The musketeers fighting each other in cinemas...?

Filming of two 3D versions of The Three Musketeers is in the midst of a release date duel between Warner Brothers and Summit as both line up their directors.

Paul WS Anderson is set to start filming with Summit in August 2010 to meet the proposed summer 2011 release pencilled in, whereas Bourne freshman Doug Liman bears the standard for Warner, who is rumoured to start in the ‘fall’ – so later in the year.

Summit is currently in Cannes promoting their Constantin Film/Impact Pictures project and an executive for the latter was on hand:

"We recognize the blockbuster potential of 'The Three Musketeers,' so summer 2011 is the ideal window.”

As for casting, Anderson has substantial weaponry thanks to Ray Stevenson (The Book of Eli) as Porthos, Luke Evans (Clash of the Titans) playing Aramis and Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood) rolling as Athos. The stealer though is Christoph Waltz as the swashbucklers’ nemesis Cardinal Richelieu. But, will he be better than Tim Curry?

The distribution tête-à-tête does beg the question of intentions of both funding parties each flying their own cinematic flags. French-based Summit has the obvious link and could quite easily emanate vessels of the nouvelle vague especially with such bohemian subject matter. Whereas, the Warner powerhouse, with its own certifiable qualities, probably has the money to make it a ‘blockbuster’.

And that is the point, unfortunately, for successful 3D needs substantial backing to propel it into the foreground with real purpose rather than blurred mediocrity. Perhaps it would be best to leave it in the proven dimension and allow les auteurs to scribe us something magnifique. For the ingredients they have suggest it could be so.

HR

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