Bryan Singer to Direct Excalibur

Bryan Singer to Direct Excalibur

The X-Men and Superman Returns director is in plans to direct a remake of the 1981 classic by John Boorman.

News
By bsprecher - Aug 22, 2009 12:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy



















Writer/director/producer Bryan Singer had already received acclaim as a director for the taut crime movie The Usual Suspects, but he became a fan favorite for bringing Marvel's favorite mutants to life in X-Men and X2. However, since then, Singer has been blamed for the demise of the Superman franchise thanks to his meddling with the character's mythology in Superman Returns and his latest film, Valkyrie, opened in a paltry fourth place.

Singer is looking to get back on track, but he seems mired in controversy. A recent announcement that he was planning on producing and directing a big-screen version of Battlestar Gallactica was met by the fan community with equal parts enthusiasm, confusion and anger. Now, Singer's looking to resurrect another old concept with Excalibur. The original 1981 film was directed by John Boorman and helped launch the careers of such asctors as Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byne and Patrick Stewart. Though Singer has closed a rights deal for Excalibur through Warner Bros., Boorman still shares an interest in the property, so it's unclear just how the production will come together. Singer is rumored to be interested in bringing in more fantasy elements, similar to King Arthur (2004).
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TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 8/22/2009, 12:26 PM
well this movie is gonna suck! first !
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 12:32 PM
HELL YEAH!!

Singers the man! ; D



Heh heh.
Inohaku
Inohaku - 8/22/2009, 12:36 PM
I have to see the '81 version again to see if this is worth remaking, cause I was like 8 when I saw it in the theater (R movie lol). But I still remember it was good.
Bijous
Bijous - 8/22/2009, 12:38 PM
Oh, why, why, why?!? The original was so awesome!

@Inohaku: I thought the same thing when I read this. I immediately went on Ares to see if anyone had it.
DrDon
DrDon - 8/22/2009, 12:40 PM
Usual Suspects was good, but that's all that Singer's done that I liked. Thumbs down to this news.
Set2Fallfirst
Set2Fallfirst - 8/22/2009, 12:40 PM
Nice :]]
NataliaRomanov
NataliaRomanov - 8/22/2009, 12:42 PM
I saw the original one right after the first LOTR, 'cause I was in a fantasy mode. It's really good! XD

LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 12:46 PM
Cool @ NAT! That does look good!
Inohaku
Inohaku - 8/22/2009, 12:50 PM
Oh wow, thanks Natalia for that trailer. I can't believe I was able to see this in the theater as a kid haha!
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 8/22/2009, 12:51 PM
Thank God, I hope this movie smokes all the Singer doubters out in the open so my shots are clearly in view.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 1:06 PM
Problem with SINGER haters, is they hate him for X-MEN and SUPERMAN!

First he had nothing to do with X3 or ORIGINS!

An Second SUPERMAN RETURNS was good! Not Awesome but it was a great yarn!

He would do a really good EXCALIBUR but man i wish, really wish it was the MARVEL EXCALIBUR!

But oh well lol, he'll do this film justice!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 1:09 PM
Anil @ Singer brought back the SUPERHERO movie once B&R destroyed it!

It wasn't perfect but know one cared in 2000, just glad it was made, if it wasn't for that we might not have DAREDEVIL, BATMAN an many other if it wasn't for SINGER!
FateSucks
FateSucks - 8/22/2009, 1:12 PM
The only good film in Singers career is The Usual Suspects. He's a hack, and needs to stay away from Excalibur, it needs no remake.
JYCowboy
JYCowboy - 8/22/2009, 1:33 PM
Well, we will always have the Boorman film. This would have been great if it was the Marvel Excalbur team. Oh well... :\

Singer would have a reguard like Nolan if he just went with what was there for him. But instead, he wanted to leave a mark on the Man of Steel that was his contribution. The trouble was the mark was negative in the sense of a Dead-beat-dad. It was not the lingering plot thread through his hoped for Superman cycle that fans could accept. I have no doubt he was going to ramp up a sequal to be much more action based but he had to establish this as the successor to the Reeves legacy. Now we are left with an ailing franchise with future legal woes. Oh, and there is much about Superman Returns I do like. Routh, Spacey and most of the plot. I would have recast everyone else, however.
longbowhunter
longbowhunter - 8/22/2009, 1:35 PM
I've never seen the original. I think I'll take my chances with it instead.
MoonDoggyX
MoonDoggyX - 8/22/2009, 1:43 PM
@LEEE777
Blade came out before X-Men...
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 1:49 PM
MOON @ I know that but hardly anyone knew that was a SUPERHERO/COMIC BOOK movie! Plus it came out right after B&R! X-MEN brought it all back!

Man, SINGER should be doing X4 dammit!!!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 2:25 PM
ME TOO!!! ; D
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 8/22/2009, 2:41 PM
I have the original on DVD and it burns a hole in my soul to say that! The movie sucks big time! Those gleaming brilliantly dazzling suits of armor are plain sh*t and destroy any illusion of a realistic fantasy world! Then there's the retarded acting display which is woeful. That's just my perspective...

