MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
03-06-09 | 12:20 PM
#1
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
Remember the old Chuck Norris movie from Cannon Films back in 1984? This is apparently an updated version focusing on the Iraq War.
I think I've seen most of these WWE action movies and they have been decent from an action junkie standpoint. Behind Enemy Lines 3 was surprisingly really entertaining.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...19d56817ed998b
Missing in Action" is being discovered again.
The Chuck Norris Vietnam pic is being developed as a co-production by MGM and the WWE primarily for home video. Jeremy Passmore, who also is penning MGM's "Red Dawn" theatrical remake, is on board to write the script with partner Andre Fabrizio.
The original "Missing in Action" centered on Col. James Braddock (Norris), a POW of the Viet Cong who escapes Southeast Asia and heads back to liberate other U.S. captives. Two other pics were released after MGM's 1984 hit, including a prequel and a sequel, during the next four years.
The new film will be updated to reflect modern military realities and will be set during the current Iraq War. World Wrestling Entertainment, which has beefed up film development under its WWE Studios banner, will produce the new "Missing" pic along with Andrew Stevens ("Heist"). WWE is behind the upcoming Fox Atomic release "12 Rounds," starring pro wrestler John Cena.
The "Missing" project is one of three deals for the suddenly hot Passmore and Fabrizio, who are repped by Paradigm, Adam Goldworm's new banner Aperture Entertainment and lawyer Rob Szymanski.
In addition to "Missing," the writers are penning an adaptation of the video game "Stranglehold" for John Woo banner Lion Rock Entertainment. "Stranglehold" is based on the Woo action pic "Hard Boiled," which revolves around mobsters in Hong Kong and Chicago. The game was released in 2007, while the movie, starring Chow Yun-Fat, was released 15 years earlier and became a hit on several continents.
Passmore also penned the biological thriller "Summer's End," which Platinum Dunes is developing at Rogue, as well as "Dawn." Like the revived "Missing," that movie will take a military threat from another era and give it a modern twist.
The duo also have sold a Las Vegas-set action pic titled "The Prince" to genre banner Echo Lake Entertainment. That company is producing the supernatural thriller "The Ward" for John Carpenter to direct, with the iconic helmer also eyeing "Prince" as a directing vehicle. Rick Jacobs will produce "The Prince."
MGM has been developing a host of remakes based on its vast library, with "The Three Stooges" and "RoboCop" among its more high-profile projects.
I think I've seen most of these WWE action movies and they have been decent from an action junkie standpoint. Behind Enemy Lines 3 was surprisingly really entertaining.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...19d56817ed998b
Missing in Action" is being discovered again.
The Chuck Norris Vietnam pic is being developed as a co-production by MGM and the WWE primarily for home video. Jeremy Passmore, who also is penning MGM's "Red Dawn" theatrical remake, is on board to write the script with partner Andre Fabrizio.
The original "Missing in Action" centered on Col. James Braddock (Norris), a POW of the Viet Cong who escapes Southeast Asia and heads back to liberate other U.S. captives. Two other pics were released after MGM's 1984 hit, including a prequel and a sequel, during the next four years.
The new film will be updated to reflect modern military realities and will be set during the current Iraq War. World Wrestling Entertainment, which has beefed up film development under its WWE Studios banner, will produce the new "Missing" pic along with Andrew Stevens ("Heist"). WWE is behind the upcoming Fox Atomic release "12 Rounds," starring pro wrestler John Cena.
The "Missing" project is one of three deals for the suddenly hot Passmore and Fabrizio, who are repped by Paradigm, Adam Goldworm's new banner Aperture Entertainment and lawyer Rob Szymanski.
In addition to "Missing," the writers are penning an adaptation of the video game "Stranglehold" for John Woo banner Lion Rock Entertainment. "Stranglehold" is based on the Woo action pic "Hard Boiled," which revolves around mobsters in Hong Kong and Chicago. The game was released in 2007, while the movie, starring Chow Yun-Fat, was released 15 years earlier and became a hit on several continents.
Passmore also penned the biological thriller "Summer's End," which Platinum Dunes is developing at Rogue, as well as "Dawn." Like the revived "Missing," that movie will take a military threat from another era and give it a modern twist.
The duo also have sold a Las Vegas-set action pic titled "The Prince" to genre banner Echo Lake Entertainment. That company is producing the supernatural thriller "The Ward" for John Carpenter to direct, with the iconic helmer also eyeing "Prince" as a directing vehicle. Rick Jacobs will produce "The Prince."
MGM has been developing a host of remakes based on its vast library, with "The Three Stooges" and "RoboCop" among its more high-profile projects.
03-06-09 | 12:28 PM
#2
Re: MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
the writers are penning an adaptation of the video game "Stranglehold" for John Woo banner Lion Rock Entertainment. "Stranglehold" is based on the Woo action pic "Hard Boiled," which revolves around mobsters in Hong Kong and Chicago. The game was released in 2007, while the movie, starring Chow Yun-Fat, was released 15 years earlier and became a hit on several continents.
03-06-09 | 01:20 PM
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
When the Woo fans start going apeshit the producers can just say, "No, no, we'd never touch a classic like Hard Boiled. This is simply a movie based on the game Stanglehold - two completely different entities..."
03-06-09 | 03:56 PM
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
The Stranglehold deal is with John Woo's production company, nothing to do with WWE. They're just mentioning it in the story to show these writers have a lot of projects in the works right now.
03-06-09 | 04:42 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
$10 says Cena will star. I wonder if we can expect a cameo from Chuck? Or is he too busy doing infomercials?
03-06-09 | 04:57 PM
#6
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
Re: MGM and WWE developing "Missing in Action" update for DTV
That would be cool if Chuck came back as General Jim Braddock. I doubt Cena would star in this. His films appear to be all theatre-bound like 12 Rounds. This is DTV.
