In May of 1997 on the basis of a one sheet, Dreamworks and Universal commit to produce Cowboys and Aliens which was positioned by Platinum Studios as a Independence Day like film based in the south west, something this big had to be visioned as being filmed in the Big Ben area of Texas. Cowboys being chased by Aliens, you have to admit it was different. I am not sure what the real cowboys in Texas will think.
DreamWorks Studios’ and Universal Pictures have announced that “Cowboys & Aliens” will be released domestically by Universal Pictures on July 29, 2011. Paramount has international distribution on the film.

Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde will star in the live-action adaptation of the Platinum Studios graphic novel with Jon Favreau directing.
Favreau, who is represented by CAA, will direct the long-gestating DreamWorks/Universal project, which previously had Downey attached last summer. Daniel Craig has since replaced Downey. Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard is producing with Steven Spielberg, Platinum Studios CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg and Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.
Story is set in the Old West, where cowboys and Native Americans battle in Arizona (should be Texas) — until a spaceship crashes and a new enemy equipped with superior technology emerges. “Cowboys and Aliens” is based on the Platinum Studios Comics graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley.
The popularity of 3D is evident to everyone in Hollywood. It’s pretty apparent that a comic adaptation like Cowboys and Aliens is a of film that would benefit from the 3-D treatment; but we should hope studios won’t make it 3D just because its popular instead of focusing on the story, diversity and symbolism possible from a film that has at its core the history of America’s wild wild west. I also hope they do not overlook the diversity of the cowboys. This could be result in some very interesting characters.
That graphic novel was published in 2006, but Hollywood has been hot for the high-concept project since “Cowboys and Aliens” was first acquired by Universal and DreamWorks in 1997. The script has been through at least seven rewrites.
Favreau and Downey will work together on “Iron Man 3,” which will likely be distributed by Paramount Pictures in its multipicture deal with Marvel Entertainment despite Marvel’s $4 billion acquisition by Disney.