The Zone

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:51 am

Bit concerned about the idea of the actor that would play Lucifer. There's been mention on IMDB Forum board that it's unlikely that we'll get an actor who is as 'beautiful' looking enough, that has also the Shakespearen chops and background as well as all the other characteristics and talent enough to play the guy. Mostly it seems that they're scared that just a screen trained American actor will play him, with echoing references they made to Brad Pitt as Achilles.

Meanwhile JL and me were talking about how this film could just end up in Development Hell and we could be talking about this film for an eternity before it sees the light of day. Is the present director, Derrikson, also the best director for this massive undertaking too, for example. It's as if this monumentous task might feel too impossible to get a competent crew attached to it.

by **TheButcher** on Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:13 am

From io9:

Meanwhile, Murray's no longer involved with the Green Lantern film, now that co-writer Greg Berlanti isn't on board to direct. (It's passed over to Casino Royale's Martin Campbell). Instead, Murray's working on Scott Derrickson's reimagining of Milton's Paradise Lost, with a script by Stuart Hazeltine.

by **TheButcher** on Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:19 am

A Rotten Tomatoes Exclusive: Milton's Paradise Lost Movie in 3D?

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:33 am

Form what little i know of the poem, a 3D treatment might do it some justice. Could be an inspired idea.

Though it's Derrickson that troubles me. It's not the visuals that will make this film so much as the 'humans' from what I know. His track record hasn't been that great, has it? as for The Day The Earth Stood Still, well those big Apocalyptic visuals as well as dreary humans, they didn't do much for me either.

Also I dunno if his own original art based on this poem, I don't know if I want just that and with it having no reference or resemblance to such classic art that's already been inspired by the story.

Heh, I guess I gotta be greatful that this movie is still being done!

by **TheButcher** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:25 am

From THR.com: Martin Poll finds 'Paradise Lost'

It's time to brush up on your John Milton because the 17th century English poet's "Paradise Lost" is suddenly on Hollywood's radar.

Veteran producer Martin Poll has joined with Granite Entertainment and STV Networks to mount an indie version of "Paradise" that has been gestating for nearly four decades and could enter production as early as the summer. If so, it could find itself going up against a competing version of "Paradise" that Legendary Pictures and Vincent Newman Entertainment have been developing for several years.

Poll began pitching a film version of Milton's epic poem in the late '60s.

Although he couldn't interest a studio at the time to make a movie about Satan's fall from grace, his temptation of Adam and Eve and the first couple's subsequent banishment from the Garden of Eden, Poll began working with British author and screenwriter John Collier, who wrote a screenplay, which was published in book form in 1973.

Although Collier died in 1980, Poll said he has renewed his option over the years.

In the past year, the project has taken on new life: Poll has teamed with producers Hank McCann, Bob Knotek and Jonas McCord.

Philadelphia-based STV Networks -- a digital distribution company specializing in Bollywood fare headed by Sridhar Sreekakula, who is seeking to get into theatrical distribution -- has come aboard as a co-financier, agreeing to put up half of the film's projected $30 million-$35 million budget.

Poll initially brought the script to Arthur Penn, who worked on its development but decided against directing, so the project is out to helmers.

Two unknown young actors, David Dunham and Patricia Li Bryan, are on tap to play Adam and Eve as part of a multiethnic cast. The producers hope to land a star to play Satan.

Although "Paradise" is in the public domain, the producers said they've registered the title with the MPAA registry to stake out their turf. They still could find themselves in a battle, though, with Legendary's more ambitious-sounding "Paradise." Scott Derrickson is attached to direct that project for release by Warner Bros.

by **Bloo** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:34 am

so competing Paradise Lost movies...weird

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:20 am

Still waiting for Derrickson's to start filming! Though I dunno if I DO sometimes. Is Derrickson gonna do this novel justice? Or could ANYONE?

Not sure if a STAR should play Satan too. Anything to make that character less scary it seems. Shia IS Satan. No, Satan IS SHIA!

As for now being 2 movies. Well You know the saying. You wait for a bus....

by **Gerald Fried** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:39 am

Cpt Kirks 2pay wrote:Still waiting for Derrickson's to start filming! Though I dunno if I DO sometimes. Is Derrickson gonna do this novel justice? Or could ANYONE?

