For nearly the entire time that Collider has been around,we’ve been reporting on theFlash Gordonremake. Now, nearly two decades later, the movie has gone through several levels of production hell with no release date in sight. Themost recent director stepping up to the plate to take a swingat theAlex Raymond-created comic-turned-Mike Hodges-film of 1980 was none other thanThor: RagnarokandJojo Rabbitdirector,Taika Waititi. His involvement came into focus back in 2019, first as an animated production, beforemoving into live-action in 2021. Since then, however, things surrounding the reimagining have been rather hush-hush, with fans wondering if Waititi’sFlash Gordonwill ever crossover onto screens.
Recently, Collider’sTania Hussaincaught up withThe Adjustment Bureaudirector,George Nolfi, to pick his brain about his upcoming action thriller,Elevation. While discussing the writer-turned-director’s lengthy and impressive career, Hussain inquired about Nolfi’s ties to Waititi’sFlash Gordon. Previously revealed to be joining the behind-the-scenes team as an executive producer, Nolfi’s name has been looped into the comic adaptation for quite some time. Unfortunately, he’s just as in the dark about the fate ofFlash Gordonas the rest of us, revealing,
“I’m not too involved with that one. There are a couple of things coming up that I can’t talk about that I’m humbled to be involved with that I think would be in your realm of interest, but I’m not too involved withFlash Gordonat this point.”
The Recent-Ish History of ‘Flash Gordon’
StarringSam J. Jones(The Highwayman) as the titular hero,Flash Gordonrose to on-screen prominence through Hodges’ 1980 film, which doubled as a musical (cool kids will call it a space opera) with music byQueen. Your regular run-of-the-mill jock, Flash Gordon’s life was flipped upside down after he and his friends became involved in an intergalactic war against the evil Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) who was bent on Earth’s destruction. The movie is a cult-classic for numerous reasons, which is why fans have been so eager to see the character back in action more than four decades later.
AfterFox picked up the rights back in 2014, it seemed that the reimagining wasfinallyon the way. Excitement only continued to grow when it was announced thatKick-AssandThe Kingsmanfranchise’sMatthew Vaughn was attached to direct. However, afterJames Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxycame onto the scene,Vaughn began to have second thoughtsabout his vision forFlash Gordon, as the visual styles of the two movies seemed to clash with one another. Then, in 2018, Vaughn was out andOverlordhelmer, Julius Avery, was in the saddle, continuingFlash Gordon’s mad dash to the big screen. One year later, it would be announced that Waititi was the official director, with the New Zealand native still allegedly attached to the production even if movement had been incredibly slow.
Stay tuned to Collider for moreFlash Gordonupdates. Currently, the original movie isn’t available to stream anywhere online, but you may rent it from Prime Video or another similar service.
