Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie is putting his pen to paper for STAR BLAZERS, a live-action feature film adaptation of the 1970s American animated television series, which itself was an adaptation of the Japanese anime series, “Space Battleship Yamato”.
Not really knowing anything about STAR BLAZERS (or SPACE BATTLE YAMATO for that matter), I looked – as we all must in times of need – to Wikipedia for answers. Here’s what the first season of the show was about: The plot opens in the year 2199, with planet Earth facing extinction within one year due to radioactive pollution caused by Gamilon planet bombs. A message arrives from Queen Starsha, of planet Iscandar, providing Earth with plans to build a superluminal engine and the promise that, if Earthlings can reach Iscandar, enduring what obstacles the Gamilons might put in their way, the Queen will give them a machine—the Cosmo DNA—that can neutralize the deadly radioactivity. But can the Star Force travel 148,000 light-years and back in just one Earth year? Not if the Gamilons can help it. They will do whatever it takes to take down Earth’s only hope for survival!
Er, okay… I guess, if it’s any consolation, STAR WARS sounds pretty silly when condensed into one paragraph too…
Disney had been attempting to get STAR BLAZERS off the ground back in the 90s, obviously to no avail. David Ellison’s Skydance Productions (TRUE GRIT) will produce, with Paramount Pictures likely to distribute. All that said, the deal is still being negotiated.
McQuarrie won an Oscar in 1995 for his USUAL SUSPECTS screenplay. His other credits include VALKYRIE, THE WAY OF THE GUN (which he also directed) and the upcoming WOLVERINE sequel, to be helmed by Darren Aronofsky.
Finally, just wanted to point out that last year Japan released their own feature film of SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO. Looks pretty impressive too; give the trailer a peek below.