I'm sure someone could. I don't think that someone is Scott Derrickson.

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:41 am

Gerald Fried wrote:
Cpt Kirks 2pay wrote:Still waiting for Derrickson's to start filming! Though I dunno if I DO sometimes. Is Derrickson gonna do this novel justice? Or could ANYONE?

I'm sure someone could. I don't think that someone is Scott Derrickson.

So you think it's YOU do you? YOU SIR, are a HEATHEN!!!!!

(Meanwhile waits for someone to come up with another director suggestion for the movie, and that someone to lamely put his hand up in the air and shout 'RIDLEY SCOTT!!!!' :roll:

)

by **Bloo** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:44 am

Ridley Scott!!!!!!

no how about McG!!!!!!!

I really don't know you need someone with a good visual style but not an overwhelming visual style and is good with actors

if it were 20, 30 years ago, I'd suggest Robert Wise

now, I don't know

no I still like Robert Wise

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:13 am

FINCHEEEEEEEERRRR!!!!!!!

'Cos like, yeah, he's all - DAAARK and stuff!

I honestly don't know much about all this. It seems like you'd need 2 directors really, or 2 directors in 1. It seems you need someone to know and do justice to the language and have a thorough biblical appreciation to bring the 'world' to convincing life. (From what I gather from Derrickson's scorecard, his ticking the boxes of the above don't make him more suitable to direct this than New Zealand's bloody Lee frickin' Tamahori does to make The Hobbit.)

Then you gotta have someone who can bring all those images and visuals which are said to be impossible to bring to the screen, TO the screen.

Seeing as the success of the story telling relies on these 2 things which are said to be so damn difficult/impossible to translate into cinema, moreso than most other adaptations it appears, it seems like you need a director who can 'specialize' in making each of the 2 rare type of elements work 100%. To have someone that can live the Milton language/dialogue inside out and also paint all those images which are said to be inconcievable for cinema, he/she's gonna be a very rare find.

I say JJ farking Abrams. :roll:

by **Bloo** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:26 am

well I've been thinking a little about this and since Wise is dead (though I still think he'd be the best choice)

I'm going to suggest Alfonso Cuarón

by **TonyWilson** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:41 am

Malick, bitches.

by **Al Shut** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:04 am

Cpt Kirks 2pay wrote:I honestly don't know much about all this. It seems like you'd need 2 directors really, or 2 directors in 1. It seems you need someone to know and do justice to the language and have a thorough biblical appreciation to bring the 'world' to convincing life.

Then you gotta have someone who can bring all those images and visuals which are said to be impossible to bring to the screen, TO the screen.

I'm not sure what you mean, can't that be described as one thing, transformonig the language of the poem in to fitting visuals?

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:12 am

Al Shut wrote:
Cpt Kirks 2pay wrote:I honestly don't know much about all this. It seems like you'd need 2 directors really, or 2 directors in 1. It seems you need someone to know and do justice to the language and have a thorough biblical appreciation to bring the 'world' to convincing life.

Then you gotta have someone who can bring all those images and visuals which are said to be impossible to bring to the screen, TO the screen.

I'm not sure what you mean, can't that be described as one thing, transformonig the language of the poem in to fitting visuals?

Kirkspeak - even more harder to read than Milton.

Even I dunno what I'm talknig about.

I meant 2 things, basically. 1. Milton's DIALOGUE. 2. Milton's VISUALS.

But as you said, also it can be Milton's words where he describes the images too. So yeah, 3. What you said.

With my bad text that no one can understand, I should make this movie.

by **Fried Gold** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:01 pm

TonyWilson wrote:Malick, bitches.

Word.

by **Seppuku** on Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:32 pm

Considering Malick's got a bunch of shit lined up already, you know who I think would be perfect for this? Jean-Jacques Annaud. Guy's name doesn't get name-dropped too much these days, but we're talking about the man behind the brilliant Sean Connery/Christian Slater monk murder mystery In The Name of the Rose here. Not to mention the teh underrated prehistoric homo sapien VS Neanderthal pic he did, Quest for Fire, and that movie starring a couple of bears (he's probably most recognised for Enemy at the Gates though). He'd nail the lyrical and spiritual side of Milton's novel, and I really can't think of anyone who does medieval better.

by **Al Shut** on Fri May 01, 2009 6:02 am

Now that would sound most interesting indeed

by **TheButcher** on Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:41 pm

From Variety:
Legendary Pictures dances geek to geek - Thomas Tull's golden touch rooted in love for genre fare

MARC GRASER wrote:Not surprisingly, the wish list of filmmakers he wants to work with includes Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, Quentin Tarantino and James Cameron.

