Doug Liman Seeks Cast For Moon Project

Sometimes when a film project falls into development hell, it's impossible to get it out, but when they do, sometimes the results can be amazing. For example the "Batman" franchise was stuck in development hell for years until Christopher Nolan totally kicked ass with "Batman Begins," and now it seems another director is trying to work his magic on a project stuck in the depths.

According to The Hollywood Reporter "The Bourne Identity" director Doug Liman's long-in-development sci-fi feature at Paramount Pictures may have escaped development hell.

The story centers on a renegade group of former space employees, led by an Eastern European woman, who travel the world, stealing space equipment in an attempt to go back to the moon to acquire an energy source. The last item to steal is an ever valuable ex-NASA employee.

A few years ago the project had a chance at some life at Dreamworks with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star, but interest in the project cooled over time. Liman pursued other films while the script received rewrites from Ken Nolan, Mark Bowden and Simon Kinberg. The site reports that interest is swelling, and that the project could start shooting by as early as the end of the summer.

The biggest piece of the puzzle comes with casting. Liman has met with a crop of talented young actors for the project, including Andrew Garfield, Emile Hirsch and Chris Pine for the male lead, while Rosario Dawson, Megan Fox, Rachel McAdams, Eva Mendes, Zoe Saldana and Olivia Wilde have all had meetings about the female lead.

Once any casting becomes official, this film could get the go ahead and move along quickly. I really hope it does, because when I first heard about the project I thought it was infinitely interesting, and with that crop of actors meeting with Liman, this could be a huge project down the line.

Science fiction and space exploration films have become very trendy these days, with projects like "Skyline," "Battle: Los Angeles," "District 9" and "Super 8" all gracing theaters.

While development hell has consumed many of a project, lets hope this one that makes it out alive.

Doug Liman Takes a "Kill" Shot

Director Doug Liman has shown throughout his career that he isn't pegged into one
genre of films he works on.

He's done such various genres from action thriller ("The Bourne Identity"), to political
thriller (the upcoming "Fair Game") to sci-fi ("Jumper") and even a bit of romance
("Mr. and Mrs. Smith"). Okay maybe that last one was more of romantic "action", but nevertheless, Mr. Liman has kept things fresh over his career.

Liman was recently attached to direct a new adaptation of Alexander Dumas' "The Three
Musketeers", but another, unrelated adaptation (in 3D, ugh) has already gone into
production, putting Warner Bros.' take on hold for the foreseeable future.

So instead of staying complacent, Liman now is officially set to direct the time-travel
action film, "All You Need Is Kill", reports Variety.

Based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka's 2004 novel, the story centers on a future war between
humans and an alien group, the Gitai. Keiji Kiriya, a young recruit sent out to fight off
an alien invasion. Kiriya dies on the first day of battle, but reawakens the next morning,
alive, unscathed, and headed for the same battle and finding himself in a Groundhog
Day-esque scenario of dying on the battlefield and being reborn each day.

On the 158th "day", Keiji notices something different than the previous versions - a
female soldier who may be the key to his escape.

The story sounds very interesting, and with so many unique alien invasion films coming
along ("Monsters", "Skyline", Battle: Los Angeles) in the coming months, it's great to see
another original story coming to the screen. Liman clearly can handle the duty, he did a
wonderful job on "The Bourne Identity" and even though "Jumper" was kind of awful,
the effects and action sequences were solid.

Production should begin later this year.

Doug Liman Helms "The Three Musketeers"

Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity," "Go," "Jumper") is in talks to direct "The Three Musketeers" for Warner Bros. Pictures, one of two adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' classic story currently in the works.

According to Heat Vision: Liman was one of several helmers on Warners’ shortlist as a possible director for the latest Hollywood take on the Alexandre Dumas novel. The list is also known to have included David Frankel, the director of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

The project is in a race with Summit’s Musketeers movie, which helmer Paul W.S. Anderson has been working on since September. Anderson’s project, which will be in 3D, is in the casting stage.

Peter Straughan ("The Men Who Stare At Goats") adapted the script following the very familiar story of young D'Artagnan enlisting the help of three disgraced veteran musketeers to stop the duplicitous Cardinal Richelieu.

"Sherlock Holmes" producer Lionel Wigram aims to do a period-set but modern sensibility take on the tale, much like the recent Holmes adaptation.

Liman recently wrapped production on “Fair Game,” the true story of Valerie Plame, the CIA agent whose status was leaked to the public by the White House. The film stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

This project could have great potential, especially with Liman at the helm. The Musketeers is such a classic story it will be interesting to see how Liman tackles it. I have much more faith in him and this version rather than Paul W.S. Anderson’s adaptation.

Doug Liman Locked In "Attica"

Director Doug Liman ("The Bourne Identity," "Go") will helm a feature about the 1971 Attica prison riot for Hypnotic.

According to The Hollywood Reporter: Director Doug Liman and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher are teaming to re-create the 1971 Attica state prison uprising.

Fletcher ("Precious") will pen the script about the four-day confrontation between prisoners and guards in the New York correctional facility when 1,000 prisoners rioted and seized control of the prison.

The confrontation -- described as a riot by some, a rebellion by others -- inspired Al Pacino's famous chant of "Attica! Attica!" in "Dog Day Afternoon."

Taking 33 correction officers hostage, the prisoners began a negotiation for better living conditions. Under Governor Rockefeller's order, the state police lead an assault and retook control of the prison, at the cost of at least 39 lives, including 10 guards and civilians.

The retaking of the prison has been described as the bloodiest one-day encounter between Americans since the Civil War.

Liman brings a personal connection to the project, as his father served as chief counsel on the commission investigating the incident and co-authored the report criticizing the governor and how the incident was handled.

Liman, who directed "The Bourne Identity," appears to be moving into more political projects. His next film, "Fair Game," which will be released this year, stars Sean Penn and Naomi Watts as Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson.

Considering his past body of work and the family connection, this project is perfect for Liman, and should turn out to be a great film. The riot is a significant cultural event in New York history and should translate to film beautifully. Liman has been making solid movies for years, including the 1996 film “Swingers” and 1998’s “Go.”

Look for the film to start shooting later this year.