I’ve been doing this a while, and I like to think I’m prepared for almost any news story, but I find my reserves empty with “Action Man.” Snark is just too easy, and the reasons why the Hasbro toy/cartoon series/video game is coming to the big screen are so cynically obvious, I can’t really add much more. These are the times we live in. “Action Man.” The movie. Perhaps I should tell you the information you need to know before I truly get lost in existential thought.
James Bobin (“The Muppets,” “Muppets Most Wanted,” “Alice Through The Looking Glass“) has been hired to direct the project, which is set up at Paramount. Simon Farnaby, who wrote “Mindhorn” and “Paddington 2,” will write the script. Frankly, he should be writing “Paddington 3” instead, but I’m not his boss or paying him. Nonetheless, sometimes there are obvious priorities that you cannot ignore.
Action Man — the toy — was apparently Britain’s answer to “G.I. Joe,” but it’s a shame that no one could think of a name less generic and on-the-nose as Action Man. It’s so bland, it’s almost fascinating. Presumably they’ll keep that name for the movie because of #branding, and I’ve got to be honest, it’s so profoundly boring it kinda works. [Deadline]