Steve Niles spoke with Comic Book Resources about his newest Hollywood deal, a big screen adaptation of “Wake The Dead,” originally optioned by Dimension Films, but now in the hands of Holding Pictures.

How did this movie deal come about? “Wake The Dead” was originally with Dimension.

Niles: Originally, it was bought as a package deal by Dimension with another book I had done called “Hide.” Basically, nothing happened. Bob Weinstein was a big fan of it, and he and I sort of did our best to get it going, and it fell victim to the split [between Disney and Miramax/Dimension]. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t up there with their priorities, like Quentin Tarantino and those guys, you know. So it just fell by the wayside, and they were really cool about it and we got our rights back.

All through this, I’d been talking to Jay Russell. I met Jay about three years ago, I think, and we immediately started talking about projects. This was one he really focused on. I’m really attracted to opposites teaming up–not that Jay and I are opposites, but certainly on the surface that’s what you’d think. I mean, here’s the director of “Water Horse: Legends of the Deep,” which is one of the hottest kids’ movies right now. And he did “My Dog Skip,” which obviously was a big success. I just loved the idea of him taking on this story as his first horror, because everybody’s got a littler horror in them, and I’m really curious to see. Watching his movies, you can see in the suspenseful moments of “Water Horse” he teeters on some good horror moments. I’m excited about the possibilities.

The complete interview is online, here.

Official Press Release

San Diego, CA, March 26, 2004�Wake The Dead reinvents the story of Frankenstein for a new generation. Acknowledged comic book horror master Steve Niles shows that there is life after death in the trade paperback collection of Wake The Dead.

With Niles doing the story and new art sensation Chee illustrating, Wake The Dead was an instant hit for IDW, with the first issue selling out rapidly and a second printing rushed to fill the demand.

�Wake the Dead is one of the stories I always wanted to tell, because even as a kid I liked the monster better than the humans!� Niles jokes. �I’m so happy with IDW and Chee’s work on this and I can’t wait to see it collected.�

The Wake The Dead trade paperback will be released in June, to insure great summer reading for those who like their horror with an edge.

�Wake The Dead was not only a brilliant piece of storytelling in comics, but it was the kind of breakthrough that gets attention in other arenas as well,� IDW�s Editor-in-Chief Jeff Mariotte said. �Screen rights went immediately to Dimension Films, with X-Men 2 screenwriter Mike Dougherty doing the screenplay. Now with this trade paperback, Steve�s vision of this classic tale will live on in book form and on screen.�

Wake The Dead is a full color, 128-page trade paperback collecting the five-issue miniseries, with a special die-cut cover and a retail price of $19.99.

IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea + Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients. Among IDW�s titles are CBS�s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night and its sequels, Dark Days and Return to Barrow; Ashley Wood’s Lore; CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations; and Steve Niles� Wake The Dead, Remains, Aleister Arcane, and Hyde. Columbia Pictures has optioned the movie rights to 30 Days of Night, with Sam Raimi attached to produce. Konami is producing a video game based on CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations. Dimension Films has optioned the movie rights to Wake The Dead and Hyde.

Official Press Release

San Diego, CA, October 28, 2003. Shortly after hitting retail shelves, IDW Publishing�s newest hit book, Wake The Dead #1, has sold out. Steve Niles�s modern twist on the Frankenstein story has consumers and retailers alike seeking more copies of the book.

Wake The Dead #1 is yet another sold-out hit from prolific horror master Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Dark Days), with art by Milx and Chee. IDW Publishing has rushed a second printing to retailers so that the consumer demand can be met.

Beau Smith, IDW�s VP of Sales and Marketing, says, �I was in daily contact with retailers and distributors from day one of Wake The Dead�s release. Virtually everyone wanted to know if we had more, or were doing another printing. We overprinted, but that stock went quickly. It reminded me of 30 Days Of Night all over again.�

Wake The Dead #1�s second printing will be accompanied by a special retailer incentive�every ten copies ordered by any retailer will earn a free eleventh, a copy of the first printing with the rare variant cover by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Dark Days). Wake The Dead #1 is a 32-page comic book with a cover price of $3.99.

Press Release

Bob Weinstein, President of Dimension Films, announced today that the Company has acquired the rights to the IDW Publishing comic book �Wake The Dead� by Steve Niles, a supernatural thriller in the vein of cult films like �The Crow� and �Darkman.� Ted Adams of IDW Publishing will executive produce the film along with Niles. Under the deal, Dimension also has a first look at Niles� and IDW�s upcoming comic book, �Remains�. The first issue of “Wake the Dead” ships next month from IDW.

Niles and IDW currently have �30 Days of Night� set up at Sony with Sam Raimi producing along with Dark Horse Entertainment.

With comic book franchises at the height of pop culture awareness working with Steve and IDW is a perfect fit for Dimension.

IDW Publishing has become a major content provider for all forms of entertainment including feature films and video games. Their other titles are CBS�s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Ashley Wood’s Popbot; Alex Garner’s CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations; and has published Niles� �30 Days of Night� as well.

SVP, Development Michael Zoumas and Director of Development Narges Takesh brought the project to the studio after discovering it at the San Diego Comic Con last month.

Andrew Rona and Brad Weston, Co-Presidents of Dimension, will oversee the project for the studio.

Brian Burkin, SVP Business and Legal Affairs negotiated on behalf of the studio. Niles and IDW are repped by Jon Levin at CAA and attorney Gretchen Rush at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Sloan & Richman, and IDW is represented by Ani Management.

Steve Niles� Follow-up to “Dark Days” Provides a New Take on the Frankenstein Legend

San Diego, CA (June 25, 2003) Steve Niles is proving to be a prolific fountain of blood and fear. He is being called the modern master of comic book horror. This September, IDW Publishing, along with Steve Niles and artist Milx, will debut one of the most twisted pieces of horror storytelling ever: Wake The Dead.

Wake The Dead is just what happens when Victor discovers a way to reverse the death process. Doing so he starts a whole new way of living that can only be described as �death defying.�

“Basically Wake The Dead is a re-telling of ALL the Frankenstein stories I’ve ever read, or watched. It’s like a story created out of the bits and pieces of other stories, so in a way, Wake The Dead is a Frankenstein monster all its own,” says Niles. “I wanted to capture the essence of the original book as far as the youth of the characters and the price paid for playing God, but I think we’ve still managed to create an original and really freaky story.”

�Milx is a rare find, a skilled craftsman who brings it all to every page with meticulous detail and care,� said Jeff Mariotte, IDW�s Editor-in-Chief. �From the interior of a house to the process of reviving a dead pig, he puts you on the spot and makes you believe it. Combine that talent with a script by Steve Niles, and you know you�re in for a terrifying treat.�

Wake The Dead is a five-part monthly miniseries, premiering in September, at a retail price of $3.99.

IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea + Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients including The Upper Deck Company, Electronic Arts, Ultima Online, WizKids, Cartoon Network, Sony Online Entertainment, Nickelodeon, and many more. IDW Publishing focuses on a small number of high-quality titles. Among them are CBS�s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night and its sequel, Dark Days; Ashley Wood’s Popbot; Paul Lee and Adam Huntley’s Lurid; Beau Smith’s Wynonna Earp; and the art books Uno Fanta, Dos Fanta, Art of Armitage and Art of Sam Kieth. Columbia Pictures has optioned the movie rights to 30 Days of Night with Sam Raimi attached to produce.