From Dark Horizons:

iF Magazine reports that legendary genre helmer John Carpenter will direct "Scared Straight" for Nu Image/Millennium Films.

The story follows group of juvenile delinquents are trapped inside a prison as part of the "Scared Straight" program when a large-scale riot breaks out, and it is up to inmate Karl Rix to save the kids.

Nicolas Cage will play Rix and shoting begins in the Fall. The project was previously set up at New Line Cinema with Rob Cohen attached to direct.

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Finally! Carpenter is my favorite director and I've been waiting for him to get back behind the camera for a while now. I know his output hasn't been the greatest for a while, but I still find his films to be largely enjoyable. I even give a pass to Ghosts of Mars, which isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Even though the last 2 things he did, those Masters of Horror episodes, weren't very good I still have hope he can pull off another good theatrical film. I hope Nic Cage decides to be a good actor for this one. He's so amazingly inconsistent.

So how does this relate to Batman?

So this will be sort of a new age Assault on Precinct 13 for the "new" generation (okay not really). I'm not sure how I feel about the whole setup, but I guess it could work in the right hands. I used to have faith in Nic Cage, that he could still pick good roles every once in a while... last year completely shattered that illusion.

Nick Cage and Carpenter... Interesting.

Doesn't sound like horror though.

I was intrigued until I saw Cage's name mentioned.

+1

Didn't Cage recently say that he was through with R rated movies?

This actually might be fun. I really like Nic Cage and all (and I'm fine with him in this one) but I have to wonder: Was Kurt Russell really that busy he couldn't have done this movie?

I'm mildly interested in this with Cage starring but if Russell were attached it would move up to must see.

Great news! With the exception of his shit-tastic Masters of Horror episodes I'm liked or loved everyone of his movies.

Now for my token comment every time John Carpenter is brought up in this forum:
Where the hell is my "Body Bags" DVD?

His masters of horror episode, "Cigarette Burns" was fantastic.

Probably the best episode of BOTH seasons.

I'm imagining the pitch was something like "It's like Con Air, but in a prison."

Yea lets hope that this isn't Con Air in a prison. The fact that John got pinned into doing films like Ghosts of Mars after he started off which such great films like The Thing makes me wonder if he will ever get back to doing some good films again. I'd love to at least see him do something as good as Big Trouble in Little China or In the Mouth of Madness again, because I know will never get anything great like Halloween or The Thing from him again. And Cigarette Burns along with Homecoming are the two best episodes from both seasons of Masters of Horror. I always thought that Carpenter could do a good western like The Propostion if he got the right script and was let loose for once.

Great news

I totally agree!

This project could be interesting. I still have confidence in Carpenter, even if it has been a while since he delivered a truly great feature film.

My first thought as well.

So, how long before Carpenter is out and Michael Bay or Simon West steps in?

THAT was my first thought. With Cage's involvment, this thing sounds tailor made for one of those "Action" directors" to step in. Carpenter seems like an odd choice to me.

Let's just HOPE that this is more like Con Air and less like Ghosts of Mars

Sounds like Escape from New York on a much smaller scale.

Then I'll definitely see it! Had you said it sounds like Escape From L.A. on a smaller scale than I would certainly skip it.

Um.... no. I'd rather we got more Ghosts of Mars and less Con Air. Angry Martian spirits taking over host bodies is far more appealing to me than Nic Cage with a Southern accent on a plane.

Great news, since Carpenter is a director I always enjoy. Maybe he can breathe some new life into Cage's career.

If it's not another Thing or Halloween (or They Live ), if it's half as good as Prince of Darkness I'm set.

And if Kurt was in the Cage role this would be killer.

premise is one thing, execution is completely different. While Ghosts of Mars may have had some decent ideas, it was executed horribly. Con Air is no masterpiece but it least it was somewhat entertaining.

It sounds like Escape From L.A. on a smaller scale.

Nic Cage ?