EXCALIBUR/Untitled Arthurian Project
July 27th, 2009 | Work
I was actually cleared to talk about this at San Diego, but all the press I did there was Japanese-oriented for the Marvel Anime deal… so I’m going to mention it here, to say I did, and to maybe make up for that by giving the comics news sites something to post post-SDCC.
I’m writing a film treatment for Hollywood Gang, who co-produced Frank Miller’s 300. Hollywood Gang have previously optioned my graphic novel (with Chris Sprouse) OCEAN.
On my desk, the treatment is called Untitled Arthurian Project.
On their desk, the project is called EXCALIBUR.
I’m working directly with Gianni Nunnari, Oliver Kramer and Craig Flores (whom I was delighted to bump into on the Warner’s lot the other day) and having a great time.
So… yeah. Movie stuff. Other things to talk about soon. I’ve been sitting on that one for months.
is the award-winning creator of graphic novels such as 
Souds really cool. What is the plot?
Oo, congratulations! But…
“I’ve been sitting on that one for months.”
On Excalibur? Good heavens, that sounds proctologically terrifying.
Holy fucking shit.
I want to see this right now.
oooOOOooo
I’m guessing it’s about some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Congratulations. All good things come to those who work their asses off. And you’ve certainly been doing that.
I got really excited for a moment thinking it would be related to the Excalibur-X-Men-spin-off. But that did a) did not actually have Arthur in it and b) I think was only read by 3 people. Besides me. So now am only excited in a normal person way, instead of an obscure nerd way.
Ocean was my first introduction to you and I’ve read everything I could get my hands on since. Looking forward to anything you do coming to screen.
Excellent. I hope that ends up being everything you want it to be.
Will Merlin survive on the blood of bulls, which happens to be red?
Okay, that probably wasn’t that funny. This should be awesome.
Congrats! You are busy beyond belief!
Warren Ellis doing Arthur. Morgan Le Fey is going to be riding Arthur with a strap-on Excalibur, all the time calling him cockmonkey. Lancelot will be forced to watch, tied to a chair in full gimp regalia as Guinevre smashes through a window (while smoking) with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and nasty looking blade in the other.
Given the link, is this actually going to be some Hollywood remake of the Boorman film? That’s probably my favorite Arthurian legend film. Would be interested to see what could be done with that.
You must remember to write into the script that everything should be shiny and illuminated with green lights. :)
I love the original Excalibur – it has my favourite Merline ever in it.
And a friend of mine was asking for a decent version of the Mort D’Arthur just the other day – so I’m depending on you here!
How awesome if this was a remake of the Boorman film in Ellis’seyes oh I cant wait. Warren is one of the best writers out there.
sweet. the ill-made knight is one of my favourite books.
The Arthurian myths have been crying out for a Crécy style take for a long time now. Awesome.
Good stuff. There’s always room for a good re-interpretation of the Arthur mythos.
If it gets done and is a hit, maybe OCEAN will get made. I’ll pay for the one if the other has a shot. [Hell, I'll pay for the one 'cause it's Warren Ellis - and maybe we'll get a Transmet-ized Cyber-Arthur out of it!]
Heck with the Arthurian myths, how about a pseudohistorical take on Arthur?
All mockery aside, congratulations. The old myths are a blast, and- without straying too far into Grant Morrison country here- have a certain power and aura all their own. Best of luck!
Hmm, Mr Ellis I truely love your work. But can you, or anyone for that matter, really tackle this beast again and improve it? Another story completely and ill be behind you all the way, but this was near perfect. Brian Blessed, and cantankerous Merlin, and that very ‘arty’ bonking scene at the start! Ok, if you tackle it get Scarlett Johansson on board for the smut/plate armour scene and ill forgive any transgression…
I would love to see OCEAN in production. It was, in my humble opinion, one of the top 3 stories of the year when it came out as singles. And, frankly, an Arthurian treatment from you might have a bit more guts than the usual fairy-tastic crap. I shall look forward to it.
[...] Ain’t It Cool News ha podido charlar con el guionista comiquero Warren Ellis a raiz de una nueva entrada aparecida en su web. Ellis desvela que está escribiendo un guión para Hollywood Gang, la [...]
Please tell me it’s going to be HARD R. Fantasy/Mythology flicks with teeth are few and far between.
And more importantly, please tell me they’re some sort of claus in your contract to prevent in-studio chumps from butchering (read: re-writing) the script once it’s out of your hands.
I don’t want to hear a few months from now that the shooting script is several drafts beyond your input.
I hope this thing gets finished with your stamp on it, fuckin’ capital letters “WARREN ELLIS.” You’ve had your hand in a lot of pots for a long while, but I feel the world of moving pictures has really yet to see what your direct input can offer (your work on licensed characters hardly withstanding {not that that work is bad, I just don’t expect the Warren I’m used to be found in GI Joe and marvel animated features})
Honestly, I’m looking forward to the OCEAN treatment more.
Although, I do not shun the idea of an Ellis inspired Arthur Legend piece.
/ana:l nathrakh, u:rth va:s bethud, dokhje:l djenve:/
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It will be awesome if you put Brian Blessed in it.
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AAAAAAAH mon warren! so happy i am to see you juggling with such a wonderful subject… and you still manage to have the intellectual honesty for the boorman’s excalibur. yes,you’re on the ring with him…feel the pressure?
what are you gonna do with merlin? poor chap,used and imprisoned by a woman,like us all… you could say the same for arthur,when you think of it: a woman gave him his symbolic dick (excalibur),a woman steals his semen to build his destruction(mordred),a woman betray him(thank you lancelot),blablabla,marion zimmer bradley get out of me mind. i do dare to send you the most positive of my sick vibrations for this herakleic task.
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Excalibur??? Name it “L´MORTE DE ARTHUR” and introduce some dragons. THAT would be interesting.
Will a noted homosexual director be helming this most hetero of epics?
yes!! the best writer moves up in the world. I will forget all about this and 4 years from now when it comes out, i will get excited all over again!
>>> Heck with the Arthurian myths, how about a pseudohistorical take on Arthur?
It would be nice if the film goes this route; there’s a lot of novels with this take on the legends.
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Hey Warren:
So are there now two potentially competing Excalibur projects in development?
http://www.cinemaspy.com/article.php?id=3039
In light of the above story, any desire to comment on this for our readers? I’m sure they’d genuinely like to know what’s going on.
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