THRILLED to announce I am writing AND DIRECTING a new LIVE-ACTION Darkwing Duck movie for Disney+ in which Darkwing Duck straight up murders people!
To answer some questions:
My Darkwing Duck will be EXCLUSIVELY on Disney+, baby! They haven’t announced it yet because the deal’s still closing, but it is happening and should be available Day One.
One hundred percent live action with a real CGI duck.
For real murders people.
My Darkwing Duck will be EXCLUSIVELY on Disney+, baby! They haven’t announced it yet because the deal’s still closing, but it is happening and should be available Day One.
One hundred percent live action with a real CGI duck.
For real murders people.
Let’s get f$&king dangerous, babyyyy!
Thank you for this serious question. Serious answer: BoJack is going on indefinite hiatus while I focus all my attention on the live-action Darkwing Duck movie in which Darkwing Duck straight up murders people, for Disney's new streaming service Disney+.
https://twitter.com/WallyBean82/status/1116778348921778176
Just had a difficult but ultimately productive phone call with Reed Hastings (Netflix). He was upset obviously, but understood that this was a lifelong dream of mine. "If you have a problem with a Darkwing Duck that murders people," I said, "take it up with Bobby Iger (Disney)!"
Making progress on script (for live-action Darkwing Duck in which Darkwing Duck murders people). The beauty is never knowing who Darkwing Duck will murder next. (I’m even surprising myself!) So wild to think this could potentially be my Indiana Jones (if audiences “get it”).
I asked Bob Iger (Disney) why there hasn’t been official announcement yet about my live-action Darkwing Duck movie. He said they have to wait for the right moment, because they don’t want to overshadow other properties, like their all-live-action Roger Rabbit reboot. Fair enough.
Got the first VFX tests back for my live-action Darkwing Duck movie (in which Darkwing Duck is murders goals). No offense, but: fucking garbage. Every Darkwing Duck they’re showing me looks like a fucking cartoon, no offense. Did these morons even SEE Jungle Book (2016)?!
I keep telling people, LIVE-ACTION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT A DUCK LOOKS LIKE? MAKE IT REAL. I WANT A REAL-ASS DUCK WITH A ZORRO MASK AND A BIG FLOPPY HAT, THAT SHOOTS GUNS.
The best part about writing AND DIRECTING a movie for Disney+, instead of for in theaters like Aladdin? We don’t have to worry about the ratings board, which means (unlike Aladdin) there are NO CONTENT RESTRICTIONS. Finally, a Darkwing Duck who says, “KISS MY DICK EVILDOERS!”
Just got off the phone with Bob Iger (Disney). I regret to inform you this Darkwing Duck will not be saying kiss my dick evildoers.
Currently casting my live-action Darkwing Duck movie for Disney+ in which Darkwing Duck murders people with a gun (we see blood). So many great options for Double-D (Darkwing Duck). My casting director and I are looking at a lot of headshots we acquired through legal means.
I keep saying Ryan GOSLING would be perfect for the role, both because of his name and his acting ability, and I keep being told he is not interested.
Oh, shit, this is a great idea! I actually really respect Drake a ton. I think he has a very cool energy and a lot of potential as a performer and I will definitely try to cast him in my Darkwing Duck movie if everyone else says no.
https://twitter.com/thememorypalace/status/1145773879236784128
Drake, if you are reading this later, you were always my first choice to play Darkwing Duck!
RUMOR HAS IT someone who is in the SPOTLIGHT is an actor who CAN COUNT ON ME to cast him in the role of a lifetime where he’s a live-action Darkwing Duck who murders people, only on Disney+. Can’t say who, but MARK my words; he is quite a ROUGH FELLOW.
It would be JUST LIKE HEAVEN if this actor’s agents would return my phone calls!
Mark Ruffalo is out. His agents weren’t the most forthcoming, but apparently he “doesn’t want to do it” and “thinks the idea is bad” and wants me to “stop calling.”
Michael B. Jordan also passed. He was interested, but didn’t understand why Darkwing Duck had to murder people. After a heated conversation, he respected my vision too much to try to get me to change it just for him and we parted ways amicably and we’re still really good friends.
