I suppose you could label this as a pulp-related movie project, but only tangentally.
Back in 1999, before it was even published, Thomas Wheeler’s novel, The Arcanum was optioned by Miramax. The novel first saw print in 2004, with relatively little to-do.
The book’s about a group of early 20th century occult investigators called the Arcanum — H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini and voodoo priestess Marie Laveau — who attempt to solve a series of gruesome murders in 1919 New York City.
As it turns out Miramax never did anything with the story, and let its option lapse. According to Daily Variety, Gold Circle Films (whose biggest hits have been My Big Fat Greek Wedding and White Noise) has purchased the rights. Author Wheeler also wrote the screenplay.
But, as is the case with most film options, it’s still a long shot to ever make it to the screen.
– William
This is too neat to actually make it. I’ll keep my hopes up, though.
Fashion and public tastes are cyclical… could it be that pulp will make a comeback one day?
I’ve not read The Arcanum, but I would imagine with Lovecraft as one of the main characters, it would touch on his work for the pulps. The concept sort of reminds me of Chinatown Death Cloud Peril.
But, yeah, the more pulp figures in the public eye, the better.
I actually liked The Arcanum better than Chinatown Death Cloud Peril. (Although I also did like Chinatown.) I think it’d also make a better film — just seemed to have a better sense of the cinematic in terms of staging.
Really? I may have to track down The Arcanum then.
Well… I really didn’t think much of this when it first came out in hardcover. I thought that the graphic novel Necronauts by Gordon Rennie & Frazer Irving used the concept to better success.