Doesn’t it seem wrong that films like GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE are made relatively incident-free, but that genuinely innovative and unique potential projects, such as Charlie Kaufman’s FRANK OR FRANCIS, struggle and fail to be made due to a lack of funding? One of the best director’s of our generation, who has constructed many great pieces of art, including BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999) and ADAPTATION (2002), has seen his latest feature film crumble away, despite an exciting premise, and a star-studded cast already being on-board. Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline, Nicolas Cage, Jack Black, Steve Carrell and Catherine Keener had all signed up to appear in the satire of Hollywood, which tells the story of an online feud between a director and a film blogger who criticises his work.
However, Banks did assuage any feelings of hopelessness by confirming it has only been delayed for the foreseeable future. She also expressed just what the opportunity would mean to her:
“We didn’t get to shoot that movie. It was ready to go, and, as many movies do, it fell apart at the last minute… I really want to work with Charlie Kaufman, I would do anything with him. I really hope it comes together.”
Kevin Kline is also reported to be very keen to return to work as soon as possible, and we at THN second that keenness, because it is very rarely you find a premise that cannot immediately be likened to that of another film, and Kaufman, who is an expert in originality, should and would, in a perfect world, be given carte blanche.
Let’s hope FRANK OR FRANCIS isn’t left on the shelf, as Mr Kaufman has at least two other projects in the pipeline at the moment; an adaptation of the series of novels, CHAOS WALKING, and a secret reunion project with Spike Jonze (whom he worked with on ADAPTATION).
Source: Firstshowing
