Rex Mundi: The Movie
A Rex Mundi film adaptation has been working its way through the murky pipes of Hollywood for a few years now.
We've still got a long way to go before the movie hits theaters, but we've made a lot more progress than I had any right to hope for when Rex Mundi first got started. We have a home at Warner Brothers, and Johnny Depp is producing and set to star in the movie.
I'm sometimes asked if I'm afraid Rex Mundi is going to get "ruined". And... I'm not. First of all, the comic is the comic. It's there for everyone to see. Second of all, Rex Mundi is almost a thousand pages long. There's no way to do a "faithful" adaptation that you'd actually want to sit through.
So I welcome changes to the story. In fact, I'd be worried if the producers didn't want to mix things up. St. Paul said "the letter killeth, and the spirit giveth life". That's great advice for adapting comics into movies. I think the best adaptations stay true to the spirit of the original, even if they're not literally and slavishly "authentic".
Right now we're at work on the screenplay, trying to find the path through the maze from comic to film. It's a tricky process. And there's always so much more going on behind the scenes than I can reveal out loud. As soon as I have more I can share, I'll be shouting it out at bus stops, on street corners, and on subway stations. And right here.
last update: 12.24.09
December 29th, 2009 - 14:57
While it’s not the exact same genre or character type, I recently rewatched the underrated film The Ninth Gate (based off the very excellent book The Club Dumas) and it only solidified my excitement for Johnny Depp as Sauniere. He is great in mystery/thrillers.
Also, having just seen Sherlock Holmes and rewatched Sunshine, I think Mark Strong would make a great Lorraine. Not that I have any say in casting, but he can pull off bald, authority, and charm rather well.
December 30th, 2009 - 09:09
Ah, Perez-Reverte! The thinking man’s Dan Brown. I loved The Club Dumas. Never saw the movie, but it looks like Roman Polanski directed it–who knew? And the actress who played “The Girl” is his wife. She looks very different from how I imagined the character in the book.
I’m looking forward to the new Sherlock Holmes. I love Guy Ritchie. But Jeremy Brett will forever be The Sleuth of Baker Street in my heart. Really, if you haven’t seen the 80s BBC Sherlock Holmes TV series, it’s the best.
Mark Strong is a handsome bald man!