Toy OTD: Medicom Kubrick Lightcycle (2002)

Medicom's Kubrick figures didn't interest me at first - at least, not until they started picking up movie licenses. The line that finally broke my resistance (and I think it was one of the first major film licenses that they got) was the Tron series. There wasn't a lot of good Tron merchandise back in the day, and it hadn't quite become the nostalgia magnet that it is today.

There's a lot of blind-boxed, individually-packed figures out now, but Medicom went all the way with these toys - five boxed sets, each with a vehicle and at least one figure. The packaging was terrific, too - all black with the logo and the iconic lightcycle grid! Almost every design element was on-model, and straight from the movie. The cycles even open up to store a figure, and have rolling wheels, too!

Set A had a gold lightcycle, and figures of Tron and Yori. Set B had a tank, a red cycle, and a Flynn figure. Set C had a Recognizer, a yellow cycle, and a warrior figure (you know - the ones that wore gussied-up paint masks). Set D had the blue cycle, the MCP (which opens up to feature the aged chess program inside!), and a Sark figure. The fifth set was called "Wire Frame Model", and had "low-res" versions of the lightcycle and Tron (black plastic with grids painted on them). You can see pictures of all the sets and their packaging here.

This lightcycle is from set D, and the crowning touch is the display stand, which is truly ingenious. Since the toys can't stand by themselves, Medicom packaged a portion of the walls the cycles create in their standout sequence. You fit the "wall" into the rear wheel, looking just like it does in the film. Since it's a short "L" shape, it supports the cycle without weakening the design - in fact, the stand actually embellishes the toy. Simple, but perfect!

It looks like all of the Tron Kubricks are easily available - at least, they are right now. If you can read some French, you can buy set C and set D from lulu-berlu.com for 54.99 € each. Set A is on eBay right now starting at $9.99, with set B currently at $15.50 (sets C and D are also up for auction). The "Wire Frame Model" set is for sale for $49.99 + shipping. Happy shopping, programs!

Good Money After Bad Dept.

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: New 'Tron' races on
Kosinski will program Disney sequel - By Borys Kit
Sept 11, 2007

TORONTO -- Commercial director Joseph Kosinski is in final negotiations to develop and direct "Tron," described as "the next chapter" of Disney's 1982 cult classic. Sean Bailey is producing via the Live Planet banner, as is Steven Lisberger, who co-wrote and directed the original film.

Kosinski, who last month signed on to helm the remake of "Logan's Run" for Warner Bros. Pictures, will oversee the visual development of the project and have input on the script, which is being written by "Lost" scribes Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Story details are being kept secret.

The original, about a computer programmer thrust into a computer and forced to fight in games he helped create, is remembered for its sci-fi gladiator-style battles and groundbreaking special effects. It was the first movie to use computer-generated images instead of models and other optical effects in conjunction with live action. The arcade game based on the movie was so popular that it earned more than the movie.

When making the original, in order to convince the studio to take a chance on a first-time director, Lisberger shot a test reel, financed by the studio, involving the deadly Frisbee battle. In a case of historical synchronicity, sources said one of the things Kosinski will be doing is working on a sequence involving the movie's Light Cycles to work out his vision for the movie. Sources also said visual effects personnel, for many of whom "Tron" was an inspiration to enter the business, already are jockeying for pole position to work on the sequence.

Brigham Taylor is overseeing for Disney.

Kosinski is a former architect whose specs caught the attention of director David Fincher, who convinced Kosinski to move to Los Angeles, where he joined the director at commercial house Anonymous Content. Kosinski then moved quickly up the ladder, eventually directing award-winning spots for Nike, Apple and Nintendo that gained notice for their use of computer technology that erased the lines between reality and CGI.

Kosinski is repped by Endeavor and Michael Sugar and Bard Dorros at Anonymous Content.

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"When making the original, in order to convince the studio to take a chance on a first-time director, Lisberger shot a test reel, financed by the studio, involving the deadly Frisbee battle. In a case of historical synchronicity, sources said one of the things Kosinski will be doing is working on a sequence involving the movie's Light Cycles to work out his vision for the movie."

So... your proof-of-concept clip is redoing the part of the film that's the least broken? I guess it does make sense in that it's the easiest thing to show to get people excited about a sequel.

No word yet as to whether Jay "Tron Guy" Maynard will sign on to the project.