Warning: contains preview images for The Man Who Fell to Earth!
The 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth was David Bowie's first acting role, and now it will receive a new graphic novel adaptation from Titan Books. The movie is based on the Walter Tevis novel of the same name; later this year, a new adaptation starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Naomie Harris will premiere on Showtime. Both the film and the book are considered classics, and now Titan's graphic novel adaptation is sure to please fans.
First published in 1963, The Man Who Fell to Earth is the story of an alien who comes to Earth, taking the name Thomas Jerome Newton. Seeking a way to send water back to his planet, Newton instead becomes corrupted by the ways of humans. The book was adapted to film in 1976, directed by Nicolas Roeg, and starring Bowie in his feature film acting debut. While receiving mixed reviews for critics, Bowie won a Saturn Award for Best Actor for his performance. The book was also adapted to a television movie in 1987. Later, this year Star Trek producer Alex Kurtzman will join forces with Jenny Lumet to bring a new version of Tevis’ novel to life. This new incarnation will depart from the original novel, telling a story of another alien from the same species as Newton who comes to Earth seeking the help of a prominent scientist.
As revealed in a first look in Entertainment Weekly, Titans’ version will be faithful to Tevis’ novel as well as Roeg’s film, using character designs inspired by David Bowie. Set to release this fall, the book will be written by Dan Watters and illustrated by Dev Pramanik. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Watters praised the original movie for being ahead of its time, discussing issues such as climate change and corporate greed that are still relevant today. Watters concluded by saying it was “high time to look at the world through Thomas Newton’s mismatched eyes again.” Entertainment Weekly also provided preview pages spotlighting Pramanik’s art, shared below.
David Bowie had set the music world on fire in the early 1970s with a string of classic albums such as Ziggy Stardust and Diamond Dogs before he set his sights on movies. Bowie's performance in The Man Who Fell to Earth set the stage for many of his greatest roles, such as Jareth The Goblin King in Labyrinth or Nikola Tesla in The Prestige. The film stands on its own as one of the finest in director Roeg’s filmography. The preview pages show that Watters and Pramanik are remaining faithful to the source material, forming a nice counterpoint to the forthcoming television show.
Although The Man Who Fell to Earth did not enjoy the best critical reception upon its release, it has since gone on to become a certified cult classic, thanks in large part to David Bowie’s dynamic presence as well as the trippy visuals. Now it finds new life in a graphic novel adaptation from Titan Books.
Source: Entertainment Weekly