After the success that MARVEL and DC had this year at the box office, its no surprise to see that DARK HORSE INDEPENDENT FILMS, are showing signs of stepping up their budgets to compete in the (super profitable) Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy genre.
Sammo Hung, is in negotiations to star in WAR MONKEYS, a horror comedy shaping up to be the biggest feature yet from the Independent arm of Dark Horse. Hung is a veteran of the Hong Kong (kung fu) scene, directing, acting and choreographing dozens of movies. The horror comedy follows two janitors who, during the Christmas holiday, get trapped in an underground research facility after accidentally unleashing military-trained Rhesus Monkeys. Hung would play one of the janitors who battles the rabid monkeys. Keven Munroe (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) is in negotiations to direct the film for Dark Horse Indie. “Monkeys, guns, explosions! As a genre freak, I couldn’t ask for more,” said Munroe, who became obsessed with the project after reading the script. Cleve Nettles wrote the script based on a story by DHI producer Chris Patton. WAR MONKEYS is looking at an early 2009 start up. The monkeys will be a combination of real monkeys, animatronic puppets and CGI.
DARK HORSE DVD NEWS
MY NAME IS BRUCE starring horror genre icon Bruce Campbell, will be released on dvd February 10, 2009. The film centers around the B-Movie legend as he’s mistaken for a character he plays in the movies, and is forced to fight a real monster in a small town in Oregon. Recent reports out of Dark Horse Independent , confirm that there will be a sequel. MY NAME IS STILL BRUCE is in the works.
MR WARMTH: THE DON RICKLES PROJECT, directed by John Landis is currently available as a 2 disc dvd set. The Emmy Award winning documentary covers the background of one of the all-time legends of comedy, Don Rickles. The film features (never-seen) concert footage from his Vegas act, as well as behind the scene conversations with Rickles, and includes interviews with many of his closest friends. There’s also a ton of memorable tv and film clips. Don Rickles is truly one of the greatest living comedy legends of our time, I highly recommend this DVD!!!
SPLINTER is the latest Dark Horse Independent film out on dvd, it stars Tom Sizemore and Edward James Olmos. Location: Los Angeles, two gangsters, Dreamer (Enrique Almeida) and Dusty (Noel G) unite over the mysterious murder of their brother. Dreamer, with the bullet that killed his brother still lodged in his skull, is desperately seeking revenge when he crosses paths with Detective Gramm (Resmine Atis), a confident rookie cop partnered with a corrupt veteran, Cunningham (Tom Sizemore). With a rising body-count and the threat of an all out gang war the four characters lock themselves in a brutal endgame as they discover who among them is creating the violent chaos.
DRIFTWOOD is a horror drama now out on dvd from Dark Horse Indie, Consumed with guilt over the loss of his rock star older brother, 16 year old David Forrester (Ricky Ullman), becomes obsessed with death. This leads his misguided parents to send him to Driftwood, an “Attitude Adjustment camp for Troubled Youths”, run buy the sadistic Captain Doug Kennedy (Diamond Dallas Page), and his brutal young henchman Yates (Talan Torriero). Once there David becomes haunted by the spirit of Jonathan (Connor Ross), a former inmate who met a mysterious end. A mystery whose resolution could very well be Davids only way out.
ADDITIONAL UPCOMING DARK HORSE PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT
REX MUNDI starring Johnny Depp. In a world where magic is real a private eye hunts for a prized heirloom worth millions. Against the gothic background of Paris 1933, Julien Sauniere finds himself trapped in a murder mystery in which his own life is at risk. His only chance for survival is to avoid the Inquisition, and to hunt down the sorcerers intent on killing him.
R.I.P.D. (Universal) Nick Cruise and Sheriff Roy Powell were both killed in the line of duty, however they’ve been given a chance to avenge their own deaths. There’s just one catch, they have to sign a 100 year contract with The R.I.P.D., “Rest In Piece Department”. Their mission to capture escapees from Hell. Based on the Dark Horse series written by Peter Lenkov. The screenplay is being written by Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi. Directed by David Dobkin (The Wedding Crashers).
DAMN NATION As vampires take over the United States, top scientists flee the country to work on a cure to the plague the creatures have spread. Based on the graphic novel by, Andrew Cosby and Jason Alexander. Screenplay by Andrew Cosby.
Wow sounds like some cool projects are coming our way from the fine folks at Dark Horse pictures and Dark Horse Independent.