Gerard Way on the 'Umbrella Academy' movie: 'I don't want it to be 'Harry Potter''

EXCLUSIVE

I ran into one of my favorite people in comics and music, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance fame, backstage at the Spike TV Scream 2008 Awards. We wandered around a bit, and I was fortunate enough to introduce him to both Frank Miller and Tim Burton (I do love my job). Way was in such a good mood that he gave me the major lowdown on "The Umbrella Academy" ramping up as a film project at Universal. He talked about his hopes to bring in people such as "Children of Men" director Alfonso Cuarón, Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Chicago," "Sweeney Todd") and perhaps screenwriter Diablo Cody, who picked up an Academy Award for "Juno."

GB: So what's the good word on "The Umbrella Academy"?

Way: "We just had our first meeting at Universal, and it went great. The hardest thing was finding the right building and the right gate. Nah, the meeting was great, really, really great. The book was optioned before [International Comic-Con in] San Diego, and now it's been green-lighted. Now we're talking screenwriters and directors, obviously. There's no director attached yet."

GB: What can you tell us about the process so far and your priorities?

Way: "They want me to be very involved in it. I'm interested in co-scoring it with somebody too. Something like RJ-D2. Something completely different. Do you know what I mean? I think everything he does has an interesting '60s vibe. It almost has that dystopian 'The Prisoner' feel to it."

GB: You would almost want a "Harold & Maude" meets "X-Men" sensibility to an "Umbrella" movie, if that doesn't sound too odd.

Way: "No, basically that's it. Yeah, 'Harold & Maude' meets the 'X-Men.' The soundtrack can't be a straight score. It has to have some kind of quirk to it. I want to make the music super, super interesting."

GB: What do you know about the timetable for the film?

Way: "I've heard 2010 and 2011. I think 2010 is the big Marvel year, right? So maybe 2011. Not that this is going to be like those movies, really. I said going into the meetings that this film has to be really progressive. It can't simply be the next opportunity for a video game. In the way that 'The Dark Knight' made its own rules, it needs to have its own energy. One of the names I was really interested in as far as screenwriters was Diablo Cody. I think it's an unexpected choice. Everything about this book has been making the less-obvious choices."

GB: Tell me the one thing you don't want to have happen with the film.

Way: The one thing I don't want to have happen is I don't want it to be 'Harry Potter.' And the studio doesn't want that. The boy in this story is not a boy. He's 60 years old. He is an assassin. There's so much about him that is extremely violent. So that's why I don't want this to look like 'Harry Potter.' It's not pretty and nice and safe. It has funny moments, but it's a dark humor. Everything about the movie has to interlock properly. I want the music to be just right. I want Colleen Atwood to do the costumes. She's never done a super-hero. We actually had a meeting long before the Universal meeting when I first really heard about the possibility of the film. It was one of the first things I did, right away. What will make the project special is the people that work on it.

GB: That makes sense. How does that shape your thought on the best option at director?

Way: I love Alfonso Cuarón. That would be amazing.

GB: What about the obvious choice, Wes Anderson? You've told me in the past that he has been a key influence on your sensibility with "The Umbrella Academy."

Way: "I think that's too close to home. It's too much to the source, unfortunately for me. I think he would read it and think, 'I think I've covered this ground already.' He was such a major influence on 'The Umbrella Academy.' I think he would read the book and think it's like one of his films with super powers. OK, maybe it's not that bad. But I was inspired not just by his rhythm but by the things that influenced him. Like 'Harold & Maude.' But I think it might be too much to the source."

GB: Michel Gondry seems like a director who would also have an affinity for the quirky and sometimes grotesque universe you've explored in "Umbrella." Did that name come up?

Way: I love everything Gondry is doing. I love that lo-fi element. He could do something amazing with this. I thought 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' was so interesting, the way it was made and the texture of it. I've seen every one of his films. I loved 'Be Kind Rewind.' There are so many directions we could go in. I'm just excited to be in this process, and I can't wait to see where it leads."

