Another buzzy project has hit the TIFF market ahead of the festival’s opening night, this one from indie studio Laika. THR reports that “Dune” screenwriter Jon Spaights will make his directorial debut on an original sci-fi thriller for the studio. The film remains untitled, but its story centers on a woman investigating a mystery that took place during a week she can’t remember. Spaights also pens the script.
Spaights’ name is attached to several big sci-fi movies over the past decade-plus, including Denis Villeneuve‘s two “Dune” films (which Spaights co-wrote with Villeneuve and Eric Roth), Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus,” 2016’s “Passengers,” and Marvel‘s “Doctor Strange.” Spaights earned an Oscar nod for Best Adapted Screenplay for work on “Dune,” and it’s likely he’ll be involved with “Dune 3,” whenever Warner Bros. gets that project off the ground.
But first, Spaights will strike out on his own, something he sounds pretty excited about in his press statement on his Laika film. “This is an original passion project I’ve been eager to turn to for a while, and I couldn’t ask for better partners,” said Spaights. “Laika has a clear creative vision, and a tradition of meticulous, bespoke storytelling that suits this project very well.” Laika has already introduced the project to buyers at TIFF, so stay tuned on who picks up the package.
“Laika has long admired Jon’s iconic work as a screenwriter,” said Laika president of live-action film and series Matt Levin. “He is one of the most imaginative and inventive storytellers working today, and we’re honored to partner with him as he brings his unique vision and soul to the director’s chair for the first time with a wholly original idea that is as thought-provoking as it is moving.” Best known for its stop-motion animation feature films like “Corpse Bride” and “ParaNorman,” Laika is now branching out into live-action with Spaights work and others, like Brian Duffield‘s “Crumble.” The studio is also readying a re-release of its first animated film “Coraline,” and has the hotly anticipated “Wildwood” coming out next year.
Stay tuned for more info on Jon Spaights’ sci-fi project and more packages to hit the inaugural TIFF market.