Exclusive: Scott Talks Blood Meridian Sir Ridley on his dark Western project
We talked to Sir Ridley Scott recently about his new Middle East-set spy thriller Body of Lies and he told us a little bit about his long-mooted adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's blistering Western, Blood Meridian, and the difficulties of adapting a book that is steeped in violence and which deals with seriously un-PC topics.
"It's written. I think it's a really tricky one, and maybe it's something that should be left as a novel. If you're going to do Blood Meridian you've got to go the whole nine yards into the blood bath, and there's no answer to the blood bath, that's part of the story, just the way it is and the way it was. When you start to scalp Mexican wedding parties that'll draw the line. One scalp of coarse black hair is pretty well either Mexican or Indian, and there was no difference to the scalp hunters in Arizona at that time, who didn't draw the line."
He also passed on a few tidbits about the background and setting for another proposed film, Tripoli, a William "Kingdom of Heaven" Monaghan-scripted tale of high adventure in 19th century North Africa, as a US diplomat teamed up with the dispossessed heir to the throne of Tripoli to challenge the heir's usurper brother.
"I think it's a really tricky one, and maybe it's something that should be left as a novel."
yes, yes and thrice yes, IF the director is going to be R Scott. This article isn't clear, when he says it's written, I assume he means the script? Not as a more biblical, "and so it is written" style thing about the book? because he sounds like he's looking at reasons he shouldn't be directing it...
as the AV club review of Body Of Lies so succinctly put it recently:
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Scott seems to be on the slippery slope these days but let's hope he gets the right cast for this and brings us something worthy of the book. I'd still rather Jonh Hillcoat did it. i also struggle to see it being condensed into a film...3 hr+ running time here we come! ... Read More
L: Manfrendshensindshen
Even though his recent output hasn't been his most successful, I really hope His Ridleyness will continue making films until he falls into his grave. I'd also sell a kidney if he could make one more SF movie.
ood news for you Manfrendshensindshen. Get ready to remove that kidney mate! ... Read More
Even though his recent output hasn't been his most successful, I really hope His Ridleyness will continue making films until he falls into his grave. I'd also sell a kidney if he could make one more SF movie. ... Read More
Tripoli has been on the plate for a while, don’t know what is said on the video (my work bans such things). There was a fair bit in the Kingdom of Heaven making of. Sounds good. Going to start reading Blood Meridian, next on my pile. I look forward to anything that Sir Scott makes. ... Read More
