Another project we haven’t heard from in a while is the movie based on the popular Hasbro toy, Stretch Armstrong.
The movie was once set up at Universal Pictures with The Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner attached to star, but it has since departed Universal and found its way to Relativity Media’s doorstep, who have been developing it since.
No actors are attached to star in the new attempt at making the movie yet, but the studio has found their director. It’s being reported that they’ve entered into negotiations with Breck Eisner to sit in the director’s chair, working from a script by Dean Georgaris.
According to Deadline, following the failure that was Abduction, not only has star Taylor Lautner been jettisoned from the long-talked-about Stretch Armstrong film, but Universal as a studio has left as well. However, they haven’t lost everything yet. Relativity has come in to sweep up the pieces, and will be releasing the film on April 11, 2014.
ComingSoon recently had the chance to talk with Nicholas Stoller, writer and director of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the upcoming comedy, Get Him To The Greek. Stoller chatted about some of his upcoming projects, including the new movie based on the popular Hasbro toy, Stretch Armstrong.
The movie, which will starThe Twilight Saga‘s Taylor Lautner, is based on the toy of the same name, which is distinguishable by its squishy body that was able to stretch out to great lengths. The script was originally penned by Steve Oedekerk, but when Monsters vs. Aliens director Rob Letterman was hired to helm, he decided to bring in another writer, and Stoller asked him for the chance. The duo recently worked together on Letterman’s Gulliver’s Travels, which stars Jack Black and Stoller’s good friend Jason Segel.
The script for the movie was originally put together by Evan Almighty writer Steve Oedekerk, but now Universal has decided to bring in a new writer to join their equally-new director.
The studio has chosen Rob Letterman to direct their Stretch movie, and has also brought in Nicholas Stoller to rewrite the existing script. Letterman has mostly animated film experience, having directed Shark Tale and Monsters vs. Aliens for DreamWorks, while Stoller has written Fun With Dick and Jane, Yes Man, as well as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, both of which he also directed. The two gentlemen recently collaborated on the upcoming Jack Black flick Gulliver’s Travels, which Stoller wrote and Letterman is directing.
We all know that Taylor Lautner has been Mr. Popular since Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon have hit theaters. Job offers and casting announcements have come often, including for roles in teen superhero projectMax Steel, a possible remake of Vision Quest, and the latest announcement that he would become Stretch Armstrong in the new toy-turned-movie project.
Along with other films like Abduction, Cancun, and of course The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, it appears this onslaught of jobs was just a little too much for the 18-year-old actor, and he has decided to step away from the Max Steel role. Lautner also walked away from a film called Northern Lights recently as well.
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