Genre: Action/Spiritual/Fantasy.
Studio:
Unknown.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Unknown.
Who's Making It:
Chuck Russell (Director?); based on the novel This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti
Premise: In a small American town the coming apocalypse will be fought. Demons and angels are manifesting themselves to the residents, upping the ante each time. Before long the townspeople will be forced to take a side and an all-out war between Heaven and Hell will explode.
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: Frank Peretti's novel made an explosive debut ten years ago, cutting a pathway for Christian-themed fiction in the mass market. If you do a quick surf over to www.amazon.com and type in the book's name you'll net a number of reviews on Peretti's book, but readership seems to fall into two catagories: those that love the book for its Christian-base, and those that disagree with the book's heavy Christian-base. That hasn't stopped Hollywood from optioning the rights; regardless if you're Christian or not, Fox execs are betting both camps would pay to see the armies of Heaven and Hell wage war in Smalltown, U.S.A.
The book's success spawned a sequel, Piercing the Darkness, so if the film's a hit, there's material to be still covered. Russell bought the rights to the first novel and has come the closest to getting it off the ground.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
December 29, 1997... We've been gathering small scraps of scoop gossip for this project for the past nine months, back when Russell got involved with it. Now, two major scoops have come in that have finally prodded us to craft a page for this film. First up is this anonymous scoop from last week that confirms what we were told in the subsequent scoop -- but first things first. Here's what the anonymous scooper had to say on December 22nd...
"20th Century Fox is 'this close' to greenlighting Frank Peretti's bestselling 'Christian' novel, about angels and demons engaged in spiritual warfare. The movie will be directed by Chuck Russell of The Mask, with special makeup effects from Greg Cannom (Bram Stoker's Dracula). No major casting is known yet. One interesting bit of casting from the source is Doug Jones, who is currently being fitted for makeup as the demon Lucius complete with large, ram-like horns. Doug has played and specialized in, among other things, as the moon-faced 'MacTonite', in the commercials for McDonalds; as Billy Butcher the zombie in Hocus Pocus; the Tall Thin Clown (of the Penguin's gang) in Batman Forever; Yee the kangaroo in Warriors of Virtue; in Tank Girl, and many others. Apparantly, the script and story rights have been optioned for years and is now seeing fruition." One interesting note is that this scooper referred to the project as 'Piercing the Darkness' and not 'This Present Darkness'; perhaps the title of the film has been replaced by the title of the novel's sequel? [Scoop submitted anonymously and by 'Lonestarr'.]
While this bit of info was a bit different than what we were told before, it mas more meat on the makeup side of things for the project. What we were told just before the above scoop rolled in was that Fox was busy doing preliminary computer generated imaging on demon and angel SFX. Our second source told us that Fox has been very busy in November working on smoothing out the kinks in creating realistic demons and angels in cyberspace, and this was another part of the equation Fox execs wanted to see smoothed out before committing serious moolah to the project. There's definately some major behind-the-scenes activity happening on this project; keep your eyes peeled for an announcement soon, wethinks. [Thanks to our anonymous source.]
Also of note was this Usenet posting late last October to 'alt.movies.visual-effects'. The anonymous scooper sent it to us and we were somewhatr curious, but didn't know where to place it. Now, considering what we're learning about the prelim work for this project, it may be connected:
"THE SCOOP: Vincent J. Guastini is posting all over usenet looking for effects help with a new movie.
>ATTENTION: Any or all Costume or craft people on East coast MUST HAVE SOME >EXPERIENCE IN working with different materials, some professtional expert knowlege, looking to build Angel Wings for upcoming motion picture project, So if you have knowlege of making feathered costumes, Dove wings or angels on a professtional level in film and or plays please send resume and or inquiries to: Vincent J. Guastini Productions. [address deleted]"
Guastini is legit; he contacted us some months ago concerning the movie rights to Doom before TriStar aquired them last month. Of course, the angel project-in-question may not be This Present Darkness...but it's always fun to assemble possible clues. Just ask Professor Plum in the Foyer with the Pipe, don'tcha know? [Big thanks to our anonymous Usenet scooper.]
[Additional thanks to 'Widgett' and Christian for their intrepid work!]
January 6, 1998... Here's some first-hand feedback from one of the many readers of the novel and its sequel, A Piercing Darkness:
" I have read both books, and thought they would look spectacular on the big screen. The books do present two problems, though. First, the narrative. The book actually follows two storylines that parallel each other. One is the spiritual warfare plot involving the angels and demons, the second is the realife people (focusing on a preacher and a newspaper editor) who live in the small town of Ashton. The second problem is the audience. The book was very successful, but still plays to a limited audience. The book has a definite ideological slant that is pretty unappealing to most Hollywood types (i.e., it's conservative), so I wonder if that will survive into the script. Also, if the effects are to be done well, it will have to be, IMHO, modestly expensive (50-60 million, maybe?) So the marketing dept. will have to make the film appeal to a wide audience without alienating its core Christian audience." [Commentary sent in by Todd Dupler.]
And a follow-up to our Dec. 29 scoop regarding the Internet call for makeup artists for a movie involving angels. Vincent J. Guastini contacted us and let us know he's definately not working on this particular angel movie; instead Guastini's post was for Kevin Smith's upcoming Dogma film, which also has some angels in it. "I would love to be connected to this project but I am not, Greg Cannom will be doing the Makeup Effects, and I'm sure he will do an outstanding job" Guastini added. We're sure he'll do the same for Dogma too! [Thanks to Vincent for clearing the matter up; the seraphs also thank you.]
