Neil Gaiman's Beowulf

[Andrew D. Gable]

In the latest Entertainment Weekly, there's a sidebar mentioning that the screenwriter for Pulp Fiction (whose name I can't recall) and Neil Gaiman have written a script for a movie adaptation of Beowulf. Using an actor, and not SFX, for Grendel.

 

[Crothian]

Well, it could be intersting. I guess I'll silently hope this actually comes out and does well. I imagine with the success of the Lord of the Rings that we might being seeing more of this type of stuff coming out of the woodwork.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Interesting. I wonder if they used the Heaney translation. As for the Pulp Fiction screenwriter, Roger Avary? I'm assuming you don't mean that other guy.

Best,
tKL

 

[arwink]

Slightly OT, but if you can track down a copy of Gaiman's short story collection, Smoke and Mirrors, there's a story in there he wrote about the same time as the Beowulf script. The inspiration for it was all the times he'd tell people what he was doing, they'd mishear, then turn around and ask "You're writing a script for baywatch?" Hence, a short story with the plot from Beowulf being written up in the style of Baywatch.

Good to hear that the movie may finally be seeing the light of day.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Re: Re: Neil Gaiman's Beowulf

As for the Pulp Fiction screenwriter, Roger Avary? I'm assuming you don't mean that other guy.

That sounds right. Way they spoke of the script, it sounded as if it will focus on Grendel more... that sounds like the way Gaiman would write it.

 

[SteelDraco]

Smoke and Mirrors is, by the way, an excellent collection of short stories. I'm excited to hear that he's doing a movie adaption of Beowulf; Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. That particular short story I didn't think was among the best, but it was still pretty good.

I doubt, however, that they'd do a movie based off of that little short story - it'd more likely be more in line with the traditional tale.

Mmm... Gaiman. Makes me want to read Sandman again.

 

[KenM]

Quention Tarrentano was the other guy.

 

[Eridanis]

Veering slightly off course

IMO, every gamer should have a copy of Heaney (sp?) reading his translation of BEOWULF. I have it on CD, and let me tell you, there's no better inspiration for warriors and bards than to hear that wonderful language, spoken in that wonderful brogue. Truly a marvel.

Amazon shows it less than $18.

If Gaiman is attached to the movie project, then I'll be sure to skeep an eye out for it. Thanks for the tip!

 

[mmadsen]

Translation

I wonder if they used the Heaney translation.

The translation won't matter much for a screenplay. Only the dialog makes it to the screen in verbal form.

 

[arwink]

I doubt, however, that they'd do a movie based off of that little short story - it'd more likely be more in line with the traditional tale.

True. The story came after the script was written. Scripts the traditional tale, the stories just what happens when people don't listen to writers properly the first time.