What do you want (game/movie/etc.) based on The Astonishing?

[Shadow2222]

Now that JP has confirmed that there are already projects in the works based on the story/characters/world of the new album (see quote from Billboard article below), what do you want personally?

"Other things could come out of it because the story is very rich as far as the characters and plot, so a video game, novel or anything else might happen; a movie or even a musical," says Petrucci. "A bunch of those things I mentioned are in the works, and as they get closer we'll reveal the schedule of [release]."

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6851509/dream-theater-moment-of-betrayal-song-premiere-the-astonishing-album

[Enigmachine]

I think a musical would make the most sense.

[CoT67]

I'm pretty sure it's going to be a musical. He hinted a lot at that sort of stuff in his Rolling Stone review.

[shadow1psc]

I would love a novelization, depending on how the deluxe set handles the 'screenplay lyric sheet'. I dunno how a video game would play out. Seems a little too cheesy for a full on movie.

[RMGadelha]

Novel. Play, only if they film it because I wouldn't go to broadway just to see it.

[Train of Naught]

Other: Joe Sandalo bootleg of The Astonishing!

[CoT67]

Other: Joe Sandalo bootleg of The Astonishing!

This would be glorious

[BlobVanDam]

I just want the album based on The Astonishing, thanks.

[pcs90]

A musical definitely makes the most sense.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

Let's hit up CD Project Red to develop an Astonishing DLC for The Witcher 3. I'd be down to fight NOMAC Griffins.

[TH1RT3EN]

I'm not really a fan of musicals, but I gotta recognize it as probably the most reasonable option. I'd still rather see a movie being born from it though.

[bosk1]

Given all the artwork that has been done, I am guessing a video game and/or graphic novel is/are in the works.

[BlobVanDam]

Given all the artwork that has been done, I am guessing a video game and/or graphic novel is/are in the works.

A graphic novel would be one of the most feasible options, so logistically that makes sense.

A musical also seems very possible and fitting, not something I'd be personally interested in though.

A video game would take a while to do well, and at the level we're looking at, probably not the best medium to retell a story.

I'm still waiting on the card game.

[bosk1]

Blob, what do you think the odds are of an animated short film, ala Heavy Metal, but CG?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I'm still waiting on the card game.

You just activated my trap card.... Lord Nafaryus

[bosk1]

That picture would be even more scary/appropriate if it was you in the picture.

[BlobVanDam]

Blob, what do you think the odds are of an animated short film, ala Heavy Metal, but CG?

Standalone animation to cover the entire story of The Astonishing would cost a crapload, so I'd say pretty low odds. I think any video efforts along those lines would go into the live show production.

[shadow1psc]

I didn't think about a graphic novel. I'm down for that.

[bosk1]

I didn't think about a graphic novel. I'm down for that.

A couple of things made me think in that direction.  (1) From ITPOE, we know that JP has at least some knowledge of obscure manga. (2) Nightwish did a comics series for The Unforgiving.  So in terms of the story of The Astonishing being told in other media besides the album, a short comics series or graphic novel seemed likely to me.

[shadow1psc]

I didn't think about a graphic novel. I'm down for that.

A couple of things made me think in that direction.  (1) From ITPOE, we know that JP has at least some knowledge of obscure manga. (2) Nightwish did a comics series for The Unforgiving.  So in terms of the story of The Astonishing being told in other media besides the album, a short comics series or graphic novel seemed likely to me.

JP may or may not also be influenced by Periphery's Juggernaut. Last I heard they were taking that story into graphic novel form.

[Chino]

I want a mobile app with micro transactions.

[YtseJohn]

NO

I want a mobile app with micro transactions.

[dparrott]

What TA related release do I want?  A making of DVD!!  Hopefully a project this size, they recorded it.  When's the last making of DVD they did...Systematic Chaos?

[TH1RT3EN]

Nightwish did a comics series for The Unforgiving.

That was Within Temptation, not Nightwish.

