NYCC 07: THE SPIRIT MOVIE PANEL

**MattBrady** · 03-05-2007, 04:40 PM

by Ryan McLelland

While Frank Miller was unable to attend due to an injury, producer Michael Uslan and co-producer F.J. DeSanto were on hand at New York Comic Con to talk about the upcoming The Spirit film. This live-adaptation of Will Eisner’s classic comic will be both written and directed by Miller.

The producers did say that there is currently no start time for the film, especially with Miller himself absent from the panel to talk about any sort of time frame. They added that Miller would like to start this film before starting on Sin City 2, but the producers also added that it would depend on the availability of stars cast in the film.

The Spirit has been a property floating around Hollywood for over forty years, as the film has been optioned many times only to never be produced, sans one lame television pilot that was shot in the eighties. Both DeSanto and Uslan talked about how Miller decided to ‘script’ the film by first photocopying original Eisner panels on the wall until a single cohesive story line was finally together. The producers both added that Sin City is a heavy influence for The Spirit in terms of trying to bring a comic book to life on screen. Miller is said to be done the next draft which should be the film’s final shooting script.

The film itself will not be an origin story. The characters have all already hit the streets running and, thanks to the digital technology of today, those streets of Central City will be very similar to how Eisner made the city look in the comic and therefore keeping it very true to his vision. Those streets will be filled with Spirit characters like Commissioner Dolan, Ellen Dolan, Sand Serif, as well a slew of femme fatales and bad guys that The Spirit is so known for.

In terms of when the series will be set, The Spirit team said that Eisner had always kept time fluid in the comic book, that when it was the forties, The Spirit occurred in the forties, but when it was the fifties the character was then in the fifties, and so on. So the film will be set modern day though with lots of throwbacks to the original vision of Eisner and how he brought us Central City. There was also a very brief remark hinting on a Spirit animated series in the near future.

Questions to the producers asked if the city would have any look similar to the stunning The Spirit series now being produced by Darwin Cooke at DC. The panelists adamant that while they loved Cooke’s series, Miller very much has his vision on the look and feel being very much Eisner’s script on the screen. Robert Rodriguez, who co-directed Sin City with Miller, will not be onboard for this project.

The film is being independently financed (meaning the money for the film is not coming from a film studio) which seems to keep everyone onboard the film happy. “(Because of this) we will never be a situation we have to ignore 60 years of history, our respected creator, the material, and The Sprits fans.” The crew also noted the film is moving along like lightning and while no cast has yet to be cast, agencies have been calling in droves of those movie stars wanting to attach themselves to the project. The film, unlike Sin City’s R Rating, will be aiming for a hard PG-13.

The team recommended, for those unfamiliar with The Spirit to pick up the DC trade paperback Best of the Spirit to get familiar with the characters. The hardcover Spirit Archive Editions and the Darwin Cooke series, currently on issue #3, are also available. With the Spirit trades already back in print, it was also said that we can all expect many of Eisner’s out of print works to be back in print shortly if not already.

New York Comic Con 2007 coverage brought to you by Comicraft's ELEPHANTMEN #7, on sale right now from Image Comics!

xomanowarfan · 03-05-2007, 04:52 PM

The spirit is gonna be in the new sin city movie???

smitch · 03-05-2007, 05:10 PM

I'm baffled as to why Miller is attached to this. Not a good move.

ColonelLee · 03-05-2007, 05:11 PM

Frank Miller is superhot right now in Hollywood. SIN CITY did well and 300 is getting rave reviews and seems to be on track for one of 2007's huge movies.

The SPIRIT could make Frank Miller the premier filmmaker of the 21st century. How different is that?

Kolimar · 03-05-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

The film is being independently financed (meaning the money for the film is not coming from a film studio) which seems to keep everyone onboard the film happy. “(Because of this) we will never be a situation we have to ignore 60 years of history, our respected creator, the material, and The Sprits fans.” The crew also noted the film is moving along like lightning and while no cast has yet to be cast, agencies have been calling in droves of those movie stars wanting to attach themselves to the project. The film, unlike Sin City’s R Rating, will be aiming for a hard PG-13.

Excellent.

Arsenal3 · 03-05-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitch

I'm baffled as to why Miller is attached to this. Not a good move.

Well, he's definitely got a certain 'noir' quality to his work. It could be good. As long as there's not any dialogue along the lines of, "I'm the goddamn Spirit!"

Sims · 03-05-2007, 05:15 PM

Get it right: he's The Goddamn Spirit!

Sorry, had to be the first to say it.

EDIT: Man... Arsenal3 beat me to it.

nikoli29 · 03-05-2007, 05:15 PM

What's wrong with Cooke's version of the Spirit? I personally really dig that book...

I'm a bit concerned that Miller might be "Millering" it too much. Making it too similar to Sin City and not enough like what Eisner gave us. That promo poster does nothing to make me feel better. Sin City was fine for Sin City, but we don't need it for the Spirit.

I just hope he makes this movie more "Dark Knight Returns" and less "Dark Knight Strikes Again"

Kolimar · 03-05-2007, 05:17 PM

The complete list of comics-based movies

vbartilucci · 03-05-2007, 05:17 PM

Jaden Smith as Ebony White

Catherine Zeta-Jones as P'gell

James Cromwell as Commisioner Dolan

Zooey Deschanel as Ellen Dolan

Paul Giamatti as Gerard Schnobble (I can dream can't I?)

