Mark Romanek To Direct Re-Imagined, Live-Action 'Cinderella'

by Kevin Jagernauth
August 12, 2011 5:47 AM
10 Comments

We love Mark Romanek but dude, seriously, WTF. Granted, it was inevitable that after "Never Let Me Go" failed at the box office and dropped out of last year's awards race very early, the director would have to take on a studio gig to bring some sheen back to his name. In fact, earlier this year he had the chance to direct "The Wolverine" -- an exciting prospect to be sure -- but he turned it down. And given this development, we really wish he would've done the comic franchise instead.

Last year, Aline Brosh McKenna -- the overrated but in demand writer of "The Devil Wears Prada," "Morning Glory," and "27 Dresses" -- made a cool seven figures selling Disney on a live-action, reimagining of "Cinderella." This was just on the heels of Tim Burton's wretched "Alice In Wonderland" becoming a billion dollar earner and now, according to Deadline, they want Mark Romanek to repeat that lucrative magic.

So, what happens in this new tale? Well, "the prince is set for a politically arranged marriage, until the evil plan is threatened when the prince meets Cinderella" and then presumably pumpkins turn into carriages or whatever. We'd really rather Romanek be doing anything but this but interest in the director seems low right now -- did anyone even go see his canceled "Locke & Key" pilot when it screened at Comic-Con last month? -- so we figure this will his name back in circulation. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet or take one for the team, and if doing this means Romanek can get "Cold Case" off the ground in the future, we suppose we'll have to live with it.

More: Film Studios, Mark Romanek

10 Comments

| Reply
J | August 14, 2011 5:52 AMReply

They had to schedule two separate showings of Locke & Key at SDCC to accommodate all the people who wanted to see it, which I don't think has ever happened before with a show that wasn't actually picked up.
Glass | August 13, 2011 9:52 AMReply

Alan rules.
Hmm | August 12, 2011 12:41 PMReply

Good thinking...I heard Mark Romanek was really worried if you were going to stick up for him on an Internet message board today.
alan | August 12, 2011 9:04 AMReply

no problem. just putting film school kids in check here.
hmm | August 12, 2011 7:54 AMReply

Thanks, Alan!
alan | August 12, 2011 7:28 AMReply

hmm,

his music video work speaks for itself. he and a handful of others aesthetically reinvigorated cinema through music videos and commercials. specifically the propaganda group.

thirty seconds of his worst music video has more aesthetic significance than your lazy ass.

fuck off,
alan
Peg | August 12, 2011 7:01 AMReply

Romanek IS a titan of cinema. Anyone who has seen 'Never Let Me Go' can see this is the work of a highly skilled, sensitive and intelligent director. It was on my top ten list last year.
hmm | August 12, 2011 6:12 AMReply

Why do you guys act like Mark Romanek is such a titan of cinema?
BuntyHoven | August 12, 2011 6:00 AMReply

Keep an eye out for Chris Cunningham's Goldilocks & The Three Bears, coming 2013.
Marcus | August 12, 2011 5:55 AMReply

this is stupid