THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
02-23-12 | 05:52 AM
#1
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THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Originally Posted by slashfilm.com
Well, this is unexpected. We’ve known that Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World director Edgar Wright is at work on both a new screenplay with Shaun collaborator Simon Pegg and the Ant-Man project for Marvel Studios. (He’s also got a couple other percolating scripts.) But in the meantime Wright is now set to make what will probably be his biggest movie to date.
Disney has hired Wright to direct Johnny Depp in a big-screen version of The Night Stalker, which was originally a TV movie, then a series, in which reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) found himself embroiled in supernatural goings-on as he covered crime stories.
Even though this will probably happen before the next ‘blood and ice cream’ movie The World’s End, Deadline makes The Night Stalker sound like a project that won’t be happening immediately. That’s because the film doesn’t have a script at this point, or even a screenwriter. Wright would be a perfectly good choice for that job, too, but that may or may not happen.
Though it was announced last summer, a lot of work remains to be done, and Edgar Wright will work with Johnny Depp and Depp’s Infinitum Nihil partner Christi Dembrowski to adapt and shape the material.
The site says the story will likely be PG-13 and “tailored to fit Disney’s family film mandate.” While Wright fans might initially bristle at that idea — he’s not the most restrained guy when it comes to filmmaking — I think it will be interesting to see Wright work with these specific constraints.
So is this effectively a sort of trial run for Ant-Man? Wright has been at work on that with Attack the Block director Joe Cornish for some time, but given that Ant-Man isn’t really a household name, it always seemed like a strange project for Marvel and Disney to invest in. The Night Stalker would establish him with Marvel owner and distributor Disney, and of course making a big Johnny Depp movie is rarely a bad thing for a director. (Though let’s see how Depp’s other supernatural TV-to-film endeavor Dark Shadows opens, and if Disney remains bullish on this one afterward.)
Disney has hired Wright to direct Johnny Depp in a big-screen version of The Night Stalker, which was originally a TV movie, then a series, in which reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin) found himself embroiled in supernatural goings-on as he covered crime stories.
Even though this will probably happen before the next ‘blood and ice cream’ movie The World’s End, Deadline makes The Night Stalker sound like a project that won’t be happening immediately. That’s because the film doesn’t have a script at this point, or even a screenwriter. Wright would be a perfectly good choice for that job, too, but that may or may not happen.
Though it was announced last summer, a lot of work remains to be done, and Edgar Wright will work with Johnny Depp and Depp’s Infinitum Nihil partner Christi Dembrowski to adapt and shape the material.
The site says the story will likely be PG-13 and “tailored to fit Disney’s family film mandate.” While Wright fans might initially bristle at that idea — he’s not the most restrained guy when it comes to filmmaking — I think it will be interesting to see Wright work with these specific constraints.
So is this effectively a sort of trial run for Ant-Man? Wright has been at work on that with Attack the Block director Joe Cornish for some time, but given that Ant-Man isn’t really a household name, it always seemed like a strange project for Marvel and Disney to invest in. The Night Stalker would establish him with Marvel owner and distributor Disney, and of course making a big Johnny Depp movie is rarely a bad thing for a director. (Though let’s see how Depp’s other supernatural TV-to-film endeavor Dark Shadows opens, and if Disney remains bullish on this one afterward.)
02-23-12 | 06:11 AM
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From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
The site says the story will likely be PG-13 and “tailored to fit Disney’s family film mandate.”
02-23-12 | 08:51 AM
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From: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge...
Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Well the original did pull it off on TV. But any time I see 'PG-13' I get the same reaction as several in this thread. It screams studio meddling and does not bode well for a film.
02-23-12 | 10:59 AM
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
For a movie that's in production and the studio decides to change the target rating, I agree. Given that this doesn't even have a script yet, this is clearly something Wright agreed to upon signing up. And really, I think Wright can deliver a PG-13 film that is just as entertaining as an R one.
02-23-12 | 11:03 AM
#11
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
I might take issue if it weren't Wright directing, but, it is, and I trust him to do good work.
02-23-12 | 11:15 AM
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Like others, I trust Wright to make a good movie whatever rating. I would try to hold off on making too many judgments merely because it will be PG-13, especially when the movie hasn't even started filming. It's much different if a film has already been shot and the filmmaker is arguing with the studio about it. Plus, I always go back to Drag Me to Hell. The PG-13 cut of that film was actually much better than the unrated version. Sometimes restraint can be a good thing.
02-23-12 | 12:09 PM
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From: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
I've never seen The Night Stalker, never heard of it....but on the subject of rating. Wright did SPvsTW. Great PG-13. I can only hope that this film is great too. The more Wright....the better.
02-24-12 | 10:59 PM
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From: Not necessarily Formerly known as Solid Snake
Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Ummm ... wasn't Night Stalker already remade into another TV series a few years ago?
(For what it is worth, The Night Stalker is supposedly the inspiration for The X-Files, but that isn't what I am referring to.)
(For what it is worth, The Night Stalker is supposedly the inspiration for The X-Files, but that isn't what I am referring to.)
02-24-12 | 11:38 PM
#17
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Johnny Depp?! I really hate that Hollywood always has to "pretty up" a classic character. I think Will Ferrell would make a great Kolchak, if he could play it mostly straight.
02-24-12 | 11:48 PM
#18
Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Pg13 sounds like the perfect rating for this. It's not like either series was pushing R rated content. I loved the TV movies and the original series. Resisted the recent TV remake but finally watched it on DVD and enjoyed it very much. Depp is a great fit for this.
02-25-12 | 12:01 AM
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Speaking of playing it straight this would be great for Bill Murray too. Wright and Murray? If he's not gonna do Ghostbusters 3 this would be good.
02-25-12 | 09:31 AM
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02-25-12 | 03:08 PM
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
02-25-12 | 04:51 PM
#25
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Re: THE NIGHT STALKER (2013?) (dir. Edgar Wright) (Johnny Depp)
Agreed. It was an ABC Tuesday or Wednesday movie of the week. I was a kid and told I couldn't watch it, so of course I did. It scared the poop out of me and I had nightmares for weeks.