“Nemo” gets new screenwriter, subs & costumes to be displayed in San Diego

Jim Hill

15 years ago

If you were listening carefully yesterday, you might have
heard an enormous sigh of relief coming from the 20K fan community as word began
to spread that Randall Wallace had been hired to rewrite Bill Marsilii
& Justin Marks’ script for “Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”

For those of you who don’t already know: “Captain Nemo” is
this rather high profile project at the Mouse House. Envisioned as both a
re-imaging and a prequel to Disney’s 1954 live-action classic, “Captain Nemo”
already has a director (McG, fresh off “Terminator: Salvation”) and a
producer (Sean Bailey, who’s currently riding herd on the “Tron” continuation)
attached.

But as for Bill Marsilii’s script for “Captain Nemo” … When
reviews for Marsilii’s May 2008 draft of this screenplay began popping up on the
Web back in January, they were almost universally negative. ISEB.net actually closed
out its script review by saying that “ … Jules Verne is spinning in his grave.”
Which isn’t exactly what you’d call a ringing endorsement.

And then when word began to leak that McQ reportedly wanted Will Smith
to play “Nemo” ‘s title character, 20K
fans grew concerned that Disney was going to wind up with another “Wild Wild West” on its hands. As in: A once-promising project that – due to execs’ desire
to create a sure thing, a guaranteed summer blockbuster that would then lend
itself to sequels – eventually wound up being this bloated mess that barely
recovered its production costs .

The upside is … Disney Studio executives clearly share some
of the same concerns that 20K fans have about Bill’s take on this material. Which is why the
screenwriter of “Braveheart” and “Pearl Harbor” (Which – FYI — Mickey already
had on the payroll. Wallace is supposed to begin directing “Secretariat” for
Disney in late September) has been tapped to rework Marsilii’s script. To put “Captain
Nemo” back on course, if you will.

Of course, if these suits really want Randall’s screenplay to
be faithful to the style & spirit of Disney’s Academy Award-winning film,
might I suggest that they get one of these beauties for Wallace’s desk?

Produced by the nice folks at eFX Inc., this 1/45^th
scale model of the Nautilus has an almost insane level of detail. Because
this collectible is four feet long, it can feature re-creations of Nemo’s plush
salon as well as the wheelhouse. And did I mention that the finished version
will have external & internal lighting?

Now the bad news … While this limited-edition collectible
will be on display in Booth 2913 E at Comic-Con International later this month as
well as at the first-ever D23 Expo (which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center September 10^th – 13^th), eFX Inc. doesn’t
actually expect to ship any Nautili until some time in early 2010.

And speaking of D23 … The Official Community for Disney Fans
revealed yesterday that it too would be taking part in this year’s Comic-Con.
To be specific, D23 will be setting up a display in Booth 3917 at the San
Diego Convention Center. This “Heroic and Robotic” exhibition (which has been created
exclusively for the 2009 Comic-Con International) will feature props and costumes
from such classic Disney films as “Tron” …

… and other notable Mouse House motion pictures
like “The Black Hole,” “Sky High,” “Condorman” and “The Rocketeer.”

D23 members should definitely make a point of dropping by Booth
3917. Not just because they’ll then be able to get a sneak preview of the D23
Expo as well as the Fall issue of Disney twenty-three magazine. But also because – if they flash their membership card as well as a photo
ID – they’ll then be able to pick up a free litho designed by
Disney master artist Dave Pacheco.

A word of warning, though: There is only a limited number of these
lithographs. More to the point, they’re a Comic-Con exclusive. And once the
last one has been picked up by D23 charter members, they’re gone.

But the good news is the Official Community for Disney Fans
will be allowing folks who attend this year’s convention to sign up for
D23 over the course of this four-day-long show. So if you see Dave’s limited edition
litho and then absolutely have to have it … Well, there is a way.

And don’t forget to bring your wallet when you head on out
for San Diego. For be it submarines or lithographs, there’s sure to be
something that you’ll come across at this year’s Comic-Con that you’re gonna
wanna buy.

Your thoughts?