Earlier last month, we relayed rumors that RED director Robert Schwentke was considering Universal and Dark Horse’s R.I.P.D. as his next project. The other projects he was dallying with were a remake of Robert Ludlum’s OSTERMAN WEEKEND and SHADOW DIVERS, which was described as an “underwater adventure.” Deadline’s saying now that the deal’s done and Schwentke’s signed on for this baby, for sure. They’re also acting like Ryan Reynolds is definitely going to star in this after he wraps on his next two movies, although I thought he was still only just attached. If he definitely is locked, then that doesn’t bode too well for him fitting the DEADPOOL in between this and the GREEN LANTERN sequel, even if “Speedy” Rodriguez directing.
R.I.P.D. came out in 2000, so it’s been off the shelves for a long while. This is the first I’ve heard more about its plot beyond it concerning a police department whose jurisdiction covers the world of the dead. It’s actually about a dead cop who gets the chance to take the man who murdered him down after he’s enrolled in the R.I.P.D., a police force staffed entirely by the dead. No cop movie would be complete without him getting a wacky partner, of course, and his happens to be a Wild West lawman who’s been in the dirt for a very, very long time.
This Schwentke guy’s rapidly become a name to watch out for. His biggest credits prior to all this were the Jodie Foster “is my child missing on this plane or am I just crazy?” thriller FLIGHTPLANE and THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, which surprisingly wasn’t about Doc Brown’s lady, Clara. RED apparently turned enough heads at Comic Con to put more buzz around this guy than a whole nest of hornets would. Have any of you read the original Ellis RED mini? Does this movie look like a good adaptation?
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here.
