Trailer Tuesday: The Goon

It typically takes something like 4 years to make an animated film, which may explain why it seems like it's taking forever for The Goon to hit the big screen. Based on the twisted Dark Horse comic series from writer-artist Eric Powell (who you can follow on Twitter), the CGI-animated film adaptation of The Goon was announced back in 2008.

Since then, bits and pieces of news about the project have surfaced online. So we know that Fight Club's David Fincher is producing the film, while Clancy Brown and Paul Giamatti voice The Goon and his diminutive sidekick Frankie. Meanwhile, the project, unlike the vast majority of comic-to-film adaptations, has maintained a surprising amount of creator involvement - with Eric Powell writing the script himself.

We've also already had one very brief peek at the film's look, when a few stills and concept poster were released back in 2009.


One year later, and the film's first trailer has just screened at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, during the Goon panel. Just to clarify, the trailer embedded at the top of this post is simply a promotional trailer. It's designed to send fans (like moi!) into a frenzy, generate interest from casual filmgoers and geeky types unfamiliar with The Goon, and - most importantly - impress the big movie studios.

You see, The Goon currently has no studio backing, and the film desperately needs to be snapped up so that production can be funded and finally green-lit.

So, yes, don't expect to watch The Goon anytime soon. Ignoring the release of showcase footage above, the film actually hasn't even been made yet.

Anyway, I must say that I'm very impressed by the full promotional trailer for The Goon. It perfectly captures the offbeat, irreverent tone of the comic. The Goon, for those who don't know, is a darkly comic, pulpy series about a buck-toothed mob enforcer who maintains order in a rundown, Depression Era city. Assisted by an assortment of friends that include a werewolf, a conman zombie, a bowler hat-wearing giant spider, gypies and anti-social orphans, the Goon and right hand man Frankie defend their patch of turf against everything from zombies and ghosts, to mad scientists and *ahem* skunk-apes.

Pretty much anything goes in The Goon. And, as a comic book hero. the title character sits far more comfortably alongside the likes of Hellboy than, say, Superman.


Admittedly, when I heard that they were making The Goon into an animated movie as opposed to going the typical live-action route, I was concerned... But everything I've seen so far confirms that the choice of computer-generated imagery was definitely the right way to go. This should remain true even if there's the usual controversy when the film is released and it's obvious not safe, sanitised and family-friendly animation. This said, at this year's Goon Comic-Con panel David Fincher confirmed that The Goon movie will be a moderately offensive PG-13, as opposed to full-blown R-rated.

More importantly, during the same panel Eric Powell had the following to say about the cast of the film. “Pretty much all of the main characters are there: Goon, Frankie, Buzzard, all the guys in the bar, Zombie Priest, all of his entourage…Peaches.”

There is no release date currently set for The Goon, but as far as I'm concerned, the sooner it comes out the better. At this stage though, if a studio still has to come on board, I think we can only expect it during 2012 at the earliest.

I'm holding thumbs that development on The Goon project progresses at a steady pace, and that the film achieves the big screen release it deserves. I really don't want this one to go the way of pulp fantasy-horror Solomon Kane - an indie production that pretty much only screened at various film festivals, and which we in South Africa are still waiting for!

Goon creator Eric Powell with a cosplaying fan at this year's San Diego Comic-Con