A couple of curious director news bits have arisen. First up,Sam Raimiis adding a fantastic-sounding project to his docket. PerTHR, theEvil DeadandSpider-Manfilmmaker is producing with an eye to direct a tornado heist adventure movie calledStormfallat Warner Bros. The project is currently out to writers, but it takes place in the Carolinas during a tornado storm and revolves around the relationship between a man and his older mentor.
In the hands of pretty much anyone else, this would be a recipe for disaster. But Raimi has a knack for unique tones, and if anyone can pull off a tornado heist movie, it’s him. The filmmaker has been rather quiet as of late after easing back into blockbuster moviemaking with 2013’sOz the Great and Powerful. He most recently helmed the pilot forAsh vs. Evil Dead, which he pretty much admitted heonly made for fans of the franchiseand not necessarily out of a desire to return to the property. He’s been developing a number of different projects in the wake ofAsh, froma dramatic remake ofA Prophetto the sci-fiWorld War 3. But thisStormfallproject sounds more in line with something likeDrag Me to Hell, which, you know,yes please.
In other director news, Oscar-nominatedThe Imitation GamehelmerMorten Tyldumis going to be sticking with the sci-fi genre for the time-being. The filmmaker is currently in post-production on theChris Pratt/Jennifer Lawrencesci-fi romancePassengers, and nowVarietyreports that he’s in talks to helm an adaptation ofLauren Beukes’ novelThe Shining Girlsfor MRC, withLeonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way also producing.
The story ofThe Shining Girlsrevolves around a serial killer in 1930s Chicago who stumbles upon a time traveling device, and his would-be victim who survives and tries to bring the time-jumping killer to justice. A feature film adaptation has been percolating for a while withDanny Boylepreviously attached, but Tyldum’s involvement brings the film even more momentum. The filmmaker is also attached to direct theThomas Edisonvs.George WestinghousedramaThe Last Days of Night, previously referred to asThe Current War, so he’s definitely keeping busy in the wake of that Oscar nod.
