Exploring the Land of the Lost
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He Who Laughs Last is Lost in the Land The Land of the Lost movie is in post-production. Directed by Brad Silberling (Lemony Snicket) from a script by Dennis McNicholas (The Ladies Man) and Chris Henchy (Entourage), the film stars Will Ferrell as Rick Marshall, Danny McBride as Will, Anna Friel as Holly and Jorma Toccone as Chaka. Scheduled to be released June 5, 2009. Estimated budget was $100 million. It's being called an adventure-comedy and LOTL fans have long been upset at the casting of Ferrell which will likely turn the formerly sober and capable patriarch role of Rick Marshall into a bumbling buffoon. Still, Ferrell is reputed to be a big fan of the original show so maybe he'll want to retain some dignity to the character and cut back on his usual slapstick. Then again, Universal Pictures' website refers to the character as having "questionable smarts" and describes the Land of the Lost as "a place of spectacular sights and super-scaled comedy." Wonderful, just frakking wonderful. :( |
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In the film, Rick Marshall is a disgraced paleontologist trying to prove his far-out theories about pre-historic life. Along with his research assistant, Holly and a survivalist named Will Stanton (that's right, Marshall, Will and Holly are no longer related) are sucked into a time-space vortex to the Land of the Lost where they encounter dinosaurs, Sleestak and Chaka. I actually don't mind the change to the family dynamic and the idea of Rick Marshall being a paleontologist (instead of a park ranger as in the show) is a neat idea. The Sleestaks also look very cool, instantly recognizable as based on the original creatures but with the costumes much more detailed and realistic; they also shoot spines from their skin instead of carrying those pathetic crossbow thingies they used in the series...hopefully their aim has improved as well! Come back often, I will frequently be adding links to articles and photos about the film. |
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ENIK REVEALED!! I like the movie Sleestak design better than the movie Altrusian. Here he looks to "buff and horny"...but it might work. John Boylan portrays the legendary Altrusian scientist. I really hope they got a voice like the one used by Walker Edmiston when he portrayed Enik in the series. Huge shoutout to Eric Erpelding for providing the scan! |
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An anonymous Lostie sent me a summary of a 10/31/07 revision of the Land of the Lost movie script. It appears the summary was originally posted on the Inland Empire Strikes Back website (hi, guys--I live in the Inland Empire myself!) but was removed some time ago "as a courtesy to Universal Pictures"...which basically means they were told to by Universal or their attorneys. So I think I'll refrain from posting the script summary here, but I did find it still on one forum, so you may want to do a search for it. Reading the review, my worst fears seem to be realized...the script appears to be just as goofy as I'd hoped it WOULDN'T be; though as a Will Farrell flick, admittedly, there wasn't much hope of that. But there are some cool elements in it as well that would have made a pretty cool story in a more dramatic presentation (including homages to scenes from various episodes of the series from both first and second season). It also has a dramatic twist in it I DON'T like, involving a character we're all familiar with, but I won't spoil it for you. And though the script review is not specific, I get the impression that the Pakuni are not ape-like proto-humans, but just a primitive tribe of humans...unless the character of Will is into beastiality because there is a mention of him being in heaven, surrounded by beautiful Pakuni women! |
Will Ferrell discusses the special effects of the Land of the Lost movie.
Check out this awesome high-res version of the Sleestak photo above from Latino Review!
Ferrell and McKay on Land of the Lost - Talladega Nights director Adam McKay says he almost directed LOTL
Ferrell, McKay Reminisce About ‘Land Of The Lost’ Shoot, Killing Puppies
'Land of the Lost' shifts to June
Land of the Lost Image Needles Farrell With a Sleestak
It seems the author of the above linked article didn't do any research to refresh his memory of the show and find the details of the upcoming film. He makes the somewhat common mistake of referring to Enik as an evolved Sleestak from the future (real Losties know Enik's from the past). As for his details of the movie, he seems to believe that Marshall, Will and Holly are still related and that Rick Marshall is still a forest ranger (in the film he'll be an archaeologist and Will and Holly his unrelated assistant and guide). He also apparently has not seen the Sleestak photos that have been released and that the Enik picture recently released depicts how the Sleestak will look as well.
Slapstick With Sleestaks In New Land Of The Lost
Sid and Marty Krofft's 'Land of the Lost' to hit the big screen
Land of the Lost Movie Interview - Sid & Marty Krofft SDCC 08 - Another Sid and Marty video interview
Land of the Lost Movie Interview - Brad Silberling SDCC 08 - Another video interview with Brad Silberling
Land of the Lost Movie Interview - Jorma Taccone SDCC 08 - Chaka!
Land of the Lost Movie Interview - Anna Friel SDCC 08 - Holly!
Movie Swag: 'Land of the Lost' T-Shirt and Singing
Box
See an AWESOME looking press kit for the film, including Sleestak
t-shirt!
Kitschy 'Land of the Lost' gets a modern makeover
LAND OF THE LOST Movie Begins Shooting
featuring some fairly spirited feedback from readers
Diablo Cody
Visits 'Land of the Lost'
First Look at the Sleestak
'Pushing Daisies'' Anna Friel Starring in 'Land of the Lost'
Will
Ferrell's 'Land of the Lost' is found
From Cinescape:
Sony Snags
Krofft Series
Sony Entertainment
is continuing to move forward with acquisitions that they seem intent on turning
into movie franchises, the latest of which are two old cult favorite TV shows
created by Sid and Marty Krofft: H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost.
According to Variety, the properties were picked up from the programs’ creators for an amount in the high-six figures. In addition, both projects are being placed on the fast track and will be developed as live-action feature films. An unnamed source tells the trade that both projects are "open writing assignments." The Krofft brothers will act as producers on the films.
H.R. Pufnstuf was a live-action kids show that appeared in the late ‘60s on the NBC TV Network’s Saturday morning kid vid offering. The program told the story of a young boy named Jimmy who finds himself trapped on Living Island, a place where virtually everything is alive (courtesy of some outlandish costumes). Jimmy also has a gold flute that is alive named Freddie, something which is desired by the island’s witch, Witchiepoo. The only thing that stops the witch’s attempts to steal the flute is the island’s mayor, a multi-colored friendly dragon with a country twang voice whose name is Pufnstuf, and the other good residents of the island. Truly, only the ‘60s could have spawned something this strange.
Meanwhile, The Land of the Lost is more familiar terrain, though still very strange. Launched in the ‘70s, also for NBC Saturday morning fare, the series told the ongoing adventures of the Marshall family; a father and his two kids; who fall into an other-dimensional world where dinosaurs still live alongside various bizarre and/or threatening creatures, most prominent of which are the hissing reptilian Sleestaks. Beyond just surviving, the stories followed the family as they learned the strange science involved in this pocket universe as well as their attempts to find a way out and back home.
Way back in April, 1998, Variety reported that scribes Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Man on the Moon) were interested in Pufnstuf. Wonder if they’re still thinking about a return to Living Island?
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