With Hall H missing many of its regular film panels at San Diego Comic-Con this year due to the strike, what did get in turned into more of an event than usual – such as Collider’s Directors on Directing panel.
The panel hosted three filmmakers with films in cinemas this year – Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Haunted Mansion”), Louis Leterrier (“Transporter 2,” “Fast X”) and Gareth Edwards (“Godzilla,” “The Creator”).
As was inevitable during such a panel, the trio were asked what property they would like to adapt for film. Turns out the answers were quite varied.
For Simien, he wants to remake 1978 cult classic “The Wiz,” the musical retelling of The Wizard of Oz which starred Diana Ross as Dorothy alongside Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Mabel King, and Richard Pryor. He explains why:
“I want to make The Wiz so bad. Oh my God, I want to make it so bad. The Wiz was the first movie I ever saw, so by the time I saw The Wizard of Oz, I didn’t understand why they made a white version of The Wiz.
So my vision of the film was a Black-centric universe with Quincy Jones music. It’s a really disturbing movie to watch as an adult, but that’s one I’d love to do. That Emerald City sequence? Y’all ain’t ready for what I’ve got prepared.”
A flop at the time, “The Wiz” has had a loyal fanbase in the years since, and NBC’s 2015 live revival was a big success.
For Leterrier, an adaptation of Epic Games’ massive, sprawling multiplayer title “Fortnite,” a game that is a whole industry in and of itself, is his big wish:
“I know it won’t happen, so I’ll say it. I don’t care. I would love to do a Fortnite movie. [That[ would be amazing… Because the game is incredible. The characters… I mean, there’s so much more to be told. It’d be funny. It would be full of action and everything.”
“Fortnite” has more than 250 million average monthly players, while more than 25 million players use the game daily.
Edwards meanwhile remained quiet and cryptic, saying there is an IP he plans to work on:
“[I’ve already] contacted the people. I know the people that own the IP. I’m trying to do it. I say it out loud it won’t happen, so I’m gonna keep that bit quiet.”
Leterrier’s “Fast X” is on digital now, Simien’s “Haunted Mansion” opens this Friday, and Edwards’ “The Creator” releases September 29th.
Source: Collider