I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I mean no disrespect to the original Darkwing Duck. The movie will be EXACTLY like the show, only updated for modern audiences. The spirit of it is the same, only now Darkwing Duck murders people, and “sexts.”
https://twitter.com/DevlinWilder/status/1156653474622214146?s=20
Also, my film will not be REPLACING the original Darkwing Duck. The complete series will ALSO be on Disney+ and at the bottom of every episode there will be a button that says, “THIS IS A CARTOON; IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD REALLY HAPPEN, CLICK HERE” with a link to my movie.
Another garbage VFX pass from the “wizards” (sarcastic) at ILM. I keep saying, “Do what you did for Jon Favreau (The Lion King)! Before you send me another CGI duck test ask yourself: Would I send this to Tom Hooper (Cats)? If the answer is ‘no’ DO NOT SEND IT TO ME.”
I am striving for realism here. I have a vision. I’m sorry if that makes me a “pre-Madonna” but if the duck doesn’t look one hundred percent CGI real like it would in a Jon Favreau or Tom Hooper movie, nobody will believe it when the duck starts murdering people.
The success of The Joker Movie (2019) is a success for all of us “crazy ones” who see the world a little different. Good to know there’s still room in this corporate world for an outside-the-box take on existing high-profile IP.
This bodes well for my new twisted Darkwing Duck movie I’m making for Disney+. Now when my wife says, “Why are you spending so much time on this dumb movie?” I can say, “It’s not dumb! It’s like the Joker Movie! It’s for grown-ups!”
Yes. Like all good movies, it is an origin story. It starts with him murdering a guy, and then the whole three-hour movie is a flashback leading up to see why he murdered that guy.
https://mobile.twitter.com/MrRiotDiet1/status/1181211075951415298
Don’t worry, there are lots of other murders throughout the movie too! This is Darkwing Duck we’re talking about after all! (A new kind of Darkwing Duck that murders people.)
Starting to think I am not going to finish this Darkwing Duck movie where Darkwing Duck murders people in time for the Disney+ launch on November 12th. I’m calling Bob Iger (Disney) to see if we can push back the launch date another couple months or a year.
I know they’ve already announced November 12th, but I just want everything to be ready and I feel like everyone could probably use the extra time. Maybe Disney+ could launch in March? I think the fans would understand.
After some very lengthy conversations with Bob Iger (Disney) with lots of good points on both sides, we agreed the Disney+ launch should stay on November 12th and they’ll add my gritty new Darkwing Duck movie (which is cinema) when it’s ready.
This way, the Darkwing Duck movie can feel like more of an “event” and not get overshadowed by all the other stuff that’s there Day One. Like that’s fine for Lady and the whatever (not cinema), but Darkwing Duck deserves its own premiere. This feels right. This feels like cinema.
Holy shit, KJ Apa (Riverside) is circling my live-action Darkwing Duck movie! I have always said if I ever do a live-action movie where Darkwing Duck murders people, and Ryan Gosling and Mark Ruffalo and Michael B. Jordan all say no, then KAJE (short for KJ Apa) is my first pick.
We had a GREAT lunch (“Let’s do lunch!” - Hollywood). Kaje had some trepidation about all the murdering. I said we'd shoot it both ways (both with the murdering and without) and we’d see what works better in post but we’re definitely doing it the murdering way. DON'T TELL KAJE!
Stoked about the success of the new Watchmen show on HBO Max. The original movie was a big influence on me and my desire to do a new sophisticated version of Darkwing Duck for grown-ups where Darkwing Duck murders people like he would in the real world.
My original pitch to Bob Iger (Disney) was: Watchmen, Darkwing Duck-style! Then he looked at me, confused, and I said: I mean - Darkwing Duck, Watchmen-style! And he said, Now you’re talking!
People have been asking me: Why this story? Why now? The answer is simple. The reason I am making a 100% live action Darkwing Duck with a real CGI duck who murders people is not fame, nor money, nor prestige. I just want my five-year-old son Brycetopher to be proud of his daddy.
NOW WHO LOOKS STUPID?!?!?
