SPOILERS "Guillermo Del Toro says At the Mountains of Madness is dead, thanks to

Sigismundo, Ahhhhh.. got it! Thanks for the clarification!

If it WAS his passion for 20 years, that why hasn't he gone ahead with the floggin thing? You snooze you lose. I've seen Del Toro's films and I liked all of them, but......he ain't no Ridley Scott......PERIOD. If this is an HPL novel made into a movie, I want to see RS's take on it, NOT DTs (he's is younger and can do a re-boot later on, say 20 years making this a 40 year passion for him).

If Prometheus does very well, ATMOM will get a green light....everyone will want to make an Alien epic scifi movie!!

@IB O IR ID O "You snooze you lose." Or, in reality: the studio passes on a big budget, R rated, faithful Lovecraft adaptation with a male only cast. Do your research before making such comments.

I have never read At the Mouth of Madness but it sounds very familiar. A temple in Antarctica? That sounds like Aliens versus Predator. Also, Pacific Rim is about giant aliens rising from the ocean. Sounds like another movie that just came out recently.

double post

@W2rh0und ATMOM takes place in Antarctica and was written in 1931...AvP is nothing like it. Pacific Rim is about an inter-dimensional portal opening in the ocean, and giant monsters come through and start destroying major cities across the world. Humans then make giant, man-operated robots to fight off the monsters. It takes place in two different time periods. It is nothing like Battleship, if that is what you are implying.

@W2rh0und WTF! You are insulting the great Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and his work have alien Gods that influenced the origins of life on Earth, ruined temples and "The Monster" created by the alien gods.

The voyage of the Space Beagle was a classic! I am going to reread the Lovecraft book "At The Mountains of Madness," tonight. Cheers

You're thinking of Benicio Del Toro who played Che...this is Guillermo Del Toro - writer/director/producer of Hellboy I&II, Pan's Labyrinth, the upcoming Pacific Rim. My bad I forgot about him you are right !!! Wrong WrOng Spartacus, I still think this guy is Jealous though and that his entire statement although politely worded is complete B.S.

@Sigismundo, Evidently I didn't do enough research, I was simply going on what was posted here. My apologies. I still don't understand why this would be DTs passion for 20 years and he didn't go for it. Educate me. Are you saying that DTs version would be a "big budget, R rated, faithful Lovecraft adaptation with a male only cast." but they would only trust such a project in the hands of RS?

If Prometheus is based on the ATMoM premise then I now know the story of man's origin they seek. I am a Lovecraft fan and very familiar with the ATMoM story. Nothing worse than watching a movie with another familiar story's ending. I hope this isn't entirely the case. But now after the previews and certain key scenes I have a feeling this is a Lovecraftian concept. I was hoping for a different approach in the film. Now the film is ruined for me. Very disappointed that ATMoM is dead.

Well, I read one draft of the ATMOM script, and it was utter rubbish, unfaithful and missing the point. Maybe that's why it never got the go ahead.

I need to say this...just Need to...every single Lovecraftian FILM, NOT BOOK, but every single film based on any of his books, sucked so bad I do not even know where to start discussing them.

Ok, then maybe Ridley should direct an adaptation of Lovecraft (as opinion only of course) Although Duncan Jones in my opinion would do an acceptable job

