Paradise Lost to be given the Hollywood treatment

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Will you see it?

By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
(Filed: 12/10/2005)

Paradise Lost, John Milton’s epic poem about Adam and Eve’s temptation and fall, is to be turned into a feature film for the first time since its publication more than 330 years ago. Hollywood producers aim to keep the screen version faithful to Milton’s 1667 original, a complex work comprising 12,000 lines of blank verse. The production is described as “epic in scope and size”.

Vincent Newman, whose company Vincent Newman Entertainment is spearheading the project, said: “Paradise Lost represents the epitome of mythology in that it is the oldest myth with a capital M. I always felt that the story really captures the initial struggle between good and evil and is also the first human love story.”

Paradise Lost tells of Satan’s failed rebellion in Heaven and his role in Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. The work conjures stunning images such as angels falling from Hell, Satan’s journey through chaos and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Milton declared that the poem’s aim was “to justify the ways of God to men” but debate has raged as to whether he achieved this or rather exposed the cruelty of the Christian God.

The screenplay has been written by Phil DiBlasi and Byron Willinger. No director or actors have yet been chosen for the film, which is due for release in 2007.

telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/10/12/wparad12.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/10/12/ixworld.html
 
That is one massive undertaking. I find it almost impossible to believe they will do Milton justice.
 
Kristina P.:
That is one massive undertaking. I find it almost impossible to believe they will do Milton justice.

Especially as the sense in his lines often depends on where the stress is allowed to fall in them.​

I don’t see how they can begin to do this - costumes, props, & casting will be the easy part.

If they want to film an epic poem, “Orlando Furioso” might be a better choice: though it is three times the length of “Paradise Lost”.
 
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