Planet 51 Continues Scifi's Invasion Of Animation

The trend of animated movies swinging from fantasy to science fiction (with Wall-E and Space Chimps) continues with Planet 51, starring the Rock as a human astronaut who lands on a planet of xenophobic aliens who regard him as an invader. Written by Shrek scribe Joe Stillman, Planet 51 is a "reverse E.T.," the Rock says. He gave away some new plot details for Planet, which he says is coming November 2009.

The 3-D film, which was originally supposed to be distributed by New Line but is now coming out on Warner Bros., is about astronaut Capt. Charles "Chuck" Baker, who leads an expedition to the title world, which is inhabited by those human-fearing aliens, who dress like humans from the 1950s. Says Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson:

I go on their planet, and I'm actually the alien... Of course, I befriend a little boy [to try to] get back to my spaceship. It's really great.

Also providing voices are Jessica Biel and Seann William Scott.

Planet Due in Late 09 [Sci-Fi Wire]

12:00 PM on Fri Apr 25 2008
By Charlie Jane Anders
1,693 views
12 comments

Comments

The_Real_Quiet_Despera... at 12:15 PM on 04/25/08
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Wow! That alien design really sucks!

And what's with the circa 1970 space suit?

Oh well... we can always hope that Baker brings along a virus that accidentally wipes out all the aliens. Now *that* would be comedy!
dirtybacon at 12:41 PM on 04/25/08
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Why is the guy being voiced by the ROck a white guy?

Just wondering, is all...
Priam at 12:50 PM on 04/25/08
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@dirtybacon: Because Mike Myers and Patrick Warburton can't do everything.
X: The Eliminator at 01:10 PM on 04/25/08
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ya see, the animation community is pretty small. when these guys heard that pixar was making a sci-fi, they jumped on the wagon.

remember finding nemo? shark's tale? even shrek was a knock off of monster's inc.

planet 51 will suck for these reasons:

1. dumb designs.
2. standard plot.
3. pop reference jokes.
4. someone will "scream like a little girl."
5. boring animation.
6. it won't examine the modern human condition, like all good sci-fi, in the least.

it should be called formula 51 to give you a more succinct idea of the kinda film it'll be.

not really looking forward to this at all. that being said, i'm always looking to be surprised by a movie but i don't think this will do it.
fuzzymuffins at 01:15 PM on 04/25/08
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no wonder they're so afraid of this guy... he wears PANTS !!

reverse ET indeed... ET was a really good movie... this...????
wil9000 at 01:20 PM on 04/25/08
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Hey!How comes the alien dudes wears no pants? From the last pic it looks like the alien chick wears a skirt.

Yes, yes, I know, the human is the alien in this movie. Cut me some slack. It's about the pants. Always about the pants.
jbq at 02:19 PM on 04/25/08
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@X: The Eliminator: "4. someone will "scream like a little girl.""

My money's on Sean William Scott...
MRCAB at 07:59 PM on 04/25/08
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This looks so horrible.. seriously.
Fanboy at 07:59 PM on 04/25/08
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Thanks for posting this. Next time, please attribute it to the place you plucked it from: In this case, and exclusive interview on SCI FI Wire: [www.scifi.com]
AngryLagomorph at 06:39 AM on 04/26/08
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I'm there with you dirtybacon. What's wrong with a Polynesian astronaut? Do they all have to be blond American ubermenschen?
Tiwa Face Kontrol at 12:16 PM on 04/26/08
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I wonder if aliens have a word that equates to our English "fugly"
Stueymon at 07:26 PM on 04/27/08
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i wish people would stop stealing my ideas....whole alien human contact reversal *Grumble* i need a tin foil hat.

anyway, i like the idea but the alien design sucks hard, they should all be speaking blip-blops....