Matt Damon praises Charles Portis in Empire Magazine

And of course, Matt Damon's not alone--Portis has long been considered one of the great living American novelists and True Grit is beloved among readers. But it's wonderful to hear people involved with the new Coen Brothers film acknowledge the influence of the original novel in the new adaptation.

"It's just a brilliant adaptation," enthuses Damon. "They change stuff to make a two-hour film out of it, but retain so much of the dialogue, and Charles Portis - who is still alive - has an ear for the way people talk. It's a really special script."

Check out Empire Magazine's exclusive interview with Matt Damon for more. And don't forget to become a fan of True Grit on Facebook to keep up with all of the latest news and buzz surrounding the film, set to release in December!

Sneak Peek: the new cover of TRUE GRIT

which hits stores on November 5! You've probably heard about the new movie based on the novel, opening December 25 from the Coen Brothers and starring Jeff Bridges.

Look for our new edition of this Charles Portis classic next week!

TRUE GRIT Film Remake Next Up for the Coen Brothers

Joel and Ethan Coen are working on an adaptation of the classic western True Grit by Charles Portis for their next project. According to Variety, their adaptation of the 1969 picture will hew more closely to the Charles Portis book on which it is based. In the book, a 14-year-old girl, an aging US marshal, and another lawman track her father’s killer through Indian country. While the 1969 version focused on Wayne, the Coens’ version will highlight the girl’s point of view.