John Dies at the End (Don Coscarelli)

[Cody]

Coscarelli Knows John Dies at the End (http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=4775)

David Wong's novel "John Dies at the End" may be coming to the screen with a recognizable master of horror running the ship.

"The ink is barely dry on the contract, but...I have in fact just sold the film rights to ['John Dies at the End'], to Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho-Tep, the Phantasm series). He contacted me late last year after he got hold of a copy of the paperback. And I think anybody who's seen Bubba Ho-Tep can tell you 'JDatE' is in good hands," says Wong in an interview with Apex Digest (http://www.apexdigest.com/Online/interview080203.shtml).

"JDatE" was published last August through Permuted Press. Here is their plot crunch: It's a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. On the street they call it Soy Sauce, and users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No. No, they can't.

Coscarelli's last effort, "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road," premiered during the first season of Showtime's "Masters of Horror." Since then, he's been kicking around a script for Bubba Nosferatu, however, that project has remained stagnant since Bruce Cambpell passed on returning as Elvis.

Sounds like some pretty kooky fun.

It's good to hear he's stacking up projects, as there aren't enough Coscarelli movies in the world. Now if he could just get one of them together and filming.

[Jigsaw]

Coscarelli's work is always worth a look, and I'll be checking this out.

[nottidelterrore]

I might give this a watch since Coscarelli is awesome.

[Jigsaw]

Coscarelli is one of the most underrated and forgotten filmmakers ever IMO.

[The Dream Master]

Coscarelli is perfectly suited for this kind of flick. I'm so there.

[CosmoBubba]

Gee, I wonder how the movie will end. :p

[Lance Lives]

All I can say is that it's in good hands and I like the title.

[Just Jeans]

I just hope he pulls Phantasm V together before embarking on this project. Still, it's nice to see work published by Permuted Press getting adapted.

[Cody]

Coscarelli talks (http://www.fangoria.com/news_article.php?id=5950)

Writer/director Don Coscarelli has snagged the rights to David Wong’s wild debut novel, JOHN DIES AT THE END, which he’ll adapt and direct as his next screen project.

“[The book] is an ambitious novel with an outrageous sense of humor and excruciatingly intense gore,” Coscarelli tells Fango. “What’s not to like?!”

Originally published on-line in serial form, Wong’s book was such a hit that a revised print version became available through Permuted Press in August. The story follows two goofballs who get caught up in a freaky fight against (deep breath…) mutated victims of a strange drug that allows them to drift across time and dimensions and the horrific invasion that may be taking place on Earth because of them.

Coscarelli compares JOHN DIES to his previous popular adaptation: “My feelings for JOHN are similar to how they were for Joe R. Lansdale's BUBBA HO-TEP,” he says. “Prior to filming that movie, I’d reread the Lansdale novella and absolutely knew it would make a terrific movie. I feel the same way about JOHN. David Wong is a terrific new talent. He effortlessly blends genres and creates genuine dread. I’m thrilled to be working on a project that’s firmly planted in the genre, yet different and highly original.”

Keep checking here for more details as we get ’em, see the “book trailer” below and click here (http://www.johndiesattheend.com/) for more info on Wong’s novel. —Chris Haberman

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[Dave Dunwoody]

I think Coscarelli's a perfect fit. This is gonna be cool.

[Just Jeans]

...which he’ll adapt and direct as his next screen project.

Fuuuuuuck.

Is one more Phantasm film just too much to ask?

[The Dream Master]

Fuuuuuuck.

Is one more Phantasm film just too much to ask?

Apparently, it's asking about as much to get a new Nightmare sequel too. :X

[Just Jeans]

Only in the case of Phantasm V, the script is done, Anchor Bay is willing to co-fund, and the cast has been involved in at least one read through session. Some of us really expected Phantasm V to be Coscarelli's next film -- there was even coverage on the project in a British horror magazine featuring an interview with Coscarelli about the project. I guess the funding must have fallen through. :misery:

[The Dream Master]

Well, look at it this way: as long as a remake isn't officially announced (I know Coscarelli himself kicked the idea around), the door is always open for a Phantasm V.

The thing I find odd about this project is the fact that Coscarelli himself apparently bought the rights to this. It says nothing about who is going to fund it and all that jazz. I find it hard to believe that he can get funding for these weird off beat projects like this and Bubba Ho-tep but can't get a new Phantasm film in the can.

[Cody]

Well, look at it this way: as long as a remake isn't officially announced (I know Coscarelli himself kicked the idea around), the door is always open for a Phantasm V.

New Line did officially announce the remake (relaunch trilogy) in The Hollywood Reporter back in 2005.

The deal fell apart soon afterward, of course. New Line was announcing some things too early (FJA) back in those days.

