"The Elric Saga" the movie trilogy

[krunchyfrogg]

LINK

<font size="4"><b>'Elric Saga' fantasy series optioned</b></font>

<font size="1">Monday, February 24, 2003 Posted: 12:32 PM EST </font>

NEW YORK (Variety) -- Universal Pictures has joined in optioning "The Elric Saga," a multi-part, Tolkein-esque fantasy series written by Michael Moorcock, for development as a potential big-screen trilogy.

The literary series began with 1972's "Elric of Melnibone." Universal's option deal with production company Depth of Field covers 11 books -- the original six installments of the series and five subsequent novels that touch on the saga.

The film adaptation, which will be produced but not written or directed by Depth of Field partners Chris and Paul Weitz, is conceived as a potential trilogy whose first installment will be culled from the series' first six volumes. The producers plan to shop the book to writers and directors.

The novels are sensual and atmospheric sword-and-sorcery tales that center on Elric, a brooding albino warrior who presides over an unruly, decadent island nation. The novels follow Elric on a series of adventures, in which he is betrayed by his cousin, sent into exile and attempts to come to terms with his own humanity.

"We have loved this series since we were kids and can appreciate it even more as adults. It's a sophisticated, literate, philosophically dense fantasy -- a sort of 'Matrix' of the sword-and-sorcery genre," Chris Weitz said.

Moorcock oversaw the sci-fi magazine New Worlds and helped usher in the "new wave" sci-fi movement of the 1960s and '70s. He also performed in the British hard rock band Hawkwind and will co-produce the movie project.

 

[Eben]

Tolkien-esque?
There is nothing Tolkien-esque about Moorcock!
The White Wolf is a great ambivalent character, but I doubt they can do right by him in a movie. At least Tolkien had a "clean" story and "clean" heroes. Here we have a drug-addicted, chaos-worshiping, vengefull, murderous anti-hero with health problems. OK, this is just one side of him, but it's essential to protray this side of the character to show the inner struggle that is imho the essence of these stories. Somehow I doubt they'll be able to do this and still give me the feeling: this is Elric. Hawkmoon would have been a more obvious choice.

I'm verrrrrry sceptical about this. But in all honesty: I was just as sceptical about LotR. Here's hoping.

 

[frankthedm]

Hoo boy Hollywood aint gonna let Elric be Elric in this era.

The main lead who feed peoples souls to his sword, oh man, any studio is gonna say f that. They are probally shopping around for a director who HASN'T read the books so he'll be willing to butcher it to keep it pg-13.

But yes Eben, we can hope. I am probally going to inter-library the books at work to read them.

 

[jonesy]

...is conceived as a potential trilogy whose first installment will be culled from the series' first six volumes...

What? I sure hope that's just a misprint.