There’s a review online of a purported script for The Shadow movie that’s been in the works the past couple of years. It’s available on the IESB.com Web site.
I’m not familiar with the Web site or the review’s author, Peter Georgiou, but it’s interesting to hear what may be in the works for a movie. It sounds positive (despite a bit of confused knowledge of The Shadow by Georgiou).
Tip of the hat to “Kent Allard” who posted this on the alt.pulp news group after having it passed along to him by John Olsen, proprietor of The Shadow in Review (archived).
– William
Honestly, Bill, I don’t buy this review as anything but bogus. The story this fellow lays out is so wrong in so many ways…then he ends by telling us how much Sam Raimi loves the character.
Which is the only honest statement here. Raimi not only loves the character, he KNOWS the Shadow and would never use a script like this.
Best guess. It’s a hoax to keep the fans buzzing.
Hi, Ron, I guess I wasn’t surprised by the synopsis based on how movies based on other media usually turn out on the screen. This seemed a bit more in line with the pulps, rather than the radio show (which is always a big plus with me). Though the description of the violence seems quite extreme.
I’d image that if Sam Raimi had the box-office power of James Cameron, where he could make the film that he wanted to, then it would be a different story. (Certainly, the one I would envision would be different.) But with the kerfuffle over Spider-Man 4, I don’t imagine that’s going to be the case. I’m afraid whatever turns up on screen will be more of a melange of Raimi/studio/producers/accountants ideas.
I just want it to take the character seriously, and not end up like either Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze or 1992’s The Shadow, i.e. slightly more serious than a comedy.
You’re right, it could be something to get the fans buzzing. It certainly rekindled my interest. I was thinking the film may have died since there was little mention of it lately.
Over a year ago, at the big New York comic con,I sat on a pulp panel with folks like Tony Tollin, Will Murray, Mark Halegua and Joe Gentile. Also joining us on that panel was one of the assistant producers of the Shadow film. And although by then the actual script was only in development, he did say Raimi wanted to do the “pulp” Shadow and not the radio one most of the public is familiar. To the point of saying there had been early discussions on how the Shadow’s identity would not be revealed and most of the screen time would be devoted to his agents and the overall mystery. Well,naturally the audience attendance applauded this soundly.
Thus in readying what you have linked here, I immediately realized this was absolutely nothing like what this producer had suggested and reads more like a comic book hero. Which is why I think it’s bogus. You are right, all movies are committee made, but having Raimi actually direct would lean us towards that more faithful version this producer offered. Lets keep our fingers crossed.