12/01/2023 - Czech filmmaker Aurel Klimt will shoot the latest big-screen adaptation of Karel Čapek’s famous dystopian novel

The cult Czech dystopian novel War with Newts by pioneering author Karel Čapek is slated to get another adaptation. The next domestic big-screen version is being helmed by Slovak-born, Czech-based filmmaker and animator Aurel Klimt. Klimt previously made Jan Werich’s Fimfárum, an animated adaptation of short stories by legend of Czechoslovak cinema and theatre Jan Werich, in which he also employed puppets. His latest work is the stop-motion sci-fi musical Lajka [+see also:
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film profile]. The director, who also co-penned the latter’s story, took a somewhat loose approach to the adventures of the first Soviet canine astronaut, who goes on to save alien planets in his take.

Čapek’s War with Newts takes on a renewed sociopolitical urgency in the current circumstances, with the intertwining topics of exploitation, ecology and fascism testifying to the timelessness of the author’s work. The prescient allegorical-satirical sci-fi novel follows the discovery of intelligent newts, which mankind exploits and enslaves. The clash of the two civilisations eventually leads to the titular war for supremacy. The cinematic project is described as a modern adaptation that will combine live action with 3D CGI and 2D animation. Actors will interact with computer-generated newts that will be animated by motion-capture technology. While the modern animation techniques may attract younger audiences, Klimt revealed that the film will have a retro-nostalgic sheen, and he plans to reference “the playful style of the illusory animated films of Georges Méliès and Karel Zeman”, citing Zeman’s The Stolen Airship (which was recently digitally restored) as a particular inspiration.

Klimt revealed in a discussion with Czech Radio (hear it here, in Czech) that the funding process would continue throughout 2023, and shooting could start in 2024. Actor Jaroslav Dušek (Lunacy [+see also:
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film profile], Želary [+see also:
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film profile]) has been cast in the leading role of captain Van Toch. “Although this film will be apocalyptic, I intend to maintain the humour that is in the original novel, but which disappeared in later adaptations, leaving only the raw conflict between two civilisations. At the same time, staying above things, modesty, impressive visuals and gentle humour are the most important things in these current times full of crisis, which will help the viewer to accept this film despite its painfully existential topic,” reveals Klimt in the director’s notes.

War with Newts is being produced on the Czech side by Klimt’s own Studio Zvon, and is co-produced by In Film Praha and Serbia’s Zillion Film Ltd. Croatian firm Interfilm, Rudolf Biermann (Slovakia) and Czech Television are also on board. The Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund have both supported the project.