Dante’s Inferno Movie – Writer Confirmed

The news continues for Dante’s Inferno and its adaptation to a video game by EA. Yes, a movie is being made, too, but like all things in Dante’s vision of hell, it is all backwards. The movie is based on the video game, and the video game is based on the epic poem (loosely).

The adaptations made to the poem in order to make it a video game are quite understandable. Video games are about action, fantasy, and interactivity. The actual plot of the original poem does not make for the greatest interactive experience. EA had to heat things up a bit (har har, pun intended) by making your hero a warrior from the Crusades and not an exiled poet. You have a weapon, a scythe (and a crucifix from what the trailers present), and not a pen. In video games, the sword is mightier than the pen (unless the game is Okami). Yet, for movies, they are nothing without a good script.

Enter Dan Harris, recently named the writer for Dante’s Inferno‘s screenplay. He co-wrote X-Men 2. Cool. He co-wrote Superman Returns. Hmm … well, okay. There is some excellent drama in both of those movies–pretty good action, too. Not too bad a choice, I guess. But basing the movie on the video game, to me, is a missed opportunity. The original text is rich with themes that would translate quite well to a cinematic experience–especially the visuals.

In the end, however, I’m fine with the video game character of Dante being, more or less, an action hero prototype, but the movie character of Dante ought to be someone with which I can identify. I should experience his journey through Hell through his eyes–he should feel how I would feel when encountered with this sojourn in the afterlife. He should be a sympathetic character; instead, he is going to (probably) be some wise-cracking meathead. This could be bad. This could be hell.

Sources: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001343.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

http://kotaku.com/5181302/dantes-inferno-the-movie-has-a-writer