Comic book fans young and old at the NY Comic Con this weekend walked out on the early premiere of the trailer for Frank Miller’s Will Eisner’s The Spirit. In an interview with MTVdirector Frank Miller defended his film’s look by saying that he has ‘forged ahead’ with Eisner’s creation rather than produce what he calls ’something dusty from off the shelf.’
That’s all well and good, Frank… but from this trailer The Spirit looks far more like Sin City 2 than Will Eisner’s The Spirit. Not that this is a bad thing ( I fully enjoy Sin City), but… what’s the deal?
The film stars Sam Jackson as the villainous Octopus (never fully visualized in the comic book series), Eva Mendez as the love interest and devious Sand Saref (whose jaw nearly dislocates when asked a question by MTV) and newcomer Gabriel Macht as the title character Danny Colt/The Spirit.
For those not in the know, Will Eisner’s The Spirit is regarded by many as the Citizen Kane of comics. As perfect as a sequential work can get, the series ran in newspaper strip format in 1941. A lighthearted and theatrical piece, the strip introduced some of the most sophisticated tropes and techniques in comics that we take for granted today. Frank Miller has long been a devoted follower of Eisner’s teachings. The influence in his work can be seen in his panel transitions, line work and general sense of character in his style. A darker and grittier creator, Frank Miller’s film of Eisner’s creation is expected to be an extension of a more violent and modern pulp sensibilities.
Recently, a reporter over at IESB.net came across some script samples for the upcoming Frank Miller film based on Will Eisner’s comic strip ‘The Spirit.’
For those not in the know, The Spirit is a famous 40’s comic book character who starred in his own comic strip by Will Eisner, the Orson Welles of comic books. The comic itself was created as a way to sell newspapers but is now regarded as a perfect example of how comic books work. Complete with mood, layout, panel design and action sequences, Will Eisner practically invented the most elaborate and stylized comic book style ever, influencing many a young artist including Frank Miller.
The style of The Spirit, a pulp hero in a trench coat and fedora walking/running/jumping through rain-soaked cityscapes heavily Miller who has emulated Eisner in his own work in Daredevil, Batman and Sin City. After the success of Sin City and 300, Frank Miller has gained the confidence needed to develop the property as a feature film starring Gabriel Macht of the Good Shepherd as the lead, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendez as eye candy and Samuel L. Jackson as the villainous Octopus.
The film is expected to be made in much the same manner as Sin City and 300, utilizing green screen technology, thereby saving time and money while creating a unique unreal look to the film. Apparently the film is not a period piece as many had thought, but will sport a heavy ‘pulp-style’ narration much like Sin City. Rumored to be an intensely violent film, The Spirit sounds more and more like an off-shoot of Sin City rather than an adaptation of Eisner’s work. If so, this would be a major surprise as Miller has long been recognized as an admirer of the late Will Eisner as an artist and person so it would come as a big surprise if he were to suddenly decide to warp the material he has publicly praised into a violent punch-up.
But it remains to be seen.
You can read the full article including a hilarious bathroom argument over who is the best comic book storyteller here.
The film stars Sam Jackson as the villainous Octopus (never fully visualized in the comic book series), Eva Mendez as the love interest and devious Sand Saref (whose jaw nearly dislocates when asked a question by MTV) and newcomer Gabriel Macht as the title character Danny Colt/The Spirit.
