Sean Connery once famously stated that he turned down the role of Morpheus in the Matrix films because he read the script and “he didn’t get it.” He also turned down the part of Gandalf in the Lord of The Rings movies for similar reasons. Those films, obviously, went on to become Hollywood juggernauts. So when the script for League of Extraordinary Gentlemen came across the desk and “he didn’t get it,” he thought “Well, I can’t make the same mistake again!” and he accepted a starring role in the film.

Unfortunately, Mr. Connery put his money on the wrong horse. LXG was a flop on every level. It was ravaged by critics, and only managed to make $180 million worldwide. The film that was meant to start a franchise was dead on arrival. Shortly after that, Connery announced his retirement from acting and has not appeared in a live-action film since.

It looks like 20th Century Fox is hoping that 2003 was long enough ago that people are ready to give the property a second chance. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, the story centers on a group of iconic literary figures that come together to face a common foe. Amongst them you have Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, Tom Sawyer, Dorian Gray, and Allan Quartermain. 

Variety says that Ira Napoliello and Matt Reilly are overseeing the reboot. As of now, there’s no news on who’ll be writing or directing the film.

I never read the books. Do you guys think it’s a world worth re-exploring?

SOURCE: Variety