Grayskull: Masters of the Universe - Part 2

[The Guard]

What's with the obsession with having all the main actors from MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE in this new version?

I know people liked Langella's Skeletor, but I don't recall Dolph Lundgren exactly being beloved in the role of He-Man...

 

[Pink Ranger]

I know people liked Langella's Skeletor, but I don't recall Dolph Lundgren exactly being beloved in the role of He-Man...

Expendables-generated nostalgia.

 

[Airwings]

Any suggestions for Sorceress?

 

[Rowsdower!]

Any suggestions for Sorceress?

Jennifer Ehle. Though she'd probably never do it.

 

[Jordacar]

I really want the film to explore the Randor/Keldor relationship. The first 20 minutes can be about that, how Keldor was lured into sorcery by an unseen war lord (Hordak) and how young soldiers Duncan and yet-to-be-king Randor drove the traitors away.

Flackbacks with Greyskull would also be cool. But I doubt Hollywood would will do any of this. They are going straight for a popcorn-flic

Okay, I'll say it. I'm writing my own script. I know they'll never use it, but y'know, at least its practice. t:

Anyway, I've found one of the trickiest things with a story like this is figuring out how precisely to dole out the important bits of backstory while getting to the main characters and the present day stuff as quickly as possible. You don't want too many beginnings like John Carter.

I figured there are basically 2 prologues you can use to start the movie (unless you count Marlena crash-landing and meeting Randor, but who the hell wants to see that?). Anyway, the first is King Grayskull, the second is Randor vs. Keldor. Justin Marks' script started with the former and the new cartoon started with the latter.

Taking a page from "Game of Thrones" (it's weird how much watching that show has influenced my writing, even when its a completely different kind of story), I considered starting with no prologue at all. But I ended up going with Grayskull. However, instead of showing a big LOTR-style battle against the Horde narrated by the Sorceress where Dolph Lundgren gets to kick tons of ass (like Marks did), I just wrote King G a little St. Crispian's Day speech instead. Lightning, titles, cut to Prince Adam. Call me crazy.

After that, Keldor/Skeletor isn't really shown (outside of a couple fleeting flashbacks as a few characters recount the story) until he launches his attack on the capital (another page taken from Marks' script). With that in mind, there's not much Randor/Keldor stuff in my outline, since the focus is primarily on Adam, so I figure all that would make for some great sequel material.

Just wanted to share that.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think the prologue was one of the few alright things in Marks' script which I mostly hated and thought was badly written.

I think for a new movie all you have to basically do is take most of the building blocks from the 200x series and condense that into a trilogy.

Movie 1 - Skeletor

Movie 2 - Snake Men

Movie 3 - Hordak, the Horde, and She-Ra

The 200x series basically gave you what you need more organic, natural versions of the characters. You don't have to use everybody or everything. Just translate that into live action.

The MOTUC series does a good job of basically connecting EVERYTHING and filling in all the blanks.

 

[Thundarr]

I think the prologue was one of the few alright things in Marks' script which I mostly hated and thought was badly written.

I think for a new movie all you have to basically do is take most of the building blocks from the 200x series and condense that into a trilogy.

Movie 1 - Skeletor

Movie 2 - Snake Men

Movie 3 - Hordak, the Horde, and She-Ra

The 200x series basically gave you what you need more organic, natural versions of the characters. You don't have to use everybody or everything. Just translate that into live action.

The MOTUC series does a good job of basically connecting EVERYTHING and filling in all the blanks.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Paradox1]

I think they should veer away from the cartoon stories. They aren't bad stories but beside it being lazy, I'd like to see something new.

 

[Jordacar]

I"m not really in any hurry to get to the Snake Men. But I'm sure Mattel would have other plans.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

I'm normally very excited about trilogies.

I'm very excited about a He-Man film.

Though, somehow, I don't feel up for a He-Man trilogy.

 

[TheVileOne]

It's tough. He-Man hasn't really been that popular since the 1980's.

Transformers at least was able to reinvent itself and become popular again in the 1990's after it died for a little while. Same with Star Wars.

 

[Paradox1]

I don't know until the actual Michael Bay movies came out I hadn't thought of Transformers at all maybe they had some kind of come back but I wasn't aware of that. I think He-Man can come back if the movie delivers on intense action, cgi eye candy and a competent story. The story doesn't have to be award winning but it has to be engaging and doesn't take away from the CGI created Eternia.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Well, I'd love to see a trilogy, but I think they need to worry about just making one good movie first. They can plant some seeds if they want to, but they should go about it the way Nolan did with Batman: just try to make the best movie possible and not worry about what could come next.

 

[Thundarr]

Well, I'd love to see a trilogy, but I think they need to worry about just making one good movie first. They can plant some seeds if they want to, but they should go about it the way Nolan did with Batman: just try to make the best movie possible and not worry about what could come next.

I totally agree. They also need to stear clear of what Lucas did with the Star Wars Prequels and what the Cohen Brothers did with The Matrix Franchise.

The writing of the Star Wars movies started off weak in Episode I, then got stronger as the trilogy progressed. But the CGI was so over used, and of such poor quality, that all three films look like they're made for TV or direct to DVD movies.

The Matrix was pure brilliance in every way, from marketing ("No one can tell you what The Matrix is. You must experience it for yourself") to the writing, to the execution of the VFX. But then they decided to make it a trilogy and got sloppy with Reloaded and even sloppier with Revolutions.

Just make one movie, and make it a damn good one. If it's successful, make a sequel and try to make it just as good. If the sequel turns out to be as good as, if not better than, the original, then make a third. Hell! Make a fourth and a fifth if you still have any good ideas for the franchise! Just beware the traps of sloppy writing and over use of CGI.

 

[Jordacar]

I totally agree. They also need to stear clear of what Lucas did with the Star Wars Prequels and what the Cohen Brothers did with The Matrix Franchise.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Hey, I'd pay good money to see what Joel and Ethan would do with the Matrix. The whole movie would be set in a sleepy village near Portland, Oregon, and Neo would be a struggling innkeeper who's trying to save his hospitality business from Mr. Smith the evil bank loan officer, using some hidden Nazi gold he discovered under the stairs.

 

[TheVileOne]

Wachowski *siblings* did the Matrix trilogy. Though the idea of a Coen Brothers Matrix is amusing.

The thing is, you invest in a He-Man movie you are investing in a movie franchise no matter what happens as that's the ultimate goal.

 

[ShredderX]

I think the prologue was one of the few alright things in Marks' script which I mostly hated and thought was badly written.

I think for a new movie all you have to basically do is take most of the building blocks from the 200x series and condense that into a trilogy.

Movie 1 - Skeletor

Movie 2 - Snake Men

Movie 3 - Hordak, the Horde, and She-Ra

The 200x series basically gave you what you need more organic, natural versions of the characters. You don't have to use everybody or everything. Just translate that into live action.

The MOTUC series does a good job of basically connecting EVERYTHING and filling in all the blanks.

I agree 100 percent !!!!

 

[Airwings]

Randor/Keldor is a backstory that need to be in this film, it needs to be focused at. And it should be in the first part of the film, after the flashback introduction to this world.
Regarding the wars of the past, they don't have to reveal who the dark lord was. Just let us know that some evil power had victory over King Greyskull. I rather not see Hordak in person at a so early stage. That takes away the mystery around his character. A voice tricking young Keldor should be enough.

Marlena's crashlanding should not be forgotten, I disagree with anybody to thinks otherwise. There is no need to show it, but the matter can be mentioned briefly.

Discussing possible storylines of sequels already now isn't any good. But I can say that the threat should be bigger for each film. So logically, after Skeletor it's time for King Hiss and then we can learn more about the battles King Greyskull was a part of.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I think both backstories can be combined as one.

The prologue of the movie can begin with brave Captain Randor defeating the remnants of Keldor's forces. As the hideously scarred Keldor runs from the field of battle, Randor looks up, and sees a strange "metal bird" cut a smoking trail across the sky, and land in the old forest some distance away.

Randor and his trusty young friend Duncan rush to the scene of the crash, and rescue the beautiful young woman who is the only apparent survivor of the flight. And so the saga begins ...

 

[Thundarr]

My bad. I meant the Wochowski Brothers. My point is they put all this energy into making one great movie. Then when it becomes a huge success they say "Hey! Let's turn this into a trilogy and make even more money!" Then when they crank out the other two movies, they're half-assed pieces of crap.

That is what needs to be avoided if you want to make a good MOTU trilogy/series. Just make each individual movie as good as you can make it. Leave the ending open so that there can be a sequel if needed, but can be a stand alone film as well.

Best way to do that is like the Avengers movies. Each film was really well made and entertaining. They were all connected, but each was its own movie. They gotta do the same with the MOTU.

 

[Airwings]

Pink Ranger: What a great way to have both Marlena's and Keldor's backstories connected that way. Haven't thought of that myself. Thank you a lot

Now: Who should play Marlena? Everybody can answer.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Pink Ranger: What a great way to have both Marlena's and Keldor's backstories connected that way. Haven't thought of that myself. Thank you a lot

Now: Who should play Marlena? Everybody can answer.

Julianna Marguiles comes to mind. She has a beautiful and unique face, so the audience doesn't need an explanation as to why Randor falls in love at first sight. But she has a look that can be interpreted as both young and old, so she can go from being a younger astronaut to being the mother of a 16-year-old boy without stretching credulity.

 

[Airwings]

Suggestions for Greyskull, other that Dolph?

Let's keep this thread alive.

 

[ShredderX]

Kevin Sorbo perhaps ?