Back in April of 2014, it was announced that Star Trek 3 screenwriters J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay had signed on to pen a reboot of Flash Gordon. Speaking to Den of Geek, star of the 1980 movie Sam J. Jones has claimed that the new movie is actually a sequel, and that he’s been in talks with Fox about making an appearance. Furthermore, and it seems he hasn’t given up hope of reprising the role of the sci-fi hero.
“Matthew Reilly, VP of production at Fox Studios, acquired the screenplay rights to Flash Gordon last year, and he hired [producer] John Davis and his staff to write the script. 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.”
Asked whether he expects to play an older Flash Gordon, or a mentor to a young star, Jones responded: “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!”
It is of course hugely, hugely unlikely that Jones will find himself back in the role as Flash Gordon, so if he is going to be involved, don’t expect much more than a fan-pleasing cameo. Still, he can be seen in the upcoming documentary Life After Flash, as well as returning as himself in the comedy sequel Ted 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ONsp_bmDYXc&list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5
Originally published March 17, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
