Christmas is coming, and so is The Sandman
Dario Argento is often referred to as ‘The Italian Hitchcock.’ He is a master of Italian horror; a visionary in the gloriously grotesque. Now, the Italian auteur makes a return to mainstream cinema with his take on the macabre Sandman fairytale.
The film is set to star music mogul, and occasional actor, Iggy Pop, who has taken to launch a crowd funding campaign with Argento in a bid to raise $250,000 via the IndieGoGo website. The Sandman will also explore elements of E.T.A. Hoffman’s version that sees the classic tale of the bogeyman who steals the eyes of naughty children if they do not go to sleep. The only information Argento has given away is that a child witnesses the murder of his mother on Christmas day.
Speaking of his new project, Argento commented: “I’m tired of these Christmas movies showing goodness. Beauty, snowflakes, sleds, pulled by reindeer. I’m tired of these things. I’d rather have a Christmas movie where there is also the strength, violence, horror and this is what I’m going to do.”
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Iggy Pop is believed to be portraying the title role of The Sandman and is a long-time fan of the Italian filmmaker. Discussing the project, Pop affirmed: “If I could play the Sandman for him it would make my life complete. I hope I have not just written my own epitaph. Let’s all die horribly together in a blaze of glory.”
There is also another Sandman project in the works based on Neil Gaiman’s cult graphic novel, with rumours linking Joseph Gordon-Levitt to the title role.
Argento’s IndieGoGo crowd funding campaign will launch for one month from the 9 October, in the hopes of raising money from loyal fans . You can visit the site IndieGoGo here.
Sources: Empire, Deadline.
