Last month, DreamWorks grabbed the rights to creature miniatures game **Monsterpocalypse with the hope of attracting Tim Burton to turn it into a movie. Now comes word from the Heat Vision Blog that veteran Burton collaborator John August is being wooed to write the script.
Having August (who penned Corpse Bride, **Big Fish **and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory for the director) on board is presumably seen as a likely lure for Burton, much in the same way as a shiny trinket attracts a magpie. And DreamWorks could hardly have found a bigger reason for Burton to sign on, short of promising Johnny Depp he can play any of the beasties he wants or creating a character named Helena Bonham-Carter.
But there are still obstacles to be overcome, primarily those of scheduling. For one thing, Burton has yet to commit to the project. And even if he does, he’s still got other films jostling for his attention. Prime among them is his long gestating take on supernatural soap drama Dark Shadows, a pic that also happens to feature a Mr J. August on writing duties.
Then there’s the Depp equation. While Johnny D is all set to kick off shooting the next Pirates Of The Caribbean for Disney this summer, there is now the possibility that he might want to take a break, and shove the production of the film back (somehow we doubt Disney would go for that, and have visions of Mickey Mouse parachuting onto the actor’s private island to dish out some big-eared retribution).
Plus, if Burton did commit to Monsterpocalypse, which he could always do while waiting for Depp to be ready to make Shadows, Warners would have a problem holding off on it getting made after being so patient for years. Oh, and Monsterpocalypse needs a script before it can shoot (no jokes about style over substance here, please).
Still, the director may finally get to the monster movie, which will be based on Matt Wilson’s game of Japanese-flavoured beasties clashing with giant aliens and the cities that get in the way. In addition to the game, there are comics following the various characters’ stories that could be used as raw material for any film. Though it sounds like we’ll be waiting a while for it, if it ever happens.