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Pixar Animator Jimmy Hayward Helming Jonah Hex?!

by Alex Billington
January 6, 2009

We first reported back in November that Crank directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor had decided to leave the big screen adaptation of DC Comics' Jonah Hex due to "creative differences." Who is their replacement? Would you believe me if I said it was one of the two guys who directed Horton Hears a Who! from this year? Jimmy Hayward, a former Pixar animator and co-director of Blue Sky Studio's Horton Hears a Who!, has been hired by Warner Brothers to direct Jonah Hex. After Neveldine and Taylor dropped out, WB came up with a short list of names, which included Hayward, Andy Fickman and McG.

I'm a bit confused. Does this mean we're going to get a softer version of DC's "rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood"? Making things even worse is WB's mention of Andy Fickman, who directed Disney's She's the Man, The Game Plan, and Race to Witch Mountain. If this guy was on the short list, it's obvious that they are not going for a dark, R-rated Jonah Hex. Which explains why Neveldine and Taylor left the project - they probably wanted just that. Sadly I'm quickly losing interest in this adaptation. I really hope Jimmy Hayward has some tricks up his sleeve!

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

darthwhitey

not sure if this is the guy for the job or not, but watch the special features on the HORTON HEARS A WHO disc...this guy sure has a lot of energy and passion for his projects...and just seems like a cool guy and real fan of geeky things...he might be one to watch...of course just my $.02
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

This is why I love comments! I never would've gained that perspective if it weren't for #1 pointing it out. Thanks for letting me know... I'll try and check out those special features sometime.
SS

You don't know if Jonah Hex isn't violent until we've seen something come out of the production line. You never know what kind of scale a guy like Jimmy Hayward might have. Maybe he's itching to produce something R-rated? You never know.
Ruthy F

It is insane that a writer would make such broad and un-informed statements about a director when clearly he hasn't done his research. Hayward has been working in the industry for years, is respected by many in the industry for both his creative nature and his original approach to anything he does. He is a filmmaker. This is what he has always wanted to do (and has done) and I suspect that Jonah will be a shocker for you and yours - cause really, Hayward will most likely kick the story in the ass harder than a disfigured confederate soldier ever could.