A movie would kill these books.

[gatewish]

I think the plot of the necroscope/vampire world/e-branch saga is far to complex for one single movie. The whole 13 books would have to be condensed too much it would become senseless. Instead of a movie these books would make a good tv series (if it wasn't made as stupidly as buffy the vampire slayer). Or instead it could be made into a computer game like Resident Evil - imagine being Harry Keogh teleporting using the mobius continnium(?) and killing the whampri lords & ladies. Terrifying. I mean resident evil was scary enough but would be nothing compared to this. But if you aren't happy leaving the book in it's original form maybe it could be developed into a role playing game. There's plenty of characters and a whole history which could be explored and developed such as Harry's first son the Dweller. Nathan's wife Maria, Harry's wife Brenda etc.

[Johnny Undead]

I kind of thought of doing a series of films.. like one for each book.. Of course the trouble arises when the first book is (and let's face it..) slightly boring compared to the others.. It sets the scene, and in book format, works wonders.. But remember the average attention span of the standard cinemagoer.. "I thought this was about friggin Vampires..." I mean, Thibor is the only vampire, and he's only seen once.. Sure, Dragosani becomes one at the end, but not standard cinema vampires.. not a vampire in later books..

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Johnny Undead - aka Captain Stable.

[This message has been edited by Veriatus (edited 11-15-1999).]

[Peter]

GATEWISH- It has already been made into a role playing game by West End games. In fact there is a link to West End Games on the site so you can buy a copy if you want. If you are interested do it quickly because West End Games has gone bankrupt so they are liquidating all their stuff, it won't be around too much longer. (its called "The World of Necroscope.")

Also the idea of it being a computer game was bounced around, but eventually dropped, I doubt that will ever come to fruition. Even though it would have been awesome.

[Mike C]

Gatewish- I agree that making any of the Necroscope Books into a movie would be a challenge and never could measure up to the books... However most movie companies aren't making that many good movies anyway... why not present a damn fine story and hope someone can do something with it. Only those of us that have read the books would know how bad the story got screwed up, and it might get one of the greatest authors of all time a little more recognition. I know BL doesn't write stories for the masses, yet I believe more people would be interested in the Necroscope if they weren't to lazy to read a book.

[gatewish]

I didn't know they had a role playing game already made cos I don't play those games. One day my friend was explaining them to me and I just thought hey Necroscope would be a cool idea. Well I still think there shouldn't be a movie. I mean 13 books with a dozen characters. It's just too much. You could I suppose make a series of movies like the batman series. Let's say Harry & E-branch Vs Thibor, then Harry & E-branch vs Dragonsi, then Harry goes searching for Brenda. What do you think. (Brian Lumley could make a fortune in merchandise)

[Andrew the Sinister]

I can't agree more GATEWISH there should be no Necroscope movie(s),but I can't help but like the idea of a Necroscope RPG for PSX2.
How is this for an idea: you start as a thrall working in an Aerie and you advance through the years becoming a Lieutenent and eventually Wamphyri,if you live long enough you rival Lord Shaitan himself in power.
Though it sounds fun to be Harry Keogh and teleport around killing vampires, it would be far more fun to hunt and kill/rape Gypsys as a Wamphyri in my opinion.

[Pybob]

Johnny Undead- The original Necroscope a little bit boring?!?!?!

I think you must have the Dread Leprosy in your head!!! http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/mad.gif

Gatewish - Buffy TVS is badly made, is it? I'm sorry, but as an excersize in bringing vamps to the masses it is great, technically it is superb and even the scripts are written with a wink of knowingness and a fair pinch of irony - ie it takes the piss out of itself, it doesn't take itself too seriously.

But this is a BL Board... if Necroscope does make it to the big screen then I agree that it would be folly to make one movie out of the entire series, only a great fool would even mention it (I'd apologise but the vampire in me waxes strong). To even make a movie out of the whole of the first novel would be a challenge.

What we all have to accept is that if and when it does make it to the silver-screen much of what we love will be lost, but it is a different medium, a less cerebral medium, and to attain the budget that it demands it requires the script to be targetted at a wider audience.

People who read a novel then watch the movie are always let down, but be consolled that those who watch movies then read the books are always impressed by the books. More material for the vats, maybe a few worthy leiutenants to spar against in these very forums - rejoice my respected foes, it might just be fun! http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/wink.gif

[pzrtal]

I agree, I don't think that Necroscope would make a good movie if all the books were compressed into one. I don't think you could do that. I think that a large miniseries, maybe four one hour episodes per book, would probably be better. The other thing they could do is make a comic book series out of it, that would look pretty cool. Though some issues would be rated R (think Harry's dreams in Deadspeak), if not the whole thing, but if it was well done I know that I would buy it.

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Cogito ergo non sum= I think therefore I do not exist

[Emaleth]

Pzrtal, check out this link for Comics.. http://www.brianlumley.com/newsletter/newscomic.html

[This message has been edited by Emaleth (edited March 11, 2000).]

[Jazz]

I've said it before and I'm going to say it again, a series is the only way that "Necroscope" is ever going ot work on the screen. If they do a movie and it stiffs forget it. While many of the scenes will have to be toned down they could probably get way with a lot on the BBC or on HBO in America. Or hell even Fox. The average episode of the "X-Files" is pretty gory.

[Katie]

I can only hope that the Necroscope series is never made into a film or a series of films.

Look at what happened to Anne Rice's Interview With a Vampire!! Good God http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/mad.gif

Antonio Banderas playing a 150 or so year old vampire who was supposed to look like a 16 year old cherub and what the hell was Tom Cruise doing in there??? Sorry got carried away there, but I don't want some awful Hollywood actor ruining my favourite BL books.

imho Hollywood would ruin and cheapen Brian's work, Brian himself might find he is not happy with the casting or screenplay, just like other authors who have had their work screened.

These books live and thrive in my imagination and that is where they should stay.



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Katie

[Tonka]

It has to be said, a holywood movie of the Necroscope books would probably be rubbish.. they'd probably get some one like Joel Shumacker (speeling?) to direct it. and look what he did to batman.

The only way to go for a film/series would be Anime!.

[dracul]

mmmm Anime... I see what you mean Tonka that could be real good! *thinking of Urotsukidoji*

[Daxx]

I could see anime working real well for a Necroscope movie. If you've seen any of the comic books, you could create a movie almost true to the books. It would have to suffer abit rating wise, cause, hey, some of the stuff would have to be X-rated!