Ridley Scott Might Direct 'Merlin Saga' for Disney
He's already given us the fantasy film "Legend" and a British folk hero in "Robin Hood." Now "Alien" director Ridley Scott might be giving us his take on Arthurian wizard Merlin.
Variety reports that the "All the Money in the World" director is in talks to take on "The Merlin Saga" for Disney, with Philippa Boyens (co-scripter of the "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy) as the writer.
While the Merlin movie most people remember is Disney's animated 1963 feature "The Sword in the Stone" (based on the book "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White), this one will be based on the series by T.A. Barron. It's an origin story that follows Merlin from his youth to his becoming a trusted advisor to King Arthur.
Disney is also working on a live-action version of "The Sword in the Stone," which Scott was also consulted about, according to Variety.
Merlin was lasted played in a 1998 NBC miniseries by Sam Neill and in the BBC series by "Humans" star Colin Morgan.
For the movie version, may we suggest... Christopher Plummer? (In the later years, of course.)
[Via Variety]