Good news, bad news...

First, the good news, especially for fans of Castlevania, like me! Firstly

The movie has been scrapped (excellent, rather this than let Paul Worthless Shit Anderson ruin it):

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Sources close to Bloody-Disgusting have confirmed that Paul W.S. Anderson's Castlevania adaptation has officially turned to dust. The project, originally announced with Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard, I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer) attached to direct, had recently went out to new directors only to take a trip into the abyss of "development hell.

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http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/16302

I'm ecstatic, as I never wanted a film version in the first place. As we all know, video game adaptations, 9.5 times out of 10, end up being a work of shameless insult- so I'm just glad Hollywood isn't going anywhere near my favourite franchise ever here, especially since Anderson wanted to get his grubby mitts on it. Secondly, some more Castlevania related news from E3- information on the new game in the series- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Originally a new IP entitled Lords of Shadow (and in that form looking coincidentally very Castlevania-like with the protagonist wielding a whip in a Gothic setting), it has now decidedly been turned into an official Castlevania game, produced by Kojima Productions (the game itself is being developed by Madrid-based MercurySteam Entertainment, creator of Clive Barker's Jericho. E3 just showed a trailer for it labelling it as a new reboot of the failing franchise, this time helmed by Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima himself. Now i've been going on for literally years at how they should change the game and make it more action orientated instead of the usual Metroid/RPG style and it looks like finally my prayers have been answered- this is the type of game I have wanted for years and especially with the popularity of God of War (which I wanted a new CV game to be in the vein of because GoW does the whole Castlevania action/combat really well), Lords of Shadow is obviously looking at it for inspiration and that's a good thing. Kojima's involvement is very important here and I really appreciate him coming on board as I feel IGA, whilst having some solid ideas, has a hard time expanding on them and breaking motiff. Storyline and dialogue is such an integral part of this type of action adventure game and Kojima's got the track record to work with that and take the game to a profound level of immersion. I just hope the game isn't bogged down by 2 hour cinematics and a level of seriously overlong pomposity which borders on the irratating and boredom.

Robert Carlyle will provide the voice for the game's protagonist, Gabriel. It is unknown whether trademark series artist Ayami Kojima returns for the character designs.

Shelving what has come before is a good thing, in some regards. Castlevania needs to become less dependant on its much-laboured-upon timeline/history and its 2D catalogue (let’s face it: every game in the series is always compared to Symphony of the Night) and by putting in a fresh producer you set a new marker point. Konami must feel this game is in relatively good shape, because it will be looked at very closely by the media due to Kojima's involvement. You can't blow it or the series (in 3D) will get tarred with another dirty brush.

Lords of Shadow hints at a deep and meaningful quest with mature themes, its lead character possessing an aura of grit, determination, and solemn poise. It’s hard to pinpoint this and I’m open to critique, but Castlevania in 3D up until now has never really been taken seriously, it’s felt like a “in”-game, you needed to be a fan of the series to get it, or wasn’t accessible enough (or probably just not good enough). It could blow peoples’ pre-conceptions out of the water and Gabriel could become the new Dante or Kratos. Patrick Stewart, Robert Carlyle (as Gabriel) and Jason Isaacs lend their voices, which will now add an even more serious tone to the series, for the first time. It's looking good so far, an i'm very happy for these turn of events after literally years of constant disappointment and waning enthusiasm for one of my favourite game series ever (if not my ultimate favourite).

Castlevania needs a fresh reboot after some lacklustre recent sequels, so I'm happy they are thinking seriously about it now.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow trailer:




Next, bad news on the troubled Hellraiser remake:

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/31985/pascal-laugier-no-longer-raisin g-hell

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Pascal Laugier No Longer Raising Hell

Via his official Twitter account Clive Barker reported that Pascal Laugier is regrettably no longer on the Hellraiser remake. Bummer! Laugier would’ve been a shoe-in to capture some of the most grotesque sights of the Hellraiser universe while keeping an emotional investment in the characters (at least, if Martyrs is any indication). But in the wake of him walking away, the project suddenly seems boring and desperate again. Maybe Dimension will find the right person to take the reins, but c’mon.

I had much, much enthusiasm, respect and hope for Laugier to bring us a definitive and worthy Hellraiser film, having recently enjoyed Martyrs. Damn!

I'd rather the remake just get cancelled right now to be honest, than see it in the hands of a no doubt lesser director (which will probably be the case). Let's hope this production hell makes it fade away for good.

*EDIT*

The movie is officially dead in the water, at least for the time being.

The release date has been postponed indefinitely by the Weinstein's and there is reportedly no development being done.

But Pascal Laugier, the single most perfect director for the movie one can imagine, was most certainly on the right track. He would have given us a movie that maybe could not top, but certainly stand proudly next to, the original.

He also made it very clear that this was a movie he wanted to do right, and early on said that if the ridiculous demands of the Weinstein's compromised his vision, he'd rather not do it.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39602

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So, I gotta ask you this - HELLRAISER. What are your thoughts, or plans, for HELLRAISER, and how do you feel also about remakes in general?

Pascal Laugier: First of all, HELLRAISER is a child's dream coming true. I saw the first when I was 13, I remember precisely the shock it had on me because it was so new, so fresh, so it's very hard to resist the temptation to do HELLRAISER, you know? So of course. When you come from my culture it's like amazing you're even proposed to do HELLRAISER. So of course I felt about it a lot. Right now I have no reasons to refuse the opportunity because IF I disagree with the producer I would leave the project. You know, I'm not forced to do ANYTHING I don't want. So, let me write the first draft, let me tell you what all the American producers have reacted to the reading of the first draft and I will tell you if I'm in good hands or if I'm gonna leave a hellish experience but in ANY CASE, I won't betray Clive Barker's work. I want to do a fresh film filled with a lot of unexpected and surprising things. At the same time, I want it to be connected to the real, original material.

I'm talking about the novella and the first film that are very close to each other. We'll get the chance to have much more money than even Clive had in the first film, so it will be of course more epic, it will be bigger, and I hope that it won't be softer. And right now I trust the guys in Dimension [Films] You know? It's all a matter of human relationship. I talk a lot with Bob Weinstein, he cares about the projects, he's a movie buff, he knows a lot about cinema. But at the same time he's Bob Weinstein and he's a very realistic money maker. So it will be a battle, and I hope that a balance will be found so the film will be close to my vision. What can I say? I'm not sure. I can't sign with my blood that I'm gonna achieve...

The recent history of the troubled Hellraiser remake goes as follows:

Clive Barker, godfather granddaddy creator of the series and director of the original classic wrote a draft - rejected by the Weinstein's.

The writers of Feast and Saw 4 and 5 also wrote a draft - also rejected by the Weinstein's.

Two french director's whose names escape me signed on, but left due to creative differences with the Weinstein's.

Darren Lynn Bousman, rumured to be attached, but never signed on officially.

Lastly, Pascal Laugier, the PERFECT director for this movie, was attached but left due to the Weinstein's not allowing him to make the movie he and Clive Barker felt was the right movie.

Due to the idiotic parameters decreed by the Weinstein's and their general mismanagement of the property, the movie has been years in development, cost millions, and is back at square one. As of now, the project is dead in the water.

Here's to hoping the Weinstein's go broke, and someone more worthy, like Seraphim, acquire the Hellraiser rights. They have blown millions on this, and are back at square one - all thanks to their own mismanagement of the property and the talent they had involved.