For a film that cost approximately $23 million and raked in $102 million globally ($72 million domestically), Ruben Fleischer’s “Zombieland” wasn’t a huge hit, but it was a surprise one and hell, that’s nothing to scoff at for your feature-length debut.
More importantly, it put Fleischer on the movie map immediately (Paramount wanted him to direct “Mission Impossible 4”), giving him clout and future projects to map out.
The director is already shooting his follow-up, the “Pineapple Express”-esque action comedy, “30 Minutes or Less” that stars “Zombieland” star Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Michael Peña, Fred Ward and Nick Swardson.
Two months after “Zombieland” surprised at the box-office, Sony announced a 3D sequel that original scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick would once again be penning. Cinemablend were recently on the set of “30 Minutes or Less” (gee, thanks for inviting us, guys), and Fleischer said that the “Zombieland 2” script is complete. Or at least a first draft is.
While, Fleischer said, the sequel in 3D is “going to be amazing,” he also noted that it may not be next as he has other projects currently gestating. One is a script penned by Mike White (“School Of Rock,” “Nacho Libre,” an adaptation of “Them” for Edgar Wright which looks like it may never happen) called, “Babe In The Woods,” the other is an untitled buddy cop movie written byMike Arnold and Chris Poole, who both wrote “The Grackle,” a one time David O. Russell project (Fleischer’s also producing “Bourne 4” writer Josh Zetumer’s next project).
Safe to say the filmmaker is a busy man and as much as fans may like to see “Zombieland 2” (Cinemablend certainly wants it next) it appears the director has to weigh his options first. Frankly, we’re pleased. We already like the script of “30 Minutes Or Less” far better than the enjoyable, but overrated “Zombieland” and someone needs to put Mike White back on Hollywood’s A-list, so who better than an 0n-the-rise director.
Recent comments to MTV from the director also suggest that “Zombieland 2” isn’t quite there yet script wise and they’re playing with different directions they can go in. “What’s fun about the sequel is we have freedom and flexibility to show different periods. We might have scenes before the zombies, or we might have some months after, or potentially stuff further down the road. Through the voice-over and the way the movie is structured, we can really explore all different sides of it.”
Still, James Cameron would be happy with Fleischer’s thoughts on 3D. “When it comes to 3-D, I feel pretty strongly that you should shoot it in camera. I feel like it just looks so much better. If you’re going to make a 3-D movie, go ahead and make a 3-D movie. I would definitely, if we do ‘Zombieland 2,’ make it in 3-D and want to shoot it in 3-D.” Meanwhile, “30 Minutes Or Less” is already scheduled to hit theaters August 12, 2011. Think of that as the “Inglourious Basterds”/”Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World” late summer slot. While it worked wonders for ‘Basterds,’ but obviously didn’t work so well for the latter picture.
