Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One"

[Gabe99]

KaijuCast:
05.09.2015: Behind the Booska* with Brad Warner

This interview was recorded with Brad Warner in his apartment while I was in the LA area for Monsterpalooza. I’d been wanting to have Brad on the podcast for a few years now because not only is he a kaiju fan, he actually worked at the company responsible for Ultraman and the countless spin-offs (and much, much more). Brad talks about his time at Tsuburaya and some of the memories he has from his time in Japan. He also discusses the history behind Tsuburaya and the Thai company, Chaiyo and gives his thoughts about what went down.

KaijuCast:
08.20.2015: Ultra-Mess with August Ragone

In this episode, we welcome back tokusatsu historian and author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters, August Ragone. I actually recorded this chat with August back in May but with “all of the things” I haven’t had the time to edit the interview… until now that is.

Attention, Kaiju Corps! If you were fascinated by the interview with Brad Warner about his time working at Tsuburaya Productions Co. and the ongoing legal troubles that Ultraman’s studio has been having with a Thai company named Chaiyo, you’ll want to listen to this one. August and I dive deep into the history and speculation on this ridiculous battle for the rights to the super space cop from Nebula M78.

THR MAY 20, 2015:
Japanese Superhero Caught in Film, YouTube Rights Dispute
Two Japanese companies duel over who owns Ultraman outside his country of origin.

 

[redhawk23]

I find the idea of Spielberg making this to be so off putting. Its a book entirely rooted in nostalgia and references to an era of movies that Spielberg himself was a defining creator of. Its just lamely self referential and self reverent. Count me out.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'm really looking forward to this. About time Spielberg does something fun again. Tintin showed he's still got it in him and I'd just like to see the return of a more fun and child like Spielberg. The man is nearly 70. I don't want to keep seeing my favorite director make Bridge of Spies and Lincoln. There are other directors who can make those movies. Now I'm not the authority on what a filmmaker should make of course, I just feel Spielberg's luster has been lost and bogged down by this constant cold gloominess that we've seen taken over his career for nearly 20 years. It's great in some areas, as I love the man's versatility, but Spielberg has been best at the wonder.

 

[Airwings]

I find the idea of Spielberg making this to be so off putting. Its a book entirely rooted in nostalgia and references to an era of movies that Spielberg himself was a defining creator of. Its just lamely self referential and self reverent. Count me out.

Geez, how negative one can be!
Spielberg is returning to form, but stay home and miss it if you want to.

 

[Octoberist]

I have to admit that it's hard to tell how the movie is going to end up like. I think Spielberg is still a master of film, but also a man of the moment. Meaning that the classics he made were made at the right time, and he made them at the right age.

For example, I see a lot of Steven himself in Richard Dryfuss in 'Close Encounters', being a family man/man-child who is still holding on to his awe and wonder from his childhood.

That's why now, he's essentially making movies for our parents and grand parents, because he's of the age. Like Bridge of Spies, which could be a great movie still. So that's why I'm curious to see how he handles The BFG and this. If the tech was available, I think these projects would've been great for 80's Spielberg.

On the other hand, a guy like Scorsese is a different type of film maker; like a dude who is an old soul even when he was in his 20's.

 

[kvz5]

Olivia Cooke!

http://www.thewrap.com/steven-spiel...le-fanning-olivia-cooke-lola-kirke-exclusive/

Steven Spielberg’s ‘Ready Player One’ Shortlist Includes Elle Fanning, Olivia Cooke, Lola Kirke

Warner Bros. will release the adaptation of Ernie Cline‘s bestselling book on December 15, 2017

Elle Fanning, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” star Olivia Cooke and “Mistress America” breakout are three of the top contenders for the female lead in Steven Spielberg‘s adaptation of Ernie Cline‘s “Ready Player One,” multiple individuals familiar with the casting situation told TheWrap.

Fanning, Cooke and Kirk will test for the role of Art3mis, the avatar of Samantha Cook within the Oasis, which is the virtual reality universe at the center of the sci-fi story.

Insiders insist it’s early in the casting process and that casting director Ellen Lewis is narrowing the field for Spielberg so he can move quickly once he’s able to turn his attention away from “Bridge of Spies” and “The BFG.” Two other actresses are believed to be on the initial shortlist, though their identities remain a mystery.

Meanwhile, there’s still no word on which young actors are being eyed to play protagonist Wade Watts, an Oasis user who sets off on a series of challenges to win an invaluable prize.

 

[kvz5]

Norman would be proud.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/steven-spielbergs-ready-player-one-821728

Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' Finds Female Lead in Olivia Cooke (Exclusive)

Olivia Cooke, who starred in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, has nabbed the female lead in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One and is in negotiations.

Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow are behind the movie, which adapts the best-selling sci-fi novel by Ernie Cline, and is in the thick of searching for its stars.

