Sequel Bits: ‘Taken 2’ Picked Up By Fox, ‘Godfather’ Prequel Novel Coming
One franchise moves forward and another moves backwards inthis edition of Sequel Bits. 20th Century Fox, who released the surprise 2009 hitTaken, has just signed on to distribute its sequel,Taken 2, which willonce again starLiam Neeson, Maggie Graceand be directed byOlivier Megaton(Transporter 3, the upcomingColombiana,whose trailer came out today).
AlsoMario Puzo, who not only wrote the novel that was the basis for theThe Godfatherfilms, but won Oscars along with Francis Ford Coppola for their screenplays, apparently wrote an unproduced prequel script to the series calledThe Family Corleone. Instead of making it into a movie though (thank god) it’ll soon be turned into a novel due out in stores next year. Read more about both of these projects after the break.
After the first film was a surprise domestic success, everyone knew thatTaken 2was inevitable. However,Variety’s announcementof 20th Century Fox actually signing on to distribute the film gives it the all-important green light. No additional details about plot or schedule have been released but it would be safe to assumethe previously rumoredstart date later this year or early next year would remain intact.
The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news of the newGodfatherbook. Apparently, Puzo had written a screenplay called The Family Corleonethat’s described as follows:
Sounds kind of like the Robert De Niro stuff inThe Godfather Part II, no? Anyway, that screenplay was uncovered and now authorEd Falcowill take Puzo’s work and turn it into a novel to be published in June 2012. Here’s how Grand Central Publishing executive vice president Jamie Raab described the project:
Guided by Mario Puzo’s own unproduced screenplay, Ed Falco thrillingly brings back Puzo’s classic characters in a prequel that both honors the original, and stands on its own as aGodfathernovel for a new generation of readers.
I’m curious howThe Family Corleonewould expand on the history that’s already laid out both in Coppola’s films and Puzo’s book. Puzo must have had faith in the story or he wouldn’t have written the screenplay, however, I’m curious if screenplay wasn’t made because he didn’t finish it or because studios weren’t interested?
