When people think of George R.R. Martin, they often envision Westeros, dragons, and the infamous habit of killing off beloved characters. However, Martin’s literary portfolio extends beyond ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’. One of his lesser-known but intriguing works is ‘Fevre Dream’, which he hopes to adapt into a film. Martin has a clear vision for this adaptation and knows exactly who he’d like to lead it.
In an interview with Winter is Coming at the World Science Fiction Convention, Martin discussed the potential for more adaptations of his books, focusing on ‘Fevre Dream’. Although his previous work led to the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’ and the prequel ‘House of the Dragon’, Martin is excited about the possibility of bringing ‘Fevre Dream’ to the screen.
Martin shared that he had already written a screenplay for ‘Fevre Dream’ and had developed it in the past, but the project didn’t move forward at that time. However, since the rights reverted to him, he is eager to revisit it.
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He has been in discussions with Guillermo del Toro, who is enthusiastic about the project but has other commitments. Martin is hopeful that del Toro will eventually direct the film, provided both he and Martin are still around to see it happen.
‘Fevre Dream’ is a vampire novel set along the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s. It explores Martin’s horror-writing skills through a tale of a steamboat captain named Abner Marsh, who is hired by the enigmatic Joshua York for a mysterious mission. The novel delves into a world of vampiric intrigue and political manoeuvring, echoing the complex storytelling seen in Martin’s fantasy works.
Image Courtesy: The Independent
Martin also has a specific actor in mind for the lead role. He envisions Ron Perlman, known for his role in ‘Hellboy’, playing Abner Marsh. Martin expressed his enthusiasm for working with Perlman again, noting that Perlman is eager to take on the role. According to Martin, “We want to cast Ron Perlman, we’ve even cast it!” He believes Perlman would be perfect for the part, and with the right funding, the adaptation could become a reality.
–Farheen Ali