Robert Downey Jr. to star in other comic book movie!

[DBZ2cool]

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/06/16/robert-downey-jr-in-cowboys-aliens/#comment-379842

Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to star the big screen adaptation of the graphic novel Cowboys & Aliens. The project has been in development for the last ten years, even though the comic book was only released a couple years go (it was pitched for years before it was ever actually written). I haven’t read the book, but I will admit that the title alone makes it worthy of a big screen movie.​

Written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley, the story takes place in the Old West, where “settlers and Native Americans wage a bloody battle for control of the land. But when the Earth is threatened by conquerors from the stars, these sworn enemies must work together to save all humanity.” Downey Jr would play a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson. You can read the entire graphic novel for free online on drunkduck.com or check out the teaser trailer for the comic book below.​

<p>[Javascript required to view Flash movie, please turn it on and refresh this page]</p>

The latest screenplay was written by Iron Man and Children of Men scribes Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus. DreamWorks/Universal is eyeing as a possible 2010 tentpole release date.​

IF Robert Does join this movie then I think he won't be in Iron Man 2 or they will have to move it.

 

[Ironfan72]

I suspect they will move Iron Man 2 anyway, Marvel's time table is very aggressive and needs re-thought, I have no doubt Robert will star in Iron Man 2 and possible Iron Man 3 as well as Avengers, but not in 2010,IMO.

 

[Nirvana]

That movie sounds badass

 

[TheVileOne]

Why would he have to skip Iron Man 2 if he does this? Principal photography doesn't last for an entire 2 years or 1 year plus.

Actors sometimes have multiple projects lined up at a time. Sometimes they do one right after the other. Ian McKellan had to go straight to LOTR right after he finished on X-men.

 

[Syncos]

Why would he have to skip Iron Man 2 if he does this? Principal photography doesn't last for an entire 2 years or 1 year plus.

Actors sometimes have multiple projects lined up at a time. Sometimes they do one right after the other. Ian McKellan had to go straight to LOTR right after he finished on X-men.[/quote]


Something about this wreaks of a pun.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Usually actors do two to three films a year max... I mean technically he can fit two films in 2010 like he did this year.

 

[Immortalfire]

Not Iron Man related, moving...

 

[Dark Victory]

Never heard of Cowboys and Aliens. Sounds cool but I'll probably just rent it.

 

[TopherChaos3]

yeah, if hes already made a cameo in the hulk as stark i have a feeling that he'll always be stark.

 

[AlyssaX]

Could be interesting, Downey has a lot of skill.

 

[Dangerous]

Not Iron Man related, moving...

The initial post speculated that RDJ taking on another film, could affect the release date for IM2.

How is that not IM related?

I don't wish to argue, I just had to point that out.

 

[Wesley Dodds]

Ah, 'Cowboys and Aliens'... Going thread diving is fun!

 

[gwynplaine]

RDJ would have made an awesome Dr Strange.

 

[Octoberist]

Cowboys and Aliens: The comic book that does not exist and was just designed to make a movie out of it from the get-go!

 

[Carlo Comicus]

I have read the Cowboys and Aliens script. It's very good.

 

[Chewy]

Director Jon Favreau and actor Robert Downey Jr. are bringing their iron-clad collaboration to another comic-book property: "Cowboys and Aliens."

Downey has been attached to the DreamWorks project since last summer, when "Iron Man" co-screenwriters Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby were working on the adaptation of the Platinum Comics graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley.

Last fall, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who are executive producers on the project, took over scripting with "Lost" exec producer Damon Lindelof.

And now Favreau, who is riding a killer wave as an actor, writer and director, has come on to make it his next gig.

True to its title, the sci-fi Western explores what would happen if traditional Old West enemies, cowboys and American Indians, found the prairie attacked by aliens in mid-1800s Arizona. Long in development, the "Aliens" project was originally set up at Columbia with "Sahara" writers Joshua Oppenheimer and Thomas Donnelly writing.

The Favreau-Downey-Kurtzman-Orci-Lindelof nexus represents the current nucleus of genre geek pop culture. Kurtzman and Orci recently delivered the sci-fi mega-hits "Star Trek" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," Lindelof maintains his control over the "Lost" mindscrew, and Favreau and Downey are about to serve up another highly anticipated "Iron Man" saga.

For DreamWorks, the property represents an essential tentpole to help elevate its newly independent status now that the studio's first round of financing is complete. DreamWorks obviously felt bullish on the "Cowboys and Aliens" project when it decided to include it among the 17 projects it bought from Paramount upon leaving last fall.

DreamWorks declined comment.

