Scott W. Davis
10-23-2003, 03:11 AM
As I've said before in these virtual pages, George A. Romero is the most unfairly treated director out there. The man has got amazing talent, not just in his classic DEAD trilogy, but in many other films that should be regarded as classics and aren't. Yet, the guy can't seem to get a break. Every time he attempts to get a film made, he is met with nonstop resistance.
I'm always happy to report any ripples in this sorry trend. has a wonderful interview on their site that say what's going on with the director.
Romero has three projects in the air, and the fourth DEAD film is described as being the furthest from production. The title is currently LAND OF THE DEAD (At the risk of angering fans, I like that title soooo much more than DEAD RECKONING) and is set up at Fox Searchlight, the indie arm of 20th Century Fox. But it looks like for once, Romero hasn't put all his eggs in one basket. "I have other possibilities if Fox drops it. I have interest from another place," Romero says. Even more interesting, Romero says that John Carpenter may produce or score the film - now THAT I'd like to see! A good 'ol Carpenter synth score could be just what the zombie doctor ordered.
If Carpenter does chip in, let's hope he throws in some cash too. The main concern, as always, is cost. "Right now it's pretty expensive, and it might be another situation like DAY OF THE DEAD where I have to drop it way back, scale it way down, in order to get it made," Romero says. "Everyone's so afraid." Fans can testify that the finished product on DAY OF THE DEAD is much different than the original script.
Also holding up LAND OF THE DEAD is an arbitration with Richard Rubenstein. Rubenstein registered the title NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with the MPAA, even though he had nothing to do with the original. Romero is unsure how long arbitration with the MPAA would take. "That's what's hanging [LAND] up right now," he says.
He also may wind up filming LAND in Canada, instead of Pittsburgh, where the other three films were lensed. "I wrote the zombie films for this area, you know. All the locations and everything were here," he laments. "But now it's just so expensive. The crew's aren't here anymore. So it's tough."
So where does a put-upon director go when the going gets tough? Much like many other directors, Romero may be going to television. Don't freak out. His TALES OF THE DARKSIDE was a creepy anthology series that deserves to be remembered alongside the greats. Romero is gearing up for a television movie, to be aired around Halloween 2004.
And what of Romero's project we talked about earlier this year, THE ILL? This appears to have gone by the wayside. No reasons are given, but the excellent says that it is no longer active. Also currently off is the much talked about adaptation of Stephen King's THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON. He has no agreements with any studio regarding the script. However, the article points out, "he considers it to be his second most likely project after the ABC movie, and is hopeful that something will start up as early as spring 2004, in Canada." Romero points out again that TOM GORDON is a "non-horror movie." That's okay, George. So is KNIGHTRIDERS and it's fantastic.
Romero confirms that he has nothing to do with the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, coming out next year. "I have a small percentage on the title only," he says, and he has no percentage of the gross. The article restates that the remake is completely different than the original. The remake even ventures away from the shopping mall location at one point.
Well, good luck, George. Here's hoping stuff works out for you in the end.
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Comment on the great George A. Romero and the status of his projects in our FORUMS!
I'm always happy to report any ripples in this sorry trend. has a wonderful interview on their site that say what's going on with the director.
Romero has three projects in the air, and the fourth DEAD film is described as being the furthest from production. The title is currently LAND OF THE DEAD (At the risk of angering fans, I like that title soooo much more than DEAD RECKONING) and is set up at Fox Searchlight, the indie arm of 20th Century Fox. But it looks like for once, Romero hasn't put all his eggs in one basket. "I have other possibilities if Fox drops it. I have interest from another place," Romero says. Even more interesting, Romero says that John Carpenter may produce or score the film - now THAT I'd like to see! A good 'ol Carpenter synth score could be just what the zombie doctor ordered.
If Carpenter does chip in, let's hope he throws in some cash too. The main concern, as always, is cost. "Right now it's pretty expensive, and it might be another situation like DAY OF THE DEAD where I have to drop it way back, scale it way down, in order to get it made," Romero says. "Everyone's so afraid." Fans can testify that the finished product on DAY OF THE DEAD is much different than the original script.
Also holding up LAND OF THE DEAD is an arbitration with Richard Rubenstein. Rubenstein registered the title NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD with the MPAA, even though he had nothing to do with the original. Romero is unsure how long arbitration with the MPAA would take. "That's what's hanging [LAND] up right now," he says.
He also may wind up filming LAND in Canada, instead of Pittsburgh, where the other three films were lensed. "I wrote the zombie films for this area, you know. All the locations and everything were here," he laments. "But now it's just so expensive. The crew's aren't here anymore. So it's tough."
So where does a put-upon director go when the going gets tough? Much like many other directors, Romero may be going to television. Don't freak out. His TALES OF THE DARKSIDE was a creepy anthology series that deserves to be remembered alongside the greats. Romero is gearing up for a television movie, to be aired around Halloween 2004.
And what of Romero's project we talked about earlier this year, THE ILL? This appears to have gone by the wayside. No reasons are given, but the excellent says that it is no longer active. Also currently off is the much talked about adaptation of Stephen King's THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON. He has no agreements with any studio regarding the script. However, the article points out, "he considers it to be his second most likely project after the ABC movie, and is hopeful that something will start up as early as spring 2004, in Canada." Romero points out again that TOM GORDON is a "non-horror movie." That's okay, George. So is KNIGHTRIDERS and it's fantastic.
Romero confirms that he has nothing to do with the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, coming out next year. "I have a small percentage on the title only," he says, and he has no percentage of the gross. The article restates that the remake is completely different than the original. The remake even ventures away from the shopping mall location at one point.
Well, good luck, George. Here's hoping stuff works out for you in the end.
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Comment on the great George A. Romero and the status of his projects in our FORUMS!