Should a new Popeye film see the light of day?

[FVD]

Having just watched the old Robin Williams film last night for the first time in years actually got me thinking. Would a new Popeye film reach a new audience with the kids of today? Don't get me wrong the Robin Williams film was great for it's time but still if a new movie were to come I'd certainly get in line. Just so long as there are no fart jokes etc I'll be happy.

And who would you cast in each of their prospective roles. It was also a surprise seeing Linda Hunt in the old film too.

I wouldn't actually mind Peter Jackson have a go at this. I think with Grant Major in Production Design, Sweethaven would look amazing IMHO.

EDIT: Ah well I guess I may as well scrap that as I've just learned of Sony with Avi Arad is planning a CGI film in 3D.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016768.html?categoryid=10&cs=1&query=popeye

Still I welcome a little discussion for a live film adaptation though.

 

[Octoberist]

you know what? as long as Popeye gets exposure to the next generation, I'm fine by it. That way, Popeye will never die.

 

[Gabe99]

Helmer moves Sony's 3D 'Popeye' forward - attached to cartoon adaptation

"Hotel Transylvania" helmer Genndy Tartakovsky is attached to develop and direct "Popeye," Sony Pictures Animation's 3D take on the familiar sailor man.

Avi and Ari Arad will produce under their Arad Productions banner with Sony Pictures Animation. As of November, scribes David Ronn and Jay Scherick were attached to pen the script.

Popeye, the spinach-loving seaman who first appeared in the "Thimble Theater" comicstrip in 1929, spawned numerous spin-offs, including one of the longest-running series of animated shorts and Robert Altman's 1980 film starring Robin Williams.

SPA production prexy Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and production SVP Michael Lachance will oversee the project for the studio, which was keen to put Tartakovsky on another project soon after "Transylvania" wrapped. Sony will release "Transylvania" in September.

Tartakovsky is currently attached to direct a feature version of Cartoon Network's "Samurai Jack," which he also created.

Sony's toon arm has found success with "The Smurfs" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," which grossed $559 million and $243 million worldwide, respectively. Both pics currently have sequels in the works.

Studio's most recent release,"Pirates! Band of Misfits" performed more modestly -- budgeted at $55 million, pic earned $104 globally.

WME reps Tartakovsky. Sony Pictures Animation declined to comment.

 

[Gabe99]

'Hotel Transylvania 2' in the Works for 2015 Release

Genndy Tartakovsky, who directed Transylvania, is moving on to direct SPA’s Popeye movie project, which just got a release date of September 26, 2014.

 

[Baramos]

Yes, but it should be a gritty sci-fi reboot.

Olive Oyl wears a low-cut dress to show off her ample bosom. Bluto has robot arms. Wimpy Burger rides a Harley hoverbike. "Spinach" is a designer drug that gives Popeye a massive increase in strength and endurance--at the cost of his sanity. Can Popeye sail his airship through air pirate territory to rescue his son Sweet Pea? Or will Bluto and his air marauders succeed in using the babe's unique genetic profile to birth a race of clone supermen?!

POP EYE

Directed by Michael Bay

COMING 2018
​

 

[The Shredder]

Sure. I would be game.

The 1933-1943 theatrical shorts collection (highly recommended) are excellent, and are still very much fun to watch to this day. If the film is anywhere near as entertaining, and creates some new fans of Popeye, it's a win-win.

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I would love to see a new Popeye film.

 

[terry78]

If he gets Robin Williams to voice him again, that would seal the deal. I forgot who does his voice currently though.

 

[fromthebx]

AWESOME POPEYE FAN FILM!!!!

FIRST SHORT:
http://youtu.be/oNS4rTSkoFA?hd=1

NEW TRAILER:
http://youtu.be/7uCmy1Aq608?hd=1

 

[Gabe99]

I Yam What I Yam: A 'Popeye' Movie Preview

Break out that can of spinach… With Hotel Transylvania under his belt, veteran animation director Genndy Tartakovsky is busy at work developing a new, 3D, big-screen take on the classic Popeye cartoon, and he tells ETonline that he plans to make the character more "contemporary" while keeping the action "really cartoony" with plenty of "physical comedy."

