Alex Proyas

Legendary Pictures Scraps Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST Starring Bradley Cooper

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 9th, 2012 at 12:02 pm

In the climate of budget conscious studios hesitant to gamble money on anything that doesn’t have a “2” in the title, more and more ambitious projects are having trouble crossing the finish line. Universal passed on Guillermo del Toro’s At the Mountains of Madness, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are struggling to get their blended, multi-part film/TV adaptation of The Dark Tower off the ground, and most recently we saw Warner Bros. put their fantasy pic Arthur & Lancelot on hold in order to work out budget issues.

Now you can add Paradise Lost to the list of blue balled titles, as Legendary has pulled the plug. The ambitious adaptation of John Milton’s classic epic poem was to begin shooting in January, but Legendary decided in December to push production back in order to reduce the budget. Now the studio has scrapped the project all together. Hit the jump for more, including why Legendary backed out.

Lawsuit Over THE CROW Settled; Reboot to Move Forward

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 23rd, 2012 at 3:59 pm

The reboot that no one is asking for looks like it may be moving forward. A revisiting of director Alex Proyas’ 1994 Miramax picture, The Crow, was previously in the works through Relativity Media. Since the Weinsteins distributed the original through Miramax and had contracts claiming ownership of all rights to The Crow, they filed suit against Relativity seeking “injunctive relief,” ie ceasing all The Crow-related production. Not to be intimidated, Relativity fired counter-claims.

Things haven’t gone particularly well for the reboot as directors have come and gone, writers have signed on and then dropped out, and principal actors have been offered roles but have ultimately left the project. In short, it’s been a mess. One bright spot in production is that both sides of the lawsuit have settled amicably. While the good news is that this brings The Crow reboot closer to reality, the bad news is that this brings The Crow reboot closer to reality. Hit the jump to read the press release.

Diego Boneta in Talks to Play Adam in Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 10th, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Director Alex Proyas is filling out the cast for his big-budget adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and it looks as though he’s found his Adam. Variety reports that Diego Boneta (Pretty Little Liars) is in final negotiations to play the first man on Earth. Bradley Cooper and Ben Walker star as archangels Lucifer and Michael respectively. For those unfamiliar, the story centers on the ultimate battle between good and evil when a banished Lucifer mounts an army against the forces of Heaven. Boneta recently wrapped a role in Adam Shankman’s musical Rock of Ages, which stars Tom Cruise.

The fairly impressive cast for Paradise Lost includes Casey Affleck as the angel Gabriel and Dijmon Hounsou as the Angel of Death, as well as Callan McAuliffe and Dominic Purcell. The script has gone through a number of writers, as Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi wrote the first draft, followed by a draft by Stuart Hazeldine (Exam), which was then polished by Lawrence Kasdan (The Empire Strikes Back). Ryan Condal wrote the most recent draft. Legendary Pictures is looking to release the 3D film towards the end of 2013.

Dominic Purcell is Satan’s Right-Hand Man in Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: October 7th, 2011 at 5:36 pm

In what is shaping up to be an epic cast (which is good since it’s an epic poem), Paradise Lost has added yet another minion to the legions of dark angels. Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) will play Jerahmeel, an angel who is rechristened as Moloch when he falls in step with Lucifer’s rebellion against Heaven.  Alex Proyas (I, Robot) is directing the Warner Bros.’ project as an action-oriented adaptation of John Milton’s classic poem. The Legendary Pictures production also stars Bradley Cooper as Lucifer, Benjamin Walker as Michael and Casey Affleck as Gabriel. Since this tale has a lot of moving parts and a lot more cast, hit the jump for a break down.

Djimon Hounsou is the Angel of Death in PARADISE LOST Opposite Bradley Cooper, Tom Wilkinson Joins LITTLE BOY

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 22nd, 2011 at 3:28 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this afternoon. First up, Djimon Hounsou has joined the cast of Alex Proyas’ adaptation of John Milton’s classic epic poem Paradise Lost. The film has Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) set to star as Lucifer and the archangel Michael, respectively. Variety reports that Hounsou will take on the role of Abdiel, the angel of death. The story revolves around the epic battle between Michael and Lucifer and Proyas will be utilizing motion capture and 3D in the adaptation. Paradise Lost is targeting a late 2013 release.

Additionally, Tom Wilkinson is in talks to join the cast of Alejandro Monteverde’s (Bella) historical drama Little Boy. The WWII-set story revolves around an 8-year-old boy with developmental problems who is left vulnerable to the cruelty of his classmates when his father, his only friend, leaves to go to war. Variety reports that Wilkinson will join a cast that includes Ben Chaplin, Emily Watson, David Henrie and possibly Kevin James (yes, that Kevin James), though his name is conspicuously absent from the trade’s report. Nevertheless, Little Boy is currently filming in Baja California.

