'I won't let them ruin my book'
(interview : 23/02/2004)


Why is Clive Cussler determined to sink a £100 million Hollywood adaptation of one of his bestselling adventure novels? Michael Shelden finds out

If Clive Cussler has his way, one of Hollywood's biggest film projects will soon grind to a halt. Now shooting on location in the Moroccan desert at a whopping cost of more than £100 million, Sahara is based on Cussler's bestselling novel featuring his adventure hero Dirk Pitt - often described as part James Bond, part Indiana Jones - and stars Matthew McConaughey as Dirk and Penelope Cruz as glamorous girlfriend Eva.

"I don't know whose book they think they're adapting," Cussler tells me, at his home outside Phoenix, Arizona, "but it sure isn't mine. I can't approve what they're doing. I've thrown away all the scripts they've sent me - seven or eight so far - and told them to go back and follow the book. But they refuse. They insist on doing it their way."

But isn't that what the big Hollywood studios always do?

more .....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml...2/23/ixtop.html

That was a good article...

I cant wait to see what the outcome will be. On one hand I would really like to see a Dirk Pitt movie on the Big Screen. On the other, if it is totally oppisite to how the book goes, I will be dissappointed.

I will go see it, no matter what.

Marribiuz

yep, only the lawyers will gain from this fiasco !! <_<

Good on him, can't think of anything worse than a badly adapted book to film. Maybe they need to find some unknown actors to play Dirk and Al - any well known actors would be too recognisable as themselves.
I hope Clive wins this one - you can almost bet your house he won't ever sell another script!

That is an excellent article, insightful and quite informative.

Frankly, I rather see the movie not made than been made NOT following the book.. It would probably be a b0000ring drama movie than an action movie :(

I've been eagerly awaiting the movie release. I am disappointed that yet another great book may be victimized. Good luck Cussler.

On the other hand, I'd still like to see what the producers came up with using Clive's material as a basis, more out of curiousity than anything. The photos of the ironclad look promising.
They still shoulda listened to Clive, however.

Yes? :blink:

Because I think it is a important for CC to have a screenplay truthful to his creation. Meaning a screenplay could still be good, but untruthful to his work, which is why he would turn it down.

After seeing "Raise The Titanic", I was sad. The Pitt actor was aweful. Thank gosh I have forgot his name.

I could remind you of his name.... :D
Mike

If Sahara is released, I will have a tough time deciding wether to go or not, cause it still could be a good movie, right?? :unsure:

I guess it is possible. But would Cussler turn down a good script?

Yes, most of the time lawyers will gain in every case they represent, however, Clive could also gain in this and if he does, we will end up with an even better movie than what may come out, or none at all (although I think the movie will happen regardless). I don't see him backing down anytime soon.

As for what Maeve said about him "never selling another script," I think that is true, but its also possible that the only way he would is if he, or Pitch Productions, was producing it themselves. Kind of like what Mel Gibson did with "The Passion." No one would come near that one with financing, so he put his own money into it and now look what a blockbuster he's come out with.

I thought that was a great article. I am curious though why Clive gave the interview to the UK reporter and not the LA Times reporter.

I feel the same way, I just read this and I am getting worried.

This Anshutz fella sounds like a character from one of the novels trying to take over the world or something. Maybe his code name is Spector.

Thanks for the interview, having read it I couldn't believe that Mr C was yet again battling for his rights, why can't these film companys get there heads out of there *?*?* for just two minutes and see whats best for films of this calliber, know one knows what readers of the books want more that the author who has spent his life dedicated to these perticular characters.

Why didn't CC just produce the movie himself? Independent films can do a lot these days. Improved computer graphics have really cut the costs of live staged explosions, etc...

Is it that Clive doesn't have the right contacts in the movie business, or he hates dealing with actors, or he couldn't come up with the 100million UK? Instead of selling the rights to the movie SAHARA, why didn't he make himself executive producer and subcontract out the script writing, etc?

Diana

Apparently the "Passion of Christ" is doing quite well. Our Aussie friend, Mel Gibson, put his own money on the line and produced what may well become one of the biggest movies of all time.

If and when this movie does come out, I think I will go and see it, but with the thought of watching a movie and not watching a movie of the book. I personally am always dissapointed with movies of the books, but it doesnt mean that the actual movie is bad. (Although most of the time it does)

I have to agree with fact that it is very rare that a movie does a book justice, especially when the characters are so deeply re-enforced in the viewers minds before seeing the film. With the Cussler novels we have all had book after book to formulate our own images and personalities and that makes it impossible for the movie makers to live up to expectations. However, they don't have to make it a cheap Hollywood joke, and that is what I think Cussler is fighting.

I am only guessing, Clive is not fighting because it's a cheap Hollywood Joke (spending over $100 Million US is no joke), but I think he's fighting because the script is not handling the characters properly. Clive has spent over 30 years developing the interaction between Dirk and Al, and perhaps the Hollywood script is not honoring the relationship properly. What's your thoughts along that line of inquiry?

Cusslermen,

If the movie is released, I will watch it with an open mind and with an expectation of being entertained. I'll expect the story will differ in many ways with the book, and I'll expect several sub-plots to disappear entirely.

BUT ..... If Crusader messes with the unique interaction between Dirk and Al, even I will be throwing rotton tomatoes at the screen.

That would tip any Dirk Pitt fan over the edge <_<

I agree.

I'd like to try to keep the news articles newer, but this is pretty cool:

http://www.rslevinson.com/03_edgars.htm
Edgar Awards for 2003 (good photos of CLive)

I say, he ought to make them allow him to write the script..thats what he ought to do. Take some of his money, and Direct it himself...write it himself...even produce it himself! It might take quite a bit longer to get out of production and into theatres, but atleast then it will be true to the story.

At this point, I think I would have rather seen all of his books made into a fictional television series. What do you think about that?

JimC: sounds good cept one problem:

I WANNA SEE EM ON THE BIG SCREEN :D

Richard Jordan (aren't I a git :D :P ). He is actually quite good, Raise The Titanic (the film) was bloody awful, period!

Speaking for myself i can see dr cusslers reluctance in finding a script that does justice to his charactors after they are a creation 30 years in the making and to him i'm sure that they are as loved as his children.. :D

I'd like to see Clive pen his own script...then he could put all his witty writings styles into movie form....and he wouldn't tweak it too much....

It's all down to who wants to film the books - the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell were well made television films, and got international exposure for actors like Sean Bean, Pete Postlethwaite and Liz Hurley.

There were certain differences between the books and the films (at what point Ricahrd Sharpe got a battlefield commission etc), but overall the films were pretty accurate.

A DP television series would be awsome!!!

I'd tape 'em all and make my own box set!!!
Even better: Have the Grandmaster himself present the films when they air!

Latest tentative plans are to release SAHARA in April or May, 2005. For best box office, it will probably be late May. snor:

Welcome Carolena! w:

Nice to hear from you. I was sifting through the photos from the Trojan Odyssey train tour only last week and couldn't help but laugh at some of the fun memories.

Cheers ... p:

Welcome aboard Carolena. w:

w: Welcome Carolena!

Good interview but nothing new. Just hope Dr. C wins in getting better script. Will check out the movie despite what happens. p:

I just hope this doesn't trun into another distater I am not sure if CC loeses if I will watch the movie or not.

Joel

Filming ended months ago and the movie's been in post production since the summer. I really don't see what the suit can possibly accomplish now, except to shorten the film and lengthen the "deleted scenes" section of the DVD.