Quartermain

[Galactus]

Quartermain's Return
Mark Verheiden to script original sci-fi take.
by Jim Vejvoda
February 26, 2009 - Battlestar Galactica and Heroes writer Mark Verheiden will script the sci-fi adventure film Quartermain for DreamWorks.

The Hollywood Reporter says that "Quartermain is one of the 17 projects DreamWorks developed then paid to take with it when it left the Paramount fold last year. Paramount retains the right to co-finance and co-distribute the movie."

The film will reportedly be based on an original idea. Although the trade's article doesn't make any mention of the H. Rider Haggard character, it would seem to be based on his literary adventure hero Allan Quartermain.

Quartermain has been the protagonist in a number of films, including King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in which he was played by Sean Connery.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I wonder what time period it will be set in.

 

[That-Guy]

Well, let's hope that if it is based on the Haggard character, they at least do some research and learn how to spell his name.

 

[Doctor Jones]

When I first saw the title I thought it would be a film of "King Soloman's Mines"

Which should happen by the way. A great cast and director and such. Such a great book.

 

[:eek:]

These days, it seems like Sam Worthington only has to get out of bed and leave the house before film studios are laying heroic roles at his feet. The latest? A plan to play H Rider Haggard’s literary hero Allan Quartermain.
According to the Heat Vision Blog, Worthington has gotten himself attached to DreamWorks’ new take on the character, who was the hero of Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines and the follow-up, named for him.
The new project, currently just called Quartermain, takes the basic plot of Mines and tweaks it heavily, setting it in a time when humanity has departed the Earth. Our hero returns to the planet and sets off on a new adventure on a planet-wide scale.
Timecop’s Mark Verheiden wrote the draft of the script that got development started, and now Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, the writing/producing team behind I Am Number Four (and, er, more worryingly The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor) are shepherding the film on its quest to the screen. Worthington is also making his first stab at producing a movie.
Now what they really need is a director – someone find Rob Cohen and make sure he’s nowhere near it…

James White

 

[Octoberist]

pttf

 

[Hush]

Dark Horizons is reporting that Worthington has the role which means i will not be going to see this.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I didn't realize Worthington had become so unpopular here.

 

[Hush]

I think he ruined Terminator:Salvation by just being there. He was mediocre in Avatar and In Clas Of The Titans he was just plain bad. I mean the only role he seemed to fit in was Avatar the other two he just doesnt at all. He feels forced and I just do not like him. Plus I have read interviews with him and he seems like a real prick. I mean i know not every guy works out for roles but this guy said that you would have to pay him extra to get him to work out for a role, sorry your getting paid millions, picking up a barbell costs jack diddly when your in his world. He just seems arrogant and he has very little talent in my eyes.

 

[That-Guy]

Good God. I don't know what sounds worse. Worthington playing Quatermain or him playing Dracula.

And yes, both are happening.

Look, I'll admit he did pretty well in Avatar and I'm happy that the guy isn't living out of his car anymore, but seriously... how the hell does an actor... ANY actor... land SO many high-profile projects with so little experience or credibility? It's mind-boggling really.

Yeah, I know, he's the next big action star, blah blah blah. Maybe I'm just a bit old school when it comes to movies, but when I grew up, action stars actually looked like they could kick your ass. Arnold, Sly, Dolph, Jean-Claude... sure, none of these guys could act, but so what? It's not like Worthington brings a wealth of talent in that department either so the way I look at it, if I'm going to watch a no-holds-barred action movie, I want an action star who either can wow me with his acting skills or at least LOOKS the part.

Sam comes up zero.

 

[dark_b]

better Quartermain then Green Lantern.

 

[That-Guy]

better Quartermain then Green Lantern.

Can't argue with that one.

 

[dark_b]

the only reason he is in hollywood is because of Cameron and he gets roles because of Avatar.

he needs to do a small movie. he needs to understand that hollywood is a buisness. think smart.

 

[terry78]

He doesn't bring anything to his roles except stoic and tortured and pissed off. He needs to do what Arnold and Sly did...they were literal meatheads, but they had personality in their meathead roles.

 

[Octoberist]

I honestly think he needs to something smaller and more character based. thus far, he's been okay in these roles. He's not 'bad' bad but he just lack charisma or an allure that makes him stand out.

When Mel played Mad Max back in his hey day, he didn't have much to say when he was in character but he had the presense. he had that 'it' factor'. Something with Clint; his stare can say so much than actual dialog. So those guys can pull of 'the tough guy who don't need to speak much' schitck, while Sam can't.

 

[deathshead2]

Can't be any worse than the Cannon version, could it?

And whats with the updates and throwing them into space? Captain Blood was going to space, and now this. Strange fad going on in Hollywood.

 

[C. Lee]

I didn't realize Worthington had become so unpopular here.

It's business as usual from what I see....new actor the bestest thing to ever come along, he needs to be in everything because he's so cool....he gets a lot of movies....he's now the worstest thing to ever come along, he doesn't need to be in anything....

 

[phillyboy]

It's business as usual from what I see....new actor the bestest thing to ever come along, he needs to be in everything because he's so cool....he gets a lot of movies....he's now the worstest thing to ever come along, he doesn't need to be in anything....

...applies to Directors too.

 

[Ratcrawler]

Story sounds pretty cool. They're basically replacing uncharted Africa with a post apocalyptic Earth after everybody left for sPace.

But yeah, Worthington just isn't that appealing. I don't find him bad, just forgettable, and wonder how the hell he keeps landing these roles.

 

[dude stannis]

It's business as usual from what I see....new actor the bestest thing to ever come along, he needs to be in everything because he's so cool....he gets a lot of movies....he's now the worstest thing to ever come along, he doesn't need to be in anything....

No, he actually sucks.

 

[That-Guy]

No, he actually sucks.

"You know... they're always like, putting this guy down and saying he sucks and stuff... but you know, he really does suck, and this is one of those times when everybody's right. You know what I'm saying?"

 

[Speedball]

Is this thing being called "Quartermain" or "Quatermain"?! I always thought it was "Quatermain", and I'm seeing people call it both, in the same article and in the same post.

 

[That-Guy]

It's Quatermain (I hope). People have been misspelling the name for years though, and with as little respect for the source material as the producers of this film clearly have, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the character's name misspelled.

What's really silly about it is, why even use the character of Allan Quatermain? They clearly have a whole other story they want to tell here that only vaguely resembles King Solomon's Mines... so why not just call the movie something else, have a new main character, and just say that it was inspired from the novel in the same way that "O Brother Where Art Thou" was inspired by The Odyssey?

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

Whatever...I don't mind Worthington. I actually thought it was great in Avatar and was probably the best thing in Terminator Salvation. He was ok in Clash. It's not like he's Keanu Reeves or Paul Walker...those guys are like dead wood actors.

 

[kane9321]

he was the best thing in that crapfest "terminator: salvation"