Exclusive: John Carter Reboot Series In The Works
Disney is about to find out whether or not a concept that didn’t work as a movie will do better as a streaming show. Our trusted and proven sources tell us the House of Mouse is working on a John Carter reboot series for Disney+.
This seems like a strange move for Disney, particularly in light of recent months. Disney, like all of the other major studios who now own and operate major streaming platforms, has been canceling and cutting content as it struggles to figure out how to make its streaming service profitable.
Some critics argued that, unlike Burroughs when he wrote A Princess of Mars, today we know too much about the Red Planet to swallow a story like John Carter.
Disney’s last crack at making money off this century-old franchise was with 2012’s John Carter, which wound up being a massive flop. For the studio to then green light a series — whose special effects needs would inflate its budget significantly — is at the very least a curious decision.
Like Tarzan, John Carter originated in the mind of the late Edgar Rice Burroughs. Carter first appears in the serialized 1912 novel A Princess of Mars. A veteran of the Confederacy, Carter finds himself transported to Mars while prospecting, and the environment of the Red Planet gives him superhuman abilities.
Perhaps Disney is convinced that things have changed enough between 2012 and now to make a John Carter series a hit. When the blockbuster flopped, there were just about as many critics writing theses on why it failed as there are scientists studying the actual planet Mars.
Some critics argued that unlike Burroughs when he wrote A Princess of Mars, today we know too much about the Red Planet to swallow a story like John Carter. We know, for example, that not only would the eponymous hero not gain superpowers by being transported there, but that he’d suffocate and die faster than you could say “oldest franchise ever.”
Perhaps the relatively underwhelming performance of series and films from Disney’s larger franchises like Star Wars and Marvel is forcing the House of Mouse to look elsewhere.
Other critics offered a point that, upon reflection, makes Disney’s decision to develop a John Carter series even more curious. According to the LA Times, Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future) was offered the chance to direct the movie, but he turned it down because he felt George Lucas had mined A Princess of Mars too heavily with Star Wars.
In light of this, considering that Disney has not seemed to slow down in producing Star Wars series — including Disney+’s flagship show, The Mandalorian — a John Carter project becomes even more of an interesting decision. At first glance, it would seem redundant.
For the studio to then green light a series — whose special effects needs would inflate its budget significantly — is at the very least a curious decision.
Perhaps the relatively underwhelming performance of series and films from Disney’s larger franchises like Star Wars and Marvel is forcing the House of Mouse to look elsewhere. As soon as we know more about what Disney plans to do with the John Carter series, we’ll make sure you know.
