James Bobin — the man behind the camera for Alice Through the Looking Glassand Disney’s The Muppets, as well as one of the creators of Flight of the Conchords — has signed on to direct and adapt with Beauty & the Beast‘s David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman shepherding the project along as producers. Den of Geek caught up with Klein at San Diego Comic Con, just after the announcement of Bobin’s involvement. Here’s how he feels about the direction his book’s film adaptation is taking… “It’s scary because, when you sign off your thing, you have zero control,” said Klein. “It’s my baby, it is now yours, please treat it with care.” Ultimately, it was Lionsgate’s enthusiasm for the source material that won them the rights. As for the directorial announcement, Klein couldn’t be more pleased, calling Bobin one of his favorite directors. These comments are particularly enlightening in the context of Klein’s comments about what kind of tone he wanted to set for the near-future of The Punch Escrow. “It starts with me hating dystopian scifi,” Klein said of his book’s inception, “especially these days when we need something positive to look forward to.” Klein sees some specific parallels between the protagonists of Flight of the Conchords and Joel, the protagonist of The Punch Escrow. Bobin isn’t only directing The Punch Escrow, he’s also adapting the book into a screenplay, a fact that especially reassures Klein that his story is in the right hands. “I’m stoked, is the answer,” Klein says with a laugh. Read more about The Punch Escrow and Tal M. Klein in our full interview.
