GILLIGAN'S ISLAND Movie being Scripted by Wild Hogs Writer
Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment have brought on screen-writer Brad Copeland (Wild Hogs, Arrested Development) to script a big-screen adaptation of the iconic 1960's CBS sitcom Gilligan's Island.
Charles Roven (The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, The Bank Job) and Richard Suckle will produce for Atlas. Sherwood Schwartz, who produced all 98 episodes of the original show during its three seasons between 1964 and 1967, will exec produce with his son Lloyd Schwartz.
Sherwood is also the man behind the show's oh-so-famous opening, "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle," which ran at the top of each segment, as a way for viewers to understand the premise: after a terrible storm, during what was supposed to be a three-hour tour, the passengers of the S.S. Minnow -- Gilligan, the Skipper too, a millionaire and his wife, a movie-star, the Professor and Mary Ann -- become stranded on an an uncharted and uninhabited island in the Pacific after their boat is shipwrecked.
What the jingle leaves out of the show's familiar formula, is that the group's efforts in getting off the island are always thwarted by the hapless title character, played by Bob Denver.
The studio and the Schwartzes have given their blessing on Copeland's initial idea for the screenplay, which will be a contemporary take on the well-known premise and characters.
Roven told Variety:
The characters are so good. We think it's going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day.
It'd be more plausible if it were still set in the 60's, whereas today we have GPS, cellphones, and a slew of other tools rescue workers could do to help find the people.
Roven hopes to begin filming as early as next year but won't move forward on seeking a director or cast until Copeland's script is completed. Last year Sherwood said in an interview that he was interested in Michael Cera playing the role of Gilligan.
This sounds about as good of an idea as keeping Gilligan alive after the first three times he ruins the castaways plans to get off the island. Thanks to the fact that the show was never renewed for a fourth season, the characters never did get off the island.
I'm actually quite torn on what to think of Copeland. He wrote 6 episodes of Arrested Development, but he's since nose-dived off the credibility platform into pics like Wild Hogs, and taking on unnecessary remake fare with Yogi Bear. He's also penning Monster Squad for Warners, but that is unrelated to the 1987 classic of the same name. One way to think of a contemporary remake of Gilligan's Island would pretty much be like sticking Mr. Bean on the first season of Lost.
But hey, if they get a good ensemble cast together, who knows what kind of bank this could make? I know the movie will probaby turn out bad, but what would you dream cast be for the seven castaways?
Just for fun, here's my ideas for casting:
Gilligan: Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, She's Out of Your League)
Runner Ups: Michael Cera, Jesse Eisenberg
The Skipper: James Gandolfini
Runner Up: John Goodman
Ginger Grant: Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Mary Ann Summers: Rachel Bilson (The O.C.)
Runner Ups: Mila Kunis, Zooey Deschanel
The Professor: Simon Baker (The Mentalist)
The Howells : Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci
