Another week, another Sam Worthington rumour/attachment: still riding the Avatar wave, it looks like Jake Sully has gotten himself a new sci-fi part: that of Dan Dare.
As of right now, it’s little more than a rumour, but Pajiba’s sources have been spot on about several stories, so we’re inclined to believe that he’s at least considering the idea of relaunching the Eagle Comics hero in a film incarnation, even if the movie itself vanishes into a development wormhole.
It’s been stuck in one for a while, even though Richard Branson’s Virgin Comics bought the rights to the character two years ago, with Garth Ennis revamping Frank Hampson’s square-jawed 1950s space soldier for a new generation. And Dan has been an enduring creation, cycling through radio adaptations, computer games and even a CG TV ‘toon.
Now Warners has the rights and is searching for a writer and director to work up a fresh take on Dan, sidekick Digby and super-intelligent green arch foe The Mekon (who we’ll assume for now will be a CG creation).
This could all turn out to be another Worthington-as-Flash-Gordon non-starter, but could you see Sam as Dan?