It sounds like an early April Fool’s joke, but it’s true: Variety recently reported that Elton John‘s Rocket Pictures will start shooting Pride and Predator, which throws a wrench at the costume drama by introducing homicidal aliens, later this year.

It’s not the first Rocket mashup. Also in the works is Gnomeo and Juliet, which re-tells Shakespeare’s story of young love using garden gnomes from different yards. James McAvoy (Wanted) and Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) have signed on to voice the main characters in the animated feature, which will be directed by Shrek 2‘s Kelly Asbury and released by Disney. (Newly minted Oscar winner Kate Winslet was supposed to play Juliet, but backed out because of a conflict.)

Fine, that one could actually fly. But spicing up Pride and Prejudice with an alien invasion? It’s true that Austen’s “shall we take a turn around the parlor?” action could use a shot of adrenaline. And I’m sure there are people out there who’d like to have seen more witty repartee in the last Aliens vs. Predator. (Not to say that it wasn’t already pretty snappy.)

You have to admit, at least on paper it’s the perfect date movie. Darcy and Elizabeth exchange steamy glances in the drawing room, then sneak off to the garden to admire the marigolds, where a predator runs Darcy down like a dog. When Charles suddenly leaves for London without telling Jane, she finds love in the arms of an alien called Fr’Plch, who then runs her down like a dog. Costume epic + ultraviolence = everybody wins.

The key is, can they actually make it funny? Simon Pegg set up zombie movies perfectly in Shaun of the Dead, but that was a rare bright spot in the sad decline of movie spoofs. Look at the Wayans brothers, or the guys behind Date Movie and Meet the Spartans. There must be some way to stop them before they kill again.

I’d love to be proved wrong, but my guess is the funniest thing about this movie will be what they’ve already got: the title. And no one wants to sit through another 90-minute slog based on a one-liner. But if it works, they may just have found the perfect solution for date night. Little Women vs. Jason, anyone?

Tags: gnomeo and juliet, pride and predator