DUKE NUKEM Producers Look To DEADPOOL For How To Handle The Tone in This Hypersensitive Culture

Producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are currently in the process of developing a big screen adaptation of the classic video game franchise Duke Nukem. This is such a fun franchise and if they actually get it right, it could be an awesome action-packed comedy.

During an interview with Cinemablend, the producers confirm that John Cena is on board to take on the lead role in the film. They also discuss the challenges they are facing in getting the tone right. To help them in their efforts they are looking at Tim Miller's Deadpool for lessons on how to do that. Form says:

"We are working on Duke Nukem right now. It's going to be about tone. That's about tone. How do you nail that tone in the way that Deadpool nailed the tone? I think we have to do that and if we don't get the tone right then we're not going to make the movie."

For those of you who are familiar with Duke Nukem, he will be a bit of a hard egg to crack, especially in the hypersensitive culture that we now live in. The character has a very over-the-top personality who is an egotistical and sexist jerk who throws dollar bills at strippers. But like Deadpool, the franchise also shares similar themes of "metacommentary on pop culture and satire of excessive masculinity." Developing a misogynistic character in a movie in today's world isn't going to be easy to accomplish and the producers are well aware of that. Form goes on to say:

"You know that having a misogynistic guy in today's world, how do you make that fun and lovable and at the same time he's got to be an incredible badass, so those are the things that we're struggling with and we're going to try and come out with what I hope is a really fun ride. That's the goal, is for it to be a really fun ride."

I really do hope that they can pull it off! But it makes me wonder if they are going to lighten up the character to be less offensive. These days it seems like no matter what anyone does, there are going to be people that find something offensive. Hell, me just saying that might offend someone! 

Form goes on to talk about John Cena's involvement in the film, saying that he is on board to star in the movie, but that it all hinges on the script that is written:

"Yeah, that's what we're working with now. He is. Yes. We don't have a script yet, so that is confirmed at this point but if he reads the script and he doesn't like the script I'm sure there's ways that he could pull out, but right now he's our guy."

It's not hard to imagine Cena in the role of Duke Nukem. He's actually a pretty perfect choice to take on the part. It will be interesting to see how they actually end up handling the tone and subject matter. I hope they can pull it off without sacrificing some things in the process to try to appease the masses. 

Personally, I think they should stay true to the character or not do it at all. The Deadpool film did a great job staying true to the character! How do you think they should handle Duke Nukem?