Martin Scorsese’s next film Hugo Cabret is to be a live-action 3-D film based on the acclaimed 2007 novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick, which won both the Caldecott Medal and a National Book Award.
Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths have joined the production which began Tuesday in London.
Previously announced cast members include Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz and Helen McCrory.
John Logan (The Aviator) wrote the screenplay adaptation.
The book, a mix of historical fact and fiction, tells the story of Hugo (Butterfield) an orphan living in the walls of a Paris train station. His life changes drastically when he encounters a hidden broken automata machine. Things get more interesting when his adventure draws in an eccentric girl, a reserved toy shop manager and a mystery involving cinematic genius Georges Méliès (Kingsley).
The project is being filmed at Shepperton Studios as well locations in London and Paris.
The film is set for release in December 2011.
The Buzz:
I read this book a couple years ago and LOVED IT! If you haven’t read it or even heard of it, I highly recommend getting your hands on it as soon as possible. It is easily one of the best children’s books I’ve read in years. In fact I think even classifying it as a “children’s book” does it a disservice. It’s a well written imaginative story with stunning drawings.
Soon after reading it I heard that Scorsese was interested in adapting it into a film and I got really excited. The book is so cinematically visual it screams big screen adaptation. With 284 pictures between the book’s 533 pages, it’s the story visually as well as with words. The book itself could easily serve as the films storyboards.
And I just love the idea of Scorsese making a kids film. Plus throw in the Méliès bit and you know Scorsese is going to do the book the best justice possible.
And now it looks like a really great cast has been put together. This film is shaping up to be one of my most anticipated films of next year, which at this point is saying a lot considering what is on 2011’s slate!
