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Sam Worthington Signs for Allan Quatermain Sci-Fi Adventure
by Ethan Anderton
May 14, 2010
While everyone seems to be up in arms about the 3-D craze that is being exploited by every single studio in Hollywood, I'm even more sick of Sam Worthington being offered or attached to nearly every project under the sun. The agitation continues as Heat Vision reports that the actor will both star in and produce a science fiction take on classic literary hero Allan Quatermain, the protagonist in H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines. Add this to Worthington's growing list of projects also including comic book adaptation Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future, Alex Proyas' Dracula Year Zero, and the thriller The Fields.
Though Haggard's first book in his series has Quatermain leading an expedition into an unexplored region of Africa to find the brother of a friend as well as a fabled treasure of the lost mines, this new science fiction update will modernize and upgrade the story to planetary exploration. DreamWorks' version of this tale, with Worthington, is set in a time in which humans have left Earth and sees Quatermain return to the planet from a sojourn in space, embarking on another King Solomon’s Mines-style adventure but on a planet-wide scale. No director is attached and although Mark Verheiden was the writer behind the first script when the project was initially revealed early last year, there will very likely be a re-write in the screenplay's future.
Hopefully this version of Quatermain turns out better than the one in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which not even Sean Connery could save from an abysmal comic book adaptation. We'll keep you updated!
29 Comments
1
So, if they're not interested in setting it in the (fictionalised) world of the books, why would they bother adapting the character at all? Worthington seems like a lazy choice. He's so blank, when Quatermain should be charismatic and wry. And much, much older. Again, if they want to change so much about the character, why not just write a different character?
Dan North on May 14, 2010
2
Does anybody even like Worthington?
poo on May 14, 2010
3
I actually do enjoy watching Worthington. And while I know that he's been cast in a lot it doesn't seem like too much when you consider that his last movie released was Avatar. How long until his next movie is released after that? While he's working steady he's not popping up in the theater every other week unlike say, Samuel L. Jackson, whom I love but sometimes, enough is enough! heh.
harm on May 14, 2010
4
Worthington is a regular dude who is getting a chance at doing big things, good for him... he does seem to play the same dude in every movie but better him than some Hollywood male prima donna.
almartva on May 14, 2010
5
I'm with 4. Even when the movie isn't great, Sam brings a sort of real life persona to the characters, something you don't see often with male action stars.
germs on May 14, 2010
6
Worthington is absolutely bland, and truthfully not that good of an actor. He's stretching himself way too thin with all these roles he's taking on.
SlashBeast on May 14, 2010
7
Ethan it could be worse; Jude Law and Matthew McConaughey .. I bet Worthington doesn't look that bad now huh? LOL
Hattori Hanzo on May 14, 2010
8
"I'm even more sick of Sam Worthington being offered or attached to nearly every project under the sun" ? ? ? ? I'm not a Worthington fan but I don't see it. Samuel L. Jackson has been in or attached to 10 times more movies over the past 2 or 3 years. I don't hear anyone complaining about him,..... except me .....
Typhoon on May 14, 2010
9
sam worthington is alright but in clash of the titans he sux ass, not only that but we was way to short for the part. I didn't really rate him in avatar i thought he was boring. I actually liked him in termianator 4 his best acting part sooo far i think he's lost in the hollywood bullshit category now because he's too bland for or these movie rolls they are offering him.
hater on May 14, 2010
10
Sam Worthington is already type casted and ever since Terminator has basically played the same character over and over. Either that, or his acting skills are simply limited to a point where they all -seem- the same. He's always kinda bland and apathetic in his line delivery; there is not much of an emotional range going on in that face, only confused, indifferent or angry. Despite all that, I oddly like him. And I always liked the Quatermain (lol, Richard Chamberlain) movies.
SuicidalOptimist on May 14, 2010
11
Hugh Laurie would be awesome as Quatermain.
JimboD on May 14, 2010
12
#3 I shouldn't have to point out that Avatar was not Sam's last starring movie - Clash of the Titans was released in March.
