Popeye The Sailor Man Returning to the Big Screen & Here's A Shock, It's In 3-D - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-22-2010, 11:42 PM

Sony is bringing an all-CGI "Popeye" to the bigscreen, with the iconic sailor man's muscles set to pop in 3D.
Avi Arad, who teamed with Sony to turn Spider-Man into a powerhouse franchise, is producing. Scribe Mike Jones is in negotiations to adapt.

King Features Syndicate, which is owned by Hearst Entertainment and Syndication, controls the property and decided to bring it to Arad, who worked for years with Hearst president and former Marvel topper Scott Sassa. Popeye hasn't been seen on the bigscreen since 1980 when Robin Williams starred in a live-action version helmed by Robert Altman.

"Scott called me and said, 'I have something for you,'" said Arad, who grew up watching Popeye shorts in movie houses in his native Israel. "I literally started singing the famous Popeye song (after securing the rights). What always blew me away is the level of the animation. It was so beautiful and unbelievably detailed."

Project was a natural fit for Sony, which is bringing a similar project to the bigscreen with "Smurfs." Sony Pictures Digital Prod. topper Bob Osher also has long-standing relationship with Sassa, the former NBC Entertainment topper.

Jones landed the writing gig based on his buzzed-about screenplay "The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break," which is in development at the Gotham Group.

"I'm an unabashed, lifelong Popeye fan," said Jones, who is a Variety alum. "Introducing this squinty-eyed sailor to a new generation also means reintroducing him to those who, like me, grew up with him."

The logline is being kept under wraps, but Popeye's love interest Olive Oyl, nemesis Bluto and adopted child Swee'Pea will be part of the adventure. Arad says the new version will cover the themes of friendship, love, greed and life and focus on human strengths and human frailties.

"Popeye" will be made by Sony Pictures Animation, with Sony Pictures ImageWorks handling the CG.

Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye first appeared in the already established "Thimble Theater" comicstrip in 1929. Introduced as a walk-on character, Popeye eventually became the strip's star.

The spinach-loving hero, who spawned the longest-running series of talking animated shorts, is considered a merchandising gold mine, with Popeye toys, books, puzzles, and games. Studio says the character, whose likeness is used widely to hawk green veggies, is the world's No. 1 licensing character in food.

"While each generation has discovered him in different incarnations, the fans have continued to embrace him through the years, coming back time and again to that quintessential collection of character traits that has made Popeye beloved around the world," said T.R. "Rocky" Shepard III, president of King Features Syndicate.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=10&cs=1

catlover79 · 03-23-2010, 03:03 AM

I know I'm shocked.

Good grief.

comedyfreak · 03-23-2010, 06:00 AM

CGI so does this mean it's not live action? Remember the Robin Williams bomb, lol.

tv star collector · 03-23-2010, 10:26 AM

I just hope it isn't a musical. Harry Nillson's songs ruined the 1980 movie.
Robin was fine in the lead role, and Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl.
The rest of the cast was good. The script needed work, though.

catlover79 · 03-23-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

CGI so does this mean it's not live action? Remember the Robin Williams bomb, lol.

I DID love Paul L. Smith as Bluto - perfect casting.

Torgo · 03-23-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I DID Paul L. Smith as Bluto - perfect casting.

Paul L Smith is great. I have the 2 disc set for Pieces(early 80's slasher flick) There's a really cool interview with Paul talking about his career. One story he told was how he was on the set of Popeye- it was supposed to be his last day then he was supposed to leave for another country to film Pieces, Robin Williams got sick so the producers wanted to stop production...but Robin knew that Paul had to leave so he said No, they would finish shooting so Paul could leave on time.

catlover79 · 03-24-2010, 01:45 PM

He was so funny in an episode of Heroes vs. Villains on Family Feud in the early 80s. Here was the lineup:

Heroes:

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (Sha Na Na)
Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard)
Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time)
Gordon Cooper (astronaut)
Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons)

vs.

Villains

Katherine MacGregor (Little House on the Prairie)
James Best (Dukes of Hazzard)
Paul L. Smith (Midnight Express; Popeye)
Inga Swenson (Benson)
Henry Silva (Sharky's Machine)

It was so funny when Jon Bauman called Paul Smith "fuzz face" and Paul slowly walked over to him with an intimidating look on his face. Jon Bauman just said, "Uh oh, I think I just made a major error."

Torgo · 03-24-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He was so funny in an episode of Heroes vs. Villains on Family Feud in the early 80s. Here was the lineup:

Heroes:

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (Sha Na Na)
Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard)
Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time)
Gordon Cooper (astronaut)
Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons)

vs.

Villains

Katherine MacGregor (Little House on the Prairie)
James Best (Dukes of Hazzard)
Paul L. Smith (Midnight Express; Popeye)
Inga Swenson (Benson)
Henry Silva (Sharky's Machine)

It was so funny when Jon Bauman called Paul Smith "fuzz face" and Paul slowly walked over to him with an intimidating look on his face. Jon Bauman just said, "Uh oh, I think I just made a major error."

I would love to have seen that.

Paul Smith is also great as the villain Faron Crush in the 80's comedy Crimewave, he and Brion James(as Arthur Coddish) play pest exterminators/hitmen- the whole movie is like a live-action cartoon.

catlover79 · 03-24-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

I would love to have seen that.

Paul Smith is also great as the villain Faron Crush in the 80's comedy Crimewave, he and Brion James(as Arthur Coddish) play pest exterminators/hitmen- the whole movie is like a live-action cartoon.

Well, the particular Family Feud episode I mentioned IS on DVD - a 4 disc set under the title of All-Star Family Feud.

03-22-2010, 11:42 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Popeye The Sailor Man Returning to the Big Screen & Here's A Shock, It's In 3-D Sony is bringing an all-CGI "Popeye" to the bigscreen, with the iconic sailor man's muscles set to pop in 3D. Avi Arad, who teamed with Sony to turn Spider-Man into a powerhouse franchise, is producing. Scribe Mike Jones is in negotiations to adapt. King Features Syndicate, which is owned by Hearst Entertainment and Syndication, controls the property and decided to bring it to Arad, who worked for years with Hearst president and former Marvel topper Scott Sassa. Popeye hasn't been seen on the bigscreen since 1980 when Robin Williams starred in a live-action version helmed by Robert Altman. "Scott called me and said, 'I have something for you,'" said Arad, who grew up watching Popeye shorts in movie houses in his native Israel. "I literally started singing the famous Popeye song (after securing the rights). What always blew me away is the level of the animation. It was so beautiful and unbelievably detailed." Project was a natural fit for Sony, which is bringing a similar project to the bigscreen with "Smurfs." Sony Pictures Digital Prod. topper Bob Osher also has long-standing relationship with Sassa, the former NBC Entertainment topper. Jones landed the writing gig based on his buzzed-about screenplay "The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break," which is in development at the Gotham Group. "I'm an unabashed, lifelong Popeye fan," said Jones, who is a Variety alum. "Introducing this squinty-eyed sailor to a new generation also means reintroducing him to those who, like me, grew up with him." The logline is being kept under wraps, but Popeye's love interest Olive Oyl, nemesis Bluto and adopted child Swee'Pea will be part of the adventure. Arad says the new version will cover the themes of friendship, love, greed and life and focus on human strengths and human frailties. "Popeye" will be made by Sony Pictures Animation, with Sony Pictures ImageWorks handling the CG. Created by E.C. Segar, Popeye first appeared in the already established "Thimble Theater" comicstrip in 1929. Introduced as a walk-on character, Popeye eventually became the strip's star. The spinach-loving hero, who spawned the longest-running series of talking animated shorts, is considered a merchandising gold mine, with Popeye toys, books, puzzles, and games. Studio says the character, whose likeness is used widely to hawk green veggies, is the world's No. 1 licensing character in food. "While each generation has discovered him in different incarnations, the fans have continued to embrace him through the years, coming back time and again to that quintessential collection of character traits that has made Popeye beloved around the world," said T.R. "Rocky" Shepard III, president of King Features Syndicate. http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=10&cs=1
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03-23-2010, 03:03 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I know I'm shocked. Good grief.
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03-23-2010, 06:00 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	CGI so does this mean it's not live action? Remember the Robin Williams bomb, lol.
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03-23-2010, 10:26 AM	#4
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	I just hope it isn't a musical. Harry Nillson's songs ruined the 1980 movie. Robin was fine in the lead role, and Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. The rest of the cast was good. The script needed work, though.

03-24-2010, 01:45 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	He was so funny in an episode of Heroes vs. Villains on Family Feud in the early 80s. Here was the lineup: Heroes: Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (Sha Na Na) Tom Wopat (Dukes of Hazzard) Mackenzie Phillips (One Day at a Time) Gordon Cooper (astronaut) Marla Gibbs (The Jeffersons) vs. Villains Katherine MacGregor (Little House on the Prairie) James Best (Dukes of Hazzard) Paul L. Smith (Midnight Express; Popeye) Inga Swenson (Benson) Henry Silva (Sharky's Machine) It was so funny when Jon Bauman called Paul Smith "fuzz face" and Paul slowly walked over to him with an intimidating look on his face. Jon Bauman just said, "Uh oh, I think I just made a major error."