Matt Wagner's MAGE
© 2001 Matt Wagner

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Scribe Talks MAGE Movie

John Rogers is sounding very excited about the coming big screen version of Matt Wagner's MAGE.

While talking to Comics2Film, the writer spoke of recently signed director F. Gary Gray, saying, "I can't think of anybody who could be a better choice. THE NEGOTIATOR is great: totally underrated as an action film. SET IT OFF was amazing. He gets why comic books are cool. He gets why they're important. It's a guy whose vision I really love and a guy who loves the comic book. He totally is committed to Matt's vision."

Rogers is also hoping to stay an active part of the project as it continues to develop, saying, "I've been with the project since day one. My job originally was to make sure Matt's vision stayed intact. My job now is to do whatever it takes to get Gary's version of Matt's vision up on the screen."

The scribe also spoke of some tweaking he had done to the original MAGE story, explaining, "When you meet Kevin [Matchstick] in the book, you don't know anything about him. You know he leads a kind of pointless life and you know he has this pointless job. You get his personality, but that's not really enough for an audience whose working totally visually to be able to work off of."

As a result, Kevin now works as a bartender. Rogers continues, saying, "I gave him some friends just so, when he lost that life that he gives up to become the hero, it has some resonance."

Rogers also spoke of fleshing out other characters in the story. For example, he says, "We filled out the character of the Fisher King. The Fisher King is a guy who shows up at the very end, in like one panel, of the comic and he's the main goal of the villain!"

The writer also wants to allay any worries die hard fans of the original comic might have, noting, "I want everyone to know, all this is with Matt's blessing."