Movie News

Willem Dafoe Joins John Carter of Mars

Source:Variety
July 16, 2009


Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) is set to star opposite Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in Walt Disney Pictures' fantasy epic John Carter of Mars, to be directed by WALL•E and Finding Nemo helmer Andrew Stanton.

Variety says Dafoe will play the role of Tars Tarkas, a fierce green Martian warrior, who's unusual among his savage race for his ability to love. Tars develops an alliance with John Carter in the first film, which is based on "A Princess of Mars."

He fights battles alongside Carter through the entire series of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, so he will be hanging around for sequels.

Stanton wrote the script with Mark Andrews.

COMMENTS (21)

Posted by:
All Seeing Eye
July 16, 2009
That's cool, he's usually great in every role he plays.
He's also pretty smart when it comes to picking good scripts/films to be in.
Could be a positive sign that the script for this film may be a good one.
Only time will tell...
Posted by:
The JK WAS RIGHT
July 16, 2009
Great Actor! FANTASTIC Director! I can't wait! this movie will be fun.
Posted by:
Gordon
July 16, 2009
I guessing this is purely a vocal performance, since Tars Tarkas is 15 feet tall with four arms.
Posted by:
ibn fahdlan
July 16, 2009
Great! Now I'm officially interested in this film. Willem Dafoe is one of the finest actors working today.
Posted by:
senorashish
July 16, 2009
YEAH! THE RETURN OF SCI-FI!!!!

I'm glad that Burrough's classic tale is going to get the Hollywood treatment. Hopefully they will stay true to the source material.
Posted by:
deadsquirreldelta
July 16, 2009
I've read that this is NOT intended for young children but rather is aiming for PG-13. The action and violence will from the novel will remain but the characters will have a least minimum clothing.

This is the film coming down the pipeline for which I'm most excited!
Posted by:
Will
July 16, 2009
If they can get this right, maybe there is a chance to see a good true to the books adaption of Tarzan at some point.
Posted by:
Bucknersty
July 16, 2009
They already killed the movie with Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris. Nowhere near hot enough
Posted by:
tonamania
July 16, 2009
If Hollywood had a better track record with this sort of stuff, I'd feel alot more comfortable. Just knocked out the trilogy a few months back - fantastic set of work. Excellent writing, fast paced and action packed with great story lines. Characters are a little 2d & pulpy, but virtuous and to be expected from the era.

What I'm really worried about is how will Disney treat the (multi) cultural themes. If anyone is really familiar with Burroughes or Haggard (i.e., Allan Quartermain) they know that while the authors were somewhat "progressive" for the time, these guys still looked at things a certain way (figure it out). Their stories were built around this - hard to have a Tarzan, let's say, if the Tarzan is not going medieval on some savages. In a trilogy whereas everyone of all shapes and colors EVENTUALLY get along, but ultimately via segregation, what can we expect from Disney? In a trilogy whereas the way of life is predicated on death and warfare and sacrafice, is Disney going to wrap up everything with a Hannah Montana song around the campfire?

Also, I personally think Patrick Wilson would have made a great John Carter.
Posted by:
HulkSmashNow
July 16, 2009
It will be interesting to see how they transform Dafoe into a seven-foot tall green man with tusks and four arms!

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