First look at classic literary monster Grendel from the upcoming movie adaptation

As a movie connoisseur with a soft spot for tales steeped in mythology and a penchant for unique perspectives, I find myself intrigued by the upcoming adaptation of “Grendel.” Having grown up with the timeless story of Beowulf, I’ve always been fascinated by the monster who stirred such chaos. John Gardner’s reimagining of Grendel as a thoughtful outcast resonated deeply with me, and I eagerly anticipate Robert D. Krzykowski’s take on this classic tale.

Beowulf is one of the foundational texts of English literature, an epic poem about a warrior named Beowulf who takes on a fearsome monster named Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, and finally a mighty dragon. In 1971, author John Gardner wrote Grendel, which tells the story of Beowulf from the monster’s point of view. Grendel imagines the titular character as a thoughtful, angry outcast who doesn’t know how to fit into the world.

Grendel has been adapted to the screen before (there’s an opera too, FYI), but the story has resonated down through the decades and writer-director Robert D. Krzykowski is taking a crack at it for modern audiences. The new movie will feature Jeff Bridges as Grendel; Bryan Cranston as King Hrothgar, whose court Grendel harries; T Bone Burnett as the Shaper, whose music and tales drive Grendel to fits of existential madness; and Dave Bautista as Beowulf, the warrior who puts an end to Grendel’s rampage. But after coming to understand the tormented creature, will we want him too?

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, known as another star, has produced numerous remarkable puppets and animatronics for the screen throughout the years. When designing Grendel, Krzykowski explained to The Hollywood Reporter that they were determined to find the perfect shape, avoiding a face that was overly flat and humanoid. Their goal was to make him terrifying, ensuring viewers would believe he could defeat all those warriors. Essentially, the aim was to create an iconic movie monster, one that would be unforgettable.

When I was sketching one day, I was looking at the Pink Panther and his head shape. I just loved the round top of the head and the snout, and I started thinking about the way Grendel teases Hrothgar reminded me a lot of the way the Pink Panther taunts and teases Inspector Clouseau. Then I started thinking, “This will be really neat for a creature performance, because now the head’s not down with the actor, it’s not on their face. It’s going to be up above them, which is a real opportunity for puppetry, animatronic puppetry.” So you have people offscreen controlling the eyes and the mouth, and then the person below is really focused on kind of a dance-like movement that moves along with what Jeff Bridges does at Skywalker [Ranch] for his physical performance.

In addition, THR unveiled some sketches depicting Grendel’s appearance in the upcoming movie. These designs might not be exactly how the final animatronic puppet will look, but they seem to be more like initial concept drawings. If I caught a glimpse of intelligence flickering in those fearsome eyes, I would certainly flee with haste.

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 6, 2024

Grendel won’t feature much gore, but there will be “bond-crunching action scenes”

Krzykowski additionally disclosed some insights into the narrative direction of the “Grendel” movie. In this adaptation, one of Grendel’s afflictions is his inability to effectively communicate with those closest to him. His mother is mute, and the other creatures in the land are too dim-witted for meaningful conversation. Interestingly, the dragon is willing to converse with him, but he’s a pessimistic nihilist. Grendel yearns for companionship with the men in Hrothgar’s hall, but they perceive him as a monster, so he contentedly continues to slay them instead. Consequently, a significant portion of the book delves into Grendel’s internal thoughts.

Krzykowski stated that Grendel serves as an unreliable narrator, and we perceive events through his lens. This means he shares his thoughts with us, tells the story, and even engages in conversations with characters who may not be able to hear him. Sometimes, he also invents dialogues for these characters. Instead of always observing from a distance, like watching over the mead hall, there are instances where Grendel is seated among the people in the mead hall, where no one recognizes him. Yet, he’s still present and can sense the atmosphere around Hrothgar’s kingdom. This approach creates an intimate feeling, as if the actors are very close to Grendel. It’s like we’re aware of all the rules, breaking them at will, but also mindful of what the audience will find psychologically acceptable.

Regarding the violent content, Krzykowski explains that the film will receive a PG-13 rating, which limits excessive gore. However, he assures us that the action sequences will be intense, reminiscent of Hong Kong action movies, featuring stunts like people being flung across rooms, colliding with rafters, and even crashing through tables before landing in a fireplace.

The characters from the epic poem “Beowulf” and Grendel have remained prominent over time. In 2007, director Robert Zemeckis brought an animated adaptation of “Beowulf” to the big screen with Ray Winstone portraying Beowulf and Crispin Glover as Grendel. I’m intrigued by the prospect of a fresh take on the story of Grendel, as I believe it resonates with timeless themes about individuals struggling to find their place in the world. A fantasy-infused approach would make it even more captivating.

There’s no release date for Grendel as of right now, but we probably won’t see it until 2026.

2024-11-07 20:43

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