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Dylan Dog is being reintroduced to a whole new movie going
audience in the new film "Dead of Night" with Brandon Routh (Superman
Returns) set to star and Kevin Munroe (TMNT) at the helm backed by Platinum Studios
and Hyde Park.
{sidebar id=1}Dylan Dog has existed in the comic book world for over 20
years. It was originally written in Italian and translated into over 17
different languages.
It is considered one of the most popular comics in Italy
and sells over a million copies each month with new releases and reprints.
Dark
Horse Comics distributed the English version in 1999 and 2002, Mike Mignola
(Hellboy) illustrated several covers.
Dylan Dog is a nightmare investigator. The comic series is
set in London, although he does travel occasionally (he suffers from motion
sickness). His trademark outfit is a red shirt, black jacket and blue jeans. After
the death of his wife Lillie Connolly, he bought twelve of each item in order
to help with consistency and normalcy in his life.
Inspector Bloch is a supporting character in
the storyline and acts also as a father figure to Dylan. Groucho, Inspector
Bloch's assistant bears a striking resemblance to Groucho Marx (this character
was changed to "Felix" in the English Dark Horse releases due to a
conflict with the Groucho Marx estate) and lives with Dylan in a small
apartment with a doorbell that screams.
The IESB was able to talk with Brandon Routh (Dylan Dog), director
Kevin Monroe and producer Scott Rosenburg about the "Dead of Night" project.
I've been friends with director Kevin Munroe for a while now
and spoke with him most recently (before this interview) about casting for the
film. I can't tell you what actor or what role it's for, but it's a great
choice and I am excited to see if the deal comes together.
Now, on with the Q
& A!
Kevin Munroe
Brandon Routh
Scott Rosenberg
First up, the man
behind it all, director Kevin Munroe. Find out all about his vision for Dead of
Night and what happened to Gatchaman? Find out below!
IESB: What attracted you to Dylan Dog?
Kevin Munroe: I was introduced to the property with the US
import in the late 90s, and thought it was just a great universe. Cut to
almost 10 years later and I was sent a script written by Tom Donnelly and Josh
Oppenheimer that was just amazing. A great character-based mix of a detective
story thats set in a world of horror/action/dark comedy. That was probably the
first attraction. Then, after meeting with Scott Rosenberg/Platinum Studios and
Hyde Park, I knew it was being developed by a group of people who really cared
about this property and film. It didnt take long to realize it was a movie I
really wanted to do.
IESB: Dylan Dog has been around for over 20 years, how will
you introduce this character to a whole new audience?
KM: I think Dylan is probably one of the more accessible
characters to exist in a world like this. He really comes from the school of
John McLane/Indy characters ordinary (with great ability) and flawed guys who
are stuck in extraordinary circumstances. It isnt hard for a new audience to
really get behind this guy. He lives by a very strict code, though you might
not necessarily see it at first. I really dig characters like that.
IESB: There is an extensive library of Dylan Dog comics, are
you going to explore new storylines and characters or are we going to see some
familiar faces and stories?
KM: There will be a bit of both. Were really going for a
tonal match with the original comics first and foremost. It just isnt fair to
ignore such a successful comic series I mean, its a hit comic for a reason.
Were looking at a few character transplants from the series, but anyone who is
a fan will immediately recognize that this film story could easily exist as a
Dylan Dog comic book adventure.
IESB: Comic Book fans that are familiar with this book see
some similarities to Constantine and Criminal Macabre, how different are you
planning to make your movie adaptation?
KM: Hellblazers a great comic, but Dylan and Constantine
are very different. Same with Cal. The cool challenge of this movie is that, at
first, a lot of this is heavily explored territory already the undead world
of vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc. But the thing that attracted me to Dead
of Night was how Josh and Tom wrote a script that put a lot of these
conventions in a new light. As a fan of this genre, it feels fresh to me both
in specific concept and tone. There is a real sense of realism to the
surrealism in this movie. Its all about these worlds co-existing within the
world of the audience. Its a lot of fun.
IESB: Will it still be located in London?
KM: New York. Its probably the biggest diversion from the
comic, but it should be fine. The story is much more character-based than
location.
IESB: What can we expect so far as monsters and can you give
an idea what style of cinematography you are going after?
KM: Really want to go after a cool film-noir kind of vibe
with it. I think of Third Man, Big Combo as much as American Werewolf, Near Dark
and Lost Boys. Sort of a kit-bash of
noir and heavy genre. Hard action, guys in makeup/prosthetics instead of cgi
creatures, and a real gritty city. Were speaking with a phenomenal DP right
now who is going to bring a lot to the table. Same with the design work were
looking to bring some big genre names in as well to do some work. Youll be
hearing more soon.
IESB: Why is Brandon Routh the perfect man to bring Dylan
Dog to life?
KM: Brandon has a great sense of accessibility to him. I
think that Dylan is a guy whos been dragged around a lot, and has seen a lot
in his life. But you still have to see that glimmer of the man he used to be
principled and human. Brandon has that quality.
And on the purely visceral side, Ive always thought that Brandon can be
a badass action hero. Dylans a guy wholl get punched 100 times before he wins
a fight, and I think that is going to feel great with Brandon. On screen, Dylan
is someone you want to root for. And thats Brandon as well.
IESB: How soon before we hear about additional casting?
KM: Very very soon. Were out to a lot of actors now and
discussing quite a bit.
IESB: When do you start shooting?
KM: Later this summer. Were close to starting official
prep.
IESB: So if you are directing Dylan Dog that obviously means
you are no longer working on Gatchaman, what happened there?
