Deadline reports:
Marvel has set Don Payne, one of the credited scribes on the first film, to script the sequel. Payne rewrote Lobo for Warner Bros, and was one of the writers on Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer. His superhero experience started with My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
I am not a big huge fan of the recent Thor movie unlike some of my peers here. I felt it was a mixed bag of goodies at best. The weak spots was “the love story” (if we should call it that) and the treatment of SHIELD (played in the Iron Man films as good guys; in Thor, they act like they are more into Big Brother conspiracy) but I don’t know if that’s some of Payne’s doing. But what “the fans” are mad about is that right now it’s ONLY Payne working on the sequel. Payne who co-wrote ‘Rise Of The Silver Surfer’ and ‘who penned ‘Super Ex-GF’- as if that’s a reason for him to get a boot up the rear and off the Thor 2 project. Wait- wasn’t the sequel just announced? Yes, it was. But when I read the Thor 2 -Don Payne news that’s what I witnessed in those comments sections of those respected blog and news sites.
and I’m sick of hearing the whining already
Seriously, folks. I don’t get it. I’m extremely clueless. Let me present you, if I may, common sense:
1- Payne did not direct Fantastic Four : Rise Of The Silver Surfer. He only co-wrote it and wrote mostly what Tim Story and Fox wanted. He followed the Beat Sheet, more or less. When writers are given those instructions/suggestions, they follow them as best they can. If they don’t, the producers/director will seek someone who will. Galactus being the whirlwind was not all his fault. I’m not defending the idea; even if the excuse was to save “Galactus” for a better interpetation for a Surfer spinoff film (which never happened-and most likely won’t)
2- Payne still was a party to the film you just liked. In addition, the sequel itself was just announced. He’s just coming up with a story or outline…which may not even be in the final shooting script of Thor 2. It’s also possible other writers may be brought on after him.
3- My Super Ex- Girlfriend was funny.
4- So Lobo hasn’t seen the light of day. Big deal. He was more of a Wolverine spoof for DC anyway. There’s many projects by many writers whose scripts don’t get filmed right away, regardless of genre. So Lobo isn’t made today. What if it came back to life next week? Not that it will, but it could. Does the project’s current status negate Payne’s writing ability?
So you see, I don’t think it’s a big red flag or anything. I know some of you will disagree with me on that. That’s fine. But I’m more concerned on who may replace Branagh- and that may not be even be known for some time yet. There’s also a chance that what fate befalls next year’s Avengers will play (or not play) a part in the Thor sequel. I’m really sorry about this, my peers. I’m just not on board with the Payne bashing.
I want to be clear on this. It’s not that I’m saying fans should be ‘concerned’ or have a few doubts. That’s one thing. But it quite another in my view to say how awful a writer is when he is being a professional and he happened to write the shooting draft of the film you loved so very much. Not to mention that we don’t know how good or bad his first draft of ‘Thor 2’ will be.