Brad Garrett as a large gunsel (I just like him)

and Clive Owen as Denny Colt (Juuuust beating out Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce)

Uchiha_Prodigy · 03-05-2007, 05:22 PM

From what I know Miller and Eisner were close friends. But it still doesnt make sense. Ive always seen The Spirit as a more lighthearted Batman. Not as campy as the Adam West version, but not as dark as Bruce Timm's(or the modern) version. Doesnt making it a crime noir go against that?

Ace · 03-05-2007, 05:25 PM

Miller, while not a personal favorite by any means, said before that he took on the project because he was worried what someone else might do with the property.

It sounds to me like he's going to be nothing but protective of Eisner's work here, maybe even too much so.

I think he might surprise the doubters here. Even if I generally doubt him in most other things he does.

JdRavnos · 03-05-2007, 05:27 PM

While I think that poster looks horrible (well horrible for the Spirit, it looks good for Sin City), what was said in the article itself makes it sound like they want to be very respectful to Eisner's vision, so I'm hesitantly optimistic until I hear about Ebony White being locked in a cave by the Spirit and forced to eat rats.

nikoli29 · 03-05-2007, 05:30 PM

I'm not saying Miller isn't good at what he does. When he hits a home run, he knocks it out of the park. On the other hand, when he bombs, he goes deep into the ground. His follow-up to Dark Knight Returns is the perfect example, along with the infamous "Goddamn Batman".

I want to see this movie do well, and I will be first in line at my local multiplex to see it. I just have a natural reluctance when it comes to Frank Miller anymore.

Gusgnoose · 03-05-2007, 05:32 PM

Two crappy Robocop scripts and two good adaptaions of his comics, do not make Frank Miller a filmmaker.

BasMallee · 03-05-2007, 05:35 PM

Not to critisize Mr Miller, but I thought he was going to 'stick to' the original mythos?
This looks like a "Millerized" Spirit to me.

Gusgnoose · 03-05-2007, 05:36 PM

Besides we all know that Bruce Campbell should play the Spirit and Mark John Jeffries should be Ebony.

Kolimar · 03-05-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

There was also a very brief remark hinting on a Spirit animated series in the near future.

That would be tres cool.

And a nice addition for The Complete List of Comic-Based TV Series

GenerallZodd · 03-05-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BasMallee

Not to critisize Mr Miller, but I thought he was going to 'stick to' the original mythos?
This looks like a "Millerized" Spirit to me.

How do you know what it looks like? It hasn't been made yet. Miller drawing a poster to get a script bought does not a movie make.

kalorama · 03-05-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColonelLee

Frank Miller is superhot right now in Hollywood. SIN CITY did well and 300 is getting rave reviews and seems to be on track for one of 2007's huge movies.

The SPIRIT could make Frank Miller the premier filmmaker of the 21st century. How different is that?

Except Miller didn't direct 300 or Sin City. Yes, he supposedly directed some scenes in Sin City, but he was working with Rodriguez, not independently; he wasn't responsible for the whole production. And since it hasn't actually been released yet, it's a bit premature to call 300 one of the year's huge movies.

We've yet to see anything that really tells us what kind of filmmaker Miller really is.

Scavenger · 03-05-2007, 06:23 PM

They've said that there will not be an Ebony in the movie...that Ebony was a bad idea on a bad day from Eisner

kalorama · 03-05-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scavenger

They've said that there will not be an Ebony in the movie...that Ebony was a bad idea on a bad day from Eisner

I don't necessarily agree with that. The specific depiction of Ebony by Eisner was obviously a bad idea, but I don't know that the concept of Ebony (teenaged sidekick, aide-de-camp) was a problem, per se.

smitch · 03-05-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenerallZodd

How do you know what it looks like? It hasn't been made yet. Miller drawing a poster to get a script bought does not a movie make.

I believe he was referring to that teaser poster, and I think he's right. It's contradictory for Miller to be protective or true to the original Spirit, and release an image like that at the same time.

astronato · 03-05-2007, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Both DeSanto and Uslan talked about how Miller decided to ‘script’ the film by first photocopying original Eisner panels on the wall until a single cohesive story line was finally together. The producers both added that Sin City is a heavy influence for The Spirit in terms of trying to bring a comic book to life on screen. Miller is said to be done the next draft which should be the film’s final shooting script.

I've never read Sin City (shame on me) but seem to remember from a making of Sin City bit on tv that they were so faithful to the story that they used panels from the comic for the storyboard. And I thought Sin CIty the movie was great. So Miller using clippings from Eisner comics sounds like he wants to do the same. That gives me hope for something good.

But that poster image doesn't.

I've got my fingers crossed. Good luck Frank!

And a Spirit animated series? Wow. They BETTER go to Darwyn Cooke for that.

Johnny Triangles · 03-05-2007, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitch

I'm baffled as to why Miller is attached to this. Not a good move.

As a writer/artist, Miller has a good storytelling visual sense that I think would be good for this movie. Also, much of Eisner's appeal wasn't so much the consistent depth of the stories but rather his flair for urban noir visuals, something Miller also excels at. He's been heavily influenced by Eisner, and much of it shows in how he visually pushed the envelope in Sin City (some of the negative space art he did in the later volumes is especially stunning). Look on the bright side, Loeb was previously attached to the movie. Think how awful that would have been.