Screwtape Coming to Big Screen

Luther at the Movies reports that The Screwtape Letters is going to be made into a movie.

First it was The Chronicles of Narnia. Now The Screwtape Letters—C.S. Lewis' often-imitated but never equalled epistolary masterpiece—is coming to a theater near you at some point in the not-too-distant future, God willing.

LATM goes on to ponder who should play Screwtape (Jack Nicholson? Willem Dafoe? Sir Anthony Hopkins?) And then the more important question:

Will his nephew, Wormwood, be portrayed? Will someone have the audacity to write return letters, from Wormwood to Screwtape, which, in the book, are only inferred from Screwtape's replies?

Whatever choices are made to adapt take Screwtape from book to big screen, one thing seems certain: This film will not lack in quality. Gene Veith notes:

And the portents are very promising: Walden media (the pro-family media group with big pockets that is funding the Narnia movies) is putting up the money; Lewis's stepson Douglas Gresham (who ensured the fidelity of the Narnia movies) is involved; and Ralph Winter (the promising Christian director who made it big in the mainstream with movies like "Fantastic Four") is producing.

I consider The Screwtape Letters my favorite of Lewis' works. I also greatly enjoyed Lord Foulgrin's Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy, novels by Randy Alcorn based on the same premise. The story illuminates the subtle ways the enemy gains a foothold in a believer's life. I love the tagline on the back cover of Alcorn's book: "Know your enemy. Read his mail." I hope the film, which I await eagerly, will reach a modern audience with the spiritual insight that comes from knowing the enemy.

HT: Justin Taylor

Comments

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1. Joy W. said the following at 11:56 PM on Feb 5:

I thought that Andrew Adamson--with Walden Media's backing--did a great job, all things considered, on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; but how on Earth are they going to turn The Screwtape Letters into a movie?! It's a great, enlightening read, but the whole book is a series of letters! I'm really curious and a little concerned to see how they do that and maintain the integrity of the book at the same time.

2. Dan Gill said the following at 6:44 AM on Feb 6:

I once heard an audio recording of The Screwtape Letters by John Cleese. He did a marvelous Screwtape.

I, too, wonder how these letters will translate to film. I have some ideas how I would do it, but we'll see how it comes out.

3. John M. said the following at 11:20 AM on Feb 6:

I have that Cleese audiobook at home, and I really enjoy it too. He does a great job.

I think there is actually a considerable amount of filmable material in the book if you look at it from the perspective of "the patient" - the human who's being tempted. Maybe they will show him going through his wartime tribulations with voice narration by the demons as they discuss what they are doing to the poor guy.

4. Susie said the following at 12:28 PM on Feb 7:

It will be interesting to see how (or if) it translates well to the screen, but I look forwards to seeing it. I'm really glad to hear that Douglas Gresham will be involved though.

When is the next Narnia movie coming out, anyways? (yes, I know that is off topic.)