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The science fiction/horror blend Daybreakers didn't have a terrible opening weekend, fighting through Avatar's dominance to grab fourth place. The movie's writers-directors, Australian twins Michael and Peter Spierig, are already planning two more sci-fi-related project, including a remake of Captain Blood, an Errol Flynn sea adventure movie from 1935 that the brothers told io9 they plan to turn into a "space pirate movie." Michael admitted they were currently writing the script.
We're working on Captain Blood, at the moment.we're still developing the script with Warner Brothers at the moment. We've got a first draft of it and it's good. We're still working on it. It might still be a while before it goes into production, if it goes into production at all.
The brothers also talked about their other, more mysterious sci-fi project, which is currently untitled, though that's not the only thing the brothers are keeping secret.
Peter: We've been writing a script for a year now that's another science-fiction film as well. It's a period film it's set largely in the '40s. We've spent a lot of time researching, just an enormous amountof time. We've almost over-researched, we probably need to put some of the research away and get out of the script for a moment.
Michael: It's taking elements of history and spinning it, or changing it. Or taking elements of history and asking, "what if?" Daybreakers is a what if — what if everybody was a vampire? How would they live? This is very much a "what if" as well, and asks, "What if this didn't happen, and this happens instead?" Ah, that's all I'm saying.
Posted 01.11.10 by Ryan -
Every January a few really bad horror movies creep into theaters and Daybreakers looked like it might be one of them, but reviews are a little better than expected so far.
"...another recent, inventive what-if? splatterfest..."
— Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
"The intriguing premise ... ends as so many movies do these days, with fierce fights and bloodshed."
— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"After the dreary imitativeness of their horror-comedy debut Undead, the Spierig brothers find themselves once again on derivative ground with Daybreakers..."
— Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
"The best thing you can say about the movie is that it pours some very old blood into a new plastic bottle."
— Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
"...squanders Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe..."
— Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Posted 01.07.10 by reelz -
Any science-fiction movie is predicated at least a little on the suspension of disbelief. But then there are points where what we're presented with so defies logic, physics, or natural human behavior that the mind rebels. At that point, the credibility of an entire movie can be at risk.
For example, early in the new, sci-fi/vampires-rule-the-world flick Daybreakers, Ethan Hawke enters the world headquarters of the international corporation that is the sole, global supplier of human blood. He steps out of an elevator and beholds before him a vast, seemingly limitless atrium, stacked row upon row with stainless steel racks containing human bodies being "milked" for their blood.
Think about that for a second. Think about where that harvest is taking place. Imagine going into McDonald's world headquarters and finding that, just as you step past reception, you're confronted with a fully operational slaughterhouse and hamburger processing plant. Does that make sense?
Even the best of movies can have its "Oh, come on!" moment (although, admittedly, those movies are far outnumbered by the really, really sucky ones). We take stock of our favorite jaw-droppers in Top 10 "Oh, Come On!" Moments in Sci-Fi Movies.
Posted 01.07.10 by reelz -
Ethan Hawke is not the typical choice for a horror movie actor, and the upcoming Daybreakers is accordingly his first picture in the genre. Hawke explained to ShockTillYouDrop why he decided to appear in a vampire movie.
I wanted to do something I hadn't done. My first movie [Explorers] was with Joe Dante and all he'd talk about with Roger Corman, and those kinds of pictures like The Howling and Piranha, those are his first — he'd talk passionately about the power of genre filmmaking and what it can be. I have some base awareness of it, but I fancy myself a dramatic actor and I had finished Tom Stoppard's [play] The Coast of Utopia, which is nine hours about mid-19th century Russian radicals, and [Daybreakers], a vampire movie, sounded like a lot of fun.
Despite the current vampire craze, Hawke says Daybreakers will add something "new" to the genre.
It's new because it's the first post-adolescent vampire movie in a while. It's refreshing to see. It's new for the genre in that it's not inundated with Christian superstition. It's rooted in sci-fi more than it is in some underworld thing. There's a virus and I think it's fun — half futuristic movie, half sci-fi, and half film noir. There are aspects at the beginning where it looks like a [Humphrey] Bogart film.
The latest clip from Daybreakers doesn't appear like it would have belonged in Bogart's oeuvre, but perhaps it isn't from the movie's beginning.
Posted 01.05.10 by Ryan -
With its January opening day drawing near, Daybreakers is pushing hard to capture all the vampire attention it can. The futuristic horror flick where vampires farm humans for blood just got another poster, as well as two new clips.
The first clip shows everyday vampires starting a blood riot, while one of the latest clips shows Ethan Hawke as a sympathetic vampire willing to help out a few humans on the run.
The second clip shows why Hawke is so sympathetic, as he argues for creating a synthetic blood with his brother (Frankie Dalton).
Posted 12.20.09 by Ryan -
The upcoming futuristic vampire flick Daybreakers may be trying to ride the wave of the current vampire craze, but as the recent clip released by Lionsgate shows, these vampires may be as greedy and insensitive as human beings. They just won't be falling in love with one. Watch the clip below.
Daybreakers, which stars Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, and Willem Dafoe, opens January 8, 2010.
Posted 12.17.09 by Ryan -
Twilight Saga: New Moon may no longer be at the top of the box office, but Lionsgate is still hoping to capitalize on the vampire craze with Daybreakers, which shows a futuristic world where vampires have taken over and farm humans for the dwindling blood supply.
Lionsgate has released a new international trailer for the movie, which stars Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe and opens January 8, 2010. Check out the trailer below.
Posted 12.10.09 by Ryan -
With The Twilight Saga: New Moon opening this weekend, Lionsgate wants to capitalize on the vampire pandemonium to promote its forthcoming vampire flick, Daybreakers.
Starring Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke, Daybreakers is a darker kind of vampire movie than New Moon. Set in 2019, vampires have taken over and hunt humans for food. The only problem is, humans are becoming scarce. Amidst the vampire's need to farm humans for their blood, a covert group of vampires makes a discovery that may save the human race.
Written and directed by Peter and Michael Spierig (Undead), Daybreakers won't be released until January 8, 2010. That leaves a few months to enjoy the new photos, poster, and TV spot, which acts as a public service announcement for vampires to turn in human survivors. Check it out below.
Posted 11.19.09 by Ryan -
With the success of the Twilight Saga vampire movies are popular again, but the upcoming Daybreakers is far removed from a world where humans and vampires fall in love. Instead, vampires have taken over the earth and hunt the remaining humans for food. Only one problem exists: they're running out of humans. Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe star is this offshoot of I Am Legend. The movie doesn't open until January 8, 2010, which should give you plenty of time to digest the following trailer:
Posted 06.29.09 by Ryan