Movie News Mash 26

BARBIE
Girls will have something to be excited about with toy-based cinema now instead of the boys. Variety has announced that Universal will be bringing Mattel's 50 year-old Barbie toyline to the big screen.

Here's what Universal Chairman Marc Shmuger had to say about the new Barbie movie:

"Barbie is the most famous doll in history, a unique cultural icon in the world of brands. So many representations of Barbie frequent pop culture, but never before has she been brought to life in a motion picture."

Over the past 50 years, Barbie has been dressed (and undressed) millions of times in thousands of outfits and has been in 16 direct-to-video movies.

I can't see this film becoming anything more than a lighthearted romantic comedy akin to dozens of other films we've seen like it before. Unless something extremely creative is done with Barbie, I can't imagine it being more than just a brand name slapped onto a dramatic story.
(Screen Rant, First Showing)

GRAYSKULL
Sony's Columbia Pictures is set to feel the power of Grayskull by taking on the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" film that was scrapped by Warner Bros.

Sony is finalizing a deal with toymakers Mattel and producers Escape Artiststo acquire the rights to the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" film that was scrapped by Warner Bros., reports Variety. Mattel owns the He-Man rights, having launched the franchise in the 80s with a range of toys which was adapted into the popular animated series.

A He-Man film had been in development at Warner Bros since 2007, with John Stevenson ("Kung Fu Panda") attached to direct. However, Mattel was unable to agree on the creative direction with the studio and producer Joel Silver and the project was dropped earlier this month.

The earlier script, written by Justin Marks ("Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li") , belongs to Warner Bros so a new writer will need to be hired. Stevenson is still in line to direct.
(The Geek Files)

GHOST RIDER 2
David Goyer, who was a writer on the "Blade" movies and both of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" films, is reportedly in early talks to develop a second "Ghost Rider" film for Sony's Columbia Pictures.

Variety says the director is in discussions to create the story and supervise writers for a "Ghost Rider" sequel, which is set to once again star Nicolas Cage.

Goyer hasn't yet signed on but plans are already under way to base the sequel on a "Ghost Rider" script he had written years ago.

Interestingly, Variety's report also confirms several other Marvel projects currently in active development, including "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" at Fox, the upcoming "Spider-Man" sequels at Sony and "Sub-Mariner" at Universal. Putting these films on the fast-track is a no-brainer for the studios—should they slack on their respective comic book franchises, the rights to the characters could revert back to Marvel.
(The Geek Files, MTV News)