We’ve known for some time now that Ron Howard’s first comic book adaptation will be a film version of the Image Comics series, The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft. The comic is a fictionalized story featuring a young Lovecraft who goes from a wimpy writer to an ass-kicker of the supernatural.

Speaking to the LA Times Hero Complex blog, Howard shared his excitement for the material—a project he will most likely direct:

Look, it’s challenging, but if we get it right, it could be really original and psychologically interesting and scary in a great way. And it’s a graphic novel, this is new territory for me.

I haven’t yet read the comic, but apparently it’s been well-received as pulpy horror fun. The concept does remind me somewhat of the ill-fated Terry Gilliam vehicle, The Brother’s Grimm, so I’m hoping Howard’s adaptation at least ends up besting that.

As someone who considers Apollo 13 the last truly great Ron Howard film (or at least, the last one where he actually attempted to push himself to new heights), I’m intrigued that he’s so gung-ho about tackling something completely different. Howard’s a talented director that has been playing it safe for some time, so I welcome him taking on a new challenge.

He’s still unsure if he can direct the adaptation, but it seems likely. Lovecraft is apparently one of many projects Howard started to flesh out over the past few years (while he was busy with his Dan Brown adaptations, and Frost/Nixon), but didn’t have time to complete. He elaborates:

So I’ve got literally half-a-dozen projects where essentially I’m waiting for drafts to come in, and there’s something I love about all of these ideas. We’ll just have to wait to see what comes to fruition. I sort of can’t bear the thought of letting any of them go. So maybe I’ve got the next five years spoken for.

Discuss: Do you think Ron Howard can deliver a fun and pulpy Lovecraft film?