About a year ago, in November 2021 it was announced that Broken Lizard was making a satirical take on Hunchback. The Film was dubbed Quasi.
Now if you are like me and I know you are, you keep up with all things Hunchback. From news of the adaptions and so on. For about the last decade there has been eight or so announcements on new Hunchback Tv/Film projects. The Broken Lizard one was the last one and so far the only one to get a release date.
Quasi hits Hulu (US) on April 20th 2023. It will be on other streaming platforms for other countries so no worries. There are also actors listed but no roles given. Like I can guess who is playing Esmeralda (or a character like Esmeralda) but I don’t know for sure.
So in 5 months I better know what that axe means in the logo because I’m puzzled. Mayhaps I need to read the novel again because axe iconography is not something I recall. Bells, sure, gargoyles, hell yeah, cathedral stuff, yup, gallows, a bit bleak but yes, even fire I get but an axe? No.
Also what is a little maddening, at least for me, is that the last film adaptation of Hunchback to come out a little over 20 years was a parody. In the interim between versions nothing and now two comedic takes back to back even with a 20+ year gap. Kinda odd.
So Quasi will be the next Hunchback film version to get released since the 90s.
Source – https://deadline.com/2022/11/broken-lizard-quasi-film-release-date
Site Update- I’m sorry I haven’t done a Magical Adventure post in a while time just gets away from me but I do mean to finish it I just don’t know when. I’m remorseful that it taking me so long. I have no excuses though.
On the one hand I’m glad we’re finally getting something NDDP related; I wonder if it’s going to be along the lines of the 1998 parody adaptation or if it’s going to be it’s own thing with character names as the only nod, to the original source material. On the other hand…if it is character names/takes place in Paris only, it’s going to be a disappointment. While it’s great to see NDDP get just about any kind of media attention, this could set up release info for other adaptations currently in the works. If this one is bad (not laughably) or gets negative criticism-not the, “it’s so bad, you gotta see this”-actually negative criticism, that could impact release dates and studios may rethink releasing other adaptations all together. But if it’s good or good-ish it could create the trendy domino affect…”this was a hit, let’s all jump on the bandwagon to make that sweet dough!” I’m hoping it skews more toward the 1998 parody, than just being crude/raunchy humor with the NDDP facade slapped on for reasons. I don’t think audiences are going to be receptive to raunch with the facade, just for the sake of raunch. There needs to be a reason why it’s NDDP related for raunchy and crude humor to work within the story.
I also wonder how much “Hunchback” is in this version considering the plot and listed character on the IMDB page. I agree with you on hoping it more NDDP with the raunchy joke vs that style of humor with Notre Dame and a hunchback throw in.