The legendary Frank Miller is taking the beautiful work of Hugo Pratt‘s “Corto Maltese” graphic novel and adapting it into a 6-episode television series. He’ll also be writing the series. StudioCanal, distributor of animated films and TV series, has teamed up with Miller to produce the project. The hope is to bring the seafaring adventurer to live-action glory.
Created in 1967 by Pratt, “Corto Maltese” is heralded as one of the finest graphic novels. Both on artistic and literary scales. The character Corto is a soft-spoken sailor who plays by his own rules and sympathizes with the downtrodden. A gold-hearted rogue that’s the darling of many an adventure series with an iconic captain’s hat and earring. The sailor often finds himself interacting with real-world figures despite existing in a fictional world. In his adventures, Corto comes across the likes of American author Jack London, Robert LeRoy Parker (aka Butch Cassidy), and even Manfred von Richthofen (aka The Red Baron).
From His Childhood To The Screen
Miller has loved the works of Pratt since he was a child. Many are encouraged by the graphic novelist’s own unique style and eye for an artistic shot. In fact, according to close collaborator Patrizia Zanotti, Pratt admired and respected Miller’s work.
“Hugo Pratt appreciated Frank Miller’s work from the very beginning so much so that he published him in the Corto Maltese magazine in 1988″ Zanotti said. “Pratt, like Miller, are students of American classic cartooning like Milton Caniff with their use of shadows, dramatic inks and bold brush work. Who better to reinterpret Hugo Pratt’s world than Frank Miller after all the characters and worlds the legendary creator has brought to us?”
Frank Miller recently launched a new publishing banner in order to create more projects. This includes a new “Sin City” release, among other things. We’re optimistic that he can translate the artistry of Huge Pratt to the live action medium.
We’ll let you know what we hear about casting and a possible home for the series.
