HOWARD THE DUCK: THE ORAL HISTORY
http://decider.com/2016/03/11/howard-the-duck-the-oral-history/?_ga=1.192178989.608980329.1302539496
With characters like Spider-Man, The Avengers, and the X-Men as a part of the catalog, it’s surprising that Howard the Duck marked the first time a Marvel comic book character made the leap from the illustrated page to the silver screen. The wisecracking, sarcastic, beer-drinking anti-hero made for an unlikely comic success story, but throughout the mid- to late-1970s, he was. Howard starred in a short-lived newspaper comic strip, and even launched a presidential campaign (under the cleverly named “All-Night Party”) in ’76, but his primary residence was in the comic book shops across the United States.share
George Lucas was an early believer in Howard and, unlike almost any other fan, was in the unique position to help bring the foul-mouthed fowl to the big screen. After several challenges securing the rights and finding the right studio interested in taking Howard under its wing, Universal green lighted the movie. The husband and wife duo of Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz (pictured right, along with Lucas), both friends and professional associates of Lucas’s, dating back to their days at USC School of Cinematic Arts, wrote the script. Howard also signed on to direct, while Gloria would produce. The trio was previously nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for American Graffiti. Howard, it seemed, was on the path to greatness.
$37 million later – nearly $78 million in today’s dollars – Howard’s goose was cooked upon its arrival in the summer of 1986. Despite an aggressive promotional campaign, critics lambasted the movie; Caryn James of The New York Times gave the film perhaps its best (albeit VERY mixed) review, describing Howard as “a pleasant enough spoof for 45 minutes or so”. Audiences, too, opted for other fare, as the film only grossed $16.3 million at the domestic box office and another $21.7MM overseas, barely recouping its budget.
But after thirty years, Howard is finally getting a second look. The character is currently starring in a new comic book series and had a brief cameo in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, much to the enthusiasm of fans worldwide. Once a very secret society, Howard the Duck fans have found camaraderie on the Internet and at comic cons.
With another wisecracking, sarcastic, beer-drinking anti-hero based on a Marvel comic – Deadpool – recently breaking box office records, and the thirtieth anniversary edition of Howard the Duck upon us (out yesterday on Blu-ray), the time is perfect to catch up with many of the principal cast and crew to look back at the making of one of the most infamous movies of all-time.