5 Movies Hollywood ALMOST Got Right
Five films Hollywood could have gotten right if only they’d paid closer attention...
In a recent article here at What Culture, Andrew Edward Davies explored Tim Burtons Batman Forever and called it The Best Dark Knight Movie Never Made. The threequel would have seen such things as the return of Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, a darker and more maniacal Riddler played by Robin Williams and the introduction of Two Face played by Billy Dee Williams, continuing his role from 1989s Batman. So what happened? Well, Andrew explores that in his article which I suggest you check out, here. My topical colleague, however, has opened the proverbial can of worms and sent me on a merry chase through Development Hell to bring you five films Hollywood could have gotten right if only theyd paid closer attention...
1. Star Trek: The Academy Years
It is a matter of common knowledge (even amongst non-fans) that Star Trek's fifth film installment was both a critical and financial disappointment in 1989. Still, the saga continued and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was released in 1991 and is considered a vast improvement on its predecessor, earning respect amongst fans for being the swan song of the original crew of the Starship Enterprise. This, however, was nearly not the case. In its initial stages, the sixth Star Trek film was not envisioned as another sequel in a franchise that was losing steam. Instead, the Paramount Brass, in a rare moment of insight, recognized the need for reinvention or rejuvenation of their ailing franchise. Thus, a film that would be a prequel to everything seen to that point was greenlit. Writer David Loughery penned a script titled Star Trek: The Academy Years that would have told the story of a very young James T. Kirk and Spock. Lougherys script would have begun as an aging Doctor McCoy addresses a graduating class at Starfleet Commencement. The class, proffering questions about the legendary Starfleet Captain and First Officer receive a recounting of the famous trios first meeting at Starfleet Academy, years before. The film would have seen the introduction of each main cast member and brought them all together in an organic way---though, unlike Abrams reboot in 2009 it was told as a stand-alone story that would have seen the crew go their separate ways in the end; the viewer knowing they would come together on the Enterprise eventually. In the end, poor reception from the original cast who obviously would be shunned by the film in favour of younger actors playing their characters, as well as fans whod gotten wind of the idea, combined with the impending 25th Anniversary of the original series; all conspired to kill this otherwise solid idea. Much of this idea would be used in the 2009 reboot, Star Trek---in which we did finally get a story of Kirk and Spocks academy days. Hollywood did get it right with Star Trek in 2009... but if they had done it in the early 1990's, perhaps it would have started off an alternative timeline sooner?