From Coming Soon: What Is El Guerrero?

From First Showing:
Is Guillermo del Toro Involved with Legendary's Paradise Lost?

by **TheButcher** on Thu Sep 16, 2010 10:32 pm

From Collider:
Alex Proyas to Direct Adaptation of PARADISE LOST

by **TheButcher** on Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:37 am

Sydney Secures Alex Proyas' 'Paradise Lost' Shoot

Pip Bulbeck wrote:SYDNEY -- Director Alex Proyas’ take on John Milton’s classic 17th century poem, Paradise Lost will be made at Sydney’s Fox Studios, with Bradley Cooper confirmed in the role of Lucifer, Proyas said Wednesday with New South Wales acting premier Andrew Stoner.

The fantasy epic is being produced by Proyas, Legendary Pictures and Vincent Newman, Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film worldwide.

Paradise Lost concerns an epic war in heaven between archangels Michael and Lucifer.

The special effects-heavy feature involves more than 20 weeks of pre-production, eight weeks of principal photography and motion capture, and 72 weeks of post-production and visual effects work.

Stoner said Paradise Lost will bring an estimated AUS$88 million ($93 million) in production expenditure and an 1,300 jobs to NSW, including over $21.2 million expenditure and 200 jobs in the visual effects area.

While details of the incentives offered to Paradise Lost weren’t revealed, part of the deal includes for California-based digital effects house Digital Domain to establish a base in Sydney that will continue beyond the production of Paradise Lost.

The Australian government recently doubled its post, digital and visual effects incentive to a 30% rebate, while Proyas recently told local media that with the Australian dollar at record highs against the U.S. dollar “we would need to qualify for the [40%] producer offset to make it at all viable.”

Proyas said Wednesday “I’m delighted to have found such overwhelming support here in NSW for such a unique film offering unparalleled exposure for NSW cast and crew to the cutting edge technology that will be used in the making of Paradise Lost.”

"The production of Paradise Lost and Digital Domain's local presence will expose NSW visual effects and film professionals to unique and cutting edge film technologies and methods as well as to work on US studio-financed film projects,” Stoner added.

Proyas made Knowing in Melbourne in 2008.

The announcement came on the same day that leading local digital and visual effects house Rising Sun Pictures said it was starting up a production arm at its Adelaide base.

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:53 am

I LOVE THIS!! I think. Don't know much about Alex Proyas. And yeah, he better make this a theatrical play type look at the characters. CGI FX alone don't do it for me enough.

Haven't seen much of Bradley Cooper apart from thinking him a right gentleman in Wedding Crashers and seeing him get hit in the face and saying HELLOOO!! on the A - Team trailer, but from that and Googling his face and IMDBing his resume I think this is a brilliant bit of casting. He LOOKS the part, all piercing fierce and threatening (and was a successful hateful bastard in Wedding Crashers) but looks like he's got the charm and capable of creating sympathy. Looks like a diverse and talented guy, wonder if he'll be doing an accent and approaching Angel Lucifer with a Shakespearen touch and approach?

Anyway, what does anyone else think? Know much about this Alex Proyas?

by **Al Shut** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:25 pm

Can somebody less lazy and more verbose than me do me favor and write a 500 words rant about how a Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Don't worry it doesn't have to be based on any real or logical argument , just write it as it comes.

Uncalled attacks on Alex Proyas are welcome and it would be cool if the series LOST could be brought up for no apparent reason.

by **so sorry** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:40 pm

Al Shut wrote:Can somebody less lazy and more verbose than me do me favor and write a 500 words rant about how a Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Don't worry it doesn't have to be based on any real or logical argument , just write it as it comes.

Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Çount it.

by **TheButcher** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:41 pm

so sorry wrote:
Al Shut wrote:Can somebody less lazy and more verbose than me do me favor and write a 500 words rant about how a Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Don't worry it doesn't have to be based on any real or logical argument , just write it as it comes.

Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Çount it.

You forgot to mention the tv series lost.

by **so sorry** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:43 pm

TheButcher wrote:
so sorry wrote:
Al Shut wrote:Can somebody less lazy and more verbose than me do me favor and write a 500 words rant about how a Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot.

Don't worry it doesn't have to be based on any real or logical argument , just write it as it comes.

Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is an idiot. Paradise Lost movie is totally unnecessary, the end of western civilisation and everybody looking forward to it is dumb. LOST.

Çount it.

You forgot to mention the tv series lost.

Corrected.

by **Al Shut** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 1:44 pm

You missed the part where I sail 'less lazy than me'

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:09 pm

WELL I'D RATHER SEE THIS THAN SPIDERMAN REDUX!!!!!!!

HIS MOVIE IS ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO BE!! AND WHY ARE ALL SUCH HYPOCRITICAL gentlemen!

by **TheButcher** on Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:31 am

DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE:

Alex Proyas Setting Benjamin Walker To Play Archangel Michael In 'Paradise Lost'

MIKE FLEMING wrote: Legendary Pictures is negotiating with Benjamin Walker to play the archangel Michael in Paradise Lost, the action epic battle between good and evil that is inspired by the John Milton poem. Walker, who just wrapped the title role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, will go mano a mano against Bradley Cooper's Lucifer in what I'm told is the war that began all wars. After being cast out of Heaven, Lucifer mounts an army that battles the forces of good, and the film will have cutting-edge visual effects that will make these battles resemble 300 meets Lord of the Rings -- but with winged warriors. While Warner Bros is finalizing a release date, I'm told Paradise Lost is likely to reach theaters in fourth-quarter 2013.

Production will begin in January in Sydney, which will give Cooper time to star alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the David O Russell-directed The Silver Linings Playbook for The Weinstein Company.

I just spoke to Proyas, who is prepping the film in Australia and who created arresting visuals in I, Robot and Dark City. He acknowledges that Paradise Lost is a daunting challenge. Walker's deal isn't closed yet, but Proyas feels he's got two actors who'll represent the good vs. evil battle.

"It's not just armies battling in an epic war," Proyas told me. "This is an adventure about the origins of good and evil after Lucifer's rebellion gets him cast out of Heaven and leads to a struggle with his brother archangel over the soul of mankind, starting with Adam and Eve. That is the scope of the narrative here, and we've tried to say as faithful as possible to Milton's text, particularly its focus on Lucifer's evolution and the birth of evil. It's a family saga, about a group of brothers, two in particular, who are on divergent paths, and Lucifer's feelings of betrayal by his father and family that forge his descent into evil."

There are three major battle set pieces, Proyas said. One that takes place in Heaven, another in Hell, and a third in Eden. "I've sometimes thought that only an insane person would want to make this movie, because it's visually audacious and has to live up to a classic poem that is so beloved," Proyas said. "I don't think the visuals could have been done justice until now, which is the great fun of being a film director in this modern age of visual effects. Despite all those possibilities, the characters are what's most important. His deal isn't closed yet, but I think there's a wonderful duality about Ben's persona, this combination of great strength and perfect innocence that works so well for Michael. And Bradley is the most charming guy you'll ever meet, with this extraordinary charisma. Lucifer was the brightest and smartest of the archangels, and even as he descended into evil and evolved into Satan, he's not just some black-and-white villain. Bradley brings extraordinary depth to that journey."

This is a big get for Walker, who appeared in smaller roles in films like Flags of Our Fathers and Kinsey before winning the role of the 16th president in Fox's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the Timur Bekmambetov-directed adaptation of Seth Grahame Smith's Gothic revisionist novel that will be released by Fox on June 22, 2012. Paradise Lost puts Walker squarely in the mix of top young actors. Walker is repped by WME and Inspire Entertainment.

