A Film
By...
If this column tends
to focus almost exclusively on movie stars to the exclusion
of filmmakers,
it’s because actors tend to work on so many more
projects.
They typically only star in a film or two
(as many as half a dozen if they’re Ben Stiller or Jude Law) every
year.
Directors, by contrast, are not able to hop from project
to project as quickly or readily. If an actor can make
a movie within the span of a month or two, a helmer’s
commitment to a single feature can represent years.
If we were to discuss what the directors
of this summer’s
biggest blockbusters are up to, this would be a very short
article. At this writing Roland Emmerich can’t be
certain of the title of his next directorial effort, let
alone who’s going to be in it; he just finished running
the 2-year marathon that put “The Day After Tomorrow” in
cinemas by Memorial Day.
If we want to find out what’s doing with some big-deal
directors, we have to look at the hitmakers of yesteryear.
At least 28 2003 releases grossed more than $100 million.
Here’s what some of their helmers are doing now:
Peter Jackson
2003 Release: “The Return of the King”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 1
Domestic gross: $377 million
The hirsute Kiwi takes on the tale of another hairy islander
in “King
Kong,” which reunites the “Lord of the Rings” team of writer-director
Jackson, screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and actor Andy Serkis
(“13 Going On 30”). Others cast in the project at press time included
Naomi Watts (“We Don’t Live Here Anymore,” “I Heart
Huckabees”), Jack Black (“Anchorman”), Adrien Brody (“The
Village”), Colin Hanks (“Orange County”), Kyle Chandler (“Mulholland
Falls”) and Thomas Kretschmann (“Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2”).
Universal tames the beast Dec. 14, 2005.
Gore Verbinski
2003 release: “Pirates of the Caribbean”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 3
Domestic gross: $305.4 million
Scheduled for European release this fall, “The Weather
Man” is a drama about a middle-aged meteorologist
who attempts to bandage a tattered relationship with his
estranged children before he makes the move from Chicago
to New York. Verbinski directs from a screenplay by Steve
Conrad (“Wrestling Ernest Hemingway”). Nicolas
Cage (“Matchstick Men”), Michael Caine (“The
Statement”), Hope Davis (“American Splendor”),
Gemmenne de la Peña (“Erin Brockovitch”),
Nicholas Hoult (“About a Boy”), Michael Rispoli
(“Death to Smoochy”), Judith McConnell and
David Darlow (“Road to Perdition”) star. Paramount
has yet to forecast a domestic release date.
Then, of course, it’s on to “Pirates of The
Caribbean 2” and “3,” which
are set to film back to back. Verbinski is expected to
return, as
are screenwriters Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio (“Shrek”)
and actors Johnny Depp (as Captain Jack Sparrow) and Orlando
Bloom (as Will Turner). Newcomers will reportedly include
Depp’s inspiration for the character, rocker Keith
Richards, as Sparrow’s father. The second installment
is expected to come ashore summer 2006.
Bryan Singer
2003 release: “X2”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 6
Domestic gross: $214.9 million
Once a certainty to direct the third “X-Men” film,
Singer has since signed on for a helping of truth, justice
and the American way. “Superman Returns” has
proven to be director and screenwriter Kryptonite, reportedly
having gone through helmers Wolfgang Petersen (when it
was “Batman vs. Superman”), Brett Ratner and
McG, as well as scribes J.J. Abrams (TV’s “Alias”)
and Kevin Smith, among others. Singer (“X-Men,” “X2”)
was set to direct from a brand-new screenplay by Michael
Dogherty and Dan Harris (“X2”). There is no
word yet on a plot or who will play the Man of Steel. Warner
Bros. has yet to set a release date.
Jon Favreau
2003 release: “Elf”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 7
Domestic gross: $173.3
Favreau hit it big with “Elf,” only his second
feature directing job. Seconds seem to work for him: “Zathura” is
a loose sequel to the 1995 thriller “Jumanji,” this
time about an intergalactic sci-fi board game that integrates
itself into its players’ reality. It’s based
on the novel by Chris Van Allsburg (“Jumanji,” “The
Polar Express”). Favreau directs from a screenplay
by John Kamps (“The Borrowers”) and David Koepp
(“Secret Window,” “Spider-Man”).
Tim Robbins (“Code 46”), Josh Hutchinson (“American
Splendor”), Kristen Stewart (“Catch that Kid”),
Dax Shepard (“Without a Paddle”) and Jonah
Bobo star. Sony has yet to say when the film will be integrated
into your reality.