I think you are right and that Ridley could do right by the Books ! Just FYI....take a look at this...I mean, they were really really generous here I think...how about you guys? Lovecraft Movies ------=-O-=------ This list includes movies that are adaptations of stories written by Lovecraft. (Note that links on movie titles lead to The Internet Movie Database.) Bride of Re-Animator (1990) Both Jeffrey Combs and Bruce Abbott return in this mediocre sequel to Re-Animator, which actually owes more to The Bride of Frankenstein. However, some scenes, including the final one in the tomb of the Averills, were directly inspired by the original story, “Herbert West—Reanimator”. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD.) The Crimson Cult (1968) Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, and Barbara Steele star in this film which is ostensibly based on Lovecraft’s “The Dreams in the Witch House”. This is one of Karloff’s last films (if not the last). (Purchase from Amazon.com on VHS.) The Curse (1987) The presence of Wil Wheaton, Claude Akins, and John Schneider don’t bode well for this dull adaptation of Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space”. Inexplicably, the location of the story was moved to Tellico Plains, Tennesee, and the family name was changed to Hayes. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS.) Dagon (2001) Based more on “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” than on “Dagon”, Ezra Godden plays the protagonist and Francisco Rabal plays a difficult-to-understand version of Zadok Allen. The setting is terrific and the film is better looking than earlier Gordon productions, but the chase scene from “The Shadow Over Innsmouth” is strung out for much of the film yet lacks the manic energy of other Gordon films. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS.) Die, Monster, Die! (1965) Also known as Monster of Terror, this film takes Lovecraft’s “The Colour Out of Space” and emphasizes the science-fiction aspects rather than the horror. Boris Karloff stars as scientist Nahum Witley, as opposed to farmer Nahum Gardner. This film is another example of a classic horror actor crippled by an awful script. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD, DVD with The Dunwich Horror, or VHS.) The Dunwich Horror (1970) Many of the elements of Lovecraft’s “The Dunwich Horror” were kept intact, including several of the character names: Wilbur Whateley (Dean Stockwell), Dr. Henry Armitage (Ed Begley, Sr.), Lavinia Whateley (Joanne Moore Jordan), and Old Wizard Whateley (Sam Jaffe). However, the addition of a female lead (Sandra Dee) and psychedelic special effects end up making this film pretty average. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD, DVD with Die, Monster, Die!, or VHS.) From Beyond (1986) Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton of Re-Animator fame return in another Brian Yuzna and Stuart Gordon horror-fest. The events of Lovecraft’s short story “From Beyond” effectively take place before the opening credits roll, thus this fairly entertaining film could be considered a sequel to the story. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS, or watch online at Hulu.) The Haunted Palace (1963) For marketing reasons, director Roger Corman named this film after an Edgar Allan Poe poem, but it is actually based on Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Vincent Price stars as Charles Dexter Ward and Lon Chaney, Jr. stars as Simon Orne, but even these veteran actors can’t raise this film very far above average. Instead of Price acting in a dual role as both Ward and Joseph Curwen, the spirit of Curwen possesses him. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS.) Lurking Fear (1994) One of the poorer Lovecraft adaptations yet, this film is only loosely based on Lovecraft’s “The Lurking Fear”. Other than the town of Lefferts Corners and the presence of the degenerate Martense family, this film bears little resemblance to the original story. Even the manic performance of Lovecraftian actor Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator and From Beyond) and Hellraiser’s Ashley Lauren[ce] can’t save this terrible film. (Purchase from Amazon.com on VHS.) Necronomicon (1993) An anthology of three tales, with an unintentionally laughable wrapper story called “The Library” featuring Jeffrey Combs as Lovecraft himself. Combs obtains a copy of the Necronomicon and is apparently reading these three tales from it! The first segment, “The Drowned,” is based very loosely on “The Rats in the Walls” and has a few genuinely atmospheric moments – but no rats! The second segment, “The Cold,” is based a little more solidly on “Cool Air” and stars David Warner, but a female protagonist was added. The last segment, “Whispers,” was supposedly based on “The Whisperer in Darkness”, but apparently underwent so much revision that the resemblance was lost. Altogether, a very average film. (Purchase from Amazon.com on VHS.) Re-Animator (1985) Despite taking enormous liberties with Lovecraft’s “Herbert West—Reanimator”, this is one of the most entertaining and financially successful of Lovecraft films. Produced by Brian Yuzna and directed by Stuart Gordon, this scary and funny film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, Bruce Abbott as Dan Cain, Barbara Crampton as Megan Halsey, and David Gale as Doctor Carl Hill. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS.) The Resurrected (1992) Based on Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, this film is perhaps the most faithful Lovecraft film to date. Directed by Dan O’Bannon (who wrote the script for Alien) and starring Chris Sarandon (The Sentinel and The Princess Bride) as Charles Dexter Ward and Joseph Curwen. The scenes in the tunnels beneath Curwen’s house are especially impressive. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD or VHS.) The Unnamable (1988) Little more than a monster-kills-teenagers-having-sex movie, this film does manage to incorporate a few Lovecraftian references and the Necronomicon, although its relationship to Lovecraft’s “The Unnamable” are minimal. (Purchase from Amazon.com on VHS.) The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter (1993) Taking place immediately after the events of The Unnamable, this sequel incorporates more elements of its namesake, “The Statement of Randolph Carter” than its forerunner. Still, these elements do not make up the foremost portion of the film, and the presences of John Rhys-Davies and David Warner don’t make this any better than an above-average film. (Purchase from Amazon.com on DVD.) It's actually way worse than I thought that list would be!!! All Them films were just AWEFUL. The best one there which just may be the ONLY one of them even worth even discussing IMO would be "Re-Animator" (1985).

There is a link I posted on this board to a free text version of ATMOM. Do a search and you should find it quickly. It is a short story and worth the read. The similarities to Prometheus cannot be underestimated: an ancient earth lifeform boosted genetically by aliens, an old city with culture and history expressed in art, slave races bred and modified for their purposes, an ancient city created by slaves, and finally an Ancient One that chases after the expedition. Sure, many of these points have not been proven out by the trailers and news (e.g., the slave race angle), but I feel the slaves angle is the purpose of the Engineer's "interest" in us. Human slaves may have also made the temples in Prometheus. The place of divergence appears to be primarily the Engineers appear to infect crew members and the team is wiped out (or nearly so) and ATMOM has a mystery killing of a party followed by an expedition to an ancient city were we learn the history of the Ancient One's. Aside from the large killing in ATMOM, there is only info on the Ancient one's and general fear and foreboding. There is one scene when the expedition is running from something, but they live to tell their story. Sure one story is in Antarctica and the other is in space, but the effect is the same or probably more so with Prometheus, I.e., the feeling of isolation and going into a deep pit to confront a simulacrum of the protagonist.

AWESOME WRITER BREAKS MY HEART WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO HIS WORK ON FILM.

@IB O IR ID O " I still don't understand why this would be DTs passion for 20 years and he didn't go for it." Multiple reasons. It wasn't until the past decade that Del Toro made an international name for himself, so to ask for a 150 million dollar budget for a film would be difficult. "but they would only trust such a project in the hands of RS?" Ridley Scott got the green light for many reasons: a stunning A list cast, with not one, two, but [i]three[/i] of the most highly sought after actors, (Fassbender, Rapace, Elba.) The fact that the publicity would be simple, "is it an Alien prequel? Isn't it?" It easily generated buzz. Lovecraft's work lacks female characters and love interests;, and, (in a good way), is incredibly anti-climatic. Del Toro wants a faithful adaptation of his work, so to try and pitch a R rated 150 million dollar film of that kind is incredibly difficult. In my opinion, I believe his goal was to use the success of The Hobbit to get his budget for ATMOM. (If anyone didn't know, he was originally going to direct, with Peter Jackson only attached as Executive Producer.) He, interestingly enough, dropped out of The Hobbit around the same time we all started hearing bits and pieces about Prometheus.

@Spartacus I agree, he is one of my favorite authors and it is heart breaking to watch adaptations based off his work. Ironically, the two names off the top of my head who I think could handle the scope of Lovecraft are Scott and Del Toro.