KM: Yknow, I put in quite a few years at Imagi, and we
built something amazing on TMNT with a group of talented people out of a
basement in Encino. It was a blast and I am thankful to have done it. With
Gatchaman, I guess you can say it came down to creative differences. Im a
little heartbroken to walk away, as Im still a huge fan of the property and
its potential. But Im glad that at least we got to share a little of my version
of the movie in those images we released last year. At the end of the day, I
wish Imagi the best of luck for the future.
Next up is Dylan Dog
himself, Brandon Routh! Find out what research he's done on the part and how he
intends to bring the character to life!
IESB: Can you describe how you envision Dylan Dog?
Brandon Routh: Well, he's a bit of an anti-hero. He doesn't
seek a lot of acclaim nor does he seek to let the world know his occupation. He
has issues, like most people. Some deep emotional issues he hasn't dealt with.
He's not perfect, and he's not always the "sunniest" person on earth,
but he still tries to do good. He's haunted by love. Always wanting it, but
tragically loosing it. He's pretty superstitious and it plays a role in how he
lives his life. In the script it makes for some fun moments. He has a dry sense
of humor, witty and sarcastic at times. His sometimes cavalier attitude reminds
me a bit of Han Solo. The reluctant hero.
IESB: Have you started reading the original comic books to
research?
BR: Unfortunately, right now my Italian comprehension isn't
good enough for me to read the most of the Dylan Dog volumes (laughter).
However, I have read the six that were printed in English. I've surfed the net looking
for fan sites and other info about Dylan. I like reading different opinions on
why everyone likes him. Why they read the comics. I really enjoyed the few that
I've been able to read. I like Dylan's quirks and the way he deals with the
outside world. He's a very real character, and I imagine that after reading
issue after issue, fans really have a great sense of who Dylan is and can
somehow relate what's happening in his world to theirs. Because he's not perfect,
readers are drawn into his life and his stories in a different way than say,
Superman. Although, people are able to relate with Clark when Superman seems
too perfect and inaccessible. I think, whether I know it or not, when I'm
sucked into these adventures, Dylan Dog, or any fictional writing, it's because
I either want to be like the character, or feel some connection to them and/or
their struggle.
IESB: Dylan is far
different than Clark, is that one of the things that attracted you to the role?
BR: For sure. I think as an actor it's very important to
play different types of characters. You can go back and play similar ones as
long as you've stretched and given audiences the opportunity to envision you as
someone else. I have a great opportunity to do that with Dylan. He wasn't born to
be a hero or save the day. He's not happy and smiling everyday, yet he still
cares enough to help out. He's had dark moments, so he understands that side of
life. He has faults that may make him more real and possibly more accessible
for audiences than Kal-El. Where one character exhibits the potential greatness
of mankind, the other is kinda, just a normal guy...who is still pretty rad and
kicks the crap out of evil!
IESB: How different is your Dylan going to be compared to
the comic Dylan?
BR: It's a little hard to answer this, since the film hasn't
been fully realized, we haven't shot anything yet. But, I trust that there will
be much in line with what fans will expect from the comics. Everyone will have
their own interpretation, as will I. That's why I've tried to read up on what
people love about Dylan. I want fans to be happy! The core of who Dylan is
transfers nicely to a film adaptation. I feel pretty connected to Dylan's dry
sense of humor and sarcasm, especially when I have bad days. It will be fun to
show that side of myself!
Last, but certainly
not least, Scott Rosenberg, Dylan Dog producer from Platinum Studios!
IESB: With the recent box office success of a second tier
comic book character like Iron Man, do you think it more freely allows studios
to explore other great characters such as Dylan Dog?
Scott Rosenberg: The success of Iron Man helps the entire
industry, print and film. It shows the value of characters like Iron Man can be
as great or greater when you have a really passionate creative team behind it
like Favreau, Robert Downey, and Fergus and Ostby who are also writing our own "Cowboys
& Aliens" for Dreamworks.
IESB: You have been living comic books for many years, why
is Dylan Dog/Dead of Night the right movie for you right now?
SR: Actually, it's a movie I've been passionate about for
ten years. We originally set up Dylan Dog/Dead of Night at Dimension Films in
1998. It went into "development heck," and we made a deal to be able
to acquire back the project and keep our friends/writing team Josh Oppenheimer and
Tom Donnelly with the project. Not wanting to compromise on the film and the
characters, we waited and waited and waited until we could make the movie we at
Platinum Studios wanted to make. And that time is now! Waiting, though, isn't unusual in Hollywood or
for us. We, the "we" being Malibu Comics which I created in 1986 and
sold to Marvel Comics in 1994 -- not part of Platinum Studios, started
developing Men in Black in 1989. The creator who pitched the comic concept to
us got 70 passes. We made the comic and then we got passed on by pretty much
every studio in Hollywood a couple times each from 1989-1992. The first film
was released in 1997, and the second in 2002.
IESB: Why is Kevin Munroe the right guy to direct Dead of
Night? Does his comic book background help in the filmmaking process?
SR: Everything about Kevin helps in the filmmaking process!
His comic book background is awesome because we speak the same language. His
talent for directing a live action film was evident in how he put together the
CG TMNT movie: the way he put the scenes together -- the way he did almost everything
-- was perfect for live action. We talk and email each other all the time --
all hours of the night. As far as I can tell, he just doesn't get tired.
IESB: And what makes Brandon Routh the perfect Dylan Dog?
SR: Brandon and I spend quite a bit of time together, and it
has become obvious that he's perfect to play Dylan Dog. He's a fan of the character
-- really "gets" the character and get's into him. With most of the
100's of issues of Dylan Dog having never been reprinted in English, it's
amazing how much he knows what Dylan would and wouldn't do, and why.
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