The story is set in a virtual world called Oasis in which a teenager finds himself competing in a treasure hunt against ruthless foes after the game's founder dies and offers his fortune as the grand prize.

Spielberg has been reading actors in Los Angeles and New York and the hope was to find the male and female leads at the same time. That hasn’t happened as the hunt for the male continues, although Cooke rose to the top after tests that included Elle Fanning and Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle, Gone Girl).

If a deal makes, Cooke would play the teen’s love interest and competitor, a Canadian blogger named Sam whose name in the virtual world is Art3mis.

Warners had no comment and calls to Cooke's representatives, Gersh and Luber Roklin Entertainment, were not immediately returned.

Spielberg is producing with Donald De Line, Kristie Macosko Krieger and Dan Farah.

The role is major breakthrough for Cooke, a rising talent who’s been working mostly in the indie world while also appearing on A&E’s Bates Motel. She received a big career boost with Dying Girl, the indie that won the Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and was picked up Fox Searchlight.

While the movie wasn’t the hit the studio hoped for, it lifted Cooke’s profile as one of the key actresses of the new generation. Not only did it put her into contention for Spielberg's latest tentpole but her name has surfaced as being on the shortlist for one of the Star Wars movies.

 

[Man in the Suit]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/steven-spielbergs-ready-player-one-821728

EDIT: Too late.

 

[terry78]

Well, there ya go. Now we have to see who the dude will be.

 

[Sawyer]

 

[DarthSkywalker]

God I love her. This is so fantastic.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Cooke deserves big roles, I really like what I have seen from her. I only watched a few episodes of Bates Motel and she is so good in that show.

Here is hoping Maslany lands the Star Wars gig now that Cooke is busy.

 

[kvz5]

I'm rooting for Maslany as well but I like the idea of Gina Rodriguez too. Either way, that shortlist was darn good that I'd be happy with whomever is cast.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I'm rooting for Maslany as well but I like the idea of Gina Rodriguez too. Either way, that shortlist was darn good that I'd be happy with whomever is cast.

I haven't really watched Rodriguez act before so I think that it would seem disingenuous for me to directly root for her. I have heard that she is talented so I would be A-okay with her nabbing the role.

 

[Drizzle]

I've got about 70 pages left to go in this book. I haven't read anything this good in a while. It's fantastic. I know it's impossible for them to be completely faithful to the book in this adaptation, but if they can nail most of it and get the tone right, I'll be a happy camper.

 

[Sawyer]

Steven Spielberg won't reference his own movies in Ready Player One

 

[Octoberist]

I know the book was a love letter to the pop culture but it also becasem a crutch in a Kevin Smith/Family Guy kinda of way.

 

[The Shape]

I don't think it would have been too self-referential for Spielberg to include the references to his works that were already in the book. They were quite pop-culturally significant, but I suppose he'll include other things instead.

 

[Octoberist]

The reenactments can be down with WB movies instead of 'Heathers', which is Paramont. I think the Beard has some pull to use the Delorian because..that's his movie. I'm sure we'll see DJ R2D2, since it's just a phone call away to Kathy Kennedy.

 

[Drizzle]

I don't remember a lot of references to the movies that Spielberg actually directed apart from maybe an Indiana Jones reference or two. There were more references to the ones he produced, like The Goonies and Back to the Future. I'd be disappointed if we didn't get a BTTF reference.

 

[Lord]

He didn't say he wouldn't reference his oun work, he just said he wouldn't have fewer than the book. What he says is that he's focusing more on the bits that are related to modern days.

 

[Sawyer]

Is it weird to anyone else that we got one actor cast two and a half months ago and have heard nothing since?

 

[redhawk23]

Geez, how negative one can be!
Spielberg is returning to form, but stay home and miss it if you want to.

The source material is tripe and I don't think he'll elevate it much.

Spielberg made his name by bringing new things to the screen. This project is just reshuffling the same cards.

The difference between the book Ready Player One and Spielberg's own past work is what highlights the problem with a lot of modern geek culture.

Spielberg and Lucas were nostalgic for old film serials and Spielberg also wanted to make a James Bond film. Unable to make a Bond film, they synthesized several influences and created Indiana Jones, a new iteration in a longer tradition.
The children of the 80s instead just tend take characters like Jones wholesale and plop him next to Mecha Godzilla, IP be damned. Ready Player One is the book equivalent of a poorly thought out mashup t-shirt.

 

[Octoberist]

Is it weird to anyone else that we got one actor cast two and a half months ago and have heard nothing since?

The Beard is doing so many things at once (he's doing post on THE BFG) but when the time's right, we'll get more news.

 

[vanson]

He did leave Roboapocalypse 2 or 3 Weeks before principal photography was about to start.. I hope he doesnt do that again..