GRENDEL: New Live-Action Adaptation Casts Dave Bautista As Beowulf And Jeff Bridges As His Monstrous Foe

GRENDEL: New Live-Action Adaptation Casts Dave Bautista As Beowulf And Jeff Bridges As His Monstrous Foe

We've seen a number of adaptations of Beowulf over the years, but this latest live-action take starring Dave Bautista and Jeff Bridges promises to be quite a bit different...

By MarkCassidy - May 11, 2024 04:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: Via SFF Gazette

A new live-action take on the tale of Beowulf is in development, and the project has assembled a very impressive cast.

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 play the title character, and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Blade Runner 2049) on board as the mighty warrior to comes to Danish King Hrothgar's hall to put an end to the creature's rampage, Beowulf.

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.

Robert D. Krzykowsk (The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot) will direct. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop will handle the practical creature work and design.

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.

Palisades Park Pictures will launch international sales out of Cannes, with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group co-repping rights for North America.

“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. “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.[1] 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."

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DocSpock
DocSpock - 5/11/2024, 4:33 PM

They certainly have the star power on this. Count me very interested.

Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 5/11/2024, 8:41 PM
@DocSpock - Yes! I was literally just reading about Beowulf the other day thinking the need to do a new version too! This is awesome
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/12/2024, 8:46 AM
@DocSpock - only they got the leads swapped
DocSpock
DocSpock - 5/12/2024, 12:28 PM
@Ryguy88 -

This may be deeply disturbing to you, but I was already thinking the same thing as you.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/12/2024, 9:53 PM
@DocSpock - User Comment Image
Mrtoke
Mrtoke - 5/11/2024, 4:37 PM
Bridges looks like beowulf
marvel72
marvel72 - 5/11/2024, 4:38 PM
At first I thought it was the comic book version of Grendel but it was the other one in Beowulf.

AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 5/11/2024, 4:42 PM
Batista is definitely becoming better actor with each movie but idk if he has the acting chops to be the lead in this. I loved the story of Beowulf since I was kid so I’ll definitely give this a chance. Hopefully he continues to surprise me with his acting like he’s been doing.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 5/11/2024, 4:46 PM
@AnthonyVonGeek - He won't actually be the lead... if they stick to the book, Beowulf is a supporting character. Grendel is the main focus.
Tidaltree
Tidaltree - 5/11/2024, 4:50 PM
Reminds me to rewatch the Beowulf-Adaptation with Christopher Lambert. Unfortunately, the DVD is broken :(
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 5/11/2024, 5:31 PM
I am Ripper... Tearer... Slasher... Gouger. I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the Night. Mine is lust and strength… I am Beuwolf.

[frick]ing loved that movie. If only it was live action…. Sheeet!!

BobbyDrake
BobbyDrake - 5/11/2024, 5:33 PM
Very nice!!! Count me in
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 5/11/2024, 5:34 PM
Good for Bautista, the man has come a long way from Smallville.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 5/11/2024, 8:38 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - wait what Smallville. Dang need to check out that episode now.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 5/11/2024, 10:01 PM
@Arthorious - Yeah, pretty sure it's a silent role tho.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 5/11/2024, 5:35 PM
I hope this will top that. Strong cast. And Dave is the man. So my belief is in this. 👍
McMurdo
McMurdo - 5/11/2024, 6:01 PM
Bautista was so one note bad in Dune 2
ComicBandit
ComicBandit - 5/11/2024, 6:55 PM
@McMurdo - Yeah. But he was surprisingly good in the M.Night movie. He just had no real lines in Dune 2. Or did anything of any note. Aside from running away ^^
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/11/2024, 6:03 PM
That’s a quite talented yet odd cast…

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.

Cautious yet intrigued to see how this turns out.
TREE24K
TREE24K - 5/11/2024, 6:22 PM
So they're remaking the 13th Warrior (Eaters of the Dead)?

/s
ComicBandit
ComicBandit - 5/11/2024, 6:52 PM
@TREE24K - I loved that movie. One of my favorite adventure movies of all time.
sully
sully - 5/11/2024, 8:06 PM
All the high school kids who just read the book in English class will be stoked for this.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 5/12/2024, 2:12 AM
@sully - I read it in high school 23 years ago and I’m stoked to see it
User Comment Image
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 5/11/2024, 8:18 PM
I still freakin love this flick.

User Comment Image
StSteven
StSteven - 5/11/2024, 11:59 PM
I still remember after the 2007 version coming out, Zemetkis said that from that point on he was only going to make those type of mo-cap animated films. Apparently THAT didn't stick (seemed kind of a weird thing to commit to at the time anyway).
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 5/12/2024, 4:42 AM
I saw 'Live Action Grendel Adaptation' on a site called comicbookmovie and got really excited.

"Based on John Gardner’s acclaimed novel"

*sigh*

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