Fox Interested In Matthew Vaughn Directing FLASH GORDON

Twentieth Century Fox is looking to have Matthew Vaughn helm their in-development adaptation of the classic comic strip hero Flash Gordon.

The Hollywood Reporter is stating that the studio is hoping that the Kingsman: The Secret Service director will take the reins of the film being developed by producers John Davis (Predator) and George Nolfi (The Adjustment Bureau) and writers J D Payne and Patrick McKay (Star Trek 3).

If Vaughn signs on, this would make the fifth comics-based property in a row for the director, starting with 2007’s Stardust and continuing through 2010’s Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class (2011) and Kingsman. With Kingsman being a surprise hit for the director, making $392 million worldwide off a lean budget of $82 million, it is not surprising that studios are eyeing him to direct a number of projects that they want to get up on the big screen.

As I have enjoyed Vaughn’s work to varying degrees so far, I want to be cautiously optimistic at this news. But I am a big fan of the 1980 version of Flash Gordon directed by Mike Hodges. The film is probably best remembered for its throwback campy tone, a vibe similar to what Vaughn achieved with Kingsman. Hopefully, Fox isn’t looking to Vaughn to replicate that tone in the new film. What Hodges did was capture lightening in a bottle, and we know how hard it is to try and recreate a previous film’s tone. (Yeah, Superman Returns and Bryan Singer, I’m looking at you…)