Read all about it! New director signed for forthcoming movie! Zack Snyder, director of 300, has signed to direct The Illustrated Man.

More info on my website.

Zack did Dawn of the Dead (2004), as well. A big improvement over the 1978 version, I think.

But you're right - why are they trying to make a film of a collection of short stories?

Zack being brought on raises my hopes for the quality of the end product, but I'm still a tad skeptical. Nothing against Zack.

has anyone here seen the original Illustrated Man film adaptation?

It IS strange to film a collection of stories. Haven't seen it done since the early nineties. Forget title, but there was an artsy-fartsy film that was a collection of erotic vignettes (sp?) by topshelf directors. That's the last one I can remember, if you don't count the recent Tarantino girl-with-a-gun-for-a-leg trilogy.

I wonder what stories they'd choose to include? I'll say 4 stories at 25 min each plus 20 minutes of illustrated man and POV character interaction. That gives us two hours. Sounds about right, no?

As for the four stories... I'll go with:
"Marionettes Inc."
"The Veldt"
"The Long Rain"
"Kaleidescope"

DARN!!! I hate doing this kind of thing. How can I or the film-makers leave out:
"The City"
"Zero Hour"
"The Other Foot"
"The Rocket Man"
"The Man"
"The Rocket"
"The Fire Ballons"
"The Fox And The Forest" etc.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Could always do 5 stories at 20 minutes. Still impossible for me to choose just five stories.

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This sort of film can be done well - Robert Altman's SHORT CUTS comes to mind - it included about 8 or 10 stories, I think.

The film would HAVE to include:
'Long Rain'
'Kaleidoscope'
'Rocket Man'
+ a couple of others.

I'e seen the 1969 film version, but I hope the makers of this new one will not allow themselves to be influenced by that one. They have to remember they're filming RAY BRADBURY'S Illustrated Man, not re-making a 1969 movie.

There are quite a few "portmanteau" films, made up of multiple short stories. One such is a British classic called Dead of Night . That worked very well, and is apparently one of RB's favourite films!

However, I think you have to prepare the audience really well, otherwise the film ends up a confusing mess, particularly if you try to have the illustrated man himself appearing in the stories (which is what they did back in '69).

It appears that Frank Darabont is co-producing the film, so that's another reason to think it might be in safe hands. But I might be more reassured if Darabont were writing the script as well.

I love "Dead Of Night"! Mentioned it in a few old posts, actually. Hard to find these days.
Don't forget "The Best Years Of Our Lives" and "If I Had A Million".

Braling II, with "Dead of Night", "The Prisoner" and "The Goon Show" you have earned nearly enough Brit-points to qualify for life membership.

What happens to my score if I throw in Tony Hancock?

You now have very nearly an armful.

quote:

Originally posted by Nico:
has anyone here seen the original Illustrated Man film adaptation?

Yes, and this one almost HAS to be better.

quote:

Originally posted by philnic:
You now have very nearly an armful.

Brilliant!
Have a wine gum?

A story really can't be done effectively in less than 15-20 minutes, can it? THE SIMPSONS do an annual trilogy with their famous and highly anticipated Halloween specials. Each story is about 17 minutes in length. They are quite effective. They once did a "A Sound Of Thunder" adaptation, and a "There Will Come Soft Rains" one also.

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Of course, sometimes the decision is made when filming an anthology to completely revise everything, e.g., "I, Robot." Hopefully that isn't the case here.