The WB is getting into the movie business! Ok, I know they have been making movies forever. With the recent merge with UPN, the WB Network is now known as CW, so we can be sure that any WB news we hear is going to be for the big screen. That being said, it looks like the WB is taking a classic TV show and making it into a movie. Kung Fu.
So why are they choosing to remake Kung Fu into a big screen effort when “Kung Fu: The Legend Continues” was such a big success. Oh, I think I answered my own question. M&C Movies has a little insight:
Cory Goodman (‘Priest’) will rewrite a script by Howard Friedlander who wrote for the original series. Ed Spielman who created the series and will executive produce the feature will work with Goodman and Friedlander on script.
WB who will co-finance with Legendary is looking for the “zen” nature of the film to bolster their goodwill with China. Hopes are that it will aid their expansion into China on the exhibition, production and distribution fronts.
So as cool as it will be to have a pacificst zen monk NOT kicking ass on the big screen, it seems this project is more of an olive branch to the East to expand their growing empire.
They make an Asian role model as the star of a movie and then pimp it out to the far East in hopes of gaining favour in their heavily censored entertainment market.
I like this idea and I dont. The reason I like it is that it means KungFu will not star THE ROCK, or any other testosterone driven action star. This will be a different kind of action hero. Sure as pacificst and zen as Caine is, he did have to open up the can of sushi whoopass when required and showed the badguys the “way”. So there will be action. It just wont be oozing with manliness that leaves the patrons pumped up like pro wrestlers leaving the cinema.
The reason I dont like it, is that they are using it as a political tool. Just make the movie with the original intent of the series in mind. Caine wasnt a badass. He was a nice guy. Peaceful and living life right. Set the example and show you can still be the hero without being a doormat. But do it because thats the message you want to send not because you want to kiss up to the Chinese.
