Filmmaker Patrice Leconte (“The Man on the Train,””Ridicule”) is reportedly hoping to helm a live-action feature adaptation of Herge’s Tintin comic story “The Castafiore Emerald” according to French outlet Figaro (via The Playlist).
The outlet says the film is already far along in development but there remain rights issues to work out between Paramount France and Herge’s estate. Leconte indicates he’s already found the actors he wants for the key roles of Captain Haddock and Bianca Castafiore, but he hasn’t yet set his Tintin.
The twenty-first volume in the series and published in 1963, the story takes place entirely around Haddock’s family estate of Marlinspike Hall and has more of a comedic tone than other books in the series. It begins when Milanese opera diva Bianca Castafiore invites herself to stay and perform at Marlinspike, much to an injured Haddock’s chagrin. Soon after a precious emerald of hers is stolen.
How this will impact the CG animated “The Adventures of Tintin” franchise isn’t clear. Steven Spielberg directed and Peter Jackson produced the 2011 feature based on “The Secret of the Unicorn”/”Red Rackham’s Treasure” two parter. Its long been thought Jackson would direct the next film in that series, but the project hasn’t made much progress in the decade since.
Leconte won’t be getting to his version right away as he also has to film his next feature “Maigret and the Dead Girl” in early 2021.