Apparently, Warner Bros. has signed a deal to franchise hell itself, as the studio recently announced it has picked up a feature pitch titled Dante's Inferno, which would bring Dante Alighieri's legendary poem Inferno to life on the big screen.

Inferno is one of the most famous pieces ever written by Dante Alighieri. It is just one part of a three part epic poem titled The Divine Comedy, which is one of the key writings in Italian literature. The entire set of poetry took twelve years to complete, finishing in the year 1320, shortly before Alighieri passed away. Dante's Inferno is one of those pieces that is often referenced in passing, but few are actually familiar with the scope of its influence on modern religion. The very concept of hell as a physical place where tortures and pain occur (as well as many of the modern ideas about Satan) are a literary construct of Inferno, rather than anything found in the Bible.

The story follows our narrator, Dante, as he travels through the nine circles of hell (Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery). Although it deals with religious themes, the poem is far from a theological work. Instead, Inferno is a tale about humanity and our moral struggles that simply borrows from various religions and mythology to aid in its literary construct.

Tentatively titled Dante's Inferno, Deadline reports that this new film adaptation's screenplay is being touted as an epic scale love story that revolves around a man braving the nine circles of hell for his love. The film was pitched by relative newcomer Dwain Worrell, who has previously written only two other features, Operator (2015) and Walking the Dead (2010).  We also reported earlier this year that Worrell has been working on an adaptation of Mindcorp, a sci-fi short story by José Padilha (RoboCop (2014)), that was acquired by Warner Bros., as it were.

Worrell's Dante's Inferno script is in the preliminary stages of development at this point, with no cast or director officially attached. We know that the tale has been pitched as a love story, which will no doubt make the characters and their struggles far more accessible. It is as of yet unknown if the focus of Dante's love will be Beatrice, one of his guides in Inferno, who was inspired by the real life Beatrice Portinari, whom the real Dante carried a torch for until his death.

Dante's Inferno is truly an epic piece that has influenced countless other media, including modern comic books like Hellblazer (which was developed into the television show Constantine). In fact, DC Comics actually released a six-issue Dante's Inferno comic book series in 2009, tying into the EA video game of the same name (which we are all but certain the film will be nothing like). If the film goes well and the studio produces all three parts of The Divine Comedy, then we may well be looking at a film series that is as epic in scale as the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies.

No release date or filming dates have been mentioned, since the project is in the preliminary stages. Stay tuned to Screen Rant, as we will provide updates on Dante's Inferno as additional information is revealed.

Source: Deadline