Variety reports that "The Mummy" & "Van Helsing" writer-director Stephen Sommers and his producing partner Bob Ducsay have landed the rights to Flash Gordon, and will adapt a feature film based on the iconic comic book superhero for Universal.
Sommers is producing the Flash project with an eye toward scripting; Sommers has yet to helm a project he hasn't scripted. "Flash Gordon" dates back to 1934, when it was created by famed comic strip artist Alex Raymond, and for decades after appeared in movie serials, animated fare, TV shows and a ultra camp 1980 feature helmed by Mike Hodges.
The "ultra-camp 1980 feature" is still the best. Complain all you want about Sam Jones ("Flash Gordon. Quarterback. New York Jets!"), or the garish sets, or histrionics masquerading as dialogue ("Open fire! All weapons!"). Actually don't complain at all, for without it we wouldn't have the modern classic we do today.
And the best Queen soundtrack of all time, mind you.
Besides, I don't care how cheesy you effete 21st century snobs find the Hodges version, do you really want the hack responsible for The Mummy Returns and...ugh...Van Helsing to get his greasy hands on Flash Gordon? None of your childhood classics will be safe after that, so don't come crying to me when your beloved Goonies are snatched up by Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson.
Flash! Flash, I luuuuuurve you! But we only have fourteen hours to write the script!
Rats, well this isn't what I had in mind when still hoping for a Flash Gordon sequel all these years. No way possible for any new Queen songs, anyways.
Surely there's room in this crazy world for both the archaic Crabbe versions (which I have seen) and the winsome Melody Anderson?
"None of your childhood classics will be safe after that.."
People for whom Flash Gordon was a "childhood classic" are what? 70 years old now? Shall I start worrying about movie versions of Buster Brown too?
Melody Anderson holds no attraction for me. (Mind you, if I were a guy, I suspect Ornella Muti would carbonate my hormones throroughly.) There's room for the 1980 version, but it is decidedly inferior.
The Buster Crabbe versions were the childhood classics of my mother, who turned 69 last month. Telling me about them was her response to my enthusiasm about Star Wars.
Dude, rent the Buster Crabbe serials. They will show you what a pile of steaming equine turds the 1980 movie was.