I first heard about it when I was linked to this screenwriter’s blog .
Some months ago my agent called me (we’ll call him…Agent). Agent says: “New Line’s got a project they want you to look at. They’re making the movie. They love it. It needs a little work.”
…I ask Agent the name of the project, what it’s about, etc. He says: Snakes on a Plane. Holy shit, I’m thinking. It’s a title. It’s a concept. It’s a poster and a logline and whatever else you need it to be. It’s perfect. Perfect. It’s the Everlasting Gobstopper of movie titles.
I say to Agent: “Tell me nothing else. Get me the script and put me on the phone with those lucky bastards at New Line Cinema!”
Next, Collider.com has an interview with the only man you could imagine starring in a movie called “Snakes on a Plane”: Samuel L. Jackson.
Beaks : One of those films that you’re working on right now is… well, it’s called “Pacific Air 121”—
Jackson : Snakes on a Plane, man!
Beaks : Exactly.
Jackson : We’re totally changing that back. That’s the only reason I took the job: I read the title.
Beaks : Snakes on a Plane! That’s everything!
Jackson : You either want to see that, or you don’t.
Empire Online has an article including the following fantastic Sam Jackson quote:
In the middle of the ocean, this crate time-releases and there’s 500 poisonous snakes in there and they scatter out all over the plane. So it’s us battling snakes to LA. I get to spend six and a half weeks going to set every day going “Ah! Ah! Ow! Ow!” I don’t have to go in every day and figure out the dramatic purpose of this particular scene.
Finally, BlackFilm.com has a gallery of five production stills of which, regrettably, only two are snake-related (a totally unacceptable ratio).
Me, I’m thrilled beyond words. This movie is, pre-production, the apex of everything that’s right with Hollywood. Who needs plot when you have snakes? Who needs depth when you have planes? And who can deliver more badassed snake-planery than Sam Jackson?
Snakes on a Plane is going to be EPIC.
I almost agree. Except, exceeeeeeept, and this is something everybody has seemingly overlooked with this title… and that is, it sounds like cheesy crap that nobody in their right mind would bother to go see.
I am surprised significant executives haven’t picked up on this small point.
GuanoLad:
I almost agree. Except, exceeeeeeept, and this is something everybody has seemingly overlooked with this title… and that is, it sounds like cheesy crap that nobody in their right mind would bother to go see.
I am totally going to go see this when it comes out. This is going to be the best movie EVER.
I seem to remember SNL doing a sketch where cobras get loose on an airplane.
It’s like Dave Chapelle doing a parody of “Trading Spouses” a season before it came out.
Somebody tell me, please, that this will be a comedy…
bouv
September 6, 2005, 8:09pm
6
GuanoLad:
I almost agree. Except, exceeeeeeept, and this is something everybody has seemingly overlooked with this title… and that is, it sounds like cheesy crap that nobody in their right mind would bother to go see.
Well duh! That’s half the point. Remember Eight Legged Freaks? Cheesy, silly name, yet honest to God, 100% fun!
And Snakes on a Plane? No mystery there. You know exactly what you are getting. Snakes…on a plane.
I am ALL ABOUT Snakes on a Plane . In facts, snakes on a plane couldn’t keep me away!
Turek
September 7, 2005, 1:27am
8
Who, indeed, my friend.
Maybe he’ll make a snake skin wallet and carve “Bad Motherfucker” into it. With his teeth.
Otto
September 7, 2005, 1:34am
9
I once took my pet garter snake Boots on a plane. He rode in my camera bag and seemed quite comfortable.
Sadly, he was unbeknownst to me suffering from pneumonia and died shortly thereafter.
But hey, he get to brag to his buddies in Snake Heaven that he rode on a plane.
They’re insane if they don’t go with the original title. Selling a movie called Snakes on a Plane starring Samuel L. Jackson is every marketer’s dream. You don’t even have to sell it. You just *offer * it; it sells itself.
I know I’ll be there opening day with all my friends.
Zebra
September 7, 2005, 5:19pm
11
Snakes on a Plane!
That’s Right! We said Snakes on a Plane!
In my mind, there is just one question: will there be snakes on a plane?
Exactly! It’s so…almost Zen-like in its perfection. Samuel L. Jackson. Snakes on a plane. It’s all there!
Draelin
September 7, 2005, 6:15pm
14
In mid-flight, no one can hear you ssssssssss .
How many other movies have featured (even briefly) snakes on a plane? The only one I can think of is Raiders of the Lost Ark .
Well, Fer de Lance had snakes on a submarine. That’s almost as good.
Yep, it was SNL. Will Ferrell was the pilot.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain…and we just got word that there are now seventeen cobras loose on the plane.” Or something like that.
What’s the scene? I can only think of snakes on a train , from the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , featuring River Phoenix, God rest his soul.
Horror at 37,000 Feet had DEMONS ON A PLANE.
And Chuck Connors.
Zebra
September 7, 2005, 7:47pm
20
What’s the scene? I can only think of snakes on a train , from the opening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , featuring River Phoenix, God rest his soul.
The first movie when Indy escapes in the opening scene. He swims out to the plane and he sees a snake between his legs.
That’s just my pet snake Reggie.