Here’s a fun little reveal, as pointed out by the good folks over at Bloody Disgusting: during a recent Reddit AMA session meant to promote next month’s Insidious: The Red Door, director James Wan (appearing alongside The Red Door‘s director, Patrick Wilson) was asked if he had a “dream project,” something he’s always wanted to bring to the big screen.
Wan’s response:
“My dream project, that I have been secretly cooking away on the down low for the last 5 years, is The Call of Cthulhu.”
Now we’re talking. The Call of Cthulhu is one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most well-known and influential works, and Wan certainly wouldn’t be the first person to mount an adaptation (this particular story’s been touched on, adapted or reimagined across any number of comics, video games, songs, TV shows and movies over the years), but he would arguably be one of the most accomplished filmmakers to ever set his sights on such a thing. Speaking as someone who loves cosmic horror more than just about any other flavor of horror, this is exciting news.
What’s The Call of Cthulhu about? Well, this one’s a three-part tale centering around a Boston P.I. by the name of Francis Thorton as he investigates the titular deity and its unhinged worshippers. Think: sinister cults, people being driven mad by terrifying visions, cursed totems, and one very memorable pit stop in Cthulhu’s hometown of R’lyeh. A strong adaptation of this story would deliver a lot of the same vibes that Guillermo del Toro’s proposed At the Mountains of Madness movie would’ve delivered.
So, what happens next? No idea! Maybe this is something Wan is actively developing for Atomic Monster. Maybe it’s something he’ll tinker for some years and then toss in a drawer. We’d love to see Wan tackle this “dream project,” though, and will cross our fingers that this one actually gets made. Stay tuned for further updates if and when they roll in, Cthulhu fans.