Ummmm, not to be “that guy,” but this honestly feels like a total ripoff of my already announced Darkwing Duck movie, which I think I’ve pretty firmly established will be “dank af,” and “extremely brutal,” and “not fun to watch.”
https://twitter.com/IndieWire/status/1225816489384542209?s=20
I’m honestly calling my lawyer right now to see if I can trademark the phrases “bizarrely uncomfortable to sit through” and “way more close-ups of punctured eyeballs than necessary” and “very not pleasant”.
Don’t worry; my Darkwing Duck movie starring KJ Apa (yes, THAT KJ Apa) as a Darkwing Duck who murders people won’t be a total sausage-fest! The movie ALSO stars a kick-ass badass girlboss as Darkwing Duck’s teenage foster daughter Kylie! Believe: she gives as good as she gets!
I know, I know - what about Gosalyn? It was going to be Gosalyn, like in the cartoon version for babies, but given the things that happen to the character in my movie (that is ultimately very empowering) it really only makes sense if it’s a smoking hot teenage woman named Kylie.
Just now getting word that my VFX team is "pausing" "indefinitely" on mocking up realistic CGI Darkwing Duck models for me EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE NOTES because apparently "the state of California" deems that job to be "non-essential."
FURIOUSLY calling Bob Iger (Disney) to sort all this out, but he is not returning any of my voicemails even though after I leave them I press the number that marks them as "urgent". Apparently he just quit??! GREAT TIMING, BOB.
Didn’t read the article. DOES he murder people?
Getting lots of Darkwing Duck-related questions, in light of recent events (Hamilton on Disney+). Questions like “Is Darkwing Duck (specifically a new kind of Darkwing Duck that murders people) too PROBLEMATIC for these times?” To which I say, "Cancel culture has gone too far.”
Please do not censor my murderous vigilante hero duck movie by criticizing either its concept or execution. That is censorship.
To be clear Darkwing Duck is NOT a role model because he kills people. He’s a role model because he’s cool and MEANWHILE he also happens to kill people
To be clear Darkwing Duck is NOT a role model because he kills people. He’s a role model because he’s cool and MEANWHILE he also happens to kill people
When times are hard, I like to look for the good in it. Like yes, Covid is bad, but because of Covid, streaming movies are eligible for Oscars now, which is good news for people who make serious films for Disney+ where KJ Apa is a real duck who murders people. Thank you, Covid!
Unprecedented? Sure. But two years ago, who would think you could win an Oscar for playing Joker? Also unprecedented. But I’m not making this movie to win awards. I’m making it for my five-year-old son Brycetopher. But if they want to give me awards, that is okay. I will accept.
Unlike Mulan, my Darkwing Duck movie will be FREE to all Disney+ subscribers! But in order to replicate the theatrical event experience, there will be $40 “ticket processing fee” for every screening.
That may sound steep, but remember, you’re offsetting the cost of all these CGI tests I keep making our animators do over because they keep looking like crap and not like a real duck that you actually believe would murder people, and also “dab.”
Due to an “unprecedented pandemic-fueled global recession,” we can no longer afford a real CGI duck in my live-action Darkwing-Duck-murders-people movie I'm making for Disney+. Bob Chapek (Disney) was very upset I already "wasted" so much on VFX tests, but I told him RELAX, BOB.
The new plan is to put KJ (Apa, from the Archie show) in a Darkwing Duck costume. Not ideal, but every project has its hiccups. Originally in Casablanca Rick was going to be a Jamaican man but Humphrey (Bogart) struggled with the accent. Now I wouldn’t change a thing about it!
So there’s a new Darkwing Duck episode of the Duck Tales cartoon. A lot of reputable news outlets are asking, “Is this fair to Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s upcoming Darkwing Duck project? The really good live action movie where Darkwing Duck murders people?”
https://twitter.com/IGN/status/1316782679862513664?s=20
I for one think both projects can live side-by-side. I’m glad that there can be a kid-friendly cartoon Darkwing Duck that the whole family can enjoy together, AS WELL AS my live-action hyper-violent Darkwing Duck, AKA the “real” version.
“NO WRITER IS CURRENTLY ATTACHED TO THE PROJECT” EXCUSE ME?!??
https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1327340828566675456?s=20
Okay, apparently this is an entirely unrelated Darkwing Duck project from the people who made “Boys” (which I understand is like the boy version of “Girls”). I don’t think this will conflict with the dark and gritty version of Darkwing Duck I am making AKA “The Bob-Waksberg cut.”
