'Star Trek 3' Writers Are Working on New Version of 'Flash Gordon'?
When the comedy Ted hit theaters in 2012, we got a taste of Flash Gordon all over again, albeit in the form of coked up 80s film star Sam Jones. But now it looks like the hero who was given his own sci-fi film and turned into a cult classic (with a catch theme song from Queen) will be given a facelift for an all-new adaptation on the big screen. Over the years, there have been a few attempts to rework Flash Gordon, and now another try is coming together with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the duo behind the script for Star Trek 3, developing the hopeful project that is currently striking a deal for studio home. More below!
Payne and McKay are relatively unknown writers, but they've gotten work after writing an adaptation of Boilerplate for Bad Robot and also a stylistic take on the Biblical tale of Goliath. None of their scripts have been turned into feature films yet, but their writing has certainly turned some heads. This new version is said to go back to the core of the comic strips by Alex Raymond from 80 years ago. FilmDivider has the report, and say the new version will "reclaim Flash Gordon from his current reputation in the way that Tim Burton redirected the public conception of Batman."
Flash Gordon has become a staple, campy 80s movie, but the hero is worth so much more than a punchline. There's a whole generation who don't even know who Flash Gordon is, and now would be the perfect time to turn him into the respected sci-fi serial hero that our parents and grandparents loved when they were kids. With all the success Marvel has had, and the plans to head into the stars with Guardians of the Galaxy, audiences should be ready to accept a new version of Flash Gordon very soon. But we'll have to wait and see if this iteration actually gets off the ground. Do you want a new Flash Gordon?