Paramount Studios have put director Jon Favreau’s long overdue project “John Carter of Mars” on indefinite hold. For fans of the Edgar Rice Burrough’s 11-part story this comes as a real disappointment. The book-to-film adaptation has been promised on more than one occassion over the years and this latest halt to production is just another in a long list of set-backs. One of the main diversions that has occurred with this production has been the change in directors over the course of several years. Originally Robert Rodriquez was tapped to sit in the center seat. He was replaced by Kerry Conran (Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), and now Favreau.

At this month’s Saturn Awards Favreau was asked in an interview why the stoppage. He replied that the studio put Carter on hold for a variety of reasons, including important production resources being diverted for the highly anticipated big-budget J.J. Abrams STAR TREK XI movie project, as well as, Jon’s own busy schedule in pre-production for another superhero blockbuster in the works “Iron Man” which Favreau will be helming. With these and other things higher on Paramount’s agenda Favreau stated that at this time “John Carter of Mars” is “not a priority for them.” And, they (Paramount)”…..have other science-fiction properties, and they don’t think the timing is right, continued Favreau. “And, hopefully, by continuing my relationship with them, by doing this ‘Iron Man’ film, I’ll leave the door wide open for Carter, which is a much more challenging property.”