Today Disney+ officially announces the title of my live-action Darkwing Duck movie in which Darkwing Duck, played by KJ Apa in a duck costume, murders people (“I AM THE TERROR”). Check the official Disney+ account for the announcement video, that is just the title but shimmery!
I am being told that I accidentally revealed the title for my new edgy and gritty live-action Darkwing Duck movie (“I AM THE TERROR”) in my last tweet, so the big shimmery title announcement video has been canceled at this time.
And just to be clear, this isn’t Darkwing Duck the cartoon. This is the origin story of the real-life duck that murdered actual human people that the cartoon is based on.
To clarify my previous tweet, I know Darkwing Duck isn’t actually real. I mean that he is real in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere, and to the still grieving families of the real-life people that he actually murdered.
Here's the good news: I’m about to post EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK PHOTOS of KJ Apa in his costume for my new live-action Darkwing Duck movie (“I AM THE TERROR”). KJ is VERY SENSITIVE about how he looks in this costume, so please reply with COMPLIMENTS ONLY. Compliments for KJ, please!
Principal photography on my Darkwing Duck opus (“I AM THE TERROR”) starts soon. Maybe we’ll film in YOUR city? Make a video telling us why your town would be the PERFECT St. Canard (the city where Darkwing Duck lives/murders people). New York? Chicago? Let’s see what you got!!!!!
I have been informed that because of tax reasons we will be filming in Alaska.
My cast is rounding out nicely. Michael Shannon will play Launchpad McQuack, former fighter pilot with PTSD. At our first meeting, Michael said, “Just so you know, I get really deep into character. That won’t be a problem, will it?” I had to laugh. Why would that be a problem?!
To play Darkwing’s teenage foster daughter Kylie I discovered this 28-year-old Victoria’s Secret model with no acting experience but kind eyes. I know we’re taking a risk, but I’ve been assured Katya’s English is very adequate.
Apparently my title (“I AM THE TERROR”) didn’t test well with focus groups. People unfamiliar with the IP thought it “sucked” and “was weird.” I am proud to announce my live-action Darkwing Duck movie for Disney+ will now be titled “…Darkwing Duck!” (Yes, WITH the ellipses!)
Apparently focus groups have also found the punctuation in the new title (“…Darkwing Duck!”) to be “confusing,” even though it is actually not confusing at all if you see the movie, and pay attention. In any case, the movie will now be titled “Darkwing Duck”.
Getting pushback on my surprise after-the-credits scene in which Iron Giant shows up and says the C-word. Everyone loves it on a creative level, but the character is owned by another studio and is too expensive to license. Once again, business concerns get in the way of art!
Trading voicemails with Bob Chapek (Disney), hoping I can convince Disney to acquire Warner Brothers (which is up for grabs) so that Iron Giant can say the C-word in my Darkwing Duck movie. Think of the fans, Bob! Isn’t it time we made a movie for them??
For those asking, my Darkwing Duck movie will be very explicit about what kinds of sex acts Darkwing Duck does and does not participate in. I’ve talked it over with the suits at Disney and I think we’ve landed on a good list that makes everybody happy.
It was important to me (for personal reasons) to suggest that Darkwing is a generous lover, but also he never lets his guard down so he doesn’t let himself climax. This is all covered in detail in the scene in which he tells Launchpad about all the stuff he does and does not do.
Greetings from Alaska, where I am shooting my Darkwing Duck movie for Disney+ (“Darkwing Duck” fka “I AM THE TERROR”)! Apparently it never gets dark here in the summer? Most of this movie takes place at night. I am furious. Why was I not told?
Now they’re saying we’re going to shoot “day for night.” Sure, sure, why don’t we also shoot up for down and pants for shirts?!?! Why not have the actors say all their lines backwards standing on their heads?!?!? Do they treat Favreau like this (Jon Favreau, director of the Mango
Had a nice talk with KJ Apa (“Darkwing Duck”), re: my frustration with it being daytime all the time in Alaska. KJ’s a good guy and I already know we have a bond more real than most show business “friendships”. Do they give Oscars for “best friend”, ha ha. (Maybe they should?)
