J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Amazing Spider-Man, Thor) is apparently shopping his adaptation of Unca Harlan’s “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Tictockman as a feature film.
“Since this has apparently leaked onto several film-oriented websites, I should probably confirm the information and preclude distortion: I have optioned, and adapted into screenplay form, Harlan Ellison’s “Repent Harlequin, Said the Ticktockman.” It’s out to producers, studios and directors now. We hope to find a director who has always wanted to make this story into a movie. More as, if and when it develops.”
Ellison’s most beautifully written ode to free-will and non-conformity, “Repent Harleqiun!” was first published in 1965, has been re-published and translated in dozens of editions, and won both the Hugo and Nebula awards, science fiction’s two most prestigious. It’s a humorous SF romp, with little linear storytelling. Not necessarily standard Hollywood fare, but it could be phenomenal if executed well.
Searching around the webs about this story (which FP customer and fellow Ellison fan Michael Skloff hipped me to) I came across a good point made by Devin Faraci of Badass News:
It’ll be intriguing… what name the purchasing studio slaps on the film. No way they’re releasing it with a title that interesting. It’ll probably end up called On The Clock or Out Of Time or something.
To whatever suit gives the greenbacks and the green light to this film- kudos and have a bag of jellybeans on me.
To whatever suit slaps such a title on this film- GET STUFFED!
