Aside from a couple of his Death comics (and the long-missing Miracleman), I never really got into writer Neil Gaiman’s brand of diet-Goth grownup fairy tales. But I’m curious about the adaptation of Gaiman’s book Stardust, mostly because it’s Matthew Vaughn’s sophomore directing effort. Considering his confident work on his gangster debut Layer Cake, I would’ve preferred to see Vaughn’s version of X-Men 3, but sometimes you have to accept that we live in a world where right guy doesn’t always get the right job, and even the visionary behind Barbershop can get a comic franchise.
Anyway, Vaughn’s Stardust is getting ready to roll, and has just gathered up a cloud of clout in the form of several well-known thespians, including Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer and Claire Danes (as already proclaimed by AICN’s Moriarty LAST WEEK). The lead role has gone to young Brit Charlie Cox (no relation to the ubiquitous Brian, one presumes), while the love interest will be played by Vaughn’s delicious Layer Cake icing Sienna Miller (pictured — like I was gonna put a snap of crusty Bobby D. up there with sweets like that in the movie?).
The fantasy tale revolves around a man who ventures into a magical realm to retrieve a fallen star for his beloved. Unfortunately along the way he must contend with evil witches, goblins, pirates and belligerent trees. But c’mon, let’s be realistic — for Sienna Miller, you’d probably do it too.