Last year, Fox VP of production Matthew Reilly acquired the film rights to the classic comic strip/movie serial character Flash Gordon and that ‘Star Trek 3‘ writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay would be tackling the screenplay, using the classic Buster Crabbe-starring serials as inspiration.

But between then and now, things may have changed as it now appears that the new film will actually not be a brand new reboot at all.  Instead, it may actually be a sequel to the camp classic 1980 film, produced by Dino DeLaurentis (who also produced ‘Barbarella‘ in 1968, a film which shares many similarities to ‘Flash Gordon’), directed by Mike Hodges and starring an unknown Sam J. Jones in the title role.  (Of course, the strapping actor soon went back to obscurity after this flick.)  The film had a massive budget and retained many elements from the classic comic strips, but the campy tone didn’t resonate with audience.  The film was a box office disappointment at the time, but has retained a cult following in the decades to follow.

And then ‘Ted’ happened.  The smash hit comedy starred Mark Wahlberg as a young man who lived with and talked to his “living” childhood teddy bead named Ted, voiced by Seth MacFarlane.  And their favorite movie?  None other than ‘Flash Gordon’.  (The DVD for ‘Ted’ even came in a two-pack with ‘Flash Gordon’.)  Jones even made a cameo, reprising his classic role in the movie and will be appearing in  this summer’s ‘Ted 2.’

While recently promoting his documentary ‘Life After Flash,’ Jones revealed his has spoken to Reilly about the new movie and that he may make an appearance in it.

“They’re looking to bring out a sequel actually. I met with Matt, we’re in talks about that. I’m very excited. A lot of people over the years, including Stephen Sommers and Neil H Moritz, have acquired the screenplay rights, but for whatever reason they did not do a follow up on the option. So I’m very excited about it.”

As for his role in the film, Jones said:

“However they want to use me, I’m very excited. I told Matt, however he wants to use me, keep one thing in mind: whatever a younger, leading man can do, I cannot only match him, I can do more! If he does 20 pull-ups, I can do 30 pull-ups. If he can do 100 push-ups, I can do 150 push-ups. Just keep that in mind!”

This doesn’t flat out confirm that the new movie is a sequel.  Jones could appear as anything, not necessarily an older Flash, which leaves open the possibility of a true reboot.

Would you be more interested in a true reboot or a sequel to the 1980 classic?

Sources: Den of GeekBlastr