GRENDEL First Look Reveals Creature Design For Jeff Bridges' Take On The Legendary Monster

GRENDEL First Look Reveals Creature Design For Jeff Bridges' Take On The Legendary Monster

Some concept art for the upcoming live-action adaptation of Grendel has been revealed, giving us a first look at Jeff Bridges' take on the legendary monster...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 10, 2024 02:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Via SFF Gazette

Earlier this year, we got word that a new live-action take on the tale of Beowulf is in development with an all-star cast on board. We've seen a number of animated and live-action adaptations of the ancient Danish legend over the years, but this one will be a little different.

Based on John Gardner’s acclaimed novel, Grendel will tell the story from the perspective of the monster, with Jeff Bridges (Iron Man, Tron) set to provide the voice of the title character, and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049) on board as the mighty warrior who comes to Danish King Hrothgar's hall to put an end to the creature's rampage, Beowulf.

Now, Collider has unveiled our first look at the design for Grendel courtesy of Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

“That is really exciting because it also balances this very cerebral world that Grendel lives in, where he's trying to understand humans, and he's trying to find his place among them, and he can never quite figure out how to get the right pieces in the right order to be satisfied," director Robert D. Krzykowsk (The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot) explains. "I think that there's something really interesting about that. As you move through this, there's a great warning in the way that Grendel engages with the world, and I know Jeff Bridges and I have talked about that a lot, the moral purpose of this, and I think that it leaves the audience with something really meaningful to talk about when they leave a story like this.”

This take on the character appears to be more influenced by later interpretations than the humanoid sceadugenga, or "shadow walker," described in the original tale.

The cast also includes Bryan Cranston as King Hrothgar, Sam Elliott as The Dragon, Thomasin McKenzie as Queen Wealhtheow and Aidan Turner as Unferth. T Bone Burnett will also appear, and provide original songs for the film.

Palisades Park Pictures is set to launch sales at Cannes for the project, which is described as the “tale of the legendary monster at the heart of the Beowulf epic poem who steps forth to tell his side of this riveting story.”

Brian Henson and Vince Raisa will produce for The Jim Henson Company, along with Krzykowski, Jay Glazer, Dennis Berardi and Jon D. Wagner. Bridges will exec produce, with John Sayles, Tamara Birkemoe, and Joe Jenckes of Ashland Hill Media Finance, which will finance the movie.

“Grendel represents everything I love about the movies. John Gardner’s mad masterpiece cleverly tackles what it is to be human through the wild-eyed lens of a monster,” said Krzykowski when the project was announced. “It’s an honor to work with such a remarkable group of storytellers, all of whom seek to bring something wonderful and unexpected to audiences now.”

Arguably the best-known take on this story is the 2007 animated adaptation starring Ray Winstone and Angelina Jolie. You can check out the trailer below.

"Grendel is a 1971 novel by the American author John Gardner. It is a retelling of part of the Old English poem Beowulf from the perspective of the antagonist, Grendel. In the novel, Grendel is portrayed as an antihero. The novel deals with finding meaning in the world, the power of literature and myth, and the nature of good and evil."

BETTER MAN: Robbie Williams Is A CGI Ape In First Trailer For Michael Gracey's Bizarre Biopic
Related:

BETTER MAN: Robbie Williams Is A CGI Ape In First Trailer For Michael Gracey's Bizarre Biopic

GLADIATOR II: Epic New Trailer And Poster Tease A New Legacy...Or Another Rebellion!
Recommended For You:

GLADIATOR II: Epic New Trailer And Poster Tease A New Legacy...Or Another Rebellion!

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

mountainman
mountainman - 9/10/2024, 2:06 PM
I am not familiar with this book, but the concept sounds interesting and that sure looks like a classic Henson Design. This now has my attention.
mountainman
mountainman - 9/10/2024, 2:08 PM
@mountainman - Also please don’t show me videos from that uncanny valley Beowulf movie. I can’t watch that or Polar Express. The way they animate their people is so unsettling. Polar Express could have been one of the all time great Christmas movies too if the children that star in it didn’t look like inhuman demons.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/10/2024, 2:25 PM
@mountainman - I loved how they brought up that uncanny valley time of CGI in the Chip n Dale movie.
User Comment Image
mountainman
mountainman - 9/10/2024, 3:30 PM
@JustAWaffle - Yes! That movie wasn’t great but it had some solid jokes. Ugly Sonic was the best part and JK simmons character was a hoot!
TrentCrimm
TrentCrimm - 9/10/2024, 3:37 PM
@JustAWaffle -

Chip n Dale nailed meta humor in a way that I don't think any other movie comes close to, I wish it would have blown up more than it did because I'd love a sequel to it.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/10/2024, 3:58 PM
@mountainman - The book isn't particularly good when it comes to development and isn't exactly a smooth read. It's more of historical literary relevance than an interesting read
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/11/2024, 1:48 AM
@TrentCrimm - Me too. Wasn’t it just dropped on D+ instead of going to theaters?
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 9/11/2024, 1:50 AM
@mountainman - It was ok the first time I saw it, but having kids I’ve seen it a handful of times now and it has a lot of rewatchability. I think it’s going to be a silent classic people look back on.
mountainman
mountainman - 9/11/2024, 8:46 AM
@JustAWaffle - I put it on randomly for my daughter a few weeks ago. Loved the show when I was a kid but I didn’t have expectations. Dale being CGI while the rest were “hand drawn” animation was very off putting and the one joke they stretched out over that for far too long wasn’t worth it.

