John Carter of Mars Movie Promises to Ignite Fandom
27 October 2009What would you do if you woke up on a strange planet where you had super-strength but no clothes and a race of tall, green-skinned creatures with four arms took you prisoner? Would you rise to become that planet’s greatest warlord and hero? That is the fate Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan of the Apes) had in mind for a Civil War veteran from Virginia known as the immortal John Carter of Mars. For nearly 100 years Burroughs, his son, and their fans have struggled to bring the story of John Carter to life on the silver screen. And now, thanks to the Disney Studios and Pixar Animation that century-long dream is on the verge of becoming a reality.
As numerous fan sites have documented already, John Carter of Mars is scheduled for a 2012 release, marking the 100th anniversary of the first publication of “Under the Moons of Mars”, the first of four vignettes that make up the original novel, A Princess of Mars. ERB (as Burroughs is known to his dedicated fan base) went on to write 9 more Mars novels and part of a 10th sequel before his death. He also inserted connections between John Carter and other characters, including Tarzan and Carson of Venus.
John Carter lives on Mars for more than 100 years in the published stories. It remains to be seen how long he’ll live on the silver screen but Disney has already left open the option of filming two sequels. At least one cast member is slated to play a character from the second two books in the series, The Gods of Mars and The Warlord of Mars.
Pre-film fannish excitement has already built up into a frenzy. Aging Edgar Rice Burroughs fans may soon find themselves in high demand for interviews and anecdotes from younger, new fans and the news media. There will be conventions, costumes, and creative engagement between fans and the media. Looks like fun times ahead.
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