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Frank Miller's THE SPIRIT

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Mark Redfield	Frank Miller's THE SPIRIT	Lead	[-]
Jul 19 06 11:52 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None This Saturday at the San Diego Comic-Con, it's going to be announced that Frank Miller is making a movie based on Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT. Michael Uslan is one of the producers. Mark Redfield www.thedeathofpoe.com www.redfieldarts.com Last Edited By: taraco Dec 25 09 3:19 PM. Edited 3 times.
BijouBob8mm	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#1	[-]
Jul 19 06 1:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Excellent news!
Bill Warren	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#2	[-]
Jul 19 06 1:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Um, I'm not so sure. I think Miller is overrated, and he's only sort of co-directed two movies.
Mark Redfield	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#3	[-]
Jul 19 06 2:08 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm with both of you. The idea of a SPIRIT movie, done (no real thought to a pun intended) in the spirit of Eisner (tone, character and look) is devoutly to be wished by this fan. If Miller plays in Eisner's sandbox, he may have something. Miller is also writing the screenplay, I believe. I have infinite respect for Uslan and his ability to shepperd material from one medium to another. Let's keep our spirits up and hope for the best. Mark Redfield www.thedeathofpoe.com www.redfieldarts.com
Chesterbelloc	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#4	[-]
Jul 19 06 5:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've always wanted to see a live action film of THE SPIRIT, but I don't know if Miller is the right man for the job. Eisner's strip was gritty, but also very whimsical. Miller may not be able to capture that aspect.
Bill Warren	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#5	[-]
Jul 19 06 5:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I have infinite respect for Uslan and his ability to shepperd material from one medium to another. I don't. I find his career uneven, and I believe he is not an especially hands-on producer. I think he is primarily the holder of screen rights to various characters and titles, primarily Batman and associated characters. He's a nice enough guy, but I don't think even he would claim that he has a major influence on any given movie. For those unaware of his career: He's listed as producer of SWAMP THING, THREE SOVEREIGNS FOR SARAH (TV movie), RETURN OF SWAMP THING and CONSTANTINE. Almost all his other credits are as executive producer on various Batman and Batman-related projects, the good and the bad. As for Frank Miller--I have never seen him even attempt whimsy; I think he realizes it's beyond his area of accomplishment. His humor tends to be very dark, very ironical and cynical. I had high hopes for Brad Bird's SPIRIT project, but that died when IRON GIANT tanked.
HalLane	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#6	[-]
Jul 19 06 7:39 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I can imagine a Brad Bird CGI SPIRIT film, a la THE INCREDIBLES or maybe POLAR EXPRESS, with Denny Colt resembling James Garner in his prime. I'd pay to see it. Going through the old TV Guides in the garage, I was surprised to find that THE SPIRIT was not an unsold pilot. It was picked up by ABC but abandoned along with several other new series around the time the writer's strike was wreaking havoc over videocassette rights.
Mark Redfield	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#7	[-]
Jul 19 06 8:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I had high hopes for Brad Bird's SPIRIT project Ah! I had completely forgotten about this! Bird would've certainly caught the whimsy and humor everyone has identified in THE SPIRIT, and the human, character-driven qualities. And as for Uslan, I had also not considered CONSTANTINE and others, but perhaps always think of his long trek to get Batman to the big screen. You're right, Bill. Uslan isn't a hands-on creative producer at all. I, for one, love the Burton films, flawed as they are with story and action set-piece problems. (I don't think that Burton does action scenes very well, in general). Since posting, I've come across quotes from Miller. From Variety via Ain't It Cool: Miller told Variety, ÒI intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won't be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect," said Miller. The official announcement will be made Saturday at Comic-Con. Can't wait for more details. Mark Redfield www.thedeathofpoe.com www.redfieldarts.com
taraco	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#8	[-]
Jul 20 06 1:35 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The pluses are Frank Miller knows comics through and through, idolizes Eisner and created SIN CITY as a modern noir take on The Spirit to begin with. The only downside I see is if Miller tries to make the new version overly brutal. Subtle humor is not one of Miller's strengths, and it was subtle humor, as much as the drawing, that made the Spirit so special. But it's fine with me, if he can pull it off. david
evilskippy	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#9	[-]
Jul 20 06 3:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't see this as good news. The Spirit actually is a lighter touch than anything Miller has brought to the table. "You suffer the consequences of speaking your mind if it isn't what people want to hear"-Adewale Ogunleye
drmedula	Re: Wil Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#10	[-]
Jul 22 06 7:48 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Miller has said it will be extremely faithful, but "not nostalgic"..it will be "scarier" then people expect... so I'd expect an emphasis on noir styling and sexy dames, and not so much the plucky newsboys and such. (Although I think ANYONE doing it would have to change Ebony these days). I'm hoping he shows the same respect for Eisner's vision that Rodriguez showed for HIS vision... but considering how he's handled other people's characters in his comics work, we can't take that as a given...
davlghry	Re:Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#11	[-]
Jul 23 06 11:22 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I hope Miller retains the Spirit's small human scale and doesn't try to compete with all the other overblown comic books movies. I don't want to see the Spirit on top of the Empire State Building slugging it out with the Octopus while a nuclear bomb is about to destroy the entire city.
Bill Warren	Re: Re:Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT	#12	[-]
Jul 23 06 5:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Miller has said it will be extremely faithful, but "not nostalgic"..it will be "scarier" then people expect... Oh dear. This leads me to fear that he will also "improve" on Eisner by larding the film with his own two-bit, teenage cynicsm, which for me has always soured everything he's done.
davlghry	Re:	#13	[-]
Jul 23 06 7:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Some of the early Spirit Sections WERE scary, replete with monsters, robots, mad men and disfigured gangsters. It wasn't until after the War that Eisner began to find his distinctive style, mining drama and humor in more common place, human situations. These are the stories I like the best but I wonder if Miller is more interested in those early, gothic adventures. Miller seems like the wrong guy for the job but let's wait and see and hope for the best.
