Apparently the failure of Sci Fi Channel’s recent television version of Flash Gordon hasn’t dulled Columbia Pictures’ enthusiasm for a big-screen movie version, because they’re currently in early negotiations to nab the character’s movie rights. If they do get their way — and really, why wouldn’t they? — Columbia plans on delivering the movie to Breck Eisner (“Sahara”) to direct, with Neal Moritz producing.
The Hollywood Reporter has more about the character:
“Flash” was originally a science fiction newspaper comic strip drawn by Alex Raymond in the 1930s and was created to compete with another sci-fi strip, “Buck Rogers.” The strip was first adapted to the screen via Buster Crabbe serials and made into a lavish 1980 film starring Sam Jones but remembered more for its Queen score. More recently, it was a Sci Fi Channel miniseries that was seen a critical and ratings failure.
Storywise, Flash was a sports player who travels to the planet Mongo with his lady love, Dale Arden, and the mad scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov. There, they discover a world ruled by Ming the Merciless and meet strange inhabitants such as the Hawkmen and the Sharkmen.
Obviously THR got the character’s recent TV incarnation wrong — it wasn’t a mini-series, it was an ongoing TV series that was eventually canceled.
In any case, if you’re a fan of the character, I wouldn’t get your hopes up about a big-screen movie being good. Producer Neal Moritz is currently bringing other TV characters to the big screen, including the Green Hornet and “21 Jump Street”, and both properties are being treated as camp. Then again, unless you think Flash Gordon would work better as a comedy, you’ll probably end up not liking the direction a “Flash Gordon” movie under Neal Moritz will be headed.
I like long walks on the beach, puppies, and Kevin Costner post-apocalyptic movies. You can reach me at nix (at) scificool.com. Also, check out my other ridiculously ill-informed opinions and reviews over at 
If they do Flash Gordon-don’t do either the Sam Jones one-which was silly-a guilty pleasure maybe and certain stay away from that crap on the Sci Fi Channel.If the producers and creators are affraid of the sourse material,then they should not be trying to do their updating crapified version.Whatever Flash Gordon is 1)A handsome,heroic stand up heroes,2)a beautiful girlfreind,his scientist freinds and an evil Fu Manchu style villian.Ray guns and space ships are a must.Ok,idiots up there in Hollyweird-don’t deside to replace those stargate wormholes and lots of new age shit.Star Wars is basically updated Flash Gordon.The trash you guys have in that idiot cartoon,a bad 1980’s movies and a totally turd Sci Fi series ain’t updating,but a bunch of Hollyweird monkeys trying to satify an imagined,not out there audience.Whatever Flash Gordon was-it wasn’t that shit.Don’t listen to this and listen to a bunch of idiot,no nothing experts in suites with opinions,then you can skip it.Your series or movie will bomb and be hated by everyone.There will no Star Wars like licensing and your have a cinima turd,you loved to sell and nobody will want to see-except at the local porn theator or premeired in Mystery Science Theator made fun of by two puppets and Mike Nelson.
Doc Thompson