‘Warrior’ Director Gavin O’Connor To Direct Peter Pan Redo ‘Neverland,’ Channing Tatum Will Produce, But Won’t Star

Update: Channing Tatum will produce, but not star in the film according to his PR reps.

So what on Earth could Gavin O'Connor, the man behind testosterone-driven fare like "Warrior," "Pride And Glory" and "Miracle" (okay, he also did "Tumbleweeds," but you know what we're getting at), find interesting in a Peter Pan reboot starring Channing Tatum? Well, here's the thing. Once you get the idea of Tatum in green tights out of your head (and the studio should really consider ceasing to refer to this as a Peter Pan movie) it's actually not a bad concept.

In the works since last spring when Sony picked it up, "Neverland" (previously known as "Pan" or "Peter Pan Begins") was penned by Billy Ray ("Breach," "Shattered Glass," that "24" movie that might not happen) and actually twists the tale into a London-based romp that finds Captain Hook chasing a child abducting Peter Pan. If this sounds famililar that's because it's basically the exact same premise as the Guillermo Del Toro produced "Pan" (yes, they both had the same title at one point) that lined up Aaron Eckhart, AnnaSophia Robb and Sean Bean last year but has yet to get in front of cameras. You snooze, you lose and this isn't the first time two fairy tale projects have gone head to head (though these seem remarkable, eerily similar….)

But with Sony lining up a director, it seems they are expecting a big hit this weekend with "21 Jump Street" and want to make sure they stay in the Tatum business, particularly as he gives his most charming, endearing performance to date in the film. No word yet on when this might start, but if 'Jump Street' takes the top spot this weekend, you can bet the kid from Neverland will be hearing the words "fast track." [Variety]