Will Eisner's The Spirit

[Brian in Mesa]

Loeb to Script The Spirit
Source: Variety
April 5, 2005

Odd Lot Entertainment and Batfilm Productions have begun work on a film version of the late Will Eisner's comic book character "The Spirit" to be scripted by comic book writer Jeph Loeb.

Created by Eisner in 1940, the Spirit is a masked detective, believed dead, who fights the criminals of Central City from his cemetary base. Eisner's character appeared in comic strip and comic book form for decades, which have been collected and reprinted in hardcover form by DC Comics in recent years.

Eisner, who passed away earlier this year, is heralded to be the originator of the modern graphic novel, and his contribution to comic books as an art form is forever recognized by his name being attached to the industry's most prestigious award. He approved the project before his passing.

Besides being a supervising producer on the WB's "Smallville," Loeb's comic book credits include writing two of DC Comics' most famous comic book characters, Superman and Batman.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Update on The Spirit Feature Film
Source: Scott Chitwood
July 15, 2005

ComingSoon.net attended the panel discussing the live action version of Will Eisner's The Spirit comic book at Comic-Con 2005. Since they are only in the early stages of pre-production, they didn't have a lot of news about it. There's no director, star, or production designer yet.

Producer Michael Uslan, the producer of Batman and Batman Begins, stated that he was sought out by Eisner, who passed away on January 3rd, to produce the film a number of years ago. Uslan said that he intendeds to do it "the right way", as comic book geeks like to say. He added that Eisner told them he wanted a "Spirit" movie that emphasized the adventurous, film noir, Hitchcock-ian "Spirit" rather than the humorous aspects of the character. He wanted him portrayed as a real guy in a real city, not a superhero that saves the world. Uslan made a point to say that Eisner always strived to make the character contemporary as he wrote it in the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Uslan gave the impression that they'd try to make The Spirit a contemporary character in 2006.

Producer Deborah Del Prete emphasized that the look was important. Sin City was mentioned over and over as an example of a film they wanted to emulate as far as nailing the look and style of the original source material. Del Prete, who happens to be a big comic and Superboy fan, also produced Green Street Hooligans starring Elijah Wood.

Comics writer and Smallville writer Jeph Loeb said The Spirit was one of the first comics he was ever hooked on and that he pushed to get the chance to write the film.

The Spirit is a masked detective, believed dead, who fights the criminals of Central City from his cemetary base. Eisner's character appeared in comic strip and comic book form for decades, which have been collected and reprinted in hardcover form by DC Comics in recent years.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Gabriel Macht has been chosen to be The Spirit.

Samuel Jackson is also listed as being in this (possibly as The Octopus (?)).

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Jackson as The Octopus:

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[SuperSpck]

I'm hopeful.

Also, what movie isn't Jackson in at this point?

 

[RON_IN_OC]

http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/vi1961034009/

Teaser Trailer...Also looks like Scarlett Johannson and Eva Mendes are in this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831887/

 

[SuperSpck]

http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/vi1961034009/

Teaser Trailer...Also looks like Scarlett Johannson and Eva Mendes are in this.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831887/

Do they play hot girls?

Typecasting.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Samuel L, Scarlett, Eva, and Frank Miller?

yeah, I'll definitely be seeing this.

 

[Stout]

Ugh, not Eva Mendes. Hot as hell but unable to act her way out of a wet paper bag.

 

[Pariah]

Samuel L, Scarlett, Eva, and Frank Miller?

yeah, I'll definitely be seeing this.

What is Frank Miller doing with the film?

 

[Chaplin]

What is Frank Miller doing with the film?

He's directing the movie.

 

[Pariah]

He's directing the movie.

Oh. I didn't catch that.

Has he ever directed anything?

 

[Linderbee]

Oh. I didn't catch that.

Has he ever directed anything?

He co-directed Sin City with Robert Rodriguez (at least according to IMDB). Other than that, no.

Coming up: Sin City 2 & 3, and this one.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The Spirit

The Spirit

Release Date: December 25, 2008
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Frank Miller
Screenwriter: Frank Miller
Genre: Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content and brief nudity)
Website: Lionsgate.com/TheSpirit

Starring: Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, Eva Mendes, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Jaime King, Scarlett Johansson, Louis Lombardi, Stana Katic

Plot Summary: Adapted from Will Eisner's comic book series, "The Spirit" is a classic action-adventure-romance genre-twister written for the screen and directed by Frank Miller (creator of "300" and "Sin City"). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, The Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he's going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader. Surrounding him at every turn are Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson), the whip-smart girl-next-door; Silken Floss (Scarlett Johansson), a punk secretary and frigid vixen; Plaster of Paris (Paz Vega), a murderous French nightclub dancer; Lorelei (Jaime King), a phantom siren; and Morgenstern (Stana Katic), a sexy young cop.

Then of course, there's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes), the jewel thief with dangerous curves. She's the love of his life turned bad. Will he save her or will she kill him?

In the vein of "Batman Begins" and "Sin City," "The Spirit" takes us on a sinister, gut-wrenching ride with a hero who is born, murdered and born again.

You must be registered for see images

 

[Dback Jon]

Saw this last night. Eh, ok...

Gabriel Macht was hot as hell though, especially without his shirt!

 

[Chaplin]

Had a lot of issues with this movie.

First, Gabriel Macht is a spitting image of Nathan from Heroes. I was half expecting him to just start flying and change allegiances back and forth.

Secondly, Frank Miller may be a good comic guy, but he absolutely SUCKS at directing actors. Positioning was all wrong and he couldn't get one good performance out of anyone, including Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johannsen.

That said, the movie sure did look cool--but it was nowhere near the depth that was Sin City.

 

[Renz]

This movie is getting killed on Rotten Tomatoes.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_spirit/?name_order=asc

 

[Red Hawk]

Just saw this.


Some nice "scenari" (major leauge hot girls) but no 300 or Sin City.


The movie was suprisingly boring.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Definitely not Millers best but was good on eye candy!!!

 

[UncleChris]

The critics are absolutely torturing this..... (that might not mean much: They also tortured "Wild Hogs" which made a ton of money and was a good, goofy film). RT scores it 16%

Rotten Tomotoes Reviews

 

[FArting]

Just saw this good movie.

 

[Heucrazy]

It was boring and cheesy.

 

[joeshmo]

Just rented it and it was by far the worst movie I have seen in 2009 so far. Just horrid and some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time. It is going to take a huge craptastic effort to kick it off the top of my worst list this year.

Me - - Frank Miller

 

[Mulli]

Scarlett has jumped the shark. She bugs.

 

[Renz]

What's with the title being "Will Eisner's" The Spirit? Seriously, how many people know who Will Eisner is? Was his name supposed to drum up more interest in the movie?