In 2009 “Shutter Island” screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis was tapped to adapt the Japanese manga “Ghost In The Shell” for the American big-screen and here we are five years later, per Deadline, and DreamWorks has finally locked down their director by signing up “Snow White and the Huntsman” helmer Rupert Sanders.
It seems the studio has chucked Kalogridis’ draft in favor of a new one from “Reluctant Fundamentalist” writer William Wheeler. With Sanders already signed up for true-crime tale “90 Church,” Napoleon,” and “The Kill List” one would have to wonder which project will take precedence. The 3D blockbuster-hopeful that’s already launched successful projects since the manga’s original publication or the hard-nosed story of the bureau that would eventually become the DEA written by the “Breaking Bad” writer/producer George Mastras? On your mark, get ready, set, go!
It’s not just mangas that are getting a second shot at the big-screen. First announced nearly two years ago the Sam Raimi-produced adaptation of John Wyndham’s iconic sci-fi-horror novel “The Day Of The Triffids” had “Luther” creator Neil Cross handling scripting duties and now another Brit has come on board. Deadline reports “Donnie Brasco” director Mike Newell will helm the film. For those not familiar with the source material, the quick lowdown is this: After a meteor shower hits Earth and renders anyone who watched it blind, civilization begins to collapse and with much of the population left defenseless, the triffids — tall plants with the deadly combination of intelligence and fatal aggression — begin to attack. So yeah, it has a huge potential for unintentional silliness but we’re hoping this new big-screen iteration — there was a largely unfaithful 1963 attempt — will be able to translate the scariness of the book into an intense watching experience. No word on when “The Day Of The Triffids” will being production.
