As shocking as it may seem to people who are having trouble admitting they’re old (myself included), Denzel Washington’s post-apocalyptic action film, “The Book of Eli,” is turning 14 this year. Yes, that means there are kids who will attend high school this year that were born the same year ‘Eli’ was released. Even though we don’t want to admit it, the idea of a prequel series doesn’t feel all that crazy, considering the film has been sitting on the shelf for well over a decade. And so that’s what we’re getting.
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According to Deadline, Gary Whitta, the writer of “The Book of Eli” (as well as “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), is the mastermind behind a new prequel series that will take place roughly 30 years before the events of the Denzel Washington film. Not only that, we know that John Boyega is on board to take over the mantle from Washington, playing a much younger version of the title character.
So, what’s the story going to be about? Well, given the ‘Book of Eli’ prequel is said to take place 30 years prior to the events of the film, you can assume the series will either show the immediate aftermath of the ecocide that destroyed the civilized world or take place roughly around that time. As for the exact plot, that’s not something folks are willing to talk about now.
For those who haven’t seen the film, “The Book of Eli” follows the title character, played by Washington, who is a nomadic warrior in the post-apocalypse. He runs afoul of a bad guy in the film and has to use his sword and general badassness to survive. It’s a good, if not great movie, and does a solid job of worldbuilding. The idea of a prequel is actually a bit exciting, especially with Boyega attached.
John Boyega is best known for his “Star Wars” work, but since then, he’s really devoted his career to tackling interesting roles in surprising films. He doesn’t just sign up for big budget blockbusters as you might assume he would. Instead, he’s done quite a few serious dramas and indies, speaking openly about wanting to pick passion projects and not easy paychecks. If he’s willing to sign on to “The Book of Eli,” then we have to assume there’s something potentially special here.
Unfortunately, it’s unclear when and where we might see the series. Right now, Whitta and Co. are trying to find a home for the series. You have to assume studios would be happy to throw money at something like this, but as of yet, we don’t know who will win that right. And thus, we shouldn’t get too excited about this project until it really lands somewhere and gets into production.