Gaiman’s Graveyard Book Headed to Big Screen

Before his latest novel, “The Graveyard Book” hit stores, author Neil Gaiman had interest from Hollywood about creating a big-screen version of the story.  Now that the book has hit the New York Times best-seller list for children’s fiction, interest in producing a big-screen adaptation of the book has increased. 

Gaiman told MTV News that the rights for the novel have been sold special effects house Framestore because he feels they will ” stick with where the book is written and film that.” 

Several big-name Hollywood studios wanted to adapt the novel as an animated feature.  Gaiman felt that his story about a boy raised by ghosts would be better served as a live-action feature.

“They want to start making films, and start producing their own films,” Gaiman said. “And they read it, and they loved it, and I spoke to them, and they said all the right things, and they seem to listen. So I don’t think it’s going to be transported to a graveyard in Los Angeles where they’ve been burying bathing beauties or anything. I think we’re actual going to stick with where the book is written and film that. And I think part of the idea is that they know they can also do the special effects cheaply.”

The novel features various graveyard inhabitatants including ghosts, witches and werewolves. 

“There’s probably going to be an awful lot of screen tests to figure how you can pull it off in the subtlest, coolest, and most convincing way, and that will be a job for next year,” Gaiman said. 

“There’s a part of me that just knows there will be an enormous joy for a director somewhere up the line in casting all these wonderful British actors,” Gaiman said, “the same joy they have in the Harry Potter films, where you have the cream of English actors all come in and do their three weeks, and I think we’re going to have that in ‘The Graveyard Book.’

Gaiman will serve as an executive producer on the film.  Gaiman produced the Hollywood adaptation of his best-selling novel “Stardust” to help his novel’s transition to the big-screen.

“I’m really excited to see what happens,” he said. “I think it’s going to be really cool.”

“Graveyard Book” is currently available in hardcover and on audio CD.   You can also see video of Gaiman reading the novel during a recent book tour on his web site.