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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Sci-Fi Superhero Disaster That Ended Hollywood's Biggest Star, And Exiled Its Director
The early 2000s were a weird time for comic book movies. Studios hadn't yet cracked the formula, and CGI was both everywhere and not quite good enough. Every studio was chasing X-Men or Spider-Man money, but most didn't understand why those movies worked. That left audiences with a string of half-baked adaptations and aggressively gray visual palettes. Then came a movie with Sean Connery, a steampunk submarine, vampire women, and an invisible man. It had everything, and it completely fell apart. This is why The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen failed. The Origins Of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was supposed to launch a franchise. Instead, both the movie's director and its star never worked again. Based loosely, very loosely, on Alan Moore's acclaimed comic, the 2003 film mashed up classic literary figures into a single world-saving superhero squad. It was Avengers before Avengers… if the Avengers were pulled from the pages of 19th-century novels, and nobody on the team liked each other. On paper, the idea is brilliant. You've got Captain Nemo, Allan Quatermain, Dr. Jekyll, Mina Harker, Dorian Gray, and an invisible thief named Skinner. A secret war is brewing. Technology is being stolen. A shadowy villain is trying to start a World War. The world's greatest minds and monsters are assembled to stop him. It should work. But it doesn't. Behind the scenes, it was chaos. Sean Connery And Chaos Behind The Scenes Sean Connery was 72 years old when he signed on to League. He'd been turning down roles in movies like The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings, admitting later that he didn't understand those scripts. He didn't understand this one either, but a this time he said yes. Unfortunately, Connery's confusion bled into the production. Sean clashed constantly with director Stephen Norrington, who had previously helmed Blade and apparently thought yelling louder would improve things. Connery later described the experience as 'a nightmare,' and afterward he retired from acting. Norrington reportedly told Fox he would never direct again. He kept that promise. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was his last film. Production went over budget. Prague floods shut down filming, and tempers flared. The final cut feels like everyone just gave up. The League Of Extraordinarily Bad Scripts From the opening scene, it's clear the script doesn't know what kind of movie it wants to be. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen wants to be gritty and grounded, but features a car the size of a limo barreling through 19th-century Venice. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen wants to be serious, but makes its invisible man a petty thief and its villain wear a Halloween mask from Spirit. In Moore's comic, the League is dysfunctional by design, borderline immoral, even dangerous. In the movie, they're sanitized. They trade sarcastic quips and generic exposition. None of them has a character arc. Mina is a vampire scientist. That's it. Jekyll has a conscience and also CGI problems. That's it. Quatermain is old and grumpy and spends most of the movie complaining about how young people don't know how to fight wars anymore. Even Tom Sawyer shows up, primarily to appeal to American viewers. He shoots things and calls Quatermain 'sir.' That's the role. The League of Extraordinarily Conflicting Tones League's real failure is in tone and structure. The movie moves too fast and somehow goes nowhere. The villain is revealed to be exactly who you thought it was. The plan is confusing: steal scientific secrets to spark a war… while also building an army of knockoff Jekylls and invisible soldiers? There's a tank battle, a spy reveal, a boat chase, a character death, and a final showdown in an ice fortress that looks like something out of GoldenEye 64. It's all action, no consequence. The ending tries to set up a sequel, but there's nothing left to care about. The League Of Not So Extraordinary Box Office The film made money, barely. It earned $179 million worldwide on a $78 million budget. By the time it limped out of theaters, no one was asking for more. Fox scrapped any plans for sequels. Connery retired and never made another movie. Norrington kept his promise and stopped directing. And Alan Moore, already furious that Hollywood kept mangling his work, disavowed the movie before it even premiered. To be fair, Alan Moore disavows everything. Good or not. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's Legacy The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen failed not because the premise was flawed, but because it never knew what made the premise great. It misunderstood its characters, its tone, and its audience. It tried to appeal to everyone and ended up pleasing no one. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics are dark, layered, and literary. The movie is loud, confused, and afraid to commit. Now, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen's legacy is as a final, awkward footnote in Sean Connery's legendary career, and a warning that a good idea still needs a good script to matter. Worst of all, the guy who, arguably, invented the modern-day comic book movie, Blade director Stephen Norrington, never directed again. What would the Marvel world be like now if he'd kept working? If he'd chosen some other comic book property instead of LXG?We'll never know. Solve the daily Crossword
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal Arrive In Jaipur For Love & War Shoot
Last Updated: Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal reunite for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War. The actors were spotted in Jaipur for shoot. Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal have teamed up for the second time after Sanju, for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War. The actors were spotted in Jaipur on Saturday, August 16, for a schedule shoot. Alia Bhatt, who plays the female lead, was not spotted with the actors. Ranbir Kapoor sported a moustache and was dressed in all-white for his airport OOTD (Outfit Of The Day). As for Vicky Kaushal, the Chhaava actor was dressed in casual outfits with a cap and sunnies. While exiting the airport together, RK noticed paps waiting to click them. He called Vicky, who didn't seem to notice the paparazzi at first, and together they posed for pictures together, reminding fans of their Sanju days. Watch their video here: Love & War might clash with Yash's Toxic Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal's Love & War is slated for release in 2026. Reportedly, the film might expect a major clash with Kannada superstar Yash's upcoming film, Toxic. In March, film exhibitor Taran Adarsh dropped a major update on both film's release date. In an X post, he mentioned that both films are eyeing a Ugadi, Gudi Padwa and Eid weekend of 2026 (March 19). Both films and the stars have their own separate fan base. If that is what the makers decide, then it might either severely affect both the film's box office businesses or perhaps work out like in the case of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 clash in 2024. While it is now confirmed that Toxic will release on March 19 next year, an official statement from Bhansali's production house is awaited. Alia Bhatt on Love & War Alia Bhatt previously spoke to News18 Showsha and expressed her excitement about Love & War. 'There are so many layers to look forward to, that I don't know which one to pick. First and foremost, the pleasure and honour of working with Sanjay sir, once again, under his guidance and gaze, flourish is step number one. You can go anywhere with it because of his attention to detail and his attention to you," she told us. Rumours suggest that Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal lock horns and will play Indian Armed Forces officers in the film. First Published: August 17, 2025, 09:34 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
05-08-2025
- Sport
- News18
IND vs ENG: KL Rahul, Jadeja Made More Runs. Then Why Was Harry Brook 'Player Of The Series'?