As part of that exit arrangement, Paramount has an option to co-distribute the film, an opportunity it presumably will engage given Favreau's $572 million success on the Paramount-distributed Iron Man property.
Imagine Entertainment principals Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, who was once a possibility to direct, are producing along with Platinum topper Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Universal, where Imagine is housed, co-developed and is co-financing the project.

As it ramps up production for the next few years' slates, DreamWorks would likely anchor its 2011 summer to "Cowboys." DreamWorks and Kurtzman and Orci are also developing the Platinum Comics property "Atlantis Rising," another big-budget sci-fi hybrid, with director Len Wiseman and writer Joby Harold.

The CAA-repped Favreau is in post-production on Paramount/Marvel's "Iron Man 2," which is slated for a May release. As a writer and actor, he will next appear in the Universal comedy "Couples Retreat," hitting theaters Oct. 9. He is also providing a voice to the MGM comedy "The Zookeeper."

SOURCE

 

[Aesop Rocks]

This is beautiful news, GeekTyrant says that there's some HUGE producer names attached to this.

I am BEYOND stoked.

 

[terry78]

This may be what Wild Wild West wanted to be....westrn/sci-fi.

 

[Chewy]

Robert Downey Jr. won't ride into the wild West after all.The actor, who had been poised to reunite with "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau for the science-fiction western "Cowboys & Aliens," won't star in the film.
The movie, sources say, will still move forward with Favreau. But Downey has fallen off the project, and studio DreamWorks is seeking a new hero to replace him. Production is tentatively set to begin this year for a planned release in summer 2011.
Originally a serialized graphic novel, "Cowboys & Aliens" focuses on outer-space creatures who land in Arizona circa the mid-19th century intent on enslaving the local population -- until a group of cowboys and Apache Indians fight back. (There was a further Iron Man connection to "Cowboys:" writers Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby wrote an original draft of the script.)
Downey was set to play the gunslinger Zeke Jackson, who leads the anti-alien revolt. But scheduling issues -- Downey's been one of the busier actors in Hollywood -- forced a re-think. The project would have marked a third potential franchise a resurgent Downey would have been involved with, after "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes," which is expected to spawn a sequel.

While Downey has not committed to anything new (he will star in the Todd Phillips comedy "Due Date" opposite Zach Galifianakis, which has wrapped), his parting with "Cowboys" could re-ignite speculation that a "Sherlock" sequel is on the fast track. Downey is attached to several other development projects as well. (He also has been associated with the "Harvey" remake at DreamWorks, at least before Steven Spielberg opted out.)
Whatever his next role, the actor's falling off "Cowboys" opens up a little breathing room in his relentless schedule -- even if it might make DreamWorks a little short of breath.

SOURCE

 

[BETArayBill]

Don't mean to sound like a hater but does anyone give a crap about this movie? Can anyone honestly say they would rather see Favreau direct this over a third iron man or avengers?

 

[Chewy]

This thread needs a title change

Olivia Wilde is in negotiations to star opposite Daniel Craig in the sci-fi Western “Cowboys & Aliens,” which Jon Favreau is directing for DreamWorks Studios.

Wilde will play a character named Ella who joins up with mysterious gunslinger in an unlikely uprising against an alien invasion.

Craig is playing the gunslinger, taking over the role from Robert Downey Jr., who dropped out in January.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are producing and wrote the script with "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof. Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are also producing along with Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, who created the graphic novel upon which the movie is based.

Favreau and Denis Stewart are serving as executive producers.

Repped by WME and Kass & Stokes Management, Wilde appears weekly on Fox’s hit series “House.” Her next big-screen appearance will be in Disney “Tron Legacy,” hitting theaters in December. She also will be seen in the Lionsgate thriller “The Next Three Days."

SOURCE

 

[Gabe99]

Jon Favreau Talks Cowboys & Aliens (Plus Trailer Preview & Poster)

 

[CaptainCraig]

A mod or the OP if possible need to change the thread title since RDJ has nothing to do with this film. That or a new thread for the film. Nothing in the title is obviously clear this is about Cowboys and Aliens unless you knew RDJ was at one time possibly attached. Future posters take note, this is not how to title a thread.

Now on to business.
I saw the trailer over at DeadlineHollywood.com and was fully blown away. I watched it twice. I didn't read the comic but that never stops me. Loved Hellboy and I'm enjoying Walking Dead. It seems that just based on this that Cowboys & Aliens is something I going to like. It has replaced the excitement I was holding out hope for with Green Lantern. Boy did that initial GL trailer not inspire me, but I digress.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/teaser-trailer-debut-cowboys-aliens/

 

[kedrell]

Wow! Now THAT was a good trailer. Kicks the GL trailer right in the balls. I bet WB is pissed that their thunder is gonna get stolen.