KJ shared my concerns but reminded me that sometimes the best ideas come from limitations. Like Mrs. Doubtfire was originally supposed to be played by a woman, but they couldn’t find any good actresses over forty so they cast Robin Williams. And honestly? It works.
The hardest thing about shooting my Darkwing Duck movie in Alaska is being so far from my five-year-old son Brycetopher. But he is the reason I am doing this.
He probably will not remember me being away for large chunks of his childhood, but he will always remember that his daddy made the definitive Darkwing Duck movie - the one where Darkwing Duck murders people and says “and I oop.”
Awkward situation on set today. I accidentally cast both Leslie Mann AND Lesley Manville to play that evil witch duck (Magica something). I didn’t realize they were two different actresses! They both showed up to set in the same costume and were NOT HAPPY.
Thinking fast, I told them they were playing two fractured halves of the same psyche and we’re going to shoot two versions of the movie and then edit them together. That seemed to satisfy them, but now we have to shoot each scene twice which is going to add a lot of days…
Haven’t updated y’all about the status of my Darkwing Duck movie in a while. The days on set are long, not a lot of time for tweeting. Truth is, I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep.
Morale on set is low.
I’ll be honest - our cast isn’t “gelling” like I’d hoped. Particularly there is a growing tension between KJ Apa and the actor playing Launchpad McQuack, who refuses to answer to anything other than “Launchpad McQuack,” even though his name is Michael Shannon.
Michael does not break character between takes and his take on the role is VERY disturbed. Don’t get me wrong, I want the movie to be ~tWiStEd~, but every time I try to give him a note on his performance, he just looks past me and mutters ominously, “Launchpad answers to no God.”
KJ is easier to work with, mostly, but I can see his frustration build when he feels like Michael is getting more attention. For example, it got back to KJ that Bob Chapek (Disney) was planning an Oscar campaign around Michael’s performance and a Launchpad solo spinoff series.
It probably didn’t help that on the first day, KJ found a dead bird in his dressing room with a note attached that said, “YOUR GOOSE IS COOKED.” Michael denied sending it - but the denial was not one of his more convincing performances.
Meanwhile, the model/actress playing Darkwing’s foster daughter Kylie is very charismatic, but I have to be honest, her level of English comprehension is not ideal for the character, who is American and speaks primarily in English.
Katya has learned all her lines phonetically so she never goes off-book, but she emphasizes odd syllables, and clearly doesn’t understand the character description of “hot AND SHE KNOWS IT.” She’s acting like she DOESN’T know it, which is a cliché, and the opposite of my vision!
In happier news, Leslie and Lesley have gotten very close. They hang out off set and Lesley told me, “With Leslie I feel whole; not a piece of something, but complete, myself. In knowing her I now recognize the absence I’d built my life around.” I’m glad they’re good friends.
Last week, Leslie’s husband (Judd something?) came to visit and afterward, Lesley locked herself in her dressing room, until Leslie whispered through the door, “Don’t cheapen what we have with jealousy. It is too precious a thing to be rendered so ordinary.” Gotta love actors!
I called my son from Alaska. He wouldn’t talk. His mother got on the phone.
“Why are you even doing this stupid movie?!” she asked.
“I told you, I’m doing it for Brycetopher!”
“But Brycetopher doesn’t even like Darkwing Duck! He likes Daniel Tiger!”
“Why are you even doing this stupid movie?!” she asked.
“I told you, I’m doing it for Brycetopher!”
“But Brycetopher doesn’t even like Darkwing Duck! He likes Daniel Tiger!”
“Daniel Tiger is for babies!” I shouted. “Besides, maybe Brycetopher doesn’t like Darkwing Duck because there’s never been a Darkwing Duck for his generation, one who does bitmojis and murders people and makes the murders into viral TikToks!”
Now Disney has “concerns” about the footage they've been seeing??? Typical Woke Disney, famously always putting Values about Tolerance and Respect ahead of business! I've instructed my editor to stop uploading dailies until the whole thing is wrapped. I have enemies all around.
We are shooting on film (as all real directors do); I keep the film safe in my office in Alaska. As long as nobody sees it, it is perfect; it is mine alone. My editor says I’m being “paranoid,” and am “losing it,” but I say, “Maybe I’m losing it, maybe it’s Maybelline, ha ha!”
Disaster on set!
Michael and Leslie were shooting a scene - Leslie’s last day - and a light fell, almost crushing them both! What a nightmare! Even though I start each day by announcing, “Let’s get dangerous — literally!” I never thought things would get so literally dangerous!
Michael and Leslie were shooting a scene - Leslie’s last day - and a light fell, almost crushing them both! What a nightmare! Even though I start each day by announcing, “Let’s get dangerous — literally!” I never thought things would get so literally dangerous!
Darkwing’s penchant for sleuthing must be wearing off on me… I immediately intuited foul play… or “fowl” play, if you will (duck humor) (“fowl” like bird) (”fowl” instead of “foul”) (a duck is a kind of bird) (Darkwing Duck is a duck, or “fowl”)…
Line producer wanted to alert authorities, but I took matters into my own hands. Did J.J. Jabrams (Star Wars) call “authorities” when someone broke into his office and made the script for Rise of Skywalker borderline terrible? Hell no! He finished his movie!
Rope securing light had been chewed through - lipstick on fibers. Went through all the actresses’ dressing room wastebaskets in dead of night and found discarded tissue with matching color.
Lesley Manville! Of course! That maniac!
Lesley Manville! Of course! That maniac!
I confronted Lesley: “Are you crazy?! Someone could have gotten really hurt, and then our insurance rates would have gone up slightly!” She was unrepentant: “I can’t let her return to that life - not after what was shared here!” Like she didn't even hear me about the insurance!
I asked Leslie if she wanted to press charges, but she declined. “It was a love letter. An acknowledgment of weight, of impact, the frayed rope that is human connection. The dent it left on the soundstage floor will be its lasting scar, the proof that something happened.” Actors!
Michael seems rattled, but he would never admit it. Since the incident I’ve noticed a change. He’s become quieter, less provocative. His performance feels darker, but that might just be because we lost one of the lights on set.
It's very hip these days to criticize TV shows and movies for being “too dark” but do critics ever stop to think that JUST MAYBE it's dark because one of the lights got destroyed when it was dropped on an actress in a fit of jealousy/love/whatever??? Making! Art! Is! Complicated!
Well, KJ Apa flew the coop (no pun intended, even though flying and coops are both bird-related; it is a very clever pun, but I did not intend it). Apparently, he believes the set is not “safe.” Uhhh, since when is ART supposed to be SAFE? EVER HEARD OF BANKSY?????
He dodged my calls, but I eventually got him to talk to me.
“We just have a few more scenes,” I pleaded. “Please come back, we’re so close. I’m asking you, as a friend.”
Then he said something I know he did not mean: “We are not friends.”
“We just have a few more scenes,” I pleaded. “Please come back, we’re so close. I’m asking you, as a friend.”
Then he said something I know he did not mean: “We are not friends.”
We have continued production without our Darkwing Duck.
I wear the costume myself - under the makeup you cannot tell the difference - and perhaps later, after things have cooled down, we can convince KJ to A.D.R. the dialogue, as a favor to me, a fellow artist whom he respects.
I wear the costume myself - under the makeup you cannot tell the difference - and perhaps later, after things have cooled down, we can convince KJ to A.D.R. the dialogue, as a favor to me, a fellow artist whom he respects.
It is comical when I get behind the camera to direct, still in costume - there just isn’t time to keep putting it on and taking it off. Sometimes I get home and realize I forgot to change back into me. I look in the bathroom mirror and I am met with Darkwing Duck’s stoic glare.
Something happened.
For a while I could not talk about it. But I think I am ready. A little at a time. It is difficult.
It’s about the Darkwing Duck movie.
For a while I could not talk about it. But I think I am ready. A little at a time. It is difficult.
It’s about the Darkwing Duck movie.
I was working alone at the production office. It was late. I was drinking. Still in my Darkwing Duck costume.
Now, as I type-- hands shaking, breath quickening. Harder than I thought. More tomorrow.
Now, as I type-- hands shaking, breath quickening. Harder than I thought. More tomorrow.
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