no deal for McKenna, and negotiations haven’t started for the scribe to board the project, but sources said the principals are discussing scheduling and how much it would cost to hire McKenna for what would be a long-term assignment.
Currently a hot writer on the film front, McKenna is adapting Marvel Comics’ “Hands of Shang Chi” for DreamWorks and recently closed a deal to adapt the upcoming nonfiction book “The Perfect Mile” for Universal Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment and Kennedy/Marshall.
The “Pacific Theater Project” is not based on any existing source material but is expected to follow a company of soldiers through the island campaign, just as “Brothers” viewed the European campaign from D-Day forward through the eyes of Easy Company of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
The multi-episode “Brothers,” based on the book by historian Stephen E. Ambrose, proved to be an awards circuit favorite after it aired on HBO in 2001. It was nominated for 19 Emmys and earned six, including a trophy for outstanding miniseries.
DREAMWORKS CONFIRMED that the project, being referred to as the “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project,” is in the early stages of development, with a deal being finalized for HBO to serve as a partner in the mini-series.
The production is expected to require a “Brothers”-type budget of more than $100 million.
Screenwriter Bruce McKenna, who penned several installments of the first miniseries and picked up a Writers Guild of America Award for his work, already has held numerous creative meetings with Spielberg and Goetzman and is expected to become the head writer.
There is no deal for McKenna, and negotiations haven’t started for the scribe to board the project, but sources said the principals are discussing scheduling and how much it would cost to hire McKenna for what would be a long-term assignment.
Currently a hot writer on the film front, McKenna is adapting Marvel Comics’ “Hands of Shang Chi” for DreamWorks and recently closed a deal to adapt the upcoming nonfiction book “The Perfect Mile” for Universal Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment and Kennedy/Marshall.
The “Pacific Theater Project” is not based on any existing source material but is expected to follow a company of soldiers through the island campaign, just as “Brothers” viewed the European campaign from D-Day forward through the eyes of Easy Company of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
The multi-episode “Brothers,” based on the book by historian Stephen E. Ambrose, proved to be an awards circuit favorite after it aired on HBO in 2001. It was nominated for 19 Emmys and earned six, including a trophy for outstanding miniseries.
All I can say is.. I can't wait.
07-21-03, 11:04 AM
#3
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Sounds good to me. Please bring back Grahm Yost as well, if h's not too busy with Boomtown. I was so impressed by BoB that I'm totally on board their next project. I wonder how long it'll take to bring this to screen. BoB took a couple of years.
BTW: I'm suprised they aren't using some pre-existing source material. Didn't Stephen Ambrose write a Pacific-Theater saga as well?
BTW: I'm suprised they aren't using some pre-existing source material. Didn't Stephen Ambrose write a Pacific-Theater saga as well?
I cant wait for this! Band of Brothers is my favorite war film ever (I think of it as a 10 hour film, not a 10 part miniseries)
07-21-03, 12:20 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
How much did Band of Brothers cost to make?
And they might want to work on the title a little bit, “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project” just doesn't have a nice ring to it.
And they might want to work on the title a little bit, “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project” just doesn't have a nice ring to it.
07-21-03, 12:31 PM
#7
DVD Talk Hero
The two times Hanks and Yost (along with To, Bork, Kamen, and others) have hooked up with HBO, we've been treated to two of the finest mini-series in television history. Hopefully they can keep that creative core together and deliver brilliance once again.
das
das
07-21-03, 12:34 PM
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Originally posted by Heat
How much did Band of Brothers cost to make?
And they might want to work on the title a little bit, “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project” just doesn't have a nice ring to it.
How much did Band of Brothers cost to make?
And they might want to work on the title a little bit, “Untitled World War II Pacific Theater Project” just doesn't have a nice ring to it.
early stages of production. Names are always something thrown around in the beginning, I'm sure their will be a better name for it later.
07-21-03, 12:42 PM
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Originally posted by das Monkey
The two times Hanks and Yost (along with To, Bork, Kamen, and others) have hooked up with HBO, we've been treated to two of the finest mini-series in television history. Hopefully they can keep that creative core together and deliver brilliance once again.
das
The two times Hanks and Yost (along with To, Bork, Kamen, and others) have hooked up with HBO, we've been treated to two of the finest mini-series in television history. Hopefully they can keep that creative core together and deliver brilliance once again.
das
07-21-03, 12:46 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
• Quoth WhattheFFF •<HR SIZE=1>What was the other mini series hanks did for HBO? <HR SIZE=1>
From the Earth to the Moon - it was a collaboration with the Howard/Grazer team instead of Spielberg/Goetzman.
das
07-21-03, 02:08 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
I finished reading Steven Ambrose’ book D-Day last week and started on a book about WWII in general (The Reader’s Digest Illustrated History of WWII). While D-Day was an incredible invasion, there are many other stories out there, some bloodier overall than D-Day. For reference, ~ 2,500 Allied troops died on D-Day.
Seriously, how many of these battles have you heard of (besides Okinawa)? These are all battles with Japan, mostly on islands. Remember that Japan was on the defensive on all of these battles (except for Imphal & Kohima, where they were on the offensive for part of the battle):
Attu (part of the Aleutian island chain, between Alaska & Siberia):
US: 1,000 killed
Japan: 2,500 killed, 28 captured
After this, the US and Canada had 35,000 troops invade Kiska (also part of the chain), only to lean that the 6,000 Japanese defenders had left weeks earlier (weeks during which the island was being bombarded by planes & warships, and being photographed by reconnaissance aircraft).
