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DATE: April 15, 1996 (revised)
TO: Game Designers/Artists/Programmers/Engineers/ Marketing & Sales,
Williams Entertainment, etc.
FROM: Roger Sharpe
SUBJECT: LICENSED PROPERTIES UPDATE REPORT FOR 1996 AND THE
FIRST SCHEDULING OF PROPERTIES/PROJECTS FOR 1997 AND
BEYOND
What follows is the ongoing identification of major (and many not so ‘major’) film
projects/books/etc. that either are coming to theatres, TV or book shelves soon or appear
to be fertile subject matter for potential game application whether it be video, pinball,
novelty amusement equipment or the vast range of home software platforms.
By no means is this listing complete. There are always sleepers and less ambitious
undertakings that can surprise everyone. However, the hope is that some of my personal
pre-editing and judgement calling is as accurate as any forecasting can be. Properties that
appear to have some potential for reason of recognizeability or scope (from the standpoint
of marketing support and/or “franchise potential) are bolded because I deem them to be
viable candidates for consideration. Also, possible trends can emerge as indicators of
where entertainment may be going in the near future.
COMPETITIVE LICENSING ACTIVITIES/PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS
JACKIE CHAN (Kaneko Coin-Op)
PRIVATE PARTS: The Howard Stern Story (Sega Pinball)
X-FILES (Sega Pinball)
CUTTHROAT ISLAND (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home video)
TWISTER (Sega Pinball)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (Sega Pinball & Fox Interactive for Home video)
SPACE JAM (Sega Pinball and Acclaim for Video)
THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home Video)
MUTANT CHRONICLES (Acclaim Coin-Op & Home Video)
BARB WIRE (Premier Pinball)
JURASSIC PARK II (DreamWorks Interactive)
JOHNNY QUEST (Virgin Interactive CD-ROM)
TERRATOPIA (Virgin Interactive CD-ROM)
STARSHIP TROOPERS (Microprose for home software)
DRAGONHEART (Acclaim Home Video)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING (T*HQ for Home video)
GOLDENEYE (Bally Gaming for slot machines)
TENTATIVE LISTING FOR 1996 FILM PROJECTS:
Spring
MULHOLLAND FALLS (late April)
BARB WIRE (May 3rd)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (May 22nd)
DRAGONHEART (May 31st)
FIERCE CREATURES
WILD SPACE
STRIPTEASE (late May)
TWISTER
BAD BOYS II
Summer
THE RELIC DAYLIGHT A VERY BRADY SEQUEL
SHOCKWAVE SPAWN CHAIN REACTION
THE ROCK FLED INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 4th)
THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
PINOCCHIO ANACONDA CABLE GUY (June 14th)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (Disney animation)--June 21st
McHALE’S NAVY (July 4th) THE PHANTOM (June 7th)
ERASER (June 21st) KAZAAM (Shaq as a genie)--release July 17th
A TIME TO KILL ESCAPE FROM L.A.
