Tag Archives: adaptation

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Major Spoilers Question Of The Day: Cross-Pollination And Corporate Synergy Edition

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In a recent Major Spoilers Podcast, I got to eat a little crow regarding my assumption that Marvel couldn’t create the same sort of “shared universe” as their comics with their various movie projects.  Still, even after that successful adaptation, I have a stubborn voice in my head telling me that an adaptation that DOESN’T suck is the exception to the rule.  For every ‘Avengers,’ it seems there are three critical failures, be they a live-action Underdog, a comic adaptation of Family Guy or a cartoon version of American Beauty.

The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) is your chance to play king-maker:
What property would you choose to adapt and to what medium would you adapt it to convince me that I’m wrong?

(For our theoretical purposes, assume that you have financing and that getting the rights aren’t an issue.)
 

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Three more join John Carter cast

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The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that three more actors have joined the cast of Disney’s adaptation of John Carter of Mars. Samantha Morton will play Sola, the daughter of Tarks Tarkas (played by Willem Defoe), Dominic West has been cast a Sab Than, the prince of the Zodangans, while Polly Walker plays Sarkoja, a Thark baddie.

The cast is certainly shaping up, and while I have faith in Andrew Stanton’s adaptation, the whole Disney name attached to it means a toned down story that is full of violence.  Still, the Edgar Rice Burroughs book, A Princess of Mars,  is full of adventure, and should be different enough that audience will get a kick out of it.

via THR

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The Hunter sells out, goes back to press

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Many of you know I’ve become rather cynical over the endless number of Back to Press press releases certain companies send out.  That being said, I am really interested in spreading the word on IDW’s reprinting of Darwyn Cook’s The Hunter graphic novel adaptation.  If you haven’t read this first volume, you’ll want to get your hands on the second printing when it arrives in September.

“This is a truly amazing book and one that IDW is very proud of,” said Special Projects Editor, Scott Dunbier. “Even though we aggressively overprinted the initial run, the book’s popularity is exceeding even our high hopes and we are thrilled to be on our second printing already. We encourage stores to place their reorders quickly to meet the continued demand for this great book.”

The Hunter is the first book in The Paker series, telling the story of a man betrayed by love and partners, going on a cross country quest for revenge.  It’s an engaging story in graphic form, and one that comes highly recommended.

via IDW Publishing

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Harvey next film for Spielberg

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Some of you may be too young to remember the great James Stewart Harvey adaptation from 1950.  If you haven’t seen it, don’t rush to put it on your Netflix list just yet, as Steven Spielberg has announced his next project will be a new take on the classic play by Mary Chase.

Who will play Elwood P. Dowd?  Some are thinking Tom Hanks would be perfect for the part, although Jim Carey might make a better man on the verge who sees invisible six-foot rabbits.  While big name stars will all probably jump at the chance to play the lead character, it might be better to go with an unknown.

The film goes into pre-production now, with no release date announced.

via THR

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Lorax to become film

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The protector of the trees is being turned into a 3D film directed by Chris Renaud, Cinco Paul, and Ken Daurio. Paul and Daurio are writing the adaptation of the Dr. Seuss The Lorax book.  The tree hugging green themed book has seen its share of controversy since it was originally published in 1971, when the logging industry claimed it was an anti-logging book.  It’s one of my favorite Seuss books, and I hope Paul and Daurio can deliver a script that stays true to the story.

The film is expected to hit theaters on March 2, 2012.

via Variety

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Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #1 back to press

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Boom! Studios has announced its adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #1 has sold out at the distributor level, prompting Boom! to send the issue back to press.

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? takes place in a world where San Francisco lies under a cloud of radioactive dust. The World War has killed millions, driving entire species to extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn’t afford one, companies built incredibly realistic fakes: horses, birds, cats, sheep… even humans. Rick Deckard is an officially sanctioned bounty hunter tasked to find six rogue androids — they’re machines, that not only look, sound, and think like humans, but are clever, and most of all, as dangerous as any human.

I had a chance to read this earlier this week, and was very impressed with what is going on with this issue.  Boom! is trying to get the issue into retailer’s hands as soon as possible, although at this time it does not have an expected ship date.

via Boom! Studios

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Hong Kong Phooey kicks it as a live action flick

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While some of you may not be fans of the live action Scooby-Doo movies, I wonder if you feel the same way about the announcement there’s a Hong Kong Phooey live action flick in the works?

Project’s an adaptation of the 1970s Hanna-Barbera animated TV series, about a police station janitor who becomes a dog with mystical powers, including the ability to do kung fu.

The movie is being produced by Brett Ratner, Jay Stern, Broderick Johnson, and Andrew Kosove.

I wonder how this movie will play out.  Will it be live action with a CGI dog?  I’d be up for that, especially if they didn’t try to make it look too much like that weird Cats vs. Dogs movie.  Perhaps the Phooey will be replace by a live person, but that might make it too much like Iron Fist.  The only thing I do know is whoever plays the title role will never live up to Scatman Crothers.

via Variety

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Dynamite Entertainment goes down the rabbit hole

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Dynamite Entertainment has announced it will be addapting the Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as part of its Complete series, with The Complete Alice in Wonderland.  This series goes along with the recently released The Complete Dracula, with the Alice series being written by John Reppion and Leah Moore, who are writing the current Sherlock Holmes series.

“The Complete Alice is a project that we’re very excited about,” John Reppion stated.  “People seem to have fixated on the idea of re-imagining the Alice stories for a long time now but Lewis Carroll’s tales are already so fantastic  their logic so beautifully and eerily surreal yet familiar ­ that we feel they more than stand up today and will work wonderfully in comics.”

Unlike another Alice series currently being published by Zenescope Entertainment, Dynamite states this is a complete adaptation of the 1865 Carroll story, and not a reinvention.

Major Spoilers recently reviewed Sherlock Holmes #1, and it is very good, so Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire Cat should be in very good hands.

via Dynamite Entertainment

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Universal Tells Verbinski to Wait on Bioshock

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Gore Verbinski had previously announced his next big project following the Pirates of the Caribbean was to direct an adaptation of teh video game Bioshock from Take-Two Interactive.  However, once the budget balloon to well over $160 million, Universal Pictures put a hold on the production.

The film was originally to be shot in Los Angeles, which is probably the biggest contributor to the high cost. Universal and Verbinksi are looking for other places to shoot the flick, with London being bandied about as a possible cheaper venue.

via Variety

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Boom! Studios Sneak Peek: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

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There’s a lot of buzz surrounding Boom! Studios’ adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and the buzz is good.   To prove it, Boom! sent along a five page sneak peek of the first issue arriving in stores in June.

Richard Starkings brings his unique eye and talent to BOOM! Studios new maxi-series DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? The Eisner Award-winning designer has won “Best Letterer” six times in a row from The Comic Buyers’ Guide and “Best Letterer” nine times in a row from Wizard Magazine and revolutionized comic book lettering digitally with his company Comicraft.

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