New Popeye Film Coming: Return To Malta’s Popeye’s Village?

Mar 20 2024

A new live-action adaptation of the classic Popeye film is currently in the works.

As reported by Variety, this high-budget project is being developed by Chernin Entertainment and King Features, with screenwriter Michael Caleo attached to the project.

This marks the franchise’s return to live-action cinema since the 1980 release of Popeye, which featured Robin Williams in the lead role of the iconic sailor and Shelley Duval as Olive Oyl, his beloved.

That film was notably filmed in Malta at the purpose-built film set village in Mellieħa. The site has since been converted into a small attraction fun park, open-air museum and seaside resort.

Hundreds of logs and thousands of wooden planks were imported from the Netherlands, as well as wood singles from Canada. A 60 to 75 metre breakwater was built around Anchor Bay’s mouth to protect the set during filming.

Now this is JUST speculation, but could this reboot see the return of Malta’s Popeye’s Village to the big screen? A bit of a long shot but who knows!

Directed by Robert Altman, the film garnered approximately $60 million USD globally, exceeding its $20 million budget.

The most recent Popeye release was in 2004 with Popeye’s Voyage: The Quest for Pappy, an animated Christmas special.

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17 Year Old Hospitalised After Hit And Run Accident

Mar 20 2024

Yesterday, at around 1800hrs, police were informed that their assistance was needed in Triq Fleur-De-Lys, Birkirkara, due to a person having suffered some injuries.

Police immediately convened on site and found that a 17 year old boy resident of Ħamrun had been hit by a Toyota Tercel car, with the driver speeding away from the site of the accident.

Some other parked vehicles sustained damages during the incident. The victim was given immediate aid on site and was then transported to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified as grievously injured.

Intensive investigations by the police resulted in the discovery of the car involved in the accident approximately an hour later.

The driver, an 18 year old man from Naxxar, was arrested.

An inquiry has been opened and investigations are still ongoing to discover the dynamics of the case.

#MaltaDaily

Not More Than 2 Residents In 1 Bedroom Rented Apartments

Large Illegal Bird Collection Discovered In Siġġiewi Raid

Mar 20 2024

Over the past fortnight, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has aided law enforcement in uncovering 27 illegal trapping sites for finches and other protected birds. Prompt action by authorities, coupled with video evidence provided by CABS, has led to the identification of 24 suspects slated for prosecution for trapping during closed seasons.

The seizures included 33 sets of clap nets, various illegal bird callers, and 263 live birds—predominantly finches. Notable hotspots for illegal trapping were identified in Fawwara, Dingli, Zurrieq, Sannat, and Qala, with one site even found near the Basilica of the National Shrine of Ta’ Pinu in Għarb.

A significant discovery occurred when law enforcement inspected a compound near Siggiewi, revealing three large active clap nets and a substantial illegal collection of live birds, including rare species like the Rustic Bunting.

Criticizing the government’s “finch research” as a guise for protecting poachers, CABS pledged to submit collected data to the European Commission to support legal action against Malta’s trapping practices. Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld affirmed continued CABS operations in Malta and Gozo until April’s end, expressing confidence in a favorable ruling from the European Court of Justice.

#MaltaDaily