Two separate horror films based on the iconic character Popeye are being released next year. Shiver me timbers!
Mention the words ‘Popeye film’ and the chances are you’ll cast your mind back to Robert Altman’s 1980 live action take on the character which, while flawed, was tremendous fun. It also featured arguably one of the greatest, most accurate pieces of casting ever in the form of Shelly Duvall as Olive Oyl, who appeared alongside Robin Williams in his film debut as the title character. Fervent fans can even visit the set, which is still standing today as a theme park attraction in Malta.
The notion of taking established, family friendly characters and dropping them into their own horror films began with Winnie the Pooh: Bloody And Honey, Rhys Frake Waterfield’s low-budget slasher that became a profitable hit on home video and streaming, which led to this year’s more lavish sequel Winnie the Pooh: Blood And Honey II.
The success of the films has led to the Twisted Childhood Universe, which also includes the upcoming films Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, Bambi: The Reckoning and Pinocchio Unstrung. The characters are set to appear in an Avengers style team up in Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, before a third Blood And Honey film and an untitled Sleeping Beauty film.
However, Disney isn’t the only company whose characters are being used in horror films. As cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar’s Popeye the Sailorman goes into the public domain, two filmmakers are wasting no time in getting their horror versions to the screen.
Bloody Disgusting reports that Popeye will be released in January. The short synopsis reads as follows:
The legend of Popeye haunts a group of counselors — as they intend to open a summer camp.
Steven Murphy will play Popeye. It’s being directed by Rene August and written by Michael Caleo.
Deadline reports that a second film is also in production from a different group of filmmakers.
Popeye The Slayer Man – terrific pun work, it has to be said – will follow “a group of friends who sneak into an abandoned spinach canning factory to film a documentary on the legend of the ‘Sailor Man’, who is said to haunt the factory and local docks”.
Jason Stephens will play Popeye. The cast also includes Sean Michael Conway, Elena Juliano, Mabel Thomas, Marie-Louise Boisnier, Jeff Thomas, and Steven McCormack, Angela Relucio and Sarah Nicklin.
Robert Michael Ryan directs from a screenplay by John Doolan.
An official Popeye film was also reported to be in the works earlier this year.
