There must be something about the combo of murder mysteries and the occult -- because both times Johnny Depp has gotten involved with a graphic novel adaptation (first “From Hell,” now “Rex Mundi”), those were the key ingredients.
“Johnny has an interest in the Templar Knights,” said Radical Publishing president Barry Levine, who is co-producing the “Rex Mundi” film with Depps’ Infinitum Nihil production company . “He loves that kind of research and all that stuff. He’s not so much a comics guy as much of a story guy. If it’s a good story, it doesn’t matter.”
In the alternate-noir world of “Rex Mundi,” the Catholic Church was never reformed -- Martin Luther was assassinated first. And so by 1933, when the story takes place, the Inquisition polices Europe, which is ruled by monarchies, while most of the rest of the world remains colonized. And yet, despite all the Church control, magic is also a part.
“People don’t want to see what they already know,” Levine said. “People are open-minded, and they want to be entertained, so this is a new opportunity for that.”
Though the mystery in Arvid Nelson’s graphic novels involves the Holy Grail and a descendant of Jesus Christ, screenwriter Jim Uhls (“Fight Club”) has changed the story somewhat, although Depp’s character Dr. Julien Sauniere would still be the lead.
“The second draft is now coming in from Jim,” Levine said, “and Warner Bros. is pretty excited about it. They came up with a couple of names for directors, so now we just need Johnny to look at the list. It all begins and ends with Johnny. He’s got to be happy with the script, and he gave his notes, so we’ll see what happens next.”
Who would you want to see direct "Rex Mundi"? Would you rather see Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter or as Dr. Julien Sauniere? Let us know below.
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