Black Hole, beowulf, charles burns, comic book, comics, david fincher, graphic novel...

David Fincher Catches Mutant STD From Charles Burns

Director David Fincher is going to direct Charles Burns' graphic novel Black Hole, based on a screenplay by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, which is a creepy quartet in itself. If you haven't picked it up by now, Burns' black-ink heavy story deals with a group of teenagers who catch a bizarre STD called The Bug, which causes extreme physical mutations. Eventually the kids become outcasts, creating their own small societies at the fringes of cities and towns. This sounds intriguing, although hopefully the end result will fare a bit better than Beowulf, which Avary and Gaiman also collaborated on the script for. We're also interested to see what The Finch does with Rendezvous with Rama, which he's also directing. [Hollywood Reporter]

11:00 AM on Thu Feb 21 2008
By Kevin Kelly
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17 comments

Comments

braak at 11:13 AM on 02/21/08
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I cannot argue against Fincher's capacity as a director. His is definitely a name that will draw me into the theatre, and there aren't many directors that will do that.
Annalee Newitz at 11:22 AM on 02/21/08
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@braak: Plus, the comic book is amazing. I could see Fincher doing really well with it, actually.
C-J at 11:28 AM on 02/21/08
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I really hope Rendezvous with Rama happens, he's been attached to that for years now...
Jeff-Minor at 11:43 AM on 02/21/08
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Rendezvous with Rama has the potential to be very interesting, as far as looks go. But the story was beyond pointless. It would need an entirely new story.
Plague at 11:59 AM on 02/21/08
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While I heart Fincher, I kinda doubt EITHER RWR or this will get made.
He attaches his name to projects like crazy, and then they never happen.
Gyrus at 12:04 PM on 02/21/08
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It should fare much better since it isn't being directed by Roger "Mo Cap Fever" Zemeckis.
tk. at 12:08 PM on 02/21/08
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Greatly interesting creative crew on that, here's hoping!
armchairdj at 01:07 PM on 02/21/08
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I'm covered in tattoos of Gaiman's The Sandman and Burns's Black Hole, so this is good news to me. I've always dreaded the idea that a terrible movie would be made out of comics I love enough to get tattooed on my body. Fincher's and Gaiman's involvment bodes well for the Black Hole movie....
eirenicon at 01:24 PM on 02/21/08
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@Jeff-Minor: Pointless? Sometimes the purely intellectual discovery of a book like RWR is its own point. It does lack a strong narrative, but there are still scenes of drama, tension and excitement that would translate very well on screen. I expect the nuclear threat near the end of the novel would comprise a more significant portion of any adaptation, along with a more obvious appearance of danger from the biots. Unfortunately, I would not be surprised to hear of a script incorporating an actual alien encounter, which, while adding a stronger plot element, would ultimately defeat the whole "pointless point" and only serve to insult the material.

Oh, well -- at least it can't end up worse than the inevitable adaptations of the far inferior sequels.
DCI Gene Hunt at 01:48 PM on 02/21/08
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I'm not sure Fincher is well-matched with Rama. I haven't read this, but it sounds like it's much more in his wheelhouse.
drift_marlo at 01:55 PM on 02/21/08
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I'm going to have to weigh in as highly skeptical. Charles Burns has always been one of my favorite artists and Black Hole tops my list of favorite books of all time. What makes Black Hole so special are two things that'll never fly in a movie. Burns' art itself is what gives much of the book it's power and the fact that the "narrative" takes a back seat to wonderfully creepy vignettes makes the book a convincing portrait of listless teenage angst. It is a dark and beautiful allegory that I doubt - though I hope - these overrated artists can handle well.
DrLocrian at 01:59 PM on 02/21/08
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Wow. Just, wow. This could be sublimely great--I think Fincher is perfectly suited adapting this comic. His eye for obsessive detail and period storytelling could really work. I just hope it actually gets made.
pinafore at 02:18 PM on 02/21/08
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joseph gordon levitt as keith plz plz plz!
tezby at 10:39 PM on 02/21/08
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@Plague: According to IMDB 'Rendezvous With Rama' has been announced for 2009, so fingers crossed it's still happening. It's Morgan Freeman's baby [he owns the rights] and has been waiting patiently for Fincher to finish other projects before getting started on this. My own 2 cents - throw out most of the RWR plot, keep the setting and get someone to fill in the blanks where Clarke left out the drama. OTOH I wouldn't mind seeing some the crazy, sexist Clarke stuff from the novel - like the effect of zero g on unrestrained breasts.
MISS MERCY STREET at 08:39 PM on 02/23/08
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Years ago, I stumbled across a link that featured Freeman discussing RWR to an audience - it even included spec art. I don't suppose anyone else bookmarked it?
tezby at 03:53 PM on 02/25/08
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@MISS MERCY STREET:

It's long gone unfortunately. Freeman had the art done to try to generate some interest in the project

I've been following the development of RWR for some time. A friend interviewed Freeman a few years back when he was promoting one of those fake Fincher Se7en rip-offs that he was doing with Ashley Judd. I got my friend to ask him about RWR and apparently he's dedicated to making it happen with Fincher.
rogerniner at 04:41 PM on 02/28/08
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I spit milk out my nose when reading this, and I wasn't even drinking any! The tone of "Zodiac" makes me believe that the muted creepiness of "Black Hole" could not be in better hands. And the fact that Gaiman and Avery will be out from under Zemeckis gadget obsessive brain may ensure a competent screenplay. Here's hoping!