Bad Robot

Director Brad Parker Talks CHERNOBYL DIARIES and His Future Bad Robot Project

by Tommy Cook    Posted: May 26th, 2012 at 2:54 pm

Chernobyl Diaries marks the directorial debut of visual effects maven Brad Parker.  The film eschews its found-footage conceit early yet still maintains that sub-genre’s documentary/cinema verite aesthetic.  Chernobyl Diaries is a less-is-more type flick, with a majority of the “creatures” completely enshrouded in darkness and most of the character deaths happening just off frame. In the following interview, director Brad Parker discusses settling on a “looser” camera, the surprising films he emulated for Chernobyl’s ‘look’ (hint: think Woody Allen) and the budgetary & creative principles behind his less-is-more aesthetic.   I also try and find out about his Bad Robot project, but he’s been trained well.  For the full interview, hit the jump.

ALCATRAZ New York City Viral Event Video Recap

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 27th, 2012 at 3:26 pm

Given that Fox’s Alcatraz is produced by J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot production company, the show features a pretty hefty mythological bent alongside its “criminal of the week” procedural aspect. Bad Robot has gone all out on a viral campaign for the show, and we’ve already brought you our report from the viral scavenger hunt event at the actual Alcatraz prison in San Francisco. Today we’re bringing you yet another report on a viral event for the series, this time in the form of a video. Fans were sent to investigate a robbery at Skylight One Hanson, former home of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank in Brooklyn, New York. They followed clues, interrogated “witnesses”, and used tools given to them in order to solve the case.

One of the more crucial aspects of the viral event was the use of a Ford Mustang in their investigation. Participants had to use UV light inside the car to search for fingerprints that lead them to a cryptic Bluetooth message. Interestingly, Ford Motor Company seems to be integrating themselves pretty heavily into the viral campaign in order to advertise their new car. It’s definitely a different approach, and one that we’ll probably see more of in the future. Nevertheless, you can watch the video wrapping up the entire viral event after the jump. Alcatraz airs Mondays at 9/8c.

Brad Parker to Direct Untitled Action Film for Paramount and Bad Robot; J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves to Produce

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 10th, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Paramount and Bad Robot are teaming up once more for an untitled action pic, and they’ve settled on Brad Parker to take the helm. Variety reports that the Diary of Lawson Oxford director has been set to head up the untitled action pic which has J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bryan Burk onboard to produce. Plot details are under wraps, but Michael Gilio (Carter Beats the Devil) wrote the script. Parker made his feature directorial debut with the The Diary of Lawson Oxford, a horror film produced by Paranormal Activity helmer Oren Peli. The pic stars Jesse McCartney and is due out sometime next year.

Parker has a rapport with Reeves, as he served as second-unit director on the remake Let Me In. He began a successful career directing commercials in the 1990s, working on spots for Nike, Nintendo, and Sony. Bad Robot most recently produced the super-successful Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and is gearing up for production start on Abrams’ sequel to Star Trek.

Paramount and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Set Writers for BOILERPLATE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 3:06 pm

Paramount and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot have settled on a couple of screenwriters to pen their adaptation of the graphic novel-picture book Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel. Deadline reports that JD Payne and Patrick McKay will handle scripting duties for the pic, which takes place in the late 19th and early 20th century and tells the story of the world’s first robot who “fought alongside Terry Roosevelt and Lawrence of Arabia, journeyed to the South Pole and was involved in the silent movie business before disappearing on the battlefields of World War I.” The idea for the story is fantastic, and hopefully Abrams and Co. can pull off an equally fascinating feature film.

Payne and McKay have yet to have one of their scripts produced, but they wrote the Goliath pic that Relativity is developing (and may or may not star Dwayne Johnson and Taylor Lautner), and are also penning a feature film adaptation of the Spike TV series Deadliest Warrior. Hit the jump to read a synopsis for the graphic novel.

Monica Breen and Alison Schapker to Re-Write ZANBATO for J.J. Abrams and Paramount

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 19th, 2011 at 7:32 am

Writing duo Monica Breen and Alison Schapker have been hired to re-write a “top-secret” flick that’s being developed by J.J. Abrams’s production company Bad Robot and Paramount.  According to Deadline, the project, tentatively titled Zanbato, “involves Japanese history and robotics” and has been described as “swashbuckling robots with swords”.  Out of curiosity, can one swashbuckle without a sword?  Isn’t the sword the key component of the swashbuckler?

