I wouldn't hold your breath

[Würd-o]

I'd love to hear otherwise from the little crystal bells (or even the earthshaking gongs) of Hollywürd, since I am often occupied among them, but I would be quite surprised to see a Thomas Covenant movie get off the ground. The reality is it has too many strikes against it to get the final green light. The property is simply too sophisticated for the sort of visual storytelling we can do in the film industry. First off, SRD's brilliance is language, but his post-collegiate syntax would be hard to wrap dialogue around. "The Lord of the Rings" managed it, but investors finally took a chance with that property because it had no other strikes against it, and they had to retool much of the language for film. The estimable Professor Tolkein had quite passed before that was even considered. Next, the chronicles' protagonists are anti-heros. A rapist and a murderer, not the half-sized "everyman" we have in a character like Frodo. Hollywood will do a movie about an anti-hero, or even an outright villain, but they won't take the chance on this kind of hero with a huge budget film. They reserve huge budgets for less problematic epics. The chance of a failed return is too great otherwise. Finally, there is no way to do justice to this property without the budget of a vfx (visual effects) epic. And, the previous two strikes will simply keep that level of financial commitment from happening.

I have no wish to be a naysayer, but unlike the Elohim, Hollywood is not equal to all tasks.

[dlbpharmd]

That's the impression that we've had all along.

[MsMary]

But it's fun to pretend.

[thefirst]

That's the point isn't it? I mean, we've known for a long time that a movie wasn't in the works. We just like to speculate.

[matrixman]

I stopped holding my breath for a TC movie a long time ago - since January of '07.

I'm quite aware that many Watchers are happy that a TC movie will never be made.

[Mr. Broken]

Am I blue yet ?

[Vain]

We should do comics first

[Würd-o]

But it's fun to pretend.

Ah. Well, if pretending is the objective, then let us talk casting. Who would you have for Lord Foul?

Donald Rumsfeld, I think. He's not an actor (or is he?), but he's got the look down! In every image we've ever seen, at least.

Windchime laughter

[wayfriend]

I remember the days, which were not that long ago, where The Lord of the Rings was declared as impossible to make into a movie. (Yes, I know there are still some...)

Never say never.

Surprisingly, the reason the movie deal fell through was not any of the reasons above, but the over-use of a magic ring as a plot device. So you can never tell what holds a movie back and what doesn't. In the end, it's as logical as audience's taste.

And there were plenty of strikes against LOTR besides it's adaptability. It's dense. It's nerdy. It's all male roles. Parts seem silly and childish, while other parts are definitely for mature audiences. Etc etc.

What overcame ALL of those strikes was, in the end, the size of the pre-existing fanbase.

If Covenant had a pre-existing fan base of similar size, all obstacles could be overcome.

[Relayer]

Too bad it's not 1983...

[wayfriend]

umm... huh, what?

[Farm Ur-Ted]

1983. It was a pretty good year, although to be honest, I'd rather re-live 1998.

[Ur Dead]

A movie will not be made if it's approached by a production company looking for investors. It will be made if some investor(s) has the funds to hire the studio(s) to make it.

[Mr. Broken]

Remember its not who you know, its who they know, and how much money they have!

[Würd-o]

Oh, true, true. LotR had way more strikes against it than the one I mentioned. I should have been clearer. The problem of fantasy genre dialogue was the only actual moviemaking strike that had to be overcome.

SRD's evocative language skills and the problem they present for screen dialogue can be dealt with. But, the craft of his authorship isn't just in dialogue, it's in the very way he deals with subject matter.

So, is Hollywood equal to doing the story justice on all the levels a distinguished author can craft a story in writing? No. For instance, to tell this story visually, you'd be showing images of a leper rape an innocent teenager and release wild magic as he climaxed. Can we be wrapped in the moment of his hurtloam healing exultation to remain sympathetic, like a Forestal might wrap us in song, or the author wraps us in his craft? No. We can only see, and hear dialogue about it later. Is Hollywood equal? Can this story be told through a visual medium?

It is true that a very very large fan base, as say represented by a best-selling book series with thirty years of readers behind it, who have never let it leave the shelves of your local bookstore, can get a movie made. But, once again, I would believe the creative decision-makers on this project would insist on the budget necessary to do the property justice. That requires a film with recidivist viewing power from the committed fan base, as well as broad appeal to those who never heard of it. Would Hollywood be true or want to change the story to court that broad appeal?

I am only one opinion, but I'll just repeat that I wouldn't hold your breath. At least not in any form with respiration.

[Würd-o]

Oopsie.

You should probably continue holding your breath if you're in a form that naturally holds its breath in the relaxed position. Dolphins, whales, Esmer.

Wink.

[Mr. Broken]

Unbeliever.

[CaamoraTime]

All the problems with a movie being made would disappear if the right person really wanted to see it come to life. If any of the Dreamworks trio, or anyone of similar financial influence in Hollywood, was a diehard fan it would get the greenlight

IMHO I wouldn't want to see it made anyway unless it was done with the kind of backing that Lord of the Rings had. If done the right way it would absolutely blow that trilogy out of the water and the actor playing TC would have an opportunity to win an Oscar, due to the nature of the character. There are few roles out there that could come close to matching the complexity of Thomas Covenant.

[Altanon]

Hi. New here, but have read Donaldson since about 1978. I'd love to see a film of the series. I also agree it would be problematic to script and film, but I don't believe it to be impossibly so.

Another work I'd like to see transitioned to film would be Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series.

Anyway, glad to have found this forum.

[wayfriend]

Welcome to the Watch, Altanon.

Curious that your first post is here. Was it the movie possibility that brought you over to our discussion board?

I recommend announcing yourself in the The Summonsing > Welcome Visitors & New Members thread. You'll meet lots of new people that way, and get solicited to join any number of pet projects.