Did you know that Danny Elfman once battled a case of malaria? It's true. Danny says that "pills make it less evere, but it is AWFUL. You feel like you're going to die, but you don't." Elfman got the disease while living in Africa. Needless to say, Danny moved back to the good ol' U.S.A.
A new Superman movie? Yep, and it is apparantly going to be directed by Tim Burton. Talks about the movie are wide spread and the runors are flying. Word has it a number of people are attempting to get directing rights but Tim Burton is the one they want for the job. It is unclear as to whether or not he has agreed but changes are he will.
Another Burton film in the talks is a Planet of the Apes remake. This movie has even less details then Superman, and I have no idea whether or not Tim will be doing it. If not then production of it will be delayed quite a bit, and last I heard he still wasn't sure.
-Paul Reubans (Lock, Peewee Herman) was in the original BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER movie. It's true; he was one of the vampires. You'd never have guessed it by simply watching it (I certainly never). But when I went back and checked the credits there it was as plain as could be- PAUL REUBANS.
Tim Burton did the film Mystery Men? Yep. After poor showing of both his previous films (Ed Wood, Mars Attacks), Tim insisted upon using the name Kinka Usher fearing that fearing that a commercial flop would hurt his bank-ability. There were a number of classic Tim Burton clues in it though. Number one, the appearance of Jack Skellington, who has been in every movie since The Nightmare Before Christmas as well as being briefly featured in a scene of Beetlejuice. Number two, Paul Reubans. This will be Paul's fourth Burton film (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas). This was the tell-tale clue. Finally, there's the castle of Casanova Frankstein. Appearing in 6 of his films altogether he likes to include them as a stylistic homage to director Roger Corman (Pit and the Pendulum, House of Usher).
Edward Scissorhands...The Musical? Apparantly it's true. Danny Elfman along with an unidentified choreographer have put together some plans and word of it is starting to spread. According to Danny's brother Richard it will debut in New York City, but as of yet few plans have been made.
-William Hickey (Dr. Finklestein) was in the 1997 movie MOUSEHUNT. Horrible disapointment to me (I detested that film with such a vengance). But it's kind of cool to actually see the voice behind Dr. F!
Wonderful news, folks! Danny Elfman apparantly has a desire to come back to pop alternative music! He claims to have liked life better doing both film music and performing with Oingo Boingo. He split his life 50/50 until 1996 when Boingo called it quits, and now wants to get back into the music industry. But don't get things wrong, this doesn't mean that the band will suddenly rise from the ashes. In a 1997 interview when asked about Oingo Boingo's rturn he said, "that will not be the case. Farewell means farewell, and as we performed our "farewell" tour a year ago last Halloween, it would be hypocritical of us to announce more shows. I wish I could tell you otherwise, but, alas, that's the way it is."
-Tim Burton stared in the 1992 Cameron Crowe film SINGLES. Yes, it's actually true! I went directly to the video store and rented it, and it was simply delightful! You've gotta see it to believe it! I do believe it was his only role in a movie though. Guess he's better behind the scenes.
Ever heard of Patrick Stewart from Star Trek: The Next Generation? In case not, he plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the series. He also played a role in The Nightmare Before Christmas. Not the movie, but the soundtrack; he provided the voice of Sandy Claws.
Danny Elfman has expressed interest in releasing a Music For A Darkened Theatre: Volume III. There are very few details as of now but it could be released anywhere from 3 to 6 years from now.
Be on the lookout for Tim's new film "The Corpse Bride". It is the first picture to go into production under the San Fransisco based Tim Burton Animation Company. It's basically an offbeat fairy tale about a young man who inadvertently becomes becomes betrothed to a corpse. The film will use the same kind of stop-motion animation techniques that Burton used in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' and 'James and the Giant Peach'
-There is actually a movie called WHY HAS BODHI-DHARMA LEFT FOR THE EAST? Don't understand the connection here? Here it is for ya. Danny Elfman has an older brother, Richard. Ricky has a son named BODHI, who is married to the popular actress Jenna Elfman. Yes, that Jenna Elfman...the one who plays DHARMA on the hit television series Dharma and Greg. Pretty odd, eh? A Korean film first released in 1989, this film never came to the U.S. until 1993...the same year Nightmare was released. Connections, connections....
Did you know that once while on stage with Oingo Boingo, Danny Elfman dislocated his knee? He somehow had to push it back into it's socket before walking offstage! Eeewwwwww............
A band by the name of Primus has been noted for playing the Pee Wee theme at their concerts and letting people mosh to it! Said Danny Elfman in an AOL interview, "I'm a huge Primus fan and so...I was more than shocked when I heard the "Pee Wee" theme playing before they came out. To see people moshing to that absurd bit of music brought tears to my eyes. Not exactly what I expected when I wrote it."
Danny Elfman once had a passion to become a radiation biologist. He was forever injecting flies and plants with isotopes. Good thing he didn't go for such a choice in career! Science's loss, music's gain.
