“Deathgames” update
You may remember this post:
I’ve been teaching screenwriting since 2002. Any of you who teach know how exciting it is when a student achieves some success in the field. So I am pleased to announce that Mike Hultquist, who took several online screenwriting courses with me, has a movie going into production in May based on an original screenplay Mike co-wrote.
The film is called Fury. Here is some background:
Sam Jackson and Kellan Lutz have signed on to star in the underground fighting thriller Fury directed by Jonah Loop. The film centers on drifter David Lord who finds himself forced into the savage world of a modern gladiatorial arena, where men fight to the death for the entertainment of the online masses and the profit of Radu, a sadistic capitalist that makes Vince McMahon look like Howie Mandel. David’s defiance to willingly execute his beaten opponents per the “rules” of the game, makes him the target of resident executioner and psychopath, Constantin, who makes it his personal mission to destroy David. Filming is set to begin May 5 in Baton Rouge.
Congratulations, Mike!
UPDATE: Title change per the NY Times to Deathgames.
Well, Deathgames is flat-out blowing up. There’s this:
— “Lost” actor Daniel Dae Kim is keeping busy. He’s already signed on for the “Hawaii Five-O” television remake and now he’s slated to star in “Deathgames” as a Kendo master opposite the previously cast Samuel L. Jackson and Kellan Lutz. [Heat Vision]
And now this:
“Deathgames.” The title alone summons up awesome mental images, right? The title bubbled out of the trades last week as an upcoming project with “Twilight” star Kellan Lutz and “Iron Man 2” star Samuel L. Jackson in late-stage talks to headline. Intrigued by the premise — Jackson kidnaps Lutz and forces him to fight in a modern-day gladiator arena — I put in a call to Mike Callaghan, who is producing with Motion Picture Corporation of America, for additional details.
“Essentially the idea is, what if you had ‘Gladiator’ set in the present with modern-day technology,” Callaghan explained. “You’ve got Sam Jackson essentially playing the Caesar who rules over an arena where people fight to the death. And Kellan plays our gladiator, who enters the film as someone that was kidnapped and rises through the ranks to become the head gladiator, the prized fighter.”
That’s the basic pitch. Things get mighty interesting however when you take a closer look at Jackson’s character and how he stages these fights.
Hit the link above to read more.
Frankly this is the most exciting time for a screenwriter: When your movie is greenlit and moving into production. It’s also one of your hottest times, too, because you’re riding a wave of buzz. I’ll see if Mike is up for a Q&A.
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