Since 1929, comic character Popeye has been beating up brutes and encouraging kids to eat their spinach. While he has normally been relegated to pages and the small screen, it seems like he will be getting another live-action feature film. Both Chernin Entertainment and King Features will be backing the new movie, from a script by Michael Caleo (“Sexy Beast”)
This will be the first time the character has been on the big screen since the 1980 live-action film “Popeye.” It was directed by Robert Altman, and starred the late great Robin Williams as our hero, and Shelley Duvall as his love interest, Olive Oyl. While we are curious to see who will dawn the sailor suit, no one can deny Duvall was the spitting image of Olive Oyl. Regardless of her uncanny likeness, the film was panned by critics.
It made Paramount Pictures roughly $60 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, and has since developed a cult following from fans of the character and camp in general.
The Enduring Power of Popeye
This year marks the 95th anniversary of Popeye, who first appeared in the comic “Thimble Theater” in 1929. He went on to have several animated features and television series through the decades. In 2022 the character was cited as a key inspiration for menswear collections from Moschino, Supreme, and A Bathing Ape. Popeye is also still the spokesperson for McCall Farms spinach with his face adorning their packaging. Since the leafy green vegetable gives him the strength he needs to defeat his enemies.
Several fan-made movie trailers for Popeye started to gain traction earlier this year. Most of them portrayed him as a castaway warrior type of character. This early into production there is no way of knowing what the new film will actually be about. But many speculate that it will take a similar route to the plots in these fictitious trailers.
We will keep you posted on updates about this live-action Popeye movie as they become available.
