Jul 24 2009 'Asteroids' Update: Shooting Asteroids Now Has "Really Strong, Deep Mythology"
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, on why Asteroids: The Movie is somehow not one of our stupidest ideas for a movie:
"It's funny because people say there's nothing in the game, but that's not entirely right" he explained. "I was attracted to Asteroids, plain and simple, because I think what it tells you is that there's going to be this big thing in space.""We've crafted a really strong, deep mythology for the thing. Without divulging too much about it, it's two lead characters - two brothers - who have to go through a seminal experience to figure out their relationship, against this huge backdrop."
Yeah, Lorenzo, that's funny how people say there's nothing in the game, when there's obviously the vague concept of "this big thing in space." How silly people are! Only you had the vision to realize the dormant potential within Asteroids to become The Darjeeling Limited in space, with asteroids.
Jul 2 2009 'Asteroids': That's a Movie Now
Solidifying the notion that film concepts are no longer so much actual ideas as much as notable words, the movie rights to Asteroids, the 1979 Atari game that consisted of absolutely nothing but a triangular ship shooting shapes that looked roughly like asteroids (and occasionally flying saucers), were just purchased by Universal after the studio won a four-studio bidding war. Yes, four studios were really eager to make an Asteroids movie. Because it's such a good idea for a movie.
It was a big score for Universal, as they're the studio making films based on Battleship, Candy Land, and Monopoly, so they have a reputation to keep up for making old, plot-free games into retarded movies. They needed this.
I can't help but think this is a mistake. Not the idea of making a movie based on a game of flying around shooting asteroids, but making a movie based on a game of flying around shooting asteroids that isn't Sinistar. At least then you've got an extremely antagonistic villain:
