Just missing out on this trend was Robert Zemeckis’ canceled Yellow Submarine remake (Cracked.com)
Back in 2009, it was reported that Zemeckis was set to remake the animated classic, using the same CGI, motion-capture technique he employed in movies like The Polar Express, Beowulf, and A Christmas Carol. The project was eventually scrapped, partly due to America’s indifference to Disney’s “Playstation 3 cutscene” take on Charles Dickens’ holiday classic.
Since then, some of the tests and concept art for the film have surfaced online, and they’re truly the stuff of Liverpudlian nightmares. For starters, there’s a snippet of the CGI Beatles, who wouldn’t look out of place abducting children on Christmas Eve with Tom Hanks.
Worse was the potential designs for the villainous creatures like the Blue Meanies. In the original, they were colorful, psychedelic oddballs, but here they straight-up look like they were belched out of a Hellmouth to devour the flesh of the innocent -- which is a dark twist for a Beatles film, hence why Satan’s minions never cameoed in A Hard Day’s Night.
And the loveable Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D. (Yes, there is a character named “Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D.”) looks like a rotund nudist who’s about to murder you on Purge night.
this concept art from the cancelled yellow submarine remake by robert zemeckis can't hurt me pic.twitter.com/dVlx24EK18
— strainja (@dogesatiric) May 17, 2021
Yellow Submarine was the fourth Beatles movie, following A Hard Day’s Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour. Unlike the three earlier films, the Beatles had little involvement in the movie beyond providing the songs. They didn’t even voice their own characters. The soundtrack, however, features classics like “All You Need Is Love,” ‘Hey Bulldog,” and, of course, the title track.
Yellow Submarine premiered on July 17 1968.
The audio, which features Beatles songs like A Day in the Life and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was remixed in 5.1 stereo sound at Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded most of their work.
An unmissable cinema event, this momentous big-screen revival will give generations of audiences the golden opportunity to revisit Pepperland for the 53rd anniversary of the film’s original release.
The visionary feature film designed by the great art director Heinz Edelmann can now be experienced in glorious surround sound with the groundbreaking animation presented in stunningly-remastered 4k. Looking and sounding better than ever before, join John, Paul, George and Ringo on the technicolour adventure of a lifetime.
Illustrated with mind-bending moving images, YELLOW SUBMARINE tells the story of how The Beatles battle the music-hating Blue Meanies armed only with the power of love.
From Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds to Nowhere Man, and Eleanor Rigby to All You Need Is Love, YELLOW SUBMARINE features some of the most-loved songs from the greatest band the world has ever known.
An exuberant fusion of music, film and art, YELLOW SUBMARINE is a landmark cinematic experience that is as fun and vibrant as it was in 1968.
With tickets on sale from 17 April, get ready to set sail for the Sea of Green with the Fab Four once again. Go to the brand new Facebook page for updates and news about this exciting event: facebook.com/yellowsubmarinethefilm