Another "Dick" movie

[phantomstranger]

Bekmambetov to Reimagine Melville's Moby Dick
Source: Variety
September 23, 2008


Variety reports that Universal Pictures has decided to produce a big budget reimagiging of Herman Melville's classic literary tale Moby Dick with Russian director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) to work from a screenplay being written by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage for "a high six figures."

The Variety story details some of the changes that are being planned for the new version of Melville's tale:

The writers revere Melville’s original text, but their graphic novel-style version will change the structure. Gone is the first-person narration by the young seaman Ishmael, who observes how Ahab’s obsession with killing the great white whale overwhelms his good judgment as captain.

This change will allow them to depict the whale’s decimation of other ships prior to its encounter with Ahab’s Pequod, and Ahab will be depicted more as a charismatic leader than a brooding obsessive.

"Our vision isn’t your grandfather’s ‘Moby Dick,’ " Cooper said. "This is an opportunity to take a timeless classic and capitalize on the advances in visual effects to tell what at its core is an action-adventure revenge story."

In the meantime, Bekmambetov is already developing a sequel to the summer sleeper hit starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie.

[Vodstok]

It sounds like they are rippingout what the story was essentially about and making an action flick out of it, which bugs me on some level.

On the other hand, we dont get enough whales killing poeple in movies.

[neverending]

Yep- take out all the meaning and signifigance of the story and pump up the special effects.

Audiences today will love it.

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by neverending

Yep- take out all the meaning and signifigance of the story and pump up the special effects.

Audiences today will love it.

For about 3 weeks.

[ferretchucker]

Not keen on the change but for those who haven't read the book, it may be good. I hope Ishmael and Queequeg are still in it. Oh, and the coffee shop guy.

[newb]

Originally Posted by Vodstok

It sounds like they are rippingout what the story was essentially about and making an action flick out of it, which bugs me on some level.

On the other hand, we dont get enough whales killing poeple in movies.

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by newb

Might have to see that just to watch bo derek get eaten alive... :)

[Vodstok]

Originally Posted by ferretchucker

Not keen on the change but for those who haven't read the book, it may be good. I hope Ishmael and Queequeg are still in it. Oh, and the coffee shop guy.

Moby Dick had a guy named Dunkin?:confused:

[Papillon Noir]

How can you not make Ahab an obsessive lunatic? Isn't that the biggest plot point of the story? :confused:

I bet they'll change the whale.

[newb]

Originally Posted by Vodstok

Moby Dick had a guy named Dunkin?:confused:

Well....if its made in Canada it would be Tim Horton.