Jeff Wadlow to Rewrite and Possibly Direct 'Masters of the Universe'

Last summer 20th Century Fox hired Jeff Wadlow to begin scripting their upcoming X-men spinoff, X-force, with an eye for him to direct it. This was based, at least in part, on what was expected to be a hit-making job on Kick-Ass 2. That didn't quite happen as the film bombed, but that hasn't steered studios away from him. Earlier this year, Jon Chu dropped out of the long-developing Masters of the Universe film, with Wadlow listed as a possible replacement. Now The Wrap says he's been hired to rewrite the screenplay, and there's the chance he could still win the directing job.

Wadlow will be taking a crack at the draft originally penned by Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean), while he's apparently still in contention to helm. Other frontrunners include Mike Cahill (I Origins), Harald Zwart (The Mortal Instruments), and The Lego Movie's Chris McKay. The guys over at Schmoes Know say Wadlow will be the guy behind the camera, but it sounds as if decisions are still being made.

Will this impact Marvel's X-Force? Who knows? We'll find out soon enough.

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'Masters of the Universe' Director Shortlist Includes Jeff Wadlow, Mike Cahill, and More

With toy movies all the rage again thanks to The LEGO Movie, Sony Pictures is ramping up their plans to bring He-Man & the Masters of the Universe to the big screen. In the works seemingly forever, the project most recently had Jon M. Chu on board before he split to focus on another toy franchise in GI Joe. Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean) was brought on to take a crack at the script, and now a new shortlist of potential directors has surfaced.

Variety and The Wrap have revealed the list of candidates to bring He-Man's adventures to the big screen for the first time since the comically awful Dolph Lundgren film. The most interesting name on the list is Mike Cahill, the indie filmmaker best known for working with Brit Marling on Another Earth and his Sundance film, I Origins (which is amazing, by the way). Also on the list are Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) and Harald Zwart (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones), both having flopped hard with major studio efforts last summer. Last on the list is Chris McKay, an interesting choice because he served as an editor on The LEGO Movie and is a key component of Adult Swim's Robot Chicken. Zwart is close with Sony and may be the guy they ultimately turn to despite his recent failures.

Last month's rumor that had Rian Johnson, Phil Lord & Chris Miller, and Joe Cornish listed as candidates was proven to be totally incorrect. Not a surprise given the source.  This one's still a ways off and other directors are being considered

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Possible "Masters of the Universe' Directors Includes Rian Johnson and Joe Cornish

Michael Bay's Transformers movies have earned well over $2B at the box office, and the G.I. Joe films haven't done too shabby, either. So of course it makes sense that another popular 1980s toy property like He-Man and the Masters of the Universe would be a top studio priority. Jon Chu had been attached to direct a feature film for quite awhile before dropping out to focus on G.I. Joe 3, but now an even more interesting crop of directors have emerged as candidates.

According to the guys at Schmoes Know, that shortlist of directors includes Rian Johnson (Looper), Joe Cornish (Attack the Block), Andy Muschietti (Mama), Kirk DeMicco & Chris Sanders (The Croods) and Phil Lord and Chris Miller of 21 Jump Street fame. Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean) is writing the script, and production is said to be "close to happening", although with a list this of directors this long that doesn't seem to be the case.

Obviously Johnson and Cornish are the two pearls here, and bring a sci-fi/fantasy background that should mesh well with Masters of the Universe. Although considering what Lord and Miller have been able to do with The Lego Movie, perhaps they've got an edge? Maybe they can scrap the whole live-action thing and do it all with action figures?

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Jon Chu Exits 'Masters of the Universe'; Derek Cianfrance to Helm 'A Cotton Candy Autopsy'

* He-Man may have the power of Grayskull, but it's starting to look like Skeletor is personally holding up a Masters of the Universe movie. Jon M. Chu has been attached to the project for awhile, but with G.I. Joe 3 in development and rumors he may take over a third Star Trek film, he's had to drop out. But there is some positive news....well, depending on your perspective, I guess. Terry Rossio, who has written every single Pirates of the Caribbean film and The Lone Ranger, is the latest hired to draft a new script. At least he's got plenty of franchise experience, even if its not exactly the most inspiring choice. [THR]

* Suddenly The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance is extremely busy, and that is a very good thing. Recently adding adaptations of The Light Between Oceans and ESPN flick Those Guys Have All the Fun, Cianfrance will next tackle one of the weirdest comics....well, ever. He revealed on Jeff Goldsmith's great podcast that he'll adapt A Cotton Candy Autopsy, based on the first issue of DC Comics' long-shelved series Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children. The story will probably strike even greater terror in those who fear clowns, and might inspire it in those who don't. Written by Dave Louapre and Dan Sweetman, it followed an insane clown who, after his circus burns to the ground, gathers up his clown colleagues for a drunken, crime-filled road trip where they kidnap women and steal cars with reckless abandon. Definitely not one for the kiddies. Even better, Cianfrance revealed that his 'Pines' co-star and Animal Kingdom breakout Ben Mendelsohn will be starring. It's unclear where this will fit in Cianfrance's crowded schedule.

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