THE FILM ADAPTATION OF "THE THICKET" COMES OUT IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH
Here is the goodreads synopsis of The Thicket by Joe R. Lansdale:
Love and vengeance at the dark dawn of the East Texas oil boom from Joe Lansdale, "a true American original" (Joe Hill, author of Heart-Shaped Box ). Jack Parker thought he'd already seen his fair share of tragedy. His grandmother was killed in a farm accident when he was barely five years old. His parents have just succumbed to the smallpox epidemic sweeping turn-of-the-century East Texas -- orphaning him and his younger sister, Lula. Then catastrophe strikes on the way to their uncle's farm, when a traveling group of bank-robbing bandits murder Jack's grandfather and kidnap his sister. With no elders left for miles, Jack must grow up fast and enlist a band of heroes the likes of which has never been seen if his sister stands any chance at survival. But the best he can come up with is a charismatic, bounty-hunting dwarf named Shorty, a grave-digging son of an ex-slave named Eustace, and a street-smart woman-for-hire named Jimmie Sue who's come into some very intimate knowledge about the bandits (and a few members of Jack's extended family to boot). In the throes of being civilized, East Texas is still a wild, feral place. Oil wells spurt liquid money from the ground. But as Jack's about to find out, blood and redemption rule supreme. In The Thicket , award-winning novelist Joe R. Lansdale lets loose like never before, in a rip-roaring adventure equal parts True Grit and Stand by Me - - the perfect introduction to an acclaimed writer whose work has been called "as funny and frightening as anything that could have been dreamed up by the Brothers Grimm -- or Mark Twain" ( New York Times Book Review).
1.List three adjectives to describeThe Thicket?
Tense, dark, and strangely funny.
2.What is the genesis ofThe Thicket?
Growing up in East Texas and hearing stories about the BigThicket, and reading about it. The history of the era.
3.Did you know how the story would end or did it come to you while writing the story?
I never do. Well, I knew there would be a major confrontation, buthad no idea how or where it would come about, or how it would shakeout.
4.Congrats on your bookThe Thicketbeing made into a feature film, what are your thoughts about Peter Dinklage playing the lead character?
I love the idea. I never imagined anyone playing the part, but wasdelighted when he and his group optioned it. I immediately knew he wasperfect for the part.
5.How did the producers (Gianni Nunnari, Shannon Gaulding and Andre Lemmers) discover your novel?
I honestly don't know. It must have been recommended to them bysomeone, but I wasn't in on that process.
6.What scene from the novel are you looking forward to seeing on the big screen?
I can't say one, because I have no idea what changes or emphasis oncertain scenes have been made, but Juliette Lewis's introduction asCoat Throat Bill is likely a strong possibility.
7.Were you ever on set? If so, could you tell me your memorable moment?
I wasn't. I've been on many film sets, but this one was done more fromafar as far as I was concerned, but that's okay. I do like film sets,though, and have been on many. It wasn't a good time for me to havebeen on set even if I could have, actually. Lot of stuff going on
then.
8.Which one is more challenging for you: writing a novel or writing a screenplay?
I like them both, but novels are harder. And frankly, more fun forme. I like screenplays and TV scripts and have written a number ofthem.
9.Could you talk about your experience working onBatman: The Animated Series,Superman: The Animated SeriesandThe New Batman Adventures?
That was a delight. I have been a Batman fan since the fifties, sowriting for that show was such a joy. The new Batman Adventures wasfun. I wrote one script for that. Some say the most reviled, while theones for BTAS are considered among the most popular. But lately,Critters is gaining ground. It's certainly a spoof in many ways, butthat was the idea from the beginning. It was based on an idea by SteveGerber, who created Howard the Duck. So many of my current readersfound me through that series and the comics I've written.
10.Your novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted into a film. Were you able to make a cameo?
Also, did you meet actorsBruce Campbell and Ossie Davis? If so, what was the experience like?
Bruce and I are friends, and I did meet Ossie. I was on the setwith my son Keith for a few days. It was so much fun to watch. Ididn't think it could be filmed, but after being there a couple days Iknew Don Coscarelli, also a friend, had nailed it. But no, I do notappear in the film.
11.The late actor/director Bill Paxton was working on the film adaptation of your novel “The Bottoms” before his death in 2017, is there any progress or update on that project?
Once Bill died, who was a friend as well as an immense talent, Ilost interest for a while. I'm hoping now someone else will pick itup. We were ready to go, but then Bill had to have an operation thatdidn't turn out. It's still a tough think for me. Bill was such anamazing man and talent.
12.Which of your novels, novellas, or short stories would you like to see adapted into a film or TV series?
PARADISE SKY, which is loosely based on Nat Love, but is also acombination of black cowboys, marshal, gun men, etc. It would make amarvelous mini series.
13.This year (2024) marks the 10th anniversary of the film adaptation of your novel “Cold in July”, do you have one fun fact about either writing the novel or any experience with the film adaptation?
A lot of my work comes from dreams, but this is the only one whereI woke up in the night, would think, damn, go wash my face, go back tobed, and it would pick up again. The storyline and characters werelaid out for me. I extrapolated on it, but what I dreamed about waspretty much the book. My wife and I had gone house hunting, and in oneof the houses there was a bullet hole in the ceiling, and I wonderedhow it got there. Somehow, that became Cold in July. I did anadaptation of it for John Irvin, and I think my first and secondscript were good, but after that there were a lot of changes to addexplosions and so on. John and I were both put out with it by then andmoved on. That took seven years. Then it lay fallow for seven years,then Jim Mickle and Nick Damici came to me and we talked, I saw Jim'sfirst film, which starred Damici, an underrated actor, and I thought,yeah, these are the guys. And they were.
14. Last question, if you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be?
Don Coscarelli, Bruce Campbell and if I could bring him back, BillPaxton. And those three in any order.