Benjamin Walker in Talks to Play the Archangel Michael in PARADISE LOST; Alex Proyas Describes His Vision

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 3rd, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Benjamin Walker, the man who will be Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is in negotiations with Legendary Pictures to star in Alex Proyas’ adaptation of Paradise Lost.  Walker is up for the role of Michael, the archangel engaged in an epic battle of good and evil with Lucifer (Bradley Cooper), who mounts an army after after he is cast out of heaven.  Proyas is striving for a distinct and magnificent aesthetic with cutting-edge visual effects.  Hunter was very impressed with what he saw at the Comic-Con panel, suggesting “this movie could be one of the most visually breathtaking things ever projected on the silver screen.”  To give us a taste, Legendary released this enigmatic piece of concept art.

Production will begin in January in Sidney, which allows Cooper to shoot The Silver Linings Playbook in the fall.  Legendary is eying the end of 2013 for the 3D release.  Hit the jump to hear how Proyas describes his vision for the film.

Concept Art for Lucifer in Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 25th, 2011 at 8:49 am

Legendary Pictures has released the first concept art for Lucifer in Alex Proyas’ adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost.  The film was part of Legendary Pictures’ pre-production panel at Comic-Con and while I was unable to attend, Hunter called it the most impressive film on the panel and if it lives up to the concept art they were shown, “this movie could be one of the most visually breathtaking things ever projected on the silver screen.”  Hopefully, Legendary will release more concept art for the film in the coming weeks.

Milton’s epic poem chronicles Lucifer’s fall from Heaven and his role in leading Adam and Eve to original sin.  Proyas says the adaptation will be “an incredible epic film about the Devil’s fall from grace and the Archangel Michael. Adam and Eve play heavily in it as well. This film couldn’t have been made a few years ago. In fact, we’re not even sure we can make it now. But we’re gonna try.”  Hit the jump to check out the concept art.  The film stars Bradley Cooper, will use motion capture, and is set for a late 2013 release.

Comic-Con 2011: Legendary Shows Off Concept Art for THE SEVENTH SON, PARADISE LOST, and MASS EFFECT

by Hunter Daniels    Posted: July 23rd, 2011 at 12:21 pm

Legendary Films held their first ever Comic-Con panel today kicked off their inaugural run with aplomb, bringing out plenty of A-list talent and displaying concept art for four different projects.

In addition to Pacific Rim, Legendary brought  Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Sergei Bodrov and Alicia Vikander for Seventh Son, Bradley Cooper and Alex Proyas for Paradise Lost, and Mark Protosevich and Casey Hudson for Mass Effect.  Read on for a summary of the presentation and details on the concept art.

Alex Proyas’ PARADISE LOST Starring Bradley Cooper to be Filmed Using Motion Capture; Set for Late 2013 Release

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 20th, 2011 at 9:54 am

Some details have been unearthed regarding director Alex Proyas’ (Knowing) adaptation of the 17^th century epic poem Paradise Lost. We learned back in May that Bradley Cooper was attached to star, and that the film would include “aerial warfare,” but other than that not much was known about the ambitious undertaking. Well now it looks like the massive production will take place in Sydney, spanning 20 weeks of pre-production, eight weeks of principal photography, and 72 weeks of post-production, with the director utilizing motion capture to make the film.

3D had previously been mentioned as a possibility, but it appears there are currently no plans for the format. Hit the jump for more.

Comic-Con 2011: Legendary Pictures Announces Panel Featuring Guillermo del Toro’s PACIFIC RIM, PARADISE LOST, MASS EFFECT and SEVENTH SON

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 6th, 2011 at 3:03 pm

Lest you were worried that there was going to be a serious lack of major films at this year’s Comic-Con, Legendary Pictures has just announced its first-ever panel. The studio will be bringing out the big guns, as the films set to be featured are as follows: Guillermo del Toro’s next directorial project Pacific Rim, Alex Proyas’ adaptation of Paradise Lost starring Bradley Cooper, Seventh Son starring Jeff Bridges, and the feature film adaptation of Mass Effect.

The studio is bringing along the major talent from each film, including Pacific Rim’s Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day and Idris Elba (as well as del Toro), Seventh Son’s Bridges and Ben Barnes, Both Proyas and Cooper from Paradise Lost, and Mass Effect game creator Casey Hudson and the screenwriter working on the film adaptation Mark Protosevich. Hit the jump to read the full press release.

Alex Proyas to Produce Indie Assassin Film FUTURE PERFECT; Shane Abbess to Direct

by Jason Barr    Posted: May 26th, 2011 at 6:13 pm

Director Alex Proyas (The Crow) has signed on to produce an independent assassin project entitled Future Perfect. Proyas will oversee the project for director Shane Abbess (Gabriel) according to 24 Frames which cites the film as being in a similar vein as Joe Wright’s Hanna. Future Perfect was written by Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman, the same scribes behind the Zorro reboot, Zorro Reborn. While additional plot details on the project are sparse, the report claims that the script involves two eugenically created assassins, one an older man and the other a young girl, who are on the run from an unspecified pursuer (the same top-secret government agency that funded their creation, perhaps?).

