Veronica Mars Movie (It's Maybe Not Happening)

[Wyndam]

E! Online News Story:
www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b79975_veronica_mars_movie_finally_in_works.html

Here's the text from the article:

Good news for you Heroes fans missing the now-deceased Elle, Kristen Bell. It looks like Kristen's heading for the big screen as that other alter ego who's even more kickass: Miss Veronica Mars.

This is what über-producer Rob Thomas spills to us, after word broke that the order for his new ABC midseason series, Cupid, was trimmed down from 13 episodes to eight.

"What that means for me is that I have a couple of months to write the Veronica Mars movie," Thomas says. "I suddenly find myself with enough time to write that script. That's the next project."

So what's the planned plot for the final send-off of V.M.? Rob spills the details...

Although previously reported that the movie would give fans a taste of Veronica solving crimes in college, Thomas clarifies: "I think it would open just days before Hearst College graduation, so Veronica would be at the end of her college career."

As for where she'll go from there, Thomas hasn't quite nailed that down, but has plenty of ideas. "[The story is] 70 percent broken in my head. I've been struggling with one plot point, and I'm hopeful [that I will] figure that out. On the dry-erase board at my house there are Veronica Mars plot points that I want to see, so it is at least there."

And though the original castmembers have yet to be confirmed, Thomas is hopeful they'll all sign on. "I've talked to Jason Dohring, I've talked to Enrico Colantoni and I've talked to Kristen, obviously. I know that Kristen wants to do it. I want to do it."

As for funding, Thomas reveals: "Joel Silver does have a certain pile of money that he can decide on, and he called me asking, ‘Can we do this now?' "

Um, yes, please!

By the way, Thomas says he harbors no hard feelings toward the CW for canceling the series. "I think with three seasons of Veronica Mars, they gave us a chance. Three million fans loved us, but I swear our numbers aren't terribly different than Gossip Girl. It seems like we did essentially those numbers."

So what do you think of a silver-screen version of V.M.? Will you buy a ticket? And which castmembers should be there?

—Reporting by Natalie Abrams

So exciting! Hopefully the Cupid script order downgrade doesn't mean that ABC is losing faith in the series, but I am also happy that Rob has time to finally make a VM movie happen.

Also interesting that the movie won't be jumping ahead to the FBI storyline that we would have seen if VM had continued on for another season. I think that is a smart move. By making the movie happen closer to the Season 3 finale, it will allow the movie to keep the tone of the show in tact, in stead of possibly scaring offpotential viewers with a completely new storyline that takes place years after Season 3.

If sequels happen, then they can start addressing Veronica's career in the FBI, if that is still an angle Rob wants to pursue.

Now when this does finally move forward, I wonder who from the cast will return? Enrico Colantoni is a must.

[Hallow Thorn]

That is so cool, I can't wait for it to happening! I am happy they are not doing the FBI storyline for now. and I hope that Duncan, Logan, Keith, Piz, Mac, Dick, Parker and Weevil come back...

[spurtyknowledge]

Ha! I'll be in college by the time it comes out. Awesome news though.

[tms]

Rob Thomas: Veronica Mars Movie Is Next

Itchy journalists watching Rob Thomas present his Cupid remake had to ask: Is there going to be a Veronica Mars movie?

Yes! Thomas reported that he and Mars star Kristen Bell are both in: "For me, that's the next project [after Cupid]. But my writing it is really just half the battle," he said. "Somebody has to pay for it." Thomas indicated that producer Joel Silver is ready to green-light the film. Coupled with Thomas' obvious enthusiasm for the project, perhaps we won't have to wait too long to see a big-screen continuation of the story of the teen detective.

Are you excited to see a Veronica Mars movie? Or would you rather Thomas focus on new projects?

Ya know, i've never seen VM, but i've heard it's good. Would y'all reccomend it?

[Emmie]

*does a happy dance* Following a Buffyverse movie, a Veronica Mars movie was next on my wish list. Yes!

[tms]

I also came across this, looks like they had discussed a comic book series.

www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/224125

"I have some ambition to write a screenplay, see if I can shop that and get it made," he says. "And I had a meeting with DC Comics last Monday and they want to do (Season 4) as a comic series."

[patxshand]

I wouldn't get very excited yet. I'm so happy he's writing it and everyone's down for it, but this might be more "Ripper" than "Serenity." Before saying "It's happening!" I think we should count our blessings, be happy we're moving TOWARD something real, and just hope that we eventually can actually say "it's happening" and mean it.

[Skytteflickan88]

I think I've only seen 5 eps of this show(I will buy the DVDs some day) but I'm still exited for this movie. That must show how great the show is.

[Emmie]

The fact that he's got 70% of the script worked out (in his head), Joel Silver is putting the money behind it and the actors seem to have verbally agreed makes it a way safer bet to put enthusiasm in than the past 'woohoo Buffy movie reactions'. This actually has some weight behind it where people are saying yes to the acting, yes to the money and the creator is actually setting up time to write the script.

