Genre: Adventure/Fantasy.
Studio:
Universal.
Production Company:
Universal Pictures.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Unknown.
Who's Making It:
Peter Jackson (Director); Frances Walsh, Peter Jackson (Screenwriters);
Peter Jackson, Frances Walsh (Producers); a remake of the 1933 film King Kong.
Premise: A thirty-foot high ape is found on a mysterious prehistoric island, captured, and brought to America where he creates chaos. Originally filmed in 1933 and remade again in 1976.
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: "Whatever happened to...Fay Wray?" See Scoop Feedback for further details.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
April 12, 1996... This juicy rumor comes hot on the heels of Jackson's soon-to-be-released flick, The Frighteners this coming summer. Robert Zemeckis, exec producer on Frighteners, has reported to have liked Jackson's work so much that he gave an advance screening to Universal brass - who loved the film. A deal was apparently worked out for Jackson and his longtime partner Walsh to re-write Kong and bring him into the 1990s. More info as we get it, kiddies. [Scoop info sent in by 'Pavlov' via Skull Island e-mail address.]
April 28, 1996... This version of Kong will take place in the same timeframe as the original, the 1930s. Forty Silicon Graphics workstations are being utilized to bring Kong to life. [Scoop submitted by Harry Knowles; originally reported in Variety.]
June 4, 1996... The New Zealand press is getting a bit more info on the new Kong film due to the interest in the film's hot local director. The finale will feature Kong atop the Empire State Building in the 1930's, biplanes and all. Kind of a retro ape film, we suppose. [Scoop sent in by 'ajgainsf'.]
June 18, 1996... Inside sources tell us that Jackson and Walsh may be thinking of casting Kate Winslet in the Fay Wray role. Winslet apparently called the duo as soon as she heard of the project and is eager to work again with the team on another film. (And we think that she'd make a great Fay Wray!) [Scoop provided anonymously.]
August 5, 1996... We kinda like the idea that this scooper sent in to CA, so we've included it here. In the original Kong film there was a cut scene in which a giant spider devours some of the explorers (apparently it was cut because of the excessive gore). The scooper would like to present the idea to Peter Jackson, who's past history with such matters (Braindead, Bad Taste) would just suit directing this scene. "I also think Jackson and his wife should have a cameo in the movie as the fighter pilots that shoot Kong down, which the original directors did," the scooper adds. Since Jackson makes a cameo in each of his films, perhaps he might for this one. [Scoop credit goes out to 'dumbdog'.]
December 1, 1996... "Yesterday, Tues 29 Oct 1996, I visited Peter Jackson's Special Effects studio, Weta Studios, here in New Zealand, and apart from all the Hercules and Xena work they had on the go, they were also preparing for submissions to LA of what they envision Kong to be like, so that they will be picked up as the FX studio for the film. What I saw was a whole ton of maquettes of gorillas in various poses and expressions, and dinosaurs very reminiscent of Stan Winston's Jurassic Park quality, an obvious influence, but the main model they were working on was a three-foot-tall sculpture of Kong fighting a huge alligator with a Tyrannosaur-head, while holding the woman (whom they call Fay Wray, despite the fact that this was the actress's real name in the Classic original feature). It looked absolutely incredible, especially with the production drawings of a rampaging Kong on his pre-historic home island, where I would guess this scene opens the movie. I hope they get the go-ahead, because I'm applying to work for them. Tania, who was showing us around, also said that the effects will be a combination of puppets, CGI, but no stop motion, which, of course, has had it's day for Feature effects. I hope to be involved in design and CGI work, but we'll see.... [Scoop submitted by 'potiki'.]
December 9, 1996... While conducting his media blitz of New Zealand (for the opening of The Frighteners), Peter Jackson reportedly said that the 'reason' he's making another Kong remake is because he "...felt obligated to make this film to make up for the shitty 1970's version,", or so sayeth this scoop source. [Scoop sent in anonymously.]
January 16-21, 1997... Production of the new remake of King Kong has been delayed. Universal Pictures and Miramax Films cited that more time was needed to develop the project's concept, as well as wanting to avoid competition with other similar 'big ape' movies (Disney's Mighty Joe Young, and TriStar's Godzilla [who is really a big reptile, no?] both due in Summer 1998.) A new time being considered for the movie's debut is in the year 2000. Until then, Jackson plans to develop new projects, including directing a new film for Miramax in Wellington, New Zealand. [Scoop info sent in by Christian, David, 'feebles', 'tv', Bob Tucker, 'Whitcher' and anonymously.]
May 18, 1997... "During a few drinks with one of the visual effects guys from King Kong recently, I gleaned the following information. Jackson's KK is to be set present-day and is not a remake 'so much as a homage to the original'. Kong would be created entirely by CGI. The script he read he said was very jokey but apparently Jackson had been told by Universal to cut the humour back. Also Universal regarded the reason for The Frighteners financial failure as too fast a pace and Jackson had also been told to trim the humour back. My informant also commented that Jackson had received a phone-call from veteran stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen who was less than complimentary about the idea of doing a remake.
"Other rumours: `The Listener' (the NZ equivalent of the TV Guide) reported that Jackson was under pressure from the studio to cast big-name leads in the male part. The names of Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger were bandied. More interesting were the names that came up for the Fay Wray part. Suggestions were Kate Beckinsale, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet. Winslet of course came to international fame after starring in Jackson's Heavenly Creatures. There could be some truth to the Winslet rumour as Jackson recently made a point of travelling down from New Zealand to catch up with her when she was down in the Antarctic shooting for James Cameron's Titanic (although I have no information that this was anything more than old friends catching up).
"Other rumours gleaned from Wellington newspapers: Wellington was to be used as the locations for KK. The article seemed under the impression that the film was going to be made period. Although it does take some stretch of the imagination to see the cramped and rather ugly streets of Wellington as 1930s New York. In another article and on tv news it was reported that the Wellington City Council has created a special office of Film Development especially to facilitate the film. (Which is fairly amazing - is there any other director in the world which has had a special liaison office created just for them by a city).
"The film has now been delayed until 1998. The reasons given for this were that Universal wanted KK to compete with the other big-budget creature features remakes of Mighty Joe Young and Godzilla. Jackson is reported to be disappointed and is now working on another US financed, NZ-shot project which he is contractually required to remain secretive about." [Scoop sent in by 'Roogulator']
|
Copyrights and trademarks for the film and related entertainment properties mentioned
herein are held by their respective owners and are used with
permission or solely for the promotional purposes of said properties.
All other text and images copyright © 1995-98 Corona Productions. Last updated: Sunday, 12-Jul-1998 17:44:56 PDT. webmaster@corona.bc.ca |