Mandrake the magician.

[gwynplaine]

I don't know if there is a thread on the subject already (if so please delete/merge/lock) and I don't know if there are other fans out there.
My father grew up with Mandrake and when I was a kid he introduced me to the character (years later I gave him Watchmen and TKJ, what goes around comes aroundt. I love Mandrake and I heard they were doing a movie with Jonathan Rhys Davis in the titular role. Does anyone have other infos ? Is Lothar, the strongest man in the world going to be in it ? Is it period or will they modernize it ? There is not a great track record for those "old comic book heroes" movies (the phantom, the shadow) but I am hoping for the best.
Davis wouldn't have been my first choice either (Jude Law was) but we'll see.

 

[deathshead2]

I just know the guy who directed The Mask and Eraser is doing it. Thats all the info we've knwon for a year. I don't really think there doing the movie.

 

[gwynplaine]

I just know the guy who directed The Mask and Eraser is doing it. Thats all the info we've knwon for a year. I don't really think there doing the movie.

Thank you. Well, no need for a thread then I guess. Unless anybody wants to discuss an hypothetical Mandrake filmt:. I heard Randy Couture was mentionned in the casting.

 

[rogue trooper]

http://www.chroniclechamber.com/


Saturday, May 16, 2009

Hayden Christensen to play Mandrake the Magician




You'd be forgiven for thinking there could not be a more exciting time for the potential of Lee Falk characters appearing on the screen, with both a new Phantom movie and TV-series headed our way. Well, you were very wrong, as actor Hayden Christensen, best known for starring as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" and "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith", plus his role in the recent Doug Liman-directed sci-fi thriller "Jumper", has seemingly been cast as Mandrake in a new movie of the same name, according to the website of production company Omega Entertainment.

Djimon Honsou, perhaps best known for his fine performances in films such as "Gladiator" and "Blood Diamond", has also been added to the cast in an unknown role. However, it is easy to guess that he is likely playing Lothar, Mandrake's faithful friend and partner in crimefighting. Mimi Leder ("The Peacemaker", "Deep Impact") is listed as directing.

Longtime fans of the character may remember actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was originally cast as Mandrake in this project, when the film was still supposed to be directed by Chuck Russell. What caused the two to depart from the project is unknown.

 

[gwynplaine]

Not too sure about Christensen but I'll see it anyway.
It looks like it's going to have a modern setting, I would have preferred "period piece Mandrake", kind of like The prestige meets Indiana Jones.
Let's just hope they don't turn the character into Criss Angel or something.

 

[Walker]

www.chroniclechamber.com
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003888.html?categoryId=3628&cs=1

According to Chronicle Chamber and Variety, this movie is no longer based on Mandrake.

Maybe if the new Phantom projects are successfull, somebody will pick up the rights to this underrated character and make a film or TV-show.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Reading the plot it has no relation to the Mandrake chracter from the strip, save for the fact that he's a magician. Those two guys have no respect for the souce material when they adapt something. They showed it in Sahara, in the Dead of Night script and now this one. They're lazy, they always introduce the character in the beginning in some sort of crisis moment after a trauma, so they can have him rise to glory during the movie.

 

[gwynplaine]

That sucks. I don't want to see Jumper with a magician. I want Mandrake the magician. And you're right about the Sahara guys, Blueberry. Bad news.

 

[The Guard]

I'm usually all for new takes on things, but this just sounds terrible. I can't wait till we get to see ZATANNA, where Zatanna joins the FBI.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I think it sounds great.

 

[Walker]

As I said above, this movie is no longer based on Mandrake, so you won't have to suffer through it if you dislike the idea (I was personally rather looking forward to see Mandrake appear on screen in some form, and I hope somebody else will pick up the rights).

 

[The Guard]

Wasn't going to suffer through it to begin with, but frankly now it seems even less interesting a project.

 

[Walker]

I might watch it out of curiosity. I like both Honsou and Christensen, so I might check it out if the reviews are good. However, if it had the word "Mandrake" in the title I'd have been there on opening day.

If somebody else picks up the rights, maybe they can even get Jonathan Rhys Meyers back onboard as Mandrake, he seemed like an excellent choice. Not holding my breath for it to happen, though, Mandrake is not exactly the hottest property around these days.

 

[chamber-music]

I thought Jonathan Rhys Meyers was playing Mandrake?

I don't think i'm intrested anymore now that Mannequin Skywalker is Mandrake

 

[Walker]

He isn't.

 

[Octoberist]

it does get me mad when they adapt stories like this; it's a modern retelling but with new characters. I hate that.

 

[Airwings]

In this day of comic book films and superheroes everywhere, they have to give Mandrake a try.
I am not sure how it will be, what plot or how it will look. But the magician it's a must, so is Lothar.
Any suggestions for actors? Rhys-Meyers isn't exactly my favorite I have to admit. Maybe Jeremy Northam? Oh, don't say no to people in that age group. Mandrake doesn't have to be youthful. They can cast a 40+ something, just as they did with Iron Man.
It only brings depth to the character. And Northam is a dramatic actor, so it will make it even better. Just look at how well Patrick Stewart did. Or Ian McKellen.

I have funny idea here. What if they make Mandrake. And that Phantom Legacy movie. And the remake of Flash Gordon. Then they could build up to the team-up motion picture Defenders of the earth. A cosmic superhero adventure. It will thrill me. But they have to exclude the kids, no annoying children of the heroes just to make teenagers go and see the film.

 

[nouan]

Frederico Fellini almost made this movie. That could have been cool. Such a huge artist making a comicbook movie. Oh well.

 

[Airwings]

Yes, I know about Fellini. It just sounds so.... out of character.... for him to do a movie like this. I am not saying I am a big Fellini fan. I haven't come to that stage yet, but hope I will. The only thing I can say about his work is that Amarcord is a great film.

Marcello Mastroanni (sp?) should have played Mandrake then. Atleast that what I have read. Too bad we will never find out how it would have been

But we have all the time in the world to make a new Mandrake. Hope they focus a lot on his powers, without making him a wizard. This is Mandrake, a illusionist. Not a former student at Hogwarts

 

[Airwings]

Hollywood choosing actors like Hayden Christensen for characters like this is above my understanding. Are the young female audience that important, that everything else are worth the sacrifice? Honsou on the other hand is a great pick.
But if they want to make the heroes more mature, I think Michael Clarke Duncan could be perfect. He's very muscular and tall, and could have good chemistry with my suggestion Jeremy Northam.

I thought superheroes were mostly boys'/men's stuff anyway

 

[Airwings]

Now Warner Bros have laid their hands on the project. At last we can get a chance to see the character in a modern day blockbuster.
But, I almost forgot it's Warner Bros. The talk about going the Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes route seems so...wrong. Not the kind of style Mandrake should have.
But we should not worry, after all. This project will stay in development hell for a decade, changing directors, and actors, and writers several times.

 

[Breogan]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/375967-sacha-baron-cohen-is-mandrake-the-magician

"It's magically comedic!" - https://twitter.com/etanjc/status/740271077448814592?ref_src=twsrc^tfw …

Ugh

 

[Peyton Westlake]

I'm just worried how much comedy Mandrake will have now that Cohen is attached.