Been and Schapker have a long-standing relationship with J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot.  They recently signed a deal a 7-figure deal that will keep them as the co-executive producers of Fringe. Their past credits include Abrams’ Alias and Lost as well as the family melodrama Brothers & Sisters.

Geek Gifts: Limited Edition Bad Robot with Slusho! Statue

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 17th, 2010 at 4:05 pm

Looking for that perfect companion gift to go along with your blu-ray copies of Star Trek and Lost: The Complete Collection? Well, look no further than Entertainment Earth! The site has 10-inch, hand-painted replicas of the mascot from J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot. He comes with a secondary modular arm, complete with Slusho! beverage in hand. The collectors among you will appreciate that this little guy is limited to 1,000 pieces so order now before they’re gone! (Price: $89.99)  Hit the jump for more info and images

STAR TREK Sequel Promo Poster/Image/Something

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: November 5th, 2010 at 2:37 pm

Now before anyone jumps to any conclusions about what this Star Trek sequel image/poster/whatever the hell this thing is, I’m quite sure it isn’t from Paramount or J.J. Abrams Bad Robot.  I have a friend who works in (removed for obvious reasons) and this image/poster came across his desk today.  If I were a betting man, I’d say the image is for some sort of merchandising item, or for some group that needs to plan very far ahead.  But I really don’t know where it originates from.  Hell, it could be an image from an upcoming Star Trek calendar.

However, with interest in the Star Trek sequel quite high, I thought it would be smart to share the image.  Like most of you, I loved J.J. Abrams Star Trek and cannot wait for this sequel.  Hit the jump to check it out.

J.J. Abrams’ ALCATRAZ Picked Up for Pilot at Fox While the Michael Emerson & Terry O’Quinn Series Heads to NBC

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: September 23rd, 2010 at 10:58 am

We’ve already mentioned these projects each independently, but since both of these new J.J. Abrams projects just found their network homes, we figured we’d point it out. Deadline reports Alcatraz, the second mysterious island drama from J.J. Abrams and Elizabeth Sarnoff, was picked up for a pilot from Fox. Still no plot details have been uncovered but Sarnoff wrote the script (with previous versions by writers Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt) and will serve as showrunner on the series in addition to sharing executive producing duties with Abrams.

Meanwhile, Vulture reports Abrams other highly anticipated series with Lost stars Terry O’Quinn and Michael Emerson has landed at NBC. Though it was previously referred to as Odd Jobs, the series remains untitled but it sounds like it will see Emerson and O’Quinn in a comedic drama as former black-ops agents. Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Alias) are writing and also executive producers alongside Abrams. Combine these two shows with Bad Robot’s collaboration with Jonathan Nolan for Person of Interest as CBS, and the only network that needs a fancy new show from Abrams is ABC. But they did have Lost for six years, so I guess it’s just time to spread the wealth.

UNDERCOVERS Series Premiere Review

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: September 22nd, 2010 at 11:12 am

With hits like Alias, Fringe and of course Lost under his belt, it appears Bad Robot mastermind J.J. Abrams can do no wrong. But how does the popular filmmaker take a concept that has been driven into the ground with mediocre romantic comedies like Killers and Date Night or already somewhat explored by NBC’s other action comedy spy series Chuck? The answer is very carefully and with moderate success.

Steven and Samantha Bloom (played respectively by Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw) are struggling through debt with their catering business until grizzly old Agent Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney) reluctantly sits them down for a proposal to help locate missing CIA agent Leo Nash (Carter MacIntyre), who also happens to be one of their good friends. With a marriage that has somewhat lost its spark (though certainly not its true love), the only way to spice thing up under the covers may be to become Undercovers all over again. Find out how The Bloom’s fare on their first mission after the jump.

J.J. Abrams and LOST Director Jack Bender Spend 7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 17th, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Jack Bender is rightly regarded as one of television’s premier directors, best known as the go-to guy for all of the key episodes of Lost.  Bender is in the process of parlaying that reputation into a career in features, having recently signed on to helm Moscow, the next installment of the Jack Ryan franchise.  Now he’s developing a thriller with Lost producer J.J. Abrams entitled 7 Minutes to Heaven.  Like all the projects housed under Abrams’ Bad Robot banner, the plot details of 7 Minutes are under wraps.  However, according to Heat Vision, “it is known to focus on two teens who go into a closet as part of the titular game and find all their friends dead when they come back out.”  Whoa — I just got chills.

The original idea comes from Bender, and the pair is currently looking for a capable writer to flesh it out.  It is expected that Paramount will ultimately distribute 7 Minutes, if only because of Abrams’ past ties to the studio.

J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot Go After Victorian Robot with BOILERPLATE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 1:58 pm

J.J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot are putting together a robot tale set in the Victorian Era.  Heat Vision reports that Abrams will be producing an adaptation of the graphic novel-picture book Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel.  Created by Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett, Boilerplate “purports to tell the story of the world’s first robot, who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fought alongside Terry Roosevelt and Lawrence of Arabia, journeyed to the South Pole and was involved in the silent movie business before disappearing on the battlefields of World War I. The book tells Boilerplate’s story by inserting the character into pictures drawn in the style of the age.”  Based on that description alone, I added the book to my Amazon Wish List.  It sounds like it would make a fantastic movie.

According to HV, Guinan originally pitched the concept and character via a website 11 years ago when trying to drum up interest in a graphic novel. The site eventually took on a life of its own when some people started believing the robot and its history to be true.  And now I want to read the book even more.

Details on the Secret Trailer for the Abrams-Produced SUPER 8

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: May 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm

Things are rather busy at Bad Robot, the home of Star Trek director J.J. Abrams, as of late.  In news that’s not shrouded in secrecy, the Abrams-produced spy series Undercovers earned an early pickup from NBC.  But mum’s the word for the other two items, which describe a possible collaboration with Steven Spielberg and a double secret trailer attached to Iron Man 2 that’s going by the name Super 8.

It didn’t seem the latter two projects were related, but we also had no real clue as to the contents of the trailer.  Vulture did some sleuthing, and may be able to shed light on what we’ll see in the trailer.  We’ll save the spoilerly details for after the jump, so only click “Continue Reading” if you’re sure you want to ruin the surprise.

Secret J.J. Abrams Trailer SUPER 8 To Surprise IRON MAN 2 Audiences This Weekend?

by Germain Lussier    Posted: May 4th, 2010 at 9:05 am

In a world where spoilers for Hollywood blockbusters pop up online weeks before the film hits theaters, there is one man who regularly surprises the crap out of us: J.J. Abrams.  And it looks like he might be doing it again as a report has hit the net that prints of Iron Man 2 this weekend will have a surprise trailer for a film called Super 8 attached to it and that the film hasn’t even been shot yet! It might be a sequel to Cloverfield, it might not, but Abrams directed the teaser and will not be directing the film.

Would you like to know more? Then hit that jump.

Bad Robot Returns THE DARK TOWER to Stephen King; Now in the Hands of Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Akiva Goldsman

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 29th, 2010 at 10:08 pm

Back in November, we reported director J.J. Abrams had dropped out of directing Stephen King’s The Dark Tower as a feature film.  Originally, Bad Robot (his production company) landed the rights to the series from King and Abrams had planned on teaming up with Damon Lindeloff to tackle the property.  There was also some talk that Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse might try and tackle The Dark Tower as a TV series after Lost, but Lindeloff told USA Today, “After working six years on ‘Lost,’ the last thing I want to do is spend the next seven years adapting one of my favorite books of all time.”

Since Bad Robot decided they wouldn’t adapt the material, they gave the rights back to Stephen King. But with the popularity of the book series, everyone knew it would land in the hands of someone else, and thanks to reports on Deadline and THR (who both claimed exclusives), it’s Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Akiva Goldsman. While I would love to tell you their plans for the series…according to the two reports, they either want to make a trilogy of movies or one movie followed by a TV show. Crazy, I know.  Hit the jump for more:

Has J.J. Abrams Decided on His Next Directing Gig and Will it be With Steven Spielberg?

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: April 28th, 2010 at 7:20 pm

Let’s say that the next project that lures J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) to the director’s chair is like a puzzle.  Vulture has a few of the pieces, and while I have no idea what picture is on the front of the box, it’s a pretty safe bet that once completed, I will be immensely satisfied.  Here’s what we have so far:

-Piece 1: The Abrams script is “a tip of the hat to [Spielberg's] movies of the 70′s and early 80′s” like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T., and Abrams wants Spielberg involved in some capacity to make sure the homage is legit.
-Piece 2: The narrative revolves around “everyday people whose personal relationships are tested when they are thrown up against extraordinarily fantastic–and possibly other-worldly–events.”
-Piece 3: The budget is low, near Cloverfield‘s modest $25 million
-Piece 3a: One source referred to it as a kind of “anti-Avatar”

After the jump, let’s try and fill in some of the blanks: I think the Spielberg thing is a corner piece, and that Avatar comparison looks kind of like a cloud . . .

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