Paramount secures The Martian Chronicles

Ray Bradbury hated the American television Mini Series of The Martian Chronicles, though I have always had a soft spot for it, but there have been any number of attempts to get a big screen movie off the ground, only this particular rocket has just never wanted to fly. Now it appears that Paramount have secured the rights to what is unquestionably the finest collection of short stories every written about Mars. However, the producer is a certain John Davis, who most recently produced the awe inspiringly dire Gulliver’s Travels, a film I wish I could erase from my memory. Flicking through Mr Davis' IMDB credits, I see little else to be enthusiastic about. He did produce the rather wonderful Predator, but also Waterworld and Daddy Day Care. Is Mr Bradbury aware of this fine body of work? OK, I'm being harsh, everyone has to earn a living, and I'm sure Daddy Day Care has brightened at least as many lives as it has blighted, but this is a work that needs to be treated with upmost respect and dignity. The thought that Eddie Murphy might be in with a shot at a role (Davies and Murphy worked together on the Doctor Dolittle films as well as Daddy Day Care) is enough to make any fan of Ray Bradbury want to book a one way ticket to Mars.