Guillermo del Toro to direct Tarzan movie

Variety are reporting that a new Tarzan movie is in the works, with Pan’s Labyrinth helmer Guillermo del Toro in talks to direct. Script writer John Colle (Master and Commander) is also in negoatations for the movie.

According to IMDB, therre have been 88 adaptations of Tarzan on screen before the turn of this century, with the later films drastically moving away from the character’s original novel potrayl.

By the sounds of it, Del Toro wants to re-visit the original idea of the character and you have to believe with the director’s filmography that there is going to be lots of weird and wonderful fantasy elements put in.

Del Toro said this to Variety…

“I’d love to create a new version that is still a family movie, but as edgy as I can make it. There are strong themes of survival of a defenseless child left behind in the most hostile environment.”

On the script…

“John will be writing it alone, as I’ll be in production on ‘Hellboy 2′ and pursuing writing projects of my own. He’s got a great sense of adventure and the wilderness.”

Could be a really epic movie if done in a King Kong type way. It depends what Del Toro wants to do it really. He is claiming he wants this to be family friendly so it’s safe to say he won’t go all Pan’s Labyrinth on us.

I know your initial reaction will probably be… WTF a Tarzan movie in 2008? That’s just going to look incredibly dumb. Well yeah it could do, but a movie about an over sized gorilla in King Kong never looked dumb, so have faith.

source - variety, coming soon

2 Comments »

Well I might disagree with you. King Kong did not exactly resonate with audiences in 2005. It is considered a disappointment. I’m just not sure that there is anything left in the character worth pursuing that hasn’t already been done at least respectably.

My main this problem is the lack of originality, especially from someone like him, a guy who seems to pursue originality.

Comment by Ray | December 15, 2006

In my opinion, two people right now epitomise Burrough’s Tarzan- a vast giant, with uncanny senses and a vast strength to go with his giant frame. Until now Hollywood ( and lately Bollywood!) have cast smooth sorts, all around 6′ 4″, but mediocre in strength or vicious power, and a fearlessness before death. Tarzan was as ‘fast as Ara the lightning’ and had shoulders so broad that he had to turn sideways to enter a fissure in the walls of wrecked Opar… instead I see sluggish weeds having extended biffs with thugs, rather than sweeping them aside ‘like rag dolls’ as Burroughs would put it!
I believe in a new round of casting, appropriate with the centenary of ” Tarzan of the Apes” rolling up by 2012) that VICTOR MATFIELD, the great South African rugby prop has all the physical assets: 6′ 6”, darkly handsome, tanned, and OUT OF AFRICA!! N.Z. viewers of sports like myself will well remember Matfield bowling over our halfback in a Test match, injuring him out of the game for over a year, and how Matfield was the Best Player in the World Champion team in 2007= all good creds for a potential Tarzan, and very marketable! Wouldn’t it be good to see a scary giant Tarzan?!
To play a slightly younger Tarzan, say up to when the original book ends, I’d like to see TOM WELLING, he of “Smallville” ( a young Superman) cast. He has all the assets- very tall, dark hair, blue eyes and a fine physique, which could be further developed.And he is a graceful, noble young man, perfect as an incarnation of ERB’s greatest character.
I’d like to see in a proper version of the novel cleverer use of acrobatics and tree- swinging power. Surely we can get away from the vine swinging stuff, and do a better leap and releap, and compressed power? I’d recommend the grace and style of the male and female leads hovering in “Crouching Bear… Tiger”(?) of a few years ago utilised.
Additionally one needs to consider the cry of the bull ape a Tarzan would emit. Surely the hyena wail/ violin twang thing is just too silly now?! I believe that the most innately chilling roar of any animal is that of the Lion- cannot this be used, with a full roar mingled with human intonations. It could be scary and powerful- just like the character really is meant to be!
Lastly, I believe with the 100 years of Burrough’s hero quicklt approaching, a whole new range of products could be developed aroung Tarzan. We don’t get burned to a crisp now in the sun, but might not a melanin- rich/ sun blocking creams or drink/ supplements be developed, say marked by Matfield, and called “Tarzan Tan”: I know that sounds trite, but products fund the movie etc. and to do justice to this Herculean hero ( Phillip Jose Farmer argues he’s the same man) it requires a big budgeting and funds.
Just some thoughts from someone who has always been irked by the innanity of movieland production around the 20th Century’s original hero.
Chris W

Comment by Chris Wilkie | August 23, 2008

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