…As luck would have it, I was just working on Westworld and had this amazing experience with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa. I thought, you know, this might appeal to them. I’ll never forget it, I mentioned the book to them and I think within 24 hours, they had read it and called me back saying, we want to make this our next thing.
I had the pleasure to talk to Vincenzo Natali. Vincenzo is an American-born Canadian film director and screenwriter renowned for his work in science fiction and horror genres. His notable films include “Cube,” “Cypher,” “Nothing,” and “Splice.” He has Italian and English ancestry and was raised in Toronto from the age of one. Natali’s early interest in film was evident during his education at Royal St. George’s College, where he befriended actor David Hewlett. He further honed his skills in film at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute and worked as a storyboard artist at Nelvana Animation Studios. Influenced by Samuel Beckett, David Cronenberg, and Terry Gilliam, Natali’s directorial debut was the 1997 film “Cube,” which achieved global success.
Natali’s career has been marked by diverse projects, including the films “Cypher” and “Nothing,” and the highly anticipated “Splice” released in 2010. He was also involved in adaptations of J.G. Ballard’s “High Rise” and Len Wein/Berni Wrightson’s comic character Swamp Thing. In 2010, Natali was slated to direct an adaptation of William Gibson’s novel “Neuromancer.” His directorial prowess earned him a nomination for “Best Director” at the 4th Annual Splatcademy Awards for “Splice.”
Beyond film, Natali has ventured into television, directing episodes for series like “Hannibal,” “The Returned,” “Westworld,” and “American Gods.” He directed a pilot for a new “Tremors” TV series and was an executive producer and director for Amazon’s adaptation of Gibson’s “The Peripheral.” Natali’s work on the “Locke & Key” TV series for Netflix further showcases his versatility.
Throughout his career, Natali has received numerous awards and nominations, including several from the Directors Guild of Canada and international film festivals. His collaborative works, particularly with David Hewlett, and his unique storytelling in films like “Cube” and “Splice,” have significantly impacted the science fiction and horror genres.
Yitzi: Vinchenzo, can you share the story of what brought you to The Peripheral? What was the backstory behind that?
Vinchenzo: It’s on my shirt actually, because this is an illustration of the book cover for Neuromancer, which is William Gibson’s first novel and the one that placed him among the great science fiction writers of the world. For years, I tried to make it into a feature film, and I’m afraid I abysmally failed. However, I see The Peripheral as part of a continuum that started with that effort. I really wanted to bring his vision to the screen. Because of Neuromancer, I developed a relationship with Mr. Gibson. We conversed over the years, and when he wrote The Peripheral, he sent it to me. I immediately read it and thought, there’s no way this will work as a movie. It’s so complex and dense, but maybe it could work as a TV series.
Yitzi: How did you eventually turn it into a TV series?
Vinchenzo: As luck would have it, I was just working on Westworld and had this amazing experience with Jonathan Nolan and Lisa. I thought, you know, this might appeal to them. I’ll never forget it, I mentioned the book to them and I think within 24 hours, they had read it and called me back saying, we want to make this our next thing.
Yitzi: How did you react when they came back so positively?
Vinchenzo: It was extraordinary. I mean, that never happens. When they said that, I thought, you know, this might actually happen. And here we are.
Neuromancer’s Legacy: How Vincenzo Natali Brought William Gibson’s Worlds to Life was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.