ROTTEN TOMATOES: Will Ferrell Entering Land of the Lost

Will Ferrell Entering Land of the Lost

Dinosaurs and monkeys and Sleestaks, oh my!

by Jeff Giles | October 10, 2007

After years of trying to get there, Will Ferrell is finally making his way to the Land of the Lost.

Variety reports that the big-screen adaptation of the cult classic '70s Saturday morning show, a project Ferrell has been attached to since it was announced several years ago, has been given the go-ahead by Universal for a March start. From the article:

Decision to greenlight the Will Ferrell project surprised observers, who are aware that U had a rough ride with its $160 million comedy "Evan Almighty." Studio sources suggest the budget of "Land of the Lost," described as an event comedy, was recalibrated from $125 million to $100 million in order to earn its start date.

Brad Silberling will direct from a script by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas, which is summarized as follows:

Adaptation...revolves around a disgraced paleontologist, his assistant and a macho tour guide who find themselves in a strange world inhabited by dinosaurs, monkey people and reptilian Sleestaks.

The original Sid & Marty Krofft series, while certainly cheesy, wasn't exactly played for laughs; it was an attempt to bring large-scale adventure to kids on a Saturday morning budget. The film, in contrast, seems certain to go the campy route -- which is probably the only way to adapt the show, really, but it's still probably going to raise the hackles of some longtime fans. On the other hand, those fans are handily outnumbered by people who would gladly pay ten bucks to see Will Ferrell wandering around a strange world inhabited by dinosaurs and monkey people.

Source: Variety

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(1-20 of 25 posts) | Reply

KubrickIsG-d writes:
on Oct 10 2007 07:13 AM

Completly off the subject, but what is going on with the "Prisoner" adaptation that was big news six months ago. Its one of my all time favorite shows. I know Christopher Nolan was attached to it (great director, but way too dark and gloomy to direct a show as outrageously psychedelic as "The Prisoner", I thought Terry Gilliam would be a better choice)

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Oct 10 2007 08:14 AM

kubrick. last i heard, nolan is still committed to doing the prisoner, but he has his hands full with TDK for the future. even though nolan managed to squeeze in the prestige between begins and tdk, i wouldnt be surprised if prisoner gets put on the back shelf until after the third batman movie. but then again, nolan might have to change stuff up again between bat flicks, so the prisoner would be a good diversion. either way, i wouldnt wait for it to happen until at least late 2009, at the earliest.

as for ferrell, this seems like a good change from him making every sports movie spoof imaginable. hopefully, this movie doesnt follow the typical ferrell character at the top of his game, fall from grace, redemption plot line. and they might want to further downsize the budget to about 80 mil if they want to be sure to make money. comedy can easily be done on the cheap.

also jeff, i think you are wrong with your figures. evan almight cost 225 million to make, not 160 mil. sounds like someone has been listening to the studio propaganda a little too much.

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travis_blum writes:
on Oct 10 2007 08:34 AM

Why does Will Farrel ruin everything I love. Bewitched was more painful then kidney stones. Now another one of my favorite shows is going be screwed. GOD! PLEASE KILL WILL FARELL!!!

Travis

(Reply to this)

MattBaerFTW writes:
on Oct 10 2007 08:42 AM

Travis...in all fairness to will and the movie...theres not evem remotley a teaser trailer i understand your worried but come on man...they havent even began filiming it yet how do you know he screwed it up

(Reply to this)

Jeff Giles writes:
on Oct 10 2007 09:02 AM

In reply to this comment (#1179802)
Those aren't my figures, blank blank. See how I wrote "from the article"? You've got a beef with Variety, not me.

(Reply to this)

TheBlackGuy writes:
on Oct 10 2007 10:17 AM

Perfect Casting

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jacketman writes:
on Oct 10 2007 10:20 AM

Everyones a mother****ing editor

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apostate writes:
on Oct 10 2007 11:00 AM

Maybe I'm crazy but since the original cost about $50 an episode, wouldn't it be funnier (and cheaper) to actually use the same techniques. It's supposed to be a comedy right?

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OGRE3001 writes:
on Oct 10 2007 11:32 AM

He's a no-talent bastid that is the biggest baby-man (at 43) on the planet now that Adam Sandler has grown up. Just the description alone:

Adaptation...revolves around a disgraced paleontologist, his assistant and a macho tour guide who find themselves in a strange world inhabited by dinosaurs, monkey people and reptilian Sleestaks.

...sounds like 90 minutes of more Ferrell bullshi-t and especially anyone that enjoyed the original shows, the 70's and 90's versions will not want to see this. Why does Hollywood and TV have to make the original heroic classic and turn them into F'ING JOKES?!!! It's like 'cause they can't measure up, they have to show us the originals were frauds and no one was like that, ever. VIVA TRAVIS, AGAIN, DIE WILL FERREL!!!

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Oct 10 2007 11:38 AM

Hopefully Silberling does a better job with this than he did with Lemony Snicket. Ferrell's not that bad, Stranger Than Fiction, Zoolander, Old School, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back were all great.

(Reply to this)

Ruckas356 writes:
on Oct 10 2007 11:55 AM

Hey will is funny. Period.

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Hamboner writes:
on Oct 10 2007 12:03 PM

Best Will Ferrel is EASILY in The Ladies Man. Say what you want about that movie, but I thought the whole musical motif/greco-roman madness was awesome.

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bigbrother writes:
on Oct 10 2007 01:28 PM

and obviously this movie is near and dear to his heart. I don't remember which shows you guys are thinking of, but the Land of the Lost I remember was pretty unitentionally funny to begin with and I think Marshall Willenholly is the perfect guy to bring it to the screen.

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overthehead writes:
on Oct 10 2007 02:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#1180858)
Good point, Apostate. That's exactly what I thought. Although that might make it look a little too silly for a full-length movie. But it sure would look funny as hell at first.

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bobbquackenbush writes:
on Oct 10 2007 02:24 PM

Another film based on a bad television show. Car 54, Dragnet, Miami Vice, Transformers, Bewitched, and on and on... Is it so hard to try to make something original? Will F is a bore too. Everything he does is like a drawn out sketch from SNL.

(Reply to this)

damvbat writes:
on Oct 10 2007 02:32 PM

why do thay have to make it campy, thay should just make it like the tv show but with a bigger budget ah la star trek

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Oct 10 2007 05:16 PM

Oh, that wacky old Will Ferrel!!! Whatever are we going to do with him?

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ManofStee1 writes:
on Oct 10 2007 06:00 PM

Um... alllllrighty then.

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nightbat666 writes:
on Oct 10 2007 08:25 PM

who the f*kc is such a fan of the original tv show that they would be pissed about a film adaptation with Will Ferrel? I mean of all the things to be obsessive about.

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Oct 11 2007 12:19 AM

don't care but who will he play... chakka? i hope:) and as a devoted

Bewitch fan, it pains me to see will, a rare funny snl guy, kill another tv classic:(

still, blame nic kidman on bewitch more than will though. plus, in will's kill list of

beloved tv shows,

(Reply to this)