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:49 am

I'm totally jazed for this moobee! Love that it's going ahead for real now. Though I have limited knowledge of these actors. What do you guys think of them for these roles? I wonder if a more Shakespearen casting should have been?

by **TheButcher** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:08 am

STUNNER! Legendary Pictures Postpones January Start Of Alex Proyas-Directed ‘Paradise Lost’

MIKE FLEMING wrote:EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Pictures has halted plans to begin production early next year on Paradise Lost, the epic-sized Alex Proyas-directed film about the battle between good and evil that is inspired by the John Milton poem. Bradley Cooper had been set to play Lucifer, Benjamin Walker to play the archangel Michael, and Diego Boneta playing Adam and Camilla Belle Eve, with a host of other actors lined up for the action epic. I’m told that the film isn’t scrapped; rather, Legendary’s Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and producer Vincent Newman will continue developing it to rework a budget that had passed the $120 million mark by 10% or 15%. The picture has crewed up for an Australia shoot and the talent and below the line is learning about the postponement right now. Films including Moneyball and American Gangster had their plugs pulled within a month of production and bounced back, but it is always a shock when a large film has its start date scratched so close to production, even if it is temporary.

I’m told by insiders that this process is being likened to The Lone Ranger, which Disney had originally scheduled to begin production last fall, until Deadline revealed that it had been unplugged abruptly, with Disney threatening to scrap it because the studio feared the budget would turn into a runaway train and could sail past $150 million. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski labored to bring down those costs through changes in the script and they and Johnny Depp made adjustments in their deals to bring the film down to around $115 million. In the cast of Paradise Lost, there is so much green screen work and VFX that the budget looked to be getting unwieldy. They will try to rework those costs and possibly get the film into production by the late spring or early summer. Awaiting a response from Legendary Pictures, but several sources have confirmed the postponement.

by **TonyWilson** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:32 am

Bradley Cooper as Lucifer - Rrrrrreally?
:lol:

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:22 am

Well I don't mind his casting that much, from what little I know of him. Not sure if he has the Shakespearen style weight I would have thought this movie to need.

Nevertheless I am kinda glad this has been delayed, hoping it may even be scrapped, as Alex Proyas's Knowing was shit, this cast don't scream 'classic thespian actor' like LOTR had and I overall just don't get the feeling that this film is getting the solid sincere treatment it needs.

by **TonyWilson** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:46 am

Knowing is fantastically batshit mental. I won't have a word said against it.

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:47 pm

TonyWilson wrote:Knowing is fantastically batshit mental. I won't have a word said against it.

Based on that and it's unconvincing effects and even a similar performance from Nic Cage, do you really think that this is evidence that the director of this film should make Paradise Lost?

by **TheButcher** on Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:03 am

From Deadline:
‘Arthur & Lancelot’ Movie In Warner Bros Budget Crisis: Projected $130M Cost Too High

MIKE FLEMING wrote:EXCLUSIVE:
Legendary Pictures’ Paradise Lost isn’t the only film being readied on the Warner Bros lot to face a budget crisis. Arthur & Lancelot, the David Dobkin script that Warner Bros paid $2 million to acquire last summer, won’t get made unless the budget drops dramatically. I’m told that even though Warner Bros dated the film for a March 15, 2013 release and cast Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington to play Arthur and The Killing‘s Joel Kinnaman to play Lancelot, the back and forth on budget has gotten to the point that the studio has invited Dobkin to set the picture up elsewhere if he can. I’ve heard that what started as a $90 million (other sources said Warners would make it for $110 million) contemporary style re-imagining of the Sword And The Stone tale has a budget the studio fears could reach $130 million. The studio feels that is just too much for a movie with two unproven leads. After the year’s wild box office swings and last weekend’s paltry performance, who can blame Warner Bros for being cautious?

It is obviously a Warner Bros goal to tell the story of Arthur, Lancelot and the Knights of the Roundtable, because the Dobkin spec supplanted two others that the studio had in development. The studio is keen to see through Dobkin’s version of the film (the spec deal allowed Dobkin to take it elsewhere if he and Warner Bros disagreed), but I’ve heard that if Arthur & Lancelot doesn’t figure it out, Ritchie might once again be trying to pull the sword out of the stone. His Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows opens Friday and is expected to shake the box office out of its recent doldrums. Warner Bros recently gave Ritchie and his new producing partner Lionel Wigram The Man From U.N.C.L.E., after halting the version that Steven Soderbergh was working on because the studio didn’t like the budget and the casting after George Clooney dropped out.

