It was once said that the Hunchback of Notre Dame would be one of the characters involved with Universal's monster-filled cinematic universe Dark Universe, but with the Dark Universe plans in flux and the producer who namechecked the Hunchback no longer involved with that project, we'll have to wait and see if that ever pans out. In the meantime, Netflix is teaming up with Idris Elba (pictured above in THE DARK TOWER) for their own adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1831 Gothic romance novel THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
In addition to playing the titular hunchback, Elba will also be directing and producing the film through his company Green Door.
Hugo's novel told the story of
Quasimodo, a hunchback, and his doomed romance with the Gypsy Esmeralda.
Michael Mitnick has written the screenplay for the new adaptation, which is being described as "a sonic and musical experience". Elba will be producing the original music required to give viewers that experience.
Automatik's Fred Berger and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones will be producing THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME alongside Elba and Green Door's Ana Garanito.
The Quasimodo brought to life by Lon Chaney in the 1923 HUNCHBACK film is still a tough act to follow, but the "sonic experience" aspect sounds like it will set this adaptation apart from previous versions well enough. Setting it apart even more is the fact that this is a "modern retelling" of the story. That's a bit odd, but I look forward to seeing what Elba has in store for us with this one.