Exclusive: Golden Talks Baltimore!
Johnny Butane
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I’m a huge fan of the Chris Golden/Mike Mignola novel Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, which you can see by my review if you don’t believe me, so when it was announced that David Goyer was on board to direct the film adaptation of the book, I had to dig for more.
”A huge part of the appeal of this deal–there were other studios interested–was the opportunity to work with David,” co-author Chris Golden told Dread Central in a recent chat. “As rookie screenwriters, having him on board as director means not only getting a great film, but having a director who is also a great writer. We’re all very much on the same page.”
That is, indeed, a comforting place to be in, especially with a story as unconventional as Baltimore. This begs the question, of course, of how much of Golden and Mignola’s vision will remain intact:
”Funnily enough, there are a number of changes that Mike and I were first to suggest,” Golden continued. “As the authors, I’m sure people expected us to want to preserve the whole thing, but that’s not the case at all. We made some suggestions that would have led to radical changes, mostly focused on how to tell this story in a way that would make the best movie. I’m pleased to say that David Goyer didn’t want those radical changes. That doesn’t mean you’ll be getting a straight adaptation of the novel, but without giving anything away, let’s just say that the weirder elements–the things that make Baltimore unique–are expected to remain.”
Indeed it’s the overall alien feel of Baltimore that I loved so much about it, so hopefully that will make its way to the film adaptation as well.
At its heart, though, Baltimore may end up being seen as a lot more metaphorical of our times now than some might think due to the fact that it takes place in an alternate version of our post-World War I world. ”Baltimore is about a lot more than soldiers and monsters. The whole thing is an allegory for our times, for the horrors of war and the nature of evil.” And don’t be worried, this isn’t going to be anything near your “typical” vampire book (obviously, if I like it…) ”Though the word ‘vampire’ is in the title, it’s not just a vampire story. There are many manifestations of evil in the book, and it will be even clearer in the film that vampires are just one facet of the evil that’s rising in the world.”
Expect more from Baltimore, or The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire as we dig it up (no pun intended…)!
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