With Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackon‘s “The Adventures Of Tintin” currently blowing up the box office overseas, sequel talk has already started, even though followup plans were always in the works. As Spielberg revealed last week, Sony and Paramount have given the directing duo enough funds to at least develop a script and do all the visual storyboards to get the next film ready to go as soon as they get a greenlight. Jackson has already said he intends to direct after he wraps up with “The Hobbit.” But the question remains, just what the actual story will be.
When author Anthony Horowitz was hired last fall to pen the sequel, word was he was writing “The Adventures Of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun,” a story that would mash up two Tintin adventures—“The Secret of the Unicorn” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure.” And while he’s done just that, he reveals to the BBC (via Bleeding Cool) that ‘Prisoners’ might be used for the third film, and he may be penning an as yet undetermined story for the second entry in the series.
“That was true a few months ago,” Horowitz said, “but I can tell you that I think the second film is not going to be ‘Prisoners of the Sun.’ “
Noting that discussions are still underway with producers and directors on the project, Horowitz added, “The good news is if [‘Prisoners Of The Sun’] is not the second film it’ll be the third film so actually I could end up with two Tintins under my belt.” Certainly not a bad gig if you can get it.
Pleasing the mighty Spielberg and Jackson certainly can’t be an easy task, but it seems that Horowitz has impressed them enough with ‘Prisoners’ that they still want him to tackle the next effort. But there’s lots of time to get this together. Jackson will be busy with “The Hobbit” through the end of 2012, so there is plenty of room to keep tossing around ideas to get it right. But while the rest of the world soaks up “The Adventures Of Tintin,” we still have to wait. If you’re hitting the AFI Fest, ‘Tintin’ will be the closing the film, but for the rest, we’ll have to wait until December 21st.
There\’s also the two-parter of \”Destination Moon\” and \”Explorers on the Moon\”, but I agree that Cigars/Lotus would probably make the best choice for an adaptation.
Jackson has also said that he likes \”The Calculus Affair\” a lot, so maybe they\’re doing something like that. It\’d be a kind of a Bond-film, with eastern european spies and stuff like that.
The Secret of the Unicorn and Prisoners of the Sun are kind of Indiana Jones-esque adventures, the spy story would be something different.
The 24 Tintin books include three tales told over two volumes: The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham\’s Treasure (which have been amalgamated with a hefty dose of The Crab With The Golden Claws for the first movie); The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun which many rate as the absolute high watermark for great Tintin adventures; and Cigars of the Pharoah and The Blue Lotus which for me – and many others – are definitely the best. Bounding all over the world and featuring a deadly cult, drug smugglers, plus the introduction of both Tintin\’s best friend and worst enemy, I\’m sure Cigars and Lotus would definitely make the most spectacular conversion to cinema. However, if they assemble the same writers as the first movie, I\’m happy for them to take me on any adventure they please.
\’\'(…) word was he was writing “The Adventures Of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun,” a story that would mash up two Tintin adventures—“The Secret of the Unicorn” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure.\’\’
That should be \’\’The Seven Crystal Balls\’\’ and \’\’Prisoners of the Sun.\’\’