"Basically it's kind of taking the Popeye that I grew up with, that I think we all grew up with, and definitely making him contemporary -- but still retaining everything that we loved about him from the past," says the 43-year-old director of such animated hits as Star Wars: Clone Wars, Samurai Jack, The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory, adding, "It's fully CG-animated."

The pipe-clenching, eye-squinting, spinach-loving sailor man first appeared in the Thimble Theater comic strip in 1929 and quickly gained popularity with his own series of cartoon shorts and spinoffs. Director Robert Altman even attempted an offbeat, live-action version of the cartoon in 1980 starring Robin Williams – and his Popeye was not a big fan of the potent leafy greens.

"It's a groundbreaking show, the kind of animation they did, and it's really imaginative," says Genndy of the classic series. "So we're starting with that style of animation and kind of updating it the way it would feel today, but [the original cartoons are] definitely the influence. … It's funny and inventive the way they moved, and I think we're so far away from that now. How often have you watched something and laughed at the way someone walks?"

The Russian-born director's animated feature debut for Sony Pictures Animation, Hotel Transylvania, was full of non-stop cartoon movement and mayhem balanced with a solid emotional foundation, and he explains of taking on Popeye, "Really the whole reason I wanted to do it was a physical comedy – a physical animated comedy where the action is really cartoony, the acting's cartoony -- it's going to have heart and emotion, but it's really about the animation, and that's where the humor comes from, rather than the dialogue."

Of course, spinach is the source of Popeye's super strength when it comes to battling his nemesis Bluto and the bad guys, and Genndy promises, "It comes in pretty early. He doesn't realize it's given him powers, and then later he connects it. But it's definitely a huge part."

Popeye is expected to hit theaters in the fall of 2014.

 

[nouan]

Something like this would be too gritty maybe, but it's cool anyway.

 

[terry78]

Good Lord.

 

[Tanin]

I'd love a new film.

 

[the dmg]

Hopefully in this movie, Genndy will have more control.

 

[Godzilla2000]

I personally don't think the source material caters very well to the live action medium. It would be much better to be an all CGI movie.

 

[BlueLightning]

The style of animation of Hotel Transylvania won me over. I'm looking forward to see this if only for Tartakovsky involvement.

 

[Eddie Dean]

After seeing The Master, Joaquin Phoenix would make a good Popeye.

 

[Airwings]

Something like this would be too gritty maybe, but it's cool anyway.

Looks better than I would have expected. But I want this film to be quite violent, and not overly slap stick or aimed at children.

Suggestion for villain - Bluto or Sea Hag?

 

[gwynplaine]

Sea Hag all the way. I just wish they would return to the source, with the more supernatural elements like Eugene the Jeep or Sea Hag.
There was also a very special, kind of twisted, almost surreal humor that I hope they can keep. Wimpy is such an amazing character.
Altman's movie didn't do justice at all to the masterpiece created by Segar.
The art direction was kinda nice but that's about it.
And I really hope it's not a freaking musical this time around. lol wtf?

 

[Baramos]

Something like this would be too gritty maybe, but it's cool anyway.

Perfectly fits in with my vision from earlier, indeed.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Yeah, just scare the hell out of all the kids coming to see your movie.

 

[grout]

It looks like the hulk in mid morph

 

[RustyCage]

I'd love to see DreamWorks do a 3D animated one. I think that would resonate great today.

 

[Airwings]

Yeah, just scare the hell out of all the kids coming to see your movie.

They should be used to scary stuff, they are the Potter generation

 

[Hypestyle]

heh. I'd like to see a well made CGI film. i'm agnostic on a new live-action film. I have fond regards for the Robin Williams version, whatever its faults in retrospect.