Corona | Coming Attractions

Ron Howard spoke with the L.A. Times' Hero Complex blog about his gestating comic book project, The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft. Stating that the comic/movie uses a younger version of the well-known horror writer, Howard said, "It very cleverly uses H.P. Lovecraft in a fictional way, but there's some loose biographical elements. But it certainly has the flavor and the tone of Lovecraft."

As for the tone of the film and whether it will have that Lovecraftian feel to it that gives his stories that certain fingerprint, Howard knew that it was a question more to do with his style as a filmmaker than whether he could rise to the challenge. "Look, it's challenging, but if we get it right, it could be really original and psychologically interesting and scary in a great way," he explained. "And it's a graphic novel, this is new territory for me."

And will the movie ever get out of development hell? "You just never know," Howard said to the site, "development is a minefield or a high-wire act or whatever you want to call it, but yeah, hopefully that it moves along and I will be directing that one."

- Hero Complex. Comment on this Scoop (0)

Universal has bought the screen rights to Image Comics' The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft, a new comic set to come out on April 8, 2009. Created by Mac Carter and Jeff Blitz, the comic weaves together aspects of the real horror writer's life, such as his struggle with mental illness and his frustrations with writer's block, and adds a fantastic element to it: that the beleagured Lovecraft was cursed by a dark book that gives life his phantasmagorical ideas.

Imagine Entertainment is developing the project for the studio, with top dogs Ron Howard and Brian Grazer producing. Howard may direct the film. The script will be written by Carter and both creators will receive executive producer credits on the final product. [Full story]

- Variety. Comment on this Scoop (0)