Graphic novels are to Hollywood today as cocaine was to 1980s Hollywood.
As part of the continuing effort for every studio to start a franchise based on a graphic novel, Dimension Films has picked up the rights to Joe Hill’s graphic novel Locke & Key. Hill’s debut novel, Heart-Shaped Box was released to stellar reviews last year; the film rights for that work went to Warner Bros.
(btw, I guess this is as good a place as any to mention that Hill’s dad is Stephen King. I guess it’s understandable that Hill would not want to be overburdened by the weight of King’s reputation.)
Here’s how Variety describes Locke & Key:
Story revolves around a trio of children who become the caretakers of Keyhouse, a mansion in New England that is full of secrets and magic. The kids discover doors that take them to different places, give them powers and even alter gender and skin color. Behind one door is a dangerously violent creature.
(note to self: go and out and get volume 1 of Locke & Key)
The publisher plans to do three six-issue installments, a total of 18 comics. The first installment was, according to Variety, ‘released on Wednesday,”; it is marvelously unclear whether they mean it was released last Wednesday or will be released tomorrow. The next one is coming out March 5th.
John Davis is producing, but that name means nothing to me. No word on director or anything else, as it’s way too early for that. Keep on the lookout for more info, though.
