ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Cowboys & Aliens" Graphic Novel to Become a Movie

"Cowboys & Aliens" Graphic Novel to Become a Movie

by Scott Weinberg | June 22, 2007

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Although the idea of a sci-fi western is nothing new, I'm down for any movie that deals with cowboys AND aliens -- let alone one that puts both of 'em in the title.

According to Variety, Universal and DreamWorks will work together to bring Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's "Cowboys & Aliens" to the big screen. The writing team of Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus will be on adaptation duty. (Their other films include "First Snow," "Children of Men," and the upcoming "Iron Man.")

As this is only one of a few dozen graphic novels I really ought to read, we'll rely on our source for a plot synopsis:

"Set in 1800s Arizona, a skirmish between cowboys and Apaches is interrupted by the crash landing of a space ship. The alien commander plans to tame the Old West and enslave everyone, but the cowboys and Native Americans turn their six-guns against the alien invaders."

So let me get this straight: It's going to have cowboys ... AND aliens?

Source: Variety

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(1-19 of 19 posts) | Reply

Kollikodon writes:
on Jun 22 2007 06:22 AM

hmm... this has potential to be a cult classic if it sh**faces at the B.O.

^^Thats my two cents on that...

however, if this was done as a balls to the wall, almost John woo-esque shoot-em-up then it could be fun...

but if they bog the movie down with uninteresting characters or a Sh**y plotline, obviously its going to tank...

With this film.. Its either going to hit hard in a fun way...(ala Snakes on a Plane) or its going to try to outdo itself and well end up with something along the lines of Ghostrider.... (quality wise)

Ill keep my eye out for this one though.. its an unique idea in a world of remakes...

(Reply to this)

bobtom writes:
on Jun 22 2007 06:42 AM

Ill watch it

(Reply to this)

juanvsshark writes:
on Jun 22 2007 09:27 AM

In reply to this comment (#870554)
[b]couldnt have said it better myself.[/b]
but snakes on a plane was ALL HYPE.

(Reply to this)

Callpacas writes:
on Jun 22 2007 09:43 AM

how the hell can they kill aliens with pea shooters when we need a whole squad of armed to the teeth toughed special forces to do that a thousand years into the future?

(Reply to this)

MattBaerFTW writes:
on Jun 22 2007 10:15 AM

In reply to this comment (#870557)
because its a movie :)

(Reply to this)

123Dan123 writes:
on Jun 22 2007 10:21 AM

This seems really cool. :D

(Reply to this)

okuonuora writes:
on Jun 22 2007 11:15 AM

In reply to this comment (#870557)
Maybe they're illegal aliens.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on Jun 22 2007 11:56 AM

hmmm, snakes on a plane much? wait, it's from the guys who wrote Children of Men? oh fuck yeah.

(Reply to this)

Circe Prankster writes:
on Jun 22 2007 12:04 PM

There has already been one example on the screen where the mood and attributes of the Wild West were merged with the environment of outer space: Firefly / Serenity. I don't expect this project will be anywhere near as good as that, but Joss Whedon showed that with some creative ingenuity the concept can be done well.

(Reply to this)

screwhead100 writes:
on Jun 22 2007 04:17 PM

lol @ illegal aliens

(Reply to this)

IMAmoose24 writes:
on Jun 22 2007 04:44 PM

I'll see it too.

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DiscoDan writes:
on Jun 22 2007 06:07 PM

Sounds fun, hopefully they won't try to take it all "seriously" i mean, it does have Cowboys and Aliens right? I can't stand it when directors take what could be a perfect campy classic and try to make it for real.

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DarthWonka writes:
on Jun 22 2007 06:43 PM

oh, man

This

sounds

f in'

GREAT!

(Reply to this)

Kollikodon writes:
on Jun 22 2007 08:20 PM

wait wait... anyone read the graphic novel?

Are they the Aliens from the Ridly Scott/John Carpenter fims.. or something different... because the article makes it seem as if its different.. but with the recent Aliens vs.. (insert something to fight... ) series and the picture... prove differently...

AND.. I agree with you juanvsshark Snakes on a plane was all hype... but it was something that was horrible... (and is horrible) but took itself seriously... in a fun way while.. ghost rider.. didnt... I dont know its hard to write whats on my mind...

(Reply to this)

iakobos writes:
on Jun 23 2007 08:16 PM

If you want to, you can read the entire graphic novel here. http://www.drunkduck.com/CowboysAndAliens/index.php?p=93688

To answer the question, what do the aliens look like? They look nothing like the "Aliens" movie. These are much more humaniod but still plenty ugly.

(Reply to this)

High School With Money writes:
on Jun 23 2007 09:33 PM

[b]Oh, okay...[/b]
"Cowboys" and "aliens"... but no "Native American Injuns"? What, is there just one Apache wearing a shirt that says "I helped too!" Cuz that shirt could be the next "Vote for Pedro". :D

[i]There has already been one example on the screen where the mood and attributes of the Wild West were merged with the environment of outer space: Star Wars[/i]

Fixed.

(Reply to this)

jacog writes:
on Jun 24 2007 05:45 AM

You forgot about Serenity / Firefly.

And (embarrassed to say) Bravestarr.

In fact, go look at the Wikipedia page for "Space Western" ... they have a long list there... some a tad debatable though.

(Reply to this)

Kollikodon writes:
on Jun 24 2007 03:53 PM

In reply to this comment (#870568)
Thank god...

(Reply to this)

iakobos writes:
on Jun 25 2007 06:28 AM

I finished reading the graphic novel last night.

The main character is a cowboy named Zeke. While reading it I kept seeing Owen Wilson in that part but not with all the campy slap stick humor he�s known for. The mood of the novel was more along the lines of Men in Black. In other words it�s still plenty fun but with lots of alien ass kicking action.

If Owen Wilson is too light hearted for the part then someone along the lines of a young Harrison Ford a.k.a. Indiana Jones/Han Solo (good luck finding that actor) would really fit the bill. Someone like Ford who can pull off the action but with that �don�t give a damn wit� would really make this a fun movie.

I suspect they will work towards a PG-13 rating, this is definitely not R rated material. In fact they could lighten it up to a PG rating if they wanted to but I still think PG-13 is the most likely.

Also, the Indians play a major role in the story as the whites and Indians who had been fighting each other, team up to fight the aliens.

And you might as well prepare yourself for a sequel. The end of the story leaves the next novel/movie wide open for another installment but it looks like the next one could be better than the first.

(Reply to this)