Freak the Mighty
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Freak the Mighty is a children's novel by Rodman Philbrick. Published in 1993, it was followed by Max the Mighty in 1998. The primary characters are the friends Maxwell Kane, a huge but learning-disabled child, and his friend Kevin Dillon, nicknamed "Freak", who is physically crippled but very intelligent.
It was also the basis for the 1998 Golden Globe-nominated movie entitled The Mighty. Elden Henson starred as Max, and Kieran Culkin portrayed Kevin. A revision of the book also entitled The Mighty was released in conjunction with the movie.
In 2001, Philbrick wrote one- and two-act plays based on his book. The work has been performed, but has not yet been formally published.
Kevin opens Max's mind to the world of the imagination using the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. What Kevin lacks in physical strength, he makes up with a brilliant mind. Kevin and Max complement each other and become a perfect match.
Imagining themselves as a knight called "Freak the Mighty", the pair go about rescuing maidens (abused wives), slaying dragons (the local punks) and walking high above the world.
The movie also stars:
- Harry Dean Stanton as Elton "Grim" Pinneman
- Gena Rowlands as Susan "Gram" Pinneman
- Sharon Stone as Gwen Dillon
- Gillian Anderson as Loretta Lee
- Meat Loaf as Iggy
- James Gandolfini as "Killer" Kane
[edit] Sequel Film
In 2002 Philbrik considered doing a Sequel film to the film The Mighty and made his book's sequel Max The Mighty but no script was finished