Len Wiseman To Direct Nocturne, Thriller Set After The End of The World

Len Wiseman

by Peter Sciretta – SlashFilm.com

Len Wiseman has signed on to direct Nocturne for 20th Century Fox. We don’t know much about this project other than the few little tidbits included in The Hollywood Reporter’s announcement piece, so lets look at what we know:

Post Apocalyptic: The story is set after the end of the world, and follows a group of survivors.

The Twist: The film is about “the mystery surrounding how they got to that position” And before you think this is just another post apocalyptic disaster film, ala 2012, the piece mentions that the film is a “thriller.”

Original: The pitch is based on a completely original idea (ie not a remake, adaptation or sequel), and no writers have been hired to pen the project, but the studio is currently on the hunt.

Who’s Involved: Len Wiseman wrote and directed Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, and last directed Live Free or Die Hard. Wiseman is also attached to the underwater military action film Atlantis Rising and the futuristic war movie Shrapnel but doesn’t have a greenlight on any of the projects.

Sounds like an interesting concept. If Wiseman has one strength it is his pre-directing background in prop and production design, which couldn’t hurt a movie set after the end of the world. I’d assume that the end of the world will be visually intensive. No more details have been revealed, so we don’t know if the story is set in space after Earth is destroyed, or set on Earth after most of the inhabitants have been killed. I’m sure we’ll learn more once a screenwriter is hired.

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Abrams Talks Star Trek 2, Will it Be 3-D?

Published by Jeff Leins – NewsInFilm.com

At a press event to promote the upcoming DVD release of Star Trek on November 17, director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci opened up about their developing plans for the sequel.

According to Collider, the big status update is they are still brainstorming the story idea for the science fiction follow-up, and haven’t decided on the basic plot. Kurtzman and Orci stressed the importance of a stand-alone installment and Abrams intends to make it for general audiences not just Trekkies (like the first). Though there may end up being references for the fans, and the writers haven’t decided on whether or not the foe will be the return of Khan.

“There’s Empire Strikes Back, Superman 2, Aliens, Terminator 2, Star Trek 2. What do all those movies have in common? Well, they’re amazing stories, all on their own,” Kurtzman said.

Orci stressed that the allegorical philosophy is just that, and the eventual plot won’t be a heavy-handed reference to Guantanamo Bay or any other “modern issues.”

Abrams was asked about possibly shooting the film in 3-D to which he replied, “I’m open to looking at it ’cause now I feel a little bit more comfortable. And, if I, in fact, direct the Star Trek sequel, 3-D could be really fun, so I’m open to it. What I’ve seen of Avatar makes me want to do it because it’s so crazy-cool looking.” The release, like the first, will probably end up on the IMAX screen, so I’d rather Abrams shoot using IMAX cameras than dive into stereoscopic 3-D, but we’ll see which direction Paramount wants to go with gimmicky film making.

As for non-Trek related movies, Abrams said they’re still formulating the story and script for Mission: Impossible 4 and Kurtzman/Orci are doing Western research for Cowboys & Aliens. “Fringe” writer Brad Kane is finishing the script for the View-Master adaptation (Kurtzman/Orci are producing) that’s based on an idea he came up with before they agreed to collaborate on a toy movie for Universal.

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Liam Neeson is now Russell Crowe’s partner in crime in ‘Three Days’

Liam Neeson

From HitFix.com

When tragedy strikes, many people dive into their work to cope with the pain.  Liam Neeson hasn’t said much publicly following the startling death of his wife Natasha Richardson in March, but he’s certainly focusing on his work in the meantime.  The Oscar-nominee has shot an eye-popping four films already this year and now is set to appear in his fifth.  According to Variety, Neeson will join the Paul Haggis thriller “The Next Three Days.”

Already shooting, the Lionsgate picture finds Russell Crowe as a teacher whose wife, played by Elizabeth Banks, is falsely convicted of a murder she didn’t commit. After she becomes suicidal after several years of being in jail, Crowe’s character takes things to an extreme and decides to break her out.  Neeson will play an ex-con who has broken out of jail numerous times, used his celebrity to write a book about it and gives Crowe advice on how to do the deed. 

Haggis’ first film since “In the Valley of Elah” two years ago is actually an adaptation of the 2008 French release “Pour Elle.”  The noted screenwriter has also recruited Brian Dennehy, Olivia Wilde, “True Blood’s” Aisha Hinds, Daniel Stern and RZA. 

Neeson’s packed year has included Atom Egoyan’s “Chloe” which premiered to mostly negative reviews at last month’s Toronto Film Festival, “After.Life” with Justin Long and Christina Ricci, “Clash of the Titans” (where he plays Zeus) and the long-awaited big screen version of “The A-Team” where he portrays the group’s leader, Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, white hair and all.

Whether Neeson will rest after “Three Days” is unclear, he’s also attached to play the 16th president of the United States in Steven Spielberg’s still in development “Lincoln” which the director insists is still happening and could shoot next year.

Scriptapalooza Television Writing Competition OPENS

Hey all you TV writers, this is your chance to change the way you watch TV!

Scriptapalooza TV has seen major success in their 10 years.

Two writers won Emmys, numerous writers have gotten agents, managers and meetings.

The four categories include:
Existing one-hour shows like “True Blood” and “Merlin”
Existing half-hour sitcoms like “The Office” and “Two and a Half Men”
Original pilots and reality shows (for reality shows, Scriptapalooza would like a one- to five-page synopses only)

Supported by the Writers Guild of America west and the Writers Guild of Canada.

http://www.scriptapaloozaTV.com

Office: 323/654-5809
info@scriptapalooza.com

FINAL DEADLINE: October 15th, 2009