Updates as of November 2024...

I regained the publishing rights for Hug Chickenpenny, which is now available to order once more for reasonable prices on Amazon. This gothic orphan fable is quite different from my other books, but also my favorite.

https://www.amazon.com/Hug-Chickenpen...

I continue to prep 'The Bookie & the Bruiser,' which will be my fourth motion picture as writer/director/musical co-composer. I will post developments when things are certain, though there are some strong additions to the cast.

The debut album of my experimental/power electronics/noise project Mindscrubber is now available on CD and digitally from Chondritic Sounds:
https://chondriticsound.bandcamp.com/...
Below are some accolades I received for my second graphic novel, a huge-scale, hard sci-fi work published by Dark Horse Comics called Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos. Below the blurbs are some lists of and links to my 2023 favorites in books, music, movies, and comics.

"Zahler continues to amaze me. I got goosebumps." - Justin Lin, director Fast Five and Star Trek Beyond

"Yikes, what scary talent!" - Geof Darrow

"What a fantastic read!" -Patton Oswalt

"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." -Brian Michael Bendis

Order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1506733077/...

This is a link to my top 50+ albums of 2023:
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/S_Crai...
These are the best new movies and revival screenings I saw in 2023:
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls524075975/

My top 15 favorite prose books I read in 2023 are:
An Immense World (Yong)
Permutation City (Egan)
Skidding into Oblivion (Hodges; reviewed by me on this site)
Soldato! (Albert; reviewed by me on this site)
Valley of Assassins (Albert; reviewed by me on this site)
Reborn as a Demonic Tree (XKarnation; reviewed by me on this site)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee)
Fargo: Death Valley Gold (Haas)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Diaz)
My Best Friend's Exorcism (Hendrix)
Rontel (Pink)
Children of Time (Tchaikovsky)
Imaro (Saunders)
In Watermelon Sugar (Brautigan)
Everyman (Roth)

Baby Boom (Yokoyama) was my favorite 2023 comic, and an all-time great manga/use of the medium. This book contains the most exciting daily chores in history (and might have come out very late 2022 in some markets).
The Gull Yettin (Kessler), Monica (Clowes), Life Under Tension (Harkness), I Wish I Was Stupid (Ebisu), Werewolf Jones & Sons (Hanselmann & Pettinger), Michael Mouse (Lohmeier), Tombs (Ito), Three Rocks (Griffith), Maniac Army (Ryan), and Night of the Ghoul (Snyder & Francavilla) are also special books.
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Published on April 10, 2024 22:16
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message 1: by Fred (new)

Fred Really looking forward to your next films. I first saw Bone Tomahawk after getting the notorious scene spoiled but that in no way hindered how good actually seeing it was. Dragged Across Concrete is great and I need to watch it again. But it was Brawl In Cell Block 99 that really got me to seek out your other work. Brawl tapped into the brutal violent danger that I want in stories.


message 2: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Fred,
Thanks for the support! I'm glad you dig Brawl in Cell Block 99 so much and enjoy the other movies and have checked out my books as well.


message 3: by Fred (new)

Fred The way Mean Business on North Ganson Street starts off as kind of a run of the mill murder mystery but then turns into a full blown war on the cops and then becomes like Lord of the Rings with these guys having to venture into very hostile territory was really cool.


message 4: by Moshe (new)

Moshe Freed Great news, love your films and books. "brawl in cell block 99" and "bone tomahawk" are my favourite.


message 5: by Jared (new)

Jared C Happy to see the shout-out to Maniac Army. I've loved Ryan's recent output.

Speaking of comics, I believe in an old interview you've mentioned liking to work in 3's. Any chance of a third comic anytime in the future? I absolutely adored Dr. Divinus and have loaned it to friends untold times--I need to get a loaner copy just so I can keep track of it.


message 6: by S. (new)

S. Zahler I'm glad you dig my comic.
And yes, I have already written the story for my next graphic novel, which I plan to draw when time permits. Thanks for asking!


message 7: by Ben (new)

Ben Daré Huge fan of the Big Stone Grid script hope you get $ to get it made! Even more excited for this new mystery movie as your 4th feature! Question though is this a new script you wrote or one you wrote previously and are finally being able to make?

Also I just listened to the Narrow Caves podcast thing and it was crazy good brotha, keep doing you!


message 8: by Maximilian (new)

Maximilian Walter Love all of your three movies, Forbidden Surgeries of the hideous Dr. Divinus is my favorite comic, Wraiths of the broken land was the best book I read last year. Please never stop entertaining us Mr. Zahler! Much love


message 9: by Ryan (new)

Ryan Robertson Thank you for this update! It's really cool of you to stay connected with your fans in a platform like this. I look forward to diving into these recommendations.

As many others have stated, your works (across all mediums) is astonishing. Your prolific nature is much appreciated. I can't wait to learn more of your upcoming films. I know you're still in the early stages, but I hope you're able to collaborate again with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Carpenter. The performances you got out of them (in both "Brawl" and "Dragged Across Concrete") was something special.


message 10: by Byron (new)

Byron I'm curious Zahler, would the fourth film be another crime/noir/horror type thing, or would it be in a less-expected genre (or at least less expected to people only familiar with your work in live action film).


message 11: by Timothy (new)

Timothy Nommensen Re-reading Wraiths a lot, it’s beyond awesome. Is there an update on the film?


message 12: by Tim (new)

Tim Can't wait for a new Zahler film! The wait has been too long


message 13: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Timothy wrote: "Re-reading Wraiths a lot, it’s beyond awesome. Is there an update on the film?"

I don't know what is or isn't happening with the Wraiths of the Broken Land movie---this may just be rumors or it could be something more.


message 14: by S. (last edited Apr 13, 2024 04:07PM) (new)

S. Zahler Byron wrote: "I'm curious Zahler, would the fourth film be another crime/noir/horror type thing, or would it be in a less-expected genre (or at least less expected to people only familiar with your work in live ..."

