Back in February we were tipped off about Brian Straub’s SHADOWLAND, his 1980 horror novel about magic and sorcery, being given the 3D cinematic adaptation by PFG Entertainment. When that story broke, we heard Canadian film and television director Erik Canuel was at the helm, shooting from a script adapted by Larry Leahy. Well, both gentlemen are still seemingly attached, with word coming in today about who they may cast in one of the principal leads. His name is Nighy. Bill Nighy!
That’s right y’all, Bill mothaf*ckin’ Nighy! Yeah, you know, Shaun’s irascible step-dad in SHAUN OF THE DEAD…THAT Bill Nighy (sorry to all you Science Guy fans).
But that’s not the only word out of the SHADOWLAND camp today. Turns out Natalie Dormer (“The Tidors”, below) has also joined the production. Here’s how the plot breaks down:
The story concerns two young boys, Tom Flanagan and Del Nightingale, who spend a summer with Del’s uncle Coleman, who is one of the foremost magicians in the world. As time passes, however, Tom begins to suspect that what Coleman is teaching is not a series of harmless tricks, but is in fact real sorcery.
Not bad, eh? Sounds like it’ll fit nicely somewhere between Chris Smith’s BLACK DEATH, Dominic Sena’s SEASON OF THE WITCH and that other Nic Cage in flowing mane flick…THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE. Which flick of the bunch do you think will turn out the best?