But besides that it was much better than expected, the meta humor was done far better than most other movies, and was surprisingly a good believable sequel to the old show.

Our family will definitely be watching it again.
PC04
PC04 - 9/10/2024, 2:07 PM
Woah! That looks great. I didn't know about this project. Sounds fascinating.
ZiggyStarman
ZiggyStarman - 9/10/2024, 2:11 PM
Im so glad they are using Jim Henson Company for practical effects, not just cartooney CGI. That alone is worth my price of admission. Gives off Labyrinth and Neverending Story vibes
Snow43214
Snow43214 - 9/10/2024, 2:15 PM
That looks [frick]ing great
Forthas
Forthas - 9/10/2024, 2:21 PM
That is a unique look.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/10/2024, 2:32 PM
Didn know Jim Henson work shop was still around with Hollywood using crappy cgi when makeup will do it better glad they are someone still decide use them
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2024, 2:41 PM
Off topic:

@RorMachine
@JoshWilding

Jack Huston joins “Spider-Noir”.

https://deadline.com/2024/09/spider-noir-jack-huston-marvel-prime-video-1236083605/
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 9/10/2024, 2:45 PM
Looks good, but maybe more Werewolfy than The Wolfman
bobevanz
bobevanz - 9/10/2024, 2:47 PM
The cgi version from years back is still the top. I wish that'd get a 4k restoration. If Peter Jackson can add 4k textures to Gollum for the 4k remasters, they can as well
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/10/2024, 2:48 PM
He looks cool , pleasantly surprised that they seem to be going fully practical for this!!.

Also , I thought this would be animated given the cast which is an odd but talented group…

Not too familiar with the story but someone like Bridges doesn’t really fit the image of Grendel I have in my heard nor does Bautista entirely as Beowulf…

Even Bryan Cranston & Thomasin McKenzie as the King & The Queen is a strange combo (though I guess it wasn’t odd that there would be that big of an age gap between them back then).

Cautiously intrigued to see how this turns out.
Truoptimusprime
Truoptimusprime - 9/10/2024, 3:03 PM
It seems grendal and the Wolfman got their designs mixed up 😆
BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 9/10/2024, 3:05 PM
When your third of a dog is better than The Wolfman.

User Comment Image
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/10/2024, 3:13 PM
Awesome, love practical effects.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 9/10/2024, 3:18 PM
That looks straight out of the 80s. Nice.
Izaizaiza
Izaizaiza - 9/10/2024, 3:19 PM
Cool! Love that they're going practical on this
DrReedRichards
DrReedRichards - 9/10/2024, 3:22 PM
I've played enough MH to know a Rajang when I see one...

...that f#ckin' super-saiyan, bitch-ass, OP, AOE, grab-spamming thunder-ape.
FrankenDad
FrankenDad - 9/10/2024, 3:26 PM
Man, I’ll throw my money at this just for using practical effects. Don’t care about the story nearly as much 😂
S8R8M
S8R8M - 9/10/2024, 4:35 PM
Awesome!
Asterisk
Asterisk - 9/10/2024, 4:48 PM
That looks so fantastic I’m hoping this is a surprise hit
DrDReturns
DrDReturns - 9/11/2024, 12:08 AM
Oh, boy... More "moral ambiguity"...
There is good and there is evil. Nothing wrong with simple.

I actually liked the 2007 CGI film.
LSHF
LSHF - 9/11/2024, 2:14 AM
I don't mean to sound negative, but it looks NOTHING like Jeff!
DemonTweeks
DemonTweeks - 9/11/2024, 3:17 AM
"Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049) on board as the mighty warrior who comes to Danish King Hrothgar's hall to put an end to the creature's rampage, Beowulf."

Not sure if the current version of the much slimmed down Dave is going to look very mighty tbh?"
PatchesOhulihan
PatchesOhulihan - 9/11/2024, 8:38 AM
Grendel, Probs: Where is my place in this world? How do I fit in with these people? Why don't they like me? Oh well, I guess you can't make everyone happy. I'll continue to kill and eat people in this Hall everynight for the next 12 years....I am just misunderstood...

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder