The first trailer for Disney’s upcoming adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel John Carter of Mars has appeared online, and it actually looks pretty damn cool. I mean, I’m not willing to stake anything on the quality of the film yet – the fact that they’ve retitled it simply John Carter could very well be a warning flag – but I’ve gotta admit, I like the space Western style on display here. Here’s a quick plot summary:
John Carter is a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
John Carter comes out March 9, 2012.