Fall
THE CROW II SPACE JAM THE EIGHTEENTH ANGEL
SANDBLAST SEA HUNT BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD
GOOSEBUMPS FORBIDDEN PLANET
ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU SUPERNOVA (MGM/UA)
Winter
FAHRENHEIT 451 AMPHIBIAN X-MEN
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS II THE MUTANT CHRONICLES
THE SAINT TARZAN EVITA
LAUREL & HARDY’S JUNGLE BUNGLE
PRELIMINARY SUMMER 1997 MOVIE LINE-UP
BATMAN IV (BATMAN & ROBIN) FREDDY VS. JASON
STARSHIP TROOPERS MARS ATTACKS THE FIFTH ELEMENT
MEN IN BLACK JURASSIC PARK II (THE LOST WORLD)
VOLCANO SPEED RACER SCOOBY DOO
THE JETSONS PRINCE VALIANT COMBAT
TITANIC ZORRO
TITANIC--the new James Cameron film from 20th Century Fox with possible release for
spring or summer of 1997; storyline to begin back in 1912 and lead up to the
salvage operation of a couple of years ago; a historical/action period piece with
production to start summer ‘96 and one star to be Kate Winslet (Sense and
Sensibility)
SHOCKWAVE--for summer ‘96 from Live Entertainment; director is David Twohy
(screenwriter for “The Fugitive” and “Waterworld”), star is Charlie Sheen as a
renegade scientist who, while probing the origin of radio waves from outer space,
stumbles on the seeds of a worldwide alien invasion
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND--in development at Paramount with possiblity of
Tom Hanks playing the main character Valentine Michael Smith from this Robert
Heinlein 1961 sci-fi classic (should become a ‘hot’ property if “Starship Troopers”
hits big)
THE STOPWATCH GANG--from TriStar and Jonathan Demme with a 9/96 start of a
story about 3 cons (a woman and two men) who pull off a heist and evade the
police for only a time before being captured and then planning their escape
GOOSEBUMPS--the hugely successful book property (over 90 million books in print)
from R.L. Stine; a new animated series on Fox and soon to be a major motion
picture from Fox as well as an impressive line-up of toys and games from Hasbro
GUNDOWN--from New Line with Bruce Willis and Bruce Dern/Walter Hill directing in
what is something of a remake of Kruosawa’s “Yojimbo” that was the inspiration
for a “Fistful of Dollars”; in this version we have a gangster picture during
prohibition times battling over the liquor business in Texas
THE BLACK BOX--from Disney, a new action thriller with Jim Wedaa attached as
producer and a storyline of what happens when a UFO crashes and a young
architect stumbles on the equivalent of the UFO’s black box which is sending out
its SOS signal to everybody on Earth and throughout the universe; initially one
take on the plot is ‘The Fugitive’ meets ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’
PSI-FACTOR--with Dan Aykroyd as host for a new syndicated series about real
paranormal phenomena set to launch in 1996 from MaXaM Entertainment and
Canada’s Atlantis Films Ltd
BLUE VISION--possible next project as director for Spielberg which is a scary
psychological thriller written by a Brit named Bruce Robinson
JAY LENO/THE TONIGHT SHOW--Jay has created some distinct characters as part of
his show and the opportunity exists to attempt to create game play around it for
either video or, what might be the easier adaptation, a pinball machine
ABOMINABLE--from Universal with Jean-Calude Van Damme and Moshe Diamant
(Time Cop) as producer in a story about a United Nations task force investigating
the mysterious disappearnace of Red Cross workers in the Himalayas where,
ultimately, our star faces off against the Abominable Snowman
MADMAN--this Dark Horse cult comic book comes to the big screen via Universal with
Ben Myron and David Helpern as producers and Mike Allred (creator of this
superhero who has a costume that covers a body disfigured from a car accident
with no memory of his past life) exec-producing
LAUREL & HARDY--possibility of a new franchise with feature films and casting
potentially to include Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman or Chris Farley along with
Rowan Atkinson (from Larry Harmon of Bozo fame)
MARS ATTACKS--based on the Topps card set from the Fifties coming to the big screen
via Warner Bros and Tim Burton for summer ‘97 with Pierce Brosnan cast as a
wacky scientist who warns the world of its impending doom; also starring are
Sarah Jessica Parker, Jack Nicholson, Rod Steiger and Glenn Close in what might
come off as “Beetlejuice” meets the Martians complete with Slim Whitman music
and Tom Jones script in-house
MAD MAX: THE ROAD WARRIOR--a new TV series and line of toys from Warner
Bros with a plan to launch spring ‘97; also in the planning stages with George
Miller as director would be another feature film for possible release in summer ‘98
DINOTOPIA (A Land Apart From Time)--based on the best seller from James Gurney,
now to be a feature film with Ken Ralston attached as director for Sony/Columbia
and Lynda Guber (wife of Peter Guber former head of Sony Pictures) producing
what will be a high profile effects and animation project with a budget of $80 -
$100 million and a two year pre-production cycle for a summer ‘98 release
THE COLONY--from Sony Pictures to star Jean-Claude Van Damme in a story about a
place where the greatest spies of all time are sent after their covers are blown; with
the lead character needing to escape in order to go after his arch enemy
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE--this rather unique magazine is building a greater presence with
a new life action hour-long TV series in asssociation with Rysher Entertainment;
production for the pilot two hour special begins this spring with the intent to
premiere episodes in the fall that center on an elite crime-fighting group
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER--to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first TV episode (fall
1997), Universal will release a new feature length film with Andy Cadiff (“Home
Improvement”) to direct and producers to be Brian Levant and Robert Simonds;
script from Levant and Lon Diamond with a projected start date of May ‘96
WARRIORS OF VIRTUE--from MGM/UA a live action feature film with production in
China and L.A. starting 1/96 focusing on five super hero kung fu kangaroos (not
to be confused with ninja turtles); also a digital animation TV series for 1997
LOST IN SPACE--from New Line with a planned release in 1998
SECRET SMILE--from Warner Bros, the next Steven Seagal film to be shot in the L.A.