[The Dream Master]

That's right. I'd forgotten that New Line actually announced it.

I hope history repeats itself with this Nightmare remake business.

[Just Jeans]

...the door is always open for a Phantasm V.

I give the film another 5 or six years to get made. If it doesn't happen in the next five or six years, I doubt it ever will.

And once Angus Scrimm dies, I reckon that's it for the original franchise. I rather doubt Coscarelli would go on with a Phantasm V sans Scrimm (I think a part of the reason the remake franchise fell through was because Coscarelli wanted Scrimm -- as well as the other core cast members -- and New Line didn't).

Which is why I wish Coscarelli would stop procrastinating and just do the thing rather than pumping out these off-beat originals. Don't get me wrong, I like most of his films outside the Phantasm franchise, but the more time passes, the less likely Phantasm V is to happen. It's been 10 years since Oblivion came out.

[Lance Lives]

I agree, he really should get Phantasm done first. Sure, this seems like a cool idea and all, but with all the attention that P5 was getting, it seems really out of left field. If this does become his next project, we can only hope he'll pick up P5 as soon as this one gets done.

[Cody]

P.S. You can read the entire book on the website (http://www.johndiesattheend.com/1-1.html).

[Cody]

Now filming (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/47146)

It’s been known for a little while that Mr. Coscarelli has had the rights to the novel JOHN DIES AT THE END, written by Cracked.com’s David Wong (real name Jason Pargin), but what hasn’t been so widely known is that Don’s been covertly filming the movie.

The film is about two twenty-something losers who gain extra sensory perception via a substance called Soy Sauce, a black liquid that acts like a potent drug, but seemingly has a mind of its own. They see a lot of crazy shit… mustaches ripping off of people’s faces, a monster made of cold cuts and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

John Dies At The End is a great book, laugh out loud funny and bizarre. It’s like Terry Gilliam wrote a Douglas Adams story in the vain of Ghostbusters.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of the book if you enjoy reading things that are good.

Or you can wait for the movie and let it wash all over you that way

If Don Coscarelli isn’t enough for you (shame on you) let’s add two names to this list: Paul Giamatti and Clancy Brown.

Giamatti plays a reporter the lead character is telling his story to and Brown is a supernatural expert who really knows what he’s doing, not like the clueless kids trying to fight the forces of evil. Giamatti’s also producing the film with his producing partner Dan Carey alongside Brad Baruh and Coscarelli himself.

The two leads are played by newcomers Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes. I was on set for two nights and will have my set report to you as soon as they give me the greenlight, but I will say I liked these guys together and if what I saw was any indication of what the final film is going to end up being you’ll be hearing a lot about both of these guys in the future.

So, there you have it. Don Coscarelli is behind the camera again and he has Paul Giamatti and Clancy Brown doing his bidding!

Don’t think I’d leave you with just boring old words. Not me. I’m a visual guy! Here’s a shot to tease you a little (http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/JDATEhelmetbig.jpg).

[The Dream Master]

So that's what he was tweeting about the other day...

[WesReviews]

I hope history repeats itself with this Nightmare remake business.
It didn't. :cry:

[Biosynthnut v.2]

Wife read the book. It sucked.

[Cody]

A fish man, a tall man, an exploding doctor and a doomed school teacher (http://www.aintitcool.com/node/47409)

So, we got a few more people joining the announced newbies Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes and vets Clancy Brown and Paul Giamatti. Here's who we got:

Everybody's favorite man in suit Doug Jones will be outside of the rubber playing the mysterious Roger North, a role he's perfect for if you've read the book.

Glynn Turman will be a Detective. He's a well known actor on the stage and a face you'll recognize. My geekiness immediately jumped to: "Oh my God! He's the teacher from GREMLINS!"

And Daniel Roebuck, whose career goes back to the '80s with River's Edge, the Jon Cryer super '80s flick DUDES, Coscarelli's Bubba Ho-Tep and, of course, as Arzt on LOST. He's playing a character called "Largeman."

Oh, and yes... Phantasm fans rejoice because: Yep, The Tall Man, Mr. Angus Scrimm, will also make an appearance.

[The Dream Master]

Don Coscarelli and Doug Jones showed up at Fantastic Fest with a five minute clip and a teaser trailer last night. Looked interesting, though I can't say I really know what's 100% about,

[Natman]

It's 60% about one thing, and about 10% some other things. So you're all good there. I love Coscarelli and I love the book, so I can't wait.

[Cody]

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[i am SAW]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1870/51346731.jpg

[WesReviews]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/coolproduction/ckeditor_assets/pictures/4934/original/JohnDiesPosterSm.jpg?1326417002