Creator Eric Powell Updates The Goon Animated Feature
Posted 03.03.10 by BrentJS
Fans of Eric Powell's The Goon comic book have been dying for news about the David Fincher-produced animated feature adaptation, but there has been very little official information released about it since it was first announced at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). The initial teaser poster barely hinted at what might be in store for one of Dark Horse Comics' most popular anti-heroes, and it would be eight months before the first glimpses of Blur Studio's animated vision of The Goon would be released.
Those fortunate enought to attend The Goon panel at SDCC 2009 were afforded a sneak peek at the animation, but the eight months following SDCC have been devoid of news about the movie's development. Now, Powell, who is also the screenwriter of The Goon adaptation, has finally offered an update on the movie's progress in a recent interview with MTV.
Powell said that the script has been completed and is "in good shape," with the project "grinding forward." He said that he believes Fincher will start pushing things along once he's completed work on his latest movie, The Social Network, and that he couldn't be happier with the team Fincher assembled to adapt his comic.
I fell into a perfect situation with guys who really get the comic. You have to change things to make it fit in a format like this — especially with The Goon, because the comics were such self-contained stories and so episodic. You can't do it like Sin City and do a linear telling of the comic.
Whenever zealous fans hear that there are going to be changes made to their favorite comics, they tend to get a bit over-protective, but Powell offered his assurance that The Goon is in good hands.
We had to adapt it for the film, but I wrote the script — so The Goon doesn't fall from the sky in a meteor or have superpowers or anything like that. It is The Goon and it has the feel of the The Goon. The story had to change a little to get it to work in a film format, but the characters, the world, and the interaction between the characters are all the same.
As for when fans will be afforded additional glimpses of the animation, Powell said that he couldn't say, but that it will be a "flood of new material" when the time comes.
I can't wait for people to see more of this stuff, because the stuff I've seen just blows my mind. They're holding off on all that stuff, but as soon as we get a studio announced, I'm sure Blur is eager to show off all the good work they're doing.
Powell confirmed that Fincher will not be directing The Goon adaptation, but said that he will be "heavily involved," and not "just a figurehead."