[Alohakid87]

I think a novel would be perfect. Keep in mind that Rush's Clockwork Angels was released into a novel by a fantastic author named Kevin J. Anderson with Neil Peart. And we all know how much DT and Rush are alike....(PLEASE READ THIS JOHN PETRUCCI AND GET A HOLD OF KEVIN J. ANDERSON) 

[ErHaO]

I would prefer a broadway show, as that likely means more music (as in: alternate renditions and different vocalists/instrumentalists doing DT). I like the broadway recording of Green Day's American Idiot, for example. Especially the use of vocal harmonies.

Nightwish did a comics series for The Unforgiving.

That was Within Temptation, not Nightwish.

Indeed, Nightwish did a film for/with Imaginarium.

[BlobVanDam]

Nightwish did a comics series for The Unforgiving.

That was Within Temptation, not Nightwish.

Same thing, isn't it?

(I only know The Heart of Everything by Within Temptation, and it's actually pretty awesome, so j/k)

Didn't know they'd done comics though.

[dparrott]

A special studio acoustic EP of TA songs.  They've never done one of those before either!

[camzmac]

Purely from a cost/benefit perspective, I'd want a novel or graphic novel first. The other media require plenty of cash to get going, hence the risk is bigger, so the likelihood of it happening any time soon is much smaller. In contrast, a novel wouldn't take much to get completed in comparison to the other media in the poll.

I'd honestly prefer a non-graphic novel, not only because it would be most feasible first option, but because I feel it would complement the music and the band. Think about it - a novel plays out in your mind, a kind of dream theater if you will, and is one of the best mediums for telling a pure story. We will already have the album, a medium that realizes emotion through music. Sure, the lyrics will tell a story, but I'd imagine for most of us, we're primarily listening to the music first and lyrics second. A novel would reverse this by putting the story first.

It would be pretty cool to have the music echoing in my mind while reading the novel, and once done the novel, appreciating the album, in particular how the story drives the music, in a more meaningful way.

[Ben_Jamin]

Purely from a cost/benefit perspective, I'd want a novel or graphic novel first. The other media require plenty of cash to get going, hence the risk is bigger, so the likelihood of it happening any time soon is much smaller. In contrast, a novel wouldn't take much to get completed in comparison to the other media in the poll.

I'd honestly prefer a non-graphic novel, not only because it would be most feasible first option, but because I feel it would complement the music and the band. Think about it - a novel plays out in your mind, a kind of dream theater if you will, and is one of the best mediums for telling a pure story. We will already have the album, a medium that realizes emotion through music. Sure, the lyrics will tell a story, but I'd imagine for most of us, we're primarily listening to the music first and lyrics second. A novel would reverse this by putting the story first.

It would be pretty cool to have the music echoing in my mind while reading the novel, and once done the novel, appreciating the album, in particular how the story drives the music, in a more meaningful way.

That's what Kevin J. Anderson did with Terra Incognita. Getting the group Roswell Six to create music with the books.

[Shadow2222]

I wanted to bump this now that the album is out to see if hearing the album changed anyone's mind.

Also, because JP confirmed that a novel is in the works in the Reddit AMA today.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/438pam/ama_hey_i_am_john_petrucci_from_dream_theater_ask/czgjisu?context=3

[In regards to the NOMACS] They are part of the reason for the breakdown in this future world as they are the only source of music to be heard. They are an artificial intelligence of sorts who automate a soulless cacophony. On the album the story is focused more on the human characters and their struggles, however the NOMAC story will be explored further in future novelization.

[Carlos_7x]

I'm planning on develop a fan game, I'm not sure if RPG or Adventure.

Time will tell.

[Prog Snob]

Well, naturally I'd love to see this as a novel. But I'll be happy with anything they did with it. It would actually be cool to play this in some sort of video game.

[DragonGuitar]

A Novel / Graphic Novel would be great, and easy to produce. A video game I think would be good, and you could hear the music in the background... but, IDK about the actual gameplay. A movie seems like it would be too cheesy, but hey, I could be wrong. I also think a musical would be a great option, and it would be awesome if they recorded an official DVD of it. Another option I think would be feasible would be a board game or card game- seems like it wouldn't be too hard to make, they already have art needed for character cards and stuff, the map could maybe be the board or something, I don't know, but it seems like it would be easy to do and well worth it.

Whatever they come out with I will get.

[erwinrafael]

Musical. The way it is written, it's pretty much ready to be staged.