Filmmaker Julius Avery is about to get the keys to what could be a major franchise. However, he has to overcome one of the campiest (yet enjoyable) films in history to succeed. That’s right, Avery has just been hired by Fox to write and direct the upcoming reboot of “Flash Gordon.” Ah ahhhhhhh!
Deadline is reporting that Avery, who is about to debut his second feature film, “Overlord,” is about to take over a film franchise that Fox has been trying to get off the ground for a while now. The last we heard from the “Flash Gordon” reboot was in 2015 when Fox was approaching Matthew Vaughn to direct the film.
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For those not familiar with “Flash Gordon,” the story is fairly simple. Flash Gordon debuted way back in 1934 and is a hero that fights Ming the Merciless on the planet Mongo. Back in 1980, the character was brought to the big screen in the infamous film adaptation of the same name. That film is probably best known for its incredibly silly story and not-so-great acting, as well as the theme song from none other than legendary rock band Queen.
While the character has been around for over 80 years, Avery has a chance to really do whatever he wants with Flash Gordon. It’s been decades since the character has been mainstream, and with films like “Guardians of the Galaxy” reviving the classic space opera genre, there’s the possibility that “Flash Gordon” could become the next big thing.
No word on a release date for the film, especially when you consider Fox’s impending sale to Disney, which could either speed this along or delay it forever. Either way, we’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, check out this bit of awesomeness from the 1980 film: