Look out Disney and David Fincher, you might be beat to the punch. While the long brewing adaptation of "20,000 Leagues Of The Sea" has been developing as a mega 3D blockbuster with James Cameron lending his technical advice and wizadry behind the scenes, and Fincher in the driver's seat, a much smaller Brit production may get there first.
"Red Riding" trilogy star David Morrissey and "Downton Abbey" staple Hugh Bonneville have come aboard "The Return Of Captain Nemo" with Hayley Atwell cirlcing a role. With a meager $10 million budget, this underwater adventure will be a period based sequel of sorts to Jules Verne's classic story and, of course, will be shot in 3D on soundstages utilizing green screen and CGI to bring the story to life. A sequel of sorts to the Jules Verne classic, the story will find Morrissey playing Atwell's uncle and an adviser to Ulysses S. Grant who frees Captain Nemo (Bonneville) from prison in order to help track down the sea monsters that are sinking ships on the Atlantic coast. Pearry Teo, dierector of a string of horror movies you never heard of including "The Gene Generation," "Dead Inside" and "Necromentia" is at the helm of this one that promises a steampunk Air Force One and of course, the Nautilus as part of the visual wonders.
Now before you get all hot and bothered about Atwell showing up in 3D, just take note that her reps say that if something better comes along — like Tom Cruise's "Oblivion" which she is currently testing for — she'll bail from the project.
For now it's an interesting idea but really just that — a good concept on paper. We're not quite convinced about Teo as a director though the actors are top shelf. Financing is coming togther so we'll see how this plays out. [Deadline]