and D.C. area with Seagal starring as a CIA agent (a real character stretch) who
must use mind enhancement drugs in order to track down a villain who has used
the same drug
DRAGONHEART--an epic adventure/event film and an animated TV series to premier in
fall ‘96 to help support major toy launch
THE THREE STOOGES--a whole new merchandising push from Columbia/Sony with
plans as well for a new casting and feature film in 1997 along with more visibility
for the classic shorts on cable and in syndication
TERRY AND THE PIRATES--classic comic strip was relaunched in March 1995 via the
Tribune Media Syndicate with plans for a live action TV series to premiere in 1996
I SPY--coming from Cinergi Films, based on the old Robert Culp/Bill Cosby TV series
that aired from 1965-68; comes an all new feature film about top government
agents undercover as a tennis pro and manager/trainer
JAMES BOND--yet another film from MGM/UA to star Pierce Brosnan and scripted by
Bruce Feirstein is due to hit screens in the summer or fall of 1997
THE SAINT--(Paramount) based on the series of books and characters created by Leslie
Charteris and made famous in the 1960s TV series that starred Roger Moore. This
time around Simon Templar (The Saint) is hired to steal a secret cold fusion
formula from an attractive female American scientist; and the adventure takes him
to Russia where he discovers the formula is part of a plot to overthrow the Russian
government; producer is David Brown and Marc Neufeld/director is Philip Noyce
(Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger) and script from Wesley Strick; with
Val Kilmer set to star along with Elisabeth Shue and filming to start spring ‘96 for
a release as yet to be determined in 1996 (winter?) script in-house
DEEP BLUE SEA--from Warner Bros written by Duncan Kennedy and John Zinman
focusing on an undersea adventure about a group of scientists who, through,
biomedical engineering are able to breed faster, smarter and more vicious sharks
with the idea to create a sportmen’s paradise (ala Jurassic Park) but things, of
course, get out of hand and control
MTV’S AEON FLUX--highly rated animated series that has been spun off from their
‘Liquid Television’ programming with a push now to more fully merchandise this
entity videotape of four episodes and supportive material in-house
A FIVE YEAR PLAN--a new book series from Philip Kerr under the pseudonym Thomas
Brodie that is soon to hit book shelves centering around a con man who
masterminds a high seas heist of 20 luxury yachts; interest from Tom Cruise and
Paramount
THE FOUNTAINHEAD--the Ayn Rand novel comes to the big screen via Illusion
Entertainment and Turner Pictures
DRAGONLANCE--from TSR, the fantasy series is going into animation from Nelvana
PRINCE VALIANT--through Hearst and Paramount Pictures with director Anthony
Hickox beginning production spring ‘96 for a summer ‘97 release; starring Stephen
Moyer in the title role along with Katherine Heigl, Ron Perlman and Udo Keir in a
story that follows the travails of a prince from Thule who wants to become a
Knight of the Round Table
LUNATIC FRINGE--from LIVE Entertainment, a sci-fi action thriller about a group of
prisoners who are recruited to rob another planet’s gold reserves only to discover
when they reach the planet that their real mission is to save thousands of prisoners
who are being held hostage by a group of intergalactic planet raiders--’Dirty
Dozen’ in space?
