Elric Movie?

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by AmonRa

after hollywood has finished with it... elric will be a short, fat black man with a gun

Lol! Yes, Elric will be played by Ice-T.

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Lol! Yes, Elric will be played by Ice-T.

Well, he's got the attitude for it.

[Loch_Etive]

Mike Moorcock seems to favour Paul Bettany to play Elric. I'd like to see Jonathan Rhys-Myers in the role myself but only cos I fancy him

Someone on Mike's site suggested my beloved Sean Bean to play Moonglum! but that was one of the less cringe-worthy suggestions.

I'm sure Mike and the Weitz Brothers will come up with something good in the end though.

[Brys]

This is a great time for fantasy readers then - first, we hear that there is going to be a film "Chain of Dogs" based on the storyline of the same name in Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson, and now there's going to be an Elric movie. Couldn't be much better. The only problem I see with this was that one of the great things about the Elric books was Moorcock's command of the English language, which obviously can't be conveyed in film.

[chrisp]

I'm not sure you can expect much from a film of a book other than that it is a hugely enjoyable spectacle - after all, that's the only thing the film can give you that the book itself doesn't.

However, I can't help but feel I need to urgently re-read all the books before the film starts being made and the publicity comes out - once you are being bombarded with Hollywood's view of what it all looks like its all too easy to forget about your own. I re-read the lord of the rings before I saw th first film and I can't help but feel it helped me to retain my own picture of the characters etc in my own imagination.

I'm sure Holywood sees it as a chance to make another LOTR, in fact, they could stick to just the first book in the hopes that they can make another hugely lucrative franchise that doesn't have to stop after film 3...

I definitely enjoy watching films like these but I'm not 100% percent sure they don't take something away from the original book - I definitely advocate re-aquainting oneself with the text before bombarding your senses with the full dolby-surround cinema experience....

[stinking_dylan]

I'm very eager to see this film, even if it's not so good.

Another good thing which may come about after it's release is perhaps the elric series will be reprinted as a matching hardback set. As a first edition collector, the Elric series is a bit of a confusing jumble of books, not to mention the last two books not being printed in the UK. Would be great to have a nice multiple volume set of the series. I'd happily pass on my firsts for a set like that (though I'd probably keep stealer of souls...)

[The Technophobe]

I am worried about this. Great books by a great writer but can the convey the mood correctly?

[Perssonicus]

Greetings, everyone:

Have there been any new developments on the film version of the Elric saga? I ran through the comments at Mike's site but could find only stale rumor.

Any news?

Perssonicus

[j. d. worthington]

Hi, Perssonicus (nice handle that -- I've always liked Una); welcome to the Chronicles.

As far as I know, this one is still in a holding pattern; the reasons are probably manifold, and largely to do with producers' ideas of what constitutes a "fantasy" film ... much of which the Elric books would go against (as was intended with the original stories when he began writing them). I'm dubious as to this being made unless an indendent picks it up, or a new head of productions takes over somewhere who has a little vision and is willing to take risks -- not likely with the amount of outlay this one would require, but possible.

Part of that, I think, is that Elric is more of an "anti-hero" than a "hero", and that's still a new concept with most cinematic fantasy ... even the apparent anti-heroes tend to be stereotypical gruff heroes who don't want to get involved, but then their golden hearts and better natures bring them in to the fray before the end.... Not so Elric, who acts either from his own, often selfish motivations, or on a whim, or because of pressure of circumstance ... and in that last instance, usually turns very nasty. As a character, it gives him more dimension, but it certainly isn't what the moviemakers are used to thinking of in the terms of protagonists for fantasy films.

Still, we can hope and -- where we hear about a studio considering it -- let our voices be heard in support of; and see what happens....

[jimbombimbo]

its obvious tilda swinton must play elric,she was fab in constantine(STOLE THE FILM FROM UNDER KRs NOSE)

[Ice fyre]

Hello

First post so be gentle with me!

Heh heh

Umm, just on casting I wonder if anyone thought of Jonny Depp?

I know he's not to everyones taste but, I think he's off the wall enough to do it properly.

Any thoughts?

[j. d. worthington]

Hello, and welcome to the Chronicles!

Depp definitely has the build for Elric, I'd say... but getting him bleached out (not only hair, but his skin tone) enough to truly play an albino... that's going to take either some genius at makeup or an unbelievable amount of computer work (or both). And let's face it, Elric's albinism is very important on a lot of levels, not least of which is the weakness which comes from it is what gets him into so much trouble.

Myself, I think I'd prefer an unknown who's a damned fine actor to play the role, but knowing the movie business I seriously doubt this will be the case....

[Nesacat]

Sounds intriguing aside from the part about Orlando Bloom. Shall follow knivesout and move to the top of a mountain if that happens. I hope Hollywood does not whitewash it though ... aside from the required albino make-up that is.

I'd like to see unknowns too, especially since many who were in Lord of the Rings were relatively new but did a great job.

Having said that both Jude Law and Johnny Depp might work as well. I wish Daniel Day Lewis would be considered as well. He looks hungry enough.

I used to work for a gentleman who was an albino when I was at the international school. He was Chinese. We also had several students from India and the Middle east with the same condition.

[Ice fyre]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

Sounds intriguing aside from the part about Orlando Bloom.

Och think your are being a wee bit harsh on the bloom boy. But I wouldnt reccomend him for this role. On that you are totally right.

[j. d. worthington]

There's a brief update about the film here:

Elric movie status - Moorcock's Miscellany

At this point (as with so many things in the movie business)... who knows?