I am not going to reveal more details about my fourth film until things are more certain, but everything is moving in the right direction, and I appreciate the interest.

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message 15: by Zaghol (new)

Zaghol Dear Mr Zahler, I love your movies since Tomahawk, I thought....

Bone Tomahawk - 2015
Brawl in Cell Block 99 - 2017
Dragged Across Concrete - 2018

... your next movie will be release around 2020, but we still need to wait (I'm so impatient). I hope your next project progress will be at least next year and will be even greater than the last 3. Keep up the good work Mr Zahler!


message 16: by Michael (new)

Michael O'Brien I'm a big fan of your movies and I'm just catching up on your books. Loved Hug Chickenpenny. Thanks for giving your recommendations and ratings on here, too. I'm a few stories into Skidding into Oblivion and I'm loving it.


message 17: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Thanks for checking out my books and enjoy Brian Hodge's excellent Skidding into Oblivion collection.


message 18: by Ben (new)

Ben Daré Hey Mr Zahler just finished Congregation Of Jackals and it was downright amazing! I was wondering if you ever thought about doing something in animation I feel like you could make something really cool & unique. Keep up the great work!


message 19: by S. (last edited Apr 17, 2024 11:44PM) (new)

S. Zahler Thanks for checking out the book. Yes, animation is a long-time interest of mine dating back to my early childhood in the 1970s, and I hope to one day work in the medium, doing either hand-drawn or stop-motion work. For the major part of my life, I've admired Richard Williams, Osamu Dezaki, Hayao Miyazaki, Ralph Bakshi, Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett, The Quay Brothers, and lots of old Disney stuff like Dumbo, Pinocchio, Lady & the Tramp, and others...


message 20: by Byron (new)

Byron No love for Bob Clampett and Chucks Jones? T_T (I kid!)


message 21: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Chuck Jones was truly excellent, and Bob Clampett did some great stuff as well. And of course I relish the maniacal king of squash and stretch, Tex Avery.


message 22: by Tom (new)

Tom Davidson Thanks for the yearly roundup. Skidding into oblivion is on my list but is hard to find a copy of, in the meantime I've read Nightlife, also by Hodge and adored it. It actually reminded me a lot of The Slanted Gutter, due to the bro-mateship aspect and a lot more. Fingers crossed for your next film project.


message 23: by Timothy (new)

Timothy Nommensen Awesome news about the new movie, so excited. Can’t wait to see Adrien, I actually love watching Predators because of his performance.


message 24: by Ben (new)

Ben Daré Congrats on TB&TB brotha!! Great news, super pumped for this! You and Vaughn are always good and Brody can lowkey be hilarious sometimes. Hope you're doing the music for the film as well! Best wishes will be there day 1.


message 25: by Daniel (last edited May 08, 2024 06:28PM) (new)

Daniel Baldwin Congrats! I can't wait to see it!


message 26: by Phil (last edited May 08, 2024 10:06PM) (new)

Phil Sounds great, hope it gets a major theatrical release, I managed to see Dragged when it played at the Arclight (RIP) in LA. Fun experience with the crowd "reacting" to certain events!

Vince Vaughn and Adrien Brody together sounds GREAT. I saw Brody in Clean recently and wondered why he isn't getting more awesome gigs. Well here we are!


message 27: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Thanks for the support!


message 28: by Tucker (new)

Tucker Adams Congrats, dude! Any chance we can get some more Fred Melamed in this one?


message 29: by Epmda (new)

Epmda Tucker wrote: "Congrats, dude! Any chance we can get some more Fred Melamed in this one?"

Of course! Melamed is to Zahler movies as Rob Schneider is to Adam Sandler movies.


message 30: by Epmda (last edited May 10, 2024 08:34AM) (new)

Epmda Amazing news, my money was on Fury of the Strongman but this is a pleasant surprise. Very excited for the new book as well.


message 31: by Zaghol (new)

Zaghol great news, hope all goes well~!


message 32: by Pedro (new)

Pedro Zahler, please read this comment: I must say dragged across concrete changed my life permanently. I love everything you do. Please share us more lists of movies that deeply affected you. I assume you're a fan of Cosmatos stuff? I love his episode on Del Toro horror series (something curiosities - the rest is really bad). At this point i'm having withdrawing symptons of your movies. Need a new one.


message 33: by Pedro (new)

Pedro Zahler, if you didnt watch you should: Locke (2013)


message 34: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Pedro,

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I am Panos Cosmatos fan for certain--I'll look for his episode in that series, which I've not seen.
I post lists in lots of places, so search for "Favorite Movies of S. Craig Zahler" and you'll find a long list on IMDB.


message 35: by Ben (new)

Ben Daré Hey Mr Zahler I saw theyre making one of your old scripts into a film w/ Gerard Butler, pretty cool! Im sure its not your original Empire State script which is a shame but its still cool nonetheless. So congrats and keep doing you brotha!


message 36: by S. (last edited May 15, 2024 01:05PM) (new)

S. Zahler Epmda wrote: "Tucker wrote: "Congrats, dude! Any chance we can get some more Fred Melamed in this one?"

Of course! Melamed is to Zahler movies as Rob Schneider is to Adam Sandler movies."


I would prefer to say that Fred Melamed is my Jack Nance, and yes, I plan to work with him again. He is a great talent with an incredible voice and a wonderful presence. Additionally, he is a very warm and generous human being.


message 37: by Jim (new)

Jim Bonomo Greetings Z! Just wondering how pre-production is going. Hopefully smoothly and building excitement!


message 38: by Zaghol (new)

Zaghol can't wait!


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