Rachel
asked
Matt Ruff:
Now that Lovecraft Country is such a success, is there talk of any of your other novels being adapted for screen, big or small? I absolutely adored Set This House in Order and would love to see it to see how it differs from the movie playing in my head.
Matt Ruff
My novel Bad Monkeys is currently under option to Universal Studios, with Margot Robbie attached to star. The project is still officially “in development” – not yet in production – and of course the COVID pandemic has completely disrupted the film industry in Hollywood, but I’m optimistic that we will eventually see the movie.
As for Set This House in Order, it has been optioned by composer Nico Muhly for development as an *opera.* COVID has been even more disruptive to the live music business, but the idea of a Matt Ruff-inspired opera is so cool that I am happy to be patient.
None of my other novels is currently under option, but if I were placing bets, I’d say that Fool on the Hill will almost certainly become a film at some point – the only question is whether I’ll still be around to see it. My most recent novel, 88 Names, is very filmable, and would work as either a movie or a TV series – or both. The novel I’d most like to see adapted is The Mirage – its subject matter is less radioactive now than when it was published, and I’d guess that it’s the book most likely to benefit from Lovecraft Country’s success. Sewer, Gas & Electric is kind of the odd man out here – although it already has been adapted once, as a German radio play, it’s probably my most difficult book to imagine as a movie or TV series. But “difficult” doesn’t mean impossible, and a director smart enough to figure out how to do it would likely produce something very interesting.
As for Set This House in Order, it has been optioned by composer Nico Muhly for development as an *opera.* COVID has been even more disruptive to the live music business, but the idea of a Matt Ruff-inspired opera is so cool that I am happy to be patient.
None of my other novels is currently under option, but if I were placing bets, I’d say that Fool on the Hill will almost certainly become a film at some point – the only question is whether I’ll still be around to see it. My most recent novel, 88 Names, is very filmable, and would work as either a movie or a TV series – or both. The novel I’d most like to see adapted is The Mirage – its subject matter is less radioactive now than when it was published, and I’d guess that it’s the book most likely to benefit from Lovecraft Country’s success. Sewer, Gas & Electric is kind of the odd man out here – although it already has been adapted once, as a German radio play, it’s probably my most difficult book to imagine as a movie or TV series. But “difficult” doesn’t mean impossible, and a director smart enough to figure out how to do it would likely produce something very interesting.
More Answered Questions
Alison Gresik
asked
Matt Ruff:
In light of the #ownvoices movement, I'd love to hear from you as a white author writing Lovecraft Country about the experience of Black characters. How did you get comfortable with telling this story? What limitations did you become aware of, during and after the process? What are you learning from having the story adapted by Black writers & producers? Anything you would do differently? Any intuitions that paid off?
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