Deadline reports:
Marvel has set Don Payne, one of the credited scribes on the first film, to script the sequel. Payne rewrote Lobo for Warner Bros, and was one of the writers on Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer. His superhero experience started with My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
I am not a big huge fan of the recent Thor movie unlike some of my peers here. I felt it was a mixed bag of goodies at best. The weak spots was “the love story” (if we should call it that) and the treatment of SHIELD (played in the Iron Man films as good guys; in Thor, they act like they are more into Big Brother conspiracy) but I don’t know if that’s some of Payne’s doing. But what “the fans” are mad about is that right now it’s ONLY Payne working on the sequel. Payne who co-wrote ‘Rise Of The Silver Surfer’ and ‘who penned ‘Super Ex-GF’- as if that’s a reason for him to get a boot up the rear and off the Thor 2 project. Wait- wasn’t the sequel just announced? Yes, it was. But when I read the Thor 2 -Don Payne news that’s what I witnessed in those comments sections of those respected blog and news sites.
and I’m sick of hearing the whining already
Seriously, folks. I don’t get it. I’m extremely clueless. Let me present you, if I may, common sense:
1- Payne did not direct Fantastic Four : Rise Of The Silver Surfer. He only co-wrote it and wrote mostly what Tim Story and Fox wanted. He followed the Beat Sheet, more or less. When writers are given those instructions/suggestions, they follow them as best they can. If they don’t, the producers/director will seek someone who will. Galactus being the whirlwind was not all his fault. I’m not defending the idea; even if the excuse was to save “Galactus” for a better interpetation for a Surfer spinoff film (which never happened-and most likely won’t)
2- Payne still was a party to the film you just liked. In addition, the sequel itself was just announced. He’s just coming up with a story or outline…which may not even be in the final shooting script of Thor 2. It’s also possible other writers may be brought on after him.
3- My Super Ex- Girlfriend was funny.
4- So Lobo hasn’t seen the light of day. Big deal. He was more of a Wolverine spoof for DC anyway. There’s many projects by many writers whose scripts don’t get filmed right away, regardless of genre. So Lobo isn’t made today. What if it came back to life next week? Not that it will, but it could. Does the project’s current status negate Payne’s writing ability?
So you see, I don’t think it’s a big red flag or anything. I know some of you will disagree with me on that. That’s fine. But I’m more concerned on who may replace Branagh- and that may not be even be known for some time yet. There’s also a chance that what fate befalls next year’s Avengers will play (or not play) a part in the Thor sequel. I’m really sorry about this, my peers. I’m just not on board with the Payne bashing.
I want to be clear on this. It’s not that I’m saying fans should be ‘concerned’ or have a few doubts. That’s one thing. But it quite another in my view to say how awful a writer is when he is being a professional and he happened to write the shooting draft of the film you loved so very much. Not to mention that we don’t know how good or bad his first draft of ‘Thor 2’ will be.
SHIELD is Big Brother — definitely not the “good guys” or “bad guys” in Marvel… very grey. Thor was pretty accurate in that regard, and set things up nicely for the SHIELD storyline. I really don’t see what complaint there is there… unless you’re just looking for a simple good vs. evil tale with absolutely, positively nothing interesting or conceivably adult about it.
All that said — that’s a TERRIBLE resume. Truly, in Hollywood, like in Washington, you fail upwards.
BUT in the previous Iron Man films they were not “grey” were they? Especailly Agent Coulson. By protraying them in the conspiracy light, they make it a film cliche of sorts.
Among Payne’s credits is the first Thor. He was the final scribe on that film. He also had a working relationship with Marvel. That’s why they offered him the job.
I thought the portrayal of SHIELD was accurate to what would actually happen in the real world. SHIELD is the world’s police force, so to speak. Tony Stark is a known commodity. It only makes sense that they would take a different approach to an unknown like Thor. Stark was looked at as an annoyance and someone they need to get under control. They viewed Thor as a possible threat. The two situations require differing approaches.
I agree with the previous posters. Fans will always find some reason to get upset. The fans will never really be happy. Thankfully, that’s what keeps movie makers trying to make better films. This seems like an odd disagreement to take to the board in a post with such a long soliloquy of disapproval and then a long rebuttal to someone’s comment. Who cares? I’m glad fans are upset and want to see the best people making the films they love.
In other words, any other film site who never addressed “geek rage” before in any form should never talk or post about it. Is that right?
If any site writes a post regarding comics fans saying who can write or direct what and takes them to task for it, you should let them know that .
So is this like a rebuttal post in response to what people are saying on other blogs and news sites? If so, I don’t see the point of posting it here.
It is both news of Don Payne being hired to write the first draft of Thor 2 AND yes, the majority of responses from other blog sites (some even respectable) and the comment sections in those and other places. Some examples:
and
In the comments of Worst Previews
“This is bad news”
“Those movies were pure shit. Without a director, This will be the same”
There are many examples, and if were simply a fanbase, I wouldn’t mention it. But it crosses over into some sites too, and my point here is he (Payne) co-wrote the Thor film and on some other projects he had guildelines to follow that the bosses wanted, and that the film/comic geekbase is over-reacting at best. I might take some heat for that rebuttal but I also want to make it clear that I’m not smack-talking those sites either, It’s simply that they are implying that this is not a smart move on Marvel’s part- to go to a writer they trust.
I see it no different than say, an actor cast for a role and “he/she isn’t the right actor” or a director isn’t right and so on. So– when it seems the film blog community has moved past that sort of thing, the blogs and the commenters are merciless on a guy who was just hired to write the first draft of a sequel to a film he was a party to.
AND in the final draft of that first Thor film.
And I can write /post about it if I want.
Don’t get me started on the ‘Bad Chuck Norris Endorsements’…
Fuck this Payne guy!!!!!
(:) just playin dude)
As long as I dont get a quick jump to Beta Ray Bill I’m cool (leave that shit for the 3rd or even 4th in the series) something about that Horse-headed dude rubs me all kinds of wrong…
Oh! that and keep the dialouge as it was and not too Norse “Shakesperian” like
JUS SAYIN.
Didn’t recall seeing any bashing of this guy here recently…