Neil Gaiman Talks about '1602' and 'Dr. Strange' Movies
It seems that Louis Leterrier is begging the president of Marvel Entertainment to get Neil Gaimans graphic novel ‘1602' to be made into a film. And Neil Gaiman is all for the idea. MTV recently talked with Gaiman and he talks a little bit about this and a little bit about Dr. Strange.
"I would love it if somebody made a ‘1602′ movie," Gaiman said. "I would love to go and see that. That is something I would just love to sit in the audience and eat my popcorn on the first night and feel proud."
This would be such an amazing film totally different from anything that has really been done before. If you are not familiar with the story here is a little story summary:
The story takes place in the year 1602 in the Marvel Universe, where, for an unknown reason, super-powered beings have appeared 400 years too early. All over Europe, strange weather is provoking panic. Many believe the unnatural occurrences are the beginning of the Apocalypse. Dr. Stephen Strange, the court magician of Queen Elizabeth I, senses that there are unnatural forces at work. He also comes to learn that the secret treasure of the Knights Templar is being moved from Jerusalem to England, and Elizabeth orders her head of intelligence, Sir Nicholas Fury, to bring the weapon to England safely.
The story is so big it may have to be done in 2 films to be told right. Gaiman goes on to say:
"I think it's getting more and more likely as Marvel reclaims its film properties from all over the world," Gaiman said. "They're sort of making their own movies and putting them out through Paramount. So they're now in there with a chance. In the old days, it would have been impossible to make, because [the rights to] ‘The Fantastic Four' are over here, and ‘Spider-man' is over here, and ‘X-Men' are over here, and ‘The Hulk' is over here, and ‘Captain America' is over here, and that I think is probably the biggest problem for anyone making a ‘1602′ movie."
Whatever he thinks the problem is I think this could be such a great and successful film. Marvel should do this. Dr. Strange actually plays a big role the series as the Queens court physician. But Gaiman would love to see the Dr. get his own movie from none other than Guillermo del Toro. As would I! Here is what he says:
"Guillermo del Toro and I have talked about doing a ‘Dr. Strange' movie," Gaiman said. "And I think we'd both really like to do a ‘Dr. Strange' movie. We'd love to do it together. The problem is, Guillermo's off doing ‘The Hobbit', and that's going to be three, four years in New Zealand for him. And when he comes back, I suspect that he will then want to do something personal, so he'll probably do ‘Hellboy 3′ [Ed note: Or perhaps 'Frankenstein,' 'Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde,' or 'Slaughterhouse Five'] before we could ever get to do a ‘Dr. Strange' movie."
It's great that they have actually talked about this! But like he say's del Toro has so many other projects he is working on he wouldn't be able to get around to doing this until after 2012. I don't want to have to wait that long before we get to see a Dr. Strange movie, but we may have to, even if del Toro isn't involved. Of the two movies ‘1602' and Dr. Strange which one would Gaimen choose?
"I'd guess I'd get in line for the ‘Dr. Strange' movie made by Guillermo," Gaiman said.
Hell, I'll go see both!