In addition to Future Perfect, Proyas also has an adaptation of Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dracula: Year Zero currently hanging out in development. There is no word on how Perfect‘s Australian-based production will affect Proyas’ work on each of those projects, a notion that may be worthy of concern given his “godfather” role on this latest project. As for Abbess, although 2007′s Gabriel is his only directorial effort to date, at one point the filmmaker was attached to helm Duncan Jones’ Source Code (for which he received a “Thanks” credit in the film).

Bradley Cooper in Talks to Play Lucifer in PARADISE LOST

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 4th, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Bradley Cooper’s upcoming slate is looking quite full. The actor just recently entered negotiations to star in The Crow remake, and now he’s in talks to star as Lucifer in director Alex Proyas’ (Knowing) adaptation of Paradise Lost. The film has been in development for quite some time, with Proyas signing on last September. The 17th-century epic poem is about the Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve and the pair’s eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden, with an epic war between archangels Lucifer and Michael taking place in heaven.

Variety reports that Proyas’ adaptation “will be crafted as an action vehicle that will include aerial warfare, possibly shot in 3D,” which is exactly what John Milton had in mind when writing the epic poem. While no official offer has been made, Cooper is apparently “eager” to take the role. Funnily enough, Proyas directed the original 1994 version of The Crow, so maybe they’ve bonded over their mutual admiration for eye makeup? The script for Paradise Lost has been tackled by no less than five writers, with Ryan Condal turning in the latest draft. Hit the jump for a synopsis of Milton’s poem.

Alex Proyas to Produce and Possibly Direct AMP

by Ramses Flores    Posted: December 1st, 2010 at 8:50 pm

Director Alex Proyas (Knowing) will produce and possibly direct an adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s upcoming sci-fi thriller novel, Amp.  Deadline reports the novel will be set in a world where “the technology designed to make the disabled whole, turns them into supermen.”  This news continues Wilson’s luck of attracting a big name director to adapt one of his novels before they are even published: earlier this year it was announced that Steven Spielberg will direct an adaptation of Wilson’s upcoming novel, Robopocalypse.

A film based on Wilson’s faux survival guide, How to Survive a Robot Uprising, has also been in the works for some time with Jack Black and writer/director Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine) attached.  Hit the jump to read about the other projects Proyas has lined up.

Alex Proyas to Direct Adaptation of PARADISE LOST

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 16th, 2010 at 12:33 pm

Director Alex Proyas (Knowing) is set to helm a 3D adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost.  The 17th-century epic poem is about the Satan’s temptation of Adam and Eve and the pair’s eventual expulsion from the Garden of Eden.  Variety says the project, “will be crafted as an action vehicle that will include aerial warfare, possibly shot in 3D.”  While Milton’s poem has withstood the test of time, a common complaint from critics is the distinct lack of aerial warfare.

In April 2009, we reported on two competing Paradise Lost projects.  One was the passion project of producer Martin Mull and the other was from Warner Bros. with Scott Derrickson (The Day the Earth Stood Still remake) at the helm.  Since Legendary Pictures is behind this new project and they’ll likely be co-financing and co-producing with Warner Bros., it means that Derrickson’s version is almost definitely dead (and seeing as we haven’t heard anything about since April 2009, it’s probably been deceased for some time).  Paradise Lost is probably still a ways off since Proyas is planning to shoot Dracula: Year Zero (starring Sam Worthington) in June.

Sam Worthington Attached to Star in Alex Proyas’ DRACULA: YEAR ZERO; Filming Scheduled to Begin June 2011

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 18th, 2010 at 10:52 pm

Earlier today, Encore reported that Alex Proyas’ Dracula: Year Zero would be shooting early next year in Australia and that Worthington was attached to star.  This was interesting news for two reasons.  First, last we heard about Worthington and this project, his name was “under consideration” for the title role.  Secondly, it didn’t seem likely that the project would shoot early next year since Worthington is scheduled to do Clash of the Titans 2 during that time.

We’ve now done some digging and discovered that Worthington is attached to play real-life historical figure Prince Vlad of Transylvania (pictured above, who may have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula) and that the plan is to shoot in June 2011.  As a fan of Alex Proyas (Dark City, I Robot) I’m very excited to see his take on this supernatural thriller, especially with the movie most likely getting a large budget to work with.

Back in January, Steve spoke to producer Mike De Luca about the project and he revealed a lot of info.  Hit the jump for what he said along with a list of Worthington’s other projects.

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