Who will come to the aid of beleaguered King Hrothgar, whose warriors have become the prey of the vengeful outcast monster Grendel?
In the able hands of #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys, American Gods) and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Roger Avary (Pulp Fiction, Silent Hill), a timeless classic adventure takes on a astonishing new life. Here are the initial draft and final shooting script of the star-studded blockbuster film from Paramount Pictures and Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forest Gump, Back to the Future), plus concept art, fascinating insights in the screenplay's evolution, an introduction by Avary, an afterword from Gaiman…AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Northern Denmark
518 A.D.
The Age of Heroes
Fade in:
1 Ext. Herot — Day
Extreme close up on: The face of King Hrothgar. He is a man past the prime of his years, but still a mighty warrior, and a charismatic leader of men. As he bombastically talks, with full volume, to a large audience, we slowly pull back.
Hrothgar
A year ago I, Hrothgar, your King, swore that we would celebrate our victories in a new hall, a mighty hall and beautiful. Craftsmen from all over the land of the Danes, and from all the civilized world have worked on this hall to make it the finest mead-hall on the face of the earth.
Pull back to reveal that Hrothgar is atop his horse in front of a huge mead hall, which is called Herot, and that around him are a huge band of Danes — closest to him are Warriors, and advisors, including Esher, an elderly man, and Unferth (with long black hair streaming out from his winged helm and intense black eyes).
Further away are the merchants and the women and children and dogs. Everyone is Filthy. For that matter everyone in the film is filthy.
The queen, Wealthow (who is less filthy than everyone else), stands a little behind the King, with a couple of her ladies. Wealthow is over thirty years younger than Hrothgar, his second wife, and is radiantly beautiful. Her chief lady is Yrsa, a girl with intense blue eyes and contrasting black hair to the queen's blond locks.
The King is happy, shouting loudly enough to be heard by the furthest dog.
Hrothgar (cont'd)
(continuing)
In this hall I shall have my throne. In this hall we shall feast and tell of victories. In this hall shall the scops sing their sagas. And in this hall we shall divide the spoils of victory, the gold and treasure. This shall be a place of merrymaking and joy from now until the end of time.
1. Continued:
Hrothgar holds out a huge bejewelled cup to a page, who pours mead into it from a jug. Hrothgar holds up the cup.
Hrothgar
I name this hall...
He takes a huge swig of Mead. His eyes are bright. Then he pours the rest of the mead on the doorway.
Hrothgar
(continuing)
...Herot!
And the crowd cheers.
Cut to:
2 Int. Herot — Mead Hall — Night
Everything is golden and burnished. The crowd are noisy and cheering and happy. We see golden mead being poured from jugs into goblets. One warrior sticks out his helmet, mead is poured into it and soon he is drinking from it. A brace of golden roasted geese are brought out on wooden serving platters. The fire is burning golden-orange in the fireplace. It's noisy and riotous.
Hrothgar is sitting at a huge throne, and beside him is a pile of golden treasure — wristbands, rings, neck-rings, helmets and the like.
Cut to:
3 Ext. Herot — The Moors — Night
We are a short distance away from Herot. All is blue-grey and still. Mists hang low on the moor. Smoke and Muffled Jubilation come from the Hall. A door opens and a man stumbles out to piss.
Cut to:
4 Int. Herot — Mead Hall — Night
Noise once more assaults our senses. Hrothgar is laughing loudly at some dirty joke. He picks up his queen, Wealthow, and kisses her long on the mouth, while she beats at his chest with her fists, demanding to be put down. His warrior Thanes cheer him on.
Bestselling author Neil Gaiman has long been one of the top writers in modern comics, and has also penned many books for readers of all ages, including American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and M Is for Magic. He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers, and is a prolific creator of works of prose, poetry, film, journalism, comics, song lyrics, and drama. He has written multiple New York Times bestselling books, and is a Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, SFX, and Locus Award winner. He has also worked in support of First Amendment rights, and was awarded the Defender of Liberty Award in August 1997 by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund for his efforts. Born and raised in England, Neil now lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has somehow reached his forties and tends to always need a haircut.Roger Avary is the writer-director of the neo-noir crime thriller Killing Zoe and the filmed adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel The Rules of Attraction. He received an Academy Award® for his work as a writer with Quentin Tarantino on Pulp Fiction. Originally from the United States, he now lives in England.
