ROTTEN TOMATOES: Neil Gaiman Talks Sandman, Good Omens Adaptations

Neil Gaiman Talks Sandman, Good Omens Adaptations

No money, mo' problems.

by Jeff Giles | October 05, 2007

The box office receipts for the Matthew Vaughn-directed adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Stardust might have been a source of disappointment for Paramount, but Gaiman remains undaunted; in fact, he's got a (tongue in cheek) investment opportunity for fans of his work.

Gaiman spoke with Empire at the British premiere for Stardust this week, and was naturally asked about the likelihood of bringing his much-loved Sandman series to the big screen. His response, from the article:

"I would always give anything to Terry Gilliam, forever, so if Terry Gilliam ever wants to do Sandman then as far as I'm concerned Terry Gilliam should do Sandman...but Terry's busy trying to get Good Omens made that Terry Pratchett and I wrote. He needs someone to give him $70 million. If you or any of your readers have a spare 70 million dollars you are not doing anything with, then send it to T Gilliam, care of the London Pipe Organisation."

Gaiman was clearly only half-serious, but given Gilliam's historic difficulties when it comes to securing studio financing (if you haven't yet seen Lost in La Mancha, which chronicles the director's heartbreakingly star-crossed efforts to complete his Don Quixote adaptation, you're missing out), the idea has at least hypothetical merit. The micro-investment strategy has worked (albeit on a much smaller scale) for musicians such as Marillion, who have bankrolled entire projects with fan funding.

Yeah, probably not gonna happen here. But the synopsis for Good Omens -- the 1996 Gaiman/Pratchett novel that Empire describes as "dark, philosophical and barkingly funny" -- reads like vintage Gilliam. From the article:

Angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley have got rather fond of Earth and are thusly annoyed to discover that the Antichrist is going to show up and bring it to an end. Their ensuing partnership is one of the finest ever committed to print, besides which it's ridiculously funny and cleverly plotted.

Sounds like it could be great. Now all we need is for two million Gilliam and/or Gaiman fans to write $35 checks. Spread the word.

Source: Empire

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

Crenshaw writes:
on Oct 05 2007 07:04 AM

Good Omens is a terrific, funny book, and would make a very good movie. If you have not read it - go read it.

(Reply to this)

cabezone writes:
on Oct 05 2007 08:22 AM

Few few years back it had Johnny Depp and Robin Williams attached....he was told they were washed up and not worth the money.

(Reply to this)

Count_Vertigo writes:
on Oct 05 2007 01:38 PM

It could be worse. It could be directed by Brett Ratner and be used as a comeback vehicle for Corey Haim and Corey Feldman as Aziraphale and Crowley.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on Oct 05 2007 03:32 PM

Where do i send this check?

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Oct 05 2007 06:33 PM

My money stays in my wallet, thanks.

(Reply to this)

nevermachine writes:
on Oct 05 2007 07:36 PM

i'm pretty sure this is already in the works, but Coraline would make a great film. the sandman could be good, but i'm not sure where they would go with it. there is a lot of widely varied stuff in there. fantasic read though.
reguardless, you could put neils name on anything and i would watch it.

(Reply to this)

Think_Link writes:
on Oct 05 2007 11:14 PM

I've been waiting for a "Good Omens" adaptation for awhile now.

(Reply to this)

harrismonkey writes:
on Oct 06 2007 10:49 AM

In reply to this comment (#1169306)
Does that mean there are now two Gilliam projects dead in the water unless Depp decides to reactivate them (hopefully before his star fades again- you know this is as big as he will ever be). No wonder Gilliam was getting frustrated with him.

(Reply to this)

Pilgermann writes:
on Oct 06 2007 12:06 PM

Luckily Gilliam has already got the gears turning on THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS. Heath Ledger and Tom Waits are apparently going to be in it.

Hopefully things will go well with it and then he can move on to GOOD OMENS or THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE (there's still a glimmer of hope for it).

(Reply to this)

VML writes:
on Oct 06 2007 12:56 PM

In reply to this comment (#1170730)
CORALINE is already being made.

(Reply to this)

apostate writes:
on Oct 06 2007 01:14 PM

Good Omens is only good if you haven't read any of Terry Pratchett's other work. It reads like Terry Pratchett lite. It has it's moments but they pale in comparison to the Discworld novels.

If money needs to be spent, spend it on those.

(Reply to this)

Jimbo93 writes:
on Oct 06 2007 09:37 PM

I've heard "Good omens" is great, but "Stardust" the book was good, and "stardust" the movie was fantastic.

(Reply to this)

Travis27 writes:
on Oct 07 2007 08:00 PM

Aziraphale - Will Ferrel
Crowley - Steve Buscemi
Director - Peter Jackson

(Reply to this)

Bob* writes:
on Oct 07 2007 10:36 PM

I remember that Joel schumacher was interested on doing Sandman some time ago.

(Reply to this)

tala_amianan writes:
on Oct 08 2007 02:06 AM

In reply to this comment (#1172899)
hated stardust the movie because it didn't even come close to the book in terms of storytelling or even subtlety.

(Reply to this)

tala_amianan writes:
on Oct 08 2007 02:07 AM

In reply to this comment (#1175879)
oh please. not joel schumacher. and i don't think sandman could ever be translated into film. the stories there are really made for the comicbook medium.

(Reply to this)

tala_amianan writes:
on Oct 08 2007 02:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#1172314)
i so totally agree. i was disappointed with Good Omens. They should just do one of the Discworld books. ANY of the books would make a great movie in the hands of the right director.

(Reply to this)

ithiliya writes:
on Oct 08 2007 07:03 AM

I've read some Discworld books and (while I did enjoy them) I liked Good Omens better because you could relate to it more. It wasn't some weird fantastical tale in some strange dimension but right here on our own planet, at the end of the world. It was kooky and fun and lighthearted but still suspenseful. I would love to see it as a movie, if it was pulled off correctly.

Sandman, as much as I would love more Sandman material, should NOT be made into a movie. No one short of God would be able to pull it off and do it any justice.

What about American Gods?

(Reply to this)

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