News: Sabriel on the Way to Hollywood?

Sabriel cover

The great news is that Garth Nix’s megaselling fantasy novel, Sabriel — the first book in his Old Kingdom Trilogy — may be filmed at last. Nix, who, as an ex-literary agent, has considerable knowledge of the industry and the clout of a string of bestselling books behind him, has put together a “dream-team” to bring the book to Hollywood — including co-screenplay writer Dan Futterman (actor and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Capote), and producers Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner at Plan B (Brad Pitt’s company). The director will be Anand Tucker (Shopgirl, Hilary and Jackie). The full story of the long journey so far can be read on Publishing News Online.

Sabriel is an excellent novel — a fantasy … and a dark one. It deals with necromantic magic, the Land of the Dead and hordes of ghosts and zombies (or, as Garth prefers, “the disturbed dead” — no cannibalistic Romeroesque types here). It remains one of my favourite modern fantasy novels. Here is a description of the story from Nix’s website.

Sabriel is the daughter of the Mage Abhorsen. Ever since she was a tiny child, she has lived outside the Wall of the Old Kingdom – far away from the uncontrolled power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won’t stay dead. But now her father is missing and Sabriel is called upon to cross back into that world to find him. Leaving the safety of the school she has known as home, Sabriel embarks upon a quest fraught with supernatural dangers, with companions she is unsure of – for nothing is as it seems within the boundary of the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more than her life, and comes face to face with her hidden destiny…

Garth has often mentioned his hopes for this film, so it’s fantastic that he has been able to secure the commitment of some top-notch people in the business, ready to pitch the package to the studios later this month. I, along with the rest of his writing friends and hordes of salivating fans, will await the outcome of the negotiations with keen interest.

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12 Responses to News: Sabriel on the Way to Hollywood?

  1. Kevin says:

    No don’t use the word Zombie! Garth Nix hates the term. It sounds so slasher. They’re called the dead
    – This from a crazed and picky fan. Hehe

  2. Backbrain says:

    OK, Crazed… Dead it is. I’ll make an amendment … though the film zombie is more varied in nature than the recent proliferation of cannibalistic undead killers suggests. Mind you, technically speaking a “zombie” is a Haitian creation anyway…

  3. Backbrain says:

    Sorry, couldn’t resist leaving the term in, Kevin…

    Anyway, Garth just told me he has no problem with the term “zombie” as such… he simply doesn’t use it in those books.

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  5. Aimee says:

    Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

  6. Backbrain says:

    I gather you approve of the idea, Aimee?

  7. Arlia says:

    Awesome! This is one of my most favourite series!! I hope the dead look scarier than most of the zombies in film. I wonder if they’ll show Death (the river, gates and stuff)?

  8. Arianna says:

    Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!!! I’m so excited! Does anyone know where they’re gonna film it? Because the director is based in England – I hope it’s based i England aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!! 🙂

  9. Donuts says:

    Oh!! What a wonderful idea, I can’t wait, but I think I’d cry if it turned out anything like the Eragon movie! ;-;

  10. Backbrain says:

    Cry? I wouldn’t just cry. I think I’d turn into an 80-foot monster and go on a rampage of destruction.

  11. Backbrain says:

    For Arianna. I haven’t heard anything for a while — but maybe I’ll ask Garth and see if there’s been any movement…

  12. shaggy5792 says:

    im with donuts because i read the eragon books and i loved them but the film let them down….

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