In a bit of Deja Vu for J.J. Abrams fans, it looks like his much anticipated sci-fi thriller Super 8 is getting a name change, at least in one foreign market, and it’s quite a familiar title. The teaser trailer for the film has a Brazilian version (found by MovieWeb) that uses the title “Darlings” instead of Super 8. Could the film’s name be changed here in the US as well?
Fans of the Abrams-produced Cloverfield may remember the journey that film had to its title. Thanks to the hype after that movie’s teaser hit, the production had to keep changing the name, to the point where “1-18-08” (the name of the first viral site for the film and its theatrical release date) was thought to be the final title. In the end, the original title won out.
This controversy surrounding the “Darlings” title is quite similar. Not only is it another name that has nothing to do with the film’s plot, but it was the center of some casting notice confusion back in May. A casting call thought to be for Super 8 was also reported to be for a remake of the 1980 raunchy teen comedy Little Darlings. We later figured out that the Darlings angle was most likely a cover up.
Paramount has not said anything about this, so whether this is just an international title, a promotional thing, or whatever, is unknown. What do you think, should Super 8 change its name at all, and if so, is “Darlings” a good choice? Not many younger people here in the State know what a Super 8 camera is, let along moviegoers internationally.
Watch the Brazil trailer for yourself below: