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Stephen Sommers Casts Anton Yelchin in 'Odd Thomas' Adaptation
by Alex Billington
February 8, 2011
Source: ShockTillYouDrop
His name is Odd Thomas. We already know that Stephen Sommers (Deep Rising, Van Helsing, Mummy & Mummy Returns, G.I. Joe) decided to drop out of the G.I. Joe sequel, and now we know exactly for what instead. ShockTillYouDrop reports that Sommers is currently in pre-production on an adaptation of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series of novels. On top of that, they report that Anton Yelchin has booked the lead role as Odd Thomas. Able to communicate with the dead, Odd must use their silent clues, mostly from the odd Fungus Man, in an attempt to prevent a mass catastrophe which threatens everything he holds dear.
Yelchin has been making quite a name for himself recently. Not only did he star in Abrams' Star Trek and Terminator Salvation last year, but he impressed Sundance audiences in the fest favorite Like Crazy this year, stars in The Beaver, and also has Fright Night coming up in the fall. Now he will be Odd Thomas in, sadly, yet another most likely very bad movie from Stephen Sommers, known as one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood. But let's focus on the positive. In an update last year, Sommers talked about his interests: "As soon as I read the book I felt compelled to turn it into a movie. It's a fantastic love affair between these two wonderful characters. The story combines action with heart, laughs and scares. It felt right to be doing this independently." So he's making it independently with Howard Kaplan and John Baldecchi producing.
The Odd Thomas series began in 2003 and contains three more sequels and a graphic novel series called In Odd We Trust. When not talking with ghosts, Odd is a short order cook in a California desert town and can also see bodachs, shadowy spirit creatures who appear only during times of death and disaster. This sounds like an intriguing series to adapt, and I'm glad to see such a talented actor like Yelchin in the lead, but I am not expecting much from Sommers. Here's to hoping an indie route can get him back to his roots (if he had any to begin with), but we'll see, as I don't think it's budgets that were his problem. Any fans of the books?
12 Comments
1
I am a huge fan of the books 🙂 I hope it doesn't suck. Btw, Oddie doesn't need the Fungus man to communicate. In fact, he's only in the first half of the book. You should give the book a try!
Lillie on Feb 8, 2011
2
3
Odd is an excellent, quirky little character but the books themselves aren't written that well.
Craig on Feb 8, 2011
4
alex, you have to start reading 🙂 ...don't listen to craig !
uk on Feb 18, 2011
5
I agree with UK - and they are VERY well written indeed!!
Voicedude on Apr 20, 2011
6
the series is a really great read. the first one is the best though. i am anxiously awaiting more in the book series as well as the movie! you should read it, Dean Koontz has a great way of writing, i think. and i agree "don't listen to Craig" if your smart enough to understand the sarcastic tones then you'll love it.
Kutzfam88 on Mar 1, 2011
7
OMG! really? I can't wait to see Dean Koontz book in movie again! it's been awhile.
unnamedsoul on Feb 8, 2011
8
I've read the books, and I fell in love with Odd. He's a very interesting character and it's a great premise. For example, the first book opens with Odd being meeting the ghost of a young girl who was brutally raped and murdered. She leads him to the man who killer her, and he turns out to be a childhood friend of Odd's. So sets the tone for the series. Unfortunately I don't think the books are written very well. Not that I'm some literature snob, but Koontz doesn't seem as talented as, say, Stephen King or King's son, Joe Hill. In all, I'd liken the Odd series to the television show Ghost Whisperer, but with more action and better characters.
Craig on Feb 8, 2011
9
hmm plot sounds good
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
10
hmm plot sounds good
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
11
Love, Love ODD Thomas!! I don't expect much from the movie (Servants of Twilight) BUT I do love Dean Koontz
Theduniphins on Feb 16, 2011
12
Love the series, wish there were more books in it. Also like Koontz's series Frankenstein. I hope the movie does the book justice, but I'm not encouraged by the comments
grammiel on Mar 21, 2011
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