"John Carter" Team Visits Tarzana
Pre-production for the Disney"John Carter of Mars" film is gathering steam

Tarzana, CA: October 2, 2007
The Pixar creative team spent Tuesday morning exploring the massive Edgar Rice Burroughs archives in the ERB, Inc. offices on Ventura Blvd.  Pixar's Jim Morris (vp), Andrew Stanton (director), Mark Andrews (script) discussed the "John Carter of Mars" film project with Burroughs representatives, Danton Burroughs, Sandra Galfas and Jim Sullos. 

All six members at the meeting expressed a deep commitment to the project, acknowledging that they had been inspired by Burroughs' creations from a very early age. This is evidenced in the excitement held for the John Carter property and the plans for a film trilogy faithful to the Burroughs books. Projected release date is sometime before 2012.

Danton Burroughs presented the creative team with a wealth of resources, including art samples and books by ERB scholars such as Irwin Porges and John F. Roy. They noted that their major resource to date had been the thousands of official ERB, Inc. Webpages and Webzines.

~ Bill Hillman

For "Wall-E" director, art mixes well with commerce Reuters ~ November 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If there ever was a person meant to make a movie about a U.S. Civil War soldier from the Confederate States of America stranded on the planet Mars, it just may be Andrew Stanton, director of animated hit "Wall-E." Why?

A soldier of the confederacy was a "rebel" in the 1860s when the United States fought its war between the states, and Stanton also comes from a pack of rebels -- the filmmakers at Disney-Pixar -- whose movies like "Wall-E" have time and again defied conventional Hollywood wisdom and become smash hits. . . .

. . . "John Carter of Mars" is Stanton's next animated feature project. It is based on a story written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, best known for his "Tarzan" books. Stanton said he read "John Carter" as a boy and has been in love with it ever since. It is based on a simple idea, he said: "an ordinary person in an extraordinary world." But audiences wanting to go there will have to wait several years before the movie hits theaters. But when it does, the betting is that like "Wall-E", it, too, will be a hit. More>>>

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New Look For Carter Of Mars?
Sci Fi Wire  | SciFiLog.com
Andrew Stanton, who is writing and directing John Carter of Mars, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' books, told SCI FI Wire that he and co-writer Mark Andrews will be putting their own spin on the iconic story, and a Pixar manager added that the film will have a unique look as well. "I'm going to do what I remember more than what they exactly do" in the books, Stanton said cryptically in a group interview at the Emeryville, Calif., headquarters of Pixar on Sept. 25.

Stanton (WALL*E) added that he is currently deep in writing with partner Andrews, a storyboard artist at Pixar, on the script for Carter. "John Carter of Mars is what I'm writing right now with Mark Andrews," Stanton said. "Writing, it's all about writing this year."

Jim Morris, general manager at Pixar Animation, promised that the movie will not look like previous attempts to adapt the franchise for the screen. "Everything that's been out there has been an attempt to kind of capture this Deco-esque [Frank] Frazetta vision of John Carter, which I think feels old and stale," he said. "And where Stanton is going--from what we've seen so far--is very different than that. And I think that the people who really love the essence of the books will really dig it, but so will audiences in general."

Asked whether the film would be in 3-D, Morris added, "I hope not!" It's been reported that Carter may incorporate live-action elements amid animation. Stanton's WALL*E was the first Pixar production to incorporate live action. Morris declined to discuss the matter.

"John Carter is in its very early stages, and there is much to figure out about that, so we'd be premature," Morris said. "We are looking at a variety of different approaches and techniques for that ... We're kind of a bit early in the development of that."

Morris added: "I'm sure I speak for all of the science fiction geeks, fans and aficionados when I say it's finally time to see that movie. And I, for one, am delighted that Andrew Stanton is the guy that's making the movie, because he's a story-driven guy."

