DC Thomson and Elstree Studio Productions have just released the first poster to promote the upcoming Bananaman film, due for release sometime in 2015.
Very little is known about the film, announced back in March, so far – and the official movie web site – www.bananamanmovie.com – remains pretty bleak.
Created by Steve Bright and writer and editor Dave Donaldson (best known for his work on The Broons) and initially drawn by the late John Geering for Nutty, the official Beano web site describes the quintessentially British Bananaman as the superhero with “the muscles of twenty men, and the brains of twenty mussels”. He’s brave, he’s bold… but he’s not very bright!
Bananaman’s secret identity, when he’s not out flying into action and foiling crafty criminals, is Little Eric Wimp. But, after a ‘nana… FOOM, Bananaman’s ready for action!
Elstree Studio Productions (www.elstreestudioproductions.com) specialises in the financing, development and production of feature films and currently has both Bananaman and Larry and Viv, a Vivien Leigh biopic expected to begin filming earlier this year, written and directed by Michael Radford and produced by the company’s CEO, actor Warren Derosa, in the works.
Larry and Viv centres on what Laurence Olivier went through for his wartime efforts, and draws on private letters he wrote to his son Tarquin, who is executive producing the project. Susan Douglas, who runs the London-based financing, production and online distribution company Double D Productions, is co-producer on that project, but would appear to have no direct involvement with Elstree Studio Productions’ Bananaman project.
The only released projects Elstree Studio Productions list on the Elstree Studios web site are St George’s Day, a crime thriller starring Sean Pertwee and Charles Dance (neither of whom, we suspect, would be right for the role of Bananman) shot on location in London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Los Angeles back in 2012; and and Julius Styles – The International, an action/adventure game starring Wesley Snipes which is available on the Apple iPhone and Android.
Elstree Studio Productions’ Development Executive is Jamie Lorenz, who also runs the FightMe.com video site, and its Financial Director is Scott Holmes.
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Film
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