'Gilligan's Island' headed to the bigscreen

Variety ^ | Mar. 2, 2010 | DAVE MCNARY

[tlb]

The seven castaways of "Gilligan's Island" have found a home at Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment.

The studio and production company have begun development on a feature film based on the iconic CBS sitcom, which generated solid ratings during its three seasons between 1964 and 1967 and then found something close to eternal life in syndication.

Charles Roven and Richard Suckle are onboard to produce for Atlas, with Brad Copeland penning the screenplay. Original show producer Sherwood Schwartz is aboard to exec produce along with son Lloyd Schwartz.

Plans are for a contempo take on the well-known premise and characters, with the studio and the Schwartzes' blessing Copeland's initial idea for the screenplay. Roven told Daily Variety that he's hoping to start production as early as next year but won't move forward on seeking a director or cast until Copeland's script is completed.

"The characters are so good," Roven added. "We think it's going to be a great story to transport these cultural icons to the modern day."

No casting's been set although Sherwood Schwartz said in an interview last year that he was interested in Michael Cera playing the lead role.

Roven's credits include "The Dark Knight," "Batman Begins," "The Bank Job," "The International," both "Scooby-Doo" pics and the upcoming "Season of the Witch."

[upsdriver]

(Not that I hated the show or anything, but if we'd had as many channels then as we do now, how many people would have watched it?

Well, I'd watch it. In fact, I own all three seasons on dvd. All these channels to watch today and most of them are crap. The networks are the worst.

[Impy]

I loved the Addams Family movies. Such a shame Raul Julia died.

I’m glad the long planned “Dallas” movie is apparently dead. It eventually evolved into a “comedy”.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think what killed Julia was his playing his last major role in “The Burning Season” which required him to become nearly emaciated as the activist Francisco Mendes. That weakened his health and led to his untimely death within the year at just 54. It was interesting a debate on his message board who should portray Julia if they do a bio pic, some people think Robert Downey, Jr. should, but I’d vote for Javier Bardem.

[Impy]

I think what killed Julia was his playing his last major role in “The Burning Season” which required him to become nearly emaciated as the activist Francisco Mendes.

That sucks. I don't know how actors do that weight fluctuation stuff. The audience can suspend disbelief a little regarding character's weight.

Bardem kinda resembles him, but he's kinda ugly.

Downey is way shorter than Julia. Not that that would matter much. They had Jon Voight play the Pope after all.