The Harry Potter Spinoff Movie

So I believe I may have whinged about originality being dead in Hollywood on this blog a couple of months ago. That sentiment still stands. There's just so many movie adaptations hitting the big screen it's just not funny ... it probably is very funny (hilarious, even) to those being paid the big bucks for these adaptations though. 

But there it is; there's very little reason to read these days. Why bother when in a couple of years it'll be a massive blockbuster (and possibly destroying your favourite characters in the process)?

Still, all that didn't stop me getting super excited when I read about the upcoming Harry Potter spinoff that is going to hit the big screen in the near future. The Harry Potter fan girl inside of me squealed so loudly at this news. 

The best bit about this spinoff is that it's based on the life and Adventures of Newt Scamander. For those of you who aren't hardcore Harry Potter fans, Newt Scamander is the author of one of Harry's school books, Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them. The only mention of him in the books is only in the first book when Harry is first getting his school books (that is purely from memory, and I could be way off on this). 

So while Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them is a spinoff it's going to be a whole new story. It's something we haven't read or seen before ... kind of. I'm sure you're all aware about there only being so many stories etc etc. It's going to be a new character set seventy or so years earlier in a world that we already know and love. And the best part is that J.K.Rowling will be writing the script herself. Yep, there's going to be that same old Rowling magic to the movie and we can see if she can write movie scripts (because let's face it, she can write well even if the subject matter isn't to your liking). Then there's a fact that Rowling loves this character and had already created a rich back story for Newt Scamander. This isn't just Warner Bros and Rowling to cash in and trying to earn some more money from the Harry Potter franchise (well, ok, that's probably exactly what Warner Bros is trying to do). Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them should actually prove to be a great movie that doesn't have to rely on expensive special effects to be a hit. Kind of like The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings. 

So yeah, I'm super excited about this spinoff. But I'm also wondering if we can expect a similar Quidditch Through the Ages spinoff in a few years time and that'll work story wise. I mean, a Quidditch movie would be awesome. But not if it's going to have to be documentary style. 

The important thing to remember is that the Harry Potter franchise isn't dead yet. There's clearly possibilities for spinoffs, and Warner Bros is definitely exploring those options. 

Peace out,

Fox. 

Is Originality Dead in Hollywood?

I  don't know if you've noticed this but creativity seems to be dead in Hollywood, especially in the movie industry. 

You've probably noticed this. 

It isn't exactly that hard to miss. 

After all, everything released in cinemas in the last decade are adaptations of books/comics (apparently every single best seller must be converted into a movie, otherwise it's not really a best seller), or it's a sequel or a prequel to an already existing movie. There's even been a few remakes/reboots. 

Nothing too original in the top blockbusters of the last 13 years. I mean there's the odd completely original movie in there. But they're a rare thing. They're mostly just adaptations, sequels/prequels or reboots. And I'm getting sick of it. For a start, it's making me lazy: there really isn't point reading the book if it's going to end up on the big screen in a couple of years anyway. Or the movie turns out to be a massive let down, because the original was better or the original story was butchered in the adaptation (which I guess also fits into the whole "the original was better" argument). Don't even get me started on sequels. They're pretty much hit and miss, which is better than prequels, which usually suck. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving all the Marvel movies, and the latest Batman movies (but not superman. Never really been a Superman fan), and I am looking forward to seeing Catching Fire movie later this year (even if none of the tributes except Finnick look anything like I imagined them [anothet issue with adaptations]). And I'm also really looking forward to the Veronica Mars movie, and I really want Captain Planet to be made into a movie (if only so a whole new generation can experience the awesomeness of Captain Planet). 

But what I really want to see happening again is movies that aren't some kind of adaptation, sequel or prequel or a remake. You know, something that's vaguely original. 

Unfortunately, though, originality seems to have left mainstream culture these days. Although, I suppose that's a good thing for all those struggling indie writers. They're now getting more of a chance at success. Or, at least, they will once people start tiring of all of the unoriginal movies being presented in mainstream cinemas. 

Or maybe it's just me with this issue. Let me know what you think. 

Peace out!

Fox

Will There Be A Justice League 2015 Movie?

Ok so let me begin with something everyone already knows: the sequel for Man of Steel is set to go ahead before the actual Man of Steel has even been released. Old news. As is the news (it can't really be called news if it's news to no one) that Zach Snyder, Christopher Nolan and David Goyer will be returning with the sequel. 

This has sparked speculation about whether or not the Man of Steel sequel is a sign that there'll be a Justice League movie. A sign that DC Comics is going to follow in Marvel's footsteps and develop a movie franchise. After all, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are some of the most famous superheroes around. 

Except there isn't too much online on whether or not there'll be a Justice League movie in the near future. Just a lot of speculation. As well as a little bit of heresay and conjecture (which are arguably the best kinds of evidence there is). Nothing solid. 

There being no Justice League movie seems just as likely as there being a movie. 

And then there was that announcement last week about the possibility of the Man of Steel sequel hitting the big screen as early as next year. That's certainly thrown some fuel into the speculation mill: why else announce a sequel before the original has even hit the big screen, especially in the such near future (did that make sense?)? 

Apart from creating a massively high stress work environment for everyone involved. 

So while we're still without any kind of solid evidence (which are overrated) about there being a Justice League movie. 

But then, there's also the whole "there's already a team of superheroes" in Hollywood thing. Is there really room for another team that is very similar?

Yeah, ok based on Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down, there is room for two different superhero teams in Hollywood. Although (and this is just my personal belief) that would just be sad and a sure sign that creativity in Hollywood is dead. Really dead. 

But it turns out that there might have been a Justice League movie on the cards back in 2008 when a Wonder Woman movie almost hit the big screen. There's rumours that that movie was the precursor to a Justice League movie. But that never happened because, you know, the writer's strike, which is a shame because Megan Gale would've rocked as Wonder Woman. Don't get me wrong, the writer's strike was important and for a good reason, it just makes me sad when I read about all the awesome movies and TV programs that we missed out on as a result (I should just stop looking back in the past, I guess). 

And just think about it, if that Wonder Woman movie had've gone ahead it could've been the Justice League we all flocked to the cinemas to see past year. Or we could've flocked to the cinemas twice to see two different superhero teams save the world. *cough, cough* Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down! 

Peace out!

Fox