Stardust (2007 film)
A romantic fantasy adventure based on Neil Gaiman's novel.
Stardust (2007) is a romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman. It adapts Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel and features an ensemble cast including Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Robert De Niro, with Ian McKellen providing narration. The story centers on Tristan, a young man from the fictional English village of Wall, which sits on the border of the magical kingdom of Stormhold. To win the hand of his beloved Victoria, Tristan crosses into the magical realm to retrieve a fallen star. He discovers the star is actually a woman named Yvaine, and both witches and the Princes of Stormhold are pursuing her. Tristan races to bring Yvaine back to Wall before Victoria's birthday deadline. The film earned positive reviews, grossed $137 million against a budget of $70–88.5 million, and won the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. It was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and HD DVD on December 18, 2007.
The plot begins in the English village of Wall, where a stone wall separates it from the magical kingdom of Stormhold. A guard prevents anyone from crossing. Dunstan Thorne tricks the guard, crosses over to a marketplace, and meets Una, an enslaved princess who gives him a glass snowdrop in exchange for a kiss. They spend the night together, and nine months later, the guard delivers a baby named Tristan to Dunstan. Eighteen years later, the dying King of Stormhold throws a ruby into the sky, declaring that his successor will be the first of his sons to recover it. The gem strikes a star, and both fall into Stormhold. Princes Primus and Septimus each search for the stone. In Wall, Tristan and Victoria see the falling star, and he vows to retrieve it for her hand in marriage. Using a Babylon candle left by his mother, he transports to the fallen star, which is a woman named Yvaine. He chains her with a magic chain and sets out to bring her to Victoria. Three ancient witch sisters, led by Lamia, plan to eat the star's heart to regain their youth and power. Lamia eats remnants of an earlier star's heart and sets a trap by conjuring a wayside inn. Yvaine escapes Tristan's chain with the help of a unicorn but ends up at Lamia's inn. Tristan learns from whispering stars that Lamia and her sisters killed the last fal
- Release year
- 2007
- Director
- Matthew Vaughn
- Screenwriters
- Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman
- Based on
- Neil Gaiman's 1999 novel Stardust
- Budget
- $70–88.5 million
- Box office
- $137 million
- Award
- 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
Lore & Background
The film follows Tristan, a young man from the fictional town of Wall in England, which borders the magical kingdom of Stormhold. Tristan enters the magical world to collect a fallen star to give to his beloved Victoria, in return for her hand in marriage. He finds the star, who to his surprise, is a woman named Yvaine. Witches and the Princes of Stormhold are also hunting for Yvaine. Meanwhile, Tristan tries to get her back to Wall with him before Victoria's birthday, the deadline for her offer.
The adapted screenplay was written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, who had been recommended by Gaiman. Vaughn said he wanted 'to do Princess Bride with a Midnight Run overtone.' The film compresses the novel, leaving out portions due to time and budget constraints. The character of Captain Shakespeare was expanded extensively from the novel, where Captain Alberic is only briefly mentioned, and the last half hour of the film is almost entirely different from the book.
Development began after Gaiman recovered the rights from Miramax. In January 2005, Vaughn acquired the option to develop Stardust, and in October 2005 entered final negotiations with Paramount Pictures. Vaughn said half the financing for the film was British. The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD on 18 December 2007.
Reader's Guide
Stardust (2007) is notable as a faithful yet compressed adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel, balancing dark fairy-tale elements with whimsy and humor. The film won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form in 2008, recognizing its achievement in fantasy storytelling. Its ensemble cast and visual effects helped it achieve positive reviews and a $137 million gross against a $70–88.5 million budget. The film's legacy includes demonstrating how a literary fantasy can be successfully translated to screen with significant changes—such as expanding the role of Captain Shakespeare and altering the final act—while retaining the core romantic adventure. It also marked Matthew Vaughn's directorial debut in the fantasy genre after his work on Layer Cake and his withdrawal from X-Men: The Last Stand.
Did You Know?
- The film won the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.
- Director Matthew Vaughn co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman, who was recommended by Neil Gaiman.
- The last half hour of the film is almost entirely different from the novel.
- The character of Captain Shakespeare was expanded extensively from the novel, where Captain Alberic is only briefly mentioned.
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