Comic book writer Van Jensen has his debut novel, Godfall, coming out in a couple of days. The story, which centers around a small town where a three-mile-tall alien crash lands, however, has already been picked up in a competitive bid situation by Ron Howard’s production company for film adaptation.
“I’m honored to be a part of bringing Van’s incredible story to the screen. He’s built such an expansive, enthralling world that is deeply universal in its themes,” Howard (pictured above) said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Godfall showcases the perseverance of the human experience and the very relevant themes of family and change in small town America. Not to mention, the rich and complicated characters, that provide great performance opportunities and what I know will be an amazing cast.”
According to the book’s blurb on Goodreads, the excessively tall alien is given the nickname the Giant and “transforms the red-state farm town into a top-secret government research site and major metropolitan area, flooded with soldiers, scientists, bureaucrats, spies, criminals, conspiracy theorists—and a murderer.” The Sheriff of the town, David Blunt, appears to be the protagonist and is charged with solving a spate of “brutal, bizzare murders.”
Jensen is quite excited about the adaptation by Howard’s Imagine TV as well. “This is all wildly unexpected and, well, delightful,” he told THR. “Ron and Brian’s creative vision and energy literally shaped my storytelling sense from childhood on. What I love the most about their work is that it’s so full of heart. And now I’m working together with them, to tell this story that is in many ways about my hometown. I can’t fathom a better partner to bring Godfall to screen.”
No news yet on when the film will go into production much less make its way to a screen. The book version by Jensen is set to come out on November 1, 2023. It is expected to be the first book in a series.
