Columbia & Raimi Team on The Shadow

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Columbia & Raimi Team on The Shadow

December 11, 2006

Columbia Pictures has acquired the screen rights to The Shadow, the legendary 1930s pulp hero, for an adaptation to be produced by Sam Raimi (the "Spider-Man" movies) and Josh Donen through their Buckaroo Entertainment. Michael Uslan is also producing via his Comic Book Movies, Llc/Branded Entertainment.

Columbia has set Siavash Farahani to write the screenplay, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The Shadow debuted in 1931 on a CBS radio show which aimed to boost the magazine circulation of sponsor Street & Smith. The character was actually the moniker for the announcer, and listeners began demanding stories based on the name.

Walter B. Gibson created the character, writing the adventures of a crime-fighter who skulked in shadows wearing a hat and cape, and who had the power to cloud men's minds.

The Shadow became one of the greatest pulp heroes of the time, and the radio series, which featured a young Orson Welles, spawned the catchphrase "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

The character's most recent incarnation was a big-budget 1994 feature from Universal starring Alec Baldwin and directed by Russell Mulcahy.

"I've been a passionate Shadow fan ever since I was a kid and have long dreamed of bringing this character to the screen," Raimi said. He is not attached to direct at this time.

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Posted by: lionel gilmore on January 3, 2009 at 10:47:24

my top 10 picks for kent allard or lamont cranston/the shadow are jamie bamber,michael trucco,karl urban,eric dane,nick lachey,hugh dancy,james van der beek,joshua jackson,chad michael murphy or ashton kutcher.
edward james olmas for shrevy.
keri russell for margo lane.
byron lawson russell wong or bryon mann shiwan khan.

Posted by: blackaciddevil on January 3, 2009 at 11:54:35

If it does make it to screen, I see it doing about as well as the movie with Alec Baldwin that came out awhile back. Don't get me wrong, I love The Shadow. Always have ever since I was a kid. The Phantom, too. But, people in this day and time don't care about heroes of old. I mean, look how The Spirit is fairing right now.

Posted by: Duke Of Pico on January 3, 2009 at 13:15:38

I hope its super dialogue heavy and there is an emasculating crying scene like in the Spidey flicks!

Oh wait... No I don't...

Posted by: Spawnacus on January 3, 2009 at 13:27:42

If Raimi is only producing, will it still have that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers feel like the Spidey flicks have?

Posted by: Knites on January 3, 2009 at 19:42:42

I enoyed the Baldwin version. It's one of my favorite movies.

Posted by: ico on January 4, 2009 at 00:34:17

I think Len Wiseman or Zack Snyder would be a good director for this.

Posted by: NOT A TUMOR on January 4, 2009 at 06:22:41

Dudes!

Look at the date this article was written!

Don't you think they would have put this vehicle into production by now?

Posted by: Harish on January 4, 2009 at 11:33:19

Perhaps you're simply looking at the "Most Active" section LEEE777, and not at "Latest Headlines. I don't think SHH is out to get people by re-upping random old articles for schitz'n'giggles.

Posted by: EXECELSIOR@SHH! on January 4, 2009 at 12:19:36

@LEEE777

I think with the recent passing of SHADOW artist Dean Cartier visitors are searching the SHH archives!

Here is the story from the Hollywood Reporter:
Edward D. Cartier, whose illustrations graced "The Shadow" and numerous other science fiction and mystery publications in a career that spanned several decades, has died. He was 94.

Cartier died Dec. 25 at his home in Ramsey, according to his son, Dean Cartier. The elder Cartier had suffered from Parkinson's disease in recent years, his son said.

Cartier's artwork appeared in works by authors such as Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov, but he is perhaps best known for the hundreds of illustrations he did for "The Shadow" in the 1930s and '40s.

Written by Walter B. Gibson, the "Shadow" novels appeared in pulp magazines and detailed the exploits of a mysterious, black-attired crimefighter.

Cartier began doing illustrations for the novels in 1936. Not long after that, he turned down an offer to be an assistant to Norman Rockwell, according to Anthony Tollin, editor of "The Shadow & Doc Savage" reprint trade paperbacks.

In addition to more than 800 illustrations for "The Shadow," Cartier drew hundreds of illustrations for numerous other science fiction magazines. He also was the premier artist for the Fantasy Press and Gnome Press book publishing houses in the 1950s.

Dean Cartier said his father created a Christmas card that he sent to family and friends each year starting in the late 1970s. The last one, drawn in 2005, depicted Santa Claus handing "The Shadow" a gift.

Posted by: Nights Requiem on January 4, 2009 at 16:26:41

This could be really good, if it's done well and have right people in place

Posted by: Ying Ko on January 4, 2009 at 23:20:47

Raimi and crew would be wise to try a complete departure from the Baldwin film and take a look at the DC Comics from the 80's by Helfer and Sienkiewicz. The stories are filled with a wicked humor, an assortment of wild characters, a gritty ultra-modern setting and plenty of bullet blazing crazy action. I'm a fan of the old pulps and radio series but for a new film that brings The Shadow back to his rightful place as the grand-pappy of all bad-asses they need to try something very different.

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