Tonight on TV: The movie that cost the director his career

After directing special effects for numerous films, including Aliens Returns in 1986 and Alien³ in 1991, Stephen Norrington turned his attention to directing music videos. In 1995, he wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, Death Machine, a low-budget science fiction film. He is then responsible for the big screen adaptation of the Blade comics, starring Wesley Snipes as the vampire hunter.

Five years after that unfortunate New Line experience at the studio, Stephen Norrington still decides to get back behind the camera. In 2003, he was offered another comic book adaptation, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. Falling into the steampunk genre, it brings together several characters from 19th century fantasy literature.

From the beginning, Stephen Norrington wanted to stay true to the original work and keep it dark. But Mella, like lead actor Sean Connery, who is also the film’s executive producer, doesn’t see it that way. After rewrites (20 in total!) the director sees his project running away from him. The already strained relationship between the filmmaker and the lead strained on the set – which was also hit by budget cuts and heavy financial losses due to the floods. Stephen Norrington also announces his resignation, but with the threat of legal action from Fox, returns to the set to finish the job.

“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” has been on fire since its theatrical release by international critics. The film marks the end of Sean Connery’s career. Like Stephen Norrington. The latter retired from the film industry – except for his special effects design for The Exorcist: In the Beginning – participated in the Burning Man festival for ten years before returning to his first love: animatronics.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Stephen Norrington with Sean Connery, Shane West, Peta Wilson…

Tonight on 6 ter at 21:05.