He-Man and the Masters of the Universe find home at Columbia

He-Man may have found a new home.

Just weeks after “Masters of the Universe” parted ways with Warner Bros., the Mattel toy property is in negotiations to be preemptively picked up by Columbia with Escape Artists attached to produce.

After months of deal-wrangling, Warners picked up “Universe” in 2007, hiring several writers and earlier this year set John Stevenson to direct. The two companies eventually began seeing two opposing visions for the movie and when the option came up, both sides decided to let it lapse.

Stevenson is no longer attached and the project would be built from the ground up.

The 1980s show, named “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” followed a blond warrior named Prince Adam who, when uttering the magic words, "By the power of Grayskull -- I have the power," turned into the heroic He-Man. He and his allies -- Battle Cat, Man-at-Arms and Orko -- defended their planet Eternia from the evil forces of Skeletor, who tried week after week to conquer the fortress Castle Grayskull, which imbued He-Man with his powers.

Run by partners Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, Escape Artists’ credits include “The Taking of Pelham 123,” “Knowing” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

On Wednesday, Universal picked up another Mattel property, bringing Barbie to the big screen. Go to THR.com to vote for the actress that would make the best live-action Barbie.

Comments

[GFT]

HE-MAN heading to Columbia is a logically sound business decision.

Again, there are Many, Many, Many creative opportunities to explore concerning how to present HE-MAN to a 21st Century movie going audience.

James Cameron's enthusiasm over AVATAR's production design pretty much sums up the tempo for fantasy-film presentation at least in the early part of the 21St Century--3-D LIVE-ACTION with an emphasis on Computer Graphics Images.

AND By about 2020 we'll be seeing early stages of HOLOGRAPHIC THEATER presentations where audiences will be looking down at HOLOGRAMS of actors in a coliseum-theater setting.

(At the "CRATER Civil War exhibit" near Petersburg, VA there is an "inset-dais" where tourists can look down into a dias to see the action in a quasi-holographic form.

NEVERTHELESS, HE-MAN for Columbia has the POTENTIAL to do terrific box office HOWEVER . . . Columbia also "did" LAST ACTION HERO, STARMAN, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (remake), and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (and is currently "doing" THE GREEN HORNET), films that appear to be sure-fire hits yet miss their mark.

IN ABSTRACT TERMS
The studios remind me of the TV networks: NBC has one aptitude for success, ABC has its own aptitude of success, and CBS has another aptitude for success; like, you'll never see RADIERS OF THE LOST ARK released though Columbia, or THE EXORCIST released through Columbia; Columbia's a little like the UNITED ARTISTS of old who passed-up FRIDAY THE 13TH for ROLLER BOOGIE (with Linda Blair) in 1980.

FRIDAY THE 13th is a Paramount picture; Roller Boggie would be a little like a Columbia picture. Even with the HAMMER FILMS, Columbia released CURSE OF THE MUMMY’S TOMB and REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN as opposed to seizing the opportunity to release HORROR OF DRACULA and CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Columbia never seems to reach full potential no matter who’s in the Captain’s Chair—I’m sure the CEO of Columbia today is not the same CEO Columbia had in 1966 when HAMMER FILMS were in fasion. Yet, Columbia still makes so-so descisions no matter who the CEO is (Columbia for instance rejected ET THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL and made STARMAN instead and lost potential money and public recognition)

Maybe COLUMBIA could hire some people away from Universal, Warner Bros., and Paramount and give them free-reign to produce HE-MAN like a non-Columbia, Columbia picture.

IN MORE ABSTRACT TERMS
A Time Magazine reviewer wrote that the remake of CAPE FEAR was Martin Scorsese doing A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET; with HE-MAN, Columbia needs to do a Universal Picture in order to earn Columbia big Universal or Paramount box office earnings.

[BigKev45]

I have the POWERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheRude]

I always found it funny that Prince Adam turning into HE-MAN simply involved him taking off his shirt and lowering his voice. What's even more amusing is that no one else could figure out that Adam was HE-MAN even though HE-MAN's face was never concealed. How many other blond haired dudes that hang out with green tigers do they know? Guess Eternians are just really stupid people. At least SHE-RA had a head dress and a different hair-do.

Also... as disturbing it is to say this, the Sorceress is HAWT!

[calvin crack]

listen, it just so happens that one of the funniest videos of all time is a he-man parody. even if you didnt watch the cartoon (i didn't) this is still hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Nc8RCLy1s

for this reason alone i cant wait for the hilarity that will be a he-man movie

[rose]

if you want a good funny story on he-man check out this article on the naming & branding blog 'on the button.' enjoy: http://onthebutton.wordpress.com/2009/10/01/he-man/

[valentines day]

Nice Post I must say. He-Man was my favourite comic character. It reminds me my childhood. Truly great story I must say.