Stephen Sommers Planning Odd Thomas?

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=69707

Source: Production Weekly
September 10, 2010

Stephen Sommers may be looking to adapt Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas books into a feature film, says a tweet from Production Weekly.

First appearing in 2003's Odd Thomas, Koontz has returned to the character, a clairvoyant with the power to see (but not hear) the dead, for three subsequent books, Forever Odd, Brother Odd and Odd Hours, as well as for two graphic novels, the second of which is planned for release next month.

Most recently, Sommers directed G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra. An alleged studio leak last month suggested that Paramount may ask him to return to direct the sequel as well.

I haven't read the books but I'm sure fans are currently mourning.

​

 

[GoldGoblin]

When is it gonna be made?

 

[Doctor Jones]

I've read the first book which was pretty good. I don't see how he can make a good movie out of this. He just seems wrong about it. Or maybe he really loves the book and it's a passion project for him so it's less likely he'll screw it up. I'll give him a chance if that's the case. But right now, it's a weird pairing. I loved The Mummy and GI JOE was alot of fun, this seems to be mature material for him.

I have no idea who would play Odd though.

 

[B.A. Baracus]

How does he 'speak' to the ghosts though?

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

He's a terrible director.

 

[Doctor Jones]

How does he 'speak' to the ghosts though?

I read it like two years ago so I don't really remember. But from what I do remember, it's told in third person when he talks to them. He doesn't directly speak to them in dialogue, it's just narrated.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

yeah, he sees ghost, but the ghosts can't speak, they're eternally silent, and can only communicate through pantomime. read the books, love them, sommers is completely wrong for this, his style is loud dumb popcorn flicks... essentially not Odd thomas. the books are so great because of the way they are narrated, (they're told from Odds perspective, as he recounts his life) the narrative has a personality of its own, so to adapt to film would be difficult, something i don't trust sommers with, i just don't think he's that versatile a director.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'll give him a chance. Like you said, he does dumb action films, so why an adaptation of a book that's not anything like that? He must be a big fan of the book, and like I said, it could be some passion project that he might handle with care. Who knows?

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Glad they are making a movie out of this excellent series but why Sommers? Not that I dont like the guy his movies are fun but he just doesnt seem a fit for this at all, it needs a director who can do tension and emotion and I dont think Sommers is very good at either of those things.

 

[Octoberist]

Sommers? yuck.

 

[GoldGoblin]

Why not a good director who has made good movies.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^Just someone who can do tension, emotion and horror, Sommers cant do any of those things he just doesnt fit. Its not like the book is fast paced either like his films tend to be.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Gugu Mbatha-Raw Joins Odd Thomas

 

[nite-owl]

Why not a good director who has made good movies.

Because Sommers is neither of those.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Really dissapointed Sommers is directing this, have wanted to see a movie made out of this character for a while but I wanted a director who can do drama, as thats what the book is filled with.

 

[elgaz]

I love the books, but not sure how a film version would work as well. The books allow for Odd Thomas to engage in plenty of self reflection and display amusing perspectives on things, but this could come across as quite ............... well, boring (for want of a better word) on screen.

In saying that, a film version could be far removed from the original books and take a totally different and less faithful approach.

They'd also need a fairly unique and charismatic actor to play Odd Thomas. Likeable and easy going, but definitely introspective and kooky too. It's not one for Bradley Cooper

 

[DarkSovereignty]

well i think aton yelchin has been cast as odd. which is good casting i'll admit. and patton oswalt as ozzie isn't necessarily bad either, i like patton, i just don't see why they're making ozzie a sculpture. i mean, the fact that he was an author was kind of the main thing about his character, his insights into lifes working and comparing them to a story and everything.

 

[elgaz]

Yelchin as Odd could definitely work, I could see him as the character.

I think Lizzy Caplan would make a good Stormy Llewellyn

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^I believe Stormy was a bit more foreign looking as described in the book though, Lizzy is a good actress but there are better people out there for the part, someone like Alba would have the look but not the acting ability!

 

[Doctor Jones]

Who is the rich fat character Odd is friends with and writes about a fat detective? Is that who Oswald is playing?

 

[DarkSovereignty]

yeah, except they're making him a sculpture instead of a writer for some reason.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

^Now that already pisses me off, Ozzie being a writer was a pretty integral part of what made his character.

 

[OsGom]

Whatever happened to this project? I was looking forward to this but I haven't heard anything for a while.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

hopefully it began its rapid descent into the seventh circle of development hell.

 

[Project862006]

^ they already shot this it comes out this year

why would you want it in development hell ?