Variety is reporting that John C. Reilly will star in CIRQUE DU FREAK. The film is based on the book by Darren Shan. It’s the first in a series of children novels by Shan.
According to Variety, CIRQUE DU FREAK is about a vampire who drafts a 14-year old to serve as his assistant. The youth is turned into a half-vampire and becomes the catalyst in a battle between vampires and the rival Vampanese.
I’ve never heard of CIRQUE DU FREAK, and from the plot there’s no telling where this one can go. Will it be light hearted ala THE LITTLE VAMPIRE or darker? And John C. Reilly? Interesting piece of casting if this is in fact a darker children’s tale. There’s no telling until we hear more on this. Paul Weitz is set to write and direct the flick, he’ll also be producing along with Lauren Shuler Donner. Universal is the studio bringing us CIRQUE DU FREAK, actually buying the rights to the entire series (12 books) back in 2005. Production starts February 2008. We’ll keep you updated on CIRQUE DU FREAK.