Way back in July there was some rumors about Steven Spielberg directing a film called Matt Helm, which is a story of a pulp-fiction spy. The writing/producing team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman were pushing the Paul Attanasio adaptation of Donald Hamilton's book series, but when Steven Spielberg took Dreamworks from Paramount, executives there weren't keen on giving him Matt Helm, but now it looks like the project has some life again.
The Playlist reports writer/director Gary Ross may end up directing Matt Helm project even before he jumps into the Marvel universe with Venom.
Venom isn't exactly being fast-tracked (sources say) and Matt Helm is being scheduled to shoot in the summer of 2010 if everything falls into place of course. Also mentioned, Bradley Cooper (A-Team) is on the top of the list to take on the super spy role after George Clooney (Batman & Robin) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men) turned down from the project.
The womanizing swinging, pulp fiction super-spy, Matt Helm, was previously played by Dean Martin in the 1960s films, which partially inspired Mike Myers' "Austin Powers" series; there was also a TV show in the '70s starring Tony Franciosa). Though this wont be a comedy like " Powers".
The character appeared in 27 books over a 33-year period beginning in 1960 and established Helm as one of the most tough-minded, pragmatic, and competent of all fictional agents, whatever their roles. The series was noted for its between-books continuity, which was somewhat rare for the genre. In the later books, Helm's origins as a man of action in World War II disappeared and he became an apparently ageless character, a common fate of long-running fictional heroes.
LEEE777 - Though i have never heard of Matt Helm myself, it does sound a good film, but it does put a big black alien cloud over Venom at the moment, also i like Bradley Cooper, my favorite to play Guy Gardner lol and a great actor. What do you CBMers think about this new news, comment below.