Referring to his adaptation of Deadman as “my Lord of the Rings,” director Guillermo del Toro tells Slashfilm that Warner Bros. has agreed to finance a trailer that he’ll likely shoot this spring.
“… They said we’ll finance a trailer so that you can show us what you see the movie being like,” del Toro told the website. “And I’m going to storyboard and script a little three minute trailer.”
Earlier this month, the studio hired fledgling screenwriter Gary Dauberman to work with del Toro on a script, based on the 40-year-old DC Comics property.
“That for me is like the Titanic,” del Toro told Slashfilm. “It’s my Lord of the Rings. Not in terms of how much business it will make. It’s just the quest — The EPIC.”
It’s great that del Toro is so enthusiastic about Deadman, but it surprises me that he holds this project — not Hellboy, or Pan’s Labyrinth – in such high, almost mystic, regard. I like the character well enough, particularly as he’s portrayed in Solo #8 and in Justice League Unlimited #14. But I’ve never thought there was anything “epic” about the concept.
In other del Toro (and vaguely comics-related) news, Variety reports the director is also in talks with Warner Bros. about Tarzan.
“I’d love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it,” del Toro says. “There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment.”
John Collee (Happy Feet, Master and Commander) is negotiating to write the script.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:09 am
How dare you judge what he holds in regard, Kevin Melrose?!?!??!??!!??!?
In all seriousness, isn’t it possible that del Toro is indulging in a little bit of Hollywood hype? To do otherwise (“Yea, I’m really excited about doing Deadman, but it’s no Hellboy” would not please the studio…) Somewhere in the Internet, I’m sure that Steve Guttenberg discussed how P.S. Your Cat is Dead is better than his entire Police Academy body of work…
December 15th, 2006 at 10:12 am
I’d rather he holds “At the Mountains of Madness” in higest regards.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
He sounds very enthusiastic.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
“That for me is like the Titanic,” del Toro told Slashfilm. “It’s my Lord of the Rings. Not in terms of how much business it will make. It’s just the quest — The EPIC.”
Perhaps he’s talking about the effort it will take to make the movie.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Holy crap – I hung with Gary everynight at SDCC this year – how’d I miss that he was doing the screenplay?
Man, now I’m really excited about this. Gary’s a fantastic writer.
December 15th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
Hmm, I’ve heard (or read) del Toro gush about Hellboy on numerous occasions, but never about Deadman. I dig del Toro’s work, but I really wish he’d stick to smaller, more personal projects (no more Blade IIs or Hellboys please). Can’t say I’m excited about del Toro handling Deadman, but I’ll keep an open mind.
By the way, I can’t recommend Pan’s Labyrinth highly enough (I’m an editor by day, film critic by night, so I’ve seen it already). Best film of del Toro’s career, a fitting end to a loose trilogy that began with Cronos and continued with The Devil’s Backbone.
December 15th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Of course you’ve heard him gush about Hellboy, he was making the damn film. If he’s making a film, of course he’ll gush about the source material. Although, I am surprised at how much he’s gushing over Deadman. It sounds as if every night Boston entered his dreams and fed the fat man the most delicious raspberry crumpets of his entire life and then continued to slather/massage his belly with the sofftest chocolate pudding. All the while asking, “Now, Delly, what are you going to do for me?.
I know I’m looking forward to it, but then again I am a DC whore. And del Torro is a talented son of a bitch.
December 15th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I also like how you’re using Mignola Deadman covers for these articles. Bravo.
December 15th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Hey, any excuse at all to post Mignola art …
December 15th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
I just thought the irony was pretty thick.