J.J. Abrams in Talks to Produce Micronauts

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J.J. Abrams in Talks to Produce Micronauts

November 5, 2009

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, "Lost," "Alias") is in talks to produce a movie about the Japanese interchangeable toys Micronauts, which Hasbro just acquired.

First released in Japan in 1974 (under the name Microman), the toys were imported to the U.S. by the Mego Corporation in 1976. The line consisted of 3.75-inch tall toys which used a universal, five millimeter inter-connective design. Mego cancelled the Micronauts line in 1980. In 2002, Palisades Toys bought the rights to reproduce Micronauts.

The Micronauts comic books were published by Marvel Comics, Image Comics, and Devil's Due Publishing. Their first comic appearance was in "Micronauts #1" (Marvel, Jan. 1979) with characterizations created by Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden.

Abrams tells the newspaper that those who doubt whether a board game or science-fiction toy should be accorded star status will be proved wrong.

"Sometimes, when someone is not a celebrity and you are casting them in a role, everyone who is in a seat of authority voices questions about that actor's talent, sex appeal, looks, ability -- their everything," he says. "But then they get the role, and suddenly they are on the cover of every magazine, and nobody questions those things again. In retrospect, everyone says, 'Of course that person is a star.'"

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Posted by: R.I.P. AVI ARAD on November 5, 2009 at 14:54:27

who cares?

Posted by: prozac-pedro on November 5, 2009 at 14:58:18

Cool

Posted by: A sphincter says what...?!? on November 5, 2009 at 14:59:30

dude...that is such a tasteless moniker...and...well I CARE!! I used to read Micronauts years ago..it was clever and original...Hasbro is doing pretty good with it's movie to toy line...I mean nothing that will win awards but plenty entertaining.
Besides...I doubt that J.J Abrams can make a bad movie.
I can't wait

Posted by: DeadNotSleeping on November 5, 2009 at 15:00:05

That could actually end up being pretty cool.

Posted by: monkeyporn on November 5, 2009 at 15:06:05

WOWWWW!!! I never expected this... Micronauts was one of the first comics I ever read. This could be really good. Could make an even better tv show.

Posted by: H&R Block on November 5, 2009 at 15:07:09

I loved Marvel's take on the Micronauts and I alo loved Marvel's Rom space Knight comic.

Posted by: monkeyporn on November 5, 2009 at 15:07:54

How did the property go to Image and when? because they still pop up in Marvel from time to time. Rick Jones was trapped in their universe for a long time until a few years ago.

Posted by: Bob on November 5, 2009 at 15:07:55

I would much rather see a Rom-Spaceknight film.

Posted by: Give This Time on November 5, 2009 at 15:11:03

Imagine 'Small Soldiers' updated for '10 or '11 and adjusted to be intergalactic warriors from the MicroVerse (normal sized in their world, 4" tall in ours). I was born in '71 and Micronauts (and Shogun Warriors) were a bigger part of my life for a longer period of time than either GI Joe franchise (12" and the '80s 4" figures)and infinitely cooler and more imaginative than Star Wars figures. We would lament that the Star Wars figures were lamely jointed only at the hip and shoulder. GI Joe 4" seemed to take a cue from Micronauts and made all joints fully articulated, and in many cases, interchangable. The latter comics got really good, and there were some interesting cross overs with X-Men (and others?). I think this has AMAZING potential...give this time.

As for RIP AVI ARAD's remark "Who Cares"...i whole heartedly apply that to Abrams remarks about who has star potential / star power.

Just make a quality film.

Posted by: COLE8.7 on November 5, 2009 at 15:11:09

J.J. can take over Transformers while he's at it...and G.I.Joe if he likes...

Posted by: Macroni Tony on November 5, 2009 at 15:11:22

Okay,this could be cool if done right and if they go by the Marvel old school version.

Posted by: Richard on November 5, 2009 at 15:11:57

this was a great comic series with terrific art by Michael Golden. Imagine Star Wars in inner space. It will adapt well to a film

Posted by: Childhood Micronauts Fanatic on November 5, 2009 at 15:12:22

I cannot wait to see Baron Karza on the big screen. Better hire James Earl Jones for his voice now!

Posted by: COLE8.7 on November 5, 2009 at 15:13:20

YES to a Rom film !

Posted by: Dark Equalizer on November 5, 2009 at 15:14:20

Agh Rom he was a classic, and sadly missed. I used to read Micronaughts too, best issue is when they fought Man-Thing. I hope they base it on the Marvel version

Posted by: Dark Equalizer on November 5, 2009 at 15:18:42

Didnt ROM have some thing to do with action man? ( or g.i.joe as you called it in the states ) im sure i has a figure of him about 10" long in action man packaging. Come to think of it I may have had some micronaughts toys too, oh happy days

Posted by: eejo on November 5, 2009 at 15:20:12

That new Ninja Assasin movie would've made a Great G.I. Joe: Ninja Showdown movie instead!!! Now that's how you translate ninjas on the big screen!!!! Oh and go, Micronauts!

Posted by: wolvesbear on November 5, 2009 at 15:20:22

Couldnt see that coming, what a great idea, the scope, visually for this film is huge!!

Posted by: wolvesbear on November 5, 2009 at 15:21:39

..in a microscopic way??

Posted by: COLE8.7 on November 5, 2009 at 15:25:48

@ Dark Equalizer
Rom was just a Marvel Comic over here, nothing to do with G.I.Joe, but there was a Rom action figure that I always wanted...

Posted by: Steve the Dude on November 5, 2009 at 15:30:02

Oh, for f*@k's sake! Why?!?!?!

Posted by: felixcat on November 5, 2009 at 15:41:36

I used to have a Baron Karza action figure. And I loved the comic. This is fabulous day!

Posted by: OrangeRush 2112 on November 5, 2009 at 15:43:56

*** YES!!!!!!!! ive been waiting for this one.

Posted by: kujlagnegn on November 5, 2009 at 15:50:25

Read that Bill Mantlo is now helpless living in a nursing home of some kind as he is a victim of a hit-and-run accident many years ago. This project should give him some financial leverage, so more power to Abrams for producing this wonderful project. And to the hit-and-run perpetrator, I hope he/she gets what he/she deserves.

Posted by: Crystal Ball on November 5, 2009 at 16:13:34

If they follow the storylines of the first 12 issues or so of the comic, the movie would kick all kinds of butt.

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