SPECIES--a potential sequel or two from MGM is in the planning stages with Peter
Lenkov doing one (he wrote the original) and Chris Brancato doing the other; also
potential plans for a live action TV series for 1998
SPACE TRUCKERS--a sci-fi action film directed by Stuart Gordon with script from Tedd
Mann, starring Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, Debi Mazer and George Wendt
AFTERLIFE--from Columbia, a sci-fi adventure with possibility of Chris O’Donnell
starring in a story about a scientist’s mind is implanted in the body of a younger
man who turns out to be a serial killer
BATTLEFIELD EARTH--from MGM with John Travolta set to star in this L.Ron
Hubbard (“Dianetics”) sci-fi epoch about a rebellion in a futuristic Earth being
taken over by an alien force and the human survivors who stand up and revolt; J.D.
Shapiro is writing the script
SEA HUNT--the old TV series (that made Lloyd Bridges a star as Mike Nelson) brought
back to life from MGM with a script from Peter Benchley and Tony Peckham
WILD WILD WEST--still in development from Warner Bros for a big screen treatment
by Jon Peters and the hope to get Tom Cruise to star in Robert Conrad’s role
SCOOBY DOO--from Turner Pictures, a live action feature film version (for possible
1997 release) with the same characters as the late ‘60s cartoon including a talking
dog, his human buddy Shaggy and the rest of the band of friends including Freddy,
Velma and Daphne; with a possible plot line being a mystery set in the present day
being penned by Craig Titley and in development with Dawn Steel’s Atlas
Entertainment
OUTRIDER--through Neufeld/Rehme Productions and Paramount , a feature in
development that’s a Western adventure about a young deputy’s pursuit of a
notorious outlaw who has escaped from prison; although a fictional story the plan
is to feature historical characters
NEANDERTHAL--could be first feature from Dreamworks based on upcoming novel
from Random House (by John Darnton) about the discovery of a long lost tribe of
Neanderthals found in an obscure part of the former republic of the Soviet Union
AN EYE FOR AN EYE--working title from Castle Rock as possible vehicle for Tom
Cruise about the real life head of an elite team of commandos avenging terrorists
CATAPULT--from Mario Kassar through Paramount that mixes “In The Line Of Fire”
with “Crimson Tide” about an aircraft carrier in a war zone that has been out to
sea for too long and the quest to find a serial killer that is eliminating many of the
8,000 crewmen on board
HENSON PRODUCTIONS--looking to enter into a strategic alliance with us for many
of their properties across the board--including an upcoming merchandising
program focused on Animal; also a new MUPPET TONIGHT! Show to premier
on ABC in spring ‘96; in addition development is ongoing for a fall 1996 entity
called Silver Dolphins
THE OSIRIS CHRONICLES--an upcoming new CBS sci-fi series from Paramount with
Caleb Carr (The Alienist) and Joe Dante (The Howling) attached with March ‘96
launch on TV
STORM WARNING--Mario Kassar (Carolco) resurfaces at Paramount Pictures with a
project to be written by Robert Ozin and Colin Greene and co-prodcuers to be
Greg Davis and Paul DeSouza; storyline is about a scientist who creates a machine
that can control the weather, which is then stolen by the bad guys who unleash a
hurricane that’s headed to New York giving this some familiar elements of “No
Way Out” and “Twister”
AMBROSE CHAPEL--a suspense thriller in development from MGM with Brian
DePalma as director/producer; story about a female reporter in Miami who
unwittingly becomes a pawn in a potential presidential assassination
BEETLE BAILEY--from 2,000 Hearst newspapers as a daily comic strip since 1950, a
new feature film from Fox with Bob and Peter Farelly (“Dumb and Dumber”)
producing (Hearst keeping merchandising rights); writers to be Dan Ljoka and
Patrick Kopka (“Curse of the Bambino”) and Harlan Williams (“Simon”) being
considered to star as the laziest private in the Army
BATMAN IV--(a.k.a. Batman and Robin) with yet another new star as the Caped
producing
CON AIR--from Touchstone Pictures with Jerry Bruckheimer to produce and Simon West
to direct; based on a script from Scott Rosenberg about convicts who take over a
plane; to star Nicholas Cage and John Cusack
THE LAST SIX MILLION SECONDS--from 20th Century Fox based on a book by John
