Date: January 20, 2004
Author: Robert Sanchez
Last year during the 2003 San Diego Comic-Con, the IESB had the privilege in talking to the creative director of Runelords the movie project, Grant Boucher. Based on the international #1 best-selling fantasy novel series Runelords, written by David Farland, this tale combines the fantasy sensibilities of Lord of the Rings with the power, action, and moral depth of The Matrix.
The Runelords book series has a great story and should make quite a film! During our interview with Mr. Boucher we discussed how LOTR has awaken a hunger for fantasy films just like the original Star Wars films did for sci-fi. The facts coming out lately seem to collaborate with that assumption.
USA Today has just released a list of potential fantasy films to we should see in the next few years.
As The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy comes to a close, so begins a production frenzy of fantasy films based on other popular book series. Each screen adaptation promises its own brand of magic.
The property: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. First published: 1999. No. of books planned: 13. Studio: Paramount Pictures. Plot basics: The movie, based on the first three books, follows the unlucky adventures of the orphaned Baudelaire children — Violet, 14, Klaus, 12 and infant Sunny — struggle to prevent their guardian, the slimy actor Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), from stealing their inheritance. Movie status: Due Dec. 17. Rings connection:The slyly subversive series has more in common with Dickens or Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). But like Rings, it features wee folk triumphing against evil.
The property:The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock. First published: 1972 No. of books: 11. Studio: Universal Pictures. Plot basics: Based on the first six books. Elric, a pensive albino warrior, rules the chaotic island kingdom of Melnibone and relies on herbs and an enchanted sword for strength. Movie status: In development. Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie) are writing and producing. Rings connection: Good vs. evil but in a more complicated world. Says Chris Weitz, "What The Matrix is to Star Wars, this is to The Lord of the Rings."
The property: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. First published: 1950 No. of books: 7. Studio: Production company Walden Media (Holes) is in negotiations with potential distributors. Plot basics: The first book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, concerns four children who use a closet passageway to enter into the mystical land of Narnia, where they befriend lion messiah Aslan. Rings connection: Lewis was an Oxford chum of Tolkien's. Like the Rings films, director Andrew Adamson (Shrek) plans to shoot in his native New Zealand and will use Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop for special effects.
The property: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. First published: 2001. No. of books: 4 planned. Studio: Miramax Films. Plot basics: Artemis, the 12-year-old scion of a crime family, kidnaps feisty fairy Holly and plots to take her gold as ransom in a playful caper with trolls, elves and high-tech inventions. Rings connection: What Lethal archer Legolas is to elves, Capt. Holly Short of the underground organization LEPrecon will be to woodland sprites in a tale that author Cofler has dubbed "Die Hard with fairies."
The property: Eragon by Christopher Paolini. First published: 2003. No. of books: 3 planned. Studio: 20th Century Fox. Plot basics: Eragon and his faithful dragon Saphira come of age together and prepare to do battle against sundry foes, including an evil king. Rings connection: A youth struggles with an unlikely destiny. Plus, an invented universe, including a made-up language, populated by elves, dwarves and diabolical creatures.
The property: His Dark Materials. First published: 1995. No. of books: 3. Studio: New Line Cinema. Plot basics: Pre-teen Lyra, whose companions include daemon Pan and armored polar bear Iorek, becomes mired in a conspiracy involving the destruction of a magical substance called Dust. Rings connection: Shares a studio and shooting method: the books will be combined into two movies filmed at the same time. Oxford academic Phillip Pullman's series, inspired by Paradise Lost, has the same densely detailed sophistication as Tolkien.
Related IESB Articles: Official Runelords Press Release Variety talks about Runelords and also catch a glimpse of the teaser poster! Fantasy Films have become a hot commodity!
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