Back in September,X-Men: ApocalypsedirectorBryan Singertook to Instagram to announce his next project,20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The news came as quite a surprise to most fans, but the director reiterated that he isn’t abandoning theX-Menuniverse. We never heard any further updates since then, but todayDeadlinereports that the director has now closed his deal with 20th Century Fox, which has given20,000 Leagues Under the Seaa green light for a fall production start. Here’s what the director had to say in a statement, confirming some of the original characters from Jules Verne’s novel.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with my friends at Fox, with whom I’ve had such a long and fruitful relationship. Ever since I was a boy and first discovered the 1870 Jules Verne novel, I have dreamt of retelling this classic story. Without revealing too much, it contains not only the original characters ofCaptain Nemo, Ned Land and Professor Aronnax, but also some new and original characters andSci Fiplot twists culminating in a timeless adventure for all ages.”
Rick Sordeletand Dan Studney wrote the screenplay adaptation, working from a story they both created withBryan Singer. The director is expected to start prepping20,000 Leagues Under the Searight away, while putting the finishing touches onX-Men: Apocalypsebefore that superhero adventure hits theaters on May 27. Bryan Singer will also produce with Jason Taylor, who runs the director’s Bad Hat Harry production company.
20,000 Leagues Under the Seawas originally published as a number of serialized stories between 1869 and 1870, with a deluxe illustrated edition debuting in 1971. The plot centers on Captain Nemo and the crew of his submarine, the Nautilus, as they embark on several undersea adventures. There have been a number of adaptations over the years, including film adaptations in 1916 and perhaps the best known version of 20000 Leagues Under the Sea in 1954, which starredKirk Douglasand Peter Lorre.
Disney has been developing their own version of this classic story, with their adaptation entitled20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo.David Fincherwas attached to direct for some time, but he ended up bowing out in favor of makingGone Girl. We reported in August 2014 that Disney was planning on starting principal photography at some point in 2015, but we haven’t heard anything about that project since then. What do you think aboutBryan Singertaking the helm on 20000 Leagues Under the Sea for 20th Century Fox?
