Transformers audiences got a peek at a mysterious new project from Lost co-creator J.J. Abrams. Known as Untitled J.J. Abrams Project on IMDB.com, and rumored to be shot under the faux working titles of Clover and Cloverfield, the trailer circulating with prints of Transformers begins at a going away party and is shot entirely on camcorder. At first it seems like just another happening New York gig, then things get really weird.
The power blinks out and the party guests rush to the roof to find out what is going on. In the distance we see a pulsing dome of fire ejecting what look like fireballs that begin crashing into nearby buildings. The action then moves outside where things get even worse.
Still from the point of view of a camcorder, we scan the city skyline frantically as an unearthly howl dominates the night. A huge fiery object hurtles towards us, smashing into the street and skidding by as the cameraman pivots to capture the object on tape as it settles several hundred feet down the avenue. It is the head of the Statue of Liberty.
The trailer ends with a title-less credit page with several names that will be familiar to Lost fans. Co-producing the mystery project with Abrams is Lost alum Bryan Burk. The film is written by another frequent Abrams collaborator and Lost regular Drew Goddard, and directed by Felicity co-producer and writer/director Matt Reeves.
The appearance of the trailer on YouTube sparked an immediate and fervent discussion over just what the project may be. Rumors have the film being everything from an original giant monster epic shot entirely from the point of view of camcorder-equipped citizens at ground zero, to yet another shot at a remake of Godzilla. Of course, given the pedigree of the people involved more than a handful of people are suggesting, hopefully, that the film is some sort of Lost tie-in. However unlikely that may be.
One thing is for sure, the idea of beginning the marketing for the project with both a veil of secrecy and a significant sense of the excitement it may hold for film goers has been a rousing success. Despite the obvious efforts to get folks talking about the film, however, Paramount’s DMCA task force has been working double time keeping the trailer off YouTube and similar viral video spawning grounds. Kind of funny since, so far, they won’t even comment that the film actually exists. Untitled will debut in theaters January, 2008.
– Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image from YouTUBE)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
