Watchmen is NOT unfilmable. It was practically BEGGING to be filmed. It’s one of very few graphic novels that’s actually written like a movie, cross-cutting and all.
Watchmen is NOT unfilmable. It was practically BEGGING to be filmed. It’s one of very few graphic novels that’s actually written like a movie, cross-cutting and all.
Preacher was supposed to be made into an HBO series a few years back; apparently it’s now set to be turned into a Sam Mendes film. However, they’ve brought another script writer in and Garth Ennis’ script is out!
I’d like to see them try League of Extraordinary Gentlemen again; except this time make a film that doesn’t give me the urge to stab two #2 pencils into my eyes.
Hey Sully – I don’t know if you saw this thread or not, but there was quite a bit of debate on that subject! WATCHMEN
Just to chime in a bit, Watchmen isn’t unfilmable because of the way it’s drawn, it’s because of it’s subject matter. It’s not about a bunch of cool superheroes, it’s about superhero comics. Nobody in that comic was supposed to look cool, save Rorschach. It’s filmable, yes, but to attempt it in a medium other than the comic book is ridiculous.
Yukinobu Hoshino’s 2001 Nights.
And Watchmen was not a GRAPHIC NOVEL. It was at first a 12 issue limited series. Which got put into a Trade Paperback.
Jeez!!!! Excuse me all over the place for mentioning “unfilmable” and Watchmen in the same breath. I was merely referring to Terry Gilliam who uttered the “u-word” when he quit developing Watchmen due to budget constraints. I hoped this thread would open up a discussion of what might come next in comic-adaptations, instead of a discussion over my usage of words. And yes, you are right Robert J, it was a comic before it got put together into a trade paperback, but does it matter?
No. But as Comic Geek i am kind of tired of the Media it self getting it wrong.Kind of like film buffs calling Road Warrior or Desperado sequels, when they in fact remakes. I did not intend to mean that you didn’t know what you are talking about. I apologize.
Comics and graphic novels wise, I’d like to see some batman stuff. Maybe Dark Knight Returns or Hush or Year Zero or something. Maybe even arkham asylum. I would really like to see some superman stuff too. Maybe For Tomorrow by Brian Azzarello or even Lex Luther: Man of Steel also by azzarello .
I personally would love to see some manga adaptations. I know Akira is being done, accordin to the manga and not the movie, which i’m extremely excited about. I also know that japan is making a film adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s ‘MW’ which is probably gonna be ridiculous, but I need to see it. I know there’s already a film adaptation of Tezuka’s Dororo, but it sucked balls and that’s such a great story and material that I want to see it get remade with a not so shitty production
The greatest – and most unfilmable – would most likely be Sandman.
Arkham Asylum would be a great one, I’d say. Sandman would be amazing, if done right – frankly I’d rather see an HBO-type series with a lot of money pumped into it than a feature length.
Kudos to Shinichi for mentioning Arkham Asylum. I absolutely love it! I’m just curious who could pull it off if it was to be made into a movie? Sandman would also be cool but Walt is probably right when saying that it might be hard to make it work on the screen.
Sandman is great, but it’s so long, i agree with daniel. It should be a dramatic tv series on hbo or showtime. I would love to see if they got different directors to do different segments and COMPLETELY change the aesthetic periodically like the books do. Plus Neil Gaiman is the shit.
Btw- I’m pretty sure Black Hole is getting made into a movie by david fincher! For those of you who haven’t read it, go get it. It’s crazy awesome.
Someone should tackle Greg Rucka’s, “Queen & Country” series. It’s basically an updating of the late 70’s, early 80’s Brit series, The Sandbaggers, in comic form, but with a strong female protaganist.
Apparently, there is a version of Rucka’s stand-alone graphic novel “Whiteout” that was completed, with Kate Beckinsale starring, but I’m not sure when that’s slated for release, exactly. Sometime this year, I guess.
Robert-I understand that Desperado is just a bigger budget version of El Mariachi but Road Warrior is a sequel to Mad Max not a remake-it picks up after the first one leaves off-the only thing in common is the main character.
Steve – YOu know i read n interview with Miller and said it was infact a remake. But alas i can not find proof of this. So i stand corrected. my bad twice.
Robert-Another example tho would be Evil Dead & Evil Dead 2.
Not really the point of the thread but there already are several comic adaptations coming to film in the near future, been greenlit, or simply had rights acquired. From those produced and simply awaiting release, but not already franchised, I can think of only one off the top of my head, Whiteout. As for those in pre-production or been greenlit, theres plenty:
Akira
Battle Angel Alita
Death: The High Cost of Living
Ex Machina
Hack/Slash
Runaways
Y: The Last Man
Also, Fables is supposedly coming to ABC as a new series in the next year. Ultra by the Luna Brothers subsequently was also made into a pilot in 2006 with Lena Headey but no one picked it up.
There’s definitely alot missing here, but this is what I can think of off the top of my head. Personally I’m awaiting the Death film since its Neil Gaiman, Sandman, Del Toro, and the awesomeness that is Death all rolled into one. Not to mention that Gaiman is actually directing it himself is huge plus…
Akira’s already being done right now. The grapevine says it’s to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but I think that’s still speculation. Either way you cut it, it’s being done as a two-parter (remake of the graphic novels, NOT the previous film) and Lord knows it won’t be good.
If I had my choice it’d be Transmetropolitan. God knows Warren Ellis isn’t doing anything worthwhile lately.
And the Y the Last Man adaptation is going to be terrible. Terrible. Shia Lebeouf? Are you kidding me???
Joshua W, fukken seconded. Shia as Yorick..?!?! WTH are they thinking?
Adn Sully, Akira is still in pre-production I believe which is why I listed it as is. But you’re right, from what I heard its going to be trash.
Mathias Palmberg
Since Zack Snyder apparently managed to do something interesting with the “unfilmable” graphic novel Watchmen (haven´t seen it but I’m just guessing) I’m wondering what you guys out there would like to see make the leap from the page to the screen. And let’s face it, as long as graphic novels turned into movies sell, we will continue to see them make that leap no matter what we think.
Personally I’d like to see “Preacher” by Garth Ennis made into a movie. It will probably be impossible and will never happen, but with the right cast, producer and director, it could be cool.
I´m also dying to see Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, as long as Frank Miller stays the hell away from the movie adaptation. And if someone is gonna do it they better hurry, Clint Eastwood is not getting any younger…
So what do you want to see???