SCIFI MEDIA ZONE: What was the genesis of Ray Harryhausen comics from Bluewater in general and the Sinbad comic in particular?
DARREN DAVIS: We took a basic concept of an idea that was out there called “Sinbad Goes to Mars” from the 80’s. They were going to produce it after “Clash of the Titans” but it never got green lit. There was a script or treatment on it that we got from Harryhausen’s people. We took it and went the other direction with the story and concepts. I wish I could say that Harryhausen had a lot to do with this one, but his people just signed off on what we were doing on it. When we started this project Ray Harryhausen was in the midst of retiring. When we created the world we definitely wanted to pay tribute to his world giving new people an introduction to who Harryhausen is as well as give Harryhausen fans something classic.
SCIFI MEDIA ZONE: Obviously a movie script is going to be different from a comic, but in your mind what was it about the comic that suggested it could be a feature film?
DARREN DAVIS: The comic was really storyboarded to be a feature film. We decided this from the beginning. It has all the fundamental of what makes a good action adventure film. I got to help choose the screenwriter Paul J. Salamoff. I have worked with him on the Logan’s Run comic book. We have always talked about him doing a screenplay for us. He is so good at this genre and knows that we want to keep the integrity of the classic films as well as the comic book.
SCIFI MEDIA ZONE: I love the Sinbad films from my youth, but I look at them now and there's no way they'd fly with a modern audience. What do you think will be different about this version -- all conjecture at this point, of course.
DARREN DAVIS: We did it with the comic book. It is a fine line to make sure you get the new audience while making sure the true fans love the film too. With Barry Schneer producing it, he is so proud of the previous films that his uncle did that he is dedicated to giving it the classic touch.
SCIFI MEDIA ZONE: Were you a fan of this stuff? If so, how does it feel to be working with these guys and to have presented this comic to the world?
DARREN DAVIS: The main reason we did the deal is because I am a huge Ray Harryhausen fan. The Clash of the Titans (the original) was one of my all time favorite films. I felt honored to work with such a legend. I got to do a signing a couple years ago at Comic-con and got to sit next to him and sign books. The main thing I tried to do with the comic books is keep it classic so his legion of fans would love what we did as well as keep it current for new fans.
SCIFI MEDIA ZONE: As the publisher of Bluewater, what's your overall feeling about this announcement?
DARREN DAVIS: We have had a couple things optioned before, but what makes this different is that Morningside has funding attached to it. So it is going to get made. I try not to get too excited but how can you not? I think I am excited to be teaming up with the original company that produced the first series of Sinbad films.