And yeah, it's a great show! People should watch it. <3 Veronica Mars

After Buffy and Angel, it's my next favorite show.

[patxshand]

I don't know about that. Joss said he had it worked out with BCC, gave us what the story was about, and said that Anthony Head had agreed to do it... and then nothing. "Veronica Mars" is way too close to my heart, and the cancellation wound is way too fresh, for me to consider this anything more than progress in the right direction. I'll be the first to jump for joy when it's happening, but if I did that at this reaalllly early stage, it would be too heartbreaking for words when they announce (or don't) that it's not happening.

[BenTaylor3907]

Jeez. I have never watched a single episode. I better get caught up. I just recently became a Kristen Bell fan after watching Heroes volume 3.

[dane5by5]

Jan 24, 2009 21:02:34 GMT -5 patxshand said:

I don't know about that. Joss said he had it worked out with BCC, gave us what the story was about, and said that Anthony Head had agreed to do it... and then nothing. "Veronica Mars" is way too close to my heart, and the cancellation wound is way too fresh, for me to consider this anything more than progress in the right direction. I'll be the first to jump for joy when it's happening, but if I did that at this reaalllly early stage, it would be too heartbreaking for words when they announce (or don't) that it's not happening.

It was always about the money, with the BtVS/AtS television movies, they couldn't arrange funding, with the BCC, they had rights issues (another word for who gets the most money).

In the Veronica Mars situation, the funding is there, the studio is behind the project and they're almost throwing the cash to get this film made.

The creator/writer has the script plotted out with time allocated to writing the screenplay, the lead actors have agreed to sign on; Kristen Bell has been very supportive of getting the film made, even speaking with the writer/producers trying to get everything moving.

So it appears inevitable that it will be made.

Back when it was first cancelled, I felt like there would be more to see of Miss Mars, it needed a real finale, similar to the Firefly/Serenity experience.

[patxshand]

The studio is behind the project? I thought it just said Joel Silver wants to do it. That hardly means an entire studio is almost throwing cash to get the movie made. I want more "Veronica Mars" more than anyone. Hell, I literally wept when it was cancelled. But I just can't follow the cheering crowd until this is greenlit, because that stung with "Ripper." It would break my heart with this.

[VampSlayer]

Watched only the first episode of this show, and it seemed awesome. I <3 K.B. so Ill be checking this out when it is out.

[Emmie]

Jan 25, 2009 13:37:15 GMT -5 VampSlayer said:

Watched only the first episode of this show, and it seemed awesome. I <3 K.B. so Ill be checking this out when it is out.

Yes! Do watch it. ;D

[patxshand]

Best show that isn't "Buffy" or "Angel," by far.

[dragonweaver]

Well I only recently started watching Veronica Mars, but I have to say it is an amazing show. I've already marathoned my way through the first two seasons and I'm almost done with season 3. I'd totally recommend it to those who haven't seen it yet. VM is definitely worth buying, renting or borrowing from a friend.

Anyway I am very glad to hear the movie is so close to being a reality. I know how showbiz works, so I won't being holding my breathe or anything, but I do like the hope the news brings.

[Danner]

I just recently started watching Vmars, and I'm halfway through the second season.
The only upsetting thing about it was that I knew it was gonna have to end.
(I felt similarly when I watched Buffy&Angel years after they originally aired)

You can only imagine how happy I was when I heard this news a few days ago. ^^
Veronica Mars on the big screen FTW! <33333
I really, really hope this happens.

[dane5by5]

Jan 25, 2009 11:17:53 GMT -5 patxshand said:

The studio is behind the project? I thought it just said Joel Silver wants to do it. That hardly means an entire studio is almost throwing cash to get the movie made. I want more "Veronica Mars" more than anyone. Hell, I literally wept when it was cancelled. But I just can't follow the cheering crowd until this is greenlit, because that stung with "Ripper." It would break my heart with this.

Well I'm going by the quote "Joel Silver does have a certain pile of money that he can decide on, and he called me asking, ‘Can we do this now?'".

It sounds like Joel Silver has arranged the funding and wants to do the movie now. Which doesn't leave much ambiguity in relation to funding/lack of funding.

Knowing that Joel Silver is such a prolific film producer also indicates (to me anyway) that he can get projects funded/produced/distributed in a way that I feel Joss Whedon always had trouble with... Joss Whedon will always be a writer/director first and foremost in my mind and his producer/executive producer role will always be a way for him to retain creative control of his projects.

[patxshand]

Yeah, that is a few pounds (a lot more than a few, have you seen Joel?) in our favor... but Joel still isn't an entire studio. When a studio greenlights it--which will only happen when the script is complete, not 'almost broken'--and when real announcements start getting made, then it will be happening. Now, it's on the road to happening. I'll pop the fine fizzly when it does, but right now, I just can't get invested in something that isn't set in stone yet. I love Veronica too hard for that.