--Geoff Boucher

RELATED Gerard Way's "Essential Shelf": The star's 10 must-read graphic novels

ALSO The Dark Horse story: How an Oregon comic-book company became a Hollywood player

Top photo: Gerard Way at the Spike TV Scream 2008 Awards. Credit: Dan Steinberg / Associated Press

Lower photo: Gerard Way performing at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards. Credit: Getty Images.

All 'Umbrella Academy" art by Gabriel Bá and courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.

Comments

[kay]

sweet. im really excited for him. umbrella academy is such a fantastic comic. i can't wait for a movie, this one will no doubt be an epic thing when the're done. i would kill to be part of it.
:)
best wishes!

[Jo]

Tim Burton would be the perfect director for this one D:!

[Wendie]

scoreee, i'm excited ;D

[ragb]

dah!!wat eber!!!
gerard way's so talented!!i love making manga i cant make best but i can do great!!

[ragb]

dah!!wat eber!!!
gerard way's so talented!!i love making manga i cant make best but i can do great!!

[geniko cooopiuy]

I LOVE UMBRELLA ACADEMY! NOW TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF!!! when leos die, they are given the choice 2 b-come leogods. if they agree, they are granted immortality and go and live on mt. o'leo , where they torment mortals endlessy. there are 13 main leogods. each has his( or her) special duties. for instance, duncan, who is real short and ugly, is in charge of tripping and hitting people. so next time you trip and hurt yourself, blame duncan. Donald is in charge of wood. he likes to slap people with branches. Suki, the only female, is in charge of water. she drowns people and pops kids floats. horton, who is a real old pervert, is in charge of ,um, "female bodily havoc". i hate him. well, i can't go on for ever. Mt oleo is in greece if you're interested in going and killing them. if you are remember that to kill them you must aim for the heel. BELIEVE IT!!

[manu_ran]

Tim Burton no, please. he is so emo that it would give this movie more emo things :S xDD
I want these comics but i don't know where to find them here in Spain... x(

[Alexis Monica Lucero]

Tim Burton i a realy good director. i love the previoue movies he has made. adding more emo into the umbrella academy wont do any harm. whats wrong with emo? i my elf have read the umbrella comics and i absolutly love it! i would actualy wonder if it would be in 3D. making emo into 3D would be awome!!!!! ROTFL!!!

[maryxloser]

As a fan of The Umbrella Acemdemy and MCR, (respectfully, mind you...) I'm very interested in seeing how this comes out. During this interview, they'd mentioned some extraordinary directors, each having a very different take on making films. I know that as long as Gerard stays involved, his vision will be realised. Good luck to them!

[Josephine]

This is going to be interesting. I really is a big fan of Umbrella Academy and Gerard is a great drawer. I think he does the most amazing things with his voice when he sings to though in My Chem. I'm looking forward to see hows this going to end up. It would be so much fun if it became a movie.

[HelenaSeanceCadaver]

my sister keeps telling me that i should be the one to play Rumor. Allegedly i look like her since i dyed my hair purple.

[tamii]

the umbrella acadamy is awesome

and so is mcr

[samantha]

holy crap! i cannot wait i need ideas for a comic book me and my friend are doing. THIS IS SOOOOO EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MaPzZz]

¡oOoOoOoH !!!!!!
I LOVE GERARD WAY !!!!!!!
AND HIS MUSIC XD
AND OF COURSE MCR!!!!!!

[Gaby]

OMG, i would love a movie on The Umbrella Academy =D that would be amazing, i would like tim burton as the director though, his films have a dark vibe to them and turn out amazing. Can't wait for the auditions =D xxx

[Izzy]

BRING ON THE MOVIE!!! LONG LIVE THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY!!!!

[Rebekka]

Ok! Have never read Umbrella Academy, but if i see one in a store, i will runn to it, and buy it straight away!!!
And i cant wait till the movie comes out, i am almost about to explode so exited i am!!!
If i was Gee i would pick Tim B. As the director, but it is all up to him, i'm sure that i will be the best movie ever!!!
Bye b*POOF!!!!* *rebekka exploded*