Pete on May 14, 2010
13
Sorry, I love Worthington. Not ashamed to say I think he's a fine actor.
equustel on May 14, 2010
14
I'm not crazy about Worthington by any means, but I certainly haven't been bothered by him in any role he's played yet. I don't see why he shouldn't keep getting roles when others like Ashton Kuchtner keeps getting gigs. There's other examples, but that was the only I could think of.
jjboldt on May 14, 2010
15
I like Worthington, in interviews he seems like a mellow kind of guy. As for Alan Quatermain well lets see what he can do. I hope he does Better then Sean Connery did.
Xerxex on May 14, 2010
16
I haven't seen "Avatar" or "Clash", so I've really got no opinion about Worthington, but am I the only person that liked "League"? I'm a fan of the comic and I liked the movie as well. Was it the best comic adaptation I've ever seen? No. Was it the best effort by Connery? No. Was I entertained? Yes. I've seen it mulitple times and its a pretty good popcorn movie. Coulda been better, but I've seen a lot worse.
Whale Master on May 14, 2010
17
Whale Master I actually love L.O.E.G, kind of a guilty pleasure.
Xerxex on May 14, 2010
18
just more Indiana Jones...same old sh*t in a new wrapper....
blasphemer on May 14, 2010
19
He's a great actor and has some seriously good looks...get over it...you look like a little bitch complaining about it. He was awesome in both Terminator and Avatar.
Geoff on May 14, 2010
20
Is Richard Chamberlain still alive even? If so, bring him back as Q-Maine - He rocked in that and he rocked in Shogun and the early Bourne films. Worthington can play Sharon Stone's old role, or as Chamberlaine left nad. The boy is overrated. Aussies out of Hollywood!!!
Jizz on May 14, 2010
21
You sound like you have a bad case of sour grapes regarding Worthington. Why shouldn't he be offered these roles considering his films have made huge money at the box office......TS...$380 million......Avatar...$2.8 billion.....Clash of the titans..$420 million. Worthington stole the film from Bale in TS, he gave a subtle but heartfelt performance as Jake Sully in Avatar, exactly as the role required. Clash of the Titans was what he said it would be, a fun, kill the monsters type of movie. I want to see the very hot Sam Worthington in movies, he's MASCULINE but vulnerable at the same time which is VERY watchable....unlike so many GIRLY/BOY actors we see now in Hollywood......more Sam please!!!
sarah on May 15, 2010
22
Worthington is a good choice if bland is what's wanted. He's totally charisma free. His accents are lazy, and his "acting" is worse.
casting couch on May 15, 2010
23
he's no keanu reeves.
jack on May 15, 2010
24
BRING BACK LEAGUE OF EXTORDANARY GENTS
Mike on May 15, 2010
25
"I'm even more sick of Sam Worthington being offered or attached to nearly every project under the sun." That's clearly an exaggeration, but in any case, why shouldn't he be? He deserves all the roles Hollywood wants to give him. He's been in the business for 10 years and has starred in numerous Australian films and TV shows; he deserves to get his "big break" in Hollywood, much more than some other people. Also, for those who have only seen Sam act in his recent American films, I'd suggest trying to get copies of some of his Australian films - specifically, Somersault (2004) for which he won a Best Actor award, Dirty Deeds (2002), and Gettin' Square (2003) - because the guy can act.
Lisa on May 15, 2010
26
I like character actors like Johnny Depp. They are not the smae in every film. Worthing on the other hand has played the same character in his first three films. Though I did really enjoy "Avatar. The other two "Terminator Salvation" & "Clash Of The Titans" were bad. I'm Australian, but even I was even mocking Sam using his Australian accent in "Clash Of The Titans". Maybe he should go watch "The Dark Knight" and watch Heath Ledger. Then he will truly know what a great Australian actor is like.
last son on May 15, 2010
27
What, dead?
Max on May 16, 2010
28
This is bad news........
Clover on May 17, 2010
29
Yawn. Sam Bland Worthington is going to bore us with another of his manufactured, unispired performances. Can't they hire an actor with some actual personality?
1-7 on Jun 1, 2010
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