Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Literally, the next attempt at a Flash Gordon movie will be helmed by the director of Kick-Ass. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew Vaughn, now fresh off the huge success of Kingsman: The Secret Service, is in negotiations to save every one our hopes for a fresh and proper adaptation of Alex Raymond’s classic sci-fi comic strip.
I’m as big a fan of the campy 1980 movie as is possible, especially for Queen’s soundtrack, but I’m still eagerly anticipating a redo. And like Fox, which is producing the effort, I’m a fan of Vaughn’s work, particularly X-Men: First Class and the first Kick-Ass. Flash Gordon is basically a non-super superhero, sort of like Kick-Ass, originating on Earth as a professional athlete who finds himself in outer space fighting an evil ruler.
The movie will probably be more focused on the space opera angle, though, especially if it’s able to cash in on similarities to Star Wars (Fox used to distribute that franchise before Disney bought Lucasfilm), which itself was heavily influenced by the Flash Gordon film serials of the ’30 and ’40s before in turn inspiring the schlocky 1980 version starring Sam J. Jones.
Speaking of whom, I hope that Jones isn’t too disappointed with this news. The nude centerfold model turned actor has been riding the nostalgia for Flash Gordon quite a bit lately, from his cameos in Ted and its upcoming sequel to being featured as the subject of the upcoming documentary Life After Flash (the Kickstarter campaign for which was sadly canceled following our promotion of the project).
Jones also recently told Den of Geek that he’s been in talks with John Davis, who is producing the new Flash Gordon, about how it’s actually a sequel and he would be involved. He stressed that he can do anything a young star can do and should be up to reprise the role. I don’t doubt that Davis will want Jones for a cameo of some kind, but this is clearly not a continuation of the 35-year-old version.
Overseeing the reboot alongside Davis is George Nolfi, who wrote the treatment for the adaptation. The current screenplay is by Star Trek 3 writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
