Questions for Adi Shankar - Castlevania Animated Series

Can you tell us anything about why this project has taken (over) a decade to finally get fully produced?

How did Warren Ellis get involved with the Netflix Castlevania series?

Will anyone else who was involved with Dredd 3D or any of your Bootleg Universe films be involved with Netflix Castlevania?

When can we expect casting reveals for Netflix Castlevania?

Are you familiar with Bloodstained and how it's poised to be the spiritual successor to the Castlevania games? If so, what do you personally want to see from it?

What projects can we expect from you next?

I'm looking forward to this episode with the same level of enthusiasm as Judge Dredd watching criminals on fire.

If the rumors are true that this project had been floating around for years. That would mean that Iga was still in charge during its inception. Do you think he would approve of the direction you're taking with the series?

Are you familiar with the Lords of Shadow trilogy? Many fans including myself thought the series were Castlevania only in name. How do you plan on avoiding that kind of backlash?

Have you watched Captain N: The Game Master before? Are you intimidated by having to live up to such a high standard in Castlevania tv shows?

I heard that Netflix is starting to make its way into selling merchandise. What kind of merchandise would you like to see them make if the show was to be successful?

If Netflix asked you to make more episodes after the first four would you do it? Or are you done with Castlevania after this?

Would you ever consider directing for an actual Castlevania game?

Have you talked to Iga before? Is there anything you would like to say to him? He's got ears everywhere on the forums.

One of the only things fans loved about the Lords of Shadow series was the Combat Cross. Does Trevor wield the most recent version of the Vampire Killer or the more classic leather one?

What is a man?

Are you planning on making the series appeal to a more casual audience as well or is this directed mainly towards the gamer crowd?

Classicvania or Metroidvania?

Well done, Mike! It is the best way to debunk all speculations (until we hit classified information).

I thought at first that I wouldn't have any thoughts regarding this, but five minutes later, I got my own questions.

- Was there any precise factor on choosing the Castlevania series? (Childhood and videogames vs. Exposure to the series at a later age?)

- How was the deal secured... (Was it tough negotiating with Konami? Did they want to return to the roots of the original series? Did they have to be convinced?) (unless it's top secret)

- Any other gothic horror influences? (Bram Stoker's Dracula? Le Fanu's Carmilla? Nosferatu? etc.)

- Did he have an early overall reaction regarding his project? How does he feel about it? (maybe better not asked)

- Any dark humor planned? (That said, without Grant...)

- Favorite approach on games (2D, 2.5D, 3D?) the same would be for movies (live action? anime style? CGI-based only? hybrid?) (without spoilers)

- Is there any preferred character and  monster in the whole lore of Castlevania? Most loved and disliked games of the series? (only if he is familiar with the series)

- What is his weapon of choice* to defeat foes? (since he wants a violent product)

Thanks! Oh and please do choose whatever you wish in this pile of details. I won't mind it at all.


*Suddenly plays some Fatboy Slim.

How is the status of Grant Danasty? Rumors are that you despised him as a character, didn't want to use him, or wanted to change his name because it was "silly". 

If the series proves to be a sucess, what would be the next Castlevania tittle to be adapted?

(In regards to the soundtrack)

Can we expect to hear some familiar tunes, or will the series feature an entirely original score?

• Got any minor pitch ideas you abandoned, (care to share`) and who's pitch are you fulfilling?


• Are clues being hidden through out the season to get the viewers involved to predict the next season or episode. Fringe had symbols during breaks that gave us clues about the next episode for example.

And please, let the public know if He-Man series in the style of Game of Thrones are going forward. Really loved that idea.

So you say the word "Zombie" is not public domain?

Hahaha...this is awesome. Can't believe it's happening (the interview -and- the show itself). I saw him reply on Facebook and was like

Some of these questions have been answered in previous material. He says that he's dropped hours and hours into Csatlevania. Which ones and his familiarity with the series/lore overall, we don't know, but I'd imagine he's taken a pretty hard look at it since he's insisted a few times that core fans won't be disappointed/there won't be fan backlash.

For me, and if you bring something, using my actual name would be cool:
To start, a suggestions for a joke: Trevor is known as "Ralph" in Japan, so at one point Alucard would call him by that name, Trevor responding with a confused or defensive look and denying that, then Alucard saying "My apologies. The centuries of names and languages can oft cloud my memory." It could be anyone, but Alucard (as he is now) is more of a Japanese design and has somewhat of an excuse lol. If they want to take that further, a "Belmondo" pronunciation could be used similarly...

Sypha having a short stint of gender confusion lol. "Take him with you?"


This is almost a "canon" mistake though since she was allegedly passing as a man to avoid witch hunts/perception that she was one afterwards thanks in part to Carmilla.

Questions...

Are you and the team open for doing more, if this is successful?

What are your thoughts on Bloodstained? (mirroring Galamoth there, and:) Could you see a Bloodstained adaptation down the line if things line up?

What do you think the Castlevania franchise needs at this point? What could "bring it back"? Your project and Bloodstained has put matters in the hands of the fans, is that the way it should go from here on?

Music is huge for us, too, and Dracula's Curse has one of the best game OSTs of all time. Is the music already done, and are you/are you considering using remixed versions of that material?

CV3 is one of my favorite games from any era. It has a bit of a "cinematic" aesthetic to it already with how the game's story intro plays as a film strip, so I think this was meant to be. I hope the action sets off after the telling of that backstory with the classic "Prayer" scene with the lightning. That would probably sell me! Rock on, Shankar*! Thank you.

edit: *I was myself actually at a Guns N' Roses tribute band show when I saw him answer about doing the interview lol