HAWK THE SLAYER LIVES AGAIN!!!

The greatest Dungeons & Dragons film of all-time, Hawk The Slayer, will now live again in an official audio adaptation, that will hopefully open the way for further adventures.

A Kickstarter was launched today to produce the classic of '80s sword-and-sorcery as a full-cast, feature-length audio drama produced - with the blessings of the creators of the original Hawk the Slayer, Terry Marcel and the Harry Robertson estate.

The brainchild of Graham Richards, whose recent four-part science-fiction drama Chiaroscuro is now available as a podcast, who explains his thinking behind this project thus:

"It is to provide Hawk fans with a "new" version of the story that can be enjoyed in addition to the film and novel, with the intention that it will pave the way for continuing stories that will eventually complete the saga. We love audio and we love Hawk, so it seemed only right to meld the two and create a lavish, aural adventure of the story we’ve held so dear for so long."

He adds:

"It is not intended to replace any film project, past, present, or future, but if there’s a chance that this could lead to an audio Hunter and Destroyer, then it’s worth pursuing. Any Hawk is better than no Hawk. And this way, there's a chance that the saga will be complete in one single media. And that will still leave it open for a proper film sequel and prove to the world that we STILL WANT MORE HAWK."

So, what's being changed from what is - to many of us - a perfect movie?

Graham says on the Kickstarter page:

"Nothing detrimental. Yes, there will be characters played by different actors, some with different nationalities than the 80s film version, and the voices you’ve come to know and love will be different, but we’re doing our absolute best to echo the original in sound, style, cadence, and character.

As a dyed-in-the wool Hawk fan myself, I couldn’t have it any other way. It HAS to honour the original wherever it goes. Nothing must appear out of place, even the new material.

I wouldn't want to let other fans down, and I certainly wouldn't want to let Terry Marcel or the Harry Robertson estate down.

There are some additional scenes that were not in the film, but were part of the novelisation, such as the character of Voltan’s right-hand-man, Chak. We’ve also taken that character and elaborated a little on his involvement in the story, highlighting the antagonism that grows between Chak and Voltan’s son, Drogo that is hinted at in the novel.

We hear a little more about the sorceress that aides Hawk and his team, and we explore the concept of the Mindsword in a little more detail.

There are also a couple of small scenes created especially for this play, to help place the listener into the story."

The Kickstarter is running until December 4, and is looking to secure pledges of £3,500.

Check out the campaign's page to find out more about the adaptation, how it could possibly lead to audio versions of Hawk The Hunter and Hawk The Destroyer, the cast (which includes Game Of Thrones' Clive Mantle as Gort), and, perhaps most importantly, the various investor incentive levels.

Pledge levels range from a £5 tip, through a variety of download and CD options, right up to the £200 'Table Of Five' option that gets up everything, including a hardbound copy of the script and your name in the end credits.

After universal disappointment at the failure to secure funding for the cinematic sequel (Hawk The Hunter) back in 2015, this audio adaptation seems much more achievable.

Let's make this happen - or the hunchback will have something to say!