Frank Miller has written a big screen adaptation of Will Eisner's classic comic series The Spirit which centers on Denny Colt who fakes his own death to fight crime in the gritty urban setting of Central City. The script has been acquired by Lionsgate for American distribution and Miller is set to direct. Odd Lot International(UK) is selling overseas distribution rights in Cannes.
After co-directing with Robert Rodriguez on Sin City, Miller has stated in regard to the adaptation of his graphic novel 300, "This, I hope, will be the last property of mine that isn't directed by me". Samuel L. Jackson is in discussion to star as the villain, the Octopus. The Spirit will be Miller's debut as a solo director after his co-direction of Sin City.
It will be interesting to see how Miller approaches Eisner's original material and how well he can come to terms with directing solo. Whatever one feels about Frank Miller's work or personal beliefs, he's undeniably single-minded in his vision and being no stranger to controversy has been a catalyst of discussion across several forums.
The downside is that as Miller asks people to question things, some of his fanbase can't seem to extend this to Miller himself. Still, that's common across all "fans" who can't seem to help sporting rosy tinted glasses in regard to their idols. Anyone who believes that any person is incapable of doing any wrong, is a fool. Likewise, the same is true of those who feel anyone in the world is incapable of any good.
Thus far on SiouxWIRE, I've stressed the importance of having a broad range of artistic influences across mediums and class, but there's also something to be said of not surrounding yourself with people who think along the same lines as you do either politically, spiritually, or morally. It's impossible to have perspective when your lens is perpetually pointing in one direction.
Returning to The Spirit, I have been reading Frank Miller's work for just over two decades and having seen several screen adaptations, I think this extremely gifted visual/narrative artist is well overdue for his time in the director's chair and I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
Links:
The Spirit (official page)
Daily Telegraph Interview(Miller)
LA Times interview(Miller)
willeisner.com
The Guardian Obituary
New York Times Obituary
Will Eisner Wiki
Frank Miller Wiki
Hollywood Reporter - Jackson casting
