Obsessed With Film

Posted by Matt Holmes

Chuck Palahniuk’s book HAUNTED has become the first novel optioned by Former ICM lit agent Brian Levy’s new production company New School Media.

Koen Mortier, a guy I’m completely unaware of… has been hired to write and direct. According to Variety, he helmed EX-DRUMMER, a small time drama that played at the Toronto International Film Festival last year.

“Haunted” revolves around a group of characters who answer an ad for a writers retreat and unwittingly end up competing in a “Survivor”-like scenario, where the host withholds heat, power and food. As the storytellers grow more desperate they ruthlessly plot to make themselves the hero of the reality show or film that they expect will be made from their plight.

Lost, LORD OF THE FLIES… meets reality t.v.

I’m actually surprised we haven’t seen this novel or idea picked up sooner than this. Though I haven’t read the novel, I’m just going off the plot synopsis above, of course with Palahniuk’s with unique writing style and voice it won’t be as cliche as I made out with my tagline.

FIGHT CLUB, one of the defining masterpieces of 90’s cinema was based on a Chuck Palahniuk novel. The only other of his nine novels adapted for screen is CHOKE which was quietly released in the U.S. at the end of last month… and will open in the U.K. next month starring Sam Rockwell, Angelica Huston from actor/director Clark Gregg.

categories - Brian Levy, Chuck-Palahniuk, Haunted, Ken Mortier, Movie News

Further Reading

• Has Chuck Palahniuk’s RANT been optioned?

• Choke goes into production, Sam Rockwell cast

• Mark Helfrich to direct Five Killers

• Chuck Russell turns on the NORTHERN LIGHTS

• Mos Def is Chuck Berry in CADILLAC

4 Comments »

1. “Haunted” isn’t a novel. It’s the title story in a short story collection. I haven’t read the whole thing, and didn’t read “Haunted,” but a few of the stories are absolutely sick.

   Comment by jparrino | October 21, 2008

2. what i just said was completely and utterly wrong. sorry.

   Comment by jparrino | October 21, 2008

3. there is a main story which is what was described above. the short stories are supposed to be what each member of the writing crew has written so far. some of them, especially one involving a swimming pool, are very sick!

   Comment by ampac | October 21, 2008

4. I have read the book and have also seen ‘Ex-Drummer’.
   Probably the sickest book and film I’ve seen recently.
   I really look forward to the adaption.

   Comment by Glarry666 | December 1, 2008

Leave a comment