Guillermo del Toro, celebrated director and Oscar winner for “The Shape of Water,” has long been known for his ambitious filmmaking pursuits, especially concerning adaptation of literary classics. During recent promotional efforts for his adaptation of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” for Netflix, del Toro disclosed that “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” by Ray Bradbury, was among his near-misses in ambitious adaptation attempts. The subject arose while del Toro was being interviewed by the Inklings Book Club podcast, where the focus keyword, Guillermo del Toro adaptation projects, came up when the host presented him with a copy of Bradbury’s novel, prompting the filmmaker to candidly reveal details about a long-held aspiration turned lost opportunity.
Del Toro, whose work consistently reflects a reverence for speculative fiction and gothic horror, was visibly moved by the memory of his connection to Bradbury’s novel. The director’s reflections highlighted how personal and complex his history with the material has been, revealing that despite repeated attempts, a combination of rights issues and non-disclosure agreements ultimately prevented his vision from reaching the screen.
Reflections on a Literary Masterpiece and NDA Constraints
The conversation reached a poignant moment when del Toro held up the book and shared insights about his affection for it, yet emphasized his restrictions due to industry agreements. As he expressed during the interview:
“This is a book I’ve tried to adapt a few times, I adore it…It is his best book. I know it very well, and I think it’s one of the greatest American novels…And I have an NDA that prevents me from sharing more about how I tried to adapt it or not. [Holding up the book] This is a movie I would have loved to have done.”
– Guillermo del Toro, Director
The NDA, believed to be related to Disney, underscores the challenges seasoned filmmakers like del Toro face in navigating intellectual property rights. Disney previously adapted “Something Wicked This Way Comes” in 1983, directed by Jack Clayton, making the company a likely stakeholder. Del Toro’s prior involvement with Disney as a potential director for a modern version of “The Haunted Mansion,” a project that once had Ryan Gosling attached, adds further context to his Hollywood experiences with the studio and highlights recurring hurdles in bringing beloved source material to life.
Bradbury’s Lasting Influence on Del Toro’s Filmography
Del Toro’s admiration for Bradbury predates any professional attempts at adaptation. He has openly credited “Something Wicked This Way Comes” as a formative inspiration dating back to his youth, a theme echoed during an interview with NME in 2022. The director explained the book’s enduring impact on his storytelling, particularly in his exploration of childhood and friendship within his acclaimed films.
“I’ve been wanting to make that book since I was a teenager. Bradbury just has an understanding of childhood in such a complex and compelling way. ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ has been looming over me and everything I do for my whole life. It’s in the friendship between the two kids in ‘The Devil’s Backbone.’ It’s there in the menacing universe of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth‘…I don’t know. It’s hard for me to talk about making movies that belong to a studio library, right, because I don’t control the property. I’ve been trying to do certain movies or other, and I sometimes get them, and sometimes I don’t.”
– Guillermo del Toro, Director
Del Toro’s remarks reveal that Bradbury’s work has shadowed his creative approach for decades, seeping into his narratives about childhood, darkness, and wonder. His acknowledgment of the persistent barriers presented by works
“that belong to a studio library”
further illustrates the challenges even top-tier directors face when negotiating for the rights to classic stories.
Other Literary Adaptations and Industry Challenges
Del Toro’s journey to adapt beloved literature to the screen is marked by perseverance and disappointment. In addition to his unrealized vision for Bradbury’s novel, he previously sought to bring H.P. Lovecraft’s “At The Mountains of Madness” to theaters with Universal Pictures, almost securing a cast that included Tom Cruise and Ron Perlman, known for his role in “Hellboy.” Despite these efforts, the film failed to enter production, underscoring the volatility and unpredictability of major studio greenlights, even for established talent like del Toro.
His experiences speak to the broader difficulties balancing studio interests, intellectual property laws, and the creative aspirations of filmmakers. Universal and Disney, both storied Hollywood studios, play crucial roles in determining which adaptation projects reach audiences, further influencing the legacy of genre icons like Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft.
Upcoming Projects and Ongoing Legacy
Guillermo del Toro’s track record with adaptation projects may be punctuated by setbacks, but his creative momentum continues with a slate of new films on the horizon. “Fury” reunites him with actor Oscar Isaac, renowned for his performance in “Frankenstein,” while “The Buried Giant,” a stop-motion animated film, is also set to debut soon. Del Toro’s evolving filmography reflects both his persistence as a visionary and his enduring passion for literary adaptation.
Looking ahead, the director’s candid revelations about projects like “Something Wicked This Way Comes” add to his legend, offering fans and the industry alike unique insights into the mysteries and heartbreaks behind great films that never were. As viewers anticipate his next endeavors, del Toro’s willingness to share such stories ensures his ongoing influence within the world of Guillermo del Toro adaptation projects and the broader cinematic landscape.
