Drake Goes “Duck”, McG Feathers Nest 

KGRA has learned that Canadian-born R&B sensation, Drake, has signed on to star in the Marvel Pictures reboot of the Howard the Duck movie franchise.

      “We are taking ‘Howard’ in a new direction,” says Kevin Fiege, president of production at Marvel Studios.  “The new Howard is more street-savvy, he dresses in the best clothes, eats the finest foods, and drinks the finest champagnes.  If I could describe our vision for the “Howard the Duck” of 2011, it would be, ‘urban’.”

      This new vision includes action director, McG, hot off his recent success with “Terminator: Salvation”.  

      “We are going to ramp up the action is this movie,” says McG.  “Howard is in constant peril in the film.  There will be blood, guts, and feathers flying everywhere.”

      Drake is quick to point out the new movie, tentatively titled “Howard: Streets is Quacking” is about more than mindless violence.

      “Howard is snatched away from everything he knows and thrust into a cruel, uncaring world.  People shun him because he’s a duck; scientists want to cut him up.  I think this movie is going to speak to a lot of people.  He also gets to have a lot of sex.”
    
      Drake’s “Howard” will be combination of live action and CG animation.  The actor will be digitally shrunk to duck proportions, using the same techniques used in Tim Burton’s, “Alice in Wonderland” to shrink Helena Bonham-Carter’s head.
    
      Rounding out the cast is Taraji P. Henson as Beverly, Mickey Rourke as Col. Duckworth and Cole Hauser as Petey.
    
      When asked how the filmmakers are planning to avoid the pitfalls of the 1986 film, “Howard the Duck”, a movie that was a box-office disaster and considered a turkey by the critics, they are defiant.  
    
      “That was like forty years ago,” says McG. “Nobody but you remembers that movie.  I’ve never even seen it.  In fact, I don’t even think it exists.  NANANANANANA-NOT LISTENING TO YOOUUUUU!”
    
      “Howard: Streets is Quacking” is currently shooting in Vancouver BC for a projected fall 2011 release. Drake will release a single, “Put It on My Bill: Howard’s Theme” this summer to promote the film.