John Carpenter goes to the 'Darkchylde'

By Adnan Tezer Nov 1, 2010, 17:56 GMT

John Carpenter will direct the screen adaptation of the comic book "Darkchylde."

"Darkchylde" was created in 1996 by Randy Queen and, upon its release, quickly outsold "Spider-Man," "Superman," and "Batman" both domestically and overseas.

The comic also garnered a high female fanbase in contrast to the traditionally male comic book market and has maintained its popularity throughout the years with toys, trading cards, apparel, lunch boxes and mini busts.

The story follows Ariel Chylde, a cursed teen who can become the creatures from her many nightmares, and then must save her small town from the forces of darkness she's set free.

Carpenter and Sandy King's Storm King Productions will produce with Randy and Sarah Queen's Darkchylde Entertainment following the release of test footage created by Richard Taylor's Oscar-winning Weta Workshop ("The Lord of the Rings," "Avatar," "King Kong," "The Hobbit").

Carpenter said in a press release, "Randy Queen's hijacked angel, Ariel Chylde, is the best young female character since Laurie Strode in "Halloween." Bringing Ariel and her dark mysteries to life should be quite an adventure for us all."

Randy Queen added, "I'm beyond thrilled that John Carpenter, one of our most important, and legendary genre directors, and the man responsible for such landmark films as "The Thing," and "Halloween" has come onboard with Weta Workshop to help bring the nightmarish tale of Ariel Chylde to the silver screen. As a horror fan, the thought of Carpenter and Weta together, beautiful dreamscapes, and multiple transformations, makes me incredibly excited. There is a reason nearly his entire catalogue has, or is being remade, and it's because Carpenter is a genius."

Carpenter's credits include "Halloween," "The Thing," "Escape from New York," "Starman," "Christine," "In the Mouth of Madness," "Assault on Precinct 13," "They Live" and "The Fog."

His latest film, "The Ward," premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.