With Miramax Films being all but deceased, it’s naturally dragged all of its projects down with it – among those being one with author Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Coraline, The Sandman Series) – The Graveyard Book. Fortunately though, as FirstShowing.net is reporting via Deadline and Heat Vision, Chris Columbus‘ 1492 Pictures has partnered with CJ Productions (The Host, Thirst, Mother) to co-finance the project along with two others.
The film is being adapted from Gaiman’s source material into a screenplay written and directed by Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, this Summer’s Ondine). The tale is described as “Gaiman’s nod to The Jungle Book where a young boy is raised by the ghostly, ghoulish occupants of a graveyard, instead of animals.” Well, that certainly sounds right up Gaiman, who is also producing alongside Wayfare Entertainment and Framestone.
Thus far, the talent involved certainly seems well suited for the source material. Columbus joining forces with CJ Productions seems to be the kind of pairing that should blend a children’s story with a dark and grim setting quite well. Also, with Ondine being one of the more interesting films to be released this summer, Jordan’s writing/direction seems to be a nice blend of both. With things back from the grave, hopefully The Graveyard Book won’t hit any more roadblocks.
What do you think of The Graveyard Book? Neil Jordan directing? The partnership between 1492 and CJ?