Eisner's THE SPIRIT adapted by Frank Miller

[Shonokin]

"The Spirit," Eisner's most famous comics character is in pre-production as a major motion picture from Batman Begins producer Michael Uslan.
Adapted by Frank Miller and script by Jeff Loeb (Smallville).

That's all the info I have so far. Uslan is also supposedly working on a movie adaptation of The Shadow for Conde Naste.

[Shonokin]

More on The Spirit

Hours before The Spirit movie panel at Comic-Con in San Diego, Frank Miller talked to ComingSoon.net/SuperheroHype.com about his plans for the movie, based on the early Will Eisner hero, which he'll start working on after finishing Sin City 2 with Robert Rodriguez.

"I'll take some of the lessons I learned from Robert Rodriguez and that's to use the comics as storyboards and doing my best to be as faithful as possible," Miller told us. "Now, the tone I have in mind will probably surprise a lot of readers, because they're used to the kindler, gentler Spirit from after Will got drafted and his assistants took over. This is going to be a scarier take on it, much more like the earlier stories."

Considering The Spirit's long publishing history, we wondered whether Miller had any idea which stories he might use for the movie. "There's a couple," he replied. "I want to use several of the femme fatales and right now, I'm putting together how they're all going to mix up together."

He will be using a similar green screen technique used by Robert Rodriguez to make the movie in terms of presenting Will Eisner's very distinctive looking world, and he even said that he's going to try to blend The Spirit title into the cityscape just like what could be seen on Eisner's title pages.

"I'm not going to beat you over the head with the logo, but it'll be just the same way that Robert was able to capture the feel of Sin City, I think capturing the more romantic look of Eisner's city will be a lot of fun."

And as far as when they'll start on Sin City 2? "It all depends on when they're finished with 'Grind House,' but I'm still on deck." He's still hoping that Angelina Jolie will play the role of Eva in the sequel.

[RoadWarriorYajuta]

The Spirit is just such a classic character, I really don't know about Miller being able to interpret the character very well. Miller was one of the people that ushered in the darker era in comics and that doesn't go well with the classic aspects of the Spirit.

[Shonokin]

The SPIRIT is such a mix of slapstick, humor and also darkness and at times horror that it would be hard for anyone to interprit. I actually thought the tv movie from the 80s wasn't half bad, but apparently Eisner hated it. Sam Jones didn't help much though. He actually looked great as the Spirit, but couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag.

[Xenorama ™]

i liked the movie a lot, and thought Sam did a fine job (what do i know, i like him in FLASH GORDON as well). it's not a great movie, but it was fun, and didn't need flashy effects or blood and guts to make it's point. i'm sure it will show up on DVD if Milller makes his movie.

which could be good, as long as he stays away from the relentless violence and gore and nudity that seems to be his bread and butter these days.

and skip the origin- just have the Spirit be there, instead of having to waste time explaining how and why.

[Shonokin]

I actually liked FLASH GORDON a lot as well. Though acting in itself seemed fairly irrelevent in that movie. In fact I went so far as to getting the R2 UK dvd for the 25th anniversary. No special features to speak of but the print and transfer were excellent.

Since Miller seemed to get to know Eisner pretty well in the last decade, I'm hoping he'll know how to bring the SPIRIT to the screen in the right way. But it'll definately be tricky to get the right flavor. I imagine most audiences under 35 won't have much of an idea of who the SPIRIT is and I'm scared movie execs will think the same thing and want to "update it" for the kids.

BTW, Nana Visitor played Ellan Dolan in the 80's movie. Just a little femme fatale factoid there.

[Shonokin]

Some more news about the Miller adaptation:

While director Frank Miller plans to begin filming THE SPIRIT today, Variety has reported two more additions to his growing cast. Jamie King will play a phantom siren named Lorelie. The second addition is Paz Vega (Spanglish) who will portray the blade wielding Plaster of Paris. They join Gabriel Macht, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Stana Katic, Johnny Simmons and Louis Lombardi. Production begins today in New Orleans.

Plot Concept: Centers on a man (Gabriel Macht) who fakes his own death and fights crime from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus (Samuel Jackson) -- who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face -- has a different mission: he's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader.

THE SPIRIT hits theaters everywhere January 16, 2009.

[Shonokin]

teaser trailer is out
youtube.com/watch?v=j1F-97xJ33E

So far I still like the Sam Jones one better when it comes to look and feel

[Xenorama ™]

color me not impressed. color the movie ANYTHING. looks just like his other films and probably with no sense of humor that should be in The Spirit.

[Shonokin]

Yeah it definitely has "Miller" all over it when it should have nothing but Eisner all over it. Of course hard to tell just from a teaser, but it sure does look as you say like the standard Miller flick. Which is neat ONCE.

[RoadWarriorYajuta]

I( hate to admit it but as much as I want to like this, by the looks of the trailer I don't think I can. It isn't the Spirit. I did like Sin City and 300 a lot, but this was Eisner's seminal character, the first truly great artistic comic character. The beauty of the Spirit forced others to increase the quality of the work they put out. I may give this one a shot, but it will probably be on DVD.

[Shonokin]

You thought that teaser looked bad, check this out, looks absolutely awful.
movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809838857/video/8831867

Why doesn't Miller just dig Eisner up and f*ck em in the @ss. Because that's what he's doing with The Spirit.

[tyranitar42]

When I saw the sin city style poster forthe film, I became very apprehensive. I don't think miller is the right guy for this film, but too late now! I too liked Sin city and 300, but the Spirit IS NOT those books. I too will wait on the dvd release for this one..

on a lighter note, I actually think Joel schulwhatever from batman & robin and forever, might do a better job on this, with his over the top characters but lavish production, it might work. what killed the batman franchise then could have worked for the spirit now. or maybe they folks who made the phantom flick...I dunno, when I think of the spirit it could be a little scary, but it was alot of fun too!

[RoadWarriorYajuta]

Guess the Box office show doing it this style wasn't smart. If they had done this in a film noir style and made it like the classic comics I think it would have done huge business.

[Xenorama ™]

i wonder how poorly it did. people think every superhero movie now is going to be a monster hit and this proves them wrong.

the sad thing is, this could have been a great modest budget movie, easily made in NYC right now.