William Gibson’s 1984 novel Neuromancer has long been considered the quintessential work of cyberpunk literature. (I would say cyberpunk fiction, but Blade Runner exists.) The novel tells a futuristic story of a computer hacker named Case, down on his luck and slumming in a small city in Japan, who is recruited by a mysterious man named Armatage to become a “console cowboy” again and help him complete a mission for an even more mysterious benefactor. Neuromancer has maintained a huge following over the 30+ years since its release and there have been rumors of a film adaptation of the story started all the way in the late 1980s. Honest attempts would only start to see the light of day about eight years ago.
After the initial announcement that the film was in pre-production with director Joseph Kahn attached, the film languished in development hell for three years. It was in that time that director Vincenzo Natali, known for The Cube and Splice, was brought on board to rework the script and take over the development. Another three years passed by with casting announcements and even a poster for the film releasing before Natali also left the project. It was this time, though, that the most work was done for pre-production on the film. Recently, Natali took to Twitter to showcase a series of concept art and storyboards for the film, and the folks at io9 collected them together. Take a look at them and see just what we might have gotten if Natali had been able to make the film.
Recently, Natali took to Twitter to showcase a series of concept art and storyboards for the film, and the folks at io9 collected them together. Take a look at them and see just what we might have gotten if Natali had been able to make the film.
File under ghosts of futures past. Artwork by the great manga artist Tsutomu Nihei for my version of Neuromancer. pic.twitter.com/fGXEKApY9o
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) May 25, 2015
#NEUROMANCER DESIGN: The Sense/Net pyramid pic.twitter.com/wbyfQSTNIi
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 1, 2015
#NEUROMANCER DESIGN: Maelcum. My sketch and #AmroAttia's beautiful painting pic.twitter.com/S0bNXQ4DwG
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 1, 2015
Night City from #Neuromancer pic.twitter.com/8eGmv7f9L2
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 2, 2015
More #TsutomuNihei art for #Neuromancer. Kaung Grade Mark Eleven penetration program. pic.twitter.com/IY4pU1lRdL
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 2, 2015
More #Neuromancer design: Outside the Villa Straylight. pic.twitter.com/tg5hV41BF0
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 3, 2015
And inside the Villa Straylight. pic.twitter.com/JcXFm1BiSi
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 3, 2015
Some of my storyboards for #Neuromancer. pic.twitter.com/E70VcnGs0c
— Vincenzo Natali (@Vincenzo_Natali) June 3, 2015
What do you think? Would Natali have been able to make a movie fans would have enjoyed? Let us know in the comments below.
HT:Â io9
