No Shock: FAST FIVE’s $80 million-plus gross inspires a cavalcade of car related films
Hollywood sure loves their trends.
Variety has a lengthy story on a collection of new projects that studios have tossed into production, with a new lease on life following the insane $86 million gross for the latest entry in the car-focused FAST AND THE FURIOUS franchise, FAST FIVE.
First, WB “has high hopes” for a film related franchise based around the Mattel toy line, Hot Wheels. This shouldn’t be that big of a shock, particularly since Mattel has had a recent influx of properties making the jump from toy/game to the big screen. Ironically, for those who may not remember, FAST AND THE FURIOUS producer Neal Mortiz has been hard at work on turning a new toyline from Mattel, a line of underwater aliens, into a feature film as well.
Next, The Weinstein Company is looking to bring Knight Rider to the big screen. Imagine is also set to remake the 1976 comedy, EAT MY DUST, which saw the remake’s producer, Ron Howard, star. Toss in three films based around the life of car designer Enzo Ferrari, and you have a new rush of interest into the auto world that Hollywood has seemed to take on after the success of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise.
Personally, I find the Ferrari films to be far more interesting (Paramounts’s STREET LEGAL, Fox’s RACE TO THE DEATH, and Michael Mann’s long talked-about biopic), but other than that, it just doesn’t seem like any of these projects really feel all that intriguing. HOT WHEELS could ultimately be an interesting kids franchise, but even then, it just isn’t quite something all that interesting.
What do you think?
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