After showing a fascination with World War II that’s streched through his entire career, Steven Spielberg is turning his attention to the First World War, by buying the rights to Michael Morpurgo’s classic 1982 children’s book, War Horse, with plans for Dreamworks to turn it into an epic movie production.
The book tells dramatic tale of a boy and his horse, who are separated when the animal is sold off to go to war in 1914. However their fates are intertwined and while the horse faces increasing horrors, seeing the front line from both the British and German sides, he is eventually reunited with his former owner, who by that point is old enough to have joined the war effort himself. It is an incredibly moving book with a strong view on the inate tragedy of war for everything and everyone involved. With its mix of drama and both human and animal action, it could make an incredibly thought provoking and beautiful film.
Variety reports that Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) has been set to work on the script, but while Dreamworks has confirmed Spielberg will produce, they’re not saying whether he’s also thinking of directing.
Interest in the Morpurgo’s novel has undoubtedly been raised in the last couple of years following the National Theatres immensely successful production or War Horse (pictured), which recreated the story on stage using incredibly innovative puppetry.
Despite enormous success in the children’s literary world, Morpurgo’s books have rarely come to the screen, and those that have, such as Friend Or Foe and When The Whales Came, haven’t seen much success. Let’s hope this one does better, as anything that brings the author to a wider audience has to be a good thing (I have to admit to being slightly obsessed with his books myself as a child).