Babylon 5 Scribe J Michael Straczynski to Pen Film Version of Harlan Ellison’s “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman
on February 3rd, 2011Popular writer J Michael Straczynski (especially popular in this locale,) has optioned and written the film adaptation of Harlan Ellison’s classic tale “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman”.
From J Michael Straczynski’s FB page:
“Since this has apparently leaked onto several film-oriented websites, I should probably confirm the information and preclude distortion: I have optioned, and adapted into screenplay form, Harlan Ellison’s “Repent Harlequin, Said the Ticktockman.” It’s out to producers, studios and directors now. We hope to find a director who has always wanted to make this story into a movie. More as, if and when it develops.”
Ellison’s short story is set in a dystopian future where being late is a crime, a crime that can incur the death penalty. Ellison’s Harlequin rebels against the rigid time constraints of his world and carries out a series of pranks in opposition to the mysterious Ticktockman, master of the schedule of the world.
“Repent, Harlequin!” won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Short Story, and is one of the most reprinted stories in the English language.
It was written by Ellison in six hours, during a writer’s workshop.
You will never hear it better than hearing it from the mouth of the man himself. Buy Ellison CD’s here.
Best thing to listen to while drawing. Ever.
Brain food and ear food.
Let’s hope that whoever picks it up will do it proud.
I’m surprised this isn’t getting more buzz.
Much big happy on this one! Considering the work they did together on B5 and NTZ, I have high hopes.
My one reservation is that I hope the message isn’t perceived as dated.
I read this as being very relevant, especially in light of what we go through when we travel these days.
There are a couple of lines in the original story that are pretty dated but nothing crucial to the story, I don’t think.
At least one of the sites that ‘leaked’ then news before JMS posted it on FB misspelled both JMS’ and Harlans names. That probably didn’t help the progress of buzz.
Hm.
I don’t think anything dated made it into the screenplay.
All of Ellison’s readings are delightful (I especially love “Laugh Track”)!
However, “Harlequin” is on this collection:
http://www.amazon.com/Have-Mouth-Must-Scream-Fantastic/dp/1574535374/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1297183051&sr=8-20
No MP3 downloads yet (but at least there are e-books).
Illustrated edition:
S&N 978-1887424363 ($45 srp)
Regular 9781887424356 ($17 srp)
The Illustrated Harlan Ellison also contains the story, illustrated, in 3-D, by Jim Steranko. (There’s also a print portfolio, an edition of 1500!)
Then there’s the Marvel version, adapted by Roy Thomas and Alex Nino in Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction (Issue 3, May 1975). (Sweet Kirby Crackle! Will someone please collect those issues of UWSF?! That issue, alone, features Ellison, Herbert, and Niven.)
Then there was the poster done by Frank Miller for the Harlan Ellison Roast in 1986. Edition of 200.