Everyone is anxiously awaiting next week’s arrival of the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga: admirers, Anglophiles and accountants — at least those hired by producers who have made a fortune from the monster hit. It’s not just those directly involved with the film who stand to profit, either. Any enterprise that can come up with a promotional opportunity is making reference to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”
Even Larry King can’t resist. The former CNN talk show host is coming out of retirement to host a special Sunday at 8 p.m. on the network about all things Potter. On his Twitter account, he’s announced a giveaway with the hashtag #LarryPotter. And what kind of prize might the king of talk and the self-described “worldwide leader in news” have to offer? A pair of suspenders signed by King and the man who plays Potter, Daniel Radcliffe. Harry isn’t known for such sartorial straps. So the contest seems like a grasping attempt by King to insert himself back into the public eye.
Recently in this column, I noted — well, complained really — that producers plan a remake of the 1983 Matthew Broderick film “WarGames.” Now comes news that more ’80s properties will be turned into new movies. This time, though, it’s not a film about video games — it’s the games themselves.
Producers have just optioned the rights to Space Invaders, that pixilated shoot-’em-up arcade hit from the era. Warner Bros. was set to make the film but dropped it, and so producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Gigi Pritzker have swooped in. Di Bonaventura knows the ’80s — he’s a producer of the “Transformers” films and “G.I. Joe.” Those movies were based on toys, so it’s a short jump to turning a video game into a movie. They’re still looking for a screenwriter, though.
Space Invaders isn’t the only old-school video game being put on the big screen, either: Asteroids and Missile Command are also set to get the Hollywood treatment.
Back into the realm of reality: A trailer for “The Iron Lady,” the upcoming film about the rise of Margaret Thatcher, was released this week. The first female prime minister of Britain is being portrayed not by one of her fellow countrywomen, however, but by an American.
Meryl Streep is legendary, so they say, for being able to transform herself into any character of any time and any place. The trailer — though short — shows she seems to have that distinctive voice down. But the actress evinces some odd facial tics. Mannerisms do not a character make. That’s not the only reason to wonder how well “The Iron Lady” will portray one of the most influential women of the 20th century. The film is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who last put Streep in front of the camera in “Mamma Mia!”
Kelly Janes Torrance is The Washington Examiner movie critic. Her reviews run weekly and she can be reached at [email protected].