This budget crisis news follows last night’s news that Legendary’s Paradise Lost has been halted from starting production in January because the large amount of green screen visual effects in the epic battle of good and evil swelled the $120 million budget by 10%-15%. Legendary, which has Bradley Cooper and Benjamin Walker starring, is now looking at May or later to start production in Australia on the Alex Proyas-directed film, which Warner Bros will distribute.

2011 has been a year of studios moving warily on green lights even at the risk of alienating cornerstone producers, directors and stars. Disney halted the Johnny Depp-Armie Hammer-starrer The Lone Ranger until director Gore Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer figured out how to take a budget upwards of $250 million down to $215 million. Universal jettisoning an ambitious adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series that Ron Howard was to direct with Javier Bardem starring, with three feature films and two TV series runs planned. More shocking was Universal’s decision to unplug At the Mountains of Madness, the Guillermo del Toro-directed adaptation of the HP Lovecraft tale that had Tom Cruise poised to star, because Universal would not make a $150 million horror film without a guarantee from the director that it would be PG-13 and not R rated.

Other Knights Of The Roundtable projects previously considered by WB was a remake of the 1981 John Boorman pic Excalibur that had Bryan Singer attached; there was a version that Sherlock Holmes helmer Guy Ritchie was working on with Trainspotting scribe John Hodge. There is also a Harry Potter-style take being produced by Donald DeLine that isn’t really impacted by any of this. Warner Bros would not comment on the Arthur & Lancelot situation.

by **TheBaxter** on Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:12 am

am i the only one who thinks some of these budget battles might actually be a good thing? it's not like the extra $20 or $30 million dollars the spend on these movies actually make them any better. back when guys like spielberg and lucas had to scrap and scrape for money to make their films, they had to get more creative to work around those cost issues, and we got some great films as a result. nowadays, you give these same guys unlimited budgets and you get bloated crap like the prequels or that crystal skull movie. i think forcing filmmakers back into that lean-and-mean style of filmmaking might actually produce better movies.

by **Cpt Kirks 2pay** on Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:09 pm

Dunno dude. From what I gather about this story, it does call for big full scale battles, but the likes and imagery that we haven't seen, find hard to imagine, and quite frankly is impossible to film. Not sure if it can be done without CG execution or without the bigger budget that it may require, even if you do get resourceful on it's ass and do a Jaws with a cheaper budget, this would be satisfying to the source material or not. I mean, we're talking about the war that takes place in the eternity of HEAVEN!! Makes LOTR battles look like ant hives attacking each other.

Plus 120 x 30% still isn't that overexpensive a budget. I think it's rather modest for a film of this size/kind. Plus I think that this will make big Box Office anyway.

by **TheButcher** on Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:22 pm

Bradley Cooper Says 'Paradise Lost' Is On Track To Start Shooting In June

by **TheButcher** on Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:16 pm

‘Paradise Lost’ Scrapped By Legendary Pictures

MIKE FLEMING wrote:EXCLUSIVE:
The big budget film Paradise Lost, which was slated to start shooting January but was pushed till early summer, has been scrapped, I’m told. The epic-sized Alex Proyas-directed film about the battle between good and evil inspired by the John Milton poem was to star Bradley Cooper to play Lucifer, Benjamin Walker to play the archangel Michael, and Diego Boneta playing Adam and Camilla Belle Eve, with a host of other actors lined up for the action epic.

Legendary made the decision after trying to bring the cost of the movie down to $120 million, tops. The producer/financier spent low eight figures to get this far, but had never green lit the film and therefore should not be on the hook for pay or play talent deals. It is possible that the film could return down the line, as Best Picture nominee Moneyball, American Gangster and some other pictures have done after being scrapped just short of a production start. But Paradise Lost might be halted for awhile, until technological advancements in visual effects bring to a reasonable cost the task of creating a believable depiction of the celestial battles that are at the heart of this film. It was too rich for Legendary’s blood even though the company scoured every way possible to find a way to be grand but disciplined.

This was all about visual effects, unfortunately. That was the reason the film was halted late last year. Back then, I was told the film wasn’t scrapped; rather, Legendary’s Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and producer Vincent Newman continued developing it to rework a budget that had passed the $120 million mark by 10% or 15%. The picture had crewed up for an Australia shoot and those people were told to go home.

