The Sopranos” scribe develops new live-action Popeye film
Ahoy, Big Screen Adventure! Popeye’s Live-Action Return
Get ready to pop open a can of spinach because Popeye the Sailor Man is steering a course back to the silver screen! In an exciting development for fans of the classic character, a live-action movie is in the works, ushering in a new age of Popeye in cinema.
The upcoming film signifies the muscular sailor’s second big-screen outing in live-action form. Bringing this new vision for Popeye to life are the collaborative efforts of Chernin Entertainment and King Features. With Michael Caleo, known for his acclaimed work on HBO’s The Sopranos, at the helm as the film’s screenwriter, expectations are soaring.
Ernie Schuchert, a relative of J. William Schuchert, who inspired Popeye’s friend Wimpy, and Laurie Randall, the co-owner of Spinach Can Collectibles and the Popeye Museum, celebrate the character’s legacy in the very museum dedicated to his honor in Chester, IL.
The Original Sailor Man’s First Voyage
Popeye first dropped anchor in theaters with the 1980 live-action film featuring the late Robin Williams. Despite a lukewarm reception from critics, the movie still managed to collect around $60 million at the box office, sailing past its $20 million budget.
Navigating Rough Seas: Past Attempts to Reboot
This isn’t Tinseltown’s maiden voyage in attempting to reintroduce Popeye to a new generation. Before this production, Sony Pictures had animated ambitions for the spinach-eating sailor but met with choppy waters. A proposed animated feature got shelved, a casualty of the tumultuous Sony hack in 2014.
“The whole studio was on board, and marketing was in full swing, but then the hack hit,” Genndy Tartakovsky, the director of the thwarted project, reminisced. ”Amidst the chaos and the exposed secrets, our comeback story for Popeye unfortunately sank.”
A Momentous Anniversary Sets Sail
The timing for Popeye’s resurgence is nothing short of serendipitous, as 2023 marks the 95th anniversary of his introduction to the world in the Thimble Theater comic strip back in 1929. Over the span of nearly a century, Popeye has been a cultural mainstay, branching out from print to animation and enchanting audiences of all ages.
For the latest insights on this seaworthy adventure, be sure to check out more coverage. The Washington Examiner details the unfolding saga of how Popeye is once again charting a course for the hearts of moviegoers everywhere—and this time, he’s set to make waves.
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