The British I Kill Giants film, based on the graphic novel created by writer Joe Kelly and artist Ken Niimura, will get its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
I Kill Giants, first published by Image Comics, tells the story of Barbara Thorson, an acerbic fifth-grader so consumed with fantasy that she doesn’t just tell people that she kills giants with an ancient Norse warhammer – she starts to believe it herself. The reasons for Barbara’s troubled behaviour are revealed through the course of the book, as she learns to reconcile her fantasy life with the real world.
Illustrated by J.M. Ken Niimura, the graphic novel won a Gaiman Award in 2013 (an overseas manga award selected by readers); the International Manga Award in 2012; was named to the “Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens” in 2010 by the Young Adult Library Services Association; as well as “Best Indy Book of 2008” by IGN; and was an Eisner Award finalist.
The film, scripted by Joe Kelly, marks the debut of Danish director Anders Walter and stars Madison Wolfe as the film’s lead, Barbara Thorson, and Zoe Saldana as her her school psychologist.
Imogen Poots also stars in the film.
Shot in Ireland and Belgium last year (Joe flew in to last year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival from the Irish shoot), I Kill Giants was produced by Chris Columbus through his 1492 Pictures/ Ocean Blue Entertainment, along with Kim Magnusson, Kyle Franke, Man of Action Entertainment, Umedia, and XYZ Films.
• Toronto International Film Festival – I Kill Giants Screening Information
• Man of Action TV: manofaction.tv | Follow Joe Kelly on Twitter @JoeKellyMOA | Ken Niimura is online at www.niimuraweb.com | Follow Ken Niimura on Twitter @ken_niimura
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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