Tonight on Netflix: Fan-Awaited Adventure Film Nearly Launched Major Animation Franchise!

While casually browsing a flea market with his dog Snowy, a young Belgian reporter named Tintin stumbles upon a model ship that seems to attract the attention of several bystanders. Named The Unicorn, this esteemed vessel was actually owned by the knight François de Hadoque, who roamed the seas in the 17th century and amassed a fabulous treasure.

Upon discovering a scroll inside the model that pinpoints the treasure’s location, Tintin sets off on an adventure. However, he is not the only one on this trail.

• Tonight on Netflix: if you’re afraid of emptiness, perhaps choose a different movie

Spielberg’s Take on Tintin

Among the most famous comic books of all time, the legendary Adventures of Tintin, created by Hergé, had already been adapted into various formats, including films and television series. Tintin enthusiasts might recall “The Mystery of the Golden Fleece” and “Tintin and the Blue Oranges” (two live-action films from the 60s based on original stories), the animated film “Tintin and the Lake of Sharks”, and the excellent animated series broadcast in the 90s.

But in the early 2000s, when Steven Spielberg himself (a big fan of Tintin’s adventures, which partly inspired him to create Indiana Jones) announced his intention to direct his own film about the young reporter, fans were ecstatic.

It took nearly a decade for “The Secret of the Unicorn” (adapted from one of the most famous volumes of the series) to finally emerge as a new animated film, produced using performance capture technology.

A Breathtaking Spectacle

Visually stunning and featuring the virtuoso direction Spielberg is known for, especially with some jaw-dropping continuous shots, the film is a feast for the eyes and brings a Hollywood scale to this universally known work without betraying its original spirit.

Unfortunately, Tintin’s cinematic adventures ended there, as the film’s box office earnings, while respectable, did not inspire confidence for a sequel. A follow-up project, this time focusing on the duology “The Seven Crystal Balls / The Temple of the Sun”, which was to be handled by Peter Jackson (producer of “The Secret of the Unicorn”), was seriously considered.

Will we ever see it? It seems unlikely today, but one can never be sure…

(Re)discover the trailer for “The Secret of the Unicorn”…