SabretoothTiger
SabretoothTiger - 8/22/2009, 3:35 PM
@howlett "Those gleaming brilliantly dazzling suits of armor are plain sh*t and destroy any illusion of a realistic fantasy world!"
that is the funniest sentence ive seen in a little while how can a fantasy world be realistic lol just sayin im not tryin to be an ass or anythin like that
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 8/22/2009, 4:01 PM
SabretoothTiger - Would it explain everything if I told you I was incredibly drunk?! Fantasy films, need to create a believable world no matter how far fetched that may be. It's not the world itself we question but the things in it. There might be magic, there might be dragons, etc. but if a firm foundation of our laws of physics is kept then we can accept it as a "believable fantasy world" and " gleaming brilliantly dazzling suits of armor" just ruined any chance of that.

Again, I'm drunk but I hope that makes sense to you, it sure as hell doesn't to me!
SabretoothTiger
SabretoothTiger - 8/22/2009, 4:06 PM
lol well keep gettin drunk howlett its fun to comment on websites when drinkin anyway ya i understood what you said i was just laughin cause it sounded funny
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 8/22/2009, 4:08 PM
SabretoothTiger - I Love You Man! Ha ha, not quite that drunk yet! Oh, wait! I AM!
lc
lc - 8/22/2009, 4:14 PM
looks good
SabretoothTiger
SabretoothTiger - 8/22/2009, 4:16 PM
hahaha howlett thats a good one lol cause thats what most people say when they get drunk
Imran
Imran - 8/22/2009, 4:22 PM
@LEEE777.. That's the Excalibur I want!!

Forget King Arthur.. It's all about Captain Britain and The Incredible Nightcrawler!!!!! Being from the UK that would be even more of a treat.. Oh well, we can only hope for the best :-P
Hellmont
Hellmont - 8/22/2009, 4:34 PM
Shouldnt Singer be looking into directing the next broke back mountain or Apt Pupil which was a greaT film...or something??
He is terrible at directing action movies.


People say he brought back the super hero Genre for Movies I say Bullshit!!!
XMEN Had the cartoon series, video games , they even had jappanesse anime of the xmen. The X MEn franchise was begging for a movie and they got a half eaten sandwich by Bryan Singer and hailed him as gods gift to super hero film making
Good movie directing skills is way beyond Bryan Singers Grasp........the proof is in his inability to deliver Great Films because he is always a hit or miss kind of director and he has missed way too often.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 4:36 PM
HOWLETT @ Lol! An cheers! BEEEEEEEER!

Imran @ If HOLLYWOOD had the ballz an the brains we would be getting that EXCALIBUR than another REMAKE movie!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 8/22/2009, 4:38 PM
By the way, has anyone seen BETTY lately????

Where the F has BETTS gone??
rockingrich1webb
rockingrich1webb - 8/22/2009, 4:45 PM
Well, theres wolverine 2 going down the drain
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 8/22/2009, 5:33 PM
LETS SEE IF HE CAN REDEEM HIMSELF..THE ONLY DIRECTOR FANS WILL GIVE SECOND CHANCES TO IS TO KEVIN SMITH...I THINK SINGER JUST MIGHT MAKE GOLD,MORE THAN TWO DUD MOVIES IN A ROW AND YOUR PRETTY MUCH TOAST IN HOLLYWOOD.
AvengingAngel1022
AvengingAngel1022 - 8/22/2009, 5:53 PM
cool
jallanr
jallanr - 8/22/2009, 6:29 PM
never saw the original, so i dont know. And i dont have as much hate as the rest of u seem to have toward singer. i actually enjoyed th X-films! oh well.

woo hoo!
realblood33
realblood33 - 8/22/2009, 10:52 PM
well this is certainly not comic book related ? oh wait it bryan singer!!!!! maybe u guys ought to tweak the site name if ur gonna keep stealing regular movie news.
Phinehas
Phinehas - 8/23/2009, 1:52 AM
Singerman is not a bad director. He'll just make king arthur an effeminate metrosexual with a bastard son, and a woman to stalk. If you're into that sort of thing then Singerman is your guy!
Bijous
Bijous - 8/23/2009, 2:49 AM
Now that I think of it...it's been a long time since I saw Excalibur. I wonder if it's as good as I remember...
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 8/23/2009, 6:12 AM
I love the original. Sure some of the acting is a bit crappy and the special effects are not exactly top notch! But Merlin was excellent and it stayed true to the legend..except it was Sir Gawain that finds the Grail not Perceval. I could handle a remake though as long as it tries something different.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 8/23/2009, 9:46 AM
Yeah i guess your right, the movie sucked because there was shiny armor in it!!!!:)

Tolkien's PERFECT story? I didn't think so. Actually i think Jackson may have improved on a few elements..blasphemy! I loved those books and i loved the movies. They changed some things..thats the nature of the beast.
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