How Many Shadows? Producer Michael Uslan Suggests There Might Be A Bunch
It’s been sometime since we heard anything about the newThe Shadowfilm. Way back in December 2006,Sam RaimiandMichael Uslancame onboard as producers and Siavash Farahani was appointed to write the screenplay. It wassaidthat several other Street and Smith properties were being optioned, almost as part of a set – these would includeDoc SavageandThe Avenger, possibly evenThe WhispererandThe Skipper, and it was sometimes suggested that characters from each would all appear in a single movie.
At the time, I pictured something betweenSin CityandDick Tracy. And then… radio silence. Now, producer Michael Uslan hasspokento MTV about progress on the film and how he sees it shaping up and one of his comments has me making my?face.
““I think the one thing going in is we all seeThe Shadowas more of a force of nature than a specific person in a secret identity.The Shadowmay actually be many people.”
A force of Shadows (though not like the Vashta Nerada, I’m sure) all up to their shadowy business. Will the catchphrase have to change to “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! The Shadows know”?
Though Uslan was partly responsible for Frank Miller’sThe Spirit, he did once writeThe Shadowcomics so I trust he knows and loves the character and I’d trust Raimi with anything like this. But will we ever see the film? Really?
“It’s coming along great, we’re very excited about it,” says Uslan, “You know, it takes time to nurture these things. You probably know all the stories. The firstBatmanfilm took me 10 years to get made.”
Well, not really. TheBatmanthat got made wasn’t anything like the one they were planning even a couple of years earlier – not the same director, writer, cast or anything like that. I know we’ll see anotherShadowone day, but I’m not conviced it will be anytime soon –The Spiritcan’t have helped – and I’m not so sure that Uslan, Raimi or Farahani will be anything to do with it. Shame.