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Jon Favreau ~ LA Times Interview excerpt
Quote:
"Not involved with John Carter of Mars. Visited [Andrew] Stanton at Pixar. He's doing a great job. He will do a better job with it than I would have at that point in my career. Most importantly, after 100 years, it's finally getting made."

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John Carter of Mars updates

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See the official John Carter of Mars sites:
www.johncarterofmars.ca
barsoom.com
www.princessofmars.org
www.johncarterofmars.org

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Projects in 'WALL*E' director's future are exciting
Deseret News ~ June 29, 2008
As much as I love "Finding Nemo" (2003) and loved the new movie "WALL*E" even more, it's the things in Andrew Stanton's future that really have me excited. A Pixar executive with a good track record, Stanton also co-directed "A Bug's Life" (1998) and co-wrote "Monsters, Inc." (1998) and "Toy Story 2" (1999). And his next feature will be "John Carter of Mars," a long-in-development fantasy that's based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels. Have I mentioned that I'm a big fan of those books? In a recent interview in Salt Lake City Stanton pooh-poohed my suggested casting of Hugh Jackman as the lead. (Stanton said Jackman is "too old," apparently forgetting the character is supposed to be a Civil War veteran.) But I was pretty intrigued by his talk about digitally animated versions of Burroughs' green-skinned, multi-armed Martians, or Tharks. Also, Stanton chuckled when I suggested Michael Clarke Duncan as the body model — or at least the voice of Carter's Martian brother-in-arms Tars Tarkas. Unfortunately, it will be at least four years until we get to see the movie. More>>>

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Andrew Stanton discusses the John Carter project
Ain't It Cool News Interview ~ June 25, 2008
"I have been a fan of those books since I was 10, and I've watched vicariously from the sidelines as it has gone from studio to studio since I was in college in the '80s. And just as fan, wanting to see it be made, and praying to God it would be done right. I thought it was truly going to get done by Jon Favreau, and the minute it fell apart, I couldn't believe it. And the timing was just right with my schedule, and I said, "I don't know, this is crazy but I'm going to see if we can get it." And here we are. Believe me, if it doesn't fall apart for other reasons, I'm going to do it right, because I have been a huge fan of those books.

"Mark Andrews and I are writing it together; he was the head of story on RATATOUILLE and THE INCREDIBLES. We make a great combo together, and we're just spending this year writing. We've learned from the Pixar methodology: don't get distracted about how and all these things everybody else wants to ask; just make a great story and everything else wants to fall into place. So all the other specifics we aren't even going to decide upon until next year, once we have a script that we think is worth making. . . . We don't want to decide [whether the film is animated or live action] until next year. And believe me, we're not going say, "Oh, it's a Pixar film, so it's got to be G-rated." We're going to do what's right for the movie and then we'll find the right way to distribute it." More>>>

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Andrew Stanton Out To ‘Break The Curse’ With Adaptation Of ‘John Carter Of Mars’
MTV Movies Blog ~ June 24, 2008
From Bob Clampett, to Ray Harryhausen, to Robert Rodriquez, and Jon Favreau, the list of directors who’ve wanted to make “John Carter of Mars” is a long one stretching back at least 70 years. For a long time, Andrew Stanton, who was recently confirmed to be directing an adaption of “Carter” , didn’t feel like he belonged in their company. “I cared a lot that [‘Carter’] was done right, and I didn’t really care if I was the one to do it. I didn’t feel qualified,” he told MTV News.

Stanton’s assertions aren’t faux-humility. The daunting nature of the books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which center around an immortal Virginian’s adventures on the red planet, as well as the long-list of talented directors who tried and failed to bring it to the bring screen, would no doubt challenge any director. So what does Stanton have that they didn’t? Well, for one, he’s got unending reserves of talent. For another, he’s got impeccable timing. (“It fell on the floor right at that moment and I was there,” he said) And, thirdly, of course, he’s got a t-shirt. “We want to make t-shirts that say ‘break the curse’ because I don’t want to be another name on the list,” Stanton laughed. “[The project] seems to keep dropping on the floor. I’ll pick it up this time and hopefully I’ll be the one to do it right.”

For the “Wall-E” and “Finding Nemo” director, that means having no illusions about the project’s difficulty, and sticking with it despite what looks to be at least a 5 year process. “I loved those [‘John Carter’] books. I read them all from front to back all through my high school and junior high years, and just always wanted to see them realized on the screen,” Stanton insisted. “The big common denominator for me [with all my films] is: is it an idea I love so much that I would desire so badly to see on the screen that I would be willing to get out of bed for years and face it when it’s not working? [‘Carter’ shares] that common denominator.” More>>>

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Review: Stanton's "Wall-E": An Instant Film Classic
(CNN) ~ The most consistent production unit in Hollywood just hit another home run. Over the last decade, Pixar has become a byword for quality, combining cutting-edge digital animation with depth of character, slapstick comedy and rich, engrossing storytelling that appeals equally to kids and adults. "Wall-E" has all of that and more. Written and directed by Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo"), it's Pixar's most ambitious movie and an instant classic.  . . . Grace, beauty, joy, laughter and love. A wonderful combination for any movie. "Wall-E" is easily the best film of the year so far. More>>>
EW.com

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JOHN CARTER BLOG QUOTES:

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". . . there’s been no discussion about exactly how it won’t be distributed or what moniker it will be under. Everything is going to be derived based on whatever we end up with script-wise, so this whole year is just about the script. In 2009 will be much more involved in the OK, exactly how is this going to get made? And exactly how are we going to present it? Nobody is worrying about that until there’s a script." SlashFilm.com

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WALL*E is nothing short of a masterpiece of filmmaking. It is brilliant. I have not seen a film deal with such complex issues as humanity’s existence and the fate of the planet in such a deep and beautiful way. . . WALL*E is so fucking perfect a film. The film is very much alive; it has an organic pulse not found in many live action releases. I expected a great film, but I did not expect a masterpiece. Andrew Stanton, like Brad Bird before him, can do no wrong in my book. Andrew Stanton’s adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter Of Mars cannot arrive soon enough. 2snaps.tv

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The blog reports that Andrew Stanton, director of Finding Nemo (2003) and the upcoming WALL-E, confirmed today  that he is currently developing an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars, as has been rumoured for several months now. The Pixar Blog ~ June 06, 2008

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Q: Can you talk a bit about John Carter of Mars?
AS: Well, pretty much it’s already out there. I’m definitely writing it with Mark Andrews, and that’s all we’re doing right now.
Q: Is it gonna be live-action?
AS: Everybody’s asking that, and we’re not gonna make that decision for about a year or so.  Interview in Art Of Duze

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CONFIRMED:
- Disney is doing the John Carter series
- The first one is probably going to be called Princess of Mars
- It is currently set to be released in theaters in 2012
- They would then continue the series, one film a year (or close to that)
- Andrew Stanton is directing
- Brad Bird is doing a live-action film, 1906, which seems to be a break from Pixar for him ~ Animation Empire

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Pixar's 'Wall-E' rolls over competition ~ “Wall-E” blasted off at the box office Friday, earning an estimated $23.1 million and giving Disney-Pixar its best opening day ever. The critically acclaimed “Wall-E,” directed by Andrew Stanton, easily won the weekend, grossing an estimated $62.5 million from 3,992 runs. Variety ~ June 29, 2008

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"WALL-E" wows box office
Reuters ~ June 29, 2008
LOS ANGELES -- Animation giant Pixar hit the box office jackpot once again on Sunday as its robot love story "WALL-E" snagged the No. 1 spot during its first weekend of release across North America. The movie, bolstered by near-unanimous critical praise, earned an estimated $62.5 million in its first three days, said Pixar's Walt Disney Co parent. More>>>