When Deadline broke that story about the first postponement, it came at the same time that Legendary’s distribution partner Warner Bros unplugged the David Dobkin-directed Arthur & Lancelot because the film was going to cost at least $130 million, and Warner Bros didn’t want to spend a dime more than $110 million, particularly since the film starred newcomers Joel Kinnaman and Kit Harington. The studio also slowed the pace of Akira by shuttering Vancouver production office, and letting lapse the test options deals it had with Dane DeHaan and Michael Pitt. Both actors had been competing for the lead role of Tetsuo, to star alongside Garrett Hedlund, Kristin Stewart, and potentially Ken Watanabe and Helena Bonham Carter. Neither film was greenlit, with production slated on Akira slated to begin March 5. I’ve heard Arthur & Lancelot cost Warner Bros $2 million for the script and maybe another $8 million in other costs, and Dobkin has been shopping the script to other studios.

Going back to Deadline’s exclusive revelation that Disney had unplugged The Lone Ranger last year, threatening to scrap the movie unless a budget of $250 million was trimmed to around $215 million despite the presence of global superstar Johnny Deep, these kinds of hard decisions are becoming more commonplace as studios struggle with rising costs of tent poles. The films involved ranged from the Ron Howard-directed adaptation of Stephen King’s novel series The Dark Tower that was to star Javier Bardem, and At the Mountains of Madness, which Guillermo Del Toro was ready to direct with Tom Cruise. While it seemed like Paradise Lost had the potential to be a movie with cool factor approaching The Matrix, for now, at least, Paradise Lost is the latest casualty in the struggle between creative ambition and fiscal discipline.

by **so sorry** on Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:23 pm

If this is true then DAMN! I was looking forward to it...

by **TheBaxter** on Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:00 pm

TheButcher wrote:Going back to Deadline’s exclusive revelation that Disney had unplugged The Lone Ranger last year, threatening to scrap the movie unless a budget of $250 million was trimmed to around $215 million despite the presence of global superstar Johnny Deep, these kinds of hard decisions are becoming more commonplace as studios struggle with rising costs of tent poles.

they got it wrong. the lone ranger starred johnny DEPP. johnny DEEP is the star of the pr0n version, The Bone Ranger.

by **TheButcher** on Thu Jun 15, 2017 10:33 pm

Martin Freeman’s PARADISE LOST TV Series Will Be Like A “Biblical GAME OF THRONES”
Yes, THAT Martin Freeman.

SCOTT WAMPLER wrote:Hollywood's been keen on getting a Paradise Lost adaptation off the ground for some time now (you may recall Alex Proyas' taking a run at the project all the way back in 2012, with Bradley Cooper playing Lucifer), but time and again the property has proven a tough nut to crack.

Now there's a new adaptation in the works - a TV series, no less - and it's coming to us from a most unexpected source: Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), who will executive produce the series alongside Dancing Ledge CEO Laurence Bowen. The pair are currently shopping the project around to networks and looking for writers, and - from the sound of things - they have some very definite ideas about what the show should be like.

Says Bowen (as quoted by The Playlist, via Screen Daily):

“Paradise Lost is like a biblical Games of Thrones transporting the reader into an internecine world of political intrigue and incredible violence. At stake? The future of mankind. There’s never been a better time for (a) big, original, bold drama series, and Martin and I both feel incredibly inspired by the material.”

For those who aren't aware, John Milton's Paradise Lost "retells the biblical story of the fall of man, with Satan tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden", and is generally considered one of the greatest works of literature ever produced. Pitching it as a sweeping, Game Of Thrones-esque TV series is actually a pretty clever move. This could be very interesting.

Freeman, meanwhile, is not yet confirmed to star in the series, but seems excited to give the Devil a soundtrack:

"Paradise Lost is epic, exciting and surprisingly modern. And maybe, for the first time, the devil gets all the best tunes!”

Nothing further to report at this time, but we'll obviously be keeping a close eye on this one and updating you as needed. In the meantime: what do you guys make of all this? Think this approach will work? Still mourning the death of Alex Proyas' version? Sound off in the comments below.