7 Ways to Actually Adapt Alan Moore's Impossible-to-Adapt "From Hell"

Seven ways to make Alan Moore's "From Hell" into something worth watching.

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Complex Original

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From 1989 to 1996 notoriously persnickety comic writer/genius/occultist Alan Moore and illustrator Eddie Campbell published From Hell, a series that, when finished, would widely be regarded as one of the great—if not the greatest—graphic novels ever written.

The collected edition runs 572 black-and-white pages, detailing a conspiracy-laced investigation into the Jack the Ripper killings, replete with freemasons, mysterious visions, and lots of dead prostitutes. Really, though, the book was a platform for Moore to espouse his views on philosophy, psychology, classism, and even architecture. (Lots of architecture, actually.) It would not be wrong to call From Hell Moore's magnum opus. It would also not be wrong to say that this book is very difficult read, even for Moore fans, which is why things like The From Hell Companion exist.

Considering the level of baroque, it's no wonder that the Hughes' brothers 2001 film adaptation failed to capture one-tenth of what made the comic book so awesome. Then again, who could have? Well, as was just announced, FX, apparently. A new series is being developed by Children of Men writer David Arata and produced by Don Murphy, who also handled the film.

While I'm skeptical that translating Moore's to the small screen is even possible (and it goes without saying that Moore hates the idea), here are seven ways it could actually work. FX, please read this.

Nathan Reese is a News Editor at Complex. He tweets about comic books here.

Do Not Cast Johnny Depp

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Give it a Beginning, Middle, and End

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Leave in the "Boring" Stuff

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Keep It British

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Trust the Audience

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Be As Faithful As Possible...

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Hire Steven Soderbergh to Direct

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