Ben Hibon, Director Of ‘Harry Potter’ Animated Sequence, To Helm ‘Pan’
One of the most striking and surprising aspects ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Iwas the third-act animated sequence that explains the backstory of the Deathly Hallows. It’s a stylish and appropriately ominous piece of film. Now the director of that sequence,Ben Hibon, is set to direct a “fantasy action thriller” reworking ofPeter Pancalled, appropriately,Pan.
Varietyhas the news, reminding thatBen Magid’s original script was once intended for Guillermo del Toro to direct. (Which welast mentionedwhen Mr. Magid’s scriptInvasionsold to Summit. He also wrote a draft ofHack/Slash.)
Presumably this will be a live-action effort; the trade says casting is under way for a Fall 2011 shoot in Europe. (Casting now for Fall 2011? Hm. That’s a long lead.) Ben Hibon also has abackground in video games, having done in-game sequences for the crazyKiller 7and work related toHeavenly Sword. He also directed the shortCodehunters.
The script forPanuses, as we’ve explained in the past, a dark spin onJ.M. Barrie’s tale ofPeter Pan, where Pan is a villain being hunted by a police captain named Hook. There’s nothing there that sounds too appealing on the surface, but the fact that the script has continued to generate interest over the past few years suggests there might be something more to it than the basic recap would suggest.
The director also recently bought the option toRichard Harland’s steampunk novelWorldshaker, which he’d like to direct. Here’s the recap of that novel:
Colbert Porpentine is in line to be the future supreme commander of Worldshaker, a huge roving community, more than two miles long and nearly one mile wide, that will have steampunk fans thinking of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines. Col’s refined life as an Upper Deck citizen is shaken when Riff, a Filthy from below decks, escapes, and he finds her hidden in his room. Through Riff and her fellow Revolutionaries, Col expands his naive understanding of his high society’s practices, especially the injustices and cruelties that Upper Deck folks commit against the Menials, Filthies, and even the native villagers Upper Decker people pillage from and crush under their ship. This is a fine introduction to science fiction for young teens, both male and female, with its intriguing world building, strong characters, and an exciting plot that—though far from subtle in message—will leave teens thinking about perceptions and prejudices and the weight of leadership.
(image from Annie Leibovitz’s collection of Disney fairytale reimaginings)