Eniwetok:
US: 258 killed, 568 wounded.
Japan: 2,677 killed, 64 captured
Kwajalein
US: 195 killed, 545 wounded
Japan: 3,472 were killed, 90 captured (including 40 Koreans).
Palaus Islands (mostly on the island of Pelieu)
US : 1,950 killed, 8,515 wounded.
Japan: 13,600 killed, 400 captured (mostly Koreans & Okinawans)
Imphal & Kohima (“the jungle Stalingrad”, located in India):
British & Indian troops: 17,587 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing)
Japan: 60,000 casualties, of which 13,376 were killed
Okinawa:
US: 6,821 killed, 18,000 wounded.
Japan: ~ 21,000 killed, 216 taken prisoner.
26 US marines who fought at Okinawa won the Congressional medal of honor.
Stalingrad (Russia, obviously, included for comparison purposes):
Russians: 750,000 killed
Germany: 300,000 killed plus 450,000 German allies killed. 100,000 Germans were taken prisoner, of these only 5,000 survived to see Germany again.
Seriously, how many of these battles have you heard of (besides Okinawa)? These are all battles with Japan, mostly on islands. Remember that Japan was on the defensive on all of these battles (except for Imphal & Kohima, where they were on the offensive for part of the battle):
Attu (part of the Aleutian island chain, between Alaska & Siberia):
US: 1,000 killed
Japan: 2,500 killed, 28 captured
After this, the US and Canada had 35,000 troops invade Kiska (also part of the chain), only to lean that the 6,000 Japanese defenders had left weeks earlier (weeks during which the island was being bombarded by planes & warships, and being photographed by reconnaissance aircraft).
Eniwetok:
US: 258 killed, 568 wounded.
Japan: 2,677 killed, 64 captured
Kwajalein
US: 195 killed, 545 wounded
Japan: 3,472 were killed, 90 captured (including 40 Koreans).
Palaus Islands (mostly on the island of Pelieu)
US : 1,950 killed, 8,515 wounded.
Japan: 13,600 killed, 400 captured (mostly Koreans & Okinawans)
Imphal & Kohima (“the jungle Stalingrad”, located in India):
British & Indian troops: 17,587 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing)
Japan: 60,000 casualties, of which 13,376 were killed
Okinawa:
US: 6,821 killed, 18,000 wounded.
Japan: ~ 21,000 killed, 216 taken prisoner.
26 US marines who fought at Okinawa won the Congressional medal of honor.
Stalingrad (Russia, obviously, included for comparison purposes):
Russians: 750,000 killed
Germany: 300,000 killed plus 450,000 German allies killed. 100,000 Germans were taken prisoner, of these only 5,000 survived to see Germany again.
Last edited by Heat; 07-21-03 at 02:10 PM.
07-21-03, 03:24 PM
#16
DVD Talk God
this is awesome news. one of the best mini series ever!
07-21-03, 06:21 PM
#18
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
I would assume that you have to start the story at Pearl Harbor and hope people don't think about Afflick and Harnett. Just like BoB starts with D-Day but doesn't ape SPR, I think you can't do a story about the Pacific theater without introducing Pearl harbor in some form. We'll see, I guess.
BTW: I forgot Yost worked on From Earth to the Moon (which may have been even better than BoB, if not for that 'wives' episode). What did episode(s) did he do?
BTW: I forgot Yost worked on From Earth to the Moon (which may have been even better than BoB, if not for that 'wives' episode). What did episode(s) did he do?
07-21-03, 07:49 PM
#20
DVD Talk Hero
That is the best news I have heard all day - possibly all week!
So I would assume that this would be centered around a group of Marines this time (if they are island-hopping as the story said). Probably start at Pearl Harbor and end in Okinawa (that last battle would make for a nasty episode). I'm sure they will hit Peleliu and others along the way.
This will be unbelievable, since I am remaining positive that they will do a top-notch job as they have done w/ previous mini-series.
So I would assume that this would be centered around a group of Marines this time (if they are island-hopping as the story said). Probably start at Pearl Harbor and end in Okinawa (that last battle would make for a nasty episode). I'm sure they will hit Peleliu and others along the way.
This will be unbelievable, since I am remaining positive that they will do a top-notch job as they have done w/ previous mini-series.
07-22-03, 11:20 AM
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Wow...this could truly be an amazing series. I'm not sure how they would present it though, since we were so used to following the one group (Easy Company, 101st Airborne) in BoB.
Certainly they can't tackle one battle per episode or two. These were so bloody and ferocious (Japanese fighting literally to the last; throwing themselves off of cliffs rather than surrender) it'll be quite a task for this team to recreate this.
I can't wait!! Any indication about possible dates? 2004??
Certainly they can't tackle one battle per episode or two. These were so bloody and ferocious (Japanese fighting literally to the last; throwing themselves off of cliffs rather than surrender) it'll be quite a task for this team to recreate this.
I can't wait!! Any indication about possible dates? 2004??
07-24-03, 10:21 AM
#24
DVD Talk Hero
Excellent! I enjoy showing Pacific theater war stuff to my Japanese wife for two reasons. 1) To rub it in 
and 2) Because they don't teach the Japanese school children ANYTHING about WWII. She said they covered it for half a day in her entire years of schooling. She was very surprised when she first learned that Japan had actually been the aggressor.
and 2) Because they don't teach the Japanese school children ANYTHING about WWII. She said they covered it for half a day in her entire years of schooling. She was very surprised when she first learned that Japan had actually been the aggressor.