HOME TRAILERS RELEASE DATES PODCAST REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS MOVIE NEWS ABOUT US APPS FSnetwork

LATEST NEWS

Hollywood Gang Developing Historical Epic Trilogy on Caesar

by Alex Billington
May 16, 2010
Source: Deadline

Hollywood Gang Productions, run by Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton, hasn't actually developed a feature film since Frank Miller's 300 in 2007. They've been pitching projects left and right, but nothing has moved into production yet. They're now developing is a historical drama based on the early life of Julius Caesar. They're packaging it as a new trilogy bed on Conn Iggulden's Emperor series of novels (The Gates of Rome, The Death of Kings, The Field of Swords) with William Broyles Jr. (Apollo 13, Cast Away, Jarhead, Flags of Our Fathers) writing the script. Is it just me or does this a little similar to HBO's feature version of Rome?

The project doesn't have a director yet, but Deadline says the hope is to start filming in the next few months, which seems a bit quick, but maybe they can pull it off. Hollywood Gang, and Exclusive Media Group (who is also producing), are known for historical epics, but then again they haven't made anything since 300 and the style and beauty of that film was mainly due to Zack Snyder and Frank Miller (not the producers). Iggulden's Emperor tells the story of two young boys - Gaius and Marcus, raised as brothers - as they grow to adults in Rome. I'm pretty interested in seeing this, just because it sounds like it could be awesome, but it depends on who they get to direct and other production details. We will keep you updated! Anyone read the books?

Related categories: Movie News, Opinions

Daniel Felts

I have not read the books. But they do seem interesting.
ClerksFan

I actually just started re-reading the books again. Every time I read them I think about how well they could be addapted to film. There's only three books listed in the article but there are four books in the series (The Gods of War is the fourth), are they only doing the first three? There's alot of potential for an excellent series here. I hope they don't mess it up.
Loser

Edward Zwick to direct if I remember the rumors right but who knows
http://www.cine-escape.com Sakyo

mm We have to stablish a real difference between book and movie adaptation..and when you do that always win the book...just in a few ocassions, win the movie like Godfather and just for a little..
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

@4... It's impossible to compare a book to a film, they're completely different mediums and it's like comparing a painting to a song.
Andrew

The books are really quite dense, and a film for each novel would be needed to come close to that, but even then, there is a lot of jumping around after the first novel (the best and most personal in my opinion) and time begins to move very fast, which I think could turn out a real mess on screen. I suppose there would be a lot of simplification in the film versions, which will most likely sit pretty badly with fans of the novel like me. They need to approach this as a character story, not a (hollow) epic that I fear it will turn out to be. I think in the end that character intricacies will be substituted for just making sense of it all for the audience. If these films happen I hope to be proven otherwise!
Hattori Hanzo

I read the books and to think they have the guts to turn this into a series of movies is right up there with Emmerich taking on The Foundation Trilogy ... Not much room for error in either of these movies; career makers or breakers for sure.
Nada Nuff

Sold. I knew I wanted to see this when I read the title.
Lord Feiser

Yup...I've read it and as we speak, I'm actually reading a forth installment of the book called 'Emperor: The Gods of War' which continues the epic story of Julius Caesar when he came back from his decade long Gaul campaign, his civil war with Gneius Pompei up to his intervention in Egypt right to his murder in Rome. The moment I read the first book about 5-6 years ago, I know this book has the potential to be turned into a great feature film provided it falls under the hands of abled creatives+suits team. But, now since the project is taking off, my worry+skepticism are overwhelming me. Hope whomever they pick can do an excellent job. No pressure there!
Madshojbjerg

I've read the books and in my opinion they could turn out to be great for a movie adaption. Burr Steers is set to direct. And by the way, it is just you who think HBO series seems similar to this...