Jan 7 2009Cartoon Elephant Director Taking Half-Mangled Confederate Project
When Crank co-directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor left the Hex adaptation over creative differences, Warner Bros. knew they'd have to find a new director that could bring that certain something to make the project work. And when I'm saying "certain something" here, what I mean is the ability to direct a CGI adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book, because that obviously translates to a gory, supernatural, comic book-based Western. From THR:
Jimmy Hayward, who directed the animated "Horton Hears a Who!" will make his live-action debut with "Jonah Hex," the Warner Bros. western based on the DC Comics character.Josh Brolin is attached to star in the film, which previously had Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor ("Crank") on board as directors. The duo, who also wrote the script, bowed out over creative differences in November. The studio, which hopes to put the movie into production in March or April, went on a fast-track search, putting together a short list that included such names as Andy Fickman and McG before narrowing it down to Hayward.
OK, I'll assume Jimmy Hayward has diverse enough talent to handle this--he's never been anything but great to me--but why is this being made again? Losing-the-directors time would have been a great time for a Warner executive to speak up and say, "You know what? I'm not sure why we're even pursuing this property. Hex? Who the eff is Hex? We're really making that? Let's just do an Aquaman. Everyone good with an Aquaman? OK, 2010, here comes Aquaman. Good meeting, Warner Brothers."
Reader Comments
1. wendy - January 7, 2009 1:05 PM
Why aren't there more Kelvington mashups on this site? Maybe you should do an interview with Kelvington and post it on the site. Can you please ask him one question for me "wtf?" thanks.
Also more machine girl footage. That's a topic that will never let us down.
I don't have anything to say about hex or tex or whatever. Although if they did a movie adaptation of the classic novel tex that would be something to report.
2. Mr. BoJangles - January 7, 2009 2:22 PM
They did. It's called "Tex" and stars Emilio Estavez. It's best known for the line "God gave me my face but He let me pick my nose."
I'm not convinced Hex could ever have been good, but mad props to the studio for at least trying something that wasn't a carbon copy of every other superhero movie out there.
I agree machine gun girls are fun, though. We should see more of them on here.
3. TetterkeT - January 7, 2009 6:11 PM
You're losing your touch I Watch Stuff Writer. You completely missed an opportunity to link to your previous story about Thomas Jane playing dress up in order to get cast in this flick! Don't worry, I did the leg work for you... (click above).
4. Brian - January 8, 2009 10:35 AM
Hex is a badass semi-obscure character... I think it's cool they're not just sticking with mainstream heroes.
That said.... let's just hope this isn't another debacle ala Ghost Rider.
5. Mr. BoJangles - January 9, 2009 11:37 AM
Oh, it'll be a debacle. Yes indeed. Think "Catwoman."
Oh, and LAST!