Introducing the screening was talented, tireless genre workhorse Guillermo Del Toro, who chatted with me beforehand about his own long-in-development film version of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, as well as his TV adaptation of Marvels Hulk.
Check out the interview inside, in which Del Toro also discusses some of the other comic-book characters hed love to take a crack at. Sounds like Del Toro wouldnt mind helming the much-anticipated big-screen debut of Marvels Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange!
Shock Till You Drop: The classic Universal monster films form a kind of religion for you
Guillermo Del Toro: The most exciting thing for me is to think that as a kid this in my biography there was a moment of pure joy. Because Im here talking about movies I love that I discovered as a child, that discovered for me a whole different way of making horror films, with humanity and beauty, with compassion, with power. And I really, really couldnt be happier to be here. I know it sounds like a cliche, but its a dream come true.
Shock: Have you seen any of the new prints yet?
Del Toro: No, thats what I told my wife. I said, I want to see The Man Who Laughs, the brand-new print. I want to see this, The Bride of Frankenstein, the brand-new print, Creature from the Black Lagoon Im very happy. [laughs]
Shock: Can you say where your own Frankenstein film project is right now?
Del Toro: Yeah, actually [Universal Pictures Co-Chairman] Donna Langley just put us on track to write the screenplay. So, were going to start writing the script. Its a very long endeavor for me; its going to require a couple of years just to write it. But its been put back on track by Donna.
Shock: How has the story remained relevant?
Shock: One could argue theres never been an entirely successful version of Frankenstein thats remained very faithful to Shellys novel. Do you see yours as that version, or will it be a looser interpretation?
Del Toro: I think the moment that the only quality you can claim is faithfulness Its a very difficult, tricky slope. Because then anytime that you deviate from that, youre betraying the very goal you submitted. Im being very faithful to trying to encompass the whole narrative of the novel. Im being very faithful in that Im trying to capture the spirit of the novel, when I read it as a kid, and how it impacted me. I recognize that its both biography and prophecy about my life. Its a very personal film. In many ways its the most personal film Ill ever make, because my connection with the creature is very profound and deep and I dont think theres any other monster that has affected me as much.
Shock: So, you want to take as much time as required to get it exactly right?
Del Toro: Yeah, that also means that Ive been avoiding it in a cowardly way for many years. [Laughs.] Its something that Ive been not quite so much reticent about as Ive been mindful and cautious. But borderline avoiding. Because I really think its going to be the one movie that I feel is gonna signify [me] more than any other in my life.
Shock: Another project youve had in development thats reminiscent of Frankenstein in some respects as well as Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the Hulk TV show. Can you say where that project stands right now?
Del Toro: Right now all I know is the official word I was given is that theres a writer they want. They are very interested in me meeting with him. Hes very, very busy. The official word is we are holding, but I dont know After Avengers having the success it had, perhaps the fate of the project may change. Right now officially what I know and Im not hiding anything off the record or anything is that we were told we were waiting for this writer, and we were going to do it with him.
Del Toro: Of course. The reason is that the superheroes I like and that I would like to get involved with are all monsters. Be it Swamp Thing, Etrigan [the Demon], Doctor Strange which is not a monster, but
Shock: A dark fantasy saga.
Del Toro: Yeah. Certainly supernatural. I would love to do Morbius [the Living Vampire], Blade they have to be monsters for me to be involved.
Shock: Thank you very much, Guillermo.
Del Toro: Sure, my pleasure!
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(PHOTO CREDIT: C. Smith/WENN.com)
