The Blot, like most American kids, grew up reading Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. I’ve wondered for years why a live action movie adaptation of the beloved children’s book has never been made. Jim Henson could have definitely made a sick Where the Wild Things Are in the same vein as the 1986 classics The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Thankfully the film sat in limbo for years until movie special effects could properly adapt Sendak’s cast of scary yet fun Wild Things.
Much has been made about the stryfe surrounding production of Where the Wild Things Are, but I have faith in Spike Jonze’s vision for this movie. It may be misplaced, but from interviews I’ve read he sounds to have a real passion for this project. I am excited to see how the film’s combination of live action, suitmation, animatronics and CGI turns out. The movie’s first teaser poster was unveiled yesterday and so far so good. The Wild Thing, which dominates the poster, looks awesome and I love Max’s trademark wolf costume and crown. I can’t wait to see the movie’s first official full length trailer, which is set to debut on March 27 before screenings of Monsters vs. Aliens.
Where the Wild Things Are, which debuts in theaters on October 16, 2009, stars Max Records, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, and Tom Noonan.