Bryan Singer talks JACK THE GIANT KILLER

Fairytale adaptations seem to be all the rage in Hollywood. Earlier we reported that Bryan Singer had begun filming Jack the Giant Killer. Singer has been working on this project for years, despite the recent upswing in projects in development. Singer recently spoke to IGN and revealed his inspiration behind the film and how he is using performance capture on the project. He also shared his thoughts on the current resurgence of fairtyale adaptations. 

Here is what the director had to say about the current fairytale trend in Hollywood:

"I was involved with this over two-and-a-half years ago, or even longer - I was flirting with it almost three years ago. But [these fairytale features] are all just a function of 'Alice in Wonderland.' And that's cool - it's a rensaissance of those kind of movies, and it's cool - I'm happy to be a part of two renaissances; the comic book renaissance, and now this one. But it wasn't intentional. In fact, I probably would have been shy about jumping into a fairytale movie with all of the projects out there now - I might have actually backed away from it. But now it's just serendipitous I guess."

He goes on to talk about why he became involved on the project:

"I grew up reading the story of 'Jack and the Beanstalk.' I'm also familiar with the 'Jack the Giant Killer' myth from the 1700s. There was a script that existed a couple of years ago that I changed quite a bit. The idea of that 'Wizard of Oz'-style journey - you've got a beanstalk - what's up there? Chris McQuarrie did a significant re-write for me. He brought a different structure. It was very much a page-one situation; a different storyline. It involved the same characters, but some we juggled around and switched around. He just brought a very different perspective."

He talks about what it's been like using performance capture for the first time on film:

"It's fascinating. I've just started my rehearsals with the principal cast on the performance capture stage and I wish you were here so I could show you some photos on my iPhone because they are so comical. It takes you back to play-acting as a kid in your living room because you are running around and having to imagine that you are in Gantuaand imagine that there are these weapons and all these giant things. But there's nothing when you are there other than Styrofoam and blocks. It forces the actors to regress to when they would play-act as kids or do minimalist theatre. But in that way it's fascinating - I can see why Robert Zemeckis and James Cameron have started to shoot pictures this way."

I like Singer's past directorial efforts (yes even Valkyrie), but am really excited to see his take on this story. The cast is great and includes, Nicholas Hoult in the lead role, Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, Stanley Tucci and others. 

What are your thoughts on this film? Are you excited to see it when it hits theaters?