Burdett (to be published by Morrow in early ‘97) about the changeover of control
of Hong Kong from the British to the Chinese in 1997; the mystery thriller takes
place on the eve of the switch and involves a murder, a Hong Kong cop who is
part European and Asian and a missing girl; Jan De Bont (“Twister” and “Speed”)
is attached to produce and direct
THE DAY OF THE JACKAL--from Universal, a remake of the 1973 film with Michael
Caton-Jones to direct what will be a contemporary thriller about an assassination
attempt on the head of the FBI which follows the opening of an FBI office in
Moscow that is investigating the Russian criminal organizations; possibility of
Matthew McConaughey (“Dazed and Confused”) to star
AIR FORCE--from Columbia Pictures with Wolfgang Petersen to possibly direct this
Harrison Ford starrer written by Andrew Marlowe and producers to be Armyan
Bernstein and Marc Abraham; movie storyline (with a start date of Sept ‘96)
centers on a president on Air Force One who takes matters into his own hands
when he finds himself in jeopardy from terrorists
DEEP RISING--from Hollywood Pictures with Treat Williams to star in this action thriller
as a smuggler in a group of gun runners who come across an almost entirely
deserted luxury cruise ship only to discover that there’s a killer creature to content
with; written and directed by Stephen Sommers and producers are Larry Mark and
John Baldecchi
FEVER--from Columbia with a spec screenplay from Dave Ryan about a medical student
working as a morgue attendant who uncovers a deadly plot to infect the Third
World with a fatal disease
MULLKON EMPIRE--from the pen of John Jakes author of “North and South” and
numerous other books comes a live action TV series via BIG Entertainment of
Boca Raton, Fla and Alliance Communications Corp that deals with a waste
disposal business dynasty in the 26th Century
TIME SQUARE--from Columbia Pictures with first time script writer Paul Finelli doing
an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s (Blade Runner and Total Recall) short story
called “A Little Something for Us Temponauts” that features a plot line of three
time travelers who have 24 hours to investigate and possibly prevent their own
deaths
WONDER WOMAN--not the old Lynda Carter series, but rather a new film treatment of
this DC Comics superhero with Ivan Reitman on board to develop what could be
another Warner Bros big screen franchise; Kimberlee Reed has been signed on to
write a script
DARK FUTURE--from New Line and Alex Proyas (The Crow) set to direct this futuristic
thriller which is scheduled to begin filming July 15th in Australia about a man who
learns that his memories as well as his reality are artificial creations
QUARTERMASS AND THE PIT--also from New Line and Alex Proyas; this big screen
version of a BBC sci-fi series is about a professor who unearths the remains of
extraterrestrial life and will begin as soon as “Dark Future” is completed
I AM LEGEND--from Warner Bros with Carlo Carlei to direct and Mark Protosevich to
write the screenplay for Richard Matheson’s cult novel on which “The Omega
Man” (1971 with Charlton Heston) was based
WORLD CUP SOCCER--for 1998 the games will take place in France and still stands as
the largest sporting event in the world with 32.1 billion cumulative TV viewers
worldwide having watched World Cup ‘94; an opportunity for pinball again? or for
video? or novelty/redemption? (thru Sony Signatures)
TERMITE--based on a sci-fi novel by Patricia Anthony from 20th Century Fox with John
Sayles (“Matewan”, “Passion Fish”, “Eight Men Out”) and James Cameron
teaming up to bring to life a story focusing on a world in the near future where a
newly introduced alien race struggles to fight prejudice on Earth along with a
battle for control of the planet
RENT--the next big Broadway musical rock opera success (scheduoled to open on
Broadway end of April ‘96) is also the target of a huge bidding war by all studios
for movie rights
GARGOYLES--also from Paramount with Gale Anne Hurd about gargoyles in NY who
come to life (sounds alot like the Disney animated series)
Turner --Castle Rock (distribution thru Columbia)
New Line
Rysher--through MGM
Gramercy Pictures--through Polygram Filmed Entertainment and not Universal
Mandalay Entertainment (310-280-6444) --through Sony