Though David Fincher remains unable to get his Heavy Metal movie off the ground there is no such problem in France where a television adaptation of the same source material - the French produced comic anthology magazine Metal Hurlant Chronicles, published in the USA as Heavy Metal - is now in production.
Given the episodic nature of the book, which collected dominantly disconnected scifi stories from comic artists around the globe, television arguably suits it better than a film would, the format naturally allowing it to move cleanly from story to story while running as long as demand merits.
We got our first look a while back with published stills from the first episode - which features martial artists Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins, among others - arrived online and that has now been followed by a teaser cut from that same footage. This was a one and out job for these guys - Adkins is currently filming The Expendables 2 and there are no plans for these characters to return to the series - but it looks like a good beginning. Expect the likes of Rutger Hauer and James Marsters to turn up in future episodes.
This looks like weaksauce. I hate color palate and the soft filter look of this.
There's just not enough slowmo in this. I think it needs more slowmo, and cowbell.
David Belle (aka The Yoda of Parkour) is in this too? Nice.
I personally love the idea of a Heavy Metal series but I doubt it can be pulled off well. I just don't think they can get away with all the sex and violence, here in 2011, which defined the Heavy Metal comics when it was at its peak. Especially on TV, though I'm not sure how censorship heavy French TV is...
Im just glad to see MJW and Adkins on the same screen again. Those two jump-kicking each other in fron tof a camera is a good thing.
I absolutely love some of the old Heavy Metal (as well as the Epic Illustrated) stories for their creativity, which, yes, contained sex and violence. However, something tells me that unless the producers gather some thought-provoking fantasy and sci-fi writers on board (like, say, current magazine contributors, such as Alejandro Jodorowsky), the series will feel just as old and worn out as that preview. Alas, there's more money to be made by promoting small-mindedness (i.e. by exploiting the ignorant). Fortunately, it’s only a matter of time before a new generation comes along, recognizes the lack of change in our cultures, and proclaims “F—k this. Not in my century.”
Wish they went the animation route with this one. Even some of the "lesser" pulp of Metal Hurlat is still high concept in regards to imagery and color. Could have done some amazing things with animation...cartoon, stop motion, and perhaps a live-action episode here or there. They could have mixed it up for different episodes like that old show "Exposure" on SciFi channel.
Would love to see them try to tackle "Waters of Deadmoon", though.
That would be awesome.