Shawn Levy
2003 release: “Cheaper by the Dozen”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 10
Domestic gross: $138.6 million
Levy teams up with Ivan Reitman (“Dave,” “Six
Days Seven Nights”) to co-direct “The Pink
Panther.” The comedy is about bumbling French police
inspector Jacques Clouseau, who investigates the murder
of a soccer coach and the disappearance of a rare gem,
unaware that his chauffeur is actually an undercover cop
assigned to keep Clouseau out of trouble. The screenplay,
based on the classic film series created by writer-director
Blake Edwards, is by Steve Martin (“Bowfinger,” “Shopgirl”)
and Len Blum (“Beethoven’s 2nd,” “Private
Parts”). Martin stars as Clouseau, with Kevin Kline
(“De-Lovely”) as his boss, Dreyfuss, Jean Reno
(“Rollerball”) as the undercover cop and Beyoncé Knowles
(“The Fighting Temptations”) as a pop star
who may have stolen the gem. Emily Mortimer (“Bright
Young Things”), Henry Czerny (“The Ice Storm”)
Roger Rees (“Frida”) and Kristin Chenoweth
co-star. MGM is investigating a July 22 release.
Michael Bay
2003 Release: “Bad Boys II”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 11
Domestic gross: $138.3 million
It’s not unusual to find an island in a bay, but
helmer Bay is on “The Island.” The sci-fi thriller
is about a man who goes on the run when he discovers he’s
been “harvested” to help populate a utopia.
The screenplay is by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci (TV’s “Alias”)
from an original screenplay by Caspian Treadwell-Owen (“Beyond
Borders”). Filming is expected to begin in October
with Ewan McGregor (“Young Adam”) and Scarlett
Johansson (“The Perfect Score”) set to star.
DreamWorks hasn’t yet envisioned a release date.
Peter Segal
2003 release: “Anger Management”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 12
Domestic gross: $133.7 million
Segal swerves from controlled anger to controlled violence
in “The Longest Yard.” This remake of the 1974
comedy is about a retired pro-football quarterback who
goes to prison, then finds himself forced by the warden
to put together an inmate football team. Segal (“50
First Dates”) directs from a screenplay by Sheldon
Turner. Adam Sandler (“50 First Dates”), Chris
Rock (“Head of State”), Tracy Morgan (“Head
of State”), James Cromwell (“I, Robot”),
Burt Reynolds (“Without a Paddle”), Cloris
Leachman (“Bad Santa”), David Patrick Kelly
(“Personal Velocity”), Kevin Nash (“The
Punisher”), Brian Bosworth (“Three Kings”),
Terry Crews (“White Chicks”), Joey Diaz (“Spider-Man
2”), Brandon Molale (“Collateral”) and
William Fichtner (“Equilibrium”) star. Sony
puts it in play May 27.
Adam Shankman
2003 release: “Bringing Down the House”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 13
Domestic gross: $132.5 million
Aiming to do for Vin Diesel what Ivan Reitman did for Arnold
Schwarzenegger in “Kindergarten Cop” (i.e.
surround him with really cute kids), Shankman next helms “The
Pacifier.” The action comedy is about a tough undercover
agent charged with protecting a woman’s five young
children from their late father’s enemies. The screenplay
is by Robert Ben Garent & Thomas Lennon (“Starsky & Hutch,” “Taxi”),
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (“Screwed,” “Agent
Cody Banks”) and Robert Ben. Diesel (“The Chronicles
of Riddick”) stars with Lauren Graham (“Bad
Santa”), Faith Ford (“North”), Max Thieriot
(“Catch That Kid”), Morgan York (“Cheaper
By The Dozen”), Brad Garrett (“Stuart Little
2”), Carol Kane (“Confessions of a Teenage
Drama Queen”) and Brittany Snow (TV’s “American
Dreams”). Buena Vista has yet to set a release date.
Shankman expects to follow up with “Four Christmases,” a
comedy about a young married couple who scramble to attend
their four divorced parents’ four different family
Christmas celebrations on the same day. The screenplay
is by Matt Allen and Caleb Wilson. No cast has been announced,
but Sony plans to unwrap it in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Ang Lee
2003 Release: “Hulk”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 14
Domestic gross: $132.1 million
The ever-eclectic Lee segues from special effects to special
affections in “Brokeback Mountain.” Covered
in the last edition of Next!, the contemporary Western
stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as two cowboys who
fall in love with each other. Focus plans a 2005 release.
John Singleton
2003 release: “2 Fast 2 Furious”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 15
Domestic gross: $127 million
Singleton was reportedly set to begin filming “Luke
Cage” in late summer. It’s a science fiction
adventure about a young African-American prisoner who gains
superhuman powers after he volunteers for dangerous experiments
in exchange for his freedom. The screenplay is by Ben Ramsey
(“Love and a .45,” “The Big Hit”),
based on the Marvel Comics universe that gave us “Spider-Man,” “X-Men,” “Blade,” “Daredevil,” “Hulk” and “The
Punisher.” “Baby Boy”-”2 Fast 2
Furious” star Tyrese was reportedly set to star.
Sony has yet to uncage a release date.
Gary Ross
2003 release: “Seabiscuit”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 17
Domestic gross: $120.1 million
Ross is reportedly gearing up to direct from his own screenplay
an untitled drama about a high school boy’s rich
fantasy life. It’s reportedly set to begin filming
this fall. Universal has yet to set a release date.
