Genre:
Action/Science Fiction.
Studio:
Unknown.
Production Company:
Kushner-Locke/Capitol Films Ltd./Threshold Entertainment.
Project Phase: In the Can.
Who's In It:
Christopher Lambert (Beowulf); Rhona Mitra; Gotz Otto; Oliver Cotton; Charlie Robinson.
Who's Making It:
Graham Baker (Director); Mark Christopher Leahy (Screenwriter); Larry Kasanoff,
Donald Kushner, Gregory Cascante (Producers); based on the anonymously-scribed classic poem.
Premise: Details on this take on the legendary poem is currently unknown, but it's set in a "techo-feudal future" 1000 years hence.
Release Date: 1998.
Comments: The epic poem, believed to be from the 8th Century C.E., deals with the warrior Beowulf, his battle with the monster Grendel, and then the ensuing battle against Grendel's mother, who seeks revenge.
Now that this project is running, where is the adaptation of Gilgamesh? And the fact that it's being billed as science fiction is curious as well, hmmm.... This project shouldn't be confused with the Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman Beowulf script the duo recently completed for Robert Zemeckis' production company Imagemovers.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback: [Page draft submitted by 'Widgett'; additional help from 'mattrobb'.] November 8, 1997... According to Lambert, five American studios tried to figure out a way to adapt the poem, but to no avail. He believes the recent screenplay they are working from is the one. Principal photography is taking place even as we speak in Romania. Budget is said to be at $20 million. [Scoop provided by 'Widgett'.] November 9, 1997... Is this project the same Roger Avary and Neil Gaiman Beowulf script the duo recently completed for Robert Zemeckis' production company Imagemovers? We haven't been able to learn the name(s) of the screenwriter(s) yet, but we've contacted Threshold Entertainment to get further info. They've promised to get back to us in the coming week. [Thanks for the Avary/Gaiman heads-up from 'mattrobb'.] Some hints as to the storyline can be read from the picture's pre-production poster (seen right). These are made to whet interest in a project before any photography (or in some cases, even before any other pre-production) has taken place. [Found in Grendel's lair by the brave 'Widgett'.]
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November 22, 1997... Mark Christopher Leahy is the screenwriter for this adaptation of the Beowulf poem, which sorts out the Gaiman/Avary confusion. That duo has penned a different Beowulf script. [Thanks to 'd.FANG' for hooking us up with the folks who know.]
December 23, 1997... The show's already been picked up for European distribution already by a Scandinavian film distributor. Already the talk and gossip is starting about the film's reported 'first-time seen ever' special effects. [Howled anonymously.]
September 24, 1998... Some news concerning this flick: "Dimension Films has bought the American distribution rights to this Christopher Lambert Sci-fi flick. The budget is $20 million dollars. And because of distribution difficulties, the film seems more likely to open in late spring 1999." [Scoop provided by 'DTW']