On 'Children of Men'

Many of P.D. James' novels have been turned into films for Britain's ITV Network, with actor Roy Marsden portraying her beloved detective, Adam Dalgliesh.

By far the biggest exposure her work has received on film, however, was the 2006 version of her novel, "Children of Men." Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, the movie was nominated for three Academy Awards.

But while James enjoyed the movie, it wasn't exactly true to the spirit of the novel.

"I thought it was a very good film," she says, "and I thought the direction and the photography were really excellent. But, of course, it wasn't really a film of my book."

James novel, published in 1992, concerns the diminution of the human race. Set in 2021, with the last birth occurring in 1995, it's a bleak novel in which suicide is encouraged, sex and the arts marginalized.

The film follows a loose outline of the novel, but James thinks too many of the plot points diverge from her book.

"They wouldn't have been able to do it without the book, and certainly, the inspiration was the book, and there were certain incidents from the book," she says."But it wasn't the book, and I think in some ways, it would have been stronger if they had kept to the book. And I think one of the American critics said that.

"But again, I would love it if a book of mine was made into a distinguished film, even if it wasn't exactly true to the book, than having a meretricious and fourth-rate film which stuck closely to every event in the book."

http://moviesblog.mtv.com...uel-and-umbrella-academy/

Alfonso Cuaron Nixes 'Children Of Men' Sequel/Prequel And 'Umbrella Academy'

Published by Eric Ditzian on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 2:59 pm.

"Children of Men" told a haunting apocalyptic tale of a world in which all women are infertile and mankind is slowly dying off. Clive Owen and Julianne Moore gave admirably restrained performances. Beautifully shot, combining the best elements of the sci-fi and thriller genres, "Children" was one of the finest films of 2006-and no one went to see it (the US gross didn't even cover half its $76 million budget).

Yet rumors of another "Children" installment have persisted, so writer/director Alfonso Cuarón spoke with MTV News to shoot down those rumors (as well as rumors he'll be directing an adaptation of emo comic series, "The Umbrella Academy"). Or rather, he spoke with us to mock the very idea of picking up the "Children" story where he left it, with both Owen and Moore's characters dead and the first baby born in years stowed away on a secret humanity-saving ship.

"'Children of Men 2,'" he cried. "The baby is back and he's mad!"

Okay, maybe not. But come on-there's really been talk of a prequel or sequel. "Yes," Cuarón said. "Will Ferrell is going to play the baby."

Well played, sir.

Nonetheless, David Eick, a writer/producer on "Battlestar Galactica," announced last March that he's adapting a version of "Children" for TV. Might that be happening on your watch, Mr. Cuarón?

"No, no, no," he insisted, adding with a laugh, "Maybe Guillermo [Del Toro] has an idea for a remake."

Okay, we're bummed, even as we (a) can't stop laughing and (b) respect his commitment not to muck up a brilliant movie with unnecessary or implausible new chapters. But Cuarón didn't stop bumming us out there. He also told MTV News he won't - as had been rumored - be directing an adaptation of the comic book series, "The Umbrella Academy," by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way.

"No," Cuarón informed us. "I like 'The Umbrella Academy' but I'm not associated with it."

Next up for the director is "A Boy and his Shoe," a road movie set in England, Scotland and France, which is currently casting, with filming set to begin in the spring.

Does "Children of Men" have the makings of a sci-fi franchise or is Cuarón right to leave it alone? Gerard Way has also said he can see Michel Gondry directing "Umbrella Academy" Who's your first choice?