harrington@neptun.DEC (09/18/85)
From the Sep. 27 issue of The Comics Buyers Guide: "Filming is to begin this fall on a live-action comedy film version of Howard the Duck, for release next summer. "Universal Pictures and Lucasfilm Ltd. have joined forces and George Lucas will be the executive producer of the movie, budgeted at 'under $20 mill- ion'. "No one connected with the movie would say whether an actor in a duck suit would play Howard, but it was stated that 'a lot of technology' would be involved. Industrial Light and Magic will provide the special effects." "Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz have written the screenplay and Huyck will direct and Katz will produce the movie, which is to be released in July or August of 1986." If they try for the grim, depressing tone of Howard the Duck #'s 4 and on (I've always considered #3, "Master of Quack-Fu", to be the transitional is- sue), I can't imagine this movie will be much fun. On the other hand, if they go back to Howard's earliest appearances, and try for THAT "feel", it could work out alright. I can't decide if they should use an actor in a duck suit. If they get a very small little person, or a child, and can make the suit "realistic" enough, I suppose it might be interesting to see. On the other hand, maybe they'd do better to try for some sort of model or "cartoon" animation. Guess we'll see. Frankly, although a little apprehensive about what the finished product might look like, I'm just a bit stunned that anybody chose the Howard character for something like this. Seems like almost ANY other character would be easier to "fake" than Howard. I'm really curious to see what happens. It's sort of too bad that Gerber isn't involved, but, then again, I stopped liking his stuff after issue #3, when his cynicism really started to show through, so maybe it's just as well. Howard the Duck on film... Wow! I can still hardly believe it! ----- Shawn H.
jeff@qubix.UUCP (Jeff Bulf) (09/20/85)
> If they try for the grim, depressing tone of Howard the Duck #'s 4 and > on (I've always considered #3, "Master of Quack-Fu", to be the > transitional is- > sue), I can't imagine this movie will be much fun. One of my favorite issues was always #5 ("I want Money"). The scene where Howard trashes the "Gonzo the Clown" TV show -- a movie that did that scene justice would be worth it whatever else they did. --------------------------- "Halp! This dwarf's | Please Stand By, Kids. | trying to kill me!" --------------------------- -- Dr Memory ...{amd,cbosgd,ihnp4}!qubix!jdb