Robert Rodriguez
2003 release: “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 19
Domestic gross: $111.7
One-man movie studio Rodriguez is on the road to “Sin City.” The
episodic crime thriller is about, among other things, an unstoppable street
fighter who goes on a vengeful rampage after a beautiful girl is killed while
lying beside him in bed. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (“The
Dark Knight Returns”), it’s co-written and co-directed by Miller
(screenwriter of “RoboCop 2” and “RoboCop 3”) and Rodriguez,
with Quentin Tarantino (“Kill Bill”) expected to serve as “guest
director” for one sequence. Mickey Rourke (“Man on Fire”),
Bruce Willis (“The Whole Ten Yards”), Michael Madsen (“Kill
Bill”), Nick Stahl (“Terminator 3”), Josh Hartnett (“Wicker
Park”), Maria Bello (“Silver City”), Brittany Murphy (“Little
Black Book”), Jessica Alba (“Honey”), Alexis Bledel (“Tuck
Everlasting”), Rosario Dawson (“The Rundown”), Carla Gugino
(“The Singing Detective”), Michael Clarke Duncan (“Daredevil”),
Benicio Del Toro (“21 Grams”), Marley Shelton (“Uptown Girls”),
Clive Owen (“King Arthur”), Jaime King (“White Chicks”),
Makenzie Vega (“Made”), Katherine Willis (“The Life of David
Gale”), Jason Douglas (“Secondhand Lions”) and Elijah Wood
(“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) star. Miramax is not
kidding about an April 1 release.
Rodriguez then heads back to his Austin
garage to whip up more 3D special effects for Dimension’s “The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl.” There’s
no information available about casting or plot points but, given the director’s
reputation for speed, he can get to work April 2 and have it ready by its scheduled
June 10 release date.
David Zucker
2003 release: “Scary Movie 3”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 22
Domestic gross: $110 million
After reinvigorating the franchise, the parody master (“Airplane!,” “Top
Secret!” “The Naked Gun”) may take his
first step down the road to exhausting it again with Dimension’s “Scary
Movie 4.” In addition to Zucker, writers Craig Mazin
and Pat Proft are expected to return, as is Anna Faris,
who has starred in all prior installments. No word yet
on a start or release date.
F. Gary Gray
2003 release: “The Italian Job”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 23
Domestic gross: $106.1 million
Gray sticks with criminal protagonists to helm the comedy “Be
Cool.” It depicts how Chili Palmer, the Miami loan
shark (and one-time film producer) at the center of “Get
Shorty,” comes to the aid of a struggling singer
on the run from the Russian mafia. It’s based on
the novel by Elmore Leonard (“Get Shorty,” “Out
of Sight,” “The Big Bounce”). Returnees
from “Get Shorty” include John Travolta (“The
Punisher,” “Ladder 49”) as Chili, Danny
DeVito (“Big Fish”) as Martin Weir, and James
Gandolfini (“The Last Castle”) as Bear. Gray’s
fellow newcomers to the franchise include screenwriter
Peter Steinfeld (“Analyze That”), and actors
Uma Thurman (“Kill Bill”), Dwayne “The
Rock” Johnson (“Walking Tall”), Cedric
the Entertainer (“Johnson Family Vacation”),
Harvey Keitel (“The Grey Zone”), Vince Vaughn
(“Anchorman”) and Debi Mazar (“The Tuxedo”).
MGM is keeping it on ice until March 4.
Jesse Dylan
2003 release: “American Wedding”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 25
Domestic gross: $104.3 million
Dylan, who knows a thing or two about being compared to
his father (legendary musician Bob), directs a comedy about
a mild-mannered man who coaches his 10-year-old
son’s soccer team, and what happens when he finds his players competing
against a team coached by his own fiercely competitive father. “Kicking
and Screaming” stars Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall and has been covered
extensively in previous editions of Next! Universal kicks it in May 13.
Clint Eastwood
2003 release: “Mystic River”
2003 Box Office Ranking: 32
Domestic gross: $90.1 million.
Because a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little
minds, we include less-than-hundred-million-grosser Eastwood
because $90 million is really close and – well – because.
Eastwood’s 25th directing gig is “Rope Burns,” a
drama about an ex-fighter who mentors a young woman determined
to pursue a boxing career. The screenplay by Paul Haggis
(TV’s “EZ Streets”) is based on a collection
of short stories by F.X. Toole. Eastwood, last seen in
2002’s “Blood Work,” stars with Hilary
Swank (“The Core”), Morgan Freeman (“The
Big Bounce”), Anthony Mackie (“The Manchurian
Candidate,” “She Hate Me”), Margo Martindale
(“The Human Stain”) and Christina Cox (“The
Chronicles of Riddick”). Warner Bros. has yet to
punch in a release date.