Last Updated: During the India-England Test series, the Player of the Series is chosen by the coaches of both teams, who each select a deserving player from the opposing side In a dramatic finish to the five-match Test series, India pulled off a stunning six-run victory over England on the final day of the decider, resulting in a drawn series. Chasing a modest target, England appeared in control at 339 for six by stumps on Day 4, needing just 35 more runs. However, Mohammad Siraj produced a sensational spell on the final morning, triggering a collapse that saw the hosts bowled out for 367. Mohammed Siraj was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul in the final Test, while Harry Brook and Shubman Gill were awarded Player of the Series for England and India, respectively. During the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy, India's new Test captain showcased an exceptional form by scoring a total of 754 runs across five matches, featuring two centuries and a double century. His remarkable innings of 269 runs in Birmingham was particularly noteworthy. Traditionally, during Test series in England, the Player of the Series award is given to players from both teams, regardless of the series outcome. Consequently, India's Captain Shubman Gill and England's Harry Brook were selected for this accolade. This decision raised eyebrows as Joe Root had scored more runs than Brook, accumulating 537 runs in five matches compared to Brook's 481 runs. Who Chooses The Player Of The Series? A common question during the India-England Test series is who decides the Player of the Series. The responsibility lies with the coaches of both teams, who select the deserving player from the opposing side. Indian team coach Gautam Gambhir chose Harry Brook for the Player of the Series award, which was met with some surprise. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj gets emotional responding to Virat Kohli's message
Mohammed Siraj (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Former India Test captain Virat Kohli was among the many from the cricketing world to heap praise on Team India and Mohammed Siraj after their thrilling win in the fifth Test against England on Monday, which ensured the series ended in a 2-2 draw. Pacer Mohammed Siraj (5/104) was the star of the show, delivering one of his most memorable spells under pressure. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! He finished the series as the highest wicket-taker from either side with 23 wickets at an average of 32.43. Chasing a record target of 374, England ended Day 4 on a strong note at 339 for six before bad light and rain interrupted play. But India made quick work of the remaining four wickets on the final morning, bowling England out for 367. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj press conference: India stars answer all questions Kohli, who retired from Test cricket before this England tour, lauded the team's fightback on 'X', posting: 'Great win by team India. Resilience and determination from Siraj and Prasidh has given us this phenomenal victory. Special mention to Siraj who will put everything on the line for the team. Extremely happy for him.' Siraj later responded by thanking Kohli for always 'believing' in him. India captain Shubman Gill , who was India's 'Player Of The Series' with 754 runs and four hundreds, was all praise for Siraj, whose lion-hearted effort got him nine wickets in a series levelling performance at the Oval. "Siraj is a captain's dream. Gave it his all every ball and every spell he bowled. 2-2 is a fair reflection. It shows how passionate both teams were and how well they played," Gill said at the post-match presentation ceremony. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
India Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Not sure India believed they could get Leeds hero Ben Duckett out: Steve Harmison
Former England pacer Steve Harmison feels that India didn't believe they would get Leeds Test hero Ben Duckett out on Day 5 of the match on Tuesday, June 24. Duckett played with positive intent on the final day of the match and put the Indian bowlers to the sword with his fantastic batting. The England opener scored 149 runs off 170 balls, hitting 21 boundaries and a six before being dismissed and putting England on course for a five-wicket win. Duckett was dropped at 98, but apart from that, he looked solid throughout his knock. Harmison praised Duckett for his knock and claimed that the England opener believed that he will play the match-winning knock. advertisement'Ben Duckett played wonderfully well. He believed he was going to play a match-winning knock,' Duckett said, speaking to ESPN Cricinfo. When it came to India, Harmison that they didn't get the plans right against Duckett and he capitalised on it. 'He (Duckett) believed he was going to score runs. He had a lot of positive intent, like he always does. I am not sure India believed they are going to get him out. I don't think India got their plans right. I don't think they bowled the right lengths and right lines to him. And, he capitalized on it," said Harmison. 'India didn't have an answer for Duckett'Harmison said that India didn't have an answer or formula to stop Duckett from scoring and felt that the visitors weren't even stopping singles. advertisement'They didn't have an answer. They didn't have a formula to stop him from scoring. They didn't have a plan and really were rudderless when it came to what their plan was, executing their skill set. Even in the field, they weren't stopping singles. India's bowlers were bowling good balls, but England were getting singles,' said Harmison. Duckett was adjudged as the Player Of The Match for his match-winning knock. India and England will face-off in the second Test, starting from July 2 at Edgbaston. - EndsTune InMust Watch