January 10, 1998... Even though the Angel test footage FX completed by Blue Sky|VIFX was terrific, Fox pulled the plug on the picture this week, this scooper tells CA. They also say Charles Russell is currently trying to set the picture up at another studio. [Scoop submitted by Ray Luca.]
But two days before the above scoop, we got this little postcard sent to us:
"Thunderstone Model Shop looks like they've gotten the job of building and shooting all the practical model FX for This Present Darkness. Thunderstone is the model department for Sony Pictures Imageworks and is responsible for the fantastic ships in Starship Troopers and well as the 'dropping pod' sequence in Contact. Despite the affiliation with their mother company, Thunderstone bids indepedently of Imageworks -- so don't get the idea that just because they have the models, that Imageworks will take care of the digital end." [Thanks to 'duckyamuck' for the info.]
The book's title (and premise, we think) comes from this passage in the Bible:
"For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 (Revised Standard Version)
[Big thanks to Todd Dupler for the research!]
Another scooper wanted to talk to us about the interest Peretti's book is receiving, and the other similar movies being made by the studios...
"Here is an interesting note for you: Frank Peretti graduated from UCLA's film school as a screenwriter. That information is in the author bio on the novel. I think that he also was a professor of screenwriting at UCLA, too, though I would need to re-verify that tidbit of info before I swear to it. I also believe that the intent of Peretti's two novels was for the screen. This is more than evident upon reading them...the flow is almost annoyingly close to that of a screenplay.
"It is this fact that negates the above scoopers idea that the novel would be difficult to portray on screen. Nearly every movie has parallel stories going on, Pulp Fiction being the extreme example. In This Present Darkness, the fact that the two parallel stories (the Spiritual Warfare aspect and the Human aspect) continue to cross each other, even though the stories take place in two different 'realms,' makes this incredibly interesting and exciting, if not quite original.
"Having myself worked on the soon-to-be-released Denzel Washington film, Fallen, which deals with supposed demonic warfare against humanity, I can certainly say that this type of storyline -- that which explores a Biblical genre -- is tremendously marketable, especially in a day and age where Bible scholars, students, casual readers -- even the unbelieving cynics -- are seeing Biblical 'prophecies' (if you will) come to light in modern day politics and world events. This notion that perhaps this one God of the Bible is intricately involved with the course of human events still, here, at the turn of the millenia, is beyond fascinating.
"Having worked in Hollywood for some time now, I am seeing a trend that is realizing that the largely ignored 'Christian' or 'Religious' market is quite profitable. I mean, c'mon! How many tens of millions of people go to church on Sunday! If you market a film such as this to church 'youth groups' across the nation alone, you have made over 150 million dollars! Considering the word-of-mouth that a film such as this will get in the massive Christian world, Hollywood has absolutely nothing to lose, and it may build its reputation in a wary religious market." [Thanks goes out to D. Farmer, USC, for sending us the comments.]
April 19, 1998... "Some new things have been happening," this scooper enigmatically tells us. What things? [Anonymous.]
June 18, 1998... A couple of new items to report:
In late May CA was sent what appears to be a press release from an organization called the 'Hollywood Prayer Network' who are interested in seeing the project become a reality...
"Welcome to the Hollywood Prayer Network. We will be E-mailing you about once a week with things to pray for here in Hollywood. This first Message will give you a little bit of background on the Movie This Present Darkness, which is our current prayer focus.
"THIS PRESENT DARKNESS - THE MOVIE:
"Based on the best-selling novel by Frank Peretti, this movie is being produced by Dean Jones (Actor), Howard Kazanjian (Raiders of the Lost Ark & Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) and Bruce Isacson (Tender Mercies). The Director/Screenplay writer is Chuck Russell (The Mask). These Christian men are all dedicated to making this movie one that will glorify God as it exposes the powers of darkness.
"The movie is in Pre-production with 20th Century Fox. Executives involved in the movie are: Peter Cherin (Chairman of Merdoch News Corp.), Bill Mechanic (Chairman 20th Century Fox Films), Laura Ziskin (President), Kevin McCormick (Sr.VP), Chris Vogler (VP), Tom Sherak (President of Distribution), Bob Harper (Pres. Marketing).
"20th Century Fox is wanting to change the story so that it is not so 'Christian'. As a result of this issue, the Producers are in the process of securing independent funding to make the movie themselves. Bruce Isacson has a written commitment for complete independent funding for the movie. Louie M. and Manuel are the people involved with the trust which has committed the money. We have been told that by July the funds should be available. Chuck Russell may have to commit to another project in June if the funds are not available by then."
[Submitted anonymously.]
Then, today (June 18th) Army Archerd's column in Variety had a tidbit about the project. Archerd talked about actor/producer Dean Jones leaving the Show Boat play soon to resume his work with the Christian Rescue Committee, an organization devoted to organizing internation rescue missions to troubled countries. Archerd mentions in his piece that Jones' film company, Silver Palm Productions, still has plans to independently produce the feature film. [Thanks to Todd Dupler and J. Brown.]
July 1, 1998... Last week we were sent this email:
"THIS PRESENT DARKNESS is in turnaround from Fox. The Producers have less than seven months to raise independent financing or find another studio that will make the picture. After this period of time Fox can shelve the picture, redevelop the picture, or do anything they wish with the project." [Anonymous.]
We can't confirm the time figure but the picture is definitely in turnaround at Fox.
Also, we've received some requests from readers wishing to learn the contact address for the 'Hollywood Prayer Network' we talked about in the June 18th scoop. If anyone knows the contact snail mail or email address of the HPN, we'll post it on here for those interested in making contact.