Mandrake The magician

[Antonello Blueberry]

http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070425_russell_doing_mandrake.html

One of my favourite directors – I kid you not, I love the guy’s stuff – Chuck Russell (He directed one of the better Freddy Krueger outings, “A Nightmare On Elm Street III: Dream Warriors&#8221 is attached to direct “Mandrake”, according to Variety.
Based on the Hearst comic, it’s being primed by the Baldwin Entertainment Group. As a director, Russell has also helmed the Schwarzenegger vehicle "Eraser", "The Mask" and "The Scorpion King".
Written by Josh Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean Donnelly, the film follows the magician’s entrance into a world of grand magic and adventure. Jackson Mandrake has always lived life on the edge. Working as an underground magician, Mandrake’s act has grown far too dangerous. One fateful afternoon, a CIA agent approaches Mandrake and requests that the legendary magician help the CIA on a dangerous covert operation. Mandrake reluctantly agrees but soon finds himself caught up in an intricate web of deceit, fighting for his own survival from a brilliant criminal mastermind.

I'm officially worried. Not because of Chuck Russel in the director's chair. The man can produce at least some fun stuff and doesn't take himself too seriously. The problems come with the two hacks that are writing the script. They already butchered a Clive Cussler novel in Sahara, and a Ray Bradbury short story in "A Sound of Thunder".
And I heard that their movie script "Dead of Night", based on the Italian comic-book Dylan Dog, was so bad, that the creator asked for the name of the main characters to be changed so they won't be connected to the books.

In the past many directors and actors had Mandrake as their dream project:

• A Federico Fellini directed movie with Marcello Mastroianni (which resulted in a cameo in "L'Intervista")
• A Bob Swaim project starring Kevin Kline in the mid-80s
• A Julien Temple project with David Bowie
• An Alain Delon project with himself and Cassius Clay as Lothar in the 70s
• A movie produced in the late 80s by the just born (and soon dead) Penta America with Bruce Willis and Mike Tyson

And I remember an interview with Sergio Leone who had a project on a Phantom movie (he started to write a screenplay and to scout locations) and declared he would have liked to follow it with a Mandrake movie.

 

[3dman27]

this movie sounds interesting i hope it works out

 

[Walker]

And I remember an interview with Sergio Leone who had a project on a Phantom movie (he started to write a screenplay and to scout locations) and declared he would have like to follow it with a Mandrake movie.

Hello, Antonello. Judging from your post, you certainly don't seem like one of those people who makes up this kind of stuff, and therefore, I have to ask you where you read about Leone's Phantom project? The character has been my favorite since childhood, and Leone, one of history's best directors, making a film based on the property... God, it's mouthwatering.
BTW, check out the new ongoing Phantom series from Moonstone Books (www.moonstonebooks.com). Brilliant stuff.

I heard about the Kevin Kline Mandrake film, but where did you hear about the David Bowie and Bruce Willis (ugh, him as Mandrake) projects? To add to the list, a version with Paul Newman was also planned in the sixties or seventies.

Please respond; I am dying to know a little more about these sadly unfilmed projects.

I'm officially worried. Not because of Chuck Russel in the director's chair. The man can produce at least some fun stuff and doesn't take himself too seriously. The problems come with the two hacks that are writing the script. They already butchered a Clive Cussler novel in Sahara, and a Ray Bradbury short story in "A Sound of Thunder".
And I heard that their movie script "Dead of Night", based on the Italian comic-book Dylan Dog, was so bad, that the creator asked for the name of the main characters to be changed so they won't be connected to the books.

Actually, you may not need to worry at all. According to Hollywood.com, the project has been rewritten by two new, separate writers, whose names I cannot recall at the moment.

Anyway, we should not expect this film to be anything like the beloved comic. An online script review (read it years ago when the project was first licenced; sorry, don't remember any link) said that the film was actually about the GRANDSON of the Mandrake of the strip; a hipster named Jackson "Jack" Mandrake who fights crime with his pal Malcolm "Mal" Lothar.

No matter what, I look forward to seeing the great, oh-so underrated Lee Falk receive some well deserved attention because of this project. Hopefully, it can also get the new The Ghost Who Walks movie off the ground if successfull (the 1996 Billy Zane film is fun, but lacking).

 

[emi]

The problems come with the two hacks that are writing the script. They already butchered a Clive Cussler novel in Sahara, and a Ray Bradbury short story in "A Sound of Thunder".
And I heard that their movie script "Dead of Night", based on the Italian comic-book Dylan Dog, was so bad, that the creator asked for the name of the main characters to be changed so they won't be connected to the books.

From the mouth of an hopeless wannabe screenwriter...

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

From the mouth of an hopeless wannabe screenwriter...

At least there's nothing on the screens with my name on that I should be ashamed for. Yet.

 

[Walker]

Hey, Antonello, did you read my post? If so, what's your thoughts?

 

[matrix_ghost]

I grew up reading the comic strip which was published every day in my local newspaper. In fact this strip plays a BIG BIG part of my childhood since i was such a big fan of it.
That was until i grew older and the they stopped using the more fantastical elements of the strip that made it great in the firist place.

I mean the mental battles between Mandrake and his twin brother Derek.
Or Mandrake waking thru a mirror and fighting his opposite Ekardnam. That stuff kicked ass t:
Not to mention the Collegium Magicus in the Himalays with Theron and also Cobra .....

Man this is bringing back all sorts of fond childhood memories
I'm slightly happy that the project is made into a movie and while Chuck Russell movies have entertained me , i dunno whether i should be excited or worried.
IF done faithfully Mandrake is whole different kind of movie for him. Then again 300 was also something different for Zach SNyder after he made Dawn Of The Dead and look how that turned out to be

So i'm looking forward to this flick but i'm hoping that they don't screw things up too much.


*MANDRAKE GESTURES HYPNOTICALLY !* t:

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Hello, Antonello. Judging from your post, you certainly don't seem like one of those people who makes up this kind of stuff, and therefore, I have to ask you where you read about Leone's Phantom project?

An interview with the director done for an Italian comic-book magazine in the mid 80s.

I heard about the Kevin Kline Mandrake film, but where did you hear about the David Bowie and Bruce Willis (ugh, him as Mandrake) projects? To add to the list, a version with Paul Newman was also planned in the sixties or seventies.

The Julian Temple Mandrake was on an Italian movie magazine that I think was reporting news from the trades.
The Bruce Willis one was announced as the first big production of Penta America by the not-yet-prime-minister Silvio Berlusconi at a press conference, circa 1991.

 

[3dman27]

I grew up reading the comic strip which was published every day in my local newspaper. In fact this strip plays a BIG BIG part of my childhood since i was such a big fan of it.
That was until i grew older and the they stopped using the more fantastical elements of the strip that made it great in the firist place.

I mean the mental battles between Mandrake and his twin brother Derek.
Or Mandrake waking thru a mirror and fighting his opposite Ekardnam. That stuff kicked ass t:
Not to mention the Collegium Magicus in the Himalays with Theron and also Cobra .....

Man this is bringing back all sorts of fond childhood memories
I'm slightly happy that the project is made into a movie and while Chuck Russell movies have entertained me , i dunno whether i should be excited or worried.
IF done faithfully Mandrake is whole different kind of movie for him. Then again 300 was also something different for Zach SNyder after he made Dawn Of The Dead and look how that turned out to be

So i'm looking forward to this flick but i'm hoping that they don't screw things up too much.


*MANDRAKE GESTURES HYPNOTICALLY !* t:

is mandrake still in syndication?

 

[Walker]

Yes Mandrake is still in syndication, excellently written and drawn by Fred Fredericks after the great Lee Falk passed away in 1998. You can read it online at www.kingfeatures.com

 

[3dman27]

thanks for the info

 

[Rac]

I hope everyone has glazed eyes/faces throughout the movie . t:

 

[Walker]

Now, who should play Mandrake? Timothy Dalton would have been perfect ten years ago, but today, I think Johnny Depp would be fine.

 

[Ceb-Man]

Mandrake is one of my favorate charcaters. I really hope he makes it to the big screen very soon.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Ok, Johnny Depp for Mandrake, too. Check.
Who's next? Edward Norton? Jim Caviezel?

 

[Walker]

Jim Caviezel would be way better as the Phantom, and Norton is already the Hulk.

What about George Clooney (too old, obviously, but...)?

The great, terribly underrated Billy Zane would be a damn good choice, but he already played Falk's other character, The Phantom, back in 1996.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Jim Caviezel would be way better as the Phantom, and Norton is already the Hulk.

I was joking. Depp, Caviezel and Norton are the three names that pop up in every casting suggestion list.

 

[Walker]

Well, Depp is probably the most versaitle mainstream actor around, so it's no wonder people like him.

As I said, Timothy Dalton would be awesome, but he's too old now. So is Pierce Brosnan, but he can off course do "suave hero" in his sleep. Far better than Bruce Willis, at least...

 

[Noir]

Finally a Mandrake movie, I've always wanted to see this movie..

Adrian Brody would be a good Mandrake.

 

[Walker]

yeah, great choice

 

[Noir]

Christian Bale also, after watching the Prestige he has the look of Leon Mandrake the man Falk based Mandrake on.

RDJ also, but just because of the Chaplin movie he made.

 

[Walker]

Bale is perfect for pretty much every movie...

I believe the character in the screenplay is actually supposed to be Mandrake's grandson, so he won't really need to look like the man in the comic. Sad, if you ask me.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Already dressed for the role.

 

[terry78]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=41192

Couture of UFC fame has a role in the flick now.

 

[Airwings]

And I remember an interview with Sergio Leone who had a project on a Phantom movie (he started to write a screenplay and to scout locations) and declared he would have liked to follow it with a Mandrake movie.

The Leone Phantom should have starred Clint Eastwood. That's what I have read somewhere.
But during OUATIA (1984) he downtalked his former star, claiming he isn't an actor but that DeNiro is.
The director's take on Mandrake, I guess it would have been with Burt Reynolds due to his looks (if he had the right acting skills to be called an actor by him).

For more modern choices: When seeing Nolan's The Prestige, I really got a Mandrake vibe from Hugh Jackman.
Maybe it still isn't too late for that.