HalLane	Re: Re:	#14	[-]
Jul 24 06 6:47 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I don't want to see the Spirit on top of the Empire State Building slugging it out with the Octopus while a nuclear bomb is about to destroy the entire city. ...unless it's part of a dream sequence that includes The Spirit's flying car... Somehow, though, I think that's the type of nostalgia Miller hopes to avoid. I can see him going exclusively for the later "O. Henry" influenced stuff, where The Spirit's actual involvement was often minimal.
drmedula	Re: Re:	#15	[-]
Jul 24 06 6:59 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Miller's first "Elektra" story is an (aknowledged) rip-off of Eisner's first Sand Saref story. Wonder if he'll slip THAT into the movie?
JimPV	Re: Re:	#16	[-]
Jul 24 06 10:50 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Quote: "Miller has said it will be extremely faithful, but 'not nostalgic'..it will be 'scarier' than people expect..." Oh dear. This leads me to fear that he will also "improve" on Eisner by larding the film with his own two-bit, teenage cynicsm, which for me has always soured everything he's done. I agree. Loosen up pal, it's just a comic book. Besides, are the vast majority "expecting" anything from a "Spirit" movie? I doubt very many have even heard of the character. "How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone" -Coco Chanel
Dragula	The Spirit	#17	[-]
Jul 24 06 3:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Spirit was many things but it was never "just a comic book"....
Bill Warren	Re: The Spirit	#18	[-]
Jul 24 06 5:22 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I doubt very many have even heard of the character. I'm sure that's true now, but I've heard/read that in the 1940s, he was as well-known as Superman (which was plenty), because the "Spirit Section" was carried in a lot of Sunday papers.
Chesterbelloc	Re: The Spirit	#19	[-]
May 17 07 2:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	From SuperheroHype.com: Lionsgate Picks Up Miller's Spirit Source: Lionsgate May 16, 2007 Lionsgate announced today that it has secured domestic and U.K. distribution rights to the live action comic book adaptation The Spirit, directed and written by Sin City and 300 creator Frank Miller and based on the classic series by comic master Will Eisner. Lionsgate will partner on the project with Odd Lot Entertainment, which is producing and co-financing, and Batfilm Productions, which is producing. Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete (The Wedding Planner, the upcoming Suburban Girl) are producing for Odd Lot; Lionsgate's Mike Paseornek, President of Film Production, is producing for Lionsgate; and Michael Uslan (Batman Begins, Constantine) is producing for Batfilm. Batfilm co-founder Benjamin Melniker and Steve Maier are executive producers, and Odd Lot's Linda McDonough and Batfilm's F.J. DeSanto are co-producers. The announcement was jointly made today by Lionsgate President of Theatrical Films Tom Ortenberg, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions Peter Block, and Paseornek. The deal is a unique multi-picture co-financing, co-production and split rights arrangement, with The Spirit being the first film in the pipeline. Commented Ortenberg, Block and Paseornek, "Lionsgate is proud and excited to join the team bringing Will Eisner's immortal 'The Spirit' to the big screen. With the 'Sin City' series, Frank Miller has proven to be as brilliant and original a filmmaker as he is a graphic novelist. His vision is perfectly matched to that of Eisner, and we believe 'The Spirit' will be a thrilling experience for comic book lovers and mass audiences alike." "Lionsgate comes to this relationship with a unique and strong ability to support 'The Spirit.' We are delighted to be in business with the studio and are confident in their well-developed marketing and promotions strategies as well as their depth in launching global franchises," said Del Prete. Continued Pritzker, "We look forward to a successful creative and business partnership with Lionsgate, and know they will help shepherd Frank Miller's vision for 'The Spirit.'" Said Miller, "Will Eisner's 'The Spirit' is a product of passion and dedication for me. Will was a dear friend, a mentor, and translating his vision to the screen will be a labor of love. I look forward to working with the people at Lionsgate, and to add to their lauded reputation for genre films." Adapated from the legendary Will Eisner's graphic novels, The Spirit tells the visceral, action-packed story of a man who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus -- who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face -- has a different mission: he's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. In the vein of Batman Begins and Sin City, The Spirit takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride of a hero who is born, murdered and born again.
Mark Redfield	Re: The Spirit	#20	[-]
May 18 07 12:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Casting has begun on THE SPIRIT. From The Hollywood Reporter: Miller sees Jackson as evil 'Spirit' 18 May 2007 10:39am EDT - By Tatiana Siegel and Borys Kit Samuel L. Jackson is in negotiations to star as a mysterious supervillain in the Frank Miller-helmed comic book adaptation The Spirit for Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment. The story centers on Denny Colt, an ambitious young cop murdered in the line of duty who under mysterious circumstances is reborn as the Masked Mystery Man known as the Spirit. Jackson would play the Spirit's nemesis, the Octopus, a meek lab assistant who reinvents himself as a psychotic nightmare that kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face. The Octopus' tentacles reach into every aspect of crime in fictitious Central City, a city he plans to wipe out. Miller said during an introduction of the project at the Festival de Cannes that Jackson is his first choice to play the evil genius who knows the secrets behind the Spirit. He added that he is beginning to mull different actors to play the comic book hero. Miller, one of the world's most renowned graphic artists, penned the screenplay, which is based on the comic book series created by the late Will Eisner. Mark Redfield www.redfieldarts.com

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