Monday, February 05, 2007

Levy to Direct The Flash

Warner Bros. has announced that Shawn Levy will be assuming the directorial duties on The Flash. The news, reported this morning by The Hollywood Reporter and Superhero Hype, swiftly follows David S. Goyer's revelation that he will no longer be involved with the project. Though Levy is best known for directing comedies, such as the recent box office hit Night at the Museum, the announcement indicates that The Flash will be approached as a serious superhero saga. That being said, Warner Bros. is also indicating that creative disputes with Goyer may have involved a debate over the film's tone; with Levy in the director's chair, The Flash will reportedly be lighter than other superhero epics. We can only hope that decisions regarding the film's tone and style will be inspired by those creative elements that have ensured the comic book adventures are so fondly remembered.

Shawn Levy has stepped on board to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' The Flash, the big-screen adaptation of the DC Comics speedster hero. Levy's decision to get involved in the project is his first move since the successful release of his Night at the Museum, a $225 million boxoffice smash.Charles Roven and Alex Gartner are producing Flash. It is believed that Levy will act in a producing capacity as well.Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in 1940. In comics lore, there have been four incarnations of the scarlet speedster, who has remained one of DC's most popular characters. He has the ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and violate certain laws of physics, like time travel. David Goyer, who co-wrote Batman Begins for Warners, had been attached to write, direct and produce a screen adaptation. But Goyer quietly left the project several months ago, though it was not until Friday that he announced his departure on his MySpace page...

Sources said that Levy, who before Museum had been known for such comedies as Cheaper by the Dozen and The Pink Panther, has no intention of making Flash a comedy but is aiming for a lighter movie than previous Warners comic book adaptations, such as Batman Begins and Superman Returns. Goyer's Flash also had been dark-themed. Levy will oversee the writing of the new draft, and it is believed elements of Goyer's script will be used in the development process.

7 comments:

West said...

Hopefully "lighter tone" won't translate into "Jack Black IS The Flash!"

It's sad that I even have to be concerned about them pulling such a stunt.

Dixon said...

Sad, but true. Based on this move, I think we're going to have to worry about the film's tone and content until the release reveals just what direction Levy's taken The Flash in. Keep your fingers crossed!

rob! said...

ugggghhh. box office success MUST MEAN you're a good director!

this will be the DC version of The Fantastic Four--silly n' stupid. Superman the Movie had a "light" tone, but every director ive ever seen say his movie will be "light" means bathroom humor and stupid one-liners.

ugggghhh.

Dixon said...

I sincerely hope you're proven wrong, Rob, but at the moment my thoughts echo your own. In other words, "Ugggghhh!"

rob! said...

i hope i'm wrong too. i'd love to see a good Flash movie!

the thing that tipped it for me was that Night at the Museum is such a huge hit, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN the director--who's never directed anything remotely resembling a superhero/action movie--gets tapped to do it.

i'm all for broadening one's artistic horizons, but this just seems like classic "his movies make money, so they must be good--just like Brett Ratner!" thinking.

or non-thinking.

foxy1343 said...

i really hope this movie is good. and i hope that Ryan Reynolds plays the flash. if it isn't my brother is going to get really pissed. i'm mean like look over your shoulder Mr. Levy. seriously. also, i would like to say that an up-and-comer named danny mcsweeny would be an excellent director for the flash movie. no offense mr. levy, but "a light tone" and the flash just don't mix!

Quaid said...

This sucks man, Levy has only made comedy movies his whole freakin career.Lets face it this Flash movie is gonna be aimed for the kids for more profits not for the fans.Well if Ryan Reynolds is there its gonna be 'lighter' alright i just hope Levy dosen't make it anymore 'lighter' than Night at the Museum.You got the point Rob.