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Joel Silver is Developing a Blockbuster Version of Don Quixote
by Alex Billington
June 11, 2010
Source: Pajiba
Uh oh, Terry Gilliam is going to be pissed. Pajiba reports that Joel Silver and Warner Bros are fast-tracking a new Don Quixote project as an upcoming tentpole movie. Word is that it's being described as a Pirates of Caribbean-style swashbuckling version of the story in which "we discover that Don Quixote isn't crazy and that there is, in fact, a fantasy world." Wait, what? Apparently the pitch is just now going out to writers, so it'll be a while before they craft it into a screenplay and actually get the ball rolling, but it sounds like Silver wants this soon. The Don Quixote story was originally written by Miguel de Cervantes in the 17th century.
As we all know, Terry Gilliam has been working on re-creating his own infamous Don Quixote adaptation, now known as The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. In the original novel, a "retired country gentleman" in his fifties named Don Quixote de la Mancha decides to go on an adventure, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, and ends up in all kinds of fun along the way before returning home. I'm not that intimately familiar with the story so it's hard to say I'm excited for either version, but for now I'd rather see what Gilliam will come up with first. Hopefully he gets underway much sooner than this adaptation does. Stick around for updates!
7 Comments
1
Oh good Lord, no! Whether you like the book or not, what makes it distinctive is how it parodies the form of the epic, heroic narrative. It's almost self-annihilatingly deconstructive. That is to say, it takes the piss relentlessly and at inordinate length. What a terrible idea - I can't bear the thought of that revisionist premise - so there IS a fantasy world? He really is a mighty hero? Sounds like Burton's Alice in Wonderland all over again. >shudders<
Dan North on Jun 11, 2010
2
Joel Silver needs to have Johnny Depp as the star.
EJP on Jun 11, 2010
3
Umh. Doesn't he know that this script is cursed! I cannot wait to see the havoc that rains (literally) on this set. Very curious. . .
Alex O on Jun 11, 2010
4
God dammit why couldn't Silver just produce Gilliam's film!? Yes I know the practical answer to that question.
shadow on Jun 11, 2010
5
It must star Nicolas Cage!
Hank on Jun 11, 2010
6
Poor Gilliam...I always thought that the idea of a Don Quixote film sounded stupid, but after all he's been through to make it I'd definitely be there opening night to support him. And @2...that made me laugh quite hard.
peloquin on Jun 12, 2010
7
Don Quixote wasn't killed by any one man. Very good story, maybe a little too repetitive and long though, which